I’m about to get real. vulnerable. with you…
10 years ago I was rather a wreck. I had a toddler-preschooler and a baby and zero energy. And rage. I did my best. We all do right? We’re all always doing our best, but when your best is yelling at your kids and constipation and bloating and inability to gain weight and fatigue so bad that sometimes you can’t get through the day vertically – then it’s time to take a look at what is going on.
At first I tackled the low energy. I invested in a personal trainer because the idea of exercising enough to cause a bit of huff and puff on my own was like thinking of climbing a mountain. So that’s where I started. Twice a week, I met with a young encouraging woman who slowly but surely got me moving again.
Then, I continually worked on digestion. Having come from being told I had an incurable disease that would require a variety of medications to control for the rest of my life, as a teen, to having just manageable constipation and some bloating – it was all in perspective and not as daunting. I’d been cured of Crohn’s for over 10 years, but still very sensitive to food which is good because the things that set me off the worse were foods no one needs. Cakes, cookies, pizza, etc. I had been used to a gluten-free dairy-free diet so it was no longer an inconvenience, just a way of life.
It wasn’t until my youngest was about 5 that I realized the rage and anger and fatigue I’d experienced after my second son was actually a form of post-partum depression. It had never dawned on me because I was not the prototypical depressed mom. I was sad when I realized this. I had been struggling on my own. I didn’t know – I was the one who helped others with their hormonal health and yet I was not attuned enough to myself to seek help. Thankfully, I had started working on decreasing my reactivity and improving my self care overall, so every year after my son was born things improved. I became more of the mother I wanted to be.
It’s the dilemma of the cobbler’s kids have no shoes – the healer isn’t looking after herself as much as she looks after her patients and family. At my low point, about 5 years ago, I was a scrawny 82 lbs. I ate a lot but could not gain an ounce. I was diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism for which the medication (levothyroxine) did not work for me. Meanwhile, my marriage was at its unhealthiest, and I knew something had to change. I was ready.
About the same time I decided to get divorced, I had also been receiving herbal therapy and acupuncture treatments, and I did homeopathy to address Lyme Disease (yup that too). Suddenly it seemed, my health blossomed. I was able to gain weight, and my energy improved even more. And I am so happy to say that I’ve been at my healthiest the past 3 years. I have continued to work out regularly, I have gained muscle and a bit of padding, and my energy is better than ever. I started a daily meditation practice, and I continued with Chinese herbs. This past year I got the news that my thyroid numbers were normal- no more hypothyroidism! My digestion was better than ever! – until again, it wasn’t, and I realized the missing piece – I wasn’t doing acupuncture regularly. I had been getting treatments from colleagues but they moved away, and so fell off that wagon because it is just not as wonderful to treat myself as it was to be treated. So now I’m committed to treating myself regularly because it does still work, and seeing my patients improve with their digestive symptoms really is the best motivation to give myself the same benefits!
I hope that hearing my very personal story of my own health journey has been helpful for you. We all have our Stuff! I’m all about the real stuff. In the treatment room, I want to hear about your struggles, and I want to do whatever I can to help you be your strongest. It doesn’t matter how old you are – I am feeling vibrant and energetic and strong in my 40’s – stronger even than for much of my teens and 20’s and 30’s.
Let’s talk about your goals and dreams – I want to help you get there! A free consultation is a phone call away 630-335-1069.
