The first half of said decade, I saw every physician from endocrinologists to cardiologists, and tried more conventional Rx's than I care to recall.

The side effect from one would call for yet another. I just kept getting tireder and sicker and sorer.

Every negative test was both a relief and a disappointment. I didn't think I could endure hearing, "Your labs are completely normal" one more time."
The final straw occurred when one well meaning physician declared in monotone, "You are depressed and in of need medication." He stated this was the only logical remaining diagnosis, and my issues would eventually resolve with a few more prescriptions. With great tear brimming, jaw clenching restraint, I explained to him that yes, I was depressed. I was depressed because I felt so bad. It was not the other way around, and thank you, but no- I did not want any more pills to take, in the form of anti- depressants.

I immediately enrolled at Google University and simultaneously almost drowned in contradictory information- from reputable sources no less. It was so overwhelming, assimilating it - let alone appying it-was impossible. Not to mention the awful stress induced by my self diagnosis of a few fatal diseases.
Please, don't do this. There was, however, one invaluable nugget of repetition from my research. One term emerging and re- emerging from multiple sources... Integrative Medicine.

I was intrigued by the approach of using multiple and individual diagnostic tools, to determine the reasons rather than just treat the symptoms. These geniuses- and empaths- merged both natural and conventional modalities. Doctors who viewed both the body and brain as whole rather than segregating its parts as if they could function independently. Physicians who believed both eastern and western modalities held healing properties. Toxins matter. Food matters. Stress matters. Activity and rest matters...the list went on. Moreover, there was a consistent and cohesive belief that a pill (or twenty), rarely conquers the problem in its entirety. Bingo. I then turned my finely honed google skills in search of an Integrative physician.

I left knowing I was going to have to figure this out for myself.

I found Dr. James McMinn M.D., an anointed doctor and a healer with knowledge and patience, who was willing to partner with me in becoming my own advocate. The process involved me taking possession of everything from my lifestyle to my lab work, and viewing all collectively and objectively. The road was often slow with a few dead ends here and there; but, I had a skilled and intuitive coach as well as a profound encourager, in my Integrative M.D.

I learned I had heavy metal issues, I had nutrition issues, I had stress issues, and I had relationship issues. Not to mention my legitimate, (this time evidence based) personal self discoveries along way- from an inflammation driven gluten intolerance to a thyroid tumor. Using many of Dr. McMinn's tools and a few of my own, my health and my life continued to improve more, and more, and more.

During one of my wellness victory visits, my physician, and now my friend, thus declared me his ultimate empowered patient. His praise turned out to be the segway to one of the most pivotal questions I've ever been asked- 

"So what are you going to do with what you've learned???

I pray the answer I ultimately gave him, will become the conduit to yours.

And that, dear friend, is ultimately how I ended up here.