Handle With Care

Hello! I’m Cheryl and I have IBS. More specifically, I have SIBO which is a form of dysbiosis, aka IBS. And that means, I have a dysfunctional gut microbiome. I have struggled with symptoms of leaky gut all of my adult life, even before anyone coined the phrase “Leaky Gut”. Over the years, I tried several different things that worked for a while. That was the problem – short term relief only. I had finally resigned myself to the fact that I would have to live with my symptoms because nothing was working. Even five years ago, my GI doctors had nothing new to offer. I was told there was no such thing as gluten sensitivity, my GI doctor never told me I had SIBO, and they certainly didn’t offer any treatment or at the least, any sympathy for my distress.

The medical profession is lacking in knowledge, and mainstream physicians are resistant to information, tests, and treatments that are utilized by integrative practitioners.  Where you live can determine whether or not you can even find an integrative physician. Fortunately, there are books, websites, webinars, and educational courses discussing the microbiome, SIBO, therapeutic diets, and a plethora of nutritional recipes. It’s wonderful! Now we can advocate for ourselves! The disadvantage to this profusion of information is that it can be confusing. There is a lot of scientific material out there, but how do you decide what is best for you? The answer is not quick or simple. Each of us has our own unique physical and mental characteristics which impact our health and any treatments that we utilize. There is no one solution for everybody.

It’s great that there is a lot of material and we have the resources and the capability of making decisions about what regimen works best for us. With the information we have today, we can be our own health care advocate. The downside is there is not a magic pill. It takes research and trial and error, but taking the time to determine some of your triggers will greatly enhance your health and peace of mind.

I wrote a book about my experience because first and foremost, it was a difficult journey, and writing it down was therapeutic, but I also knew there were others like me who didn’t know where to turn. Maybe my story would help others in some small way.

My other reason for writing the book was to educate the public on the connection between gastrointestinal health and overall physical health. Chronic disease and autoimmune diseases continue to rise. People are treated with multiple pharmaceuticals that don’t work and very often have intolerable side effects. Our treatments are not working and the common denominator is our lack of immunity. We don’t need to kill germs or treat symptoms. We must increase our immunity by healing our gut microbiome.

I’m glad you’re here, and I hope this information encourages you to make healing changes in your life. Your gut flora will be eternally grateful!