As I look back on this past year, I can finally say that I’ve made a ton of progress when it comes to my health. If you don’t know my story, you can read some of it here. In a nutshell, I’ve been very ill for the past 10 years and pretty much at my worst, around 7 years ago. Years of frustration, heartache and declining health finally led to discoveries and restoring health. It has been quite the journey. One I never want to go down again. Mold illness, Lyme, CIRS, heavy metal toxicity, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, leaky gut, SIBO, neurological issues, circulation issues, autoimmune disease and everything that goes with it – thyroid, adrenal, and hormone disregulation. I’ve learned much along the way. Things that I had never even heard of before all of this: methylation, MTHFR, epigenetics, cellular health and the list can go on.
Mold Illness and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Are Real
Yes, moldies and MCS canaries, you’re not crazy. There are many others who experience illness and symptoms like you. I’m grateful for the Internet and for Facebook groups filled with people sharing similar stories. When traditional doctors don’t understand what’s wrong with us, there are those who actually do and can help! There is definitely much more information out there today then when I first started down this road. Either more people are sick, or knowledge is increasing.
Lifestyle Modifications
I have tried and done so many different things over the years to try to regain my health. Some of the most important lifestyle changes I made were eliminating and detoxing toxins, moving out of a moldy environment and changing my diet, as health begins in the gut. I’ve also had to address cellular health along the way, as you can’t get fully well unless you fix the cell. I will never go back to my old lifestyle habits or diet before all of this happened.
My New Normal
For the first time in over 10 years, I’m starting to feel a little more like my old self (healthwise) before I got so sick. With that being said, I have come to realize that I will never fully be my old self in more ways than one. I can totally relate to what Andrea at It Takes Time writes. Like her, I have had to let go of many things. After you go through traumatic experiences such as almost losing your health, or having to get rid of everything that you own, it changes you forever. There is also a new found fear that can permeate my thoughts if I let it because I don’t ever want to get that sick again. I’m always on the lookout for mold since I know the damage it can do to me. I don’t want to be around others who are sick since I know that it can be harder for me to recover than the average person. I can also get a little fearful when I’m under a lot of stress because I know what that can do to me.
In addition to thoughts, my body has also changed. Genes have been expressed that have made me susceptible to autoimmune and mold damage. I now have to learn how to maintain and stay on top of things, like fixing my leaky gut. Things like mold, stress, being exposed to numerous toxins, or if I eat poorly can take me down. Fortunately, it doesn’t take me as long to recover as it used to. I can’t overdo it and I have to take time to rest. This is challenging for me as I like to work. My husband, on the other hand, doesn’t have a problem with that. He works hard when he needs to, but he takes ample time to rest and relax. I need to follow his lead.
So, for me personally, I look back on 2017 as the year I said good-bye to my belongings and hello to restored health. I pray that 2018 will continue the trend of restored health and that I will grow even stronger and healthier as the year progresses. Wishing you abundant health too!
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