Hi folks!
Mark has so generously offered for me to be a guest on the “40 Fit and Fabulous” Podcast as well as to guest post here on his blog as well!
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So let me introduce myself!
My name is Dr. Lacey Chittle. I’m a functional medicine specialist w/ a virtual practice helping people worldwide get to the root cause of their symptoms & heal naturally so you can go back to living your best life!
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I came to this work after my own serious and mysterious health struggle. At 27 years old I was “on top of my game,” with regard to my fitness, my personal life and career. I had finished my doctorate in physical therapy, had secured my dream job, got married to my long time sweetheart, and was killing it running 50+ miles a week and tearing it up in the gym.
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Just over a year later, I completely fell apart.
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One day while I was at work, I stood up after sitting for a working lunch meeting and part of my visual field in my left eye was gone. At first I didn’t know what I was experiencing, should I take this serious, is it was a fixed defect in my vision? I called my husband and he told me he was coming to get me immediately to take me to the emergency room, for fear this was a retinal detachment, and may lead to permanent vision loss if not dealt with immediately.
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I didn’t realize it at the time, but this incident was just my body’s breaking point. The little signs of weakened immune function and chronic systemic inflammation I had been experiencing over the last year were whispers my body was giving me to tell me, she needed help. I did not heed her warnings. As a result in the weeks and months ahead I developed:
- Vasculopathy/vascultitis
- IBS with nausea vomiting, stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic migraine
- Proteinuria
- Pericarditis
- Dysautonomia including POTs, orthostatic hypotension, heat and cold intolerance, syncope
- Chronic pain in my muscles, tendons and joints
- Insomnia
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic fatigue
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I spent a very long time attempting to get a definitive diagnosis and prescription drug regimen that would control my symptoms. Eventually I reached a point where I was stable, not getting worse, but still quite disabled as compared to my previous level of function.
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I could only walk 1 block or stand for 10 minutes before I would become out of breath, dizzy, nauseous, and fatigued. I was on numerous drugs to control my pain, help me sleep, keep me from vomiting, get me moving during the day, to help me have a bowel movement, to decrease the progression of an unknown autoimmune disease, to decrease the recurrence of heart inflammation, and a few to suppress the side effects of the other drugs I was taking.
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At 28 I was on more than ½ a dozen prescription meds and prognosis to need them indefinitely.
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I then had a conversation with my rheumatologist that set me on the path to reclaim responsibility for my health. For that, I am forever grateful. He said to me, “Lacey, you should be grateful for the progress you have made, and maybe it is time you start to consider this as your new normal.”
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After a very good long cry and a little self-loathing. I decided I would take charge of my health mystery and use my knowledge of biochemistry and physiology to find where my body had broken down and what it needed in order to heal. I later learned this approach to healthcare is called, Functional Medicine and went onto train with the Institute for Functional Medicine so that I would be able to lead others along the path to reclaim their optimal health.
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My symptoms, by the time I started to listen to my body were quite severe, but the cries of your body don’t start that way. They could be little whispers of indigestion, an achy knee or back, or just a general feeling of being tired all the time.
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But I’m telling your body isn’t supposed to hold you back. These vague common symptoms are not to be ignored.
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These symptoms are signals to let us know something is amiss NOT a natural part of aging.
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It is up to us to listen to our body’s cries and learn what they are trying to tell us so we can go on to live our best lives.
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I want you to know:
You can feel energized.⠀
You can feel happy.⠀⠀
You can feel your best (at any age).⠀
You can rock that workout.⠀
You can feel vibrant!
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When you learn to listen (and love) your body, you will be amazed at how good it CAN feel.⠀
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Take these common complaints for instance:
📍Did you know heart burn could simply be due to low stomach acid
📍Bloating after meals could be due to a gut infection or imbalance of the microbiome from chronic stress or a diet high in refined carbs and sugar, or a hormonal imbalance?
📍Chronic fatigue could be a sign of prediabetes, a nutritional deficiency, an autoimmune disease or a hormonal imbalance?
📍Osteoarthritis is not a function of aging, but rather a sign of low grade systemic inflammation and possibly increased intestinal permeability, aka “leaky gut.”
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The root cause of your ailments can very simply be identified & CURED.
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And you can reclaim your life!
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If you’d like to learn more about me or what working with me would like here are a few options:
40 Fit and Fabulous Podcast link: https://healthbuddy.fit/podcast/
Free Health Consultation: http://www.drlaceychittle.com/complimentary-consultation
Website: http://www.drlaceychittle.com/home
Instagram handle: @dr.laceychittle
Facebook handle: @DrChittleHealthWellness
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Yours in thriving good health Dr. Lacey Chittle
