The beginning of my struggle
For years, I struggled with chronic inflammation that hijacked my life from the inside out. My elbows and legs were completely covered in thick plaques of psoriasis. Behind my ears and across my scalp, flakes would fall like snow, and I'd only wear light-colored shirts just to hide it a little better. I remember going to job interviews praying the flakes wouldn't be visible. I still tense up when I go to get a haircut — hoping the barber understands what psoriasis is and doesn't treat me like I'm contagious. Once, a boss of mine shamed me publicly about it. That humiliation — layered on top of the physical discomfort — stuck.
But that was only part of it.
The Invisible Challenge
Psoriasis affects about 3% of the world's population, and often comes with significant psychological impacts beyond the physical symptoms.
When doctors finally put a name to it
The worst was the fatigue. The kind that isn't cured by sleep. My body often felt like it was made of bricks — stiff, aching, and heavy. It was like being 80 years old in a 35-year-old body. I went through nearly every medical test out there: MRIs, bloodwork, scans… you name it. Nothing explained what was happening. Until eventually, I was given a name: fibromyalgia.
But naming it didn't make it easier. Fibro is an invisible condition — and people, including doctors, often dismiss what they can't see. I lost count of how many professionals either brushed it off or looked at me like I was making it up. But I wasn't. Anyone living with fibromyalgia knows how real, how raw, and how unrelenting it can be. And it's becoming more common — maybe due to modern stress, poor nutrition, or simply better awareness. But still, so many are left suffering in silence.
That was me: silently suffering, spiraling inward, wondering if I'd ever feel like myself again.
Understanding Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. Despite affecting an estimated 4% of the population, it remains poorly understood and often dismissed.
Common Symptoms:
- Widespread pain and tenderness
- Extreme fatigue and sleep disturbances
- Cognitive difficulties ("fibro fog")
- Heightened sensitivity to stimuli
When nothing seemed to work
Before I found what worked, I tried just about everything. Conventional medicine, unconventional treatments, restrictive diets, topical creams, supplements, energy healing, elimination protocols. I took immunosuppressants. I stood under UV lights in phototherapy booths. I swallowed painkillers that dulled me more than they helped. I followed regimens to the letter — always with the hope that maybe *this one* would make a difference.
Sometimes there was a flicker of relief, but nothing ever lasted. It felt like my body was a puzzle I couldn’t solve. Like I was pouring effort and money and heart into a black hole. And the more I tried, the more I started to wonder if this was just my life now — chasing symptoms, managing pain, trying to function.
I wasn’t giving up — but I was deeply tired, and quietly afraid I might never feel well again.
The moment everything truly shifted
I stumbled on a YouTube interview where Dr. David Williams was speaking with Dr. Eric Berg. He talked about the gut-brain connection, the microbiome’s role in inflammation, and how many chronic conditions are rooted deeper than we think. I was hooked. For the first time, something resonated. Something clicked. I didn’t feel broken — I felt curious.
The spark that changed everythingTaking my healing into my own hands
I started devouring everything I could find — podcasts, articles, books. I read *Super Gut* by Dr. David Williams. I learned how the microbiome influences everything from skin to mood to chronic inflammation. I started making probiotic yogurt at home. I shifted my nutrition. I built a gentle routine around movement, sunlight, stress reduction, and fermented foods. I started taking vitamin D with K2.
It wasn’t a miracle cure — just a series of small, life-affirming changes that slowly added up. It wasn’t easy, but it was real. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had a direction.
Slowly, things began to shift
That’s when I wandered into the world of the microbiome — almost by accident, and exactly when I needed it.
And slowly, things started shifting.
My skin improved. My energy came back. My mood softened. I felt more clear-headed, more *me* again. No magic pills, no dramatic overnight cures — just real food, deep listening, and a quieter, more attuned way of living.
The inflammation subsided — not because I fought harder, but because I began to care for myself more gently. I made space for healing, and it showed.
Finding my purpose
That's what Fermentfulness is. It's not just a collection of recipes or guides. It's a home for anyone who's been dismissed, misunderstood, or just plain exhausted from trying to figure it out alone. It's a place for gentle healing, joyful curiosity, and reconnecting with the wisdom of your body.