If you know me, you know I value consistency and discipline—sometimes to a fault. It’s amazing that even positive habits when pushed to the brink, can bring out negatively in our lives. 

It wasn’t until I ‘crashed and burned’ with chronic illness that I was finally pushed to a new level of understanding myself. I was forced to be still, look within, and slow the heck down!

On this journey, I learned many important lessons that have nothing to do with doctors, medications, or holistic treatments (and everything to do with life).

Here are 5 lessons I’ve learned coming back and rediscovering life again….

Lesson 1 – Embrace Change, Be Adaptable

Admittedly, I’m not good with change. I hate uncertainty and can’t seem to pivot when things don’t go as planned. 

But I’ve learned: the only constant in life is change.  

As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.“

Life is chaotic.  We can’t fight it.  There’s no way we’ll ever know everything or be able to prepare for all that lies ahead…. And that’s OK!  

There’s actually a lot of beauty in not knowing every detail or how this chapter of our lives will turn out… The sooner we rest in God’s plan and stop fighting our need to know, the sooner we can experience the peace and calmness in our lives.  

Bottom line: Adaptability is a superpower!

Lesson 2 – Too Much Focus on the Days & You’ll Lose Sight of the Years

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily ups and downs and lose sight of the bigger picture.  When I was in the thick of things, I would get so entrenched in the daily struggle that I had a hard time zooming out to recognize the small wins and healing that was taking place over time.

Constantly zooming in leads to two problems:

1. Challenges seem bigger than they are.
2. Progress seems slower than it actually is.

But when we step back and view life from 10,000 feet, we can see how manageable our challenges are and how evident our progress has been.

When in doubt, zoom out!

Think forward 40+  years –  how would your future self be changed by what you’re doing right now? 

Go back 15+ years –  how would your past self be proud of you today? 

Bottom line: Stop and look back at how far you’ve come!

Lesson 3 – Discipline Trumps Feelings

There are many days when I don’t feel like getting up early, doing my morning routine, and hitting the gym. Even when I know I’ll feel 1000x better if I do, I can’t get motivated.  

I just don’t feel like it. 

It’s easy to be disciplined and consistent when you feel great—but what about the days we feel like crap? 

I’ve learned that starting is the hardest part.  When I was sick – it was depressing, and I never felt like doing anything.  Even things I once enjoyed seemed like a big chore, and it was easier to just bail out. 

READ: Why I’ll never take my health for granted

But when I did take one step in the right direction, I kept up the momentum.  The power of the mind is very real. 

Now, when I don’t feel like running, I tell myself, ‘just run a mile’.   If I don’t feel like writing, I tell myself, ‘just write a sentence or two…’

And you know what…. 99% of the time, I keep going.  I run all the miles, write all the words, and do all the things. 

Bottom line: Just start.

Lesson 4 – Slow Down & Listen to Your Body

It’s a lesson that hit me hard: sometimes, you just have to slow down and tune in to what your body is trying to tell you. I get it —we’re all about the grind, thinking rest is for the weak. 

I’ve been there myself—pushing down that inner voice, trying to keep up the pace with everyone else. It wasn’t long before the rush became my normal; I didn’t even question it.

When you start to prioritize yourself, it seems everyone wants to give you their advice and tell you what’s best. But the truth is, only you know what you need—and that may look very different from the right way for others. 

Carve your own path. 

Listening to your body isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a form of wisdom.

Bottom Line: Listen to your body.  You do YOU! 

Lesson 5 – We’re all in this life together. 

Maybe you’re not on the brink of burnout or suffering disease, but we all have our own struggles. 

And the truth is this: Every single person you encounter is fighting a battle—and it’s probably one that you don’t understand.

No matter our differences, the pain we feel is universal. We all have a unique story.

Even though we each step into battle carrying our own strengths and weaknesses, diverse backgrounds, and various viewpoints – we share a common bond in facing it together.

Pain is pain.  And we all experience it.  You’re not alone. 

Bottom Line: We’re all a hot mess.  

The Wrap – Life Lessons After Burnout & Chronic Illness

My journey has taught me a lot about bouncing back and enjoying life, and I’ve realized there’s a fine line between healthy habits and pushing yourself too hard. (And that burnout is a very real thing!)

