From Despair to Strength: Devin's Journey to Reclaiming Health

 The first thing my grandmother said when she walked in the door, she said, Devin, you are so bright. She said, I have not seen this in a very long time and made me want to cry because I'm telling you, I was ready to die and I'm terrified to die and I was ready to die. And that scares me for my husband and my child and everything else. But I was done. Today, we're going to talk with one of my patients, Devin. She's been a patient with, uh, at the clinic for, oh, about six or seven months, and she's going to tell us a little bit about her experience being a patient. So Devin, why don't you start by telling us a little bit about yourself, what you do, some of your hobbies, your family situation. Okay. I'm Devin. We live in Northeast Georgia. My husband and I have an eight year old little girl. She plays soccer. So we do that most of the time. And then we go to Disney. We're Disney people. We also own a horse farm, which is what I do. I rehab horses and work with vets and trying to keep up with an eight year old is a lot, but finally able to do that again. Very cool. Okay. Well, Devin, let's go ahead and think a few months back or actually about a year back prior to you starting with the clinic. What were some of the problems that you were encountering, the obstacles that you're encountering to living a full life and enjoying a healthy situation so that you could be the best mother and wife that you aim to be? And honestly, the best owner of a business that you could be at that you would like to be. What was it like? It was bad. And I've been battling this for years, actually. They took my gallbladder out two years ago on top of everything. But last year, things took a turn to the point that I could not function. I have been to five doctors. I have been all kinds of specialist functioning medicine doctors. I have been everywhere and it was just like nobody listened. Oh, you have IBS, getting sick from eating. My husband wake up and find me puking in the bathroom, my achy joints. It just, I couldn't function, genuinely could not function. And then I did change my diet a little bit. I guess it was October of last year, and then started having the blood sugar episodes, and that really was scary, trying to just fall out randomly, was real scary, so then fast forward, Jay, my husband, who also sees you, was like, no, I need you to see, I need you to see Dr. Ryan, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna do anything, and so that's what led to us, me being here, I don't even know how long Jay's been here with you, but it's what led me to here is. It's not functioning. Um, I ended up telling him, I don't remember it, it had to be maybe January of this year right before I talked to you. I told him that I was ready to get on long term steroids because I could not, I could not live. I couldn't even ride my horse. There were some days I rode a horse the next day I couldn't walk. And I just was like, I can't do this. So it's worth me having a little bit of good time getting on steroids. to function instead of living in pain and agony every day, and sick, and can't eat, and everything that I ate made me sick. There's a bunch of symptoms that were nonspecific but causing a terrible, impacting your life in a very negative way, and it sounds like it was primarily fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, sleep, memory issues, and Yes. A lot of digestive issues, right? Yes. Yep. That's hitting the mark on all of them. Okay. And we made a lot of interventions to, to impact those, but I'm glad that you identified those problems. Now, I, you mentioned that you've been dealing with this for some time. What kind of. What were some of the roadblocks that prevented you from working with me initially? I did not. At first, I was just like, I didn't know. First off, I didn't know about you, which was, I feel like the biggest. Um, and then I think Jay was really trying to let me, cause people would be like, Oh, we'll call this doctor. Or some people would be like, Oh, call this doctor and getting told the same thing. There's nothing wrong with you. I can't find anything. But yet my blood work was still a little suspicious and Honestly, I was just kind of like, nobody else can help me. It's pointless because I had been let down so many times. It was hard to, it was hard to have a little bit of hope and a little bit of faith that somebody could help me. So I guess you had hit a bunch of, as we had mentioned, roadblocks and you could finally hit the wall and you're like, I need to do something. I need to, yeah. I told Jay, this was the last, I was like, this is it. I'm going to do this. I was like, but I can't. Then I continue to let down because then I do you go to the doctor and you're like, okay Get a little bit of hope and then they look at you and their love I had a rheumatologist look at me and say I don't know why you're here And I'm I left the clinic in tears cuz I'm like, I'm sick. I can't function but yet you're telling me There's nothing wrong. So it was hard to let myself get a little bit of hope, but I'm glad that I did. Yeah, yeah, the reality is, and it's not, this is not so much trying to disparage conventional providers. I am a conventional physician myself, but many times a conventional physician, conventional medicine, we look for We don't necessarily treat the root cause of