My next “Inspiration Sunday” includes this story about Kimberly Allison’s journey back to health. Check back next Sunday for another courageous story! Be inspired!
How it all started…..
Kim was first diagnosed with clinical depression at the age of 16. She continued to suffer with this along with migraines, until at the age of 25 it all escalated with muscle aches and pain and she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. She was tested for RA and Lupus but when those came back negative the Fibromyalgia diagnosis was made and the Rheumatologist wrote her prescriptions for pain pills, muscle relaxers and antidepressants and sent her on her way.
Life was hard struggling with the illness while working and attending culinary school and the migraines became so violent she would have to leave work and go home. She worked in a bakery and was continually working with large amounts of flour and sugar daily. She began to gain weight as the symptoms worsened. In 2009, she was diagnosed with cervical dysplasia and at the urging of the OB underwent a complete hysterectomy. She felt this would fix many of the problems, attributing them to her cycle. Unfortunately, this was not the case and in 2010 she was diagnosed with fatty liver disease and Barrett’s Esophagus which is a precancerous condition of the esophagus. The doctor checked her thyroid and said all was well and that she was merely fat and lazy and just needed to lose weight. It would take the GI doctor another 2 years to discover that her gallbladder was completely non functioning and would need to be removed for relief from her symptoms. While her symptoms did show some improvements she still continued to gain weight and feel miserable. By 2013, her hair was falling out in clumps and she was barely able to stay awake at 2:00 in the afternoon. Finally to the point of total desperation she reached out to a friend who referred her to a functional medicine practitioner and two days prior to her 46th birthday she walked into the practitioners office and found someone that truly listened to her concerns, ailments and long list of prior doctors diagnosis without making her feel as though she were crazy!
The turning point….
The practitioner told her that she would get to the bottom of this and ran a FULL thyroid panel. It was on this day that her life changed forever! At her immediate suggestion, she started her on a great cleanse and asked her to give up all inflammatory foods such as gluten, soy, dairy, sugar, caffeine and processed foods. Kim implemented these changes right away because she was finally ready to do what it took to get well! After approximately three weeks, which included a Christmas with NO weight gain, she could feel her pain subsiding and she hadn’t had a migraine in three weeks! The brain fog was lifting….and her energy was increasing….in 3 weeks! She was a true believer in this lifestyle! Her doctor called her after a month and her blood test results had come back. The first thing she told her was “Congratulations! you are not crazy!” She went on to explain that not only were her thyroid hormones all out of whack causing hypothyroidism, but she also tested positive for Hashimotos Disease which is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the thyroid. Finally an answer! She began taking a low dose of synthroid and her levels were checked every 3 months as they began to level out. With further checking it was discovered that she had abnormally high ferritin which has now been successfully lowered. She also suffered from systemic inflammation. She was literally a health disaster waiting to happen headed for a possible heart attack!
6 steps that she took…..
She began a good quality detox program , eliminating all inflammatory foods while incorporating non GMO vegan protein powder, probiotics, digestive enzymes along with fiber. This included a 7 day cleanse and a detox tea. This began to bring healing to her kidney and digestive function while working to eliminate the toxins from her body without taxing her system.
She consumed foods in their natural state which included no dairy, soy, gluten, sugar or processed foods.
She adopted a system of supplements to support a healthy immune system including : Vitamin D, Vitamin K, B vitamins, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin C and more.
She also worked toward moving her body from an acidic state to a more alkaline state. Removing the inflammatory foods helped with this but she also added apple cider vinegar diluted in a bit of warm water with honey every morning.
She also incorporated drinking half of her body weight in ounces of water each day to aid in flushing out toxins, keeping her properly hydrated, regulating her body temperature, diluting vitamin/minerals and delivering those nutrients where they should go in the body.
And she continued to work with her functional medicine practitioner to heal her gut by implementing liquid turmeric, reservero, GI Synergy and GI benefits along with bone broth. It has definitely worked!
A word from Kim to you if you’re having health challenges…
” Be your own advocate! You live in your body 24/7 and you know when something isn’t right. Go in pursuit of your answers, don’t stop until you are satisfied with your level of care. If you aren’t then keep searching and perhaps consider finding a functional medicine practitioner. Use your voice and be willing to open your mind to another way of doing things instead of relying on a band aid and prescription meds. Be willing to find the ROOT CAUSE to your ailments…it more than likely can be pinpointed to your food choices.” Also, “if you’re having a health crisis DO NOT OWN YOUR ILLNESS. So many times we own it, live it, breathe it and allow it to define who we are but we are not our illnesses. They happen to us, but if we own it, it can defeat us. So keep a positive mindset and know that you are not your disease . ”
To hear more from Kim check her out on facebook at www.facebook.com/kaorganicchef or twitter @healthcoachms. She is also on periscope under the same handle.
Read my story of overcoming a health crisis here.
Follow along here!