Anna

My immune system has had some issues since I was young. No one could figure it out but doctors told my mom to pull me out of school because I was too weak to be around other kids (and my ENTIRE third grade year I was on antibiotics for chronic sinus infections). If only I had known then how detrimental they would be to my health (especially my gut).

I did ok for awhile but in my early 20’s I developed an inflammatory disease in my bladder called interstitial cystitis. I also have endometriosis and IBS. These things have led to 16 years of severe chronic pelvic pain. In 2012 I gave birth to my third baby and shattered my tailbone which caused further trauma to my pelvic floor muscles (aka CONSTANT spasms).

I’ve got somewhat of a handle on these things (able to cope with the help of nerve blocks and oxycodone) but then a couple years ago I started getting fevers, flu symptoms, and joint aches every few weeks. I couldn’t figure it out. I had been to many doctors and finally this past year, a new doctor ran some tests and diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My white blood count is low and I’m low on vitamin D and B12. Needless to say it has been a rough year.

I have been incredibly tired. Many days I haven’t been able to get out of bed. I have developed severe anxiety and panic attacks. My gut constantly hurt (spasms and sharp pain especially after a BM). I was at my wit’s end when I started looking into functional medicine. I was having trouble finding one to go see locally when I started following Dr. Cole on FB, which led me to exploring Ketotarian.

I was thinking of trying it anyway when he posted about joining his 28-day challenge. I decided to jump right in. I have often wondered if food was a culprit in at least one of my issues. Here are my results so far: my energy has drastically improved. I wake up ready to go, amazing since the last several months I have slept until 8-8:30 and it was hard to get out of bed. My GI problems are about 90% resolved. My brain fog is much better and my chronic sinus congestion and pain has gotten much better. I am still getting fevers every few days from the CFS (probably because I’ve been feeling more energetic and pushing myself a little too hard) and I still have my ‘normal pain’ (which after 16 years I do not expect to go away….) but the GI issues and the energy are enough to make me a FIRM believer that this is the way I should be eating.

I am really happy so far and also really thankful I finally found an answer to at least some of my problems. I am a stay at home mom of 3. And I finally feel like there is hope for me to be a fun mom instead of just a sick mom. It hasn’t been a super easy transition (I love all food) cutting out things but I know now it has been worth it.