A Moment with Dr. Stillman
She’s a young professional, working nights, and struggling with her sleep. She’s engaged, active in church, and on the outside looks like a healthy young woman.
She came to us having already “tried everything” and “seen everyone.” Mold, Lyme - she had chased many different potential causes.
If you’re wondering why you can’t sleep and your skin won’t clear, this case is for you.
Where She Started
By the time she came to us, her life looked something like this:
Mast cell activation syndrome with multiple allergies (she has used epi pens multiple times)
Autoimmune skin disorder that was painful and itchy, despite creams and lotions
Flushing and “puffiness” in her face
Fatigue and pain that made daily life, let alone getting to the gym, a struggle
Poor sleep, waking up early in the morning and often unable to go back to sleep
I knew going in that this would be a challenging case because of everything she had already tried.
What We Did Differently
Here’s what we did:
Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) so we could personalize her supplements
Simplified her current supplement list
Worked through our core protocols (Vitamin C, MSM, Iodine, and more)
She didn’t always respond well (a few she couldn’t tolerate)
Started a high‑dose vitamin D protocol, carefully layered into a system:
Gradual escalation toward 60,000 IU daily under supervision
Calcium‑free mineral support to avoid driving calcium too high
Gave her extra magnesium
Started progesterone and adjusted thyroid hormone to optimize sleep and energy
We didn’t do this all at once. She’s been with us a for a year. This past quarter, “The only thing we massively changed was the high vitamin D.”
When you have a difficult case like this, where the wrong move can cause anaphylaxis, you can’t do everything at once. You have to work with patients like this for months or years. This might not sound like a lot, but it was.
Where She Is Now
On our most recent follow‑up, here’s what she told me:
“I’m doing a lot better than I was the last time we talked.”
“I’m sleeping so much better now at night.”
“I’m able to go to the gym now, like, three days a week consistently, which I was really struggling with before.”
“When I take off my makeup at night, my face isn’t bright red like it used to be.”
She now reports:
Gym 3x/week with walking and weights; she still avoids high‑intensity cardio because it can still flare her symptoms
Sleep is “so much better now,” which is foundational for any chronic inflammatory or autoimmune issue
Her autoimmune skin disorder “seems to be doing much better now” and she’s not using any topical creams anymore
Mast cell stability: no new anaphylaxis, with no change in medications or supplements (an improvement)
Energy: “I still get tired, but I wouldn’t say I’m fatigued… I wouldn’t say I’m, like, tired all the time”
Repeat HTMA showed stable calcium/magnesium and improvements in sodium, potassium, iron, and manganese. These are a sign that her metabolism is regaining order even before every symptom disappears.
She hasn’t tapered her mast cell meds yet, and we’re not done with her liver workup. However, multiple systems are finally moving in the right direction together.
Things to Think About
A few lessons from her case:
Minerals are foundational to physiology. You have to start there and work your way forward depending on how someone responds to minerals.
High‑dose vitamin D is a tool that sometimes helps patients who have “tried everything.” We don’t use it all the time (rarely, in fact), but when we do, patients often report a profound improvement in how they’re feeling and functioning. You have to carefully restrict calcium to do it safely long-term.
We only stop medications when we fix the underlying problem. Coming off of medications shouldn’t feel like a rollercoaster - it should be a non-event. This is why we taper doses carefully.
Functional wins are proof that what you’re doing is working. For her, “sleeping so much better,” three consistent gym days, calmer skin, and no new episodes of anaphylaxis are major improvements. Her body is getting stronger and more resilient.
This is a process. It takes time. She’s doing so much better now than a year ago. I’m excited to see her continue to make progress.
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P.S. If you’re tired, foggy, and inflamed, and you’re ready for root-cause medical care, book an evaluation with a member of our team.
During the evaluation, we’ll:
Review your history and current symptoms
What you’ve tried, what’s worked, and what hasn’t
Get you clarity on where to go next, whether that’s becoming a member of our practice or a referral to a trusted partner of ours
For a limited time, we’re also including a copy of my new book, The End of Autoimmunity, so you can learn more about our process.
Book your evaluation today. If you’re tired, foggy, and inflamed, we’d love to help you reclaim your health.
For more on this, read my book, available for pre-order here.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman
Educational content only. Not medical advice. See full disclaimers.