RA stories

Thank you for allowing me to take the stage last night along with so many amazing women.  It was an absolute honor. 

I was overwhelmed with emotions last night as Stacy Cassio announced that my story received the most votes for Pink Mentor Network's 2020 Growth Stories, which also meant that the voters really resonated with my story. 

Honestly, I was super nervous and probably rushed so I wouldn't be choked up and cry.  Many of you asked for what I shared afterwards since it was pretty difficult to take notes - if you don't know some of the Ayurvedic terms, it probably didn't help that I talked so fast - which is why I'm writing this blog for you to reference in the upcoming months.  And yes, you can absolutely share with whomever needs to hear my story.

I truly hope what I'm sharing will help you and anyone you know end 2020 with some resilience, joy, patience, and kindness to yourself.

2020 has been a lot of things... tough, sad, stressful, weird, and challenging are things to come to mind. Businesses have failed, and people have gotten sick, lost jobs, or lost loved ones. 

With all of the stress and uncertainty that has come with this year, many of us have packed on the Quarantine 15 (or more)! If this is you, don't fret. There are safe, healthy ways to get these extra pounds off. 

We had the opportunity to interview Rhya Pachin, one of the experts in functional nutrition here in Charlotte. You may remember her from earlier in the year when she talked with us about the gut microbiome and the importance of using food and nutrition to heal the body. 

Today, she is going to talk to us more about that pesky "Quarantine 15" and how we can make a few simple lifestyle changes to get that off, and keep it off.

We are all searching for that radiant glow, but what if we are sabotaging it by what we put into our body? Clean ingredient expert Jacqueline Bourne tells what to put in, and what to avoid, in order to be glowing outside and inside. Plus, she included a recipe for a Good-to-Glow Smoothie! Summer is finally here so get ready to be positively glowing!

Ever wonder what natural remedies you can use for sensitive skin, dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis?

With both Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism, I definitely suffer from dry skin, swelling, redness, and inflammation.  I have found many skin care products to exasperate my skin conditions.

Check the back labels of products!  Avoid certain ingredients like parabens, sulfates, dyes, and fragrances as well as alcohol-based cleansers and products - they can dry and irritate skin further.  Not all moisturizers are created equal, so choosing the wrong moisturizer can also make dry skin and certain skin conditions worse.  Hydration is key, and using sun protection is very important. 

Learn more about the list of a few natural remedies that help with certain health and skin conditions.

If you haven't heard the story of why Roses and Azalea is started, here's a really quick version.  I struggled with autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, and other illnesses for more than a decade and was finally diagnosed after hearing Dr. Amy Myers on a podcast randomly one day.  My husband was the one to catch that episode and thought told me that many of my symptoms matched the ones discussed on the podcast.

The diagnosis took a long time.  After persistence, our own personal research, seeing doctors across three different states, and being our own advocates, we finally had the diagnosis in 2018.  Although there was some relief in knowing that "it wasn't actually all in my head" like some of the healthcare professionals had told me since my early 20's (in fact, a doctor had told me that because I'm a woman who is getting old, what else should I expect), I wondered "now what?"

Some of you reading this may be wondering exactly that.  You've already been diagnosed with autoimmune disease(s) and have had very little guidance and resources.  Some of you may not have reached diagnosis yet and want some answers.  Wherever in your health journey, I want to reassure you that you aren't alone and that there ARE some resources and support out there for you!

Today, I am interviewing Anessa Powell who is very familiar with living with an autoimmune disease, Addison's Disease.  She is an amazing wife and mother of two.  Anessa is a passionate speaker and educator as well as one of the leaders of Autoimmune Sisters, the #1 online community for those living with an autoimmune disease.  In this interview, you'll find out a little more about Anessa's own health journey, some advice she has for being a modern woman juggling life with autoimmune disease, advice for caretakers, and some of the much-needed resources for those living with autoimmune disease(s).

Recently the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic.  And with all the difference information, media, and opinions portrayed on social media by the general public, confusion and misleading information can cause mass panic.

As someone who is at high risk with asthma and autoimmune disease, I don't take things lightly.  I've heard from many different perspectives including medical professionals.  There's charts floating around comparing the flu with COVID-19.  Pictures of how there's no toilet paper (and other resources) have dominated my Facebook feed.

No matter how things turn out with a severe flu season, rise of Coronavirus cases, and other illnesses, it is important to boost your immune system and to prevent from getting sick when possible.  The best thing you can do for yourself and your family members is to remain calm and carry out your life normally, to start making healthy lifestyle changes, and to practice good hand hygiene.

Not sure where to start?  I have written about 10 ways to boost your immune system and to reduce the risk of infection!  All facts, no opinions.  Read this very important information now.

We may know February as the month of love.  On Valentine's Day - February 14 each year - lovers spoil each other and express just how much they love and appreciate their better half.

But did you know this?  From the Latin word Februarius, meaning “to purify“, February was known as the “Month of Purification” during ancient Roman times. It is a transitional time, finding itself just after a month of reflection and new year's resolutions.

Because of this, I wanted to interview one of the experts in functional nutrition here in Charlotte - Rhya Pachin - about gut microbiome and the importance of using food and nutrition to heal the body.  As someone with autoimmune caused thyroid issues, I can testify to the power of nutrition (and the times when I slip up and have gluten or any foods I currently have sensitivities to like sunflower seed oil, most nuts, chocolate, and much much more, I get super sick).

Rhya is licensed dietitian nutritionist with an integrative or functional approach, trained to design and supervise customized plans and elimination diets.  She helps so many people, including those with gastrointestinal conditions like IBS/IBD and those with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthiritis (RA) and Hashimoto's.