HI! HELLO! WELCOME! I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

I'M HALEY JAMES!

A little about me...

FAVORITE SEASON

It's between spring & fall, but if I haveee to pick one I'd say fall! There's something about the warm tea, coziness & togetherness that I just love!

INSECURITY I'VE WORKED ON

I grew up insecure about my raspy voice, which was hard because I love to talk! But I've really learned to love it & what using it allows me to do!

FAVORITE TV SHOW

I can't pick just one - it depends on the mood, but This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy, SNL, Daily Show, New Girl, The Office & any good marvel/dc/cw superhero show!

SOMETHING I'M ANXIOUS ABOUT

My health worries me. Going through what I have and living with c-PTSD is hard, so I try to cope with it through therapy and trying to stay present.

FAVORITE MOTTO

"You can't be nervous when your heart is on service" (Rory Vaden) because it reminds me to focus on helping others rather than my own fear or self-doubt. 

WAY I'M TRYING TO GROW

I'm working on learning how not to have an all-or-nothing mindset and how to get comfortable and content in the beauty of the in-between.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY

Going to all of the Harry Potter book release bookstore parties & midnight movie releases with my dad is for sure a favorite!

SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF

I'm proud of myself for surviving everything I thought I wouldn't be able to and not giving up or losing my light in the process. I'm really proud of that.

FAVORITE TAYLOR SWIFT SONG/ALBUM

All Too Well (saddest version possible), Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, White Horse, Clean, loml, Forever & Always (piano) and top albums TTPD & Red!

SOMETHING TO KNOW

I firmly stand against racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, and every form of discrimination here, in my life & on the ballot. Only love here!

A little about me...

FAVORITE SEASON

It's between spring & fall, but if I haveee to pick one I'd say fall! There's something about the warm tea, coziness & togetherness that I just love!

INSECURITY I'VE WORKED ON

I grew up insecure about my raspy voice, which was hard because I love to talk! But I've really learned to love it & what using it allows me to do!

FAVORITE TV SHOW

I can't pick just one - it depends on the mood, but This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy, SNL, Daily Show, New Girl, The Office & any good marvel/dc/cw superhero show!

SOMETHING I'M ANXIOUS ABOUT

My health worries me. Going through what I have and living with c-PTSD is hard, so I try to cope with it through therapy and trying to stay present.

FAVORITE MOTTO

"You can't be nervous when your heart is on service" (Rory Vaden) because it reminds me to focus on helping others rather than my own fear or self-doubt. 

WAY I'M TRYING TO GROW

I'm working on learning how not to have an all-or-nothing mindset and how to get comfortable and content in the beauty of the in-between.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY

Going to all of the Harry Potter book release bookstore parties & midnight movie releases with my dad is for sure a favorite!

SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF

I'm proud of myself for surviving everything I thought I wouldn't be able to and not giving up or losing my light in the process. I'm really proud of that.

FAVORITE TAYLOR SWIFT SONG/ALBUM

All Too Well (saddest version possible), Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, White Horse, Clean, loml, Forever & Always (piano) and top albums TTPD & Red!

SOMETHING TO KNOW

I firmly stand against racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, and every form of discrimination here, in my life & on the ballot. Only love here!

Favorite Way To Hang

Sitting in a flower garden with my friends. Being with my girls & talking about life while sitting in a garden – it’s my favorite little place to be!

Favorite Change Chats

Politics, healthcare reform, social/racial justice, women’s rights – these types of conversations can create change & bring us closer to a better future!

Favorite Messages

I’m a voice memo girl through and through! Send me your 5, 10, 20, 30 min heart to hearts with laughing, crying and everything in between – I’m here ♡

Favorite furry friend

Between walkies & watching “Bluey” & cuddles & unending love – Brodie is my little bestie & light of my life (and even that feels like an understatement!)

