Brooke: Overcame crippling allergies... and regained trust in her body

I first met Robyn when a friend referred me. I was suffering from chronic stress, working in a taxing corporate environment. I was experiencing debilitating anxiety and was keeping everything together as I had to as a busy working single mum with a staunchness that was my survival mechanism. When everyone wanted more from me and my cup was empty I knew I was capable of “doing it all” but my health had deteriorated drastically. 

After having my first child I was back on hormonal birth control - something that at the time I had not realised played such havoc on my moods and emotions. My regular GP had recommended the Implanon. I have high fertility and was always led to believe by GPs that hormonal birth control helped manage my PMS symptoms. Since my early teens I experienced depression and anxiety during PMS. After 6 months on Implanon I experienced constant bleeding which led to an iron deficiency.

Before going on Implanon I had adopted a healthy wholefood plantbased diet and I had never felt more strong, fit, energetic and well. After 6 months of Implanon the tables turned dramatically and my symptoms exacerbated. 

When presenting this challenge to my GP the solution was to go on the pill, on top of the Implanon to see if this levelled things out. Unfortunately, this made things worse. My usual 5 days of depression and anxiety a month turned into more like 25 days per month. Every day was awful. I cried a lot and kept trucking through studying at university, working full time, commuting and raising a 1 year old on my own. Not only did these hormonal imbalances affect me, they affected my relationships and I felt I had no support or genuine care. 

I had several sessions with Robyn who assured me we would get me off these hormonal disruptors and find balance again. Robyn gave me dietary advice to help me boost my iron as my body recovered. She also did a couple of EFT sessions with me which felt like cognitive behaviour therapy, changing my reactions and diffusing my anxious response to my situation. She was a calm, nurturing, straight talking voice in the storm. It only took a few sessions and I felt more in control with these dietary changes, EFT and eliminating hormonal contraception.

With these 3 sessions alone I was able to regain focus, clarity and confidence. I felt empowered that I was in control of my health. Not long after I had the courage to make big changes in my life.  I was no longer just surviving - I was thriving. I resigned from my soul destroying job, sold my house and embarked on some travel to take some time back for myself and my family.

Fast forward three years and a career change, my life was very comfortable and stress free. I had no more hormonal issues and was comfortable in my skin and body, I was living in happy bliss. I was in the lead up stage to launching my dream business. Perhaps it was a result of the years of chronic stress in the lead up, or eating something contaminated, I got struck down with an onslaught of food allergies. I’m 36 years old and had never suffered any allergies. My main symptom was anaphylaxis, which happened after eating most food. I saw about 5 different GP’s who did all of the tests and concluded there was nothing wrong with me. 

For 5 weeks I followed the medical system process, GPs, hospitals, emergency rooms, specialists, tests, tests, tests, all under Medicare. All which left me feeling alone, desperate and downright ridiculous as I was told “There’s nothing that we can see is wrong”. As I had just taken a year off work and was building my business I put off seeing Robyn because I felt I couldn’t afford it. Now I realise I couldn’t afford not to. I would have saved me and my family so much hardship if I had seen her earlier.

At this point my business launch dreams were out the window because they involved food. And I had become intolerant to most food. Like the angel she is she responded to a distressed email saying that it sounded like a histamine reaction and to try eliminating histamine from my diet and then to let her know how I went. A fly by the seat of her computer chair diagnosis… and it worked! Everything prescribed to me by GP’s did not help, or made me feel worse (steroids). Robyn acknowledged my suffering like no one else had. She assured me that this restricted healing diet was not a long term thing and I would be over this soon. I believed her. She talks straight and is real. There is no judgement so there is no need to feel defensive either.

I had read that taking a 3 day water only fast was very healing to early onset autoimmune disease which Robyn suggested was happening as a response to poor gut health/leaky gut. Which could have been from stress or many other factors. Robyn fully supported me in taking this fast. In the lead up she also prescribed me strong probiotics and a histamine lowering supplement.  I’m obsessed with food so if you told me three months ago I had to fast I just wouldn’t have done it. However I had already lost so much pleasure with this illness I had nothing left to lose. I did it and reintroduced foods slowly as recommended. 

Two days later I saw my GP out of courtesy to explain what has been going on and was ridiculed for explaining what actions I was taking, and how they were actually helping. I lost respect for my GP then because nothing they were suggesting was offering any relief. It took about 2 weeks to fully feel normal again.  At that point I had only 4 weeks to meet my business launch goals. Robyn counselled me in a way that made me feel okay if I didn’t meet my own self-imposed deadlines. Again, a voice of reason and empathy.

Fast forward 5 weeks. The business was launched with roaring success. I feel well again, I can eat everything, although perhaps I shouldn’t be! But every moment I am so grateful for what I have achieved. If it wasn’t for her evidence based, logical and holistic approach to true health, kindness and support, who knows where I would be. I am so grateful albeit disturbed by the standard level of public health when it comes to wellness.

Thank you Robyn.  I will and do recommend you to everyone having any issues with their health.

Brooke, NSW