Imagine waking up every morning and feeling like you have been hit by a freight train. You take naps throughout the day, but to no avail — you feel worse when you wake up than when you went to sleep! Every time you eat, no matter what you eat, you feel as if you’re slipping into a coma.
It’s hard to concentrate for more than a few seconds; writing anything more than two sentences is almost too much effort. You can’t remember anything and begin to slip on making appointments because your brain is so foggy. You find yourself constantly glancing at your calendar for fear you have missed another appointment. You are invited to social events, but can’t muster the energy to go. Even taking a 20-minute walk makes you feel like you need another nap.
This is what my life has been like for nearly a month now. I won’t mince words — it’s devastating and depressing. I wondered constantly what I was doing wrong. It was clear that this had something to do with food, but eating less, more, or different foods didn’t change the situation. I was sleeping 14 or more hours a day and not finding relief.
It became increasingly clear I wouldn’t solve this myself; besides my brain being too foggy to self-diagnose on the Internet, it was time to heed my own advice and hire an expert to help me solve this issue.
Finding an Expert
My massage therapist recommended a nutritionist named Nancy. I called Nancy and, to my relief, got an appointment last Friday. At Nancy’s request, I started keeping a food diary. On Friday, I headed to her office, where we would spend the next three hours discussing what was wrong and my treatment options.
I explained that every time I ate, I felt like a wreck — no matter what I ate. I had changed my diet to eliminate most meat, but even fruit was causing me issues. I had eliminated alcohol, caffeine and most sugar years ago due to similar problems. Yet whatever I had, it was clearly getting worse. It was to the point where I didn’t want to eat because I knew it would make me exhausted. I had lost 5 pounds in the past few weeks, even though I wasn’t overweight to begin with.
Nancy said one thing that stood out to me: “My goal is to make sure you can go to the ballpark, eat a hot dog, and drink a beer and feel great — even if you don’t want to do that!” I knew I had picked the right person to help me when I heard that! 
My Visit With Nancy
Something really interesting happened at her office. I had only eaten a light breakfast before I came, for two reasons: one, I didn’t want to pass out during our appointment; and two, I didn’t expect to be there for more than an hour. After about an hour of being there, my blood sugar dropped and I started to get tired. Nancy noticed and handed me a protein bar. “Try this,” she said. “It’s gluten-free and fructose-free.” (She was concerned that I might have a gluten allergy.)
45 minutes after I ate it, I was basically asleep in the chair. I was yawning and struggling to keep my eyes open. Nancy was surprised. “That was fast,” she remarked. I learned that typical food allergies manifest after a few hours; that it happened so quickly meant my body was not properly digesting food. We had solved a small part of the puzzle — I was tired because my body wasn’t getting any nutrients from the food I ate.
Trying to Find a Fix
Nancy prescribed a plethora of supplements, and asked me to try them in a few different dosages and quantities. After experimenting throughout the weekend, the breakthrough came Monday afternoon. I tried a supplement Nancy had given me called Glysen, which has nutrients designed to “support insulin receptor sensitivity” and regulate blood sugar.
It worked like a charm and stopped my exhaustion! On Monday night, I was happy, laughing, and enjoying myself. Richard asked me when the last time I had this energy level was. I said, “I think eight years ago,” and then I started crying. I couldn’t believe it had been that long since I felt like a normal human being after I ate, but looking back, I do think that’s true.
It has only been a few days since I started taking Glysen, and the underlying cause of my exhaustion has yet to be uncovered. I am currently waiting for the results of a blood test and a saliva test to help Nancy and I understand what’s going on at a deeper level.
This is a journey, and I understand that there will be setbacks along the way. There may be days when I feel worse instead of better. The Glysen may stop working, or I may need to take more drastic measures. All I can do right now is continue recording everything I eat and how it makes me feel and continue taking Glysen. I consider it a huge blessing that I am finally able to get back to blogging and helping you.
But What Does This Have To Do With Your Small Business?
I thought hard about whether to even write this blog post. After all, I thought, it doesn’t really have anything to do with business success or entrepreneurship.
