This Page is still under construction: Please come back soon

​Autoimmune Disease and Trauma
Instinctual Well-Being: Instinctual Wellbeing: Healing Autoimmunity With AIP Food & Wisdom
Treating Chronic Pain with Mindfulness: Treating Chronic Pain with Mindfulness - NICABM


​

My Personal Story: Allergies, Rosacea, Eczema, Infertility, Ear Infections, Rheumatoid Arthritis and MORE
​I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis on June 20, 2020. I had never been diagnosed with any kind of chronic condition before and for the next several months I thought my life was over - and to some extent some of my former life was over. The grief and fear could sometimes hijack me for days. It was a dark period - which returns for a visit now and again.

On the day I was diagnosed I happened to speak with a good friend that resides across the globe from me. We were both wanting to cancel a friends' zoom call (earlier days of COVID) that was scheduled for the following night. She was not feeling well and I told her about my diagnosis. I had no idea but my friend had (for 20 years) been treating her own Hashimoto disease by following the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. She gave me a Cole's notes version of it and by the time we ended our conversation I had decided to reintroduce some foods I had eliminated as a vegan while immediately eliminating: refined sugar, alcohol, gluten, dairy and nightshade vegetables. 

For the next few months my friend coached me via messenger and my health was improved slowly and steadily. In August of 2020 I enrolled in one of three programs that used to be offered through Autoimmune Wellness Autoimmune Protocol | AIP Recipes | Diet for Autoimmune Disease | Autoimmune Wellness.  I continue to be involved in an ongoing support group led my Angie Alt (one of the two owners of Autoimmune Wellness). Angie and a group of nutrition coaches started another program that I am currently involved in called WellTheory | Autoimmune Care Revolutionized

I have continued to study autoimmune disease and it's link to trauma and stress since my diagnosis. I am thankful to conventional medicine and see a Rheumatologist that monitors my progress. That being said my journey to a diagnosis is an all too familiar one for folks  with autoimmune disease. I've always had symptoms that are typical of autoimmune disease: ear aches, rosacea, infertility, miscarriages, painful periods, and a lifetime of allergies. 

In 2010 my role as a caregiver to my mother with dementia and my aging father began. My allergies immediately worsened and within a few years I developed joint pain in my feet and psoriasis on my hands and feet. In 2015 my parents were admitted to a nursing home which alleviated the middle of the night calls from Windsor Police or a local hospital that was treating my mother. But my heart ache and my stress increased exponentially when I saw that the nursing home system is a symptom of systemic ageism. Nursing homes in my opinion are allowed to exist as money makers that warehouse old people that are clothed, fed, bathed, changed and occasionally entertained. 

My seemingly unrelated symptoms led my doctor to misdiagnose or simply dismiss my symptoms. She sent me to an ENT; a dermatologist; and a podiatrist. None of those doctors wanted to know anything about me nor did they try to link my symptoms together. It wasn't until I sent a photo of my hands during a flare that my cousin happened to show to her sister-in-law who said: "looks like Gisèle has leaky gut and probably some kind of autoimmune disease. I went to my doctor again and this time asked her to please look at a list of all my symptoms and consider an autoimmune disease. But just another pointless referral was made. 

Thankfully my Naturopathic doctor suggested after a painful flare at the start of the first COVID quarantine that I should get tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis. I did and she was right and now she is my primary health care provider.

As you know know from my website - I am also a trauma therapist and during a training workshop in late 2020, I received another jolt when the presenter linked trauma with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. That was the beginning of my second dark period. Like so many others, I became a  trauma therapist because of my own long history of attachment trauma and sexual violence combined with the slow progressive impact of caring for and advocating for my parents in a world that both hates and profits from warehousing old folks in a broken system of nursing homes.

I felt betrayed because I've always been told and subsequently have told countless folks that the worst was behind them. I thought if I entered into trauma therapy that I could be done with the impact it had on my psyche. But no one had told me about the impact it had on my body and my physical health.  

My circle of care now includes:
Dr. Natasha Zajmalowski (my naturopath and primary health provider)
Dr. Alison Danby, Naturopathic Doctor & Certified AIP Coach that specializes in autoimmune disease
Living Well Collective, Angie Alt from Autoimmune Wellness and all the participants in my group.
Dr. Andrew Bigness, chiropractor specializing in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dr. Rena Citron, Chiropractor specializing in movement and improving range of motion
Dr. Tina Shrigley, EMDR Trauma therapist
Indira Pulliadath, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and AIP Certified Coach with Well Theory WellTheory | Autoimmune Care Revolutionized and Cook2Nourish - Recipes that nourish !
Dr. Naidoo, Pain Care Clinic (I am taking Low Dose Naltrexone)
Family Doctor and Rheumatologist, on the team but not always willing to collaborate
My husband and my mother-in-law that help with the cooking and baking and provide a shoulder to cry on.
Friends that are always rooting for me especially the friend that recommended the Autoimmune Protocol.

The Things I do to Stay Healthy
Autoimmune Protocol: The Paleo Mom - The Paleo Mom and
Autoimmune Protocol | AIP Recipes | Diet for Autoimmune Disease | Autoimmune Wellness
Listen to this podcast to stay current: Phoenix Helix - The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol: Diet, Lifestyle, Mindset, Empowerment - Phoenix Helix
The things listed on both my calming, soothing, coping page and the Movies, Podcasts, Links and more page.
Supplements as prescribed by: my primary and secondary naturopathic docs, and my nutritional coach
Low Dose Naltrexone as prescribed by Dr. Naidoo (I go to Banwell Pharmacy where they compound my LDN with organic ginger)
Nemcheck Vitality Cable 5 minutes/day Vitality Smartcable
Joovv Red light 10 minutes/day Joovv Mini Full Body LED Red Light Therapy
Vagal Yoga with Dr. Arielle Schwartz YouTube channel: (32) dr arielle schwartz - YouTube website: Welcome | Dr. Arielle Schwartz (drarielleschwartz.com)
Vibrant Blue Oils for vagal nerve stimulation; sleep, and adrenals: Organic Essential Oils - Vibrant Blue Oils
Walks in Nature: Outdoors Mobile Apps | AllTrails
Weights to build strength: PAILS & RAILS talk to your chiropractor
Wiggling Exercise and other routines from this free site: joyn - movement for every.body
Bilateral Stimulation to increase Gaba and create more calm: BLS Drum Therapy - Gary Brothers, LCSW (garybrotherscounseling.com)
Pranayama (breath work): Welcome to the Huberman Lab Podcast - Huberman Lab and Pranayama – Sounds True

Podcasts, Nutrition, Wellness & Combining Non-Conventional and Conventional Medicine
Can the Mind Body Connection Improve Food Tolerance: Can the Mind-Body Connection Improve Food Tolerance? - Phoenix Helix
Combining AIP with Conventional Healthcare: The Definitive Guide: Combining AIP with Conventional Healthcare: The Definitive Guide (autoimmunewellness.com)
Starting Medication After 4 Years on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol: ​Starting Medication After 4 Years on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol - Phoenix Helix

Nutrition and Wellness Programs and Where to Shop for Hard to Find Ingredients

Legit Bread
Naturamarket
​Switch

Recipes and Cooking Sites

Vagal Toning