Casey's 2025 Health Update

Author, Casey, 2023 struggling with chronic illness

I write this in the hopes it might help someone struggling with chronic illness. See bottom of blog for medications and diet guidelines that have helped me the most in recovery...

Many of you know I began having immune system and nervous system issues as early as 1996, but they really did not become life-altering until 2005. Since then I have tried and failed to get answers from countless doctors.

I have, off and on, suffered from migraines, brain fog, allergies, unexplained blistering of eyes and inner ears, hearing loss, vision loss, memory loss, coordination loss, numbness of arms and legs, inability to move legs and arms after exercise, nerve pain in my hands and feet, struggles with digestion and painful menstruation cycles. My body healed slowly, didn't recover from workouts, and felt fatigued after little exertion. When battling something like an infection or virus, these symptoms, along with head-to-toe nerve and muscle pain, would put me in bed for days at the time. At my worst, I was unable to work a full-time job for 7 years. At one point I had to re-teach myself how to spell words. Just writing a sentence was difficult.

After taking some "jabs" in 2022, I became all the more ill.

Author, Casey, 2025 with improvement!

Frustrated with doctors and specialists who kept telling me my symptoms were "all in my head," I began trying anything and everything to find treatments or diets that might help with my symptoms. I found great emotional and mental healing through Wellspring Ministries International of Anchorage, Alaska. However, my physical symptoms have persisted.

In October of 2023 I began trying to treat the symptoms I was having through healthy diet and upping my intake of nicotine patches and vitamins. While my body responded somewhat well to the diet guidelines listed in the blogs I wrote in October of that year, I failed to make much improvement otherwise. I suffered badly until the spring of 2024 when I had a dead tooth pulled, and began adding more supplements to my protocol. Apparently that tooth had been dead for years, causing me chronic fevers and inhibiting my already struggling immune system. Shooting in the dark without a definite diagnosis, I also decided to do genetic testing, which has led me to a bevy of new specialists and medications that have helped immensely.

Sadly, I didn't get the attention I needed from specialists until I had the genetic tests in hand, and had married Scott, finally having amazing health insurance. Once I had those, it opened up doors for doctors to take me seriously. I have spent the last 6 months seeing Hematologists, OB/GYN's, Rheumatologists, Endocrinologists, Gastroenterologists, and Holistic Specialists. All of which have treated me so wonderfully! I also see a Chiropractor, a weekly Massage Therapist and I'll be starting soon with a Physical Therapist.

So far they have diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Brain Fog. But, genetic tests have also shown I'm battling Factor-H Deficiency (Mitochondrial Disorder), which causes my body to not fight as hard against infections and inflammation (slow to heal and slow to have muscle recovery after exercise). Also, I've been battling MCAS (panic attacks of the auto-immune system), Histamine Intolerance (unidentifiable, random, multiple allergies), Dysautonomia/POTS (problems regulating heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature), Adenomyosis (extreme inflammation of uterus), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Thyroid Nodules (benign), Fatty Liver Disease, Diverticulosis, Stomach Ulcer & Erosion, Eczema/Psoriasis, Migraines and Perimenopause. Another issue I have had since I was a child is head-to-toe Edema (swelling) and an inability to maintain proper salt/electrolyte levels in my bloodstream.

I will be having a hysterectomy to remove several Fibroid Cysts and address the pain of Adenomysis, or possible Endometriosis, April 24, 2025. They said they won't know exactly if I've been suffering with Adenomysis or Endometriosis until they get in there and see what they're dealing with. But, they did assure me I should see a great reduction in lower abdominal pain and lower back pain once I've healed from surgery.

In the past the surgeries that helped the most was having my gallbladder removed, having uterus ablated, and having two dead teeth pulled.

The new protocols that have helped me so very much this past year include the following:

Diet:

1. No No's: Caffeine, Chocolate, Alcohol, Vinegars, Processed Sandwich Meats and Sodas (my go-to is Sparkling Waters flavored with lime)

2. Cheese: Part-Skim Cottage Cheese, Organic Cheeses, Ricotta Cheese and Organic Yogurts (you can make a delicious cheesecake-like snack with Ricotta and a bit of Stevia and Vanilla Flavoring)

3. Fats/Oils: Leaf Lard, Country Crock Olive Oil Butter, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil

4. Breads: Dave's Seed Bread or Ezekiel Bread ... or No Carb Wraps (in moderation)

5. Fruits: Berries, Apples, Bananas, Melons, Pineapple (no citrus and go easy on peaches/pears)

6. Veggies: Carrots, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes, Celery, Cucumbers, Salad Greens, Avocado (no nightshade vegetables, such as squash, eggplant, tomatoes or cabbage ... and go easy on onions)

7. Nuts and Seeds: I soak my Chia Seeds 20-30 minutes before digesting and only eat peanuts in moderation because peanuts cause inflammation. I also drink unsweetened Almond Milk more than dairy milk.

