A teenager presented with “immunoconfusion” where his nervous system was not regulating well. Doctors diagnosed him with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and chronic inflammatory response (CIRS) due to mold exposure. Other insults like Lyme disease or cardiovascular disease can trigger this response.
Due to HLA-DR (Human Leukocyte Antigen-DR isotype) genetic factors in about 20% of the population, the body’s immune response does not function properly. When this happens the nervous system can become dysregulated, and s(he) may experience symptoms such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), dysautonomia, and feel stuck in fight or flight.
He has had difficulty sleeping for six years along with sleep apnea and snoring issues. He had trouble sleeping as an infant, which strongly indicated underlying birth trauma.
He had an orthodontic expander at ten and then braces for two years. He broke his collarbone, elbow, and had a right hip fracture.
On examination, he had slight brain motion on the right side of his head and none on his left side. His entire fascial web was quiet, indicating severe tightness everywhere.
The first therapy visit resulted in a modest 40-second brain cycle opening. But that is when this story gets interesting.
He could perceptively feel his brain moving and noted the exact changes in expansion and contraction cycles. Even more interesting, he returned for his second visit with an unbelievable 160-second brain cycle.
Sometimes patients will return with a slightly longer cycle indicating their body is healing itself. But this change was off the charts.
After the second visit, his cycle went to an extraordinary 320 seconds. It seemed like his body had been craving this therapy to free itself.
A key benefit of the Gillespie Approach is that the patient can readily crossover from the flight-or-fight sympathetic mode into the rest and digest parasympathetic mode. This flip can make a world of difference in the quality of life.
I am not sure if the sleep apnea and snoring issues are part of the tight fascial web or a true orthodontic problem. As more strain leaves his body, I will revisit those issues.
I am on a journey to discover how people heal themselves. This case presents a fascinating aspect of that story.
His Mother Speaks
“My son is benefiting from the time spent with you by gaining a feeling of embodiment and grounding, which is helping his nervous system move to more of a rest and digest state rather than a fight-or-flight state. We can’t wait for the next session!”
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