My health journey starts about 5 years ago when I began having symptoms affecting my daily life. I went to a few doctors and all they told me was my labs looked normal and to not overthink my strange symptoms. I tried everything we are told to help ourselves from eating healthy and exercising to quitting alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. Nothing changed.
I went through the next 3 years adding on more and more symptoms until my health completely crashed. I had a laundry list of symptoms from dizziness, headaches every day, seeing stars, and difficulty breathing to intense insomnia, joint pain, and fatigue.The fatigue got to the point where it was difficult to just get out of bed. I was racing to make doctors appointments, and went to the ER multiple times. During this time I saw 20+ doctors and specialists who all told me the same thing- “you’re labs look normal! You should see a psychologist- it must all be in your head.”
At this point I was so desperate for answers that I had gone to multiple therapists and psychiatrists. They all told me one thing- “this is not in your head Courtney- please keep looking for answers with doctors because you’re not just anxious or depressed.” I could no longer go to school, work, see friends, and could barely get out of the house. I knew it wasn’t in my head so I had no choice but to keep searching.
Eventually, I finally found my answers in Functional Medicine. They look for the ROOT CAUSE to health issues rather than simply masking symptoms with medication. I found out that what I have is essentially toxicity. Unbeknownst to me, I was living in a very moldy apartment, had parasites (no parasites are not just a 3rd world issue), heavy metals, biofilms, candida, sibo, leaky gut, etc. Essentially toxicity from the environment. And I just recently found what I really believe is the last piece of the puzzle which is a type of Lyme disease called Bartonella. (medical testing for Lyme disease only tests for one type of Lyme infection called Borrelia).
If I could go back and tell myself one thing it would be “you're not crazy- keep searching- be your own advocate and go to Functional Medicine to look for the root cause.” Since finding all of this out I have learned more about health than I believe most people learn in their whole lives. If I knew this information earlier it would have saved me so much pain.
I felt deeply that I needed to share my story. If you’re struggling with health- I see you. I hear you. You’re not crazy and there are people who will listen to you and truly help you heal.
I believe God has brought me through this journey so that I can help others through His strength to get back to living their lives with joy. When I get to a point where I can work again I cannot wait to help others who are struggling to find answers to their health. I know I will have so much empathy for what others are going through. Healing takes time and is not a linear process but I have no doubt my body will heal because that’s what God made them to do. For now I am living every day with gratitude for the beauty around me, loved ones, and am so grateful to be a part of the Root Cause Formula program with the amazingly talented Emily Morrow and Allie Hobson!
For more information on environmental toxicity I recommend the following sources.
You've come so far I am so proud of you!!