I was doped up on several prescription drugs just trying to function. I was miserable.
My daily medication was:
600 mg gabapentin X 4 daily for nerve pain
120 mg Cymbalta for Nerve pain and anxiety and fibromyalgia
50 mg X 2 spironolactone because I didn't ovulate and get a period naturally because of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Carafate before every meal so I could eat
Constant TUMS etc
Nexium
DAILY.
My current:
Scripts - ZERO. Z E R O.
PCOS reversed, periods like clockwork.
CBD/Tumeric Blend in the morning
PLNT Tumeric/Black Pepper in the evening
Cal Mag Citrate
Vegan MultiVitamin
Here's what I used to look like a few years ago.
I'm not thin by a long shot, but I'm healthy after an 80 lb weight loss. Here's the thing - I did it because it was feel better or die. The weight loss just happened when I changed my life. I did it to live.
I used to be able to eat anything and love food, super adventurous eater. When I got in my 30s suddenly I had major stomach problems, was gaining weight when I was literally not eating, puking, my hair was falling out. It was bad. The acid was eroding my teeth. I had a root canal because the enamel on my teeth was failing. I had precancerous cells in my esophagus. I had colonoscopies, biopsies, hospitalizations. I was dying. Then I had enough.
Here's the plan a naturopath gave. If you can afford to, everyone's body is different, seeing a plant based doctor is worth every cent.
Here's exactly how I did it:
1. Cut out diet soda and candy week one. This was the worst week.
2. Cut out sugared drinks, all of them. Yes, this meant breaking up with coffee because really, when your coffee is 1/2 vanilla creamer you aren't into coffee you're into a sugar fix in the morning. This was another bad week.
3. Started a food diary and elimination diet. I ate ONLY PLANT BASED ITEMS with zero gluten or wheat either. Just plants. This sucked, but since I detoxed from the sugar first, a few weeks in I could start to taste natural sugars in fruits and vegetables.
4. Rebuilt my gut flora by the following:
This is where I almost gave up. But this is important!!!!! I still do this and it keeps my GERD in check:
Important: STOP THE PPI MEDS BEFORE ADDING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. This won't work if you stay on the meds. I know. How the hell you supposed to get off??? I know. Trust me.
First thing in the morning - 1 TB of ACV BRAGGS BRAND ONLY - into 8 oz water (I do cold so I can get it down). Empty stomach, before everything. Follow with another 8 oz water immediately. Then meds, food etc.
First week, I stood at the sink crying trying to gag down ACV water, gagging. Now its nothing. You can do it. I promise. Just chug that shit and know its healing you.
I do this before dinner also. If I eat something with a lot of acid or cheat (I discovered I'm sensitive to gluten, not allergic but miserable) and extra glass of ACV water helps me more than any TUMS on the planet.
Brought probiotics on board - without gut health, your gut can't heal. Now that I've got a good gut system going I do 4-8 oz Kombucha every day to keep it balanced.
It seems insane to ADD acid to an acidic stomach but it isn't. You have to trust me on this. I was so miserable I literally was at the point where I'd try anything, and so I did.
5. Slowly add in back foods you eliminated to find out what your body can handle. Write down EVERYTHING you ate and when. It's annoying but you will find patterns. Mine hates dairy the worst, meat next (red meat the worst), wheat/gluten. It doesn't hate eggs but its easier to just eat Vegan and who needs eggs anyway? Basically all my favorite foods (Pizza, bread, donuts) were the worst thing I could possibly eat for my body.
I never ever thought I'd be able to live without cheese, and while I miss it, I don't miss feeling like death.
I have a million bootleg Vegan recipes.
I'm glad to help anyone that needs support! This shit is hard but its worth it!!
