Parsley Health New York member, Lucile Hernandez Rodriguez shares how she recovered from an illness she contracted while traveling and gained so much more in the recovery process.
I moved to New York out of college for my first job in investment banking. I’d just returned from a volunteer trip to India where I had gotten very sick with stomach pain, constant nausea, not being able to eat. My symptoms were not entirely gone and added to the fatigue caused by my intense job. I was constantly getting sicker, wasn’t able to eat anything without feeling bad, and had consistently lower energy levels. Up until that point I had been quite healthy, but I also always thought things like brain fog , fatigue, and getting sick easily—things I’d always dealt with—were normal. After getting sick in India, I knew this couldn’t be normal.
I first tried going to conventional doctors, where I was first treated with antibiotics, then another doctor said it was in my head, and still another told me I should get used to it as nothing could be done. Eventually, I gave up, as no one was able to find what my issue was or help me solve it. I felt helpless. I then experimented with fermented foods and garlic, as this was advised to me by my family against stomach bugs. It helped more than antibiotics, but it was not enough.
I did not want to accept that it was just how my life was going to be right now and I was ready to make any lifestyle changes that would lead to a life where I had more energy to reach my personal goals.
“I believe health and wellness are more than just food, they are a path to realizing your potential in life and being happy.”
I wanted to find a doctor who would be a partner in helping me learn about my own body. I heard about Parsley Health on a podcast and I was interested in becoming a member right away as it was what I had been looking for: a combination of a doctor with a holistic approach that really cares about you and a health coach that helps you reach your goals.
During my first visit with my doctor at Parsley, I felt listened to instead of being talked down to. It was also a more enjoyable experience as we had an in-depth conversation in a nice environment.
My priority was healing fully from this stomach bug and improving my digestion. After in-depth testing, including an allergy test and complete blood panel, we discovered that I am allergic to wheat which I completely cut out from my diet. I was also put on a gut-healing protocol. We worked mostly on making sure I was acting on everything I could act on. I liked this approach better than trying to put a name on a disease.
Next, we focused on my energy levels and quality of sleep with melatonin supplements and meditation . My health coach gave me concrete tips such as drinking a smoothie with maca in the morning or eating healthy fats in the afternoon. I loved being able to contact my health coach or doctor by email and getting actionable advice on how to keep improving my health and energy levels made all the difference.
I didn’t realize how much I normalized feeling this bad. However, this is no longer the case. I feel so much better on all levels. My digestive issues are entirely gone and so is my fatigue. I also learned to take better care of my stress levels, anxiety , and sleep. I now have a more positive outlook where I have the tools I need to feel better.
I became an expert at my own body and applied this sense of empowerment to other parts of my life. I refocused my career on what I love to do and what I’m good at. This has allowed me to bring more energy to my yoga practice and coaching with clients.
I look forward to optimizing my hormonal wellbeing during my second year at Parsley Health.
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