My story began almost 20 years ago when I lost my mom to cancer. Not long after, my body started falling apart—I was fainting every day, gaining weight fast, exhausted beyond belief, battling daily afternoon headaches, and dealing with itchy dry skin. The worst part? The doctors didn't take me seriously.
Their answer? "You're eating too much. That's why you're gaining weight so fast."
Spoiler alert: I was barely eating. The only thing I had energy for was crying.
Finally, one doctor diagnosed me with insulin resistance and put me on medication for that and high cholesterol (yes, at 27 years old!). It slowed down the weight gain a little, but nothing else improved.
Then, a few years later, things got worse. I gained 10 pounds in a single month, my exhaustion became unbearable, and I was bloated all the time. To top it all off, I started bleeding non-stop for over a month.
I went from doctor to doctor, only to hear the same dismissive answers:
"Your labs are fine."
"You're okay."
"You're just aging."
"You're eating too much."
"When a woman falls in love with her whole self—flaws, fire, and all—she becomes unstoppable. She no longer seeks permission to shine… she simply does."
— Sele✨
At 30 years old?! I knew this wasn't normal. I was frustrated, exhausted, and desperate for answers.
I finally convinced a doctor to order an ultrasound. He hesitated (aka argued with me), but I pushed until he did. I booked an appointment immediately, hoping for clarity.
Ironically, the ultrasound tech looked at me and said, "Why did your doctor order this? You look perfectly healthy!"
I burst into tears. I told him everything I was going through. And then, he said something that changed my life:
"That sounds like a thyroid issue. Go see an endocrinologist."
I booked an appointment right away, and just like that—I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
FINALLY, I thought. Finally, I have answers. The doctor will give me a pill, and I'll go back to "normal."
Oh, how wrong I was.
The doctor prescribed 295 mcg of levothyroxine and said, "See you in three months."
Three months later? Still exhausted. Still gaining weight. Still feeling awful.
I told the doctor, and his response? "That's just what happens when you have hypothyroidism. See you in another three months."
I left devastated. Was this really it? Was I supposed to just accept that this lifeless, exhausted, unrecognizable woman was my "new normal" forever?
I switched doctors, hoping for better answers. My new endocrinologist at least tested me for Hashimoto's (which I had never heard of before), but after a few visits, I heard the same soul-crushing words:
"This is the new you. Accept it."
NO. I refused.
So I did what any stubborn, desperate woman would do—I started researching like crazy.
At my next appointment, I showed up armed with a list of things I found—foods to remove, nutrients to add, lifestyle changes to try.
I was so excited. I finally had hope.
But when I showed my doctor the list, he barely looked at it and said, "That's nice, but don't waste your time. None of that will make a difference."
I left the office in tears. But on my way home, I made a life-changing decision.
"I can't feel worse than I do now… so what do I have to lose?"
I ignored the doctor and tried the changes anyway.
I kept going.
Three months later, I walked into my doctor's office feeling like a new person. He looked at me—then at my lab results—then back at me.
"What are you doing?!" he asked, shocked.
"Your bloodwork looks better… and YOU look better!"
I couldn't help it and with a LOT of sass I said: "Doctor, remember that list you told me to ignore?"
"Yes."
"Well… I didn't listen to you. I made the changes, and as you can see—I'm getting better."
He had nothing to say. He just smirked, changed my prescription (lowered my dose!), and sent me home.
By my next check-up, he just laughed.
The extra weight was gone.
Almost zero symptoms (except sensitivity to cold).
My labs looked better than ever.
He lowered my prescription again—from 295 mcg down to 100 mcg—and told me, "I'll see you in a year."
And a year later? He "fired me" as his patient and said,
"Come back only if you feel bad or get pregnant. And congrats—if 1% of my patients were like you, my job would be so much easier."
That was over 20 years ago.
Now, at 47 years young, I feel better, stronger, and healthier than I ever did in my 20s.
And you know what? I don't believe I'm "lucky."
I believe any woman can do this too—if she has the right steps, the right support, and the belief that she is NOT meant to feel sick forever.
This is why I do what I do. Because I don't want ANY woman to feel the way I did—lost, ignored, exhausted, and hopeless.
If you're tired of feeling this way, know this: You are not broken. You CAN feel good again. And I'm here to help you every step of the way.