Celebrating The Road Less Traveled
One in 24 million. I am one of 24 million Americans that is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. In September of 2020, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), both Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. After 4 months of painful and exhausting illness, I finally had an answer to what was going on with my body. Or did I? Yes, I had the diagnosis, was given medication to aid in calming down the flare that had me running to the restroom more than 15+ times a day, anemia, painful erythema nodules on my legs and arms, severe joint pain and ache, as well as fatigue. But did I know what was really causing my decline in health? Did I understand how it all began, and how to really fix it? The answer to that was no.
Being a lover of learning, I pulled out my phone and computer and researched as much as I could. I wanted to understand what was causing my condition. With a 35% increase of cancer risk, as well as an increased risk of surgeries, I knew I had to make changes. I knew that I didn’t want to take medications the rest of my life; although the rheumatologist I consulted with told me that I would be on medication the rest of my life, and he thought that I should go on to a biologic. My gastrointestinal doctor also felt that I would be on at least one medication for the rest of my life to keep my flares at bay. But I knew that there had to be another way.
Interestingly enough, my search for answers was found in someone related to NASCAR racing: Sherry Pollex. If you don’t know who Sherry Pollex is, I encourage you to look up her incredible cancer story and find out what an amazing woman she is. It was through her that I found out about Functional and Integrative Medicine. I was intrigued with Functional Medicine and its search for a root cause to disease, as well as its more foundational approaches to combat them: lifestyle changes in nutrition, exercise, toxic loads, stress management, and finding better sleep.
As I researched, I quickly saw that there were two different roads laid out before me: the traditional medicine in which experts laid out my plan, medications were given, and I followed it; or functional medicine in which I worked with a coach to come up with a plan that allowed me to find out what worked for my body. With those two roads before me, I chose the road less traveled of Functional Medicine; and that my dear reader, has brought me to today on a day that I can tell you that I’m thriving.
Today, November 14, 2022, I am celebrating 2 years on the road less traveled. On November 14, 2020 I took control of my own healthcare decisions by deciding to get to the root cause of my illness. I first began on the autoimmune protocol diet to discover what foods triggered sensitivity and reactions. I learned what my gut needed and what it couldn’t take on: namely nightshades, gluten, alcohol, and most dairy.
Next, my quest was to finally reintroduce exercise back into my routine. This was particularly scary for me because it was through exercise during my flare that I developed the severe inflammation in my joints, swollen ankles, and erythema nodules. (Check out my stories today to see some of the photos that I’ve never shared before.) But I knew I was working at the root causes of my disease. I had been testing my body in every area and figuring out what worked and what didn’t. And today, I run in the mornings with my puppies and love seeing the sunrise on another day that I am pain-free and moving better than I have in years. I have even added in strength training.
Today, I celebrate finding my health, but even much more than that: I found a stronger and empowered me. Because through all of the searching for better health I found the inner strength that was buried within me. Empowerment is a beautiful thing. And I knew that I couldn’t stop with just me. And that is why I became a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach: to empower my clients.
The power to discover your health lies within you. How do I know? I’m living proof that it’s possible. Today, I am off all of my medications (for the past 9 months) and feel amazing everyday. You too can find your optimal health. All you need to do is to start.
So today on my day of celebration of a life not just surviving, but thriving, I ask you to look at the fork in the road of your health, search your heart, and ask which road you want to take. The choice always belongs to you.
I can tell you that I took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference.