Home

Welcome to Beyond Inflammation and OvercomingLupus.com 

This Website is dedicated to promoting quality information and healthy nutritional solutions for inflammation caused by Auto-Immune Connective Tissue Disease like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA, Psoriatic Arthritis, Scleroderma, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Non-Specific Connective Tissue Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Psoriasis and more.

Visit the Blog Page of this site to read recent articles or view videos on anti-inflammatory nutrition.

I was diagnosed with MCTD or Mixed Connective Tissue Disease in 1999. Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is an Auto-Immune Inflammatory Disease consisting of “mixed” symptoms of 3 other Auto-Immune Diseases, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Scleroderma.

The information provided on this site come from 16 years of research and learning to reduce inflammation through healthy nutrition.
I have had many ups and downs along the way. My Mission is to promote anti-inflammatory nutritional information and ideas to help people learn to reduce inflammation and live happier and healthier lives.

What is Auto-Immune Disease? 

Auto-Immune Disease are diseases that affect connective tissue and the immune system.  With auto-immune disease the immune system is overactive and attacks the body.  I like to think of auto-immune disease as the opposite of AIDS or Human immunodeficiency virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV / AIDS)

With HIV / AIDS the immune system is DEFICIENT and unable to fight off infection. whereas with Auto-Immune Disease the Immune system is OVERACTIVE. I haven’t had a cold or flu in almost 20 years – I believe this is because my immune system is overactive and flu viruses don’t stand a chance against my super strong immune system.

In essence auto-immune patients have strong immune systems, however it doesn’t work correctly.  Our immune systems misidentify certain proteins in the body and attack our joints, muscles and cells causing systemic inflammation throughout the body.

Autoimmune Diseases affect  23.5 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Autoimmune Diseases are one of the Top 10 Leading causes of death for women under the age of 64.

I have inflammation throughout my body. It’s a medical scientific fact. From my initial diagnosis in 1999 to the blood tests I had 2 weeks ago (May 2015)  all the blood tests in between – The tests show I have systemic inflammation throughout my body.

Same result every time: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease or MCTD, Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In the most recent round of blood tests the Doctor said that with the amount of inflammation throughout my body most Rheumatologists would prescribe a Biologic TNF inhibitor / blocker medication like Humira or Enbrel.

He advised against it for me as he told me that considering the amount of inflammation in my body, for me to experience as little pain or MCTD, Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Ups as I do, I didn’t need it.  I explained my nutrition regimen to him and he smiled and said “whatever your doing, it’s working. Keep it up!”

I know what I’m doing works. I experience it.  I know when a flare is starting to come on and I know when I’m in trouble. I know when I am consistent with my anti-inflammatory nutrition plan I feel great and have more energy.

I’ve now been living with Lupus / RA / MCTD for 16 years.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is defined in one medical dictionary as:

inflammation  /in·flam·ma·tion/ (in″flah-ma´shun) a protective tissue response to injury or destruction of tissues, which serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissues. The classical signs of acute inflammation are pain (dolor), heat (calor), redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), and loss of function (functio laesa).inflam´matory

Inflammation is an immune system response in the body to protect us from infection by foreign organisms like viruses and bacteria. With Auto-Immune and Inflammatory Disease such as Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia the body’s immune system is triggered when there are no foreign organisms, virus or bacteria to fight off. The body’s immune system misidentifies and attacks normal healthy tissue thinking it is a foreign invader, virus or bacteria, causing damage to the healthy tissue.

People with auto-immune or inflammatory diseases are at higher risk of other health issues as well, such as heart disease or Deep Vein Thrombosis DVT (blood clot) due to the increased inflammation throughout the body.

Exactly why it is imperative that we auto-immune disease patients join forces, share our stories – our  triumphs and tragedies.
We are in this fight  together and we don’t have to go it alone! I invite you to share your story on the blog page comment section, what has worked for you in reducing inflammation, let’s build an online community to support each other.

I have developed a daily nutritional regimen that works for me.  I have learned so much about nutrition over the years.   What works for me as well as what doesn’t. It’s about much more than healthy nutrition for me, my routine also includes healing meditations and affirmations.  The subconscious mind can be a powerful ally or it can be one of our greatest enemies!

I have had occasional flare ups and have had to take prednisone for a couple weeks to calm the inflammation.  On average about once every 2 -3 years.  Pretty amazing considering how sick I was in the beginning and it took me many months to taper off Prednisone initially.

My intent with this blog is to share my experience, strength and hope in regards to health and nutrition with auto-immune diseases like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, MCTD, Psoriatic Arthritis,  Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

I don’t believe I would be alive today if I hadn’t done a 180 with nutrition  almost 16 years ago.  I am still able to live a fairly active lifestyle and I still have many ups and downs but I am doing really well for someone with the amount of systemic inflammation throughout my body.

I have gone from a very sick man who could barely get out of bed to go to the bathroom to a man who has completed triathlons, 100 mile “Century” bike rides and rides a Harley! I was told early on in my journey to “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”  I had to decide whether I wanted to live or die.  In order to live I had to get to work. Take action and start learning.

I am forever grateful for the many health and nutrition mentors who have helped me, held me and educated me along my journey from sickness to health.

My darkest hour has truly become my greatest gift, to myself and to the world.

I’ve written about many topics and  issues I believe are relevant to my Auto-Immune diagnosis.  Topics like emotional, spiritual and energetic challenges I’ve faced.  From self destructive food addiction to depression all related to my diagnosis of Lupus, RA and MCTD.

if you follow this blog you  will receive  information ranging from anti-inflammatory nutrition to holistic energy work. From overcoming emotional challenges related to living with pain and inflammation to quality information, articles, videos and advice from nutrition and medical experts I have learned from along my journey from sickness to health.

Social Media

You can also follow my anti-inflammatory nutritional journey by “Liking” my “Beyond Inflammation” Facebook page, Follow Beyond Inflammation on Twitter or Instagram or Subscribe to my YouTube Video or Pinterest pages.

If you are suffering from an inflammatory auto-immune disease you should consult your Doctor or Rheumatologist before starting a nutrition regimen.

The information and content on this website is far from complete. I started this blog 8 years ago to share nutritional information that was helping me reduce inflammation, feel better and have more energy.  I haven’t been very consistent with posting new information and blog articles.  I have recommitted myself to this blog and will be rewriting some content, dding new content and creating informative videos every week.  Check back for new information!

I wish you all the best on your journey to a happier and healthier Inflammation FREE life!

Dave