During one of the most stressful years of my life, while I was battling Type II Diabetes, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
Before I had visited the Rheumatologist, I thought it was just joint ailments and a touch of arthritis, since I was entering my 40’s and thought it was to be expected. However, when the pain of violent electric shocks began to affect every part of my body, I sought the help of a professional. It was becoming a debilitating condition that was affecting my personal and professional life.
For several years after I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I had been prescribed the following:
- Gabapentin
- Cmybalta
- Piroxicam
- Lyrica
- Tramadol
- Baclofen
- Steroid shots in the neck and shoulder area
And at one point, I was on 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at the same time.
The pain was still present and the side affects of the medications made my brain so foggy, I could hardly concentrate at work, affecting my livelihood and income.
I was on all of these pills and still in excruciating pain. Why? What was the point? For a while, I had my daughter to help with the chores and help me dress, but after my daughter moved out, I hired a nurse to help me dress and bathe and a professional cleaning service to help with the chores.
Shortly after the last steroid shot, I made a bold decision to stop ALL of the medications. Nothing was working and my quality of life was horrible. My Rheumatologist was not happy to say the least.
I slowly weened myself off of the medicines and sought the help of a Holistic doctor I had heard so much about. Here is where I learned how to use spices to heal my body and how to live a chemical-free life on an organic diet.
I thought I was eating healthy, but I was not. I thought that having instant oatmeal for breakfast was good for me, and a lean cuisine or healthy choice frozen entrée for lunch was healthy for the body. Dinner was usually a Zaxby’s salad drenched in fattening dressings. I was also using saccharin sweeteners in my oatmeal, coffee and non-sugar cereals. She cringed when I told her that last one. Ha!
I learned a lot from her about chemicals in processed and frozen foods, and began only eating foods that I made from scratch with fresh ingredients, using the spice blends that were healing for high sugars and inflammation. Some of the spices are:
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne pepper
- Ground Clove
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Curry powder
- Oregano
I also no longer eat red meat and limit starches altogether, unless it is ‘cheat day’ only one item allowed – then I can’t wait to have a sandwich with bread. Yummm! J
She also instructed me to cook everything in a wok using organic coconut oil. Most of my lunches are either beans or a delicious salad with Annies organic dressing. For dinner, I am usually cooking up Asian cuisines with boneless and skinless chicken, shrimp, or scallops, veggie blends, Thai jasmine rice or Asian rice noodles, and yummy sauces.
I also learned foods that make you ‘feel’ full, such as beans, any kind, black, kidney, etc. and cook those with the spice blend as well. I find that sautéed kale (with coconut oil and spice blend) also fills me up!
I also found comfort in CBD oil, which helped with some of the chronic pain, and allowed me to restart my exercise routine, which I sorely missed for over four years. Having a home gym makes it easy to jump on anytime and my Fitbit motivates me by logging my steps and workouts, and cheering me on when I complete personal goals.
In addition, I have found comfort in essential oil blends that decrease my anxiety, appetite and relieve pain. I have a whole shelf of authentic oils to treat almost everything!
Today, I am still prescription drug-free and have lost over 30 lbs. I still have pain, but it is much less severe and does not cripple me in my personal and professional life. And although managing all of these methods is a full-time job in itself, it’s worth it for me. UK CBD Shop
