I’m Thriving Autoimmune (AI) & Food Intolerances. Healing Holistically. I’m Blogging the Beautifully Bumpy ride.
Are You or one of your Loves an Autoimmune Luminary?
She’s affectionately nicknamed Bubble Girl. The Sparkly. Hyper-Active. Creative. Dreamer. She spins at hypersonic speed. And crashes. One Million. To zero. She’s the Allergic one. The Itchy one. The Sneezey one. The Fragile one. The Sassy One. The Sensitive one. She’s here to wring every delicious drop out of Life. Her immune system is as hyper-ebullient as she is.
She might not look sick. She almost certainly doesn’t tell you that every second day or so she feels like she has indulged in an Autoimmune Sundae. A double scoop of the World’s-Worst-Hangover. Sea-Sickness-Topping. Brain-Fuzz-Sprinkles. A PMS-cherry-on-top. Yes Please! Then the ice-cream truck backs over her. Just to be sure.
On these days she probably Hides Out. Goes MIA. Until she can pretend to be Sparkly again.
This is My Thriving Vision. My Mission. My Passion. My Why.
AI taught me that Stress. Busyness. Over(whelm). Chemicals. Unnatural Foods. Were making me Sick.
AI forced me to put the brakes on. The Shiny ‘Perfect’ Busyness I was chasing. Is making our World Sick.
I’m 26. Finally on my way to Vibrant Health. But If I hadn’t found my Delightful Holistic Doctor. I would have died.
Chronic Autoimmune Conditions & Food Intolerances are too often misdiagnosed. As being All-in-your-Head.
Anxiety. Depression. Behavioural problems in kids. AI Luminaries are Confused. Sick. Alone. Increasing in Number.
I’m studying Holistic Health. So I can be an AI Accomplice. Communicate. With Knowledge. Compassion.
Empower AI Luminaries to Listen to their Body. Mind. Spirit. Trust their Instincts. Intuition. Heal. Holistically.
Because Vibrant Holistic Health should be the goal. Not just feeling Okay. Not just treating symptoms.
I want Luminaries to Sparkle. To Thrive.
Because Living with an illness. Living Lightly. Sustainably. Shouldn’t be about Limitation. What I can’t Do.
I’m reDiscovering my Sparkle. Beauty. My Self. Love. Living Lightly. In(habit)ing St(illness).
My Dream? Making Healthy Choices Beautiful. Being a Sustainable Minx SEXY as ANYTHING. Through DESIGN.
I’d Love to be your Accomplice
If you or your Loves are on a similar journey I’d be delighted to connect. Tweet me or PenPal izennahhogan@izennah.com
A LITTLE NOTE. I’m sharing my experience as an impatient ‘patient’. A Sustainable Designer, studying Holistic Health.
What is Autoimmune? Well AI covers a huge spectrum of conditions.
In which a hyper-sensitive immune system over-enthusiastically protects the Body. It feels as if the Body is attacking itself. Autoimmune can manifest in a million ways. In all parts of the Body. Sometimes all at once. Some common AI conditions you have heard of include Allergies, Arthritis, Coeliac, MS, Hashimoto’s (Thyroid), Fibromyalgia and Lupus. These are often Chronic Inflammatory conditions, in which the Thriver will experience good days, and flares, bad days.
Food Intolerances are closely linked to AI
The Digestive System is the centre of the Immune System. Undiagnosed Food Intolerances can cause Chronic Inflammation and disrupt the delicate balance of gut bacteria. Common Food Intolerances include Gluten & Dietary Sugars (FODMAPs) such as Lactose, Fructose and Sorbitol. Food Intolerances often go undiagnosed because they produce a vast array of Chronic symptoms, unlike Allergies often cause Acute reactions.
My Autoimmune Story. A Ridiculously Challenging Gift.
Though I often wish my parents had kept the receipt.
AI pushed me to my Edge. I pretzeled myself into its Limitations.
AI forced me to confront Fear. Vulnerability. I thought I was Alone.
AI hid from Doctors until I was 26. I was told it was All-In-My-Head.
AI made me pretend that I was Okay. I was mortified.
AI made me think I was Koo-Koo-Crazy. I was terrified.
AI almost killed me.