The bottom line:

1. Change is the only constant, so roll with it. It makes life less predictable but more exciting.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Looking at the big picture helps keep things in perspective.
3. Discipline matters, but so does listening to yourself. On rough days, just getting started can make a huge difference.
4. Slowing down to check in with yourself isn’t lazy—it’s smart.
5. We’re all in this together. Everybody’s fighting a battle you know nothing about, so a little kindness goes a long way.

In short, life’s a wild ride, – Remember, we’re all figuring it out as we go, so let’s be easy on ourselves and others.

I’m cheering you on!

XO,

jules

“If I could just get to Kona, then I would be happy,” I told myself,  honestly believing it.  But the truth is, there’s always something else.  Even after one goal is accomplished,  we put the next one in its place, pushing out the happiness timeline again (and again)!

I just finished reading Kara Goucher’s book The Longest Race — which is excellent, by the way!  

But, it got me thinking more about the relentless pursuit of the next big thing —whether it’s more training, more awards, or more fame, the pursuit of “more” can become all-consuming. 

Even if you’re not an athlete, I think we all fall into the “if, then” trap.  

Let me explain…

The Dangers of Making Winning Your Whole Life

Within the running world, Kara Goucher’s experiences shed light on the consequences of making winning our whole life. She was surrounded by a culture that constantly pushed for more, where nothing ever seemed to be enough. 

This mindset eventually led to the doping scandals associated with the Nike Oregon Project. 

READ: Inside the Toxic Culture of the Nike Oregon Project ‘Cult’

Even though Kara stood strong and refused to give in, she faced penalties simply because she was racing against a goal that couldn’t be achieved without compromising her own values.

Sometimes, we can be so consumed we don’t even realize we’re on a slippery slope—then, living that way slowly becomes the norm.

Putting anything as an idol in our lives can fall apart in an instant. I don’t want to get over-spiritual here, but any time we put earthly things ahead of God in our lives, we become misaligned.

The Illusion of External Milestones and Happiness

We all fall into the trap of believing that happiness/success/fulfillment is just on the other side of the next milestone. 

Whether it’s wealth, a promotion, new fancy cars or houses, exotic vacations, or awards and recognition, we keep chasing a moving finish line…

If I just get that next promotion, then I’ll spend more time with my family.

Once I PR the marathon, then I’ll cut back on my training and prioritize my health. 

When I get that new car, then I’ll finally start giving back and donating again.

Each time we think we’ve found happiness in reaching a milestone, it quickly fades away, with a brand new one appearing in its place. There’s no end in sight, and the pursuit of “more” becomes a vicious cycle that never truly fulfills us.  

There’s ALWAYS something else – always. 

Rediscovering Satisfaction on the Journey

The truth is that true satisfaction and happiness are inside jobs. Our joy and peace ultimately come from above, and it is important to slow down and discern what doors God is opening (and even which ones he’s closing). 

Trust me, if you’re not happy with yourself now, you won’t be suddenly satisfied after the next benchmark.

But slowing down and appreciating the present moment allows us to find joy in the process rather than continuously chasing—and likely burning out along the way. 

I realize saying life is about the journey and not the destination is a little cliche, but it holds a lot of truth. 

Embracing the Journey Within

I get it. I live in the real world, too. 

It’s easy to get caught in the comparison trap and feel like you’re never enough. The grass always looks greener, and our self-worth tied to the latest win.

But the reality is we’re already enough – just as we are. 

In my personal experience, when I was constantly chasing one goal after another, I never gave myself the chance to question whether I truly wanted to qualify for Kona or if it was actually other people’s expectations guiding my decisions. (To this day, I can’t say for sure…)

But, let me ask you this:

What do you value?

It’s time to grab your journal, go for a walk, or have a heartfelt conversation with someone who truly understands. When we start aligning our actions with our values, we make more purposeful decisions and goals. 

And the journey itself becomes the path to self-awareness and self-fulfillment.

The Wrap – More Never Enough

In the pursuit of “more,” we often lose sight of what truly brings us happiness and contentment. 

Slowing down and giving ourselves the opportunity to pause, breathe, and pray is where it all starts. 

Don’t get me wrong—I love goal-setting and working to achieve the next big challenge, but when we get stuck in a place where nothing will make us happy until we get it, that’s where we get stuck!

How can you learn to embrace the season you’re in right now?  

Remember, if you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.

I’m cheering you on…

XO,

jules

Many of us, myself included, have become pros at wearing masks. 

