Short & Sweet
I was always sick, tired & hungry for the past couple years.
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When I moved from the USA to London for the first time in January 2014, I was actually impressed at how well I transitioned... I only experienced one episode of cold/flu-like symptoms while I was studying at Regent's University for 4 months. I'd visited London a couple times before and so it was no surprise when I decided that London was the place for me! I enrolled in Regent's postgraduate program and returned briefly to Michigan for the summer holiday.
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Prior to arriving back to London in September, I experienced immense stress with getting my visa application approved. By the time I finally got to London, I was already noticing my body shutting down; I was often very tired and consistently getting sick! From September 2014 to September 2016, I've been dealing with the following symptoms for months and months on end:
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Yeast infection
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Skin infection - Pityriasis Rosea
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Angular Cheilitis
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Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
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Multiple Sinus Infections in 2014 to early 2015 + a lot of antibiotic use
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Food poisoning or stomach flu a total of 3 times between 2014-2016
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Severe sinus infections at the end of 2015 recurring every 1.5 months for a period of 5 months ; lasting for longer than 10 days + antibiotic use
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Constant hot sweats
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Severe bloating starting in September 2015 + constant fatigue
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Another Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
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e Coli Infection
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The Flu
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My IBS-D, which I've had since I was 15 years old, was at its worst from a combination of antibiotic-overuse and very intense stress. My digestive symptoms were becoming unmanageable. My Lexapro + Xanax + VSL 3 probiotics could not stop the havoc that was taking place in my gut. (Lexapro to slow the the digestive system, xanax to calm the anxiety from external stressors, which were triggering the IBS, and VSL3 to repair the lost bacteria from antibiotics)
I was so bloated by the end of the day I could not properly bend down or else I'd get really painful cramps that would radiate through my entire gut. I also could no longer wear jeans. I started working out every day to get rid of the bloat but felt zero relief. I remember calling my mom and telling her that I thought something was wrong... I was an avid supporter of Kayla Itsines BBG workouts and would always see immediate results after a few weeks, but this time was different. The bloating, the gas, the diarrhea.... these symptoms were all becoming unbearable. Anywhere I went, I had to be on the look out for a toilette in case I experienced an emergency... this would happen without fail at every Sunday brunch.
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When I went to have a mole removed in July 2015, the doctor (sincere thank you to Dr. Mullan) and I got talking. I was telling him all about my symptoms and sicknesses over the 2.5 years that I had been in London. He recommended I seek out a functional medicine doctor due to my constant 'inflammation' problems; i.e sinus inflammation, gut inflammation, scar inflammation. Dr. Mullan was spot-on.
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2.5 months later and here begins my story, under the treatment plan and guidance of Tanya Borowski, mBANT mIFM, DipCNM Functional Nutritional Therapist. With her help, and the diet guidelines set out by Dr. Nirala Jacobi, we are going to rid my body of SIBO and unearth how it came to be...
This will take time, a new lifestyle- both dietary and stress-free- to cure, but the end-goal is that:
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I will rid my body of SIBO
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I will maintain my new dietary lifestyle with a new understanding of the importance of a healthy diet and the consequences of a sugar and carb addiction
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I will never have to wear leggings for weeks on end, because my gut is too sore for jeans or buttoned pants
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My adrenal glands will be back up and running like normal and I will stop getting sick every month
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I will no longer 'always be sick' and I will be more enthusiastic about traveling and leaving home because I will have my symptoms under control!
How will this be possible? Because SIBO will no longer be triggering my IBS symptoms and through changes to my lifestyle and diet, I will be better able to manage my stress and my immune system will rebuild itself!
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