When you look into the history of medicine, you learn that many practitioners first followed the path of natural healing. In 1998, I went through a series of tachycardia episodes that left me with a diagnosis and some medication but no relief. I was 17, and much of my complaining was brushed off as part of normal teen development.

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I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, and possibly Lupus. I had anxiety, depression, excess weight gain, brain fog, poor memory, dysregulated body temperature, irregular menstrual cycles, acne—the list was extensive. I was put on antidepressants, contraceptive pills, sedatives, PPIs, and beta blockers. However, I fell short of the criteria for a definitive diagnosis. The worst part was asking doctors what was happening and hearing, "We don't know; your body just doesn't function properly." What I heard was, "You are broken."

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In 2008, I started my journey in medical research and decided to read my blood work. What caught my attention was a marker for antibodies against my thyroid, as they were off the chart. That was the indicator that I had Hashimoto's. I scheduled another appointment with the doctor, and my main question was, "Why are my antibodies so high?" His reply marked my life, and it is probably why I am here today:

"Your thyroid is attacking itself, and we don't know why. "We must wait for your body to destroy your thyroid so you can start on hormonal replacement." "There is nothing we can do now."
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​Wait... What? Is there nothing I can do? I cried, and I believed in him. With my panic disorder, I was given new labels as time passed. The medications didn't help and made things worse with their list of side effects. I was living in standby mode, dependent on sleeping pills to calm my nerves, suffering from arrhythmias, and still waiting for my thyroid to be destroyed so I could finally take the hormones. As I waited, I dedicated myself to delving into the medical research field for my own personal and professional growth.

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My last contact with an endocrinologist was in 2010. After learning that gluten could be my number one enemy, I removed it from my diet. I invited the doctor to follow up on my new lifestyle to see if it would improve my condition.

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First month gluten-free: antibodies fell by half (50%).

The doctor saw the blood results and said, "Coincidence."
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Second month of a gluten-free diet, antibodies dropped by half again (25%).

The doctor saw the results and said, "Coincidence—Hashimoto does that."
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Third month of a gluten-free diet: antibodies have dropped to 15%.

"This variation is not uncommon with Hashimoto's," said the doctor.

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I finally realised that conventional medicine was not adequate for my condition. It took some time for all my symptoms to improve, and I went through a challenging period of removing all the medications I was on. In 2017, I requested a blood work and saw something I never thought I would see: Hashimoto's was in remission. I never had another episode of depression; my anxiety and panic attacks were gone; I lost 30 kg—in fact, at 35, I looked better than I did at 27; my brain fog also disappeared; my memory improved; and my concentration was sharp again. 

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Today I want to help others find the answer to their health problems and support them in their recovery. I want to be the practitioner I never had when I was suffering. I want to be the person who "finally listens to your complaints."