Okay - enough small talk
Let’s get into why we’re really here

You’re here on this page because you want to know my story and who I am, what I’m all about, what I do and how what I do can help support you! Below, you’ll find all that and more, laid out to help you get to know my journey and my heart behind it all! Since I know the power of stories and the importance of sharing them, I didn’t skimp on sharing all the parts of mine so if you want to read all the details keep scrolling, if you’d rather jump to another part of the page, just click the button to jump straight to it!

It all starts with my story

To give some context to my story – I was born & raised in the Bay Area in CA where I lived with my 2 amazing parents, 2 younger sisters, my younger brother & our sweet little pupper! Growing up, I loved decorating and designing my room and knew very early on, at 9 years old, that I wanted to be an interior designer. When it came time to apply to college, I looked at certified design programs and ended up at San Jose State University. 

 

Now, interior design school sounds like a fun time, and it can be – but also, it’s not what you would think. It’s interior architecture and I knew that going into it, but didn’t realize until my senior year that as a career, it was not going to fulfill me. I realized that what was missing was that, when I was young, I fell in love with interior design because I saw how I could do something creative that I loved AND, at the same time, help people who really needed it. But when I got to the end of my studies, I realized that making rooms pretty for people who simply wanted their space to look nice wasn’t going to give me that.


This had me almost changing my major at the beginning of my senior year – BUT I was reminded by my parents that I could choose what I would do with the degree, and if I wanted to find a way to help people with it, I could – even if that path didn’t exist yet. So I let myself begin to dream and come up with ways that I could do that, and I began to get my passion back! I just had to get through the year to graduation, and I’d be able to start on my path to what I was meant to do!

It all starts with my story

To give some context to my story – I was born & raised in the Bay Area in CA where I lived with my 2 amazing parents, 2 younger sisters, my younger brother & our sweet little pupper! Growing up, I loved decorating and designing my room and knew very early on, at 9 years old, that I wanted to be an interior designer. When it came time to apply to college, I looked at certified design programs and ended up at San Jose State University. 

 

Now, interior design school sounds like a fun time, and it can be – but also, it’s not what you would think. It’s interior architecture and I knew that going into it, but didn’t realize until my senior year that as a career, it was not going to fulfill me. I realized that what was missing was that, when I was young, I fell in love with interior design because I saw how I could do something creative that I loved AND, at the same time, help people who really needed it. But when I got to the end of my studies, I realized that making rooms pretty for people who simply wanted their space to look nice wasn’t going to give me that.

 

This had me almost changing my major at the beginning of my senior year – BUT I was reminded by my parents that I could choose what I would do with the degree, and if I wanted to find a way to help people with it, I could – even if that path didn’t exist yet. So I let myself begin to dream and come up with ways that I could do that, and I began to get my passion back! I just had to get through the year to graduation, and I’d be able to start on my path to what I was meant to do!

but life had other plans

As most of you probably know all too well, things sometimes don’t go exactly (or in this case – not at all) according to plan. Getting sick for the last 10 years was that for me.  No one thinks or takes into account the possibility of becoming sick, especially when you are only 21 years old, in your senior year of college and the world seems like it is just beginning to open up for you. But that is exactly what happened. Everything I ate, made me feel sick and after seeing a gastroenterologist and undergoing invasive testing, I was told there was nothing wrong. It was “just in my head.” As much as I wanted to believe that, I knew it definitely wasn’t.

 

For the five years that followed, I was told everything from, “It’s anxiety”, “for attention”, “eating disorder” (I was even wrongfully put in an eating disorder clinic for a year, but that is a trauma for another time) to “psycho-symptomatic” – the list goes on and on. I was a full-time undiagnosed patient &investigating my health became my unpaid, unwanted, unplanned-for, full-time job that I couldn’t leave or get a break from.

I spent almost all of my time researching, trying to understand and figure out what was going on when it was clear the doctors weren’t going to be able to. Going into my fifth year of being undiagnosed, I gave it one last shot. That test revealed 3 rare diseases. We found that I had gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach) along with two intestinal paralysis disordersA few weeks later, I began choking and we found that my esophagus had also become paralyzed. This meant that whatever I had going on was spreading and spreading fast. It was at this time, weighing in at only 90lbs, unable to take in any regular food and very little water, that I genuinely thought I might die. It was then very clear that I had to get a feeding tube in order to survive.

