- Integrative Medicine
- Naturopathic Doctors
- CO
- Dr. Diane Mueller
I, Dr. Diane, know firsthand what it is like to be misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, and told that everything is fine when it most certainly is not. At one point in my medical history, I thought I might be dying. I was considering finding a small island where I could live cheaply and peacefully on a beach while I lived out the remainder of my life. During this time, while part of me feared that I might be dying, another part of me was questioning if what I was experiencing was even real. On the one hand, I was making end-of-life plans because I knew so strongly that what I was experiencing was real and that the pain was so intense, while on the other hand, I found myself doubting my own sensations and inner knowing. Sometimes I would question myself and think my intense pain and suffering was just in my head. I would sometimes ask myself; does everyone feel this way? After all, I did look fine from the outside.
I had some bags around my eyes from fatigue, but other than that, no one would know from the exterior that I was having problems. Since all of my conventional lab tests were mostly normal, I did not talk about my problems to many people. I was isolated and alone. My family did not know the way I was struggling. I stopped visiting them as often. I simply could not handle the noise and the travel, as it would set me back for weeks afterwards. My family is full of kind and loving people. They are also LOUD people. Because of what turned out to be my neural sensitivity, I would come home from visiting them and my ears would ring for days afterwards.
This began to affect my relationship with my family. At one point, one of my three sisters told me that she did not feel that I was part of the family anymore, as I was missing events and not showing up to anything. I did not know what to say. What could I say? Saying “I am tired” and “I am in pain” were not acceptable excuses.
After months and months of unbearable pain, depression, ongoing episodes of confusion, blurred, vision, and desperation to feel better… I decided to run a ton of lab work on myself looking for anything I could think of. Fortunately, being in the medical profession, I could order these labs on myself easily. I knew there was something going on with me and I was going to prove it.
At this point, I discovered Lyme Disease and a bartonella infection. I discovered multiple parasites and gastrointestinal bacteria, cortisol imbalances, extremely high progesterone levels, low melanocyte stimulating hormone, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, candida, nutrient imbalances and more. Ahhhhh. The sweet relief of ANSWERS.
In conventional medicine, a diagnosis is oftentimes the end of the investigative medical practice. Once we have a diagnosis, we can prescribe a medication and “call it good.” In functional medicine, most of us believe that a diagnosis is the beginning. I had chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. My negative choices were to live with the diagnosis, try to cope, or to find a deserted island somewhere to live out my days. But I also had another choice. This choice was to find answers and the reasons behind the diagnosis. At this point in my story, I had begun to find many of the reasons.
Also, it’s important to note that chronic disease is ALMOST always caused by many root causes, and not just one single root cause. We have actually never seen chronic illness caused by only one component.
So, once I determined the root causes of my pain and suffering, I started treating and healing my whole body, including my mind. I started myself on supplement protocols. I started meditating more. I started seeing changes in my lab work, and I started feeling better.
I was able to enjoy life again. I was able to re-form my friendships and spend time with my family again. I was able to truly feel like myself, instead of being a slave to my pain.
It is an incredible feeling to heal from something that has dragged you down for so long. When you know you have such potential, but your own body is holding you back from fulfilling it, it’s debilitating. But connecting with your body again and learning to embrace it and appreciate it again after you begin… it’s indescribable. It is almost like a new awakening.
Ready to know how that feels? We’re ready to help. Book a free call with our team here to see if we’re a right fit for you.
Dr. Diane Mueller is the founder of My Lyme Doc, offering Lyme disease and Mold illness treatment in Centennial, CO.
