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In January of 2014, after a decade of neck, shoulder and back problems, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. I had no idea what it was, but soon learned that it is a form of inflammatory arthritis for which there is no cure. There is, however, medication to ease the symptoms and delay the onset of spinal fusion! Yes, that's right...when I asked what would happen if I didn't inject myself with medication, then ultimately my spine could fuse and I would be disabled. Needless to say, I started on the weekly injections, but also started researching. I have never taken any medication lightly and wasn't about to start now.  It seemed that an anti-inflammatory diet and regular exercise could be the key to reducing/eliminating the weekly injections of the drug with the long list of potential side effects (like most drugs!). My diet was already pretty healthy (or so I thought!), but I set about reducing the top 3 inflammatory foods; processed sugar, gluten and dairy. It was a slow and sometimes tricky process, but within a couple of months I was feeling a bit better and started to go longer between injections. Intrigued by this, I set about learning more about nutrition and exercise, completing a few courses through The Open University. I found myself thoroughly enjoying learning about Food as Medicine and The Science of Nutrition (all very different from my course of study 35 years ago!). In 2018 I enrolled in the Foundations Course for Integrative Health Coaching at Duke University and was blown away. During the course I coached and was coached by my wonderful classmates, from all walks of life and around the world. I decided that this emerging field had the potential to reverse some of the health trends that seem to have taken hold in recent years. Chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease and depression have become all too familiar to so many people. With 50% of chronic disease being brought on by lifestyle and behavior choices, we have the ability to avoid chronic disease and sometimes even to reverse it.

Working with my rheumatologist, I gradually continued to reduce my medication. I was told that he had never had a patient come off the medication completely, but Covid was the final push for me to try. Terrified that the medication put me in a high risk group for Covid, I contacted my rheumatologist to make sure he was ok with me trying. I am delighted to say that I have been medication-free since February 2020!! I have to be careful what I eat and make sure I get good exercise, but (fingers crossed!) so far so good!

I am now a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and love helping my clients on their journey to better health. Put yourself in the driving seat for your health - contact me today!