I hesitated to do it, but I needed to feel better! My energy and stamina were slowly robbed, and feeling sluggish had become a normal feeling. Even after resting for over a year and letting knee injuries heal, I knew I had to seek help beyond the traditional medicine I had been relying on for years. I was barely making it through the day without a long nap.
It started in 1995 when I went off of birth control to try to start a family. Yes, I said try. After three months of no cycles, a fertility doctor diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS.) It was a blow to me, who was hardly ever sick. Also, I gained about 10 pounds a year since being married, but wasn't that expected?
When I began to research what PCOS was and my chances of conceiving a child, I was filled with dread and hope. There were treatments to assist with pregnancy, but I came to realize many of the symptoms I was experiencing would never go away. So, I walked through life with a silent struggle of low energy towards obesity. (Not to leave you hanging, we adopted, and now she's 21)!
It started in 1995 when I went off of birth control to try to start a family. Yes, I said try. After three months of no cycles, a fertility doctor diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS.) It was a blow to me, who was hardly ever sick. Also, I gained about 10 pounds a year since being married, but wasn't that expected?
When I began to research what PCOS was and my chances of conceiving a child, I was filled with dread and hope. There were treatments to assist with pregnancy, but I came to realize many of the symptoms I was experiencing would never go away. So, I walked through life with a silent struggle of low energy towards obesity. (Not to leave you hanging, we adopted, and now she's 21)!
I even resigned to being overweight in my 30s and 40s, but when perimenopause reared her ugly head, the weight gain and fatigue only became worse. Having two bad knees made it difficult to stand, let alone walk hardly, and I became more and more miserable. Let me add this here. During this time, God was my strength.
Anyone with PCOS knows you can end up taking prescriptions for several conditions. I'm thankful for modern medicine and medical insurance for this! One of the conditions is depression/anxiety. My PHP told me I'd be on an antidepressant for the rest of my life, and I believed him. Besides, what woman isn't on an antidepressant these days? I had a mainstream mentality to health. But, guess what? That changed with a bottle of peppermint oil in 2015.
Another health issue not related to PCOS I had been dealing with was frequent headaches due to allergies. I carried a bottle of pain reliever and decongestant in my purse, and it became my security blanket for dealing with pop-up pain. Many things in my daily life made my head pound until a friend offered (well pushed) me to try peppermint oil for it. When I finally relented, I was amazed at how it worked and wanted to know more. Soon, I got an oil kit with 11 oils and a diffuser and have been learning and telling everyone about the miracle of oils since. (Did you know peppermint oil works as a vasodilator?)
So, here I am, the fat hippie chick who uses oils for almost everything but has the energy of a 90-year-old. And as I start to admit how awful I feel to myself, I finally did it. I made an appointment with a functional doctor to get to the root cause of my body gone bad. I knew it would be a financial investment in my future, but I was ready for changes. Unfortunately, I had to wait for an open appointment.
Months later, the doctor's office call comes, and I can't wait for this doctor to figure out how to make me feel better. Besides, what can they tell me? I've already been living with a broken body for 26 years! I hope there is something I can do to increase my energy more. The oils and products I've been using have helped, but I want to feel even better!
This year of introspection has helped me see my worth, and I am ready to do all the tests and get to the bottom of it. What will my treatment be? Will I get a new diagnosis? What will it mean for my lifestyle?
My visit with the doctor went so well, and we connected. She listened to me tell my health journey for minutes on end. She saw me and my energy and stamina struggles, and it was very validating! I had been ashamed of how bad I felt and not disclosed it to my doctors and specialists. I did a disservice to myself by doing that. I'm learning to voice my issues, and I think the intense knee pain helped me gain the courage to speak up. I guess because I am an upbeat, outgoing person, not everyone knew my silent struggle. I could barely confess it to myself. Oh, the joys of being an enneagram 2, helper to others but not one's self.
So, with the functional doctor's direction, I did a gambit of tests which took me a spreadsheet to coordinate and many phone alarms to accomplish. I submitted urine, blood, saliva, feces, and genetics for analysis. When all the numbers, symbols, and reports came back, my doctor wasn't overwhelmed or puzzled. She is truly extraordinary! She explained everything, and I took copious notes. One of the main culprits, it turns out, my gut is sick, and I have an autoimmune disease called Celiac disease.
It's another medical diagnosis notched into my belt and another diagnoses code used on my medical records. But, it doesn't define me.
Anyone with PCOS knows you can end up taking prescriptions for several conditions. I'm thankful for modern medicine and medical insurance for this! One of the conditions is depression/anxiety. My PHP told me I'd be on an antidepressant for the rest of my life, and I believed him. Besides, what woman isn't on an antidepressant these days? I had a mainstream mentality to health. But, guess what? That changed with a bottle of peppermint oil in 2015.
Another health issue not related to PCOS I had been dealing with was frequent headaches due to allergies. I carried a bottle of pain reliever and decongestant in my purse, and it became my security blanket for dealing with pop-up pain. Many things in my daily life made my head pound until a friend offered (well pushed) me to try peppermint oil for it. When I finally relented, I was amazed at how it worked and wanted to know more. Soon, I got an oil kit with 11 oils and a diffuser and have been learning and telling everyone about the miracle of oils since. (Did you know peppermint oil works as a vasodilator?)
So, here I am, the fat hippie chick who uses oils for almost everything but has the energy of a 90-year-old. And as I start to admit how awful I feel to myself, I finally did it. I made an appointment with a functional doctor to get to the root cause of my body gone bad. I knew it would be a financial investment in my future, but I was ready for changes. Unfortunately, I had to wait for an open appointment.
Months later, the doctor's office call comes, and I can't wait for this doctor to figure out how to make me feel better. Besides, what can they tell me? I've already been living with a broken body for 26 years! I hope there is something I can do to increase my energy more. The oils and products I've been using have helped, but I want to feel even better!
This year of introspection has helped me see my worth, and I am ready to do all the tests and get to the bottom of it. What will my treatment be? Will I get a new diagnosis? What will it mean for my lifestyle?
My visit with the doctor went so well, and we connected. She listened to me tell my health journey for minutes on end. She saw me and my energy and stamina struggles, and it was very validating! I had been ashamed of how bad I felt and not disclosed it to my doctors and specialists. I did a disservice to myself by doing that. I'm learning to voice my issues, and I think the intense knee pain helped me gain the courage to speak up. I guess because I am an upbeat, outgoing person, not everyone knew my silent struggle. I could barely confess it to myself. Oh, the joys of being an enneagram 2, helper to others but not one's self.
So, with the functional doctor's direction, I did a gambit of tests which took me a spreadsheet to coordinate and many phone alarms to accomplish. I submitted urine, blood, saliva, feces, and genetics for analysis. When all the numbers, symbols, and reports came back, my doctor wasn't overwhelmed or puzzled. She is truly extraordinary! She explained everything, and I took copious notes. One of the main culprits, it turns out, my gut is sick, and I have an autoimmune disease called Celiac disease.
It's another medical diagnosis notched into my belt and another diagnoses code used on my medical records. But, it doesn't define me.
Stay tuned for the next installation and what my doctor instructed me to do.Want to learn more about the oils and clean products I love? I'd love to give you a sample of peppermint oil! Feel free to reach out, and I've got time for you!
About Me
