Three Very Different Stories, One Hidden Pattern Behind Their Symptoms
Three real cases from recent visits. What changed, what got the credit, and why it matters.
This Week in Practice
If you’re living with skin problems, gut issues, brain fog, or insomnia that no one can explain, you’re not alone.
These three patients walked into our practice with completely different symptoms. We found the same underlying factors driving their issues - their bodies were stuck in a state of inflammation and repair deficit. Their illnesses weren’t random, they emerged from identifiable factors in their lives.
All three started with the same step, an Inflammation and Autoimmunity Assessment with myself or a member of my team.
“I Haven’t Had a Breakout in Almost Two Months.”
She came to us with chronic skin and gut issues, and severe brain fog. Her skin was a 5/10. Breakouts every few days, worse if she slipped on diet or skincare. Eating out meant days of bloating, abdominal pain, and feeling “gross.” Her social life shrank to whatever she could manage between flares and work.
We ran hair mineral analysis and comprehensive blood testing, built a personalized supplement plan, and coached her through diet, lifestyle, and environmental changes.
A few months later:
“I haven’t had a breakout in probably at least a month and a half, two months. Which is huge for me.”
Her skin improved to 9/10. Gut symptoms followed:
“I can go out to dinner again and not feel like crap for four days afterward. Now it’s only maybe that night, or the next morning.”
Her brain fog largely lifted. She described a clarity at work she hadn’t had in years, and even her seasonal low moods eased. When asked what she credited:
“The personalized supplement protocol… probably 75–80% of the credit. And then the heavy metals detox. Those two combined were like a powerhouse for me.”
This is the type of pattern we look for when someone tells us, “I’m doing everything right, and I’m still miserable.”
“I Don’t Have the Pain That I Did Before.”
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE) is an allergic condition where the esophagus becomes inflamed, narrowed, and stiff. Food gets stuck. Many patients end up in the emergency room, hoping they won’t need a scope to “disimpact” their last meal.
Her worst episode was the Christmas before last. Her esophagus closed and she needed urgent help.
When she came back recently and I asked how her EOE was doing, she said:
“My EOE is doing great. Hardly notice it.”
Pressed for details:
“Unless I’m really distracted and swallow too fast… there will be a little bit of stricture. I can feel it goes a little bit slower than usual. But nothing ever really gets stuck anymore. And I don’t have the pain that I did before.”
Her take on what changed:
“I just think it’s a combination of everything. I assume the mineral balancing was the biggest impact for sure.”
EOE is allergic in nature, but we run it through the same framework we use for autoimmunity: understand the triggers, measure the deficits, and support the body’s ability to repair.
Insomnia, Rumination, and Copper Toxicity
He runs a business with over a hundred employees in multiple states. High stress. Long days.
He came to us with severe sleep issues. First he couldn’t stay asleep, then he couldn’t fall asleep. He lay awake with rumination and worry about things he rationally knew didn’t matter. Brain fog made it hard to lead his company and be present at home.
On his second consecutive hair mineral test, we saw a massive copper elimination.
Copper is a nutrient, but in excess it acts like a toxin and increases mortality risk. Many practitioners miss copper toxicity. Patients are told they’re “just anxious” or “stressed,” when part of the answer is in a few simple labs.
In cases like this I ask:
Do you have copper piping in your home?
Have you ever been vegetarian or vegan?
Do you rely on high-copper foods or supplements long term (like beef liver, shellfish, or copper-containing multivitamins)?
Do you cook or drink from copper vessels?
For him, the most likely source was his home’s copper plumbing. Copper pipes, especially with acidic water, can gradually overload the body. Proper water sourcing and filtration become more than a “nice to have.”
The good news is that he’s eliminating copper and doing remarkably well. He used to wake around 1:00 AM and struggle for hours. Now he’s sleeping through the night and rates his overall health 8/10 compared to when we started. He’s not done detoxifying, but he’s on the right track.
Where Journeys Like This Begin
Three different stories. Three different presentations.
What they have in common is not a miracle supplement. It’s a structured way of asking, “Why is this body stuck in inflammation, and what is it missing to repair?”
In our practice, that process starts with an Inflammation and Autoimmunity Assessment.
What the Assessment Includes
For $45, you get:
A 30 minute visit with myself or a member of my team
A deep review of your story, symptoms, medications, supplements, and prior labs (if available)
A clear plan for the next 90 days - what to do first, what to stop doing, and whether working with us or someone else is the best fit for you
If you’re tired of guessing and want a coherent plan instead of more scattered protocols, this is where I recommend you start.
Book your assessment at stillmanmd.link/apply.
As always, discuss any changes with your own licensed clinician. Read our full disclaimers, disclosures, and our position on health freedom here.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman
Educational content only. Not medical advice. See full disclaimers.