I feel the best I have ever felt in my life.

My whole life I had “ eczema” I was treated with creams and steroids, and ultimately nothing made a significant difference. The ones under my arms were the worst. I couldn’t shave or use deodorant and it hurt to put my arms down. Doctors continuously told me my blood work looked fine.

I had gone vegan, gluten and dairy free and nothing really helped. In high school I got to the point of not eating anything and I lost 35 pounds I was so skinny, but doctors again told me I was a healthy weight for my height and I didn’t need any tests. I got so sick that all I did was school. I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t talk to anyone I didn’t go and do anything with my friends.

And then I started to have fainting spells, still unexplained from the doctors. My test look fine. My face would swell to the point that my eyes were almost closed. – for no explained reason.

When I was 19 a family member recommended I test my autoimmune numbers (AA) and if it hadn’t been for that family member, I would’ve never been diagnosed with lupus. Was in the intermediate category right under life-threatening, my body was headed towards organ failure.

And that’s really scary when you’re just 19.

Even being on medication and getting a little better through treatments I still didn’t feel well. I was still sick and any little thing had me in bed for days. Right before I turned 21 my mom bribed me with Chick-Fil-A to go to Rachel’s Food as Medicine class. I’m gonna be honest My expectations were low.

But as I sat there in her class, tears running down my face because I didn’t have to live in sickness, that the woman in front of me had been in my place, I had hope.

It wasn’t easy, but I started off with three simple things ; 1. No seed oils 2. Drinking chicken stock every day – and that was really hard for me because I did not like the taste at first and it took me a while to get used to it and now I love it. 3. No processed foods.

Within two weeks, I had a noticeable difference, not only my health, but the anxiety that I had because of my sickness. Even my mom and my boyfriend noticed a difference in me. And I have continued to add one thing at a time. Taking one step at a time to get better.

Two years later, I feel the best I have ever felt in my life, the medicine I take for my lupus has gone down in dosage., my blood work is amazing, even my rheumatologist has asked me what changes I’ve made in my life, I have the normal amount of anxiety a person should have.

Since starting to use nutritional therapy, I have not passed out – My face has not swelled – The symptoms I have from my Lupus have gone down significantly. I sleep better , my gut feels better. I do occasionally have a flareup, but they are lighter and shorter – even my periods are less painful.

This truly changed my life. Rachel has been there to answer any and every question. She has been someone to relate to, she’s become a friend.