 

A week later, I was seeing top specialists who, found that I had significant heavy metal poisoning during the time I was living in my dorm in college, where we think I was exposed. They also tested and diagnosed me with multiple types of dysautonomia (conditions that cause your automatic body functions to not work properly), along with one rare neuro condition they couldn’t figure out, but urgently expressed needed steroids or chemo – stat – like “yesterday”. It felt like it was a race against the clock – except there was no actual idea of how much time we had – or if any – to really figure it out. 

I went out to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for a second opinion. After 3 weeks there, I left a diagnosis of Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy – a rare condition where my immune system attacks the system controlling my automatic body functions. I came home and was given a more permanent surgical feeding tube and began high-dose infusion treatments of I.V.I.G. (20,000 people’s plasma donations) every week. 

 

It’s been over 5 years since I got my tube, I’ve had 200+ IVIG infusions, as well as 275+ medication/saline infusions, and way too many trials of experimental medications to count. While those have helped, due to the complexity and length of time I went without a diagnosis or treatment, more diagnoses and conditions have come along with them (see the list here). Diagnoses and answers have finally led to management and care options like what I listed above and these, combined with treatments I receive from my functional practitioners have put me in a much more stable place than I was – and for that, I am incredibly grateful. While there are currently no cures for my conditions, there are management options that, in some people, can put them into remission to a point where they no longer need any treatment and I hope for that!

Where Are things now?

Well, I still have my feeding tube and get infusions, but I can stand, walk, run, and have even experimented with a few solid foods—which is HUGE for me! While I’m not in remission yet, these treatments have dramatically improved my health and I believe/hope over time, will put me in remission. So, where does that leave me, and why does it matter to you? During my illness, I longed for the day when I could do more than just manage my health. I didn’t know if that day would come, but I wanted to be ready if it did. So, I asked myself: what would I want to do with my life, now that I know what it feels like to almost lose it? 

 

What I came up with was that I wanted to connect with, create for, and help peopleI wanted to live a life where I could do things I was passionate about, that felt aligned with my purpose, and that would have a positive impact on others and the world – but I didn’t know what that would look like. To get clarity, I asked myself—what has been the most impactful thing that someone else shared or created that helped me? The answer was so simple: people sharing their stories – that ultimately helped me survive mine. 

 

The answer was simple: people sharing their stories. Their stories helped me through my darkest moments, gave me hope when I needed it most, and ultimately helped me survive. That’s when I realized there’s power in using our pain to help others and that that can help guide us to live in our purpose!

Paying It Forward

Inspired by this—and the desire to pay forward all that those creators gave me—I developed a framework that helped me brainstorm ways I could do this: Pain → Passion, Purpose & Positive Impact. This formula led me to create multiple businesses, projects, and a non-profit, that for years, almost every single day, had me jumping out of bed—EXCITED to be able to start creating! I saw firsthand how this formula, these projects, and the purpose they gave me not only helped me survive but also healed me in so many ways! Still, I knew I was missing something—arguably the most important thing I could pay forward: sharing the past, present, and the ever-evolving journey of my own story. The physical and mental health, the business building, the non-profit founding, the trauma healing, the finding myself again, the creating the life I dreamed of, the feeding tube, the figuring out what I want to do, the heartbreak, the joy—all of it—things others shared with me, that I want to now share with you! 

 

That’s why I created this space—because if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that life is beautiful, but it can also be incredibly hard. And it’s so short. I don’t want you feeling alone or waiting until your life is almost over to finally start living it. The world needs more stories shared, more people stepping into alignment with their purpose, and more of us living fully and boldly in the ways we’ve always dreamed. So that’s what I try to do here!

