It has taken me wayyyyyy too long to write this post, dear readers….
Why, you may ask?
It’s emotional, it’s sensitive content, it’s me not wanting anyone to feel sorry for me or feel emotionally vulnerable (hello, ego!), and did I mention vulnerability???
But, alas, it was T.I.M.E.
I have had health struggles my entire life. I hide it well. I try to be smiley, gregarious, extroverted and make it appear as if everything is A-OKAY. But, for what has been the better part of my entire life, I have seriously struggled with medical issues.
I won’t bore you with the years and years (and years!) of doctor’s visits, frustration, anger, disillusionment, self-doubt, severe pain, depression, and irritability….would you like me to go on? I thought not.
And here’s the thing: no one REALLY knows what is wrong with me…
So, I decided to diagnose myself.
I know, I know — this is where y’all think I’ve completely lost my mind. But, hang in there with me on this one. I have a feeling that if anyone has gone through just a fraction of what I have gone through, well — you’re my people. And, this post is for you.
You may notice I mentioned Leaky Gut Syndrome…
So, I haven’t actually been diagnosed with Leaky Gut Syndrome. But, I have been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases (Fibromyalgia and/or Persistent Lyme Disease and/or Crohn’s Disease), a severely fractured tailbone = chronic all-over body pain (thanks, horseback riding), acne rosacea, eczema on the palms of my hands and back of my scalp, and plantar fasciitis. 🙃
Ay yi yi! It’s not something I would wish upon my worst enemy. REALLY…
My chronic health struggles have pretty much been throughout the entirety of my life, but I always try to remain positive and remind myself that, overall, I have been very lucky. And, it could always be worse.
The Past…
As a child, I was inundated with painful double ear infections, and chronic rhinitis, and caught colds so much easier than most of my friends. Since I grew up in the 1980s, it was common to just be overprescribed antibiotics. And, that is exactly what persisted throughout my life even into young adulthood. All those antibiotics, plus what I believe to be genetics, created the perfect storm when it came to my health.
It would be impossible for me to tell you how many different doctors, specialists, functional medical specialists, ayurvedic doctors, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc., etc., I have seen over the years. Hundreds and hundreds. No one has really been able to tell me what is wrong with me, except for a gastroenterologist near my hometown back in my 30s to a local Chiropractor who finally diagnosed where most of (if not all) my chronic all-over body pain was coming from.
There was a functional medical practice that I would also HIGHLY recommend – they cared deeply – out of the 5 Cities area of California’s Central Coast, but they do not accept insurance and I realize this could be unattainable for most families. Comment below *if you want to know more about this practice and I will answer your questions!
The story behind those two VERY special doctors (Dr. Karnes – Santa Barbara, CA – no longer in practice and Dr. Egbert, Chiropractor – Santa Maria, CA – still in practice!) is this: out of hundreds and hundreds of different types of doctors, there were only TWO who cared about figuring out my issues.
Pretty pathetic, right?
The standard Western medical system is a joke: the doctor spends maybe 15 minutes (if you’re lucky!) and then is out the door. What can possibly be accomplished or comprehended with a system like this? I started “swinging to the East” (as I jokingly call it) many, many years ago because of so much unethical “care” I experienced with the standard, current medical system.
It was ONLY BECAUSE those two aforementioned doctors took actual T.I.M.E. talking to me, learning about my life, and asking meaningful questions that they were able to address what was really going on with me! You see? It was just talking and learning about me that actually helped them access what was needed to diagnose my issues!
Dr. Karnes (gastroenterologist) said to me (after prescribing that I swallow a capsule that had a camera in it to review what was going on in my intestinal tract), “Tara: even if the video shows nothing wrong, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing wrong with you. We will figure this out together.”
I will never forget that statement.
The video evidence showed inflammation and pustules in my large intestine and my ilium. I told him I didn’t want to take traditional Crohn’s Disease medicine, and that I would attempt to look at my diet, TCM, essential oils, and other all-natural remedies. He was supportive.
Dr. Egbert, my Chiropractor, took so much time talking with me and authentically wanting to learn about my life. Never in a million years did I think asking about my childhood and what activities I took part in would provide insight into my chronic pain…
After initially spending about an hour (!!!!!) with me and ordering an updated full-body MRI, he met with me to go over the results. Before telling me what the MRI showed, he asked me if I had any memory whatsoever of slamming my bum into anything. It was at that moment that I had that “AHA Moment:”
YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!
I told him how, as a 13-14 year old, I rode jumpers (horses) competitively. I suddenly remembered that my horse refused a fence and I went flying over her head and slammed my bum into hard ground.
“Aha,” he said: “That explains why you have a severly fractured tailbone. On behalf of the entire medical community, let me apoligze to you for the fact that no one — in over 20 years — has taken the time to learn about you and figure out that you have what is the worst fracture I have seen in some time.”
MIND.BLOWN. 🤯
Why, dear readers??? WHY did it take this long for someone to ask the right question? This is why I am so deeply passionate about sharing my story — I hope that this post will help even just one reader to remember to seek out medical care that actually IS care!
