In case you’ve missed it, you are currently reading part 3 of my series on going from surviving to thriving with two autoimmune diseases.
Part one: Click here to read
Part two: Click here to read
Now, we finally get to a turning point…
For nearly two years, I was caught in a confusing cycle of symptoms, frustration, and fear — with no answers and no clear path forward. I was exhausted in every sense of the word. Then, in 2023, I finally found the doctor who gave me something I desperately needed:
✨ A name for what I was going through.
It wasn’t just about getting a diagnosis.
It was about reclaiming my power.
🚨 The First Doctor: A Warning, Not a Way Forward
The first gastroenterologist I saw in 2021 gave me a possible diagnosis with no direction. He casually threw out the words Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis — without full labs, biopsies, or any thorough investigation. I was told I should begin biologics treatment immediately, and that the only other option — mesalamine — was rarely covered by insurance and rarely worked, thus the reason he wouldn’t even consider it.
Not only did I leave scared and without answers, I walked out of his office confused, overwhelmed, and without hope.
“I didn’t get clarity — I got chaos.”
🔍 Taking Matters Into My Own Hands
With zero understanding of the diseases he named, I spent the following weeks deep-diving into:
- Scientific research
- Patient forums
- Treatment options
- Medical journals
- Recommendations for alternative specialists
I knew one thing for sure:
If I was going to live with this, I needed to understand it. And I needed a doctor who would treat me like a person, not a problem to medicate and move on from.
🩺 The Doctor Who Finally Listened
In 2023, I found him — the right doctor.
He:
- Listened to my full story, my concerns, and my hopes
- Ordered proper labs, scopes, and biopsies
- Took time to explain every finding and every option going forward
- Discussed options with me, not at me, and gave me goals that we would aim toward between that time and the next appointment
We created a plan together, and for the first time, I didn’t feel like I was being steamrolled.
💊 Building My Personalized Treatment Plan
With confirmed diagnoses of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, we began treatment with:
- A lengthy pyramid-style corticosteroid plan (which ended early due to my now apparent prednisone allergy)
- A daily mesalamine prescription (Lialda), which I still take today.
After much reading and studying, as well as discussion with my new doctor, I made the personal decision to avoid biologics and immuno-suppressants, unless absolutely necessary. That was my line in the sand — and my doctor respected that.
This treatment plan helped get me out of the dangerous flare cycle I was stuck in and gave me a stable enough baseline to begin truly healing my body from the inside-out.
⚖️ Western Medicine: The First Step, Not the Finish Line
Let me take time to be certain you understand my thoughts on this next part, as I feel it is very important:
I believe in the power and necessity of western medicine. It saved me. It stopped the spiral. It gave me back a measure of control.
But I also believe that symptom control is not the same as healing.
Western medicine stabilized me — but it didn’t fix me. That’s where Eastern medicine and natural healing would come in (more on that in the next post – it’s where you start to see my passion really shine through).
💬 Why Getting a Diagnosis Matters
Getting a diagnosis can be scary — especially when it’s something chronic, lifelong, or complex.
But you know what’s worse?
🛑 Not knowing at all.
🛑 Being told it’s all in your head.
🛑 Feeling like your pain is invisible, invalid, or unsolvable.
“Naming your pain isn’t giving up — it’s the first step to fighting it.”
🙌 What I Learned From My Turning Point
- You are allowed to get a second (or third) opinion
- You deserve to understand your own diagnosis
- You can ask questions and take time before saying yes to treatment
- You don’t have to settle for “this is just how it is”
Straight Outta My Mind 