Through Sharing My Story, Interviews & What I Create I Hope To
>>>>>>INSPIRE, EMPOWER & EQUIP<<<<<<
You to turn your struggles into STRENGTH & create a life you TRULY LOVE filled with PASSION, PURPOSE & POSITIVE IMPACT

Through Sharing My Story, Interviews & What I Create I Hope To
>>>>>>INSPIRE, EMPOWER & EQUIP<<<<<<
You to turn your struggles into STRENGTH & create a life you TRULY LOVE filled with PASSION, PURPOSE & POSITIVE IMPACT

Through Sharing My Story, Interviews & What I Create I Hope To INSPIRE, EMPOWER & EQUIP You to turn your struggles into STRENGTH & create a life you TRULY LOVE filled with PASSION, PURPOSE & POSITIVE IMPACT (while I work to do the same!)

Share My Story

Here on this site and on my platforms, one of the main things I do is share my story and all the little stories that make it up. The best place to hear more is on the gram @itshaleyjames_ – see you there!

Record Podcasts

I’m all about connecting with people and hearing their stories. In fact, I’ve got 4 totally fun & totally different podcasts doing just that! Be sure to check them out – Dys here, H& H here, PFP here & All Voices here.

Speak & Teach

From panels and conferences to seminars and classes – if there is talking involved, I’m always down! If you are interested in attending or collaborating on an event together, check out my public speaking page here.

Share My Story

Here on this site and on my platforms, one of the main things I do is share my story and all the little stories that make it up. The best place to hear more is on the gram @itshaleyjames_ – see you there!

Record Podcasts

I’m all about connecting with people and hearing their stories. In fact, I’ve got 4 totally fun & totally different podcasts doing just that! Be sure to check them out – Dys here, H& H here, PFP here & All Voices here.

Film YouTube Videos

From chronic illness to passion and purpose to mental health and advocacy – you’ll find me talking (& probably oversharing) about it all on camera here over on my YouTube channel! I would love to have you come join me!

Educate & Support

Trying to navigate life, overcome obstacles & step into what you feel called to is hard. That’s why I created various types of resources and tools that I wish I’d had so that you can have them now! Check them out here!

Advocacy

One way I try to put my voice to good use is by advocating for societal & legislative change on issues I’m passionate about. Follow me on the gram here to stay up to date on how you can support get involved!

Film YouTube Videos

From chronic illness to passion and purpose to mental health and advocacy – you’ll find me talking (& probably oversharing) about it all on camera here over on my YouTube channel! I would love to have you come join me!

Speak & Teach

From panels and conferences to seminars and classes – if there is talking involved, I’m always down! If you are interested in attending or collaborating on an event together, check out my public speaking page here.

Educate & Support

Trying to navigate life, overcome obstacles & step into what you feel called to is hard. That’s why I created various types of resources and tools that I wish I’d had so that you can have them now! Check them out here!

Advocacy

One way I try to put my voice to good use is by advocating for societal & legislative change on issues I’m passionate about. Follow me on the gram here to stay up to date on how you can support get involved!

Create Products

From clothing to journals, games, and accessories, everything you find in the shop has been intentionally created — to bring you a product that truly empowers & supports you on your journey! You can shop them here!

Street Interviews

This project is called ‘Someone Needs To Hear Your Story,’ and I started it because I wanted to create a platform where I could pass the mic to others, allowing them to own and share their stories. Check out the videos here!

1:1 Meetings & Events

Something I am so excited about is the 1:1 meetings I offer and fun events I get to put on & host so that you can have a place to go and people to walk beside on your chronic illness AND/OR purpose journey. Come join us here!

Create Products

 From clothing to journals, games, and accessories, everything you find in the shop has been intentionally created — to bring you a product that truly empowers & supports you on your journey! You can shop them here!

Street Interviews

This project is called ‘Someone Needs To Hear Your Story,’ and I started it because I wanted to create a platform where I could pass the mic to others, allowing them to own and share their stories. Check out the videos here!

SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS I LIKE TO PERSONALLY LIVE OUT MY MISSION & SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IS THROUGH MY BUSINESSES & NON-PROFIT

The Chronic Collective

“The Chronic Collective: Clothing & Community To Support Those With Chronic Conditions” is an awareness-based clothing brand on a mission to support those with chronic conditions through their clothing, community, and actions as a company.

Rise & Rally

“Rise & Rally: Chronic, Complex And Rare Disease Advocacy And Healthcare Reform” is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization on a mission to fix the broken systems and break down the barriers that impede the care of individuals with chronic, complex, or rare conditions and those trying to help them.

Health & Home

The Chronic Collective

“The Chronic Collective: Clothing & Community To Support Those With Chronic Conditions” is an awareness-based clothing brand on a mission to support those with chronic conditions through their clothing, community, and actions as a company.

Rise & Rally

“Rise & Rally: Chronic, Complex And Rare Disease Advocacy And Healthcare Reform” is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization on a mission to fix the broken systems and break down the barriers that impede the care of individuals with chronic, complex, or rare conditions and those trying to help them.

Health & Home

Let's Be friends On The Gram!

let's get more connected!

The Healing Haven
Group Chat

The Bloom - My Personal
E-mailed Letter To You

Flower-hearted Besties
Group Chat

THESE EMAILS I SEND – I PROMISE – FEEL LIKE LETTERS FROM A FRIEND

Come Be Part Of The Bloom!

What is The Bloom? The Bloom is my personal letter to you, dedicated to supporting your growth and flourishing in all aspects of life – from your health, well-being and entrepreneurial pursuits to overcoming obstacles, discovering passions, stepping into purpose and finding avenues for positive impact – The Bloom is all about helping you create a life you truly love – whatever that looks like for you!

I like to think of The Bloom newsletter as the water, soil, or sunlight I hope to be able to give you to help you grow and bloom in your own life! That’s why as a member of The Bloom community, you’ll get heartfelt personal letters from me sharing stories, resources, tools, inspiration and support to help you on your personal growth journey.

The Bloom is here to meet you in all seasons of life – whether you’re feeling buried in the dirt eager to sprout or standing 10 ft tall aspiring to reach even greater heights, or somewhere in between, the bloom is here to empower, equip and support you on your journey to getting you to where you want to be. I hope you’ll come grow with us!
THESE EMAILS I SEND – I PROMISE – FEEL LIKE LETTERS FROM A FRIEND

Come Be Part Of The Bloom!

What is The Bloom? The Bloom is my personal letter to you, dedicated to supporting your growth and flourishing in all aspects of life – from your health, well-being and entrepreneurial pursuits to overcoming obstacles, discovering passions, stepping into purpose and finding avenues for positive impact – The Bloom is all about helping you create a life you truly love – whatever that looks like for you!

I like to think of The Bloom newsletter as the water, soil, or sunlight I hope to be able to give you to help you grow and bloom in your own life! That’s why as a member of The Bloom community, you’ll get heartfelt personal letters from me sharing stories, resources, tools, inspiration and support to help you on your personal growth journey.

The Bloom is here to meet you in all seasons of life – whether you’re feeling buried in the dirt eager to sprout or standing 10 ft tall aspiring to reach even greater heights, or somewhere in between, the bloom is here to empower, equip and support you on your journey to getting you to where you want to be. I hope you’ll come grow with us!

Diagnoses

I am a firm believer that you are more SO. MUCH. MORE. than your diagnoses and a lot of this site is me sharing those other parts of me. With that being said though, they are still part of my own life and journey and I know that it not only helps you know more about me, but also helps to spread awareness and maybe even help you on your journey so here is a very brief description of some of my main conditions that I have been diagnosed with, currently have or have overcome, that I advocate for and that I often share about.

The one where my body’s immune system mistakenly attacks certain parts of my autonomic nervous system, basically causing my automatic body functions to not work properly. 

