Category Archives: Digestive Issues

    Categories autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Digestive Issues, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia

    Grateful for My EDS III

    I know it sounds completely strange that I am grateful for my genetic debilitating condition.  I have Ehlers Danlos SyndromeBut the fact is that if I wouldn’t have been plagued with pain, symptoms and illness I wouldn’t have Published a book.  I am truly grateful for the years of pain, numbness and discomfort my condition gave me because it awakened me to the possibilities of a life without pain.  If I wouldn’t have lived most of my life in excruciating pain than I wouldn’t understand the gift of wellness I achieved.  So let me explain my pain a little better for you to understand the extent of my transformation.

    I began with symptoms in childhood with anxiety and digestive issues.  I don’t remember if I had physical pain at the time but I probably did.  I do remember I always had a Band-Aid or injury on the mend.  I did have a lot of infections, allergies, urinary tract infections and skin conditions.

    Fast forward to 8th grade, I already had pain in my neck and right arm.  The digestive issues were worse and feminine issues emerged. I began having frequent vaginal infections and chronic menstrual cramps.  The feminine issues progressively worsened because of my allergies to ingredients in feminine products but I had no idea.

    Fast forward to adult life, I spent countless hours at doctors’ offices and specialists because all the symptoms were overwhelming.  I was on tons of prescriptions and antibiotics regularly.  My debilitating symptoms progressed to the point where my right arm and right leg were completely numb.  My pain level was 9/10 constantly and needed modifications at work through ergonomics assessments.

    The conditions worsened with stress and during my nursing career disability emerged. II had a special chair which had neck, lumbar and butt support. And this chair took years to find after many alternatives didn’t work.  My arm was in so much pain that during my MSN education I had to get transcription to software o write my papers and assignments. I had a multitude of symptoms at this point in my life: reflux, IBS, bloating, injuries, skin infections, UTIs, vaginal infections, chronic pain, migraines and fatigue.  Wow I know that is a lot for anyone to handle.  It was a tough life but it made me the woman I am today.

    I am grateful and thankful for all those symptoms because they created an awareness inside me to change.  If I wouldn’t have been at rock bottom and filled with symptoms I wouldn’t have fought for a better life.  If I wouldn’t have known the truth about pain I wouldn’t have known there was a better way of life.  My awareness of discomfort pushed me into action.

    And those two beautiful gifts are part of what I teach today in my book, “The Truth about IBS and Anxiety.”

    The book is more than a triumph over digestive issues, bloating and anxiety.  It is a triumph over autoimmune disease, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, POTS, EDS III, Reflux, and Anxiety.

    My path to understanding my body came from a place of pain but it brought me to a deep sense of relief.

    So here I am almost 43 years old and in the best shape of my life.  I am more active now than I ever was in my teens and young adult life.  I have more energy, strength and vitality than I ever dreamed.  But if I wouldn’t have come from such a dark and lonely place I wouldn’t have achieved it.  And that is why, I created a Podcast, “Goddess Unleashed’ because I truly believe “Your Medical History doesn’t have to be Your Fate.”  If I could overcome a genetic condition that progressively debilitates you into a life of surgeries, physical therapy and immobility; than you can overcome your own genetic predisposition.

    The day I was diagnosed was an eye opening experience because the doctor praised me for everything I was doing to support myself.  And this came at a time when I was still plagued by pain.  And because I came from such a dark place I truly see, feel and experience the gifts I have been given.  I am truly grateful and thankful for my new life without pain and symptoms.  I am thankful that I don’t need prescriptions, surgeries and conventional treatments.  And that unique perspective is what I share on my podcast to bridge the gap between Conventional and Alternative Medicine on a path towards disease prevention and health promotion.  If you are looking for a way out of your debilitating symptoms, indigestion or anxiety than schedule your Free Clarity Call.  You have nothing to lose because you are already plagued by symptoms.  But you have everything to gain if and when you achieve your own unique wellness. Download journal tips, meditations and a FREE Copy of the book.

    Categories accomplishment, Advice, Anxiety, autoimmune, autoimmune crisis, Chronic Pain, Digestive Issues, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, fatigue, Fibromyalgia, gym, Health, hope, pain, Physical Pain

