I've Been Sick...

Part One - The Symptoms

First, for those of you that know me, you may have been wondering why I suddenly fell off the side of the planet. No more networking lunches or events, no more workshops, no more speaking engagements. Why? It's because I've been sick. Really sick. I want to explain this so you know where I'm coming from in some upcoming blog posts.

I've been sick for a lot of years. Like 18 years to be exact. But over the past six months, it quickly escalated in both the severity and sheer number of symptoms. The pain had became unbearable.

To make a long story short, my first symptom started 18 years ago and I was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Doctors blamed it on stress. I'm quite certain I did not have constant debilitating stress for 18 years straight, but I was reassured by my various doctors that nothing could be done. I was even told that I could safely take up to 6 Immodiums a day to control it - SIX!!! That was crazy!

More and more symptoms appeared over the years, and they all progressively got worse.

• Constant runny nose
• Freezing cold hands and feet (diagnosed as Raynaud's syndrome)
• Chronic headaches
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Lactose intolerant bloating
• Inflammation
• Arthritis
• Itchy scalp

All together I made a list of 61 separate symptoms that I saw my doctor for in the 9 months prior to seeking alternative health care.

​The ones that I was sent for a standard blood test were:  perimenopause (irregular periods, severe PMS, irritable, mood swings, wicked hot flashes, night sweats), thyroid disease (chronic fatigue, hair loss, lethargy, weight gain, and depression), as well as kidney and liver disease.  All blood tests were negative.

The most frustrating part was that my doctor just wanted to write me a prescription to alleviate the individual symptoms, creams, nasal sprays, anti-inflammatories, etc. I was labelled a hypochondriac. I made the connection that some of my problems may be diet related and self-diagnosed as lactose intolerant back in 2015.

​But it was more than that and I knew it. After many requests, she grudgingly sent me to a dietician, who despite my repeated reminders that dairy was the enemy, she sent me home with some recipes and 5 bottles of dairy-based Boost. 

​​My health issues continued to escalate. Rapidly. More and more symptoms appeared and the ones I already had worsened. The inflammation in the upper part of my body gave me the appearance of a threatened pufferfish. My entire body ached, some days it hurt just to walk.

Often the only way I could go up the stairs was to sit on the step and go up backwards on my bum. I simply could not lift my legs high enough to climb a step. My balance was also off, I often fell or bumped into things, frequently injuring myself and those injuries weren't healing anymore. I felt like an 80 year old woman, but I was only 48.

​Over the past 6 months, insomnia, chronic pain and chronic fatigue set in.  I would usually go to an event or put on a workshop and go home to bed for the rest of the day.

​I was wrought with severe depression, overly emotional and very mentally unstable. I cried uncontrollably every day for 2 weeks straight after the Humboldt crash. My kids reassured me that it was a very sad event but reminded me that I didn't know any of the people involved and I was overreacting. I just couldn't stop sobbing. Concentration also became a problem so I increased my ADHD medication to no avail. I finally resorted to the fact that I would soon need to ask my doctor for anti-depressants.

​I was in a downward spiral with no end in sight.

I wanted answers. I knew I was really sick and I was afraid, but according to my doctor, there was nothing wrong with me. I finally sought help outside of the traditional medical system. I had blood work done for food sensitivities and sure enough, I had epic results. In fact, my results were so bad, they were the worst my healthcare practitioner had ever seen.

Disclaimer: Now keep in mind that I am not a doctor, a scientist, or healthcare practitioner of any sort, although I did take a first year university biology course in the summer of 2015, so for one summer I fancied myself "practically a doctor." The results I mention in this blog are my interpretation of what I heard and what I've read, they may not be 100% accurate, but they are how I understand them. Remember this is my story, not a scientifically accurate medical report.

The results:

• Anemic
• Severe malnutrition
• Celiac disease (sensitive to gliadin, the other protein in wheat products, not gluten. Confirmed with genetic testing)
• Candida Related Complex
• Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Gut Dysbiosis
• Digestive Enzyme Deficiency
• Casein sensitivity (in addition to lactose-intolerant, sensitive to the protein in dairy)
• Severely sensitive to shellfish, cucumber and olive (oil)
• Moderately or mildly sensitive to 30 other common foods such as potato, apple, citrus, most fish, tree nuts, some vegetables, fruits, beef and spices. Almost all of my daily staples are on the list. 

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​In summary, almost everything I put in my mouth was killing me, even the "healthy food." My gut is so badly damaged that even when I did eat healthy foods, I was unable to absorb any nutrients. My body was surviving solely on simple carbs and sugar. It was estimated that if I had not sought intervention and immediately made changes,  I would likely be hospitalized within 3-6 months. 

These results delivered a devastating blow. Yes, I know it's not cancer, but it had come to the point that without a drastic intervention it would be just as deadly. Luckily for me, a significant amount of recovery is possible with immediate action. That means overhauling my entire lifestyle and eating habits.

It was one of the easier decisions I've ever had to make, but probably the most difficult to implement. That's part of the reason for the blog; for people going through any kind of upheaval, crossroads, or lifestyle change, I get it. I hope this resonates with you and inspires you to keep at it. I really want to share with you what I've learned. Tune in to the next blog entry for Part Two - The Start of the Recovery to see what changes I'm making, the frustrations those changes cause and the amazing results I've already experienced. You won't believe it!