The one where my blood doesn’t circulate correctly, leading to various autonomic symptoms. Primarily, my heart rate becomes extremely high upon standing and sometimes extremely low while sitting. This can result in pre-syncope and syncope (fainting), dizziness, blurry vision, chest pain, and more.

The one where the small fibers of my autonomic system are damaged. This causes the autonomic nervous system to be unstable, which can lead to temperature dysregulation, GI motility issues, heartrate dysregulation, etc. 

The one where blood vessels or nerves in the space between the collarbone and the first rib are compressed. This can cause pain in the shoulders and neck, numbness in the fingers, and even lead to me losing my pulse when barely lifting my arms.

The one where my intestines react and feel as if there is a true mechanical obstruction or intestinal blockage. However, when tests are performed, no physical evidence of a blockage is found, but the intestines are still distended as if there is.

The one where my small intestine is mostly paralyzed. This can cause the food to not move through the intestine, leading to a plethora of GI and other issues.

The one where my esophagus is mostly paralyzed. This makes it difficult to swallow and can feel as though I am choking (even on water sometimes).

The one where I can’t have gluten (not even a crumb!) and if I am exposed to gluten, it damages the villi in my small intestine and causes me to get extremely sick.

The one where I became sick from being exposed to mold spores and mold biotoxins in the outside air.

The one where I got bit by a tick that carried borrelia burgdorferi (lyme).

The one where I really struggle with my mental health right before my period.

The one where my stomach is mostly paralyzed. This means food stays in the stomach much longer than it should, causing symptoms such as early satiety, bloating, stomach aches, headaches and many other symptoms.

The one where my blood sugar frequently drops to dangerously low levels, but I don’t experience any symptoms.

The one where heavy metals found in our everyday environment and products accumulated in toxic amounts in my body, leading to heavy metal toxicity issues.

The one where blood doesn’t flow correctly and is sometimes blocked, causing my hands and feet to turn white/blue/red according to weather, emotions or for no apparent reason.

The one where my duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) is compressed between two arteries. This compression causes partial or complete blockage of the small intestine, leading to pain and worsening my motility issues.

The one where I got hit in the head a bunch during cheerleading in high school and turns out it wasn’t just a bruise, but actually a traumatic brain injury.

The one where I developed Medical Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), triggered by medical and personal illness-related experiences.

The one where the muscles around my larynx don’t work right, so it makes my voice hoarse and causes it to give out.

The one where the thyroid doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into my bloodstream. For me, this is caused by my autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s causing thyroid damage. Since the thyroid hormone is needed for every cell in your body this can cause a plethora of issues when it is out of range and is commonly treated with medication or in some cases supplementation.

The one where mast cells become overly activated, releasing too many chemicals like histamine into my bloodstream. This condition can result from various triggers and lead to a wide range of symptoms and reactions, often linked to my autoimmune diseases and other health issues.

Diagnoses

I am a firm believer that you are more SO. MUCH. MORE. than your diagnoses and a lot of this site is me sharing those other parts of me. With that being said though, they are still part of my own life and journey and I know that it not only helps you know more about me, but also helps to spread awareness and maybe even help you on your journey so here is a very brief description of some of my main conditions that I have been diagnosed with, currently have or have overcome, that I advocate for and that I often share about.

The one where my body’s immune system mistakenly attacks certain parts of my autonomic nervous system, basically causing my automatic body functions to not work properly. 

The one where my blood doesn’t circulate correctly, leading to various autonomic symptoms. Primarily, my heart rate becomes extremely high upon standing and sometimes extremely low while sitting. This can result in pre-syncope and syncope (fainting), dizziness, blurry vision, chest pain, and more.

The one where the small fibers of my autonomic system are damaged. This causes the autonomic nervous system to be unstable, which can lead to temperature dysregulation, GI motility issues, heartrate dysregulation, etc. 

The one where blood vessels or nerves in the space between the collarbone and the first rib are compressed. This can cause pain in the shoulders and neck, numbness in the fingers, and even lead to me losing my pulse when barely lifting my arms.