Then I realized I was being foolish. After all, aren’t we, as entrepreneurs, the heart and soul of our businesses? If we’re not feeling well, our businesses suffer. I realized I had learned four lessons from this that I could pass on to help both you and your small business succeed:
- Call in the experts! It’s so tempting to just Google “exhaustion” (or whatever your symptoms are) and self-diagnose. But often, a web site can’t really help. You need tests to determine what’s really wrong.
One of the reasons I didn’t want to call in a doctor was because I was afraid the doctor would say what I’ve heard so many times before: “Oh, just eat better and exercise more, and you’ll be fine.” You wouldn’t stand for that kind of vague answer from an employee who has done something wrong, so why stand for it from your doctor? If your doctor won’t help or isn’t taking you seriously, find someone who will! - Once you have the right expert, set expectations. I asked for recommendations from two people in the medical industry I trusted, then used my gut instinct to choose Nancy from the list of folks I got back. When I saw Nancy, I made it clear up front I wanted tests done to determine what was wrong, and while I was willing to take diet suggestions, I needed them to take a back seat to figuring out what was wrong.
In retrospect, Nancy handing me that gluten-free, fructose-free protein bar and seeing me nearly fall asleep might have been the best thing that happened to either of us all day. At that point, she realized the primary conern wasn’t what I was eating, but why my body wasn’t digesting food. She took action and ordered saliva, blood, and urine tests, and recommended additional tests based on results of those three tests. I am now on my way to figuring out what lies underneath this exhaustion. - Communicate with your investors, customers and employees as much as you can. Those close to you should know what’s going on. Don’t hide it from them. Remember, you are an important face for your business. Especially if your business relies on you, it’s critical to keep in touch with your team regularly — I would say daily if at all possible.
If you have many customers, email them all or write a blog post. Explain candidly what’s going on and what steps you are taking to resolve it…but if you don’t know when it will be resolved, don’t say you do. - Use this time to create and maintain a strong support staff. If you’re not feeling well and can only get 30 minutes or an hour of work done each day, make those 30 minutes or an hour working with employees and contractors so they can handle customer issues. Have someone else in your company call or email customers and keep them up to date. That hour of good work time you have in the day shouldn’t be spent putting out fires; the stress caused from that will certainly not make you feel better.
Being sick isn’t easy, especially when it is an extended illness or one that doesn’t have a horizon where you know you’ll be “over the hump” and feeling better.
If there’s one thing I can impart on you from my experience, it’s this: If you decide to be your own doctor, CEO, personal assistant, and support team, you will fail. None of us succeeds alone.
Just as you would with employees, feel free to “fire” doctors who won’t work with you and find the good ones who will go the extra mile to get to the root of the problem. You deserve to feel your best so you can go out and become the next small business success story!
Addendum: After I finished writing this post, I saw a news headline that reinforced my point about communication. Most of us are aware that Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, has been extremely ill lately. Recently, Warren Buffett, billionaire investor, said Apple should have disclosed the seriousness of Jobs’ illness.
Buffett said, “If I have any serious illness, or something coming up of an important nature, an operation or anything like that, I think the thing to do is just tell the American, the Berkshire shareholders about it. I work for ‘em.”
This is a great attitude and I wholeheartedly agree. Communicate with your customers, employees, and investors. The good ones will understand. The ones who don’t probably weren’t worth keeping anyway!
Like this entry? You will love getting my free business tips! No spam, and I won't give your email address to any other company.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Great post and I agree 100%! I ran a multi-million dollar business while going thru treatments to help with SLE Lupus and Crohns Disease.. my clients sent me cards, pajamas, flowers and more when they knew what occurred. We changed our delivery methods, our emails were honest and when we had to close down for a few days, no one complained. I mean that- NO ONE, with 45,000 on my client base! Now 8 years later I have learned this is the best way to go and it relieves me of stress when I have to go slower. My Lupus has been in remission for 5 years now with only a few occasional flares but my honesty and sincerity has always earned me more money and less headaches with my clients! Great post girl!
June 24th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hi Erica!
Great post!
I love how it all comes down to not being John Wayne!
