In February 2022, I was a healthy, fit, and energetic woman when I contracted a mild case of COVID-19 that resolved in a couple of days with the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.
However, two months later, a burning rash appeared on my face—at times so bad it would wake me in the middle of the night, and only ice relieved the pain. I saw two dermatologists whose treatments only exacerbated my symptoms.
The red agitation on my face looked like a malar rash, and an antinuclear antibody test returned positive for non-specific autoimmunity. I was referred to a rheumatologist but tested negative for lupus and other rheumatic diseases.
Next, I found the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance and followed their long-haul COVID-19 detox program. Unfortunately, the steroids used in the program worsened my rash and gave me additional side effects.
I saw an acupuncturist who prescribed Chinese herbs and began an anti-inflammatory diet. Things seemed to improve a little until, in late August, I ended up in the hospital with severe trapezius muscle spasms—which we now believe were the result of autonomic nervous system dysfunction due to central nervous system inflammation. The inflammation became severe and caused chronic pain in the entire left side of my body for the next six months. Meanwhile, the rashes continued.
During the fall and winter of 2022, I had physical therapy for “atypical” muscle spasms. Those muscles are still not 100 percent, but I can now work out without pain.
At that same time, God led me to a bioidentical hormone doctor and a functional medicine doctor who treated me for abnormally low levels of thyroid, progesterone, and testosterone. Stuck in a hyper-inflammatory state, my body reacted adversely to everything—even therapies that would eventually help me.
My functional medicine doctor found several latent viruses triggered by COVID-19—strains of Lyme, Toxoplasma gondii, Strep A, and Epstein-Barr, to name a few. He treated me with a combination of herbal remedies, IV ozone, and glutathione therapies.
Still not better by December, I fell into a pit of despair, exhaustion, anguish, and rage—I was not getting the relief I so desperately needed. I was 107 pounds—20 pounds less than my ideal weight.
On top of it all, we had a family emergency that added additional stress and anxiety. I fell acutely ill for six weeks. My psyche felt so tortured I thought I was losing my mind, and I contemplated suicide. I felt abandoned by God.
In early January, my functional medicine doctor started me on hydroxychloroquine and low-dose naltrexone—and my mother took me to see a psychiatrist because she was afraid for me. There I found the miracle that saved my life—Mirtazapine—an antidepressant with amazing anti-inflammatory action. Who knew it would be so radically healing? Within a week, the inflammation left my body—and I was better! Praise God!
Now, five months later, I’m in remission from the inflammation and undergoing treatments to eradicate the redness that scarred my face. My goal is to be fully healed by February 2024—two years from when COVID-19 turned my life upside down.
Through these trials, I have become closer to God and believe fully in His power to heal. I started to read the Bible and saw my story in those of Job, King David, and Legion.
I was struggling to understand why this happened to me. What purpose did it serve to go through such turmoil? After wrestling with this, like so many people do when they undergo trauma, I finally came to the realization that the “why” doesn’t matter. What matters is knowing that God loves me unconditionally and that sharing my story may bring a sense of hope to someone suffering.
I strongly encourage people to fight for their health and to know that God will heal those who seek His help.