The one where my intestines react and feel as if there is a true mechanical obstruction or intestinal blockage. However, when tests are performed, no physical evidence of a blockage is found, but the intestines are still distended as if there is.

The one where my small intestine is mostly paralyzed. This can cause the food to not move through the intestine, leading to a plethora of GI and other issues.

The one where my esophagus is mostly paralyzed. This makes it difficult to swallow and can feel as though I am choking (even on water sometimes).

The one where I can’t have gluten (not even a crumb!) and if I am exposed to gluten, it damages the villi in my small intestine and causes me to get extremely sick.

The one where I became sick from being exposed to mold spores and mold biotoxins in the outside air.

The one where I got bit by a tick that carried borrelia burgdorferi (lyme).

The one where I really struggle with my mental health right before my period.

The one where my stomach is mostly paralyzed. This means food stays in the stomach much longer than it should, causing symptoms such as early satiety, bloating, stomach aches, headaches and many other symptoms.

The one where my blood sugar frequently drops to dangerously low levels, but I don’t experience any symptoms.

The one where heavy metals found in our everyday environment and products accumulated in toxic amounts in my body, leading to heavy metal toxicity issues.

The one where blood doesn’t flow correctly and is sometimes blocked, causing my hands and feet to turn white/blue/red according to weather, emotions or for no apparent reason.

The one where my duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) is compressed between two arteries. This compression causes partial or complete blockage of the small intestine, leading to pain and worsening my motility issues.

The one where the muscles around my larynx don’t work right, so it makes my voice hoarse and causes it to give out.

The one where I developed Medical Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), triggered by medical and personal illness-related experiences.

The one where the thyroid doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into my bloodstream. For me, this is caused by my autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s causing thyroid damage. Since the thyroid hormone is needed for every cell in your body this can cause a plethora of issues when it is out of range and is commonly treated with medication or in some cases supplementation.

The one where mast cells become overly activated, releasing too many chemicals like histamine into my bloodstream. This condition can result from various triggers and lead to a wide range of symptoms and reactions, often linked to my autoimmune diseases and other health issues.

The one where I got hit in the head a bunch during cheerleading in high school and turns out it wasn’t just a bruise, but actually a traumatic brain injury.

Diagnoses

I am a firm believer that you are more SO. MUCH. MORE. than your diagnoses and a lot of this site is me sharing those other parts of me. With that being said though, they are still part of my own life and journey and I know that it not only helps you know more about me, but also helps to spread awareness and maybe even help you on your journey so here is a very brief description of some of my main conditions that I have been diagnosed with, currently have or have overcome, that I advocate for and that I often share about.

The one where my body’s immune system mistakenly attacks certain parts of my autonomic nervous system, basically causing my automatic body functions to not work properly. 

The one where my blood doesn’t circulate correctly, leading to various autonomic symptoms. Primarily, my heart rate becomes extremely high upon standing and sometimes extremely low while sitting. This can result in pre-syncope and syncope (fainting), dizziness, blurry vision, chest pain, and more.

The one where the small fibers of my autonomic system are damaged. This causes the autonomic nervous system to be unstable, which can lead to temperature dysregulation, GI motility issues, heartrate dysregulation, etc. 

The one where blood vessels or nerves in the space between the collarbone and the first rib are compressed. This can cause pain in the shoulders and neck, numbness in the fingers, and even lead to me losing my pulse when barely lifting my arms.

The one where my intestines react and feel as if there is a true mechanical obstruction or intestinal blockage. However, when tests are performed, no physical evidence of a blockage is found, but the intestines are still distended as if there is.

The one where my small intestine is mostly paralyzed. This can cause the food to not move through the intestine, leading to a plethora of GI and other issues.

The one where my esophagus is mostly paralyzed. This makes it difficult to swallow and can feel as though I am choking (even on water sometimes).