what might be causing the symptoms you're having, but rather just the symptoms themselves. And corticosteroids will reduce the inflammation, but what exactly was causing inflammation? I'm glad that we took a different approach. Okay. So very good. You kind of alluded to this. You've mentioned, you found out about Zuma Up through your husband, but what? Finally made you say yes, like I get the feeling that he had the wall, but in your words, what finally made you say, okay, I'm going to, I'm going to work with this guy. It's so of course found out about you through my husband. I had talked to my mom a lot about everything that I was going through. She was trying to help me. And he had told me that Jay, my husband had called her and he was scared for me. And that hits a little different. Cause Jade, he doesn't share a whole lot. He doesn't want anybody to know he has feelings. Knowing that he called her and he was scared for me. Just hit something so deep in me and I was like I can't give up because I was ready I was absolutely ready and I told them I was like I didn't care and my liver levels at this point had gotten bad So we knew getting on steroids was gonna be We're gonna call it a death sentence because it was coming and and I was I'm telling you I was over it I was done but I also didn't think it was fair for either of them to live with me and and not function and Not I was not present. So knowing that Jay called my mom and was like Tiffany, I'm scared I don't really know and then he told me he was like, I'm gonna talk to dr. Ryan He's like, I'm telling you I just my gut tells me you need to go and I finally was like, you know what? I'm gonna do it So that's the push that it took knowing that he let my mom in on his emotions a little bit and it scared me Knowing he was scared to if I'm honest Okay, I know that was a very emotional point in your life, and I'm glad that you you made the change And it's good that you you understood that and you let us know about it But okay, so you're you as we mentioned you were at this very difficult point and you're like it helped And I totally understand your hesitation and just starting long term steroid therapy. You had mentioned to me you're worried about bone loss, you're worried about some of the bruising you can get, the issues in terms of your blood sugars, potentially issues in terms of your liver. Oh yeah. And a lot of these symptoms, it appeared had, there were some reasons as to why you were feeling this way. Your hormonal levels were completely off, right? Your testosterone levels were low, your estrogen levels need to be optimized, progesterone is quite low. You did have some markers indicating a significant amount of inflammation, like your CRP. We were able to look at them and improve them. And then finally, a lot of your vitamin levels, in particular, your vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels were very low. And so we know, yes, scary. The vitamin D one really shocked me to being outside with the horses. I was like, Oh, I should have a little more being in the sun and things, but it was scary low. Yeah. We took a really interesting approach where we optimize all of those levels by using a pretty comprehensive supplement plan and put you on a diet that was anti inflammatory in nature, avoiding gluten, dairy, meats, high and saturated fats, and nightshade vegetables. And you actually made some changes on your own because you knew certain foods that would cause issues for you that we avoided. For example, you had mentioned chicken was a big trigger for you. We also went ahead and we added some digested enzymes and probiotics, which allowed you to digest your food a little bit better and reduce. Yes. Finally, I forgot what that felt like. Yeah. So after these interventions, what were some of the changes you noticed in your physique and your overall health? I really noticed and we have a gym that we go to and a trainer and I have a, we have a massage therapist that works out of there who does lymphatic draining and things. So they were working together to try and get me to just be able to do things because I'd be in the middle of a workout and lock up. And especially through, it was my arms and my shoulders and neck that were the worst. And it just, it would just grab me and you could see the muscle just locked. And my trainer would hold it and she'd try to get it to loosen up. And then my massage therapist would say, okay, try this in your workouts. Let's stretch. She lymphatic drained, did the lymphatic drains because my body was not able. To expel things. So then once we figured that out and I cleaned up my diet, I finally was able to complete workouts and actually get back up to doing some weights in where I used to be years ago. For instance, what was it? It was two weeks ago and I had not worked out because we had some emergency deals at home and that was the first time in about three weeks that I had worked out and I had a new workout. Five pounds personal record, um, in, in every, for as long as we have been at this gym with this trainer and that is huge, huge. We have, I have not had that big of a jump. I've been able to hit what my personal record was for this and this and you know, and I've been able to hit the same number, but this was the first time that I have had a five pound jump, which was huge. And my trainer was like, and it was arms, it was overhead, which was