Most of the time, it’s not even a conscious decision. It just becomes this unspoken rule that we must conform for acceptance and approval.

Have we become so skilled at hiding our true selves that we don’t even realize we’re wearing a mask anymore?

Unfortunately, it took me hitting rock bottom and battling burnout to finally see the bigger picture, embrace slow living, and appreciate my authentic self.

Let me explain….

The Masks We Wear

We wear masks everywhere. 

In the workplace, we suppress our true opinions to meet the expectations of our bosses and colleagues. Socially, we adopt characteristics that we believe will make us more likable and acceptable to those around us. 

Eventually, we become chameleons, adapting to blend in with different social groups and situations. Even within our families and closest friends, we hide pieces of ourselves to keep the peace and maintain harmony.

I’ll admit, I was once the master of this game. But the better I got at hiding, the more I lost sight of who I really was underneath it all.

The Price of Wearing Masks

No doubt, the cost of wearing these masks is steep, yet it often seems like the path of least resistance.  When we lose sight of who we truly are, we start seeking validation from others instead of accepting and knowing ourselves. 

The lack of self-acceptance that comes with constantly pretending to be someone we’re not can leave us feeling exhausted, disillusioned, and utterly lost.

It’s like we’re living in a constant state of pretending, never allowing ourselves to fully express our authentic selves. We’re misaligned, and no amount of self-care can help …

And my friend, this can be a heavy burden to carry!

Embracing Our Identity

In a world that constantly demands us to conform to its expectations, choosing to be true to ourselves can seem more like an act of rebellion. 

So, how do we take a step back and find out who we really are?

First, Slow the heck down! Give yourself some space.  Get quiet….

The practice of slowing down allows us to reconnect with our authentic selves and slowly strips us away from the pressures of conformity that the world puts on us.

The Benefits of Embracing Slow Living

Slow living gave me the space and time to truly reflect on my life and peel off those layers and masks. It allowed me to reconnect with my inner self and discover the person I had been hiding for so long.

It’s in these moments of stillness that we can truly hear our own thoughts, desires, and passions. We can shed the roles that don’t belong to us and learn to show up as our authentic selves.

Imagine a world where we no longer had to pretend or hide behind masks. A world where we could show up as our true selves, unapologetically and without fear of judgment.

Slow living allows us to step away from the constant pressure to conform and make space for our true identity to shine through.

The Wrap

The truth is, deep down, we all crave real connections and genuine interactions. Slow living provides us with the time and space to drop our masks and reveal our true selves to the world.

It’s a journey. It’s not about having all the answers or having it all figured out. It’s about having the courage to be true to ourselves and live a life that feels genuine and meaningful. (Whatever that looks like for you!)

Always remember, you are worthy of love and acceptance, perfectly created according to God’s vision for you.

The world needs who you are!

I’m cheering you on…

XO,

Jules

I was sitting at the headache clinic under gray dim lights as I was surrounded by a whispering team of nurses.  One grabbed my blood pressure and another nurse started intake by asking about my pain level.  Without thinking twice, I replied, “About five or six” as I grabbed my forehead to reinforce the pain. 

I was at the clinic again for an emergency IV to (hopefully) give me some relief. By now I had learned to keep my pain level under seven to stay out of CT – something I desperately wanted to avoid.   My brain MRI findings were always clear and another CT scan would only further delay treatment… and I had had enough!  

As the nurses continued poking and prodding me I sat there wondering, “How did I end up here?”  All the other migraine patients with varying headache disorders physically appeared ‘sick’ and I was healthy – right?  

Well, let’s start at the beginning… here’s the long story.

My sister, Jenn Omo, and me at the Nice 70.3 Championship finish.

The Beginning of the End…

After years of suffocating in the hustle culture – which at the time I convinced myself, I loved much like a moth to a flame –  I started to experience headaches.  It was November 2019, I finally reached the limits of my physical, mental, and emotional stress levels… all at the same time. 

I now refer to this time as The Perfect Storm as everything collapsed around me like a giant Jenga game.

I had finished what would be my last race in September at the 70.3 Ironman World Championships in Nice, France.  (There was also the Berlin Marathon three weeks later to add to the storm!) But looking back, these were great races to go out on – I’m thankful for that. Yet, after the high of the amazing experiences, I was having the usual post-race blues; further heightened by a foot injury that kept me from being active.  

