Monica was spiraling. Too much to do, never enough time.
The body that once bounced back, whatever she was eating – or sometimes not eating – now demanded more of her. It was more than she knew how to give.
Monica suddenly became a caretaker for her partner. Add on perimenopause, and she said “things were becoming more complicated.”
Experiencing chronic fatigue, Monica, a program manager for a nonprofit, knew she had to make changes. And she wanted to do it the most natural way possible.
“I like the idea of letting the body do what it does best, if you give it the right tools,” Monica said.
Visiting Asheville, Monica discovered Waterleaf Naturopathic Medicine, checked out the website and scheduled a call.
“They were so welcoming and offered me a sense of community,” she said. “The message was, ‘Life can be challenging, and we’re here to help navigate those challenges.’”
Monica called the Waterleaf approach a “different way of doing life.”
And doing life differently was certainly something Monica knew she had to do. She just needed someone to help her get started.
Monica visited the office in Asheville, where she chatted with Dr. Leslie Meyers. They covered her challenges, uncovered her goals and mapped out where she wanted to be.
“It wasn’t just about being healthier, losing some weight and normalizing hormone levels,” Monica said. “It was a more holistic conversation. We covered things like: ‘What you do want to do with your life? How do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning? What do you want to do with your family?’”
Monica felt heard.
“The conversation was warm, inviting, like Dr. Meyers is invested in each of her patients – whether I became a practice member or not,” Monica said. “It’s clear she loves what she does and likes to put it to use to help others.”
Monica Begins Her Journey to Hormone Balance, Ending Chronic Fatigue with Waterleaf Naturopathic Medicine
Exhausted from what Monica calls “reactive mode,” she knew she had to flip the switch to living a proactive life.
“After our first conversation, I felt hope and positivity for the future … I felt like I had the best resources I could find,” she said. “I wasn’t going to be alone.”
Waterleaf Naturopathic Medicine tailors custom programs to help practice members achieve their health and wellness goals.
Dr. Meyers ordered Monica’s labs (bloodwork, saliva test) to get a physical baseline of health. Dr. Emily Colwell, who focuses on the mental health and mindset piece of the program, began meeting with Monica to address mindset, mental and emotional wellness.
Together with Monica, the Drs. Meyers and Colwell created a plan to help Monica recover from her chronic fatigue, balance her perimenopausal hormones and find a sense of calm.
Monica said the first few weeks included some dietary changes, and she settled in with Dr. Colwell. In the meantime, Dr. Meyers put her on some mood and hormone supplements, which Monica said started to help.
With regular check-ins with Drs. Meyers and Colwell and calls with the integrative dietician and health coach, Monica felt she had the support she needed to keep going.
“They’re the most interested doctors I’ve ever had,” she said. “They have this knowledge and are willing to share it – willing to share their time with me.”
As Monica’s 3-month program progressed, she began noticing changes.
She was sleeping better. She had more energy. The chronic fatigue was beginning to dissipate. Even her mood and stamina began to improve.
Saying ‘Yes’ to What’s Important
“The overarching message I learned, and that my body was trying to teach me, is that we need to be kind to ourselves and give ourselves the space to listen to the body,” Monica said. “We’re moving too fast, saying yes to everything but the important things. It’s hard to see that until something breaks down.”
Monica called her declining health a “reality check” and has realized that the better she cared for herself, the better she could care for others.
“We all have these amazing bodies, and they’re our responsibility to care for,” Monica added.
Life After the Waterleaf Naturopathic Medicine
Monica said she feels much better.
“In general, my life has improved significantly because of Waterleaf. Better sleep, more energy, new appreciation for wellness and how to navigate the challenges that life throws at you,” Monica said. “And how to ask for help when you need it.”
While Monica said she doesn’t know where she’d be today if she hadn’t gone through the Waterleaf program, she knows that she was given exactly what she needed, when she needed it.
“It’s about learning how to do life,” she said.
Drs. Meyers and Colwell see patients throughout the region, either in the office or virtually. Learn more about Waterleaf Naturopathic Medicine, schedule a free call with Dr. Leslie Meyers.