even. Huge. So it, from that aspect, being able to finally build some muscle, because it was like I was being eaten away. From the inside like my muscles were just gone and it was I don't know I felt like I looked I was really sickly looking and then I had all that bloat in my belly just from all the other Inflammation and it just it's gone now It's been really cool to see my body Come back and come back in a way that it has never and I've always been very active anyways But I don't think I've ever I don't think I've ever had this kind of like physique Cuz I'm a little stockier built and of course being sick. I'm not I don't know. I'm not used to it I had to buy new clothes and things because I'm not so bloated. My pants, they fit my legs, but they're so big on my waist because There's no blue. I'm not complaining. I'll be, I'll wear a belt, but yeah, those have been the biggest, the biggest things is not having the lockups anymore. So your mobility has been improved. Oh yes. Much less muscle soreness, much less joints. Oh yeah. Very good. And this has been something that your personal trainer and your massage therapist have noticed, which is very good. Okay. What about like your fatigue? Have you noticed that you're more energetic? Oh yes. I don't hit that like two o'clock have to come home have to nap because i'm gonna fall asleep if i'm driving that's gone Which is huge, but I started finally sleeping which being able to sleep Was a huge piece and played into that. But yes, I I don't crash and hit a wall midday like I used to. Because that was really hard. Three o'clock, have to pick up the little one from school, and I'm like, I'm so tired, I don't want to fall asleep driving. Because that's where we had gotten, and none of that. I could go work out at four o'clock and be totally fine. And I've contemplated it a few times, but soccer doesn't let us do that. You have the energy to, to win the soccer and get through it and not want to just take a nap on the couch, which is huge. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's actually another aspect I neglected to mention earlier. In addition to your other hormonal levels, your cortisol levels seem to be normalized. Your DHEA levels are quite low. Your cortisol levels are quite low on your last labs. Made a plan to improve those things, which is really good. Yes. Very good. And then let's talk a little bit about your digestion. So you did mention that your blood bloating came down, but tell me a little bit about that in terms of how you're able to process foods. So it was, you know, like I told you, it was crazy trying to figure out the chicken. Cause I was eating more chicken through this diet starting out. And I was just like, wait, something's just not right. And I told you we had gone to the, on our family vacation and going to the beach, you eat a lot of fish. It just disappeared while we were gone. And I was like, Okay, maybe we're on to something. And so when I came home, you know, we talked, I just did, I did the fish diet and I changed in between the three or four that we, we talked about that I could eat. It is insane. I feel like I do have to eat a little more with it just being that, but it's been. Insane. I have never looked like this. I have never felt like this. And it's crazy that just taking one thing out that my body was struggling with and I can eat, I don't feel heavy the next day. Cause that was the biggest thing I always felt like I never, my stomach never emptied. And then if I ate, I could only eat a little tiny bit because I was already so full, but my body is hungry. And it, I mean, the, I call it the rainbow of pains, you know, across my stomach from my right side, all the way over to my left, just doubled over and sometimes cold sweating because it hurts so bad. And all of that is. I think with a lot of us, we inadvertently, and maybe it's by choosing easy foods that are highly processed, we tend to incorporate gluten, dairy, more saturated fats, a lot of preservatives in our diet. And over time, a big concern is that we disrupt our microflora, particularly lactobacillus. But I'm biophytobacterium saccharomyces, but also get an over accumulation of yeast. And that was what I was really worried about, that you had just yeast proliferation throughout your gut. And by implementing an, a version of the autoimmune paleo diet, which you actually adjusted even further by, as you mentioned, removing chicken. And probiotics, I was so happy to see you get benefits. Get to a point where you're actually eating your food and getting the energy from those macros rather than just letting it go through very good. Oh, yes. Yes, and I don't think I could I will stay on those enzymes and probiotics. They, um, insanely, it's crazy to feel them working too. 'cause you eat and then all of a sudden I'm like, oh my gosh. Like I can feel it, I can feel it like working. So that's cool. 