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"You Have West Nile Virus
by author Connie Tanasichuk

August 29, 2003 was the day the world fell apart for my husband Jim and me. Because he was experiencing weakness, dizziness, fever spells, and severe headaches, I had taken Jim to the emergency ward twice, but we were sent home with a diagnosis of the flu and vertigo.

I decided to call the Parkland Wellness Clinic, in Dauphin, Manitoba where Jim and I had been patients for a few years. The clinic deals with traditional Chinese medicines and homeopathy. I explained the situation to acupuncturist Paul Henderson, and he had Jim come in right away. Acupuncture was done to help relieve some of Jim’s overall body aches and pains, and he was given some Chinese herbs to help with the dizziness and headaches.

A Dire Diagnosis

Two days later, Jim’s condition still wasn’t improving. He had a high fever and was so weak he needed assistance to walk, so we returned to the emergency ward, where he was admitted immediately. Over the next three days, series of tests were performed, yet a diagnosis was unavailable. Jim was quarantined in the hospital, and only I was able to visit him. He was deteriorating every time I saw him. I kept asking myself, “What is destroying my husband?”

It was recommended that a spinal tap be performed. Jim called me at work with results, and I will never forget how I felt at that moment. My knees buckled when he said, “They just diagnosed me with viral meningitis.”

All I knew about meningitis was that there were two kinds, viral and bacterial (the latter is more often fatal). Since it was viral, Jim was hospitalized for five days. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories were the only recommended “medicinal” treatment for his pain. We felt helpless, with no idea what to do or what to expect. We were also waiting for another test result for the West Nile virus. Results were expected in approximately two weeks.

Naturopathic Treatment

Jim and I had been undergoing preventive therapies with health practitioners for a few years, and, as a result, so had our daughter Bobbi-Jo. She was very concerned about her dad’s condition, especially why so little was being done to ease his suffering. She had called her naturopathic doctor, Jennifer Nardella, whose advice was to start him on megadoses of plant-based, immune-boosting supplements and vitamin C. The naturopath also referred us to a colleague of hers, Paul Conyette, a naturopathic doctor who operates clinics in Brandon and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Jim was released from hospital on a Saturday, and we were scheduled to see Dr. Conyette the following Monday. Jim was so weak he was unable to sit without falling over. I had to make a bed for him in our mini-van.

During our first consultation, I was pleased to find Dr. Conyette very knowledgeable and direct. He gave us some options: Jim’s immune system was so deteriorated he needed ozone therapy to build it up as well as intravenous vitamins and biological compounds imported from Germany. Having all the information at hand, we decided to commit to a long-term therapy program with Dr. Conyette. Jim was to have three treatments per week for a total of 17 treatments. Jim was also given protein builder and homeopathic medicines. It was such a relief to finally have some hope for a recovery, and Jim received his first treatment that very day.

After the first week of treatments, we saw no improvement in Jim, but I had faith and knew that it was going to take time. It wasn’t until after the end of the second week that we began to see some progress. As Jim gained strength, he started to walk by himself and was even able to sit in the front seat with me.

However, on September 19 there was a message from Jim’s medical doctor in Grandview, confirming that he did have the West Nile virus. After all we’d been through we could not believe what we were hearing! Jim’s final diagnosis: meningitis, encephalitis, and West Nile virus!

Dealing with West Nile

We immediately contacted Dr. Conyette, who was as shocked as we were. Jim was his first West Nile virus patient, yet he assured us that the treatment he was currently receiving would be effective for all three conditions. Along with this therapy, Jim also continued his acupuncture treatments at the Parkland Wellness Clinic, to further strengthen his immune system. Acupuncturist Paul Henderson told me, “Jim’s recovery was so successful because he had been practising alternative therapies prior to becoming deathly ill.”

Jim followed up with a few more ozone therapy treatments in the spring of 2004, and his health steadily improved. A few noticeable side effects of the West Nile virus were short-term memory loss, which continues to improve greatly, and loss of feeling around part of his lip. Life has returned to normal, but it has also changed forever due to our greater belief in the life-changing power of alternative health therapies.

Offering Hope

I feel compelled to tell our story so that others who are feeling helpless in similar circumstances know that there are options available in complementary, integrative, and naturopathic medicine. These options could possibly save your life–we believe they helped save my husband’s life. If you are considering a lifestyle change when it comes to your health and want to experience the benefits of alternative therapies, contact a natural health practitioner, or your local health food store, from where they may be able to refer you to an alternative health practitioner.

Jim and Connie Tanasichuk reside in Grandview, Manitoba, where they run a successful catering business.

Source: alive #283, May 2006