Lily: Recovering from extreme food sensitivities, POTS, brain fog and sensory sensitivities

"Less than year ago, I was eating the same 25 foods each and every week, all year, due to sensitivities to salicylates, amines and glutamates and a 'low carb' eating regime. Of these foods, 4 were animal based and 2 were oils. I also consumed a lot of salt as recommended by a general physician to help manage my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome/orthostatic intolerance (POTS/OI). I'd lost interest in food and cooking (something I previously enjoyed) and was starting to lose interest in eating. Now I eat over 90 different plant-based foods, and no longer consume any animal products, oil or salt!

I’ve had chronic health problems for decades and accrued a long list of various diagnoses. The health professionals I’ve consulted over the years are as follows: a neurologist, a gastroenterologist, a dermatologist, a naturopath, GPs, general physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and dietitians. Some of these helped to some extent, but the positive impacts never lasted. Some prescribed me drugs that they advised I needed to stay on for the rest of my life. Others wanted to subject me to more and more tests, even though none of the tests they’d already done had identified anything. More often than not, mainstream medical professionals told me there was nothing wrong with me and it was all in my head. I was grateful to find “alternative” health professionals who believed me and listened to me. Unfortunately, their treatments didn’t make a difference that lasted either.

Like many chronically ill people, I’ve also tried different ways of eating over the years. These include: low fat, no sugar or sugar substitutes, low carb, FODMAPs, low vitamin D and folic acid, low salicylate, amines and glutamates (naturally occurring food chemicals). The low salicylate, amines and glutamates diet did make a huge positive difference at the time and resolved some health problems. But after 10 years on this restricted diet, I was losing interest in food altogether. I also developed further health problems during this period.

Then one day I read the book Ultra Processed People by Chris Van Tulleken. I wasn’t expecting much because everyone knows processed food is bad for you right? - what more is there to say? Well, I was stunned how bad processed and ultra-processed food is for you and how it manipulates your brain and body into wanting more. Another revelation was that a whole-food plant based way of eating is best for your health. The case he presented was convincing, even if it contradicted the advice I’d received from a dietician about the low-carb way of eating.

Chris Van Tulleken’s book led me to Dr Will Bulsiewicz's book Fibre Fuelled. Reading this book, I was stunned because Dr Bulsiewicz was the first medical professional (other than a dietitian specialising in this area) I had ever come across who knew of salicylate and histamine sensitivities. What is more, he claimed these sensitivities could be overcome! This contradicted the advice I'd received 10 years prior from a dietitian that my food sensitivities were for life and nothing could be done to change them. I was astonished and intrigued.

So, as per the advice in Dr Bulsiewiscz’s book, I transitioned to a whole-food plant based way of eating, and continued to read other books on the topic. I welcomed legumes and grains back to my life with glee! (I’d stopped eating them on the advice of a low-carb dietitian). After about six months I decided it was time to get some professional support with addressing my food chemical sensitivities (salicylates, amines and glutamates) and found my way to Robyn Chuter.

I was cautiously optimistic about working with Robyn Chuter, but skeptical that I would see any results. This is no reflection on Robyn but on my decades of trying many things to address my health problems to no avail. I couldn’t afford to “get my hopes up” again, only to have them dashed. Nevertheless, I was willing to give it a go. The only thing I sought help with from Robyn was in expanding the range of foods I could safely consume.

Well, I’ve been working with Robyn roughly six months and here are the key improvements I’ve experienced:

I was staring down the barrel of disability… no, not staring down the barrel… I was IN THE BARREL! My daily life was significantly impaired and I’d accepted that this was it for me. I’d started consulting with an Occupational Therapist to learn how I could better navigate daily life with all my limitations and find out what supports I might be able to access.

Well, no more! I still have a way to go but I will get there - Robyn has truly empowered me. I have learnt so much and now know that I can, with Robyn’s help, create the conditions for my body to heal and to regain my formerly elusive health.

Have you suffered for long enough? Are you ready to commit to taking the whole-of-lifestyle approach that Lily talked about? Apply for an initial consultation below, and let's get you on the road to recovering your lost health!

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