Why do I share

I get a lot of questions about why I do what I do, why I share so much about health, and why I tell my story. The simple answer is: I know there is someone out there that needs to hear it, and I know there is someone else suffering with SIBO.

I know that many people aren’t aware of what I experienced with my health. To some, I may seem like I am overreacting, or maybe I am exaggerating, but the truth is, I am not. I lived with discomfort for 5 years before learning what the issue was. I suffered for those 5 years because every time I went to the doctor I was told it was ‘all in my head’. Apparently not having a functioning digestive system is the new norm. Well, news flash, it not, and never will be normal. 

I spent years doing my own research because I desperately wanted an answer, and I knew that just IBS was not suitable for me. Yes, its common and there are many symptoms that can relate to that, but I was still never provided with a solution. Eating more fibre wasn’t going to solve the issue, in fact, with my case, it made it worse. However, I knew wholeheartedly that there was something I needed to do to heal my body.

I knew that in my early 20’s I was too young to have the symptoms I had:

-Chronic fatigue 

-Non-existent cortisol 

-Major hair loss

-Hormonal imbalance

-Daily bloating and upset stomach

-Crippling anxiety

-A digestive system that did NOT function (three meals in - zero out… YUP I went there) 

These are just titles typed out, they don’t address the feelings I had while experiencing them. You might think, well how tired could you have been, did you really not digest your food, or are you sure you lost a lot of hair? Yes, yes and yes. I became so used to this life that I started to block it out. I started to ‘accept’ that this was my life, and I just had to deal. I remember thinking… ‘I wonder how awful I’ll feel when I am older, if I feel this bad at 22 imagine 40, or 50…..” Although everyone is different, and someone else's symptoms won't be identical to mine, a common factor is: if your gut is out of balance, you're out of balance. 

Suffering from SIBO was a silent condition that affected all parts of my life.  In the 5 years it took to get diagnosed it took over my body, and it drastically affected my quality of life. I also felt like I couldn’t eat anything. I was on a strict low FODMAP diet, and even still I would get flare up’s. I felt like I ran off 3 hours of sleep when in reality I got close to 10 hours every night, but guess what? I still woke up completely exhausted. I had to stop exercising because otherwise I wouldn’t make it through the day. I thought that living in a constant state of overwhelm was ‘normal’ but for me, it wasn’t. Yes, stress exists, but the level I had wasn’t normal for me, my body was quite literally screaming at me.

So next time you wonder why, or are curious as to what sparked my passion: this is it. My own testimony, my own life experience. I didn’t share very much about what I dealt with because most didn’t understand. I am forever grateful for Darren pushing me to keep asking questions, and to keep advocating. Otherwise I would still be where I was, but instead I am healing. I am allowed to say I suffered, because I did. In the 5 years it took me to understand my body, I learned so much about myself. 

I learned that:

-I do have a voice, and I have a powerful one.

-I should never stop advocating for myself, I know my body better than anyone else.

-I should never ignore my body when it starts to scream.

-Not everyone can help their body with just whole foods.

-I did the right thing, and never gave up.

So yes, I am going to continue, and I am going to keep being a resource. If I share bits of knowledge, or ask how are you are feeling its because I genuinely care. I am not trying to be annoying, or invade into your life, I just care that you feel healthy and happy. I don’t want other people to suffer like I did, because it can take over not only your body, but your quality of life.

If you’re on your own health journey and need support, I am here for you. I am now 24 and doing significantly better. I am addressing the root cause and every day I heal a little bit more. I know that my transformation won't happen overnight, but I am grateful for all the knowledge I have gained along the way.

I hope this provides some inspiration if you too are struggling, it can feel like a long road but trust me when I say eventually you'll find an answer. This is a very condensed version of my story, but I feel it outlines the importance of making your health a priority.