Nina's Remarkable Healing Journey: From Despair to Hope
/Introduction to Nina and Her Health Journey [00:00:00]
The Impact of Relief & Transformation: Recovering from Long Covid and ME/CFS course.[00:02:00]
Nina’s Physical Changes and Improvements [00:07:00]
Understanding Personal Pacing [00:12:00]
Nina’s Physical Progress and Achievements [00:13:00
Foundation of Gut Health and Immune System[00:16:00]
Closing [00:23:00]
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Lorrie Rivers
Hello, beautiful souls. Welcome back to another episode of holistic healing with Lorrie. I'm your host, Lorrie. Today, we have an inspiring story to share—a Relief & Transformation: Recovering from Long Covid and ME/CFS course. student, Nina. She's been on a journey with Lyme disease, a concussion, and a severe reaction to a vaccine. It was like walking through a storm for her. Her life took a turn when she joined the Relief & Transformation: Recovering from Long Covid and ME/CFS course., and she's seen wonderful progress. I'm excited for her to share her experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs.
Even since this interview, she has made more breakthroughs. If you're ready to start your own healing journey, join us for the upcoming Long Covid and ME/CFS Masterclass Series starting on October 5th, 2023. You can learn more about this series in the description below. Now, let's welcome Nina.
Lorrie Rivers
Nina, welcome.
Nina
Hi, Lorrie.
Lorrie Rivers
Hi. I have to tell y'all, Nina is an incredible artist. I went kayaking today, and she actually designed the inflatable kayak I used. People always ask me where I got it from because it's so cool. She's had some wonderful strides in the Relief & Transformation: Recovering from Long Covid and ME/CFS course.. I wanted to chat with her about that. Nina, before we talk about the strides and changes you've been seeing, could you tell us how long you've been sick?
Nina
AN artist painting
I healed from Lyme about five years ago, then dealt with a concussion and some other health challenges. Then, I had a severe reaction to the COVID vaccine in April 2021. It's been the most challenging health issue for me. It's been two years of facing these health challenges with minimal support from doctors who don't know what to do.
Lorrie Rivers
Thank you for sharing that background. It's certainly been a difficult journey. How long have you been in the Relief & Transformation: Recovering from Long Covid and ME/CFS course?
Nina
I joined in January of this year, so about six months ago.
Lorrie Rivers
What made you decide to join, considering it's a big commitment and you've tried many other things?
Nina
I had tried numerous treatments and approaches but was still seeking answers. I learned about your summit (the Long Covid and ME/CFS Holistic Healing Summit) from my yoga teacher last year and was drawn to the knowledge and support you offered. The way you presented the information and interacted with others during the summit felt right for me. I participated in some of your workshops and realized the depth of the information and the kind of support you provide.
I'm resourceful and love researching, but your program offered a level of support and access to outstanding specialists that I hadn't found elsewhere and made me feel comfortable about the type of program you're offering. Because honestly, it's pretty scary if you're out there and nobody else has the answers. So a little bit of support isn't going to hurt and it's only going to help.
Lorrie Rivers
I'm so glad that resonated with you. Now you have, you know, it's cool to be able to have this wonderful blessing of having a bird's eye view of watching your journey. It's been amazing to remember interacting with you at the beginning of the course and interacting with you now. I'm not the only one who sees it. Other people who have been in the course since January, they see that change in you as well. So what are some of the things, let's start off by giving us a physical example of something that has shifted for you since then.
Nina
One of the major problems from the vaccine was I ended up getting MCAS or symptoms resembling that, and symptoms resembling POTS, and symptoms resembling all kinds.
an illustration of the gut
Really poor gut health, so for me, it was important, and this is what your program offered. Just tackling that, and I had tried so many different things that were supposed to work and it didn't hurt. It only added on top of that. So now. When I started your course, for example, there were only 6 things that I could eat. For the first time in my life, I was left with only eating about 6 things without upsetting my system, that was amazing. It wasn't until the last couple of weeks that I noticed a huge shift. It's just by sticking to the low carb high protein eating plan that you offer. Because it's not a diet, I can eat as much as I like, as long as it's within that kind of triangle of food, like proteins, and vegetables. So that was really good and I'm in control of what I eat. So I never felt like I needed to starve.
Lorrie Rivers
You are able to eat more than six foods now, is that what you're saying?
Nina
Yes. Because of that, there are a few things I still can't tolerate. Certain types of tomatoes, but if I use, let's say low-histamine tomatoes, I can add a few of those. So now it's rare that I find something I cannot eat out of, that I have to prepare myself.
