Chili, Sculptra and Valentine’s - OH MY!
The day started so perfectly—Valentine’s Day with the love of my life. A nice, easy morning seeing some patients for my amazing friend, Nutrition with Judy, and her team. One of my warriors and I decided to give Sculptra a try—a delightful filler I had been meaning to treat myself to after losing weight and some fullness in my face. My colleague, an expert in facial aesthetics, had a last-minute cancellation (a rare opportunity since she’s usually booked weeks out), so I seized the chance for a little self-care.
Sculptra is the only filler I trust for myself and my autoimmune patients because it stimulates the body’s natural collagen production rather than introducing foreign substances that could trigger severe autoimmune flares. The procedure itself was amazing—I got to spend time with a good friend while she expertly stuck incredibly long needles into my face, all while we chatted about being boss bitches. The pain was negligible; I even opted out of the numbing solution because I despise that weird sensation.
Afterward, I returned to the clinic to see one of my favorite warriors and her husband, who were facing a tough home remediation decision. We discussed the ins and outs of their options, and then, after an entire day of not eating, I finally scarfed down some chili.
As many of you know, being moldy often leads to oxalate sensitivity. But little did I realize that my day—so perfect and productive—was about to take a horrifying turn.
The pain hit like a freight train. Head-to-toe, blinding, 10/10 agony. It began with stabbing pains in my uterus, though I knew it wasn’t my cycle. Then, the crushing pain moved down both legs, as if a vise was squeezing them tighter and tighter. Nothing I did made it stop.
In all my years of being moldy with autoimmune disease, I had never experienced anything like this. It was relentless, insane. Desperate, I spent an hour in my jacuzzi with a special mud potion from my dear friend, Dr. Jill Crista, hoping for some relief. Maybe it took a log off the fire, but not much. Even after a 45-minute massage from my husband, I could barely keep still.
I had to throw everything at it—anti-inflammatories, low-dose naltrexone, Xanax—before I finally managed to drift off to sleep for a full nine hours.
By morning, the pain had subsided to a 6/10—still severe, but manageable. My plan? A high dose of phosphatidylcholine, IV therapy, and high-dose omega-3s to extinguish the fire completely.
But here’s the moral of the story: when our bodies are in a cell danger response, nothing is benign. Everything depends on timing and context.
Was it the Sculptra? Unlikely—there’s no evidence of it triggering autoimmune flares. Was it the high oxalate load in the chili? Possibly. Was it a combination of both? Probably.
And this is why I take each warrior’s journey seriously when designing their treatment. Why I don’t indiscriminately recommend Botox or filler. What works beautifully for one person might send another into an autoimmune crisis.
If this resonates with you—if you’ve suffered through unexplained pain, reactions, or flare-ups—please reach out. I can help you stop the madness.