My Gut Health Journey: A Personal Story of Healing and Rediscovery

Sep 28, 20246 min read

Back in May, my gut health took a turn, and it’s time to share my story with you. I’ve always been the type to read up on the latest science, especially when it comes to nutrition and wellness, so when I started experiencing gut issues, I thought I knew exactly what to do. But this time, things weren’t as simple as adding a few more veggies to my plate.

The Beginning: When Eating Healthy Backfired

As someone who lives and breathes gut health, I knew I should be eating more prebiotics and fiber-rich foods. I was so committed that I made it my mission to pack as many plants as possible into my meals. One day, I crammed 19 different plants into a single meal, feeling proud and accomplished. But instead of feeling nourished and energized, I found myself in severe pain. It was some of the worst gut pain I’d ever experienced—so intense that I couldn’t sleep, and I was so bloated that I looked seven months pregnant.

This was a wake-up call that something was seriously wrong. I knew I couldn’t just ignore it or push through. I needed answers, and I needed them fast.

Seeking Answers: The Diagnosis

I began by cutting out everything except meat, fat, and some fruit to calm my symptoms, which helped temporarily, but I knew that wasn’t a sustainable solution. Initially, I cut out vegetables because I have IBS, and many vegetables are high in FODMAPs—fermentable carbohydrates that can trigger symptoms like bloating, pain, and gas in sensitive individuals. It was a necessary step to reduce my immediate discomfort, but I knew I couldn’t avoid these foods forever.

It was time to dig deeper. I took the plunge and got a GI-MAP test to understand what was happening in my microbiome. I also went to a GI specialist who performed a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and a series of blood tests.

The results were both reassuring and revealing:

Bloodwork: Showed low iron and zinc levels, which explained some of my fatigue and overall weakness.
Colonoscopy: Revealed gastritis but was otherwise normal, ruling out some more serious conditions.
SIBO and Celiac Disease: Both were negative, which was a relief but also meant I still didn’t have the full picture.
GI-MAP Test: This was where the real insights came. The test revealed dysbiosis, an overgrowth of candida, leaky gut, and potential immune issues linked to high levels of LPS (lipopolysaccharides), a sign that my gut barrier was compromised.

While the traditional tests gave me some important data, it was the GI-MAP that truly opened my eyes to what was happening in my gut. I decided to bring in reinforcements and hired a functional medicine doctor and nutritionist to help me turn these findings into an actionable plan.

Crafting a Healing Plan: Addressing the Root Cause

When I first received my results, I took a moment to ask the universe (or God, or whatever guiding force you believe in), “What is this trying to teach me?” The answer came almost immediately: stress. I realized that stress had been quietly sabotaging my health, and I needed to make serious changes to address it.

At the start of my healing process, I introduced a daily mantra to align my mind with my body: “I relax and allow life to flow through me with ease.” I found this in Louise Hay’s book Heal Your Body, and it became a powerful tool to shift my mindset. As I repeated this mantra, I felt my body begin to soften, slowly allowing me to release the tension that had built up over time.

As if on cue, the right resources began appearing in my life—almost like they were meant to find me at that exact moment. I remembered a calming class I’d taken at The Pearl a few years back, and I felt pulled to return. I signed up for restorative yoga, and it quickly became my sanctuary. Week after week, I immersed myself in restorative yoga, breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness practices that began to soothe not just my gut but my entire nervous system.

I committed to self-care in ways I never had before:

Weekly restorative yoga classes and mindfulness workshops.
Monthly massages and facials that became more than just a luxury—they were essential. I even learned an at-home gua sha and cupping routine that’s now part of my nightly wind-down.
Rekindling my daily meditation and breathwork practice, which had fallen by the wayside in the chaos of life.
Reintroducing acupuncture and diving deeper into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, learning how these ancient practices could support my healing journey.

These steps weren’t just about my gut—they were about honoring my body, slowing down, and finding a balance I hadn’t realized I’d lost.

Finding Balance: Relearning How to Care for My Body

I’ll be honest; somewhere along the way, I’d let my mindfulness practices slip. I’d thrown myself into intense workouts, focusing all my energy on lifting weights and chasing fitness goals, but I’d lost sight of the balance my body needed. I realized I was normalizing stress, brushing it off as “just how life is.” I didn’t even see how much tension I was holding in my body until I finally slowed down.

Now, instead of spending an hour and a half in the gym, I’m making room for shorter workouts and dedicating extra time to mindfulness practices. I’ve started to notice how much my body was holding onto—tension, emotions, even old pain. Each time I do yoga, breathwork, or massage, I feel those trapped emotions start to release. I’m learning that healing is not just about what you put into your body but how you nurture it from the outside in.

The Gut Healing Protocol: A Functional Medicine Approach

With all the data in hand, my functional medicine doctor developed a comprehensive plan using the Five R’s approach: Remove, Replace, Re-inoculate, Repair, and Rebalance. Here’s how we’re tackling each step:

1. Remove: We started by eliminating inflammatory foods—gluten, dairy, sugar, and alcohol. These not only irritate the gut lining but also feed candida, which was part of my dysbiosis. I followed a treatment protocol that included Biocidin, IgGI, and a targeted probiotic to address the bacterial imbalance.

2. Replace: Next, we focused on replacing what my body was missing, like iron and zinc, through specific supplements. I also began adding foods rich in these nutrients to my diet: oysters, sardines, pumpkin seeds, eggs, hemp seeds, leafy greens, and more. Slowly, my energy started to return.

3. Re-inoculate and Repair: Now, I’m moving into phase two: re-inoculating my gut with good bacteria and repairing my leaky gut using GI Revive and other supportive supplements. This phase is all about rebuilding my gut’s defenses and sealing up those leaks.

4. Rebalance:The final phase is ongoing and focuses on stress reduction, supporting healthy digestion, and creating a lifestyle that fosters balance. This includes spacing meals properly, eating a diverse diet filled with colorful plants, herbs, and spices, exercising mindfully, optimizing my sleep, and managing stress in ways that support long-term healing.

The Journey Continues: What I’ve Learned So Far

This journey has taught me that healing is never linear. It’s not just about fixing the gut or eating the “right” foods. It’s about tuning in, listening to your body, and creating space for balance. Each step I’ve taken has shown me that healing goes beyond the physical—it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal.

I’m still in the midst of this journey, but I’m committed to sharing what I learn along the way. Remember, healing takes time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion. If you’re on your own gut health journey, know that you’re not alone, and every small change counts.