My Naturopathic Journey: Finding answer and healing

I’ve decided that 2020 is the year I find me, myself, and I. I’ve also decided that this is the year that get some answers. In the last 3 years I have been a lab rat and test cushion running test after test without finding the understanding of what is happening in my body and how to heal myself. I saw doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist. And while the medicine bills racked up a far amount – I have enough understanding of my human medicine counterparts that I nixed tests I didn’t feel served my best interest. (Be your own patient advocate!)

So this year I went out on a limb. I decided to try something completely different. I scheduled an appointment with a Naturopath.

At this point in my naturopathic journey I am just barely scratching the surface. I mean etching through the frosted glass that encompasses Western Medicine peering over to our Eastern Medicine counterparts. *Looks pretty friendly and serene over there!*

I started to dive into the Naturopathic realm of medicine a couple years back. I didn’t feel like I was getting answers. My test results were coming back as “normal” – and while within range (and continue to be for some) they are not my normal. My thyroid gland has been through a lot over the last 33 years of life. I have been testing hypothyroid before becoming hyperthyroid during my time on the Island. Who knew that a thyroid gland can literally cause you to pass out, have tachyarrhythmias – Well I didn’t know about Thyroid Storms at that point in my life. Or how close I could have come to death from them. We just treated my condition and I got better-ish.

My poor understanding of my own health back then, and my easily influenced mind allowed me to grow increasingly frustrated with physicians. And while I respect the work they do, I have definitely started to take a more active role in my own health care. Something I think we all should do. Patient advocacy is lately tailored to those that cannot speak up for themselves. Well, ladies and gents, I say we all need to speak up. **Please don’t misinterpret that to mean being RUDE, CONDESCENDING, DISRESPECTFUL, or INAPPROPRIATE** I mean do your research. Understand your symptoms. ASK QUESTIONS. And when you do not understand why your doctor wants x, y, or z – ASK!

Gone are the days of just zipping through appointments. We need to step off of these conveyer belts we’re on and get back to healing people.

In my need to find answers and find ways to actually heal my body, (mind and spirit), I have found naturopathic medicine. My naturopathic physician has been helpful, understanding, and a cheerleader in my corner. I have literally only had two sessions with the woman and I already feel like we are going to tackle this mountain of work my body needs to correct the dysfunctions and get back on track.

She has taken my limited understanding of naturopathic medicine and broadened the scope like turning on a lightbulb. I have been searching and searching for answers on my own. She has become the string interweaving the knowledge I’ve gained along the way with where I’m at today.

I have long since understood the importance of diet with healing the body. Ever heard of leaky gut?? It sounds gross, and is even worse to experience. While my biopsies and testing comes back “within normal limits” my symptoms are far from gone.

I’ve tried eating Paleo, going through the AIP diet, and working through my diet to figure out what I need to avoid. Unfortunately I’ve come to a halt. I literally was at my wits end prior to seeking out my naturopathic physician.

I had read blog after blog, bought books, and read articles searching for methodologies to help me. The individual. But nothing quite seemed to work, or I just couldn’t stick to it. I started the AIP diet, only to not do well coming off of the Elimination phase.

Since doing the AIP diet the food groups I now avoid has increased:

Gluten (been GF for like 7 years)
Dairy (been DF for 10+ years)
Legume free (since 2015)
Nightshades (sadness – Also… who else had to look up what constitutes a nightshade? Because I sometimes still have to look it up)
Corn – doesn’t always sit well
Grains (limited, but not totally gone)

I also accept that when I eat sugar I’ll have a flare up. But a girls cravings are no joke!

So now with my fabulous Naturopathic Physician and my new motivation to get to the bottom of what I need to be doing I’m ready to start this Naturopathic Journey. I already have more answers than any Western Medicine Physician has been able to give me so the future is looking up, right?C

Here’s to a healthy start!

Nattie