For as long as I can remember, pain was just part of my "normal."
As a little girl, it was constant tummy aches and headaches. Once puberty hit, things got even harder. I dealt with painful PMS, digestive issues, and migraines that would just level me. I was also really thin back then—so thin that people actually accused me of being anorexic. It was honestly pretty traumatic; I didn't even really know what that meant, but suddenly I felt like I had to "prove" I was okay when I definitely didn't feel okay.
At 15, I started experiencing pain in my knees, and I was told by a doctor that I had juvenile arthritis. Looking back, we now know that was just a huge red flag for Celiac disease that everyone missed.
By my 20s and 30s, the struggle shifted to weight gain that wouldn't budge, and the pain just kept escalating. One day in my early 30s, my lower back literally gave out. I was stuck on the couch for three days before I could even move properly again.
Trying to "Fix" Myself
I was so tired of being hurt. I thought, "If I can just get stronger, I’ll feel better." I started running and went vegetarian for a few years, thinking I was being healthy. I even got back to my original weight. But my gut was screaming at me. It got so bad that I’d spend hours curled up in a ball on the floor or the couch, just waiting for the cramps to stop.
I was so tired of being hurt. I thought, "If I can just get stronger, I’ll feel better." I started running and went vegetarian for a few years, thinking I was being healthy. I even got back to my original weight. But my gut was screaming at me. It got so bad that I’d spend hours curled up in a ball on the floor or the couch, just waiting for the cramps to stop.
After an IBS diagnosis and some time on the Low-FODMAP diet, I thought I was finally getting somewhere. Then, out of nowhere, my neck locked up. I couldn't even turn my head. An X-ray showed my spine was actually curving the wrong way. I couldn't exercise for two years while I tried to fix it and gained back all the weight I lost, then some.
It was actually a massage therapist who saved the day—she noticed how much inflammation was in my body and told me to get specific blood work done.
The Answer
At 39, I finally got the news: Celiac Disease.
At 39, I finally got the news: Celiac Disease.
That night, I had a really good, long cry. The next morning? I got to work. I dove into learning how to cook and eat in a way that actually loved me back. Honestly, I’m so grateful we live in a time where gluten-free food can actually taste amazing!
Later on, I realized my hormones were still a mess, which led me to find out about mold toxicity and SIBO. SIBO is quite common in celiac disease due to the association of chronic constipation. After clearing those out, I finally—finally—started feeling like a human again.
Where I Am Today
I want to be real with you: with autoimmune stuff and chronic pain, things don't just "poof" and disappear forever. Flare-ups happen because life happens. But because I finally understand the why behind my symptoms, my pain has gone from "every single day" to "once in a while."
I want to be real with you: with autoimmune stuff and chronic pain, things don't just "poof" and disappear forever. Flare-ups happen because life happens. But because I finally understand the why behind my symptoms, my pain has gone from "every single day" to "once in a while."
I have way more good days than bad now. And I'm getting my weight figured out too.
I know exactly what it’s like to live in a body that feels like a mystery. I know the fear of eating something and waiting for the pain to hit. That’s exactly why I became a nutrition coach and created The Dayley Framework.
I’m not here to just give you a diet; I’m here to help you understand your body so you can take your life back, just like I did. You don’t have to do this alone.
Comments
Post a Comment