Not being able to run left me without community, without stress relief, and without those amazing little endorphins. On top of it all, I felt guilty and mad at myself that I couldn’t keep going! 

 “I’ve run through injuries before?” 

“I don’t need time off, I’m OK”

“I can still do it all?”  

The results?  Eventually, I could barely walk!  And I put everything into my corporate marketing job that was already incredibly demanding, high-stress, and frankly, dysfunctional.  I was in the DANGER ZONE and didn’t even know it!!! 

Do I even need to tell y’all what happened next?

Hello Burnout

Since I thought my competitive lifestyle was slowing down, we had this genius idea to go off birth control.  Because why not try to have a baby when your body is completely falling apart? #sarcasm.  I immediately went back on the pill but the ‘damage’ was done with all the changes and stress on my body.  I couldn’t win. (More on this later)

It was like my body was hating on me ….

But did I listen and rest – or even try to slow life down? Nope, I kept going – full speed, of course – right into burnout!  Except for this time at work. 

By the start of the pandemic, internal stress finally displayed itself in chronic and debilitating migraines. I’ve had migraines and migraine-like headaches my entire life so this was not unfamiliar – but the everyday pain slowly took over my life.  

It got to the point where I could no longer work – or function, period.  Leaving my job was a blessing in disguise – but again, at the time again I felt like a failure.

I thought work was all I had left, so to speak. 

Talk about depressed.

Medical Leave

Everyone, including myself, thought this would be the answer – taking medical leave (recommended by my doctor) and removing the work stress would give me time to heal and kick off those pesky migraines and headaches.  Nope.  

As a matter of fact, they got way worse before they got even a tad better.  So, after the 12-week medical leave, I didn’t go back to work. 

While I was still in a lot of pain, I spent this time doing some very important inner work and was forced to embrace a slow living lifestyle.

I worked on myself.  

I slowed the F*ck down.  

I spent time alone. 

I asked myself the tough questions.  

I focused on self-care.  

I did about a million personality tests. 

I opened my Bible.

I spent a lot of time asking, “Who is Jules…really?”

There’s a quote by Brene Brown that really spoke to me during this time, 

“ Crazy-busy’ is a great armor, it’s a great way for numbing. What a lot of us do is that we stay so busy, and so out in front of our life, that the truth of how we’re feeling and what we really need can’t catch up with us.”

I had been living such a busy life that I had ignored what my body and soul were really craving.  

And it was time to figure out what that was – it was the only way I was going to heal, inside and out. 

Quiet time with my devotional, coffee, and dogger.

In Search of Migraine Relief 

I don’t think I could concentrate on anything else besides my migraines and daily persistent headache for months.  It was the most intense pain I’ve ever experienced and it lingered for days at a time, if it improved at all.  It felt like the blood vessels in my body were about to explode like a bursting water balloon hitting the pavement.

All my focus and energy over the next several months went into researching numerous neurologists to help crack this case of unwelcome severe headaches. 

It was when I landed at the North Texas Institute of Neurology and Headache Clinic (NTINH) in October 2020, I finally had hope again.  To date, I’ve tried almost everything in their headache toolkit including Botox/Xeomin, Ketamine infusion series, and most recently, occipital nerves freeze (cryo injected into nerves). Not to mention all the latest CGRP injections, abortives, preventative drugs, and migraine prevention diets.

It was at NTINH that I was able to see a neurologist trained to work specifically with women and hormonal migraines (One of the trickiest headache types to treat). I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have this angel walk into my life, but after a year of uncertainty, she was the first one to agree to test my hormones to see what was going on.  Everyone else declined my requests, even though I had a deep feeling something was up with my hormones given that birth control caused terrible flares throughout my body. 

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

My labs came back to the neurologist and she immediately had me go in for more tests and to see an Endocrinologist.  Long story short – my body wasn’t producing any hormones.  

NO HORMONES. 

None. 

Zero.  

Zilch. 

There are a couple of reasons why this might have happened. But none of them made sense for my situation.  I had been checked for tumors (brain, spinal cord, and ovaries).  I wasn’t undernourished, and I wasn’t doing any opioids. Promise!   So this still remains a huge mystery!?  My docs & specialists have never seen this before so they attributed it to stress, of course!  (See a pattern yet?)

