I Refused to Believe My Lupus Diagnosis… and It Changed My Entire Life
When I was diagnosed, I was told:
You won’t be able to run.
You won’t be able to have kids.
You’ll be in pain for the rest of your life.
You’ll be on medication forever — or you’ll die.
And the biggest lie of all:
“There is no cure for Lupus.”
I went home and cried.
I felt angry. Confused. Hopeless.
It sent me into one of the darkest seasons of my life.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless.
What I Realized About the Medical System
Over time, I realized something important:
The medical system wasn’t built to explore possibility beyond labs, medication, or surgery.
It was built to manage symptoms.
There are brilliant, caring doctors out there.
But the system itself is limited — and if you have autoimmune disease, you know exactly what those limits feel like.
Once I understood that, everything clicked.
I stopped waiting for the system to tell me what was possible for my body.
I Took My Healing Into My Own Hands
I started changing what I could:
my food
my environment
my mindset
my daily practices
the way I listened to my body
And something shifted.
During my very first acupuncture treatment, it was like a switch turned on — the hope switch.
I felt hopeful that I could recover.
And I did.
A year later, my labs were normal.
Five years later, every symptom was gone.
Through medical school and my jungle excursions, I deepened my understanding of trauma, neuroscience, herbal medicine, and biofeedback — the things that actually support the immune system’s ability to repair.
The Day a Specialist Told Me the Words I Already Knew
In 2017, I became pregnant with my daughter (yay!).
I was sent to a maternal-fetal specialist who reviewed my labs, then looked at me… looked back at the labs… and finally said:
“Well, you don’t have Lupus anymore. I don’t know how you did it, but you don’t have to come back here.”
I mean — I knew it.
But to hear HIM say it was one of the most validating moments of my life.
I was 36.
I went on to have a healthy pregnancy with zero complications and delivered an incredibly vibrant, healthy baby — who is now about to turn 8.
Luna is smart, sassy, and wise.
A true powerhouse.
Life After Lupus
Since then, I’ve:
completed two triathlons
raised a brilliant little girl
lived symptom-free without medication
Now at 44, I’m still thriving.
Your journey won’t look exactly like mine.
But your body is just as capable of surprising you.
You Get to Write Your Own Story
The system doesn’t get to write it for you.
F*CK THE SYSTEM.
Take your healing back.
Take your power back.
And if you ever need support, I’m here.
Keep going — you’ve got this.
Integration Tip
If this hit deep for you, try this nervous system reset:
Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold for 4 seconds
Exhale for 8 seconds
This breath increases the Yin (feminine) energy of your body and helps soothe your nervous system.
Do it until you feel yourself soften —
then put your favorite song on and dance.
Life is meant to be enjoyed.
Sending you all the sparkly, fun vibes,
Dr. Z
P.S. If you’re navigating autoimmune disease and want guidance that honors your whole body — not just your symptoms — reach out. I’ll help you find the best support for where you are.