The past, present and future
In June 2006, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease when your immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. It’s a nasty, debilitating disease — it was my identity for almost a third of my life.
In January 2016, after nearly ten years of fighting Lupus, I was told it was a misdiagnosis. The new diagnosis? Chronic Lyme disease and at least fifteen other infections, all of which I had had for the majority of my life.
Growing up, there was never a clear indication that I was living with chronic infections. Looking back, maybe I had a couple more challenges than your average teenager, but at the time nothing seemed too out of the ordinary — I was diagnosed with a memory disability in high school and suffered from depression, anxiety and an eating disorder, all of which are hardly unique to me. But I was also tested for thyroid problems, mono, ADD and digestion problems, and while all of those came back negative or normal, clearly something wasn’t right.
It was frustrating for my parents and me, going into appointments with a list of symptoms and coming out with negative or normal test results. So when I was diagnosed with Lupus it was almost a relief because we finally had “the answer.” I was immediately put on a handful of drugs, which in turn put me in a hypnotic state for the next eight years, literally and figuratively.
That time in my life is a bit of a brain-fogged blur, but the patterns of my health became more and more predictable: “healthy”, flare-up, prednisone...“healthy”, flare-up, prednisone...repeat, repeat, repeat. What finally woke me up from this hazy state was a prescription for Methotrexate, a form of chemotherapy. I remember the exact moment when I snapped out of it and realized there had to be a better answer.
So, in 2014 I started to explore new approaches to treatment: integrative medicine, food, natural herbs and supplements and lifestyle changes. I started to feel alive again! But despite the immediate relief and reinvigoration I experienced, it was a conflicting and challenging time - I was at a crossroads. My new treatment was not covered by insurance and so I began dipping into my savings to pay for medical expenses. I was also forced to finally accept that I would need to quit a job I loved because I was constantly sick. This was the first taste of the financial, social and professional sacrifices I’d have to make in the pursuit of good health. But I was willing to make them because giving up was not an option.
After a year of treating “Lupus” naturally, a new passion evolved. I realized my path was leading me back to school to study nutritional consulting with the goal of helping others find the relief I had found through food. In March 2015, I enrolled in the holistic nutrition program at Bauman College to learn how to use food as medicine. With a new outlook and a new career to explore, I was encouraged to be on the right path. But life had other plans. Soon after, my world was rocked when I found out about my misdiagnosis and my new adversary, Lyme disease.
While my new approach to eating and lifestyle would be critical in my battle with Lyme, I knew we were going to need reinforcements to fight and win. We started treatment with antibiotics and were told it would take 5-7 years before I was cured. But after being hospitalized due to a toxic drug reaction, we reevaluated. With a stroke of luck and the support of loved ones, I took a leap of faith and decided to treat the Lyme and co-infections naturally and alternatively.
After only a year of dedicated recovery, I found out I was *Lyme-free. I attribute my recovery to my "secret sauce," a sauce made from extensive research, blood, sweat and tears (literally and figuratively), education as a nutritional consultant, trial and error, commitment and faith. It's filled with ingredients that I now use as a foundation when working with clients, no matter their health goals. Together, we sprinkle some of my ingredients in with their ingredients to create a sauce that works for them. After all, when it comes to health, one size does not fit all. I believe approaching health in an individual and holistic way leads to sustainable results.
My hopeful recovery has provided me with newfound energy and faith that good health is a reality I never thought would be possible for me. I am now able to look at the “Lupus” and Lyme as blessings. They set me on a new path and provided me with the motivation and opportunity to connect and contribute to others recovery in a deeper, more impactful way.
Why Wiser Wellness? Conveniently, my last name and my calling form a perfect alliteration, Wiser Wellness. But wisdom is defined as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” Because of my healthy journey, when it comes to wellness, I happen to have a lot of wisdom. This wisdom - my own experience, knowledge and judgment - is what inspired Wiser Wellness.
Looking to the future, Wiser Wellness provides me with a platform to help others who have suffered like I have, or who are searching for a life well lived.
For more information on my personal health journey, feel free to check out my blog, From Lupus to Lyme.