First-person patient narrative describing a period of severe multi-system illness (joint pain, gastrointestinal problems, skin issues, systemic inflammation) while living in Austin. Despite seeing endocrinologists and gastroenterologists and undergoing colonoscopy and endoscopy, the speaker found no clear answers until a functional-medicine provider (Ann Ship B) conducted testing and dietary counseling (notably about gluten). That intervention "changed my life," leading the speaker to work for Amy Myers as a nurse, train/qualify as a functional-medicine nurse practitioner, and open their own practice.
Chapters
Had joint pain, stomach issues, skin issues, super inflamed. My mom actually pretty much moved in with me. I was living downtown Austin, and I was just really sick, and I was going to endocrinologist, gastroenterologists, all the specialties, and no one really had answers. You know, I was put on different medications. I did invasive procedures, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and really had no answers. And so that's when I was desperate, and I was like, all right, there's gotta be more. And really, my parents were pushing me to go to, like, People's Pharmacy in Austin, and then they found Ann Ship B, who is a functional medicine provider, and she saved my life. You know, she did all this testing. She talked to me about my diet, and I was kind of like, no, I've eaten water burger. Like, I'm fine. But it was. I. And I wasn't fine anymore, you know, but I was like, wait, what do you mean, gluten? I've eaten this my whole life. So, yeah, that's how I kind of got into this field of functional medicine, which I feel like is an important part of my story. It, you know, I was really sick and desperate. I wasn't smart and ahead of the curve, and so changed my life, which changed the trajectory of my career. So I worked for Amy Myers as her nurse, and then I became a functional medicine nurse practitioner and opened my own practice and worked with patients over the years. And.
