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-- Ayurvedic Saying
I want to help you because I've been where you are - for thirty-two years! My own decades-long health and wellness journey has given me extensive insight into the many challenges that can be encountered. This enables me to bring a high level of empathy, respect, and understanding about the unique, bio-individuality that each of us experiences and the physical, biochemical, mental and emotional stressors that can impact optimal well-being. I have used my own unique and challenging journey to educate myself about health and wellness and became a Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, which will enable me to help those of you who may be in a similar health-challenge situation as I was.
I have tried pretty much everything in order to find health and wellness. I know what doesn't work and I finally found what does. Here is my abbreviated health story:
Thirty-two years ago I was a plebe at West Point, but later that year on October 10, 1989 I fell ill with an Epstein-Barr viral infection. This was the day that changed my life and I had not been the same since I rediscovered wellness in 2021. I went from being an athletic, competitive swimmer who wanted to serve her country in a career in military intelligence to someone who couldn’t get out of bed in the morning or have the strength to wash my hair in the shower or brush my teeth. I had to live differently than most people and have lost a lot over the years. I had to give up my dreams of the career I wanted to pursue, leave jobs that I loved, lost income potential, friends, and experiences. I needed to live a very structured life and I ended up withdrawing from social interactions in order to hide my vulnerabilities that people couldn’t understand because I looked well. During the thirty-two years, I amassed a collection of diagnoses: Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s, Raynaud’s, Restless Legs Syndrome, hypothyroidism, allergies, asthma, chronic respiratory infections and sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, pre-diabetes and insulin resistance, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestine Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO), gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), menopause at 34, bone loss, toxic mold illness, and surgeries to remove aggressive abnormal cell growth. I experienced neurological issues, brain fog and other cognitive issues, digestive issues and impaired digestion, absorption and assimilation of nutrients, chronic inflammation, migraines and other headaches, muscle and joint pain, extreme fatigue, awakening by severe pain in the morning, and the variety of foods I was able to eat had dwindled. I had not been able to participate in a formal exercise program without relapsing within two to three weeks.
During those years I saw numerous doctors, specialists, complementary practitioners, integrative practitioners, alternative practitioners. I tried chiropractic care, acupuncture, prescription medications, a whole bunch of alternative therapies, elimination diets, supplements, IV treatments. You name it, I tried it – and I spent over fifteen thousand dollars trying to find answers and relief. I enjoyed only temporary relief at best, not any permanent solutions. And, in fact, I experienced negative side effects from medications that prompted doctors to prescribe other meds to treat the new symptoms. I started seeing a Naturopath about four years ago and made some great progress, but not completely. It was extremely frustrating trying to find help and answers. I had been told “it’s all in your head”, “there is nothing wrong with you”, “I have never heard of such a thing”, “you just have to push yourself”, “you’re probably depressed”, “there’s nothing we can do, you just have to deal with it”, “why do you ask so many questions”, “don’t you trust me”, “I’m a doctor and I know everything”, “we’ll just put you back in the box“, “you cannot stop taking this medication because you’re doctor prescribed it to you” (for meds that were causing reactions and additional issues). Because of this consistent response over many years from many doctors, I decided that I needed to take control and advocate for myself in order to find relief, stop the “roller coaster ride” and stop relying on those that were supposed to be partners in my health.
