--- title: "Autoimmune Chronic Illness Westport Ct" entity: "page" canonical_url: "https://www.drkellylivingston.com/autoimmune-chronic-illness-westport-ct" markdown_url: "https://www.drkellylivingston.com/llms/page/autoimmune-chronic-illness-westport-ct" lastmod: "2026-11-09T16:44:44.846Z" --- # Autoimmune Disease & Complex Chronic Illness in Westport, CT When your symptoms affect multiple systems and answers are hard to find, you deserve care that looks at the whole person. Persistent fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain, digestive disturbances, inflammation, and nervous system symptoms can occur with autoimmune disease, post-infectious syndromes, and other complex chronic conditions. These symptoms often overlap, making it difficult to understand what's contributing to how you feel. I provide individualized naturopathic and functional medicine for autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, Long COVID, Lyme-related symptoms, EBV concerns, PANS/PANDAS, and complex chronic illness. My approach integrates immune health, gut function, clinical nutrition, and nervous system regulation to support whole-person healing and resilience. I Book Your Consultation Listen To The Vital Spirit Podcast ## When Chronic Symptoms Don't Fit a Single Diagnosis Persistent fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain, digestive problems, and unexplained inflammation can leave you searching for answers. Whether you're navigating autoimmune disease, a post-infectious condition, or overlapping symptoms, understanding the full clinical picture is essential. ## Complex Chronic Illness Requires More Than a Single Diagnosis ## I'M DR. KELLY LIVINGSTON, ND I'm a Connecticut-licensed Naturopathic Physician with more than a decade in private practice and over 20 years in health and wellness. I work with people navigating autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, post-infectious illness, and complex symptoms that may involve multiple body systems. Many have spent years seeking answers, managing overlapping diagnoses, or feeling that their symptoms are being treated separately rather than understood together. Autoimmune and post-infectious conditions can involve complex interactions between immune signaling, inflammation, the nervous system, and other physiological processes. Understanding these relationships requires careful attention to medical history, symptom patterns, laboratory findings, and the broader context of each person's health. My approach combines comprehensive clinical assessment with individualized nutrition, botanical medicine when appropriate, gut health support, and nervous system regulation. I also recognize the importance of coordinating care with specialists and maintaining necessary medical treatments. My goal is to help you better understand your health, identify modifiable contributing factors, and develop a realistic, sustainable plan that supports your quality of life and long-term resilience. COMPLEX CHRONIC ILLNESS CAN AFFECT MULTIPLE BODY SYSTEMS Autoimmune disease, post-infectious syndromes, and chronic inflammatory conditions can affect energy, cognition, digestion, musculoskeletal health, and nervous system function. Symptoms may overlap across diagnoses, and similar symptoms can arise from different underlying processes. A comprehensive clinical evaluation helps distinguish these patterns and identify where individualized support may be most beneficial. ## Autoimmune & Complex Chronic Conditions I Support ### Autoimmune & Inflammatory Conditions Hashimoto's, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and related immune-mediated conditions. ### Post-Infectious & Immune Long COVID, persistent symptoms following Lyme disease, EBV-related concerns, and PANS/PANDAS. ### Chronic Fatigue & Multisystem Symptoms ME/CFS, dysautonomia, brain fog, chronic pain, post-exertional symptom exacerbation, and overlapping complex health concerns. ## Understanding Autoimmune & Complex Chronic Illness ### What's Happening in the Body Immune dysregulation and chronic inflammatory signaling Post-infectious immune responses & persistent immune activation Gut microbiome changes and intestinal barrier function Autonomic nervous system dysfunction and stress physiology Nutrient deficiencies, hormonal changes, and overlapping medical conditions Coexisting autoimmune and digestive conditions ### What You May Notice Persistent fatigue or reduced stamina despite adequate rest Brain fog, memory difficulties, or trouble concentrating Muscle and joint pain, stiffness, or widespread discomfort Digestive disturbances, food intolerances, or changes in bowel habits Dizziness, palpitations, temperature sensitivity, or orthostatic symptoms Post-exertional symptom worsening, fluctuating symptoms, or difficulty recovering from activity Interconnected Health Concerns in Complex Chronic Illness IMMUNE & INFLAMMATORY HEALTH Autoimmune disease and inflammatory activity Post-infectious symptoms and immune-related concerns Allergies, histamine intolerance, and mast cell-related symptoms Recurring infections or concerns about immune function Joint pain, muscle aches, and systemic inflammation GUT, NUTRITION & METABOLIC HEALTH IBS, SIBO, bloating, and digestive dysfunction Food sensitivities and difficulty tolerating foods Iron, ferritin, B12, vitamin D, and other nutrient deficiencies Blood sugar regulation and metabolic health Hormonal changes and thyroid dysfunction NERVOUS SYSTEM & ENERGY REGULATION Dysautonomia, POTS, and orthostatic intolerance Sleep disturbances and unrefreshing sleep Brain fog, cognitive changes, and mood symptoms Post-exertional malaise and activity intolerance Chronic stress, autonomic regulation, and persistent fatigue ## When Your Symptoms Don't Seem to Fit Together.. You may have spent years addressing fatigue, brain fog, digestive problems, chronic pain, or nervous system symptoms as separate concerns. Yet immune function, inflammation, gut health, energy metabolism, and the nervous system are interconnected. Understanding how these systems interact, while carefully evaluating other possible causes, can help us identify