Can I still heal if I don’t have a diagnosis?
Having a diagnosis can be really helpful especially in our current medical system and definitely worth pursuing because it allows us to get the right medications, insurance reimbursement, and have a clear plan of action and path to healing. But, a diagnosis is not everything and waiting for a formal diagnosis to do anything about our health can stop us from what’s available to us right now. So what happens when we don’t fit into this disease category, but we still don’t feel great? It may seem as though there is nothing we can do, but actually there are many, many tools in the toolkit to support the body at this pivotal time! This is the area that I love to work in, and the area that gets missed so often in our health care system.
I was speaking to a woman the other day who told me she had been feeling “off” for a long time now experiencing symptoms of fatigue, increased weight gain, digestive issues, brain fog and joint pain. She’d been to a few doctors who ran tests and told her that everything appeared to be “normal.” She felt discouraged, knowing that she didn’t feel right but she didn’t feel validated about how she was feeling. She was confused because she didn’t have any formal diagnosis of disease from her practitioners and, therefore, wasn’t given any guidance on what to do to help herself feel better.
She asked me, “How can I heal if I don’t have a diagnosis?”
An AARDA study of autoimmune patients found that the average time for diagnosis of an autoimmune disease is 4.6 years. During that period, the patient typically has seen 4.8 doctors in our current medical system. This is because autoimmune diseases can start out or manifest as “vague” symptoms such as fatigue, digestive issues, inflammation and pain. Our medical system is really a disease-focused system where the goal is to identify and diagnose a disease state. When our symptoms don’t fit into a neat and tidy disease category, patients aren’t given a diagnosis and are sometimes told to come back when things get worse and they meet criteria for treatment.
This, to me, just isn’t good enough and allows many people to fall through the cracks without getting proper medical care.
Having a diagnosis can be really helpful especially in our current medical system and definitely worth pursuing because it allows us to get the right medications, insurance reimbursement, and have a clear plan of action and path to healing. But, a diagnosis is not everything and waiting for a formal diagnosis to do anything about our health can stop us from what’s available to us right now.
So what happens when we don’t fit into this disease category, but we still don’t feel great? It may seem as though there is nothing we can do, but actually there are many, many tools in the toolkit to support the body at this pivotal time! This is the area that I love to work in, and the area that gets missed so often in our health care system.
When we look at these foundational aspects of health that include:
Proper nutrition
Digestive health
Hydration
Stress and Resilience
Sleep
Relationships
Mindset
…it doesn’t matter what the disease diagnosis is at the top. This goes against the paradigm we have in our current medical system where we focus on the organ-system diagnosis rather than the roots below that allowed that system to get out of balance in the first place. If you are experiencing symptoms and have not gotten a formal diagnosis, you can absolutely still benefit from taking a look at these foundational pieces of health and supporting your body to functional more optimally right now.
I like to say, start where you are, use what you have and do what you can! Where are you at with all of those foundational pieces and how can you support yourself TODAY no matter what diagnosis you have? Can you increase the nutrient density of your food intake? Reduce your sugar intake? Do you need to support digestion to ensure you are absorbing all of your nutrients from your food? What is your level of stress on a daily basis on a scale from 1-10? Are you sleeping?
Once we begin to look at these foundation pieces of healing we see that we have so many more tools in the toolkit than we have been lead to believe! It can seem overwhelming to know where to start in this process. If you’re looking for support on how to take control of your health and understand the root causes of imbalance in your body, I can help. I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and what’s standing in your way! Book in your complementary phone call here >>
Trust yourself. You know your body better than anyone else. When you don’t feel right, you don’t feel right and you deserve validation and support. I want you to know that there are many tools available to you even if you don’t have a formal diagnosis of disease!
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If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, breathwork, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
Live Well Podcast | Ep #60 Managing chronic fatigue with Fran Dargaville
Fran is a Functional Nutritionist and Yoga teacher with a passion for real food and holistic health! Her health journey started when she developed chronic fatigue and digestive issues as a teenager, which sparked her determination to heal herself through food, movement and mindset.
Fran is a Functional Nutritionist and Yoga teacher with a passion for real food and holistic health! Her health journey started when she developed chronic fatigue and digestive issues, which sparked her determination to heal herself through food, movement and mindset. Fran supports her clients through 1:1 programs and her online detox program to get to the root cause of their symptoms, so they can lose weight, get more energy and take control of their health.
I love Fran’s real food approach to health and am so excited to speak with her today about overcoming chronic fatigue.
LISTEN BELOW (AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL NEVER MISS OUT!)
Click here to listen in iTunes
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Show Notes:
0:00 Intro
2:50 Fran describes her personal experience with chronic fatigue
Developed CFS as a teenager in high school
Difficulty getting anyone to take her symptoms seriously
4:20 Fran describes her second flare-up of chronic fatigue in her 20s
How a toxic job contributed to symptoms
8:20 Fran’s experience having to quit her job and move back in with her parents as she recovered
The role of her mom as an advocate and support during this time
13:00 The importance of “day to day” support when managing chronic health conditions
13:22 Fran describes the interventions that made the biggest difference for her to help her finally heal
Nutrition and gut health
Exercise and fresh air
Yoga and mindfulness
Mindset work
16:39 The limiting beliefs that kept Fran stuck from moving forward
“I’m so exhausted”
“I can’t go anywhere, what if I feel worse?”