While I still believe very strongly in Eastern medical practices such as acupuncture, TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), tai chi, qigong, tuina, yoga, meditation, reiki, etc., I also know that these are life commitments.
What do I mean by this? Well, these all have to actually become part of one’s lifestyle; it is a life commitment that needs to be addressed daily to actually see results. While I would love to say this is realistic for me in this season of my life — it just isn’t. And, let’s be honest here: it isn’t cheap!
I am extremely busy with my PT garden educator job, my PT magazine advertising job, my doTERRA biz, and my blog — all while also maintaining the household duties (which are endless…), and studying PT for my real estate license! Did I mention MY own organic, heirloom garden??? I’m lucky if I get my daily #walkeverydaychallenge in! Sooo, yeeeahhh – not a lot of extra time in my days to commit to much else!
The Current…
I have committed myself to a #walkeverydaychallenge which has been absolutely wonderful. Seriously: it is something I now look forward to every day! I put on a really inspiration podcast and sweat it out! I also included this challenge for myself on my social media channels, and I believe this has helped me stick with it! With so much body pain and such a serious injury, I have to be VERY careful about what I do, exercise-wise. This has negatively affected my life because A.) pain SUCKS, and B.) it has meant exercise over the years has been pretty much a no-no, and weight has been gained. 😟
I have also been prescribed many different prescriptions over the years that have had horrible side effects including dry mouth, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, brain fog, and itchy skin — seriously, the list goes on and on and on…
I have managed to wean myself off all of those meds except one, which I believe does provide at least some relief. So, while I have attempted many different eating and diet protocols over these many years (my pain started at the tender young age of 27, friends!!!) none have been a protocol that I believe is realistic for me to actually stick with long-term. I also happen to lack that thing called self-discipline, so there’s that!
One day recently, I saw something that really stuck with me. Dr. Josh Axe (who is someone I have known about, followed, read about, watched his YouTube videos, etc. for many years) was talking about all the many symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome.
As I read all the many symptoms, I was like:
- Bloating – ✔️
- Food sensitivities – ✔️
- Thyroid conditions – ✔️
- Fatigue – ✔️
- Joint pain – ✔️
- Headaches – ✔️
- Skin issues, like rosacea and acne – ✔️
- Digestive problems – ✔️
- Weight gain – ✔️✔️✔️🤪
- inflammatory bowel disease or IBS – ✔️
- arthritis – ✔️
- eczema – ✔️
- psoriasis – ✔️
- depression – ✔️
- anxiety – ✔️
- migraine headaches – ✔️
- muscle pain – ✔️
- chronic fatigue – ✔️
Ummmmmm — I think this is my issue!
So, although I don’t believe strictly adhering to absolutely everything he recommends is realistic for me, I am going to focus on eating the foods he recommends in order to see if this, over time, makes an improvement!
The Recommended Protocol….
So, here is a listing of the foods that Dr. Axe recommends for Leaky Gut Syndrome — and the why’s! Some of the foodstuffs on his list are easier for me, such as fermented foods. But, some are going to be harder and more expensive.
But, I ask you dear reader: what is MORE important than the food we put inside our bodies?
- Bone Broth — Bone broth contains collagen and the amino acids proline and glycine that can help heal your damaged cell walls. I’ve had many of my patients do a bone broth fast for three days to help treat leaky gut and autoimmune diseases.
- Raw Cultured Dairy — Raw dairy contains beneficial bacteria when fermented and short-chain fatty acids that can help heal the gut. Pastured kefir, yogurt, amasai, butter, and raw cheese are some of the best options.
- Fermented Foods — In addition to fermented dairy products, fermented vegetables are some of the healthiest probiotic foods. They contain organic acids that balance intestinal pH and probiotics to support the gut. Sauerkraut, kimchi and kvass are excellent sources.
- Coconut Products — All coconut products are especially good for your gut. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut are thought to be easier to digest than other fats so they work well for maintaining digestive health. Also, coconut kefir contains healthy microbes that support your digestive system.
- Sprouted Seeds — Chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds that have been sprouted are great sources of fiber that can help support the growth of beneficial bacteria. If you have severe leaky gut, you may need to start out getting your fiber from steamed vegetables and fruit.
- Healthy Fats — Consuming healthy fats in moderation like egg yolks, avocados, ghee, and coconut oil is easy on the gut and promotes nutrient absorption.
- Omega-3 Fats — Certain protein foods also contain healthy omega-3 fats, such as grass-fed beef, lamb, chicken, and wild-caught fish like salmon.
- Fruit – Consuming one to two servings of fruit daily is a good way to obtain vitamins and minerals. You can steam apples and pears to make homemade apple sauce or fruit sauce. Fruit is best consumed in the morning and not later on in the day, and remember to keep fruit intake in moderation.
So – what are your thoughts about this, dear reader?
