My Journey to Health

At one point, my life felt like a constant race to the bathroom. Dealing with bloating, cramping, and moodiness became my reality. I didn't know if it was a food intolerance or celiac so I changed the way I ate perhaps a hundred times - each time with no success. I went gluten-free, then dairy-free, then gluten-and-dairy-free. I removed certain vegetables I thought could be the problem. I just couldn't find the answer.

One day at work (I was a bartender back then), a regular client mentioned that I had lost a lot of weight and that I "looked great". Well, I didn't feel great - AT ALL. That night I decided to weigh myself and found that I lost 20lbs in only 1 week!

All that cramping and bloating must have taken all my attention. It must have been that same night that I started to feel like something was really wrong. In the morning I had my mom take me to the hospital.

On the way there my mom kept saying things like "Everything is going to be ok" and "They'll give you some antibiotics and you'll be back to normal". Somehow I knew that this wasn't a quick-fix viral infection. You always know your body best. This hospital visit led to a week-long stay, and the diagnosis was ulcerative colitis.

Returning home felt like entering a different world.

Fear took hold, and just stepping out became a daunting task. Studies and work came to a halt, and my days were confined to the bathroom. Leaving the house was terrifying. Driving far was a big nope. I had friendships slip away, and it felt like my world was crumbling. Depression knocked on my door more than once.

Conventional medicine didn't seem to make much difference and the hospital dietitian didn't give helpful advice. I even had negative responses to the medication which the GI said "Well, you'll need to learn to swallow the pill"

Side note: I couldn't take pills and would crush the ones I was prescribed and take them with orange juice. BAD idea when they are time-release tablets.

Even after months of working with the hospital dietician and the GI doctor, I wasn't any better. The weight-loss slowed but the bathroom runs were just the same. My life was on pause. I was miserable.

I know my family was tired of seeing me this way. My friends, the ones that were still there, were tired of seeing me this way. I was tired of seeing myself this way.

Then came the turning point. My sister was in her middle years of nursing school and knew enough about the human body but not enough to be brainwashed that medicine is the only way. She suggested that there may be alternative medicine that might help me out of this. My curiosity peaked. I decided to shift towards a more natural and holistic approach.

After a buttload of research, I began to see a holistic nutritionist who, in a few short weeks, turned things around. I put my energy into introspective work – shadow work, inner child healing – you name it. My journal became a trusted companion, witnessing my tears and the evolution of my thoughts.

I began taking responsibility for my choices and actions. Building boundaries and reshaping relationships became part of the healing journey. Boy did I learn to swallow the pill.

Was it easy? No. This was the hardest thing I ever did for myself.

Was it worth it? I am so grateful to my past self for not giving up. It was the absolute greatest gift I could have ever given myself.

The result? No relapses – just a steady climb towards my healthiest, happiest self.

My journey is not yet over. The road is long, but today, I can proudly say I'm the best version of myself – healthy, happy, calm, and ready to face whatever challenges come my way. Life throws curveballs, but I've got my toolkit ready. If you're on a similar journey, know you're not alone, and there's hope in every step forward.