The purpose of my blog

The purpose of my blog is to share the knowledge that I have learned over the past several years.

I have a condition called CIRS, or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.
I moved into a moldy house, and now, as a result,
my body is prone to chronic inflammation.

1 in 4 people have the genetics for mold-induced illness.
I happen to be one of them.
 

 My experiences have been varied and diverse. A cocktail of undesirable experiences, if you will.

In the past nine years, I have experienced:

• Complete and absolute fatigue (beyond my ability to describe). Bedbound and bedridden.
• Achy and flu like day-in and day-out
• Arthritis in several joints
• Mast-cell activation disorder, literally reacting to everything—including foods—with either hives, severe throat swelling, or itchy hands
•  Multiple chemical sensitivity
• Gastroperesis. Paralyzed digestive tract.  Which in turn led to yeast overgrowth (SIYO), and also Small intestinal Bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), uncomfortable pregnant-sized bloating, and paralyzed migrating motor complex. IBS-C. 
• Esophogial ulcers
• Adrenal issues
• Pretty severe facial acne
• Inability to exercise
• Hormonal imbalanccs
•  Depression

Let's just say I have been through... a lot.

Lest you think I am super holistic, and refused doctors-- nope! Not true!  I sought help from anywhere and everywhere. I actually tried several different gastroenterologists, the rheumatology center at the University of Michigan, a few infectious disease doctors, several standard primary care doctors, and several functional medical doctors.  It took YEARS to figure out that I actually had mold illness. I would count the number of vials of blood that were drawn over time—I stopped counting after vile 140 in the first year.

  However, I will say that with my illness, it is best treated with functional medicine, rather than with traditional western medicine. I have learned that perhaps there is more than one way to solve a complex problem. 

I have felt that I needed to write down all of the ways I have learned to help a body function. I feel like this “really weird knowledge” I’ve gained through my experiences could possibly benefit others. Maybe you!? How can you help your body to function when it won't function? What are some basics of your immune system? Digestive system? Mental health/gut function relationship?

Thus far, my illness has been helped by a few pharmaceuticals; however, I manage and function
primarily because of drastic life style changes including, but not necessarily limited
to: environmental changes, dietary changes, detoxing, and supplements.  For my illness, there isn't a magic pill to make me whole. I wish there was!  (Boo!)  I literally and honestly can't function at a basic level without making these changes.  Personally, I really try to be open to ALL forms of healing and medicine, as each one has helped me in a different way: traditional western medicine, integrative/holistic medicine, as well as dietary changes.

Simply put, I have been given an incredibly difficult journey.  I've had to fight to get myself
back-in- business.  And, along the way, I've gleaned some interesting stuff to share. I’m not by
any means claiming I know it all. But what I do have, I feel I should share it.  Most probably don't have CIRS, but I am wondering if any of this unique knowledge could be useful for others in their personal struggles. 

Sending you my love!  Good luck on your own personal health journey.