    Autoimmune Warrior

    What does it mean to be an autoimmune warrior?  It means you fight hard to overcome your symptoms and live the life you dream.  It means that there are battles and sometimes your fail but you get back up and do it again.  But most of all it means that once you finally succeed, it is time to share your story and help others accomplish the same.  It wasn’t an easy journey.  It was filled with obstacles and challenges.  It took me 7 years to perfect my process.  There were tons of rock bottom failures.  But we all learn from our mistakes.  That is when you find a way out, dust yourself off and do it again.  There were many times that I wanted to give up and eat junk food.  There were many times I wasn’t motivated to exercise.  There were plenty of hard days.  There were plenty of horrible days.  But every challenge I faced only made me stronger.  I have autoimmune leaky gut and a genetic syndrome called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.  The combination can be pretty debilitating and overwhelming.  If I wouldn’t have chosen to make my health a priority my life would be very different right now.  It wasn’t an easy decision to put myself before others.  After all I am a mom, wife and nurse.  All those amazing things means you put everyone else before you.  And I absolutely love doing that but when my health started to fail and it impacted my children’s joy, I stopped to reflect.  If I didn’t find a way out they would be faced with the hardships of having a chronically ill mom to care for and they didn’t deserve that fate.

    Leaky gut is a condition that allows particle of food to travel throughout your body.  These particles begin to wreck havoc everywhere.  Then your immune system begins to attack the food particles and your own body in the process.  Leaky gut and autoimmune disease is a backfiring of your own immune system.  Your body attacks itself creating physical symptoms and pain. I suffered from symptoms since childhood.  But I had no idea what or why it was happening until my 30s.  I’ve learned a lot on this journey to find wellness.  My journey took me through an educational journey to find answers for others that ended up helping me.  My career evolved from a Special Education teacher to a Registered nurse in hopes of helping children with special needs overcome their health battles.  And the amazing gift that unveiled was the very answered I needed for myself.  In the process my health eventually failed and crisis struck.  I desperately searched for a solution to my horrible digestive issues. Slowly my body began to heal and transform.  The journey helped me develop an incredible technique that I have used to support my clients and children.  I reduced and practically eliminated all my symptoms in my body.  And boy were those symptoms extensive.  I used to experience all of these symptoms almost daily: reflux, bloating, cramping, anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain, frequent illness, migraines, headaches, etc.  The symptoms became overwhelming and my life seemed to be falling apart.  I knew that there had to be a better way to live.  And I knew my children deserved better.  And I am so thankful and grateful for the journey that brought me here. But to truly understand the hardship, it is time to take you into a journey about genetics.

    I went to countless specialists and as my research evolved I knew there was a genetic condition behind all my extensive medical diagnosis and symptoms.  But it wasn’t easy to find.  I went to rheumatologists, Gastroenterologists, neurologists and then finally a geneticist.  And that was finally when I got the answer I was looking for, I was diagnosed with EDS III. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a debilitating condition that impacts every organ, muscle and tissue of your body.  Most people with this condition have tons of surgeries and need assistive devices.  The pain and frequent injuries leave you feeling ashamed and useless.  Thankfully I was able to overcome that dreadful time in my life.  It has been amazing to see that I was able to develop a routine that has helped me become more active and energized.  It has been a long journey.  But I learned a lot along the way.  And the most valuable gift was that all genetic conditions, illnesses and diseases have a root cause that needs to be addressed synergistically for true success.  Trust me I was skeptical. I didn’t believe myself for years.  I didn’t truly accept that there were 2 root causes of my illness.  And then suddenly in 2019, as I wrote my book, “The Truth about IBS and Anxiety,” everything became crystal clear.  As I helped people heal, I truly began to see the transformations that were possible with my process and the gifts they experienced.  You see the truth about what I teach, is that it doesn’t only help mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa; it helps the kids and grandkids too.

    Think about it this way.  Reflect on your week or your month.  Was there a day that you were super stressed, anxious or overwhelmed?  Did it change the way you behaved?  Did it change the way you felt? Did it change the way you spoke to others?  Did it change their reaction? I bet if you truly think about it, you will say, YES, YES, YES.  I will give you an example.  My client, Demi, suffered from chronic illness, reflux, chronic pain and fatigue.  She felt hopeless and alone when we began working together.  She was sure she was doomed to fail and hopeless.  As we worked together to create a supportive routine for her, she began to transform easily.  Her weight seemed to melt away.  Her symptoms seemed to disappear.  Her energy and motivation increased.  And her life completely changed.  But it didn’t stop with her, it extended to the entire family.  Her husband and children began to eat healthier.  The more energetic and happy she became, the more fun and exciting their relationship became.  And her children began to change too.  When we started working together her youngest had anxiety and trouble sleeping.  He often complained of stomach aches and headaches.  As she began to improve the way she felt, their health began to change too.  She began to really see that her own health impacted the entire family.  She began to notice that the days she was stressed and overwhelmed, everyone was stressed and overwhelmed.  She noticed that when she screamed and lost her temper, her kids suddenly had a symptoms arise.  She noticed that when she wasn’t following her routine, it affected the world around her too.

