Medicine Isn’t Always the Answer

I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that I don’t like medication. I would rather heal myself from the inside out than undergo treatments or take medications that only mask the underlying issue. That’s exactly why I was so proactive about figuring out what was going on with my gut health months ago.

So when I suffered from some knee issues while working on the Shift Shop program, I went the natural route to fix it. I went to see a chiropractor who recommended acupuncture, stretching and some very focused realignments.

At the end of the day, I want to get to the root cause of whatever the problem happens to be–whether it’s me with the problem, Jeff or one of my kids. There’s no reason to mask the symptoms with medication, because there’s a reason something in your body isn’t right. Of course, sometimes antibiotics or other medications are necessary; I just like getting to the bottom of what’s really wrong and avoid medication if possible.

Years ago, when I traveled a lot for work, I suffered from horrible allergies. I spent weeks in one place, went home for a few weeks, then was off traveling again. I never acclimated to any one environment, so I constantly just carried tissues with me. I adapted to the problem and accepted it. Allergy shots helped somewhat, but it was just covering up the overarching problem.

When I finally stopped traveling and settled in Phoenix, I finally naturally acclimated. (And if you know anything about Phoenix, it’s not the allergy-free climate that it’s hyped up to be.) But my body was able to adapt to the orange blossoms and dust mites that plague the area, so I was able to come off the medication and allergy shots.

When I started having issues with my gut, I was able to find out what was causing the issue and make changes to my diet so I could treat the problem from the inside out. And now, I feel better. No medication required.

As I watch my parents get older, I know that I want to be as healthy as I can, for as long as I can. It’s my intention to be conscious of my health now, so that I don’t have chronic issues when I’m older. I want to have good health and energy well into my 70s and 80s, and I know that taking care of myself now (rather than covering up problems) is the answer.

When I sought out treatment for my knee issue, I went to a doctor on a friend’s recommendation. I was immediately drawn to the practice. He’s not a family medicine doctor, and he truly believes that he can fix a lot of problems through behavior changes–not medicine. He told me to avoid Ibuprofen for pain, and he took the time to sit down with me–in his office rather than the exam room–before the examination. He gets to know his patients, instead of the standard 5-minute meet and exam at the same time.

I’m learning every day how to treat my body better and how to use food as fuel to keep myself healthy. And I plan to live by my new doctor’s analogy:

You’re on a boat in a river, headed toward a waterfall. Everyone is headed toward a waterfall, but how fast you get there depends on how close you are now and how hard you can row yourself in the opposite direction. You might be strong enough to remain where you are or even backtrack a bit. But you can also do things to speed up your trip over the waterfall, if you’re not taking care of yourself. Keep yourself in the boat, fighting against the current, with a healthy lifestyle.