A Functional Medicine Endometriosis Case Study - Symptoms Solved, Surgery Avoided
Resolving pain & digestive issues through a root-cause approach
Delve into an illustrative case study: Sarah, a 35-year-old who was facing endometriosis, sluggishness, joint pain, and bloating.
““Miriam uncovered my unique needs and food sensitivities, then created a protocol that increased my energy, reduced my chronic pain, and altered the course of my health so much that I no longer needed medication or surgery.””
Meeting Sarah
Sarah (female, 35, working full-time) approached me with hope, albeit with a certain amount of apprehension. The traditional healthcare system had failed her. She had been bounced around from doctor to doctor, with each one spending very little time and suggesting severe medication or surgery as her only options.
Her primary health concerns were:
Musculoskeletal: Backache, joint pain, severe endometriosis
Appearance: Acne, easy bruising, slow wound healing
Mood: Irritability, concentration, anxiety, depression, teeth-grinding
Digestive: Occasional diarrhea, "addicted" to sweet foods, dizziness
Circulatory: Low energy, occasional rapid heartbeat & tingling hands
She sought a holistic, scientific, empathetic partner who could help her find the root causes of her discomfort and improve her health conditions.
Sarah’s Goals
Sarah's objectives were clear:
Improve endometriosis symptoms
Improve sluggishness
Reduce joint pain
Reduce digestive issues
She believed that understanding the sources of her symptoms and the nuances of her body could empower her to take control of her health. As it turned out, she was absolutely right.
Our Journey and Discoveries
During our four months together, we discovered nutritional imbalances affecting her energy levels, mood, and sleep. We identified foods that were influencing her digestion and inflammatory conditions. We also found that certain unsuspecting lifestyle habits were contributing to her discomfort.
After her four-month program, Sarah had a nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement protocol that significantly reduced her primary concerns and symptoms. So much so, that she no longer required medication or surgery. The transformation was remarkable; she no longer needed medication or surgery after just four months!
Medical and Mental Outcomes
Our work together led to not only massive, positive medical outcomes but also armed Sarah with a deep understanding of how she responds to different foods, supplements, and lifestyles. This information fundamentally changed the course of her health and her relationship with her body.
Like many of us, Sarah spent much of her life being critical of her body and how she cared for it. She felt shame about her tendency to turn to food for comfort, which resulted in bloating, discomfort, and weight gain. But, by giving her a confident understanding of what it means to nourish herself, Sarah's relationship with food and her body transformed.
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Knowledge for Lifelong Health
Working with me, Sarah learned that avoiding gluten, wine, and dairy makes her body happy. But she also learned that indulging occasionally is not something to fear. She now understands her unique physiology and can take control of her health. Sarah now enjoys the balance of nourishment and indulgence, which has improved her lifelong health.
““Not having to take medication with wild side effects or get invasive surgery was, of course, a huge win for me. But even beyond that - working with Miriam helped me find peace with myself and finally feel in partnership with my body.” ”
Key Aspects of Our Work
We utilized various strategies to achieve Sarah's health goals, including food diary analysis, extensive blood testing for deficiencies and food sensitivity, and detailed meal planning.
Key Challenges
Despite the positive outcomes, our journey wasn't without challenges. Sarah's top two challenges were navigating her food sensitivities with her spouse who loves cooking for her and dealing with her dietary needs in social settings. However, we were able to devise effective solutions for these challenges.
Results
Our collaboration led to significant improvements in Sarah's health:
Improved endometriosis symptoms
Increased energy levels
Reduced joint pain
Improved digestion
"Miriam provided the relationship, experience, and results I had always dreamed of finding with a health practitioner. She made extensive inquiries into my lived experience and performed loads of testing that gave me confidence that our approach was anchored in root causes and focused on getting results. She gave me knowledge and tools for nutrition that will serve me for the rest of my life.” - Sarah
Sarah's story is one of many success stories that encapsulate why I do what I do. If you resonate with Sarah's story and want to address your health concerns through a customized, root-cause approach, I invite you to reach out.
About Miriam Jacobson: Triple-certified functional medicine dietitian with a master's degree in Functional Medicine Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and two board certifications as a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. I founded Every Body Bliss - a private practice where I help individuals optimize their digestion, energy levels, and mood.