My inquisitiveness and determination (some might say stubbornness) has served me well and, in true fashion to my ISTP and transformed Enneagram Type 8 personality types, I rolled up my sleeves and let nothing get in my way to educate myself about the root cause of my issues, contributing factors, and to solve the problem permanently. I mostly maintained a positive mindset and I never really thought of myself as being sick, only that I had issues that I needed to identify and resolve. I studied supplementation of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, have attended countless seminars, taken a course on how herbal constituents and phytonutrients support health and lots of other relevant courses, began studying herbalism over ten years ago, taken Anatomy & Physiology for herbalists, read numerous research papers and books. I have always lived a healthy lifestyle and I thought I was doing the “right” things. I thought I was eating healthy by following a balanced, mostly Mediterranean Diet with much diversity including fermented foods, whole grains, lots of veggies, beans and legumes, fish, chicken, lean beef, lots of teas and tisanes, no processed foods and very few sweets – I think you get the picture – everything one is “supposed to eat”. The truth is that I have never had a sweet tooth and I never liked the taste of fast and processed foods. I haven’t had soda since I was a teenager. I’ve been using food as medicine for decades and additional herbs therapeutically to support various functions in my body. I made sure to get adequate quality sleep, found many enjoyable activities as stress reduction practices, and I have been active even though I had no energy to do formal exercise. I’ve been doing everything “right” to reduce issues and maximize wellness. But it didn’t matter and my symptoms and issues never really resolved – I still felt like crap. So I kept digging…
In early 2020, I became aware of the Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) Certification program. They claimed that their program delivers results by providing “the functional lab training, data-driven protocols, tools and leadership you need so you can confidently solve your client’s health issues and grow your career as a health coach or professional”. I didn’t plan to become a health professional, but I thought the program would enable me to dig deeper into some of my own potential issues and uncover some underlying metabolic issues that I wasn’t even aware of. It was a rigorous, intensive program that focuses on a functional, bio-individual, nutritional, and holistic approach and I finally graduated a year after beginning the program. While I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with the certification when I signed up, I realized as I progressed through this mind-expanding program that I would be able to use this information and all of my other experience to help others in addressing their own issues in a deeper, more effective manner. I believe in this approach because it has delivered results for me, and I believe it will work for just about anyone. And I’m not done with my education and will tirelessly continue to expand my knowledge. I continue to pursue the clinical herbalism path that I have been on and I will be a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. In addition, I am continuing in more advanced courses within the program from which I recently graduated that will qualify me to sit for the exam to become board-certified with the American Association of Natural Wellness Coaches. I am incorporating all of my knowledge and experience to be your partner in health and wellness and the last practitioner you will need to see in order to optimize your own wellness.
I was on a thirty-two year roller coaster ride; however, I learned a lot through this journey and gained a deep insight into health and wellness. I learned what doesn’t work and what does. I learned how to be more compassionate, how to prioritize, how to work and think differently, how to advocate for myself, and how to know what is truly important in life. I have also learned about resiliency and being flexible and adaptive. As a result of my program, I no longer have muscle and joint pain, my brain fog is gone, I am off of most of my prescription medications (and no, I am not anti-prescription meds), I have lost over 10 pounds of inflammation (this is a bonus as I’ve never had a problem with my weight), and I can get out of bed every morning with no issues. I have more energy than I have had in decades and am finally able to exercise without relapsing into debilitating fatigue. I no longer feel like a prisoner in my body and my limitless mind will no longer be restrained by my physical limitations. I feel better and stronger today at fifty than I did in my late teens, twenties, thirties, and forties and I am very much looking forward to enjoying vibrant, active, and independent years ahead that are filled with vitality. And I want amazing results for you too!
This is a summary of my health history to provide some insight into my “why”, the benefits I have realized from my program and why I am so passionate about being a holistic health practitioner. For those of you who would like to read a more in-depth version of my journey, please click here. I share my entire story, not for pity, but to show in detail exactly what I have been through and I believe there are many lessons that can be learned from it. I hear on an almost daily basis the wellness challenges that so many people experience, most of which are a result of lifestyle choices – even healthy ones. I completely understand the physical, mental, and emotional aspects that arise from chronically not feeling well. I share my story because parts of it may resonate with you, a family member, or a friend. I want this to be a message of hope – that even though I have experienced many challenges, there are opportunities to find health and wellness….even after thirty-two years. Be sure to grab a mug or pot of your favorite tea to enjoy while you read :)
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