Part 1 is here
Thank you all for your encouraging emails and comments about Part 1 of my health journey.
It's been 10+ years since I woke up that morning in the dorms feeling paralyzed,
and to say it's been a long haul would somehow minimize the road i've walked.
"battle" may be an even more appropriate term.
And like any battle, it required some strategy.
and while I am not solider or commander,
it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that our health doesn't suddenly just
"appear" with fairy dust.
We've got to DO something to make it happen...
there must be a plan of attack!!
At first, my strategy was to follow the doctors orders.
{I mean, right? that's what normal people do!}
I took weird medicine that I swear used every letter of the alphabet.
Medicine that knocked me out so deeply that i'd fall on the couch and could literally not get up.
those were dark days friends, and I missed a lot of life
while my joints and muscles, and heart cried out in fear. in loneliness.
At some point, when I mustered the courage and energy I had,
I realized this strategy was like walking deeper into enemy territory,
ie: it was NOT working.
and not only that…it sucked.
it sucked the life out of me.
it sucked the joy from my heart.
it sucked every ounce of energy I had. to do anything.
I decided it was time to try a new plan of attack.
one that didn't suck.
i know…i'm a genius!
and.it.changed.my.life.
right after we were married, one of my dearest friends told me about
a chiropractor that used natural healing methods to treat his patients.
I was rather intrigued, and figured it couldn't hurt just to see him once or twice!
Well…two years later, I still see him monthly,
and the Lord has given me back something precious to me,
my health.
Friends, I am not a doctor or certified medical person,
but here is what I am…
new.
Our bodies are amazing, and when treated with the proper and natural treatment, they can thrive again!
Food was one of the first things I had to change.
Most autoimmune diseases are the result of a poor functioning intestinal system.
And mine was inflamed to the 100th degree.
So I started cutting out foods that aggravated my system.
The major ones were gluten and dairy.
At first I freaked out, wondering what the heck I was going to eat!!
I literally had dreams of donuts and bagels with creme cheese, and ICE CREAM!!
{ohhh glorious mint chip I love you and want to eat you forever!}
but soon…
I started to notice I wasn't getting so tired.
and that my joints didn't feel on fire all the time.
and that I didn't get achey all over.
and every appointment that I saw my doctor, he began to realign my nervous system!
Our brain is what sends signals to every part of our body.
And if those signals get off course and aren't corrected,
then our body begins to function poorly.
I also had a horrid case of parasites
(lots of international travel + a poor immune system= heaven for these ugly suckers!)
So, we began to kill them off with natural remedies!
I'm not really going to go into all the biological info because
A) I honestly don't know all the proper terminology and
B) it would take too long!
But basically, I began to see the light.
My teary nights became less and less.
My evenings gained a few hours because I wasn't completely exhausted at 8pm like a granny.
and my life just felt better…it felt healthy.
I was a young person doing young things again!
Nepal was really the biggest test, to see how I'd do back in a CRAZY parasite infested area!
I certainly had a few nerves about moving there with my health
But you know what, I did good!
Yes I got sick a lot, but so did everyone else!
And at the end of the day, I had energy and life.
For the first time in 10+ years, I was me again!
And you know that backpacking trip I blogged about Monday?
A few years ago, there was NO way on God's green earth that I could have done that.
My body was too swollen,
hiking a few small miles put me in bed for the next few days,
and my circulation could not handle the cold.
I'd say God's brought me far since then, and I'm so proud that my body was able to do that!
So for you suffering from some ailment or chronic illness,
healing is available to you.
Life and health are not out of your reach.
I'd totally encourage you to look for a natural chiropractic doctor,
that can sit with YOU and know YOUR body,
instead of handing you a chemical prescription he gave the last 100 patients.
Research! You know your body best!
Take out certain foods like gluten and dairy and see how your body reacts.
If one doctor isn't working…try another!
There should be no guilt and shame about that.
Lastly, pray that God will lead you to the answers!
You are never without hope, even when you feel hopeless.
{and trust me…i've been there many times.
Why do you think this blog has the word "hope" in it?
That's what carried me through all this junk…
the hope that someday, maybe, I might get better.}
that day is here:)
Thanks for sticking with me through this series!!
and thank you for your prayers!
God's abundance is ready to pour on you!
with hope,
Katie
