Lora’s Story
This adventure began in August 2004, when my husband and I visited Orlando after the first hurricane went through the area. After a week, I began to experience painful and itchy rashes all over my body. My stomach also began to bloat and hurt after eating. It did not occur to me that the skin rash was related to my digestive system. We all thought that the hurricane had stirred up something that I was allergic to, as dead trees and brush were lying everywhere in the area. The problem became more puzzling when the symptoms did not cease after returning to Missouri. (So much for the airborne allergy theory.)
As the days went by, I figured out that the symptoms occurred only after eating. I got to a point where I did not want to eat. Eating meant that I would have a painful, itchy rash all over my body. I would stand in the kitchen and cry because I was so hungry and did not want to eat. A friend suggested it was caused by yeast and I began research. I changed my diet for a while. The symptoms decreased in intensity, but were still present. Over the course of the next year and a half, my energy and clarity decreased dramatically. I struggled to get through a day of work after sleeping all night. The doctors I saw did not offer much insight about the source of the problem. Head, neck, and backaches were a daily occurrence. I felt as if I became more and more sluggish as the days went by. I gained 28 pounds over that period of time and displayed all of the classic symptoms of depression. I wanted to sleep more than anything else. This makes it difficult to concentrate when your job is listening to others. I can recall telling a friend that I just felt emotionally “flat line” most of the time. My energy was at an all time low.
A client of mine had seen Dr. Hotze, and I followed her progress for about three months. She was a different person! She obviously had energy as she was getting so much done in her business and home. She reported weight loss and an overall lighter mood. I was so intrigued that I hung up the phone and phoned the Hotze Health and Wellness Clinic.
I saw Dr. Ellsworth a month later. My visit was such an extraordinary one. Everyone treated me like a person instead of a number. Dr. Ellsworth took the time to explore my symptoms and really listened to me. I really appreciated that he wanted to know how the symptoms were impacting me personally. The trip to Houston was well worth the effort.
What we discovered was that I had other underlying problems that were contributing to my energy drop and other symptoms. My thyroid needed a little boost, as well as my adrenal glands. The years of birth control pills had my female hormones out of balance and the yeast was a big problem. It is no wonder I was tired, cold, and foggy all of the time. I immediately began the yeast free diet and the regimen of medication and supplements prescribed by Dr. Ellsworth. On day four, I woke up and started into my morning routine of tea and ibuprofen. As I reached for the ibuprofen, it occurred to me that I did not have pain in my head, neck, or back! I recall thinking, “hey! I don’t hurt!” and immediately began to do a little jig in the kitchen – singing, “I feel good!” It was a beautiful day. The further I go into the program of yeast free eating, coupled with the medications and supplements, the more I realize how easy it is to slowly feel bad and gradually digress into feeling horrible without noticing. It is as if I mentally and emotionally accepted feeling bad as “normal”. I still ask myself, “how did this happen?” I wonder how many people fall into that trap and never get out.
The Bottom Line
I have my high energy level back and the extra weight is melting off. I am back to working on projects that I had long put off and my creativity is flowing. Listening to others and thinking is so much easier now. Thought processes seem to flow much easier as I was experiencing trouble in retrieving information beforehand. My mood is markedly improved because I feel more emotionally active. I have not needed ibuprofen; nor have I felt pain in my head, neck, or back. Afternoon naps are no longer a must, they are optional now because my energy sustains throughout the day.
I also found that I have more mental energy to deal with personal issues and have successfully moved past some of them. I have definitely changed how I deal with clients as a result of this experience. I am much more willing to explore the possibilities of hormonal and yeast issues before just diagnosing an individual with depression.
This experience is truly a blessing and has changed my life in every facet. My relationship with my husband and family has deepened. I enjoy my work again. I enjoy being in my body again. I feel as if I am awake and engaged in life again.
Hallelujah! I am back!
Can you relate to Lora's story? Contact us today and let us help you get your life back!