“I can’t get the perfect food today, this will derail all my progress”
18:50 How Fran managed without a diagnosis of disease
21:55 The danger of attaching too strongly to your diagnosis
25:30 Fran details the specific foods to include and avoid to support your body
The importance of nutrient density for chronic conditions
37:50 Outro
If you loved this episode, I'd be honored for you to give me a rating on iTunes. This helps me to get content out to others who are interested in getting control of their health through diet, lifestyle shifts and personal empowerment.
If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, breathwork, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
Live Well Podcast | Ep #57 How to avoid toxins in our food and environment with Beth Chen
Today on The Live Well Podcast I’m speaking with Beth Chen about how to avoid toxins in our food and environment. Beth Chen is an AIP blogger, and self-taught cook and photographer. She finds joy in eating to heal and sharing her recipes and wellness tips, on her blog bonaippetit.com, with others. Join us as we speak about how to reduce the toxic load in your life.
Today on The Live Well Podcast I’m speaking with Beth Chen about how to avoid toxins in our food and environment. Beth Chen is an AIP blogger, and self-taught cook and photographer. She finds joy in eating to heal and sharing her recipes and wellness tips, on her blog bonaippetit.com, with others. Join us as we speak about how to reduce the toxic load in your life.
Here are the resources we spoke about on the podcast:
LISTEN BELOW (AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL NEVER MISS OUT!)
Click here to listen in iTunes
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Show Notes:
0:00 Intro
1:39 Beth shares her personal story that lead her to the work she does today.
7:02 Why Beth is so passionate about avoiding toxins in her food, wine, beauty products and environment.
11:35 Beth discusses some of ways you can empower and educate yourself to reduce your toxic load while considering your budget, availability ect.
14:28 What to look for when buying eggs, seafood and meats; Beth recommends her top websites and apps to reference the quality of your produce while at the grocery store.
20:26 Why wine today is not made in the traditional way. Beth talks about what is in most conventional store-bought wines.
34:06 Why toxin-free living is really about an abundance mindset…and Kale Oreos.
41:11 Outro
If you loved this episode, I'd be honored for you to give me a rating on iTunes. This helps me to get content out to others who are interested in getting control of their health through diet, lifestyle shifts and personal empowerment.
If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, breathwork, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
LIVE WELL PODCAST | EP #41 - Adaptogenic Herbs with Lisa Levine
Lisa Levine is a Certified Life and Health Coach at Audacious Health & Wellness and a firm believer in the power of possibility. She helps people create new and healthy habits in the way they think, eat, sleep and move, empowering them to live their lives fully and audaciously.
Lisa Levine is a Certified Life and Health Coach at Audacious Health & Wellness and a firm believer in the power of possibility. She helps people create new and healthy habits in the way they think, eat, sleep and move, empowering them to live their lives fully and audaciously.
Her mantras include “I can have the life I want by being awake in the life I am in,” “Aging is inevitable but getting old is entirely optional” and “Don’t forget the chocolate.” Join us as we speak about adaptogenic herbs and their uses and benefits!
LISTEN BELOW (AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL NEVER MISS OUT!)
Click here to listen in iTunes
Click here to listen in Stitcher
Show Notes:
0:00 Intro
1:59 Lisa speaks about her own personal health journey
6:30 How Lisa began to experiment with adaptogens
7:45 What are adaptogenic herbs?
Safe and non-toxic for everyone
Balance hormones
Help with stress
14:00 The difference between specific adaptogens
Ashwaganda
Macca
Rhodioloa
Mushrooms
20:00 How to consume adaptogens
26:00 Some contraindications to consider
Autoimmunity and immune stimulating
27:40 Lisa’s other favorite stress reduction techniques
3 deeps breaths
Yin and restorative yoga
Essential Oils
Digital detoxing
34:00 More information about Lisa’s classes and offerings
38:08 Outro
Connect with Lisa
If you loved this episode, I'd be honored for you to give me a rating on iTunes. This helps me to get content out to others who are interested in getting control of their health through diet, lifestyle shifts and personal empowerment.
If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell, founder and owner of Live Well with Christina. I'm so excited that you're here and have begun to delve into your health and wellness journey! Here at Live Well we help people with autoimmune disease take control of their health through nutrition, lifestyle shifts and personal empowerment.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I can help guide you through 1:1 health and nutrition coaching.
Health coaching is a necessary extension of the health care system in that together we have more time to uncover issues, implement strategies and assess outcomes together. Autoimmune disease is complex and to address it we need to come at it from all angles (pharmaceutical therapies from your doctor while also focusing on root cause factors like gut health, diet, sleep and stress). I offer accountability, a knowledgeable resource and most importantly support.
I always offer free 30-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.