Time and time again I hear the same realization from patients. We assess the problem, we pour over the labs, we talk and create a customized plan, we implement that plan, and then I hear, “This has changed my life!” It is, honestly, music to my ears. It is why I do what I do. Natural wellness changed my life and I hope to give every person who comes to me that same radical shift from a life lived with chromic pain, inflammation, tiredness, or you-name-it to a life that finally feels right.
Sometimes I am fortunate enough to hear more than that simple phrase about life change. Recently I helped Tamera with a chromic issue that had plagued her for over 20 years. We began her wellness journey with dedication to help her finally feel well. What resulted was a beautiful story of how natural wellness can revolutionize a person’s entire outlook on life.
Rather than describe her story, I’ll let her tell you herself. This is Tamera’s wellness journey and I am grateful for her vulnerability, passion, and willingness to share.
Tamera’s Wellness Journey
At a time in my life when I felt I had a solid healthcare team (I truly still do) & life was mostly sunshine and rainbows, in the background my body was a crippling mess. For the better part of 20+ years layers upon layers of symptoms, weird medical nuances & the like continued to pile up rapidly. I began to feel like these things were in my head, but the rashes were visible, the tests were positive, repeatedly a new treatment to treat the side effects of the last treatment awaited.
However, in early 2022 I started experiencing fatigue (the one thing I have never really experienced), an increase in my stomach issues, debilitating nausea & belching that became so common my family stopped reacting. Soon after, I began having bouts of body sensations, increased brain fog, joint pain & memory loss. Surely no one told me that the year leading up to 40 would send me into such a tailspin! My family doctor was able to identify a Vitamin B12 & Vitamin D deficiency & we treated it appropriately with injections & prescription vitamins. The memory loss resolved, as did the body sensations. What didn’t resolve was the fatigue, stomach issues, rashes, joint pain and nausea. I also couldn’t fathom WHY my Vitamin levels were low because I have taken supplements daily for 12 years.
I was referred to a specialist and after having to reach out to them for appointments they were scheduling nearly 4 months out. By this time the bloating & abdominal discomfort, belching, and pure misery had reached a level that kept me working from home and eating preggie pops 7 years post hysterectomy just to make it through the day. As someone overly familiar with the insurance industry & someone with amazing health insurance I know the barriers & I couldn’t wait another 4 months.
A dear friend who has treated my medical anomalies, and watched the ups & downs told me about Dr. Mack and I couldn’t get in touch fast enough. During our first meeting I felt so seen and understood. Before I could finish describing symptoms, you could see the wheels turning, and Dr. Mack would ask about symptoms that while annoying weren’t annoying enough for me to remember. Within 30 minutes she had a solid idea of what was wrong, and shortly after the tests all confirmed, my body wasn’t functional. EVERYTHING made sense. All the dots connected.
I am 6 weeks out from starting treatment for SIBO (methane dominate) and while it has been the hardest 6 weeks due to strict eating restrictions & treatment regimens, I am not willing to give up how amazing I am feeling. No unexplained joint pain. No belching. No nausea. Brain fog is lifting. I haven’t experienced bloating in a few weeks. My energy is returning. The investment into my health & wellbeing is matched easily by the investment Dr. Mack puts into the healing of her patients.
Dr. Janelle Mackowiak(http://cherryblossomnaturalwellness.com)