This year started with a strong commitment to my health, but I never expected the challenges that lay ahead. I found myself grappling with seizures and symptoms of dystonia, which turned my world upside down.
How I ended up in this situation is something I can’t easily explain. However, I can assure you that I never saw it coming, especially since I am much healthier now compared to three years ago. This year, I implemented several positive changes:
- I started using earthing sheets.
- I committed to regular annual juicing.
- I got chiropractic care.
- I exercised consistently.
- I became more dedicated to practicing Muay Thai.
- I participated in breathwork sessions.
- I reduced my consumption of processed foods.
- I haven’t had soda for four years.
- I limited my alcohol intake to just two glasses of wine and one margarita for the entire year.
However, I realized that I wasn’t paying much attention to my sugar intake, coffee consumption, or the chemical exposures from all the beauty and hair products I use.
Additionally, I struggled with stress management and dealt with sleep deprivation during the busy holiday months when I had to travel a lot with my family.
I think my body reached its limit after considering everything I had been doing, and it just snapped.
It all began around mid-November when I returned to Cebu from Japan after a hectic travel season.
After a Muay Thai class, I noticed something strange: my left fingers felt odd.
As the days passed, this unusual sensation morphed into an alarming lack of control over my left limbs. I experienced sudden jerking movements that disrupted my daily life and left me feeling scared and confused.
The situation escalated with nighttime episodes that would awaken me, leaving me unable to sleep until dawn.
This also affected my mood and energy. My body felt sore too because of the uncontrollable jerks.
Initially, I felt embarrassed and tried to hide my struggles from my husband. I didn’t want anyone to see how my body was betraying me.
Thankfully, my husband, who is a chiropractor, became my greatest support during this difficult time.
He encouraged me to open up about my experiences and suggested that we focus on detoxifying my body and resetting my nervous system. His support was invaluable as I navigated this uncertain path to recovery.
As a proper doctor, I consulted with Dr. Scott Jahn, who conducted several assessments. His findings indicated that my symptoms may be neurological and could stem from various causes. Therefore, we decided to begin detoxing to rule out heavy metal poisoning as a possibility.
He also recommended blood tests and other lab evaluations, but I hesitated. I wanted to pursue something natural and holistic and avoid going to the hospital; after all, I told him, isn’t the body intelligent enough to heal itself? As a holistic chiropractor, he couldn’t argue with that…
So, we began a heavy metal detox starting with a three-day water fast—no food, just water. It was the longest three days of my life. After that, I took chelated charcoal, EDTA, oregano, and cilantro, all known to help eliminate heavy metals from the body. During this period, I also stopped taking my usual daily supplements, which I have just restarted.
You might wonder about the “attacks” I experienced.
The closest description I found online was that of dystonia and focal seizures. I kept a diary of these episodes and recorded videos, which were painful to watch. I promised myself that once I shared my story here on my blog, I would delete those videos. This experience was a chapter in my life, and though it happened for a reason, it is not where I want to remain.
I never spoke to anyone about it until I fully recovered. It was a month filled with dark moments.
On November 15, I had an attack that left me devastated in the lobby of our apartment and later at the gym. I hurried to a corner where no one could see me, pretending to pick something up from the floor because I couldn’t control my movements or walk straight. This almost left me anxious.
And with many invites for parties and events coming up, my anxiety just grew.
To cope, I began incorporating more meditative exercises to control my breathing. I prayed more frequently and went out at 5 AM to catch the morning sun. I completely eliminated caffeine from my diet and followed a keto diet for two weeks, then transitioned to a low-carb diet that I’m still on.
Throughout this process, my husband provided chiropractic adjustments, especially during my episodes. The significant improvement occurred when I adhered to his recommendations for fasting and detoxing. And yes, the chiropractic adjustments helped a lot.
After the fast, I experienced a remarkable improvement. The attacks stopped; although I sensed they might return, they never did. I continued with the keto, low-carb diet, eliminated caffeine entirely, and maintaining my chiropractic adjustments.
Now, I’m grateful to say that I feel completely healed. This experience taught me the immense value of prioritizing a holistic lifestyle.
You can’t focus on just one aspect of your health while neglecting the others. You might exercise regularly, but if stress consumes you or if you’re overly obsessive about sugar, you won’t achieve true wellness. From this experience, I learned the importance of balancing all areas of my life. I came to appreciate a holistic approach and recognized the need to address even the simplest aspects of my well-being.
In 2025, I will continue this journey and advocate for better health for myself and others.
AND MY PARTING WORDS FOR YOU: If you experience similar symptoms, I urge you NOT to resort to medications right away. I firmly believe that our BODY sends us SIGNALS, and we need to LISTEN. We cannot just mask the symptoms without understanding the root cause and the impact of our lifestyle on our bodies. There is always hope, so never lose sight of that. What you think truly matters, so keep a positive mindset.
Lastly, please take care of your health. We only have one body, and once it’s compromised, no amount of money can bring it back.