I have stocked up on sprouted grains since I know totally eliminating grains is just NOT something I believe will sustain over time. I use Azure Standard for all my organic grocery shopping and there is a pick-up each month just 15 minutes from my house!
*IF you are interested in learning more or shopping via Azure Standard — Don’t forget to use my referral code: tarahoward1
I am also going to get all raw dairy from my local food co-op, as well as start making my own milk kefir and yogurt again. I have lofty goals, but I am reminding myself that there are only so many hours in my day — so next week it may be making a sprouted boule from scratch — but the month afterward it may be the coconut yogurt. You get the idea. This isn’t about perfection, just slow progress…
Here is a list of supplements Dr. Axe recommends to take:
- Probiotics (50–100 billion units daily) — This is the most important supplement to take because it helps replenish good bacteria and crowds out bad bacteria. I recommend getting probiotics in both food and supplement form. By only following part of the protocol in treating leaky gut syndrome by removing the damaging irritants, you may fail to re-inoculate the gut with beneficial bacteria that will keep bad bacteria at bay. Based on available research, look for strains like Bacillus clausii, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus coagulans.
- Digestive enzymes (one to two capsules at the beginning of each meal) — These ensure that foods are fully digested, decreasing the chance that partially digested foods particles and proteins are damaging your gut wall.
- L-Glutamine — Critical for any program designed to heal leaky gut, glutamine powder is an essential amino acid supplement that has anti-inflammatory properties and is necessary for the growth and repair of your intestinal lining. L-glutamine benefits include acting as a protector, coating your cell walls and acting as a repellent to irritants.
- Licorice Root — An adaptogenic herb that helps balance cortisol levels and improves acid production in the stomach, licorice root supports the body’s natural processes for maintaining the mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum. This herb is especially beneficial if someone’s leaky gut is caused by emotional stress due to how it can help improve the way you produce and metabolize cortisol.
- Shilajit — A tar-like medicinal herb used frequently in Ayurvedic medicine, shilajit can protect from stomach ulcers as well as reduce inflammation triggered or exacerbated by leaky gut.
- Marshmallow Root — Because it has antioxidant and antihistamine properties, marshmallow root makes a great addition to any natural medicine cabinet, particularly for those struggling with gut-related issues.
Some Take-Aways…
Okay, you guys. You know it is in my nature to be totally authentic, here. There are some areas where I just know I need to be flexible with this new protocol.
⇒ Dairy: as mentioned above, I am not planning on totally eliminating dairy. I just know myself and I have to be realistic, here! If I tend to do anything too extreme, I never stick with it! So, if you are thinking of starting this protocol, KNOW.THY.SELF.
⇒ Lectins: my overall plan with lectins — or any grains at all — is to only do sprouted! So, I have stocked up on sprouted brown rice, sprouted flour to make homemade bread, sprouted organic corn tortillas, and sprouted regular tortillas. If it ain’t sprouted, I’m not eating it.
⇒ Coffee Creamer: once I get through all the current organic creamers I have, I am going to try one of the almond/coconut coffee creamers. I have tried them numerous times, and I won’t lie: I did NOT enjoy them. My coffee is, like, EVERYTHING. Does anyone have a recommendation out there? Let me know in the comments!
⇒ Sugar: so, I am not a sugar junkie. Like, at all! But what I do know is that it is very, very difficult to find products without added – or at the very least with naturally occurring sugars! I am not particularly concerned about this area but have decided to start up My Fitness Pal in order to log just how much sugar I am taking in. I’ll keep you posted!
⇒ Alcohol: last but definitely not least (in my book! 😝) is my alcohol. Not even you, Dr. Axe, can take this away from me! Seriously, though: my wine is a gift of relaxation and de-stressing. I don’t drink hard alcohol at all, so that’s a non-issue. Beer does have gluten so I will be enjoying it only every once in a while. I have previously completed two separate Whole 40s (as I call the While 30 program since it is actually 40 days and not 30!) where I completely cut out all alcohol and I lost a whopping 2 lbs. Yeeeeaaaahhhhhh. So, although I know it is empty calories and undoubtedly creates more inflammation — I just don’t think it is realistic for this season of my life to completely cut it out. But, cut it back? Yes, THAT I can do!
Remember, friends: this is NOT about perfection, but the journey!
I know this was a novel of a post, but I truly hope it helps someone out there who needs it! It feels good to share my health struggles and my “why” for trying this new eating plan. I am a firm believer that if you don’t write (type?) out your goals and aspirations, it is way too easy to not follow through. So, much like posting my daily walk challenge for myself on my social media channels, it makes sense to finally open up to you all about these struggles and just how I intend to attempt to heal some of these battles.
I will be keeping you all posted in future blog posts regarding my findings! I also plan to journal each night so that I don’t forget or lose sight of the goal itself — and, the results!
Please let me know in the comments if you are planning on attempting either this eating protocol — or any other one! I’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to SHARE THIS POST and SAVE IT TO PINTEREST! While you’re at it, don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on social media!
Always Here,
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