What I’ve noticed after starting my own protocol
As I was doing the RWS GI Healing class, I decided to run tests on myself, be my own client, and create my own protocol. It can be a double-edged sword - I always work with other practitioners when it comes to my health because I believe others can see the situation and patterns much more objectively than we can see them for ourselves. But, I would never recommend something to a client that I haven’t already tried myself. So, I’ve given it a go, and it’s been eye-opening!
I did my GI Map and sat for the MRT blood draw, filled out all of the initial paperwork and then started looking at patterns, making notes about my symptoms as if I were looking at a client and waited. Lots of waiting because the lab testing can take a bit of time.
Once my GI Map came in, I was floored. My markers all looked relatively good, especially considering my symptoms and the POTs flare I had been experiencing. I was expecting lots of inflammatory bacteria and high inflammation markers, and maybe even a parasite. But, all I saw was a high inflammation marker, one inflammatory bacteria, and one low keystone bacteria. I also didn’t have any red foods on my MRT, and my yellow foods were manageable. I would’ve sworn the majority of the foods I was consuming were causing an inflammatory response.
I whipped up a diet and supplement protocol that was comprehensive - HCl challenge, Zinc challenge, and then some digestive support supplements, and an eradication agent for the inflammatory bacteria. I jumped right in the day the supplements came in. I quickly found out that one of the supplements I chose makes me really nauseous. Sometimes, there are healing reactions, but this wasn’t one of them. The nausea was so much that I stopped it and started a more gentle one to see if that will help. So far, it’s worked well and it hasn’t caused any issues.
I noticed that with the HCl challenge, I need more support in this area than I realized. I also started waking up hungry. Eating breakfast before my coffee used to be such a hard habit to do, but I have been waking up hungry and wanting protein!
A couple of weeks in, the chicken skin (Keratosis pilaris) on the back of my arms I’ve had for my whole life is gone - just gone. I’ve exfoliated, used all sorts of creams and had just come to terms that it was how my skin was. My legs are smoother, and there are fewer bumps and cellulite. The eczema that I’ve been battling on my hands for the last 15 years has started to completely clear up without medication or any lotions. My face has also been clearer. I’m so excited my skin is feeling better.
I have more consistent energy and I’m not reaching for coffee or tea in the afternoon.
I learned that I could give up all dairy, oats, and corn products in my diet and personal care products was doable, and I’m so excited to strategically add them back in.
Some of the more difficult symptoms of POTs have completely resolved and I feel less inflamed overall. As long as I get a good night’s sleep, my brain fog is less than it’s been in months, which is a major improvement.
I went into this experiment wanting to know how a full protocol felt, hoping to ditch some lingering digestive issues, and maybe clear up my eczema in the process. Feeling more like myself has been the biggest win and I’m excited that I can help clients get relief and results quickly.
I have several more weeks of supplements, and then I’ll wait 4 weeks after stopping specific supplements before doing a repeat GI Map and I’m excited to see the results. I’ll then slowly and strategically add foods back into my diet and continue to see the results.
There are 2 ways a retest can go: 1. I’ve addressed everything I need to, or there’s 1-2 small lingering issues to clean up and I’ll be good to go. 2. The biofilm* disrupter I’m taking will help uncover more things to address and then the GI Map could look “worse”. This is actually a good thing, because the biofilm can mask bigger issues, and by uncovering this, I can address them!
*Biofilm is a protective agent that parasites and pathogens use to evade the body’s natural immune system. Using a biofilm disrupter allows your immune system and targeted supplements to come in and do their job, allowing your body to heal itself.
I’m so glad I decided to be my own client - I’m even more confident in the protocols I create and I know that I can help others feel even better with this targeted approach. I love functional testing - these tests save time and money so you can get to feeling better quickly!
