One year ago. I felt it in my chest. There was a fire flaring up in my body and the flames were rising to my head. I knew I could get frustrated and angry. This. This was scary. I kept asking God to take it away. Maybe it was winter, you know, that Seasonal Affective Disorder thing. Maybe it was the crazy menopause train? If I explained it away, it would go away. I did start drinking more coffee. Yes. That had to be it because I started feeling tremors in my arms and legs. Strange. I tried to hide that one because I could. I thought it was weird. I went to my usual classes at the Y and ten minutes in, I was starting to feel tired. The same classes that I had been working out in for the past few years. I wasn’t sleeping well at night, sometimes, wide and bleary-eyed, crying and asking God to give me sleep. I resorted to scouring the internet and webmd with my symptoms. Big mistake.
A couple of weeks went by and instead of reasoning away, I finally shared all this with my Hubs, who I normally tell EVERYTHING to and he prayed over me and I made the appointment. My first appointment and less than a week later, I started getting diagnoses sent over the portal. The doctor's office called me in for a second appointment and blood panel. I was diagnosed with: hyperthyroidism, elevated liver enzymes and a disposition for Sjogrens (an autoimmune disease). I was given the options of swallowing a radioactive iodine pill to highlight any nodules on my thyroid and then to get an ablation on my thyroid and be on Synthroid as long as necessary. I was convinced to not go this route, believing there would be better, natural options. I had already been researching essential oils and supplements. As I prayed, I contacted my dear friend, Kendra. I had seen her post about Young Living Essential Oils on pinterest. She was someone I trusted and knew she was a woman of character. I asked her a ton of questions. We bought a premium kit and I slowly started diffusing and applying oils. As I researched and read more about my health issues, I purchased and started with Ningxia Nitro, then Sulfurzyme, followed by Ningxia Red. I was noticing my symptoms decrease and thanking God for it. I was seeing what the LORD was doing in me through this process and knew ultimately it was about trusting Him with my whole life. I know I am not promised a healthy life but while I'm here, I want to live wisely and fully for Him.
Looking back in the rearview mirror, I recall symptoms leading up to the major flare up. I was feeling so anxious, insecure and unwell. I knew that I was so severely stressed out, living with unmanageable expectations of myself as a wife, homeschool mama, daughter and friend. God was and is teaching me to be still, to seek Him, to trust Him and to live for an audience of One. His grace is bigger than I can handle and yet I have been trying to hold Him back. He wouldn't let me.
As the months on the calendar were flipping over, I kept saying that I would go get a follow-up after 6 months of using oils and supplements. I was apprehensive but felt SO much better. In October, I went to my annual and talked with my Nurse Practitioner about getting another blood panel done. She said, "I have a good friend who chose the natural route through a healthy diet. She isn't 100% but she's much better." She recommended I seek out an Endocrinologist after this appointment. She told me she would be in touch after the results came in. I received a call the very next day. My NP said, "Um, your results are in. I've been scouring the pages and I don't see any of the red exclamation marks in the areas that I would expect. ALL. YOUR. LEVELS. ARE. NORMAL." I could not believe it. She was flabbergasted and so was I. How was this even possible? I could not seem to understand that this diagnoses could change. And really, I didn't know if I was willing to accept it.
I know that this is not always the story. This is not always the outcome or result. God is healer. And I have seen Young Living Essential Oils and supplements do nothing but help my family and me on our health journey. This stuff is the real deal. I know medicine has a place and is certainly necessary in a lot of cases. Our goal is to live as chemical-free in our home, as possible. As a family, we are healthier and our immune systems are higher. Thank God, because this woman needs all the energy I can get. Our journey and this adult-ing continues and I am thankful God has given me this life and the ability to share this story.
More than anything, I see the Almighty God wanting me to see His heart. He wants me to receive His full-on, big-grace, even if I try to push it away. He won't let me.
