In 2015, my health was at rock bottom. I had gone through a painful divorce three years prior. I had a long history of off-and-on symptoms of chronic fatigue that was managed by the medicine I had learned in naturopathic medical school, yet never fully went away. I also began to have recurrent flu-like illnesses and severe gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Each year after my divorce, I became increasingly worse, despite the fact that the divorce allowed me to get out of a painful marriage. The homeopathic and naturopathic remedies, supplements and herbs, that had previously helped no longer made a difference, nor did the diet I was following. I saw western (allopathic) doctors as well–multiple primary care practitioners, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, and infectious disease specialists, all to no avail.  No one could figure out what was wrong with me. No one had answers for me. 

With each passing year, I began to feel more and more helpless and hopeless. With recurrent fevers, fatigue and GI distress, I was barely able to function. As soon as I began to recover from one fever, the next wave would hit me and I would be down again for weeks. It was an awful cycle that I would never wish upon anyone, especially not a single, working parent, trying to care for two young children. 

At my lowest point, I contracted pneumonia. I had a 105 degree F fever and intense chest pain, with no family in town to check on me. I found myself sleeping for days on end, waking only to crawl to the kitchen to get a glass of water and then pass out again once I got back to bed.  Thankfully, an angel of a friend helped me get to the emergency room and get treatment, but it still took a month to recover. It was as though my immune system was so taxed, any little virus or bacteria would pummel me.

Finally, a rheumatologist diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome. I knew from medical school that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning they cannot find evidence of any other illness so, based on a particular collection of symptoms, you get put into a general category: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. 

While having a diagnosis felt mildly helpful in knowing that others struggled with the same, mysterious symptoms, it did not tell me anything about what was causing the debilitating fatigue, recurrent fevers and GI distress. My rheumatologist simply told me to do more yoga. Unfortunately, this was not helpful  advice as I, for years, had a robust yoga practice but as the chronic fatigue worsened, I was unable to do anything except restorative (lie-on-your back) yoga. 

A turning point finally came. I was introduced to Annie Hopper and her Dynamic Neural Retraining System (I highly recommend using this program if you are suffering similarly, you can find it at retrainingthebrain.com). I followed her program to the best of my ability and found that my stamina slowly increased. I also found that the severe depression I was experiencing due to the inability to function began to lift and I began to feel  hopeful again.

I was then reintroduced to eating “living foods” (or raw-foods eating – plant foods, not meat). I began to change my diet to include mostly fruits and veggies and again felt some steady improvement. I then experimented with green juices and began to do intermittent periods of juice fasting. This expedited my healing. My energy and stamina returned and I was able to slowly regain my strength. Where previously, I had to choose only one chore or errand to run or do on any given day, because anything more would wipe me out for a week, I found that I could complete multiple errands and chores (increasing the load very slowly) and still feel that my energy would be replenished by the next day.

I learned about mitochondrial dysfunction and began using nutrition and supplements to specifically support my mitochondria. Again, my energy improved. At this point, I was once again very responsive to homeopathic remedies, which allowed me to get much better and stronger very quickly. Homeopathic medicine was instrumental and indispensable in my recovery.

Most recently, I have discovered the benefits of fasting and intermittent fasting and have found that this practice has kept me from having my previous recurring symptoms.  I also discovered how vital it is to have a healthy vitamin D level and work to get in the sun as much as I can (without burning, of course) every day. I have also learned practices such as grounding (Earthing), mind-body trauma-healing, and meditation that continue to keep my mind and body calm and healthy.

I am now able to exercise at the level that I could in medical school and this is nothing short of a miracle for me. My sleep is also better than it has ever been and I no longer struggle with anxiety the way I did in my teens, 20s and 30s.

I am constantly seeking new information on how to continue to heal, to age well and to live vibrantly. I also know that everyone’s story is different and I diligently seek to find answers to those who come for my help and guidance. I believe I was called to help others find their way out of chronic illness as I know we are all in this together.

I am an LGBTQIA+ Affirming practitioner.

Education:

Dr. Lan completed her medical school training, graduating with honors, from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (now Sonoran University) in Tempe, AZ. She is a board-certified naturopathic physician and is a member of the Homeopathic Association of Naturopathic Physicians, The National Center for Homeopathy, and the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She helps those with chronic fatigue and mental illness return to a state of vibrant health through the use of naturopathic medicine, homeopathic medicine, functional medicine, nutrition and lifestyle practices. She maintains a virtual private practice in Tempe, Arizona.

Dr. Lan would love to help you with your health concerns. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today.