My Story

This is My Story...Well the beginning Anyway :) The amazing part? It does not end here! :D Click on the "Health Stone" Tab under "My Collection" to follow my progress on this most exciting journey back to Health!

Health: What's the Big Deal?

December 2012

Health is not just a BIG deal, It's a HUGE deal....especially to those of us who haven't had it for a while. :) For me, It has been a looonnnggg road, but my Hope is that in sharing my long road with you, It will help shorten your road back to health
and life again.
I chose this picture not to show off my cute puppy's :), or to show off my bad hair color, lol but to show you my life for this past year especially.
Me resting on the couch, after minimal effort during my day, was my reality.
Let me give you a little background:

  My health journey really began in 2000, when I noticed some huge changes in my hormones between the births of my 1st and 2nd kids. Were there issues before that?
Yes, some, but not enough to be a threat to my life or lifestyle so I didn't take much action. Boy if I had only paid attention then...
Today I know that I was dealing with postpartum issues, but at the time, when talking to my doctor, he recommended an anti-depressant. It scared me to do nothing, and so I followed his advice. After taking them for a very short time, I found out that I was pregnant with my second. This made me angry actually because not only was I not comfortable with taking them in the first place, but I was now putting my little one at risk. So, I quit. I knew that I would feel awesome during pregnancy because my hormones would level out. This was my first clue that I was not anti-depressant deficient. Lol
My little one was born and after I starting going south again with my hormones, I received a tip from a friend and found a Doctor who did saliva testing for hormones. Sure enough, the results proved that I was way out of balance. It was very liberating to my brain, to see right there in black and white, that I was not making things up, and, I was fixable! :)
As expensive as that test was, it was worth every dime, just to see those results!
I then began to search for supplements and lifestyle changes that would improve my health. I went to massage school as a great way to not only help myself, but as a way to help other's as well. After all of my efforts, however, when my body became too weak to give a good massage, the red flags went up again and I had to re-evaluate. I re-did blood work a few times, to which they always found the I had "Nothing out of the ordinary." Then, 18 months after the birth of my 3rd child, I was diagnosed with Mono. My fatigue level hit an all time low, and on the day that I stood staring at my floors, literally talking myself through mopping them, I new something was way wrong. In talking to another friend, she suggested that I be tested for Mono. So I did, and though I had to ask 3 times to be tested because again that Doctor kept talking depression, I tested positive for the Epstein Barr virus. Relieved, but without any real help because a virus has to "run it's course", I took matters into my own hands and quickly began a juice fast. At the time I had 3 little ones and was also babysitting so really who has time for Mono?? :D I did great on the juice fast and actually felt better than I had in a long time...until I started eating real food again. I knew that I couldn't just drink juice forever and so for the next 7 years, I tried many diets, supplements, fasts and cleanses until I could no longer justify the large expense for the small results that I was receiving.
This past year has been the worst yet. In all of my internet searching of various conditions, In effort to diagnose myself,
I would say that I have the most symptoms related to Chronic Fatigue. My muscles ache all the time and the amount of energy that I wake up with in the morning has grown smaller and smaller. I have quit doing a lot chores around the house because they used to much energy or caused me to much pain. I have quit exercising and doing things that I really love, like hiking and being outside with my kiddo's. Even board games on some days take too much mental and physical energy. I have gone from actively homeschooling my kids, to sleeping through their questions or reading assignments. I have still tried to adjust my diet, but some days I literally am too foggy in the head to put menu's together, let alone make the food. I have pulled out of all outside activities and shut down most of my social life. I just don't have it in me to be "on" for people, and I feel bad when I am, and then can't be for my own kids. I feel guilty for all that I can no longer do, and yet didn't have enough energy to do anything about it.
It was at this point, a few weeks ago, that I had a "snapping" moment. I hit my rock bottom I guess because It was then that I decided that no matter what it took, I was going to get myself well because It is ridiculous in my mind, to shut down my life at 36 years of age while my kids are still very much in need of me! I have known all along that God made my body to heal, if I can just give it what it needs. My challenge thus far has been finding what that means for me. I do know that what I am dealing with can be fixed nutritionally. I know that caffeine is NOT my friend, but I have had to drink coffee everyday,just to be halfway coherent. I also know that gluten might not be my friend either, but have been too scared to jump off that lifestyle change cliff. Or so I have made it be in my mind :)
After my snapping moment, I had a talk with my brother who had joined a company that had an energy drink that was not full of harmful ingredients and had no caffeine. I tried it right away and loved it! I have been able to get totally off of coffee and am able to function for about half the day, which was a huge improvement! After about 2 weeks of taking the energy drink I had my, "I AM WORTH FIGHTING FOR moment!" (probably because I was thinking more clearly :D).  I know as women sometimes we can give until there is literally nothing left of ourselves, and honestly, I used to think that was almost noble. Now I am convinced that it's totally foolish. Why do would we do this? We have loved ones that need us and rely on us, so why would we not take care of ourselves? Believe me, I totally understand the "why", but I am suggesting that it is not selfishness to care enough about yourself to be healthy. It's actually a very Godly principle that falls under the stewardship category. We are to take care of everything that we have been given, and yes that includes our own bodies :D I don't know about you but, this revelation was very freeing for me. The Lord also confirmed this for me when He told me at an Encounter service at church this past fall, saying that "It is irresponsible to pray for healing, when you won't stop eating foods that will harm your body." I got it. Just like I can't get upset at my car for not working properly if I put the wrong fuel in it, I can't get upset or even discouraged when my body is not functioning the way God created it to, because I continually give it the wrong fuel. This told me several things: God is still with me, and directing my steps, that the fuel that my body needs is in fact still available, and that jumping off of the that Gluten cliff is to be my next step.

So, the plan from this point forward? As 2013 begins, I will eliminate gluten, try and eat as "clean" and I can, begin a new regimen of the 90 essential nutrients that my body needs to build and repair itself, continue to pray my little heart out, and move forward in the knowledge that God will direct my path. So hopefully by this time next year, I just might be able to again post a pick of me lying here on my couch. Not because I have used up my energy for the day by simply walking down my stairs, but having collapsed in the joy of knowing that I have used up every ounce of the energy that God has given me throughout an overflowing day of service to Him and fun with my kiddo's :D I am worth fighting for....and You are too! Stay tuned! I will keep you updated on my progress. :D

Stones collected: STEWARDSHIP: taking care of me, so that I can take care of those I love; VALUE: I am worth fighting for; FAITHFULNESS: God is faithful to complete every good work that He begins :D; SUBMISSION: Submitting to the process and learning the lessons hidden within every situation; PERSEVERANCE: the Will to Keep Moving forward