8. Meats: Eggs, Organic Chicken, Non-Farm Raised Fish, Seafood ... and Grass-Fed Beef (in moderation)

9. Snacks: I like the veggie snack packs, such as the ones with cheese, nuts and dried cranberries ... or the ones with celery, apples, cheddar, carrots and ranch dip.

10. Desserts: I splurge on holidays or when I visit my mom's for a Sunday lunch, but I stay away from processed junk as much as possible. I do eat Benton's 100 calorie chocolate chip snack packs when I have a sweet tooth. Or, I try to make my own, such as peanut butter cups sweetened with honey or maple syrup, and chocolate that's organic if I must. If I go out with my family for ice cream, I get just one scoop with no cone.

11. Eating Out: I try to make smart choices, such as getting grilled chicken nuggets at Chick-fil-A with the Kale Salad on the side. Or, I just skip fast food altogether and eat a Kind Nut Bar. Sometimes I'll get a superfood smoothie with vitamins and digestive add-ins at Tropical Smoothie or Smoothie King restaurants.

Meds/Supplements:

1. Cymbalta - nerve pain/migraines

2. Ka'chave Protein Superfood Shakes w/ the following add-ins:

   1. L-Lysine powder - fights viruses

   2. Vegan N-Acetyl L-Cysteine powder - builds glutathione (detoxifier), supports liver health, immunity strength and respiratory health

   3. Chia Seeds - helps increase estrogen, fighting perimenopause (not to brag but these seeds taken daily make my breasts look amazing and plump!)

   4. ARMRA Colostrum powder - aids in digestion and healthy tissue repair, skin, hair and nails

3. Omega-3 Fish Oil Capsules - aids in brain health and cholesterol processing

4. Stomach Ulcer Medication & Nexium - aids in stomach lining repair and acid reduction

5. NAD+ - aids in cell repair and reverses cell aging

6. Mary Ruth's Prenatal and/or Hair, Skin & Nail Vitamins - extra vitamins since my body doesn't always absorb superfood shake vitamins fully

7. Atenolol - for high blood pressure and rapid-heart rate

8. Vitamin C, D3, K2 & Zinc - increase dose during cold/flu season

9. Nicotine Patches - See my previous blogs from Oct. 2024 for protocol dosages/uses

If you or someone you love has been suffering from similar issues with no answers, I hope this helps. I still believe in the goodness of God, and in His willingness and ability to heal "all our diseases." (Psalms 103:3) In the meantime, I pray we all have the grace to bear suffering well.

Marcus Aurelius, a famous stoic, once said something (paraphrased):

"The obstacle is the way." Or, "Struggle is the way."

I'm not to prideful to say I'd probably still be swimming in my sin had it not been for my intense suffering. Suffering brought me to the feet of Jesus, and I'd rather have an earthly life of suffering with Jesus, than and easy life without Him. (Although, I'll take both Jesus and an easier life should He ever want to gift me with it! LOL)

It's really important we, as Christians, do not slip into the idolatry of wishing we had a happier, easier life. I've noticed in some Evangelical churches they teach God is always 100% willing and able to heal you, and if you're not getting healed, then it must be your fault ... you must be living in some kind of sin. Maybe that's true in some cases, but I believe some people's illnesses are not healed simply because of timing. Although God did not cause the illness, there are times He may be allowing it, for a time, to create godly character in the person who is suffering. Even the great Apostle Paul had to deal with a "thorn in his side," and some great men and women of God have died or lost loved ones inexplicably.

It bothers me that ministers do not teach this generation about how to suffer well. Chip Ingram has an excellent series on his smart phone app, and I think on YouTube, about "suffering well" I highly recommend.

Even Job of the Bible, who lost everything and everyone he loved, save his wife, had a faith crisis and questioned God. But, it wasn't until he saw how small he was, and how great God was, that he realized how far his faith still had to go. Job, albeit a good man and maybe even a blameless man, didn't truly see God for who He was until Job had lost everything and suffered much.

I know healing is available for all of us, and it will come, either on this side of Heaven or the next. Stand with me as we, together, believe for God's will to be done in our daily lives here on earth as it is in Heaven.

Let's live one-day-at-a-time and try not to think of all the years and lost opportunities seemingly wasted in illness. For we serve a God who restores "the YEARS the locusts, caterpillar and canker-worms have eaten!" {Joel 2:25)