In 2006 I was diagnosed with a bladder disease. {Have I made you feel uncomfortable? It is amazing how many people get a little squeemish when I say "bladder disease". They immediately try to change the subject and feel uncomfortable. I'm not sure why that is -- if I had a "liver disease" or "heart disease" I don't think I would have the same reaction? It's like I'm talking about something that is completely taboo.}
I have always had complete faith in the medical profession and have never considered going anywhere else (homeopathics, herbs, accupunture, etc.). I did everything they told me to do. I stopped drinking soda that very day and avoided all of the foods they told me to. I had a very painful surgery and an awful experience with a medication that did not work for me, and after all of that I was finally told that I was "just going to have to learn to live with it." It was not a good thing to hear but I accepted it and tried to move on, while having this disease affect my life on a daily basis.
Fast forward to a few years later. I got a recommendation from a family acquaintance to go to a Hollistic Family Nurse Practitioner. She had the same disease I have but by going here she is now completely symptom free. I was very skeptical and did not want to go. I knew it would be expensive and I doubted that it could work, so I put off making an appointment. Finally after struggling with new and different medical issues, it felt right to me, and I finally made my first appointment.
I started seeing Martha Bray in May. It is different than any kind of appointment I have ever been to. In a completely shortened version, she uses many different scans and analyzes the meridians of your body to determine where you have a problem and what would help. She focuses on your whole wellness and not just one specific organ or problem.
She also uses a food scan which tells you what foods are causing an inflammatory response in your body. Those are the foods you should avoid. My main foods to avoid have been wheat, rye, barley, bell peppers and milk, with quite a few smaller ones, like beets, bananas and coconut. I have also been avoiding sugar as much as possible.
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| All of the supplements, homeopathic drops and sprays that I am currently on. |
So this has been a five month journey so far and I think I have at least another six months or so. I have seen some definite improvements in my health and certain specific things while other things have remained unchanged. I am trying to have faith that this will work and am giving it my 100 percent effort. Does anyone out there have any success stories with a similar approach? Or if anyone wants any more information let me know. I'd be happy to share more details.
5 comments:
Chelsea! I didn't know you had this, I don't know if you know but shawn has Crohn's Disease- it is an autoimmune disease in his intestines. The medications were pointless for him, so he hasn't taken them for like three years now and hasn't had a "flare-up" as they call it since. He still is super sensitive to certain foods and can get so sick so easily, but he hasn't had an episode in a few years now. He has been eating super healthy with hardly and sugar, no soda, and has tons and tons of veggies. He also is taking some supplements that are natural and they seem to help him too. I swear that changing your diet can really clear up a lot of symptoms and health issues. Good luck with this whole thing, I hope it works or at least helps out! You might as well try, and at least the things you are doing are natural, so not much risk there!
Chelsea, you are an inspiration! I am so impressed with how you've stuck to this (I can't imagine how hard it would be) and I'm delighted that you feel healthier. And thanks for being so open about your "taboo" problem! :)
I was wondering why you were doing the gluten, dairy, sugar free diet, now I know :) I'm sorry to hear about your bladder disease, it sounds very painful. I'm glad you explained it on here because I knew that you had some health problems in the past but I wasn't sure if they were still going on-and I'm not sure why I just didn't ask you when I saw you last?! anyway, I totally believe in the holistic approach. My family often goes to a Chiropractor in Btfl, Dr. Olsen and we LOVE him. Anytime I get sick I head there and he does acupuncture on me, gives me some supplements to take and I always get better. I can't remember the last time I took any kind of antibiotic or medicine, I always have his supplements on hand and when I get a sore throat (the most common sickness for me) I take the supplements (and cut out sugar and dairy from my diet) and it's gone within a few short days. I am a firm believer that modern medicine is great but shouldn't be a cure for EVERY ailment.
I also know that my parents have both been to Martha Bray and my mom is currently on a diet that Martha Bray put her on.
I hope that what you're doing will continue to help you so that you can get better!
I didn't know about this! I'm glad you're being open about it. I can't imagine what you've been though and continue to have to deal with. I'm SO glad you're having improvements. I know several people that the hollistic approach has helped in several different ways.
Hi Chelsea - I just came across your blog from your comment on CJane. I just started eating Wheat Free (and a lot less sugar) this week. I have read a lot how giving up wheat can lower cholesterol w/o taking medication. That is what I am trying to do. It is great you have been doing it so long. I just started and you are right, it is hard. I will try your pancake/waffle mix you suggested. Take care ~
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