As successful business people, we tend to be like John Wayne, and it really helps if we are able to reach out, work with experts, and use systems to get things done, while we get back on track.
Glad to hear you are moving forward!
Hugs, love, and Whooo yah!
20/20
The guy who changed his name to the number of perfect vision, because YOU living YOURS matters!
http://www.2020unleashed.com
June 24th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Glad you decided to see a doctor, and not just any doctor, but one that is willing to get to the root of the problem, and not just give temporary relief, but complete healing. Good health is always important, and no matter how much money one might have, you can’t put a price on your health. Way to go Erica!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
You’ve basically accomplished a lifetime of success in a very short time – perhaps it was your body’s way of slowing you down. TLC, balance, and laughter… such great medicine. KUDDOS to you on seeking help and sharing it with us!Glad to have you back!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Erica, thank you so much for writing about this. I have the same symptoms and the same problem as you — my body isn’t using the food I eat. I hope you’ll continue to post about your progress and what does/doesn’t help. Best of luck to you!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Hi Erica:
Because I am somewhat aware of the incredible work challenges you were facing, I’ve been concerned over the last month, that you were taking on more than any human being should have to bear. That’s why I mentioned over a week ago, that I didn’t know how you were managing to accomplish all that was on your shoulders. I am relieved for you that you are seeking medical help, and especially that you are being counseled by a nutritionist. She probably already knows this,but cooked asparagus is nearly a miracle food. Just ran across an article about this two days ago, being credited with having saved lives from serious health challenges. As you no doubt are aware, the majority of all serious illnesses are brought on by stress. I agree with Carmen, your record success in such a short time is taking its toll, and your body is talking to you, saying, “chill, relax, let peace overwhelm you.” The world of supporters who care about and love you will benefit from the awesome lessons you have learned throughout this ordeal, and — even in your time of convalescing — you are coaching and inspiring us about what to really value in this journey called life. Hang in there. We love you and extend prayers for your restored vitality.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I used to sleep 16+ hours per day, had depression, and a few other symptoms. Turns out I was gluten-sensitive and had started developing Celiac’s. Eliminated gluten and a week later started sleeping 8 hrs like normal. Finding the cause of the problem was not easy…
June 24th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I know what you mean about some doctors being patronizing and giving answers which aren’t helpful. That can be tough, but isn’t this more serious than what a nutritionist is trained for? I’m sure you know this, but wanted to mention because of one of the previous comments: nutritionists are not doctors. I don’t know the details but just thought I’d mention it. Hope you get better!
June 25th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Erica,
The way you described how you have been feeling in your opening paragraph is exactly how I have felt for most of the past several years. I was diagnosed with severe fibromyalgia as well as a few other things. I too was told that for whatever reason my body doesn’t seem to process the nutrients from the foods that I eat. I have tried supplements in various forms such as liquid and pills as well as other things and still haven’t had results. I haven’t had the finances to get food testing done to see about allergies and sensitivities so right now I am trying to notice how I feel after I eat different foods. In the past couple days of doing this I haven’t felt good after any foods I eaten, whether they are considered healthy or not.
If you have any successes in your journey towards health please share them with your readers. I am starting my own internet business soon which will be about personal development, health, and creating a life that is truly worth living. Although I have permanent nerve damage (whole body neuropathy that is not related to diabetes) and other health issues that aren’t going away and so am unable to work at a regular job outside the home, I feel that I can do an internet business since I can work on it in spurts at the times I am feeling best whether it be morning,afternoon,evening,or middle of the night and outsource help to VAs and such as well.
I have seen some improvements in my health since I began researching in earnest, and completely got over the severe depression and low self-esteem I had due to feeling worthless at not being able to do much. I now am able to do more, am less sedentary, am eating better, and most importantly, am happy. I have gone from being on narcotics for my excruciating pain and other prescription medicines to just a milder painkiller. I have not given up hope that someday I will feel much better than I do now and be even more active, but until then I no longer have put my life on hold and stayed bedridden.
