Neisha's Endo Healing Story: Recovering from Chronic Allergies, Coming Off the Pill and Eating for Endo - a podcast by Jessica Duffin

As some of you know, I’ve been a bit sick recently with suspected shingles! As a result, I am just in too much pain to sit and record an episode, so today I am sharing another healing story. This time, I’m chatting to Neisha.

I wanted to share Neisha’s experience because I think her story will resonate with many of you because she just discusses so many relevant topics. Neisha started my course Live and Thrive with Endo on the pill (though she didn’t want to be on it and didn’t feel well with it), severe period pain, low moods, fatigue and severe allergy reactions.

Working through the course she now feels well pretty much all of the time, her allergies and hay fever have disappeared, she has tonnes of energy, she has transitioned off the pill and she has better moods and feels empowered about managing endo.

Before we dive in I wanted to just let you know that this chat with Neisha was originally recorded as a testimonial for the course, but the course is closed now and won’t be open again until next year - so this episode I am simply sharing just because I hope it will be helpful.

Secondly, I also wanted to let you know that Neisha and I talk about an elimination diet in this episode, so skip this episode if you think that might be triggering for you. But if not, I wanted to give some context - both in my course and with one to one clients, I first start lowering inflammation by adding foods in for the first few weeks, so lots of colourful veggies and fruit, nuts and seeds, healthy fats, etc. - all tailored to each person and their needs. Then, as we move to gut healing, course students or one on one clients have the option to do a 4 week elimination phase, where they remove the key or common inflammatory triggers such as dairy, gluten, sugar, alcohol, caffeine and soy. There are two versions, a simplified version and the full version, or people can just tailor the elimination phase to what they think is best for them. This elimination phase allows for the immune system to calm down, for inflammation to lower and for the gut to begin healing. After 4 weeks, they reintroduce each food removed one by one, for a period of days, to see whether the body reacts. This is the best way to test for intolerances and food sensitivities, and is considered as such based on research. It’s not a trendy ‘cleanse’ or diet, this is based on research, evidence and is a standard protocol in my training with Dr Jessica Drummond and Nicole Jardim, as well as Dr Alison Siebecker, who refers to this as a first line therapy. You don’t have to do this elimination phase if you don’t want to, but it's an option and an option that Neisha felt was right for her, but of course, everyone is different! So I just wanted to make that clear before you hear this interview and worry that an elimination phase is a must for healing.

Here are some of the key topics we covered in our chat:

• How Neisha didn’t realise that she was suffering with low immunity, blood sugar imbalances and histamine intolerance until she lowered her inflammation levels and balanced her blood sugar. This part is really inspiring for anyone living with allergies as Neisha was!

• Why Neisha wanted to come off the pill, and how she prepared her body with the course to transition off without triggering hormonal chaos and post-pill symptoms.

• Why Neisha chose to try an elimination diet to lower her inflammation and her advice for anyone worried about the restrictions involved.

I really hope this episode is helpful for you and inspires and motivates you on your own healing journey!

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Sign up to the wait list for my course, Live and Thrive with Endo here.

My cookbook This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast is out now! Get 28 anti-inflammatory, hormone friendly recipes for living and thriving with endometriosis. Order your copy here.

If you feel like you need more support with managing endometriosis, you can join Your EndoLife Coaching Programme. A 1-to-1 three month health and life coaching programme to help you thrive with endometriosis. To find out more about the programme and to discuss whether it could be right for you, email me at hello@thisendolife.com or visit my website.

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