Our next Real Healing Story is actually part 1 of a 2 part series.
Arlene has completed the initial program of 12 weeks, but decided she wanted to continue working together to really further her Gastroparesis healing. She made so much progress in the initial program, but now she’s really soaring.
Introducing Arlene
Arlene came to me in late December. Our first call was actually the day before Christmas Eve, which was a Friday. I got her call request later into the evening, and normally, I wouldn’t have called back right then and would have waited until after the holiday & weekend was over, but something about her made me call back that evening and I am so thankful I did.
She has battled through so much in her life with cancers, family illnesses and deaths and more in a very short time period. Not only has all of that piled onto her, she was diagnosed with Gastroparesis.
And of course, she went through the gammet of doctors prescribing pills, unhelpful advice and then ultimately no help. Then, she started searching the internet and all she could find was doom and gloom, like so many of us find when we search about Gastroparesis. Then, she found me.
We talked for a while and she explained her struggles, fears, uncertainties with even going a more holistic route. She was always used to sticking with doctors and their approaches. All very normal and I explained how I marry both holistic approaches and science together to create a program that is so incredibly helpful, and the same methods I took myself through.
She took the leap and we started in February. Her transformation has been beautiful, incredible to see and inspiring to me and I think to all of you, too.
So, without further ado, here is part 1 of Arlene’s story.
Do you know how you got Gastroparesis?
No.
How did you find Aubrey & Real Peel?
Searching the internet for information on how to treat my severe Gastroparesis. My Gastroenterologist wanted to proscribe medications that would also cause serious side effects physically, and side effects on mental health well-being.
I already have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that developed 7 years ago, which I am being treated for now. I was also informed that the medications, the same exact medications that Aubrey herself was informed of by her own Doctor, would only be effective for a short time. I felt terrified and hopeless at that point.
What were your main symptoms and how were you feeling before you started working with Aubrey?
My worst symptom was severe nausea 24 hours a day nonstop. Intense, at times unbearable pain in my upper abdomen, that would some days, possibly 4 to 5 days per week and travel to other parts of my stomach. Daily, several times per day, or even more, holding on to something in my bathroom and vomiting. I was not eating except for 3 spoons of yogurt per day so there was nothing to vomit, at many times mucus and blood.
What made you feel like working with Aubrey was the right decision for you and your Gastroparesis?
The medical community offered me virtually no options for treatment without drugs with severe side effects. I read Aubrey's own Gastroparesis story online and how she regained back 85% of her health through juicing and many additional lifestyle changes and I was willing to try any suggestions of hope and help.
I reached out to Aubrey and through a very pleasant, supportive phone call, her vast nutritional knowledge, her initial first-hand experience with this devastating disease, and her devotion to helping others on a journey to recovery all made my decision to work with Aubrey the right decision for me.
What was the hardest thing about the Thrive with Gastroparesis Program?
Looking back now I must think on this, because this program formed a new way of life that I am still continuing daily.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect for me was not the program itself, but my believing that there was hope for me. Most articles on the internet were grim and filled with stories of painful, hopeless, helpless suffering and even death. I am already a 4-year survivor of invasive breast cancer, which runs very high in my family, and lung carcinoid cancer, and I still must go for wellness scans, but Gastroparesis was terrifying for me.
Did you ever feel like quitting or felt like it wasn't going to work for you? If so, how did you move through those feelings?
My self confidence in anything working to help my Gastroparesis at this point was low to non-existent when I began. I had to open up my mind to accepting new methods of healing that I had never been exposed to.
At that time, I was exposed to only the medical community and the fact that drugs were routinely prescribed for almost every ailment. The Thrive program is very different. I was introduced to the terms such as vagus nerve toning, jucing and eating specific foods for healing, and acquiring a mindset for healing just to name a few, which allowed me to learn to stay more positive and this required much work on my way of thinking.
I recently had a breakthrough in this part of the program where I can now look at my future in a more hopeful way. I can honestly say that I never thought about quitting, but my self-esteem and confidence levels are still a work in progress. Aubrey was and still is a great source of strength, when those days sneak in when I cannot muster it for myself, and an exceptional example of what can be achieved if I comply with this healing program.
What was the turning point for you during the program where you started feeling better?
I believe that it really did take my working with the program 10-12 weeks to feel significant improvements which are still now as I write this, developing. That is why I signed up for an additional 12 weeks. In my first month I had a three-day glimpse of what the future may hold, as some of my symptoms started to take steps toward improving. But as Aubrey did tell me recovery is not linear. Some days you move forward, and somedays the road to healing will take you back temporarily. My greatest turning point for me personally came later in the program.
After the initial 12 weeks, how did you feel?
I went from being literally bed ridden with Gastroparesis for at least 7 months to minimal bouts of nausea,
I find it difficult to comprehend once again being able to make my own healing juices, smoothies, and meals, I take short daily walks, mt self-confidence has improved, I have what we call just Flare ups of pain, which Aubrey said will be less frequent and severe with time.
I no longer have constant pain. This program taught me among so many other things how to keep my blood sugar in balance so I can eat and not feel dizziness. I can eat and drink a variety of delicious healthy foods, even my husband enjoys what I share with him. I am sure there is more that I can add here and I cannot recall at this moment, but I ask and give permission for Aubrey to join me here. (I will add more to Arlene’s progress at the end)
This is just a free response if there was anything else you would like to add that I missed.
There are no words adequate to express my gratitude and appreciation for Aubrey's creation and dedication to my Thrive program. I can honestly say I do not think I would be alive without this, as my Gastroparesis was progressing further. These are strong words, but I had no other options that would not endanger my life further. I Thank God Daily for Aubrey and Thrive. I am greatly looking forward to my additional 12 months and what my future will hold.
My Input on Arlene’s Journey
Now y’all, Arlene summed up a lot of what she has been through over the 12 weeks, but I want to add more.
She has come so far and sometimes, like so many of us, it can be hard to quantify and identify all of those changes.
What I saw after 12 weeks:
Her activity level is up compared to when we started, she was bedridden and is now going for walks, getting outside more, and even making plans for the future.
Her food consumption is way up and venturing into more and more solid foods
Her food consumption now has more variety than it did before, with so many fruits and vegetables and trying proteins and more
Her independence is soaring. Previously, she was having to rely on everyone to help her and that was hard for her, and now she’s doing her own grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and more!
Her symptoms, although not always consistent, have vastly improved overall and she’s getting relief when she previously wasn’t.
Her motivation and determination has soared to where she wants to keep pushing more and more to find that normal life again.