    The beautiful gift she thanked me for her compassion and courage

    The funny thing is that I didn’t realize I gave her that gift until now.  I actually created that audio about courage and compassion for myself.  Because getting on camera, writing my book and sharing my story has been a difficult journey.  It has tested my resilience and perseverance.  It has tested my patience and kindness.  It has tested me in all facets of my life.  But Demi reminded me that my journey is not only to help women.  She reminded me by helping one person, I help everyone around them heal as well.  Because if one person can make a different to transform the world around them, imagine the possibilities if more people do the same.  We all deserve to feel happy, energized and vibrant.  We all deserve to thrive in life.  We all deserve to reach our ultimate potential.  And it all starts by working on yourself first.  I never thought I could overcome my chronic debilitating pain.  I though I was destined to live a life of pain and fatigue.  I thought that surgery and physical therapy was the only way to reduce my symptoms.  But now I surpassed all my physical limitations.  I went from a girl that never exercised or played sports because her pain was so intense.  To a girl that rock climbs, dances and repels down waterfalls.  And it all began with a decision to work on me first.  And the same magical transformations happen when my clients unveil their own healing powers.

    Categories Antioxidants, Digestive Issues, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, pain

    Extra, Extra, Calling All Nurses!!!

    I bet you remember those words “Extra Extra” from your childhood and anticipated something filled with joy. Do you remember the pride you had on graduation day? The desire to help others truly heal and feel better. We chose this noble profession to change the lives of those in our community. Everyone of you chose the exact population you wanted to help. Adults, children, or some got even more specific and difficult. Mine was the Pediatric Emergency. It was my dream to truly understand the link between developmental delays and chronic illness. I knew that my life’s purpose long ago was to help others. But it actually worked the opposite way. In my career to help others heal, find happiness, health and joy, I actually achieved that for myself. I was in need of the knowledge I acquired in order to truly transform my genetic predispositions and overcome my autoimmune disease. But the thing they didn’t teach us as nurses was that prevention was the most important factor in wellness. They mention it I know. But if you walked in my shoes you would have a very different story. You see my illness started as a child with poor nutrition. I enjoyed all the sugary treats and junk food. I didn’t eat any nutrient rich foods like vegetables and fruits. I hated them and preferred all the junk. But the problem was my genetics began to gain the power. My allergies began to flare. I was always at the hospital with Benadryl at home and Epinephrine and steroids. I was that kid that was always sick and stuffy. I spent my life on antibiotics and sugary foods. And things continued to get worse. My digestive unrest began to emerge and tummy aches became worse. And my hair began to fall out. That is the saddest thing of all. I loved my hair. It was thick luscious and long. I had long black hair to my butt. And each year I lost more and more. I spent over 20 years telling doctor’s I had a nutrient deficiency. But there was no acknowledgement of my thoughts and experience. They always told me I was fine. All my labs were perfect. But it continued to fall. There was no information about supplements or nutrients to support healing and repair. I asked and hoped for an answer but nothing ever came. My hair continued to fall and the result is what you see today. I’ll share a video tomorrow with my 15 year old picture in the background. Then you will understand my sadness. But let’s get back to me. The eternal patient that spent more time at the doctor than having fun. My stomach kept getting worse and my pain began to spread all over my body. I had no idea I had a genetic condition until 3 years ago. So this is my mind putting together all the pieces using everything I learned on my journey and in my profession. By middle school my menstrual cramps were debilitating and I always had vaginal infections. I learned during my nursing career that the issue was sensitivity. I was allergic to sanitary products. And wet bathing suites always gave me a yeast infection. And my neck was already tense and painful. My right arm began to lose sensation and pain became excruciating. My arm was strangled by toxins. Again I know this now because I no longer experience these symptoms using exactly what is in this book. And it all began with the gut. Because my genetic condition causes every part of my body to break down. Little by little it was tearing me apart and making me feel older and older. I didn’t play sports or do any exercise. And truly it was because I was in pain. Had I known then that the exercise and stretching would have relieved the pain. I would have wanted to know. If I would have known that eating nutrient dense supplements would help me feel better, I would have taken them. But back then none of that existed. But now at a time that everything exists our medical system fails to empower prevention and support the process. We have everything at our fingertips and can learn more to truly make a difference. We have the knowledge and expertise to change things for our community. We have the power to truly make a difference in a large scale. A movement of change to help children and families stop this life altering practice and focus on prevention. Call me and let’s brainstorm. I am planning community events to support wellness. Working with local organizations. Let’s create a movement for change. Call me or email me for details.

    P.S. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-III. If you haven’t heard of it before, then check it out. Then you will understand the extent of my illness. And you will truly understand how far I have come. If I can recover from that you can recover from anything too.

    Categories Anxiety, Digestive Issues, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Stop Bloat

    The Journey to Published!