I want to share the things that have helped with others, continue my research on my life journey to getting even healthier, and use the money I earn from my new business to help as many people and causes as I can for the rest of my life. I want to volunteer in person as well. That keeps me motivated as there are always people in the world who have it far worse than we do. To alleviate some of their pain and suffering is truly meaningful.In giving, we truly receive so much.
I am so sorry to hear how you have been feeling. I do wish you healthier days ahead and thank you for sharing with us.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:16 am
@Erica, good luck! Your approach seems a good start on the way to recovery.
@Beth and the others whose body seems to have problems processing the nutrients from their food:
- I recently read (probably on mercola.com) that stress or eating fast interferes with the enzymes that you need to process food. Another good reason to do away with stress!
- If your intestines don’t work well you may have insufficient good bacteriae in your intestines. Antibiotics can do that to you. Taking probiotics does wonders for some people.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
We often think we are stronger than the pain and constantly fight through it. Self diagnosing might work for some, but like in a business, if you’re not an expert in a topic, find someone who is and let them do the work.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Great article. I think a lot of people are feeling this way lately – especially with the constant stress of hearing about the economy on the news every night. We need to all take a break, turn off the TV, stop reading CNN. Time to recharge our batteries….
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I try to get out in the kayak once a day. Make the time to do what you Love.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Nice post! Entrepreneurs need to have their Career Builders in place so they can be more creative and focus more opportunities for the business. Delegating the tasks that are eating much of your time, makes everything less stressful.
http://www.spiritualpreneurs.com/do-you-have-your-career-builders-in-place/
August 17th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Hi Erica,
I had no idea! You seemed so perky and full of energy when I met you at Unseminar5.
Thanks so much for sharing and your tips. I’ve struggled with uneven energy for years too, after a very bad case of complete burnout which may have been made worse by previous chemotherapy etc. (and from which it took me several years to recover — and finding a doctor who finally did all the tests and helped me reassemble my whole hormonal system that had been completely fried.
At the time I was employed, and now I’m self-employed, getting very worried about what to do when my energy is just not up to speed. And while I’m a walking encyclopedia on stress management, or at least on coping with stressful situations, I am still concerned about the toll the ups and downs are taking — and worried about re-triggering that adrenal fatigue etc.
I really need to start getting more help with my business.
One of the things that has helped me enormously though has been quantum touch energy work, which I learned how to do mostly to help myself (and boy did it ever), and then became certified in as well. I do it almost every day.
You can check it out here: http://www.quantumtouch.com
Not necessarily to replace what you’re doing, but to complement it.
Email me for more specific tips if you like
Elisabeth
P.S.: I do have a similar instant fatigue reaction, but only to eating carbs (i think, and maybe dairy). It’s almost uncanny. Eating Sashimi with greens –> energy. Eating sushi (incl. rice) –> zzzz
August 26th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Relying on your staff can be very important, surrounding yourself with employees that you can trust to carry on business as usual when you’re not feeling well is great advice! These people are not only your support system but when you create a strong relationship with them, they are as invested in your small business as you are so you have nothing to worry about it if you are unable to help make every decision.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:41 am
@Erica, good luck with your investigation of your health problems. Going with the nutritionist is a good move that will hopefully get you to the root of the problem.
@Brian: I started seeing a nutritionist for digestive and energy issues a few months ago after years or seeing doctors and specialists who couldn’t help me. My nutritionist was able to diagnose one of my problems during the consultation, recommend some supplements, and I was feeling better within a week.
Many people (doctors and myself included) view a nutritionist as just someone to give recipe ideas and tell you that you’re not eating enough vegetables. The reality is that they are trained to understand the connections between food and health issues, and recognize that a large majority of problems (not just digestive issues) are caused by food allergies and inbalances of “flora” (good vs. bad bacteria) in the digestive system.
Several of my issues had to do with not having enough “good” bacteria in my system, causing the bad bacteria and yeast to grow unchecked. You can lose good bacteria from antibiotics, radiation/chemo, etc. When the bad bacteria and yeast take over, they cause gas and cramping when you eat, and release toxins as a byproduct. Taking a supplement of the good, and acidophilis to kill of the yeast worked for me.