contributing factors and develop a more comprehensive, individualized approach to your care. ## Healing asks us to tend to the whole person: body, mind, nervous system, and spirit. ## Choose the Support That’s Right for You ### CALM GUT, CLEAR MIND A 3-week self-paced program exploring the connections between gut health, inflammation, the gut–brain axis, and nervous system regulation. Through guided videos and practical resources, learn how nutrition, digestive health, and daily habits can support your overall well-being and resilience. Start the Reset ### WORK WITH ME Personalized naturopathic and functional medicine for people navigating autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, Long COVID, post-infectious illness, and complex health concerns. Together, we explore immune function, inflammation, gut health, nutritional status, and nervous system regulation to develop an individualized plan that supports your health as a whole. Explore 1:1 Care ### BEYOND YOUR NUMBERS An on-demand masterclass designed to help you better understand your blood work, including inflammatory markers, thyroid function, iron and ferritin, blood sugar, and nutrient status. Learn what your results may reveal, how to ask informed questions, and why the full clinical picture matters. Includes an embodied self-awareness practice. Understand Your Labs ARE WE A MATCH ? ## You know your body. And you know something has changed. You want to understand what's happening beneath your symptoms and have a thoughtful, personalized plan for moving forward. AND you value... - Looking for patterns and contributing factors rather than treating each symptom in isolation - Having your medical history, lived experience, and laboratory findings considered together - Understanding the relationships between immune function, inflammation, gut health, nutrition, and the nervous system - Combining evidence-informed medicine with a respect for the body's innate capacity for healing - Developing greater body awareness while honoring your individual limitations, energy, and capacity for recovery If you're looking for naturopathic care that brings together science, nature, and a deeper understanding of the whole person, I'd love to explore whether working together is the right fit. Book A Discovery Call ## What Patients Are Saying "Dr. Kelly Livingston has changed my life for the better. And that feels like an understatement. Dr. Kelly has been so amazing every step of the way! Emotions, especially fear, come with being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, and Dr. Kelly is extremely open-minded, thoughtful, so attentive, and caring." Patient, MD "Dr. Livingston is truly a breath of fresh air. She is so extremely thorough and knowledgeable, just simply brilliant. She put all the pieces of my medical puzzle together and with compassion. I am 59, and wish I had explored a naturopathic route a long time ago. My daughter is 25, and she LOVES Dr. Kelly, too...so thankful to have found her!!! Patient, HC “Dr. Kelly Livingston is amazing. She was able to guide me to resolve chronic digestive problems without prescription drugs. She is a brilliant physician, detective and coach. I highly recommend her!" Patient, RF HOW IT WORKS ## The Vital Spirit Method™: Looking Beyond the Diagnosis Complex chronic illness rarely affects just one system. Autoimmune disease, post-infectious syndromes, and persistent fatigue can involve overlapping changes in immune function, inflammation, gut health, energy regulation, and the nervous system. Understanding these connections is an important part of developing individualized care. Through The Vital Spirit Method™, I combine comprehensive clinical assessment, appropriate laboratory testing, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine when indicated, and nervous system regulation. Together, we explore contributing factors, identify opportunities for support, and develop a personalized plan that complements your ongoing medical care. Because living with complex illness is about more than managing individual symptoms. It's about understanding your whole physiology, honoring your body's needs and limitations, and creating a thoughtful path toward greater stability, resilience, and quality of life. BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION ### Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again? Living with autoimmune disease or complex chronic illness can be exhausting, especially when your symptoms affect so many areas of your life and answers have been difficult to find. Perhaps you're struggling with persistent fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain, digestive problems, or a nervous system that no longer seems to respond the way it once did. Maybe you've been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, Long COVID, ME/CFS, or are experiencing ongoing symptoms following Lyme disease or another infection. You may have seen multiple specialists, undergone extensive testing, or tried numerous treatments, yet still feel that important pieces of your health story haven't been connected. I believe your symptoms deserve to be heard, your experience deserves to be taken seriously, and your care should reflect the complexity of your whole body. My goal is to help you better understand your physiology, explore factors that may be contributing to your symptoms, and develop an individualized plan that respects your body's capacity while supporting greater stability, function, and resilience. Fully human. Deeply healed. If you're ready for a thoughtful, collaborative approach to your health, I'd love to explore how we can work together. Book A Discovery Call ### STAY CONNECTED The Vital Spirit, in your inbox. Thoughtful notes on gut-brain health, hormones, nervous system regulation, food as medicine, and navigating midlife with more understanding of your body. JOIN THE NEWSLETTER Plus new podcast episodes, classes, and resources for you. We will not send spam messages ## Contact Us Email: care@rootsdeepmedicine.com Phone: 203-802-5251 Address: 17 Bridge Square Westport, CT 06880 (NOT Bridge Street) Clinic Hours: By Appointment