The one where I can’t have gluten (not even a crumb!) and if I am exposed to gluten, it damages the villi in my small intestine and causes me to get extremely sick.

The one where I became sick from being exposed to mold spores and mold biotoxins in the outside air.

The one where I got bit by a tick that carried borrelia burgdorferi (lyme).

The one where I really struggle with my mental health right before my period.

The one where my stomach is mostly paralyzed. This means food stays in the stomach much longer than it should, causing symptoms such as early satiety, bloating, stomach aches, headaches and many other symptoms.

The one where my blood sugar frequently drops to dangerously low levels, but I don’t experience any symptoms.

The one where heavy metals found in our everyday environment and products accumulated in toxic amounts in my body, leading to heavy metal toxicity issues.

The one where blood doesn’t flow correctly and is sometimes blocked, causing my hands and feet to turn white/blue/red according to weather, emotions or for no apparent reason.

The one where my duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) is compressed between two arteries. This compression causes partial or complete blockage of the small intestine, leading to pain and worsening my motility issues.

The one where the muscles around my larynx don’t work right, so it makes my voice hoarse and causes it to give out.

The one where I developed Medical Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), triggered by medical and personal illness-related experiences.

The one where the thyroid doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into my bloodstream. For me, this is caused by my autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s causing thyroid damage. Since the thyroid hormone is needed for every cell in your body this can cause a plethora of issues when it is out of range and is commonly treated with medication or in some cases supplementation.

The one where mast cells become overly activated, releasing too many chemicals like histamine into my bloodstream. This condition can result from various triggers and lead to a wide range of symptoms and reactions, often linked to my autoimmune diseases and other health issues.

The one where I got hit in the head a bunch during cheerleading in high school and turns out it wasn’t just a bruise, but actually a traumatic brain injury.

THESE EMAILS I SEND – I PROMISE – FEEL LIKE LETTERS FROM A FRIEND

Come Be Part Of The Bloom!

I love connecting with people in this community! It’s my favorite thing that I get to do and this is one of the places I love to do it!

I only ever want to send you things I truly believe in my heart will serve you, support you, equip you, empower you and make you feel seen, heard & loved! Which to me means 0% spam & 100% all good things!

As a welcome gift, you’ll instantly unlock a 10% discount on your first crewneck, gain immediate access to my most popular free guide and of course friendship with me and this community! I can’t wait to have you!

THESE EMAILS I SEND – I PROMISE – FEEL LIKE LETTERS FROM A FRIEND

Come Be Part Of The Bloom!

I love connecting with people in this community! It’s my favorite thing that I get to do and this is one of the places I love to do it!

I only ever want to send you things I truly believe in my heart will serve you, support you, equip you, empower you and make you feel seen, heard & loved! Which to me means 0% spam & 100% all good things!

As a welcome gift, you’ll instantly unlock a 10% discount on your first crewneck, gain immediate access to my most popular free guide and of course friendship with me and this community! I can’t wait to have you!

THESE EMAILS I SEND – I PROMISE – FEEL LIKE LETTERS FROM A FRIEND

Come Be Part Of
The Bloom!

As a welcome gift, you’ll instantly unlock a 10% discount on your first crewneck, gain immediate access to my most popular free guide and of course friendship with me and this community! I can’t wait to have you!

YAY! I'm So excited to have you joining this community!

As promised here is your first welcome gift! Just click below and it’ll automatically download!

Also, be sure to check your email to make sure you received my welcome email that has your 10% off discount code so you can get another gift for yourself because you deserve it!

YAY! I'm So excited to have you joining this community!

As promised here is your first welcome gift! Just click below and it’ll automatically download!

Also, be sure to check your email to make sure you received my welcome email that has your 10% off discount code so you can get another gift for yourself because you deserve it!

YAY! I'm So excited to have you joining this community!

As promised here is your first welcome gift! Just click below and it’ll automatically download!

Also, be sure to check your email to make sure you received my welcome email that has your 10% off discount code so you can get another gift for yourself because you deserve it!