    The journey to becoming Published was not easy. It didn’t just land in my lap. The path to create this book took me 7 years. It took me a 7 years to truly learn my body and overcome my IBS. It was more than a diet change to combat the overwhelming symptoms. The process would have been so much easier if I had a coach to guide me through it. But my path was perfectly set exactly as it was because I was meant to be the person to make the difference. I was created to change the world for others around me. My pain, heartache and struggles were a necessary part of my journey. Because they made me the woman I am today. And if I wouldn’t have overcome so much, I never would have published this book. I never would have transformed my career over the past 20 years from Special Education Teacher, to Nurse, to Professor, to Health Coach, to Hypnotist and finally Author. The journey was never meant to help me figure out my health problems. It was always leading me to a better good. A deeper purpose was always in my heart but luckily for me the path also brought me an awakening of my own gifts and self-healing emerged. And in the path to self-healing and wellness, I discovered a multitude of other gifts that had been hiding. I learned that my empathy could be transformed from a curse to a gift. I learned that my love for the community and helping others was in my path. I realized my career wasn’t set in stone. I realized I could be everything I dreamed and more. And in the process this amazing course by Angela Lauria landed on my lap. She popped up on my Facebook news feed in July and I loved every minute of the course. It spoke right to my heart and everything I had always dreamed. To be an author and share my truth. I took a leap and filled out the application. The universe didn’t make that easy either. I had to fill it out twice because it disappeared before I submitted it the first time. But I persisted and completed the application again. I never thought they would pick my story to be published. But they did. And my final interview happened in August while I was on family vacation in Hawaii. And the journey began. The path was not easy and it wasn’t supposed to be. It happened exactly how it was meant to unfold. I worked everyday balancing family life, full time nursing, and writing. I woke up most days between 4am and 5am when everyone else was sound asleep. I wrote till 6 am and got the kids ready for school. Then I left home before 7 to spend the day at the hospital. And I would return home again to finish what I had started in the morning. Some days were easier than others. Some days I finished a chapter in an hour. Some days the chapters didn’t flow at all. Some days were filled with anxiety and symptoms. Some days were filled with joy and love. But even on the hard days I pushed to overcome those obstacles and challenges. I worked to create a safe space for myself that would spark my creativity again. And the creativity would reemerge. And then one day all the chapters were finally written. Some needed an overhaul but they were written. And a sense of relief came over me. I had finally expressed my story on paper with a bigger purpose. I had finally overcome that fear of being seen and heard. That fear that had held me back this last year of evolution. I was finally on the path to my dreams. And it all started with a class about writing my book. This week has been amazing and stressful all in one bundle. Finally being a Published author can be checked off my list. But the path to help others truly transform their health and lives is just beginning to unfold. And yesterday was the hardest day of all. The day when all those pesky fears popped back into my mind. The fear of being seen and being heard. The fear of having it all reemerged in the middle of class. And tears began to roll down my face. In that moment I realized exactly who had made this all possible for me. But the emotions had never truly hit me until that moment. I wrote about him in the book but the tears had never flowed. I’ve told the story countless times but never really felt the emotions. My Angel that made all of this possible was a close friend and my own gastroenterologist, Dr. Angel Veloso. He told me 7 years ago that I needed to change or I was going to die. He told me Nursing was killing me and I needed a break. And if he wouldn’t have pushed me to leave the bedside I wouldn’t be here today. And that is why the tears ran down my face yesterday. The tears that not many saw. They all did notice my smile was not the same. My cheery upbeat attitude was hiding underneath. It was hard for me to speak to anyone when we went on break. I had to process all those emotions. I had to truly release those beliefs that triggered those feelings. And I did just that. I prayed, meditated and relaxed in the meditation room. I felt much more relaxed and centered. My fears were slowly drifting away. And then something was calling me back to the classroom. So I prayed and meditated some more in front of the giant crystalline stone. And suddenly I felt everything come back to place. I was my happy, energized and motivated self again. And I was thankful that the very person that opened this path for me was proud that I was on this journey. I had told him weeks ago about the book. And he was excited that I was going to help others with my story. And finally my inner strength and resilience reemerged to plan the path for the next year. I realize now the true potential within me that has unveiled. I finally see that I can truly help people thrive in life. And it all starts with the gut. So my path is set, my year is planned and my next journey is unfolding. The question I have for you is… Do you know someone that suffers from IBS and digestive issues? Do you have digestive issues or IBS? Are you willing to share your story to help me collect case studies for the book? Are you available for a call that could change your future? Do you want to eliminate the symptoms of IBS? Do you know someone that is overwhelmed and desperate for a solution to their symptoms? Then share this article with them. And if it is you than schedule a call. If you have IBS and are suffering with symptoms all the time. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Let’s chat….