Sick Felt Normal
Thinking back, I had many signs of food sensitivities and intolerances early on.
But I was a kid in the ’60s and ’70s in pseudo hippy town — Boulder, Colorado. I came from 4 generations of farmers on both sides of my family — but pesticides on veggies were the norm and not questioned unless you grew up with Hippies or an Environmental Studies teacher/parent.
Health food consisted of brown rice, yogurt, whole wheat bread, sprouts, and maybe some macrobiotic cooking.
Generally, there was at least some canned food at every dinner meal with meat and salad. But, the ’70s was fully embracing the Junk Food and Processed Food Revolution. No One talked about food allergies, Gluten, Lactose Intolerance, etc., or anything like that.
I had a loving Mom who bought and made the things I loved. But, I was not in touch with my body or the connection between what I ate and how I felt. I just knew I hated school (because I had a learning disability), something no one talked about then, either.
And I frequently felt sick for real and stayed home. I was diagnosed with a painful ulcer while in elementary school — no doubt due to my diet of sugar, milk products, gluten, meat, and lots of chemicals, pesticides, and additives.
The Saga Continues
My 20’s brought severe daily depression and almost daily migraines. Despite being a big eater — I had never been able to gain weight. I suspected Thyroid Issues — but, Doctors always told me I was fine.
Around 30, nearing a mental breakdown and dealing with addiction issues, I entered in-patient rehab for a month.
I went sober, divorced, and moved to San Francisco. My mental and emotional life improved significantly.
I went Vegetarian. The depression lessened, but the migraines continued.
After ten years in San Francisco, I moved to Los Angeles.
I began having a frequent painful symptom of the feeling of sand in my eyes after eating certain things. Unfortunately, I never got any answers from any doctor and never found anything resembling my symptom while researching.
After four years in L.A — I moved back to be near my parents in Colorado and began and worked a small organic farm for three years.
I noticed that I started getting painful joints, mainly if I ate whole-grain bread in the mornings. I also noticed some numbness in my shoulders, arms, and hands — and a strange painless rash that moved around on my torso. The doctor said it was nothing — just a type of rash people sometimes get that had no negative health effects.
Around this time (10 years ago, I went Vegan) and never looked back. Going Vegan Just Felt Right — but, I continued to have symptoms — constant migraines, painful joints, rash, wiry brittle hair that sometimes fell out in patches.
Nearing a Breakdown and Finding Hope
Daily migraines felt normal and had been a part of my life (along with Excedrin migraine tablets) for over 30 years.
I walked daily around a huge park, and went on frequent hikes and bike rides — but, suddenly, overnight, my health seemed to deteriorate rapidly.
At 58 years old— I got a horrible case of Shingles despite feeling that I had a very healthy diet and lifestyle. I began reading that people with auto-immune diseases and Lupus had a 90% chance of developing Shingles.
A couple of months after the Shingles had healed, I noticed that when I sat down in the park, I could barely get up, my balance was off, and it was painful to walk. All my joints hurt — my feet, ankles, knees, shoulders.
I wondered how I would ever be able to live an active, vibrant life involving lots of international traveling, living, exploring, hiking and water sports that I had envisioned for my future.
I had just heard about the (AIP) Auto-Immune Protocol diet from my brother. A friend of his had been on it for three years after developing severe, debilitating Arthritis and being hospitalized for a short time. He also had two other friends who were doing a combination of the AIP diet / lifestyle and the Gundry’s (Plant Paradox) Protocol — both of which eliminate toxic, inflammatory foods from the diet – but, in different ways.
While coming down with Shingles, I was tested for everything by my western doctor. Nothing was conclusive. Months later, I asked my doctor to test me for Lupus. The tests were also inconclusive. My doctor was from India and was somewhat open to alternative approaches. She said that I definitely had something going on, and that there was no need to test for everything. She diagnosed me with Arthritis and said that if the AIP diet was working to stay on it.
At first, I dabbled in both the Vegan AIP and Plant Paradox diets. But, I soon realized that the Vegan AIP worked better for me than the Plant Paradox diet and that seeds, nuts, and hot sauces (allowed initially in the Plant Paradox diet) – gave me symptoms.
I realized I needed to stay off those foods while on the “Elimination Phase” of the Vegan AIP diet – and that I would try to reintroduce them later, one by one, after I’d had some healing – in the “Reintro Phase” of the Vegan AIP.
Just weeks after starting the Vegan AIP — my migraines went away, and I had full pain-free mobility.
These revelatory outcomes — had already given me my freedom, sovereignty, joy, hope for the future, and excitement to let others know how this protocol could help them!
Four months in, although restrictive and not without its challenges, I’m thrilled that I could create significant change without medication and just by my food choices.
After 7 months the huge rash on my body disappeared. I continue to heal. I continue to explore healing with various healers, and healing practitioners and deepen my spiritual work – healing trauma, having faith, letting things flow, practicing forgiveness, acceptance, and connection to life…. I feel these are all key to my overall growth and healing.
There are so many different auto-immune diseases, and every person’s situation is different. But, regardless of the autoimmune disease or chronic illness, the Vegan AIP has been a huge success for many! It is also a community that encourages and supports each other, and shares recipes and ideas!
I wish for this website/blog to be a place for community, healing, and help!
Let The Journey Begin!!
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Vegan AIP was the perfect thing to get me back on track, and I’ll bet it can do the same for you.
In Vibrant Health ~
Tanya
ThriveHealVegan.com
Foodie, Traveler, Blogger, Healer, Writer, Artist, and More!
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