I agreed to do hormone replacement therapy to attempt to get my levels up and stabilized again. I declined high doses (that were recommended) and started slow.  Research suggested by normalizing my hormones I would see better migraine control…. Or, so they told me. 

I proceeded with the treatment of bio-identical estrogen and testosterone pellets and oral compounded progesterone.  The other hormones we didn’t worry about, besides cortisol… 

My Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal insufficiency disease happens when your adrenals are no longer able to make enough cortisol for the body.  A lot of folks often confuse or compare this with Adrenal Fatigue, which is not medically recognized but very real in the functional medicine space.  It is the idea that our adrenal glands get overworked by stress and stop producing the hormones we need, including cortisol.  

While cortisol gets a bad rap, it’s super important for regulating blood pressure, metabolism, and the body’s anti-inflammatory responses.  To be honest, I had no idea my cortisol tanked – or any of my hormones, really.  

I had been so preoccupied with head pain and trying to prevent myself from ramming my forehead into the coffee table that I hadn’t noticed. 

So, with my hormones taking a hiatus, I was urgently treated with the dreadful Prednisone to kickstart my cortisol production and prevent disease. 

I wasn’t happy. I was getting fat.  And I was starting to feel miserable. 

Of course, I wanted to stop, but apparently, it’s a dangerous hormone to live without.   Without it I could have gone into Addisonian Crisis (shock, seizures, coma) at any time.  

I was stuck. And starting to feel lost, sad, alone, and even more depressed.  

Why me?  And why can’t they figure anything out? 

My First Nutritionist

Since I was gaining weight at record speed and my digestive issues continued to get worse, I met with my first medical nutritionist. She ran a slew of tests – urine, poop, blood, food sensitivity, and…. DNA!  

I was on overload soaking in all this new information! I absolutely LOVED learning about this and for the first time I felt like I could start taking control of my own healing by using food as medicine. 

I have sooooooo many food sensitivities it’s a joke. Apparently, the more food sensitivities you have, the more impaired your gut bacteria is, and once it’s healed many of the sensitivities will fall away. 

 At first, I had to glance at my phone to google ingredients before eating anything!  At a high level, my body rejected most grains, dairy, nuts, and some meats.  But even chicken and quinoa were on the no list with my increased sensitivity (for now). 

My tests showed I had protein in my urine and my kidneys and liver were working hard – ‘congested’ – is the word that was used.  My pH level was actually on the alkaline side (a good thing, for which docs were confused) and my DNA tests revealed I likely had some nutrient insufficiencies such as Folate and B Vitamins. So, I have to take specific forms of these. 

I needed to limit high protein and focus on nourishing soft, easy-to-digest foods – while eliminating the off-limit food sensitivities for bit. 

I followed a fairly strict plant-based diet for months and saw some digestive improvements.  But my head was getting worse.  Or so it felt… and it turned out that an animal-based diet was what I truly needed!

Hail Mary – Mayo Clinic

We continued to seek out the best treatments in DFW and circle around varying specialists.  It felt like we were hitting dead ends everywhere and my pain was only increasing despite my best efforts.  It was incredibly disappointing. 

In February 2022 we went to Mayo Clinic desperate for answers and help. It ended up being a big dead end.  

You can read all about my Mayo experience here on my blog, here.

But needless to say, they put me on a pain management protocol with high dosages – not what I wanted at all.  And you know what?  It didn’t even work!  But I digress. 

Coming home, I told Paul, “I so badly wished there was a special surgery to fix me all up”

Fine, I’ll Fix Myself

When we got back from Mayo and the pain management program didn’t work, I decided I’m the only one who is going to take my case seriously.  So that’s exactly what I did. 

I stopped waiting for doctors to message me back or wait for another three to six months to get into another specialist.  

I took the initiative and made appointments with several functional medicine doctors, dietitians, chiropractors, and therapists. And despite my ‘physician fatigue’, I did get second opinions from doctors slightly outside of the scope of my care – a gastroenterologist doc and allergy specialist.

I’ve also researched several alternative therapies and met with other struggling chronic illness warriors, to swap info and tips. There’s comfort in knowing you’re not alone in this. 

While it has been exhausting and my brain muddied by the treatment, I’ve certainly felt more in control of my care and received more ‘nuggets’ and answers than I have in a long time. 

