I really tried to wrap it up in this part, but alas, there is too much to tell. If you would like to catch up here are Parts 1 & 2.
When my sister read my articles, she reminded me I had forgotten a crucial segment. Hence the need for Part 4! ::giggle::
Before continuing with my Pittsburgh move, let’s return to Hawaii. While living there, my body manifested another indication of internal turmoil which was I had terrible acne. Now some might say acne is common during teenage years due to hormonal changes. However, I started puberty around age ten and had only had the occasional flare up until the misdiagnosis and corresponding wrongfully prescribed medication. Unfortunately, no connection was made between the medication and my profound complexion change.
Off to the medical professional we go. The treatment plan was antibiotics (tetracycline), procedural acne lancing, and monthly visits. Each monthly checkup included lancing the acne (and other filled pores) and to watch if taking tetracycline was harming my body (sound familiar?).
In addition to whatever long lasting effects that antibiotic had on my body, I have small facial scars proving that wasn’t the best course of action.
Now back to the Pittsburgh move.
It was my 16th year and I had just completed 11th grade. My sister, living in Pittsburgh, was having medical issues of her own. She was scheduled for serious surgery and needed help with her kids. So off I went.
This is where kismet stepped in.
My sister hadn’t lived there long, but her social circle was growing with people interested in alternative health practices.
When I arrived, she was already mostly vegetarian and incorporating some alternative health practices that she would surely smack me today if I shared with you!
::giggle::
She knew how sick I was and made arrangements for me to visit an iridologist, Dr. Gian Cursio in Buffalo, NY. He was part of the Natural Hygiene movement making its way around America at the time.
Incidentally, iridology is an alternative medicine technique which uses patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris to determine information about a patient’s systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts, which divide the iris into zones that correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see the eyes as windows into the body’s state of health.
This doctor was instrumental in helping many of her new friends on their journeys toward health and she was hoping he could help me.
As you can imagine, I was not particularly thrilled to see another doctor. With the exception of Dr. McDougall whose only prescription was to watch my dairy intake and to eat healthier, every other doctor’s visit resulted in me taking some pill, getting shots, being poked, and/or prodded with little instruments. I was not interested in more of that.
Fortunately, I had nothing to be nervous about.
My experience with Dr. Cursio was very similar to my experience with Dr. McDougall. It was very relaxed and very educational. If my recollection serves me, his office was very homey (in fact, I remember it being in his home, but I might be dreaming on that one). I remember him being soft-spoken and articulate, helping me understand there was a way to regain my health. We needed to focus our efforts from the inside out and he was there to be my guide.
He spent an incredible amount of time with me engineering a plan. His instruction on nutrition’s vital importance finally hit home.
It was the exact same thing Dr. McDougall said, but this time I heard it. Additionally, my new social circle was made up of people already living this lifestyle making it easy to follow through. The key component was: nutrition is paramount to health. However, this time there was an imperative added element.
Support.
I soon learned how incredibly important support would be in this instance and in the ensuing years. Experience has taught me finding the right kind of support during life’s challenges and sojourn has been pivotal in accomplishing goals.
My goal was to get well. I had my healing regimen and my support was in place … what next? Tune in next Monday for Part 4.
NOTE: Happily Thinner After (HTA) & Get Your Thin On offers various levels of support through Journals, the personally sculpted Boot Camp program and The Bod Squad, the highly successful 1:1 coaching program.
Hey Biz! I hate this having to wait for the next week. I’m feeling a bit teased! lol At least I know there is a happy ending coming! Thanks for sharing your experiences.