AI whispered. Toxins. Processed Foods. Urban Smog. Not for Me.
AI Prodded. Stressed. Busy. Over(whelmed). It’s too much.
AI SCREAMED. The way I was Living was unSustainable.
AI’s Message & Cure? Chill-the-Flip-Out. Inconveniently Beautiful.
AI opened the door. Holistic Heath. Yoga. Nutrition. Spirituality
AI awakened Compassion. Connection. Passion for Sustainability.
AI lead me to discover Luxurious Simplicity. Living Lightly.
AI is teaching me to really Listen. To My Self. Body. Mind. Spirit.
AI is giving me Permission to in(habit) St(illness).
AI is allowing me to Surrender. To Love. I’m not Alone.
AI is Illuminating my World.
How did I become this ill?
25 years of misdiagnosed Food Intolerances, exacerbated by my hummingbird-esque
approach to Life, invited a flock of secondary conditions to the party.
Severe Food Intolerances to Gluten & FODMAPs >
Systemic Inflammation + Severe Digestive Distress > Autoimmune
SIBO Potentially Fatal Bacterial Overgrowth in Gut Citrobacter Freundii & Tummy Helicobacter Pylori >
Insomnia + Fatigue + Brain Fuzz + Anxiety
Autoimmune Interstitial Cystitis + Hormone Imbalance.
Chronic Malabsorption > Severe Malnutrition >
Organ + Bone + Nerve Damage. > Chronic Pain >
Pelvic Misalignment. Bone. Muscle. Fascia.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Don’t worry. I’m now Thriving Autoimmune. Holistically.
It’s Frustrating. Sometimes Painful. I’m Living Lightly. Trusting. Instinct. Intuition. I’m SO grateful.
It will take a year or more to rebalance and rebuild my Health. But I have a Lifetime of Thriving to look forward to.
I’m Falling in LOVE. With My Self. BODY. MIND. SPIRIT. My LOVES. My World. HOME. WORK. PLAY.
Who are my Holistic Thriving ACCOMPLICES?
Dr. Mel Sydney-Smith is my Delightful Doctor. Director of the Holistic Medical Centre. His practice reflects a commitment to a holistic framework of health, clinical nutrition and preventive medicine, encompassing modalities such as psychotherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine and massage.
Alyssa Tait is my Phenomenal Physiotherapist. Passionate about helping women achieve optimal health through holistic physiotherapy and nutrition.
Jaci Barrett is my Delicious Dietician. Specialising in gastrointestinal disorders, food sensitivities and the FODMAP Diet.
James Middleton is my Charming Chinese Medicine Practitioner.
Omanisa Ross is my Spectacular Spiritual Healer.
Holistic Thriving Luminaries.
Sarah Wilson, Jess Ainscough, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Guy and Chris Kresser inspire me daily.
What’s in my Holistic Thriving TOOLKIT?
BODY.
Thrive Trusting in my Delightful Doctor. Kick-starting my Tummy with Herbs & Medicines.
Move Daily Physiotherapy. Yoga. Walking. To Realign. Relax. Strengthen. I’m a Dancer.
Luxuriate Pampering. Massaging. Body Brushing. Steaming. Oiling. My Body into Life.
Savour Simply Luxurious Wholefoods Diet. Gluten-Free. Low FODMAP. Grains. Vegetables. Protein.
Revive Learning to in(habit) Stillness. Learning to Rest. Nourish My Self. Sleep. Dream.
MIND. Awakening. Daily Meditation. Accepting Scary Thoughts & Emotions.Studying Holistic Health.
SPIRIT. Gorgeousify-ing. in(habit)ing Beauty. Connecting My Self. Sensuality. Instinct. Intuition. Spirituality.
ACCOMPLICES. Surrendering. To the Support & Love of my Holistic Healers. Family. Loves. Luminaries. And my Love.
HOME. Living in Tropical Darwin. Quiet. Home. Family. Luxuriously Simple. (Hypoallergenic). Beautiful. Thriving TOOLS.
WORK. Sharing my Gifts. Illuminating Sustainable Change. LIVELIGHTLY. Inspired by Healthy Kids & Fairgame.
PLAY. Immersing in Nature. Sunsets. Music. in(habit)ing St(illness). I’m an Artist. Singer. Painter.