Spending time at home with Otis recovering

GI Doc & New Dietitian

When I got back we met with a GI doc that recognized all the autoimmune issues I was having (without running any labs) and mentioned my gut issues were likely connected.  He referred us to other specialists and ran more labs.  

Admittedly, I was sick of being tossed around but reluctantly agreed.  But it was going to take three to four months to get in.  

In tandem,  I met with another Dietitian specializing in autoimmune disorders and the microbiome. She’s probably one of the brightest individuals on my journey so far and ended up being a big help in breaking through to diagnosis – starting simply with gut health.

Long story short, I still have a number of gut issues ranging from more serious to quick fixes.  It will take over a year to turn around my gut microbiome and heal my body – but a little bit each day will go a long way. 

Once again, I worked through various healing supplements,  diets, and combinations of them including – Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), Heal Your Headache (HYH), and Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB).  (And I’m currently implementing Stanton Migraine Protocol!)

We stayed away from Keto due to my hormone imbalance, but some research shows it can decrease headache frequency and improve migraine.  And is one of the most used migraine prevention diet programs, so it’s not off the table. While many doctors don’t know why ketones are helpful for migraine, it’s said to help with brain inflammation, improve mitochondria function, and balance neurotransmitter function.  

Today, I’m still being treated for SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) and adjusting my diet.   

A DIAGNOSIS OF LUPUS

It took about six weeks, but I eventually saw the doc I was referred to in June 2022 – she is a super smart triple board-certified Rheumatologist, Immunologist, and Allergist.  I went through the motions, not expecting much. But did ALL the testing, follow-ups, and screenings. I was honestly shocked when she called me back in with an actual diagnosis….

I have Lupus.  

What the heck is that?  My Google trigger fingers went into research mode instantly.  

It’s a chronic autoimmune disease that can attack almost every organ/system in the body. That’s why it’s incredibly hard to diagnose — Lupus can demonstrate a wide range of symptoms at different times.  And there’s not necessarily one single blood test to check for it, there are many tests & boxes to check for a definite diagnosis.  Many doctors miss the signs and several patients go years and years without an answer, diagnosis, or treatment. 

I had been tested before but now it’s showing up to be an official diagnosis, ‘active Lupus’. Unfortunately, I just had to get sicker for answers as my immune system further declined.  

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)  is a persistent multi-system immunodeficiency that primarily affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).  This is why I might see improvement in migraines after starting Lupus drugs… but it’s still hard to say. 

Several studies have focused on the link between SLE disease activity and headache. Although several studies have reported increased headache incidence among SLE patients, there are other studies that say it doesn’t.  So, the jury’s still out!

People with Lupus have a wide range of symptoms with varying levels of inflammation which is why I think there’s so much bio-individuality among symptoms and treatment.  

How Lupus affects your nervous system?

It is difficult to know what causes Lupus symptoms in our body. For example, when my headache frequency increases I wonder, ‘Is this my Lupus headache or something else causing a flare?’ 

We know that Lupus affects the entire human body and the nervous system in particular. And Medical News Today shares that according to the Lupus Research Alliance about 1 in 5 people experience headaches, memory loss, mood swings, and stroke from Lupus attacking the nervous system.  

Lupus is caused by the creation of antibodies that are inflammatory in brain tissues nerves, etc which cause direct pain.  

Did I mention that almost 90% Lupus patients are women!?

Down for the count here! Giving Paul the thumbs up that I’m OK.

WILL THIS CURE MY MIGRAINES?

As I mentioned, we don’t know if this will significantly help my migraines or not.  Nervous system problems will always be there to flare up lupus headaches and my hormonal migraines will likely still be a part of my life for the duration.  However, my hope is that I can remove the daily migraine/headache with medication, treatment, and diet to live a more pain-free life.  

Only time will tell me if we’re on the right path.  

WHAT’S NEXT?

This Lupus diagnosis explains a lot now that I have a clear diagnosis.  It’s only when we look back that things make sense with my other symptoms. While I’ve started Plaquenil (Lupus-specific medication), it’s going to take 3-4 months to build up in my system and start to see and feel the benefits.  (So far, not much improvement yet….)

But for now, I’m being kind to myself.  Focusing on the positives of having a diagnosis.  Not beating myself up for not making it to events or dinners, etc… because I have some healing to do…

Stay tuned!

Update: I’m in remission! Read all about the healing process in this blog: Exactly How Im Healing Chronic Migraines

xo, jules