Hey! I just had a anniversary and I wanted to share with you.
I'm a March baby, I just turned 37. I’m feeling more alive and more energized than I was 5 years ago.
March 2011 I made a decision, I was going to do everything in my power to improve my health.
I had my first son in 2002, the labor and delivery was terrible. He was born via emergency c-section. He wasn’t breathing when he was born, and had to spend a couple of weeks in the NICU. Shortly after his birth I finally got the confirmation that I had lupus. My mom and I always suspected it, doctors would hint at it here and there. I started with health issues at a young age, no surprise that something was going on.
In 2006 I was admitted into the hospital 6 weeks before my second son was due. My liver enzymes were elevating and my blood pressure was rising. His stay in the NICU was 3 weeks. We were able to bring him home right before Christmas. Not too long after he was born some of my stomach issues started amping up. Eventually I had to have my gallbladder removed, and I found out I had Celiac Disease.
Although this diagnosis sucked, I think the Celiac diagnosis was really helpful in preparing me for the change that I would eventually embrace to improve my health. When you have Celiac you can only eat Gluten-Free food if you want to not have any issues. This opened me up to a different way of looking at food.
To add to it, I was diagnosed with degenerative disc-disease. Been through some major pain and suckage with that. Super high dose of prednisone, times when I had to call my mother to come and help me with the kids cause I couldn’t get out the bed. No bueno!! They were talking surgery at one time. Cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine involvement. Yay!! Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was sitting often, and using food as a way to feel better. Not in the healthy way.
One of my birthdays before I embraced health and healing. My face looks a bit extra round, probably that darn Prednisone. P.S- Don't think that was my beer. lol!
How lupus presented for me in the past:
- Photosensitivity
- Skin rash
- Joint pain
- Extreme fatigue
- Low-grade fevers
- Hair-loss
- Lupus Fog
- Antiphospholipid syndrome
- Sjogren’s anti-bodies (dry eyes)
- Protein in urine
- Abnormal liver enzymes
- Having to be on many meds
Prescribed medications that I had been on for Lupus and crappy health:
- Nabumetone (anti-inflammatory)
- Predniose. (Treats many diseases and conditions, especially those associated with inflammation.)
- Plaquenil (Used for malaria and treating lupus and arthritis.)
- Percocet (Narcotic, used for moderate to moderately severe pain.)
- Flexeril (Treats pain and stiffness caused by muscle spasms.)
- Tramadol (Narcotic, to treat moderate to severe pain.)
- Cardizem (Calcium channel blocker and antihypertensive, treats high blood pressure and chest pain.)
- HCTZ ( Diuretic, for high blood pressure and fluid retention.)
- Lyrica (Nerve pain medication, used for nerve and muscle pain.)
I'm super happy to share that...
I have been able to come off all of these prescribed medications!! I no longer need them!!! YAY!!!!
On my 5 year anniversary of health I want to tell you to never give up.
I want to tell you that there is hope. You have power within you to heal. Your doctor doesn’t know everything there is to know about healing. I had to change my medical team when I was ready to make the changes I made. I needed a team that was open to supporting me through this journey. If you weren’t going to support me or at least be open to hearing my vision for myself, my health, then you had to go.
I know that their is a spectrum of lupus and that everyone has different symptoms and challenges. I still want you to never give up. I still want you to think of all the things that you can do to help yourself naturally. I still want you to stay open to healing. Learn positive and healthy ways to help yourself.
My approach was one of lifestyle change. I set out to naturally reduce the inflammation that I had in my body. I focused and continue to focus on the food that I eat, my sleep, my stress level, healthy relationships, physical activity, listening to my inner voice and so much more.
I achieved the results I believed were possible! I'm now living a lively life with lupus.
I say to you this. “ Do all that you can do to help yourself naturally.” Find what works for you.
5 years ago I flipped the switch. I was open to learning a new a different way of living. I was open to trying new and different ways of being. I read books that I wouldn’t normally read. Heck, don’t think I ever finished a book until I started on this journey. I was so hungry for knowledge, for change, for hope and healing.
I became hungry for healing!!!
Are you hungry for healing?
I would love to support you on your journey to improved health!! I am now coaching women with mild to moderate chronic health issues to live their happiest and healthiest life, despite their diagnosis.
Take action!!
Sign up for a free phone session with me. If you are ready to improve your health, let’s talk!!