On Friday, I had a birthday-related medical procedure.
If you are of a certain age, you know what I am referring to and you know how awful it is. Despite the awfulness, I am awed by the miracle that is modern medicine. I left the facility (It wasn’t a hospital. It wasn’t a clinic. It was a production line – it’s all they do!) with a printout of impressive pictures of my insides and the reassurance that at least one part of my body was healthy and cancer-free.
It is beyond my imagination all the training, research, technology, manufacturing, science, skills, and knowledge that went into the ability to conduct this procedure that is done thousands of times a day and contributes to the early detection of illness. It’s mind-boggling.
Living near Boston, we often talk about how lucky we are to live so close to some of the best hospitals in the world. We are so lucky. I spent a lot of time last year supporting my dad who was a patient of one of those hospitals and I saw their work firsthand. They are leaders in their field and deserve all the accolades they get.
Despite all of this, traditional medicine has also failed me. When I was an infant, I was lactose-intolerant (and still am) and a very unhappy baby because of it. Doctors insisted there was nothing wrong because I was gaining weight. It was my mother who read everything she could and eventually took me off dairy when I was 10 years old.
As an adult, I had symptoms dismissed by my traditional doctors for fifteen years. I suffered, unnecessarily, until 2019 when I sought out a naturopathic doctor. Why did I wait so long?
Naturopathic medicine is not covered by insurance. It wasn’t until 2019 that my frustration and my finances converged in a way that pushed me to find an alternative solution. And, wow, did I find a solution! My naturopathic doctor is amazing.
Using a combination of ancient traditions, modern science, fantastic listening skills, and empathy, she has uncovered an autoimmune disorder, food insensitivities, and hormonal imbalances. I am now sleeping better, feeling better, and losing weight.
One of the reasons I want to be a life & leadership coach is that I want to help people design their best lives. I’m convinced that the combination of my genetic makeup, hormonal issues, and inability to process stress resulted in the autoimmune disorder showing up. I wish I had known what I know now about stress and hormones and their impact on physical and emotional health. I may have made different decisions.
Instead of focusing on regrets, I want to move forward and help others design lives that are integrated, whole, and healthy.
While I am not a health expert, I can help people make decisions and find clarity about what is best for their wellness and happiness.
If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about coaching, email me at drkimburns@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