Lorrie Rivers
These are whole foods that are in the eating plan. Yeah. That's beautiful. I know also because you've mentioned you've been able to even just walk more, right? You take your walk.
whole foods
Nina
Exactly. Thanks for reminding me about that. So when I came to the program, my energy was so very low and my immune system was very low. I had a hard time walking up the stairs without really wondering what was going to happen. I ended up getting a walk, for example, just to give you an idea, I was afraid because I live by myself, so I ended up getting an Apple watch or something. This is not an Apple thing, but just because it has that fall detector type thing.
exhaustion while moving
My mobility was so limited, incredibly limited. I was used to walking six kilometers a day with my dog, no problem. To be able to have that, at this point, when in January, I had a hard time walking around the block. So what was nice is it felt like, you gave me a hand up in a way because you gave me basically a blueprint of how to move forward and also how to pace myself. The pacing was so crucial to me being able to find my way back to health. I still have a long way to go, but for example now, on a good day, if I pace myself, I can go for a 15-minute slow walk. I consult my watch, I watch the heart rate, but everything is very low, never races, sort of seventy, seventy beats per minute. Before that, I would just go stand outside and maybe brush the snow off my car, and it would raise up to 140 beats per minute.
an illustration for biking love
So this is huge. I feel healthier. I feel safe when I'm moving around. Also, I know what to do now and what works. If I overstep because, of course, it's summer now. But now I know what to do to get back on track. I pulled my bike out of the shed yesterday. I was bored and trying to find something I could do. I was so happy because I actually regained my balance from the movement. I got on the bike and I was able to at least bike for five minutes.
For me, that was, it sounds like nothing to people who bike for hours, but it's a big deal.
Lorrie Rivers
Everybody here knows how big a deal that is. The fact that you aren't...
Nina
Crashed today. No, it was fabulous. I had earlier that day I had a rowing machine. I was on the rowing machine for seven minutes. My heart rate was within the window. It's really easy to monitor. That's fabulous because honestly, I had lost so much muscle in my legs. In January, February, and March, I was looking at my legs thinking, where's the muscle? That was so frightening. But now I actually feel so much stronger. I'm moving in the right direction. That's fabulous.
Oh, I can kayak out on the lake, but I have to plan for it. And I'll get somebody to help me inflate it. Once I'm on the water, I can do that as well. That's opened the door back to regaining my life again, part of my life.
a woman kayaking
Lorrie Rivers
Amazing. I want to ensure everyone understands that Nina has her own personalized approach. Nina, you've been able to add more physical activities than many others at this point, which is a blessing. Some people in the program around the same time as you aren't quite ready yet for physical activities. You're good at listening to your body and knowing when it's time to take those steps. I'm so happy for you. Yeah, you have this foundation now, maybe you could talk about that a bit. I know you've described it nicely. Do you know what I'm referring to in what you've been writing about lately?
Nina
Yes, I feel like it's related to gut health. It's not only symbolic but proven that correcting gut health and being able to eat foods has helped my immune system and given me strength. What I've noticed is working on the foundation of my gut health is crucial. It's the first and most important piece for me and I think for you too. It's the foundational piece from which to grow a better immune system and strength.
In terms of building activities into my daily life, that wasn't happening three months ago. It happened around the four or five-month period. Every so often, something just flips. It's odd. It's like a chunk of armor falling off, not physical or emotional, but something shifts and then I can do it. It's like learning to walk all over again. Getting on the bike, because I didn't have the balance a month ago or two weeks ago, but I felt like I did yesterday. The body tells you when you're ready.
Lorrie Rivers
That's perfect. So before you started the course, how did you feel about recovery?
Nina
Oh, you're going to get me crying again. Good crying.
Before the course, I felt like I honestly did not know which way to turn. I was very patient in healing and followed various protocols because people with the COVID vaccine injuries are very similar. There is more and more information coming out. I knew there were people healing, but for me, I honestly didn't know where I was going. I was pretty depressed, and couldn't visualize healing anymore. That was pretty scary. The only thing getting me through that was meditating several times a day to keep me focused calm and hopeful. While I was depressed, I was also hopeful, but it's...
a woman meditating
Lorrie Rivers
Now that you're in Relief & Transformation: Recovering from Long Covid and ME/CFS course and noticing these shifts, how do you feel about your recovery?
Nina
Raring to go, and certainly hopeful. It's proof in the pudding, trying it, moving at my pace, and following your protocol plan. Looking forward to the future after being able to get on that bike yesterday.
Lorrie Rivers
In our relief and transformation community, about the bike, I would love to hear that...
Nina
Yeah. Bicyclists who are healthy find they're out longer, allowing them to listen to their bodies, and avoiding weariness, is crucial for me, especially with post-exertional malaise symptoms.
Lorrie Rivers
You explained it in a way I'd like to. Beautiful. Combining modules synchronistically with the body.
Nina
Yes, exactly. Building upon itself. Not sure where I was going with that.
Lorrie Rivers
Thank you for joining us today. Your story is uplifting.
Nina
Thank you so much.
Lorrie Rivers
That's it for today's episode, folks. Thank you, Nina, for sharing your inspiring journey. It's a joy to have you on the course and to play in the kayak you designed.
Nina
I'm happy about that too. Thank you so much.
Lorrie Rivers
... a powerful reminder that you can recover. Join us for the upcoming Long Covid and ME/CFS Masterclass Series on October 5th.
Nina
Yes, it's a reminder that you can recover.
Lorrie Rivers
Join us for the upcoming Long Covid and ME/CFS Masterclass Series on October 5th.
DISCLAIMER: The information offered is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical or psychological care or advice. Consult your physician or other health care provider regarding your symptoms and medical and psychological needs.