My Own Health Story

Despite a consistently active lifestyle, I've navigated a series of significant health challenges. In 2011, debilitating headaches and visual disturbances led to the diagnosis and surgical removal of a brain tumor. This was followed by keratoconus, requiring bilateral eye surgery to prevent vision loss, and then two surgeries for breast cancer. The subsequent perimenopause and menopause period was marked by intensely disruptive hot flashes and other common symptoms. Fear surrounding hormone replacement therapy, fueled by misinterpretations of the Women's Health Initiative study, left me struggling until I encountered Estrogen Matters by Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris. This book offered a fresh perspective on the scientific data, revealing how many women needlessly suffer during this life stage.

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My health journey continued with recurring muscle and tendon tears, affecting my calf, hip, and another calf, culminating in an ankle fracture. Years of fatigue, chronic joint pain, and other persistent issues finally resulted in a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that predisposes me to these injuries, as well as arthritis and chronic pain. Finally, I understood the root cause of my recurring injuries and could take proactive steps to support healing.

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A few years later, a persistent rash appeared on my neck. A biopsy indicated an allergic reaction, prompting me to eliminate topical products, yet the rash persisted. I experienced debilitating systemic symptoms: alternating chills and sweats, severely disrupted sleep, intense joint and body aches, relentless itching, and a severe rash across my neck and face. My body felt sluggish and heavy. Following an anaphylactic reaction and a trip to the emergency room, I embarked on a relentless search for answers, consulting eight doctors and undergoing extensive testing for serious conditions, including lung cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. I consulted numerous specialists – oncologists, dermatologists, allergists, gastroenterologists – yet found no real solutions. The breakthrough came with a functional medicine doctor who ordered food allergy testing. The results revealed IgE allergies (true allergies) to a wide range of common foods: gluten, dairy, all tree nuts, peanuts, legumes, and eggs. Suddenly, food became a source of fear and anxiety. Every meal triggered severe reactions, drastically altering my life and uprooting my sense of normalcy. Dining out became a minefield of ingredient inquiries, and I became meticulous about label reading and preparing carefully sourced, home-cooked meals. These restrictions significantly impacted my quality of life.

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Relief finally arrived through extensive research and collaboration with two brilliant integrative and functional medicine doctors. We discovered that, in addition to my food allergies, I also had food sensitivities, requiring the elimination of corn, avocado, soy, oats, and yeast. While diligently avoiding my allergies, I was unknowingly consuming foods I was sensitive to, hindering my progress. I had developed a leaky gut, allowing food proteins to cross the intestinal barrier and trigger an autoimmune response to the very substances meant to nourish me. Over the next year, working closely with my functional medicine specialists and a naturopath, including starting LDA therapy, I gradually healed. Reversing this autoimmune condition was a long process, but we ultimately succeeded.

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My personal health journey has instilled in me deep empathy and a passion for helping others struggling with autoimmune conditions. I understand the frustration of unanswered questions, the exhaustion of navigating countless doctors, supplements, medications, and tests, the burden of medical bills without solutions, and the feeling of being lost without a clear path to wellness. I know firsthand the pain and isolation that comes with chronic illness. But through my own experience, I've gained invaluable knowledge and a firm belief that answers and hope exist. I believe that together, we can identify the underlying causes of your suffering and empower you to reclaim your health and live your best life.