'cause like I said, I, I haven't felt these things in so long, so I get excited about the little things now. Yeah. Outside of the improvements you've seen in your digestion and your physique and your energy levels in your sleep, in terms of your mood, Are there any other benefits that you've noticed have come with working with myself in the clinic? Oh, yes. I definitely am a much nicer person. Um, you know, to be that sounds terrible, but I, it was like all my emotions were heightened that between the frustration and when you don't feel good, you're just heightened. And I lived in that state for so long. So I had no patients with our little girl. Even with the horses, training the horses, you'd get mad at one little thing, when in reality, like, it really wasn't that big of a deal. So, I've been able to be a much better wife, and a better mom, and a better friend. Being able to really be empathetic, because I'm not so, I'm not drowning in my own pain, and... All of that anymore. I'm able to see out of my box and out of my world, all around. I saw my grandparents, was it, I think it was two Sundays ago, for the first time in a little while. And the first thing my grandmother said when she walked in the door, she said, Devon, you are so bright. She said, I have not seen this in a very long time. And made me want to cry because I'm telling you, I was ready to die. And I'm terrified to die. And I was ready to die. And that scares me. For my husband and my child and everything else, but I was done and that's scary in itself, you know, yeah, I mean, it's, uh, I've had this happen with a lot of patients. It's almost like, uh, well, it's their words, not mine. It's life changing. But what I like to, what I like to think about is they're able to finally enact the three piece for so important for relationships being positive. Right, being present, and then having patience, because all those three things are really key. Yes, that's the hardest one, is the patience. your 8 year old, but it's being patient with everyone, because adult or child or animal, they're going to try your patience, they're going to do things that you're like, I'm not sure what, what's going on here, but it's so important to, to have the energy reserves to. Allow them to gently correct them and you're on the right path and do it in a way where they're not fearful or resentful for the manner in which you're giving them instruction. So it's, and I'm really, really happy we're able to, to make the three Ps better in your life. Okay. We do. So, in closing, what would you tell someone who's watching this interview and is uncertain about joining the program? What would you tell that person? I would tell them to have hope and take that leap because if it wasn't, I do believe if it was not for you, that I would be on a very different path, a very darker path, a very scary path, and probably headed way down that path to not be able to come back. I love that. I have the ability to even if something is concerning, I have the ability to send you a message and be like, okay, so this is going on. And I feel, I always feel heard. And that for me is something that's huge because I don't feel like that's something that I have had in a doctor. I have not been heard. And being a woman anyway, it's like. I gotta be heard, you know, and so, but not being heard for my health and me saying there's something very wrong and you listen, like you listened and we worked together and that for me solidified all of it. And for anybody who is questioning this or well that just, I'm telling you, do it. It changes your life. I can, I'm happy. I can be there. I can. I'm coaching soccer this fall. That would have never happened before. And now that our weather has cooled off a little bit, I get to go ride and get my horse back in training to go show him again. I get to live. And for me, that's huge because, you know, I'm 32. And it's scary going through some of these things because it started in my 20s. So going through these things at such a young age too, it doesn't matter. It's live. And just say yes and live. That's, I feel like the, the bare bones of this. Because every, everybody deserves that. And it's not life if you're not living. And, and if nothing else, if you can't do it for yourself, do it for your family. And I think that's really what pushed me over the edge. Jay, um, so it's just crazy because I listened, indirectly listened, but absolutely I repeating myself here, but I don't feel like there's any stronger words than you deserve to live. And this has been the only, you've been the only person to help me get back to living and actually better than even before. So thank you for that. I don't know what I'd do without you. Well, I think it's. I'm number one. I don't know if I can accept that. It's amazing. But I think I was just the right person at the right time. A lot of these, you know, interventions are out there for many people to take advantage of, but the one thing I do that I think I offered you was a sounding board and a person who's open to trying alternative approaches and was not. Not interested in just having you fit into a box and recognize sometimes you have to think about outside of the box and think of other things that might be causing your symptoms. So I'm really happy to be part of that, Devin. Yes, me too. That was, I didn't even think about that piece because all my symptoms have always been out of the box. And it's almost like it scared everybody who saw this because it would be this or this and they're like, you don't fit in this box. So I don't know why you're here. So that, yes, I never fit inside a box, but now we know why. All right, Devin, I really appreciate you taking the time and sharing your experience. And again, I really, I think it's just wonderful the changes you've made. I'm so thankful to have you as a patient. Yes. Thank you so much for everything. Thanks for giving me my life back.