Made to be Whole

Navigating Chronic Illness in Adolescence

In this episode of Made to Be Whole, Krista sits down with health coach Isabel Michener to explore her journey of overcoming chronic illness, including her experiences with babesiosis, the process of deprescribing from antidepressants using DNA testing, and the unique challenges faced by young people with sudden-onset health issues. Isabel shares wisdom gained from navigating fluctuating symptoms, learning to manage emotions, and building a path toward wholeness. This episode provides valuable insights for patients, parents, and anyone seeking hope and practical strategies for chronic illness healing. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE * The Unique Support Needs of Young Patients with Chronic Illness * How Coaching Can Offer Hope and Guidance to Adolescents * Isabel’s Personal Story: From Early Onset Illness to Health Coach * Coping with Fluctuating Abilities: Staying Grounded on Difficult Days * Deprescribing Antidepressants: The Role of DNA Testing and Emotional Recovery * Building Resilience: Managing Emotions and Healing Over Time * Understanding and Handling PANS/PANDAS Symptoms * Advice for Parents: How to Support and Believe Your Child During Chronic Illness * Why an Accurate Diagnosis Changes Everything * The Importance of Having a Supportive Advocate and Buddy in the Healing Journey Are you or your child struggling with chronic illness? Reach out for support. A health coach can become your advocate and ally on the journey to wholeness. Reflect on your own healing journey: Take note of both the big and small improvements over time. Progress is rarely linear, but every step matters. Parents: Believe your child, even (and especially) when the answers are unclear. Your support can make all the difference. Stay tuned, and remember: You were made to be whole. All resources mentioned on the show can be found at: https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/ [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] Any references to any particular people, including family, have been shared with prior consent. Transcripts and notes generated with Descript and Castmagic and then edited by human eyes and hands. Lightly edited and produced by BiCurean Consulting, BiCurean.com [https://bicurean.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Creating a Compelling Future in Your Healing Journey

In this episode of Made to Be Whole, Krista explores the vital theme of creating a compelling future as a cornerstone in your healing journey. Drawing on personal stories, practical strategies, and the integration of advanced therapies like therapeutic plasma exchange, this episode guides listeners on how to maintain hope, use AI as a supportive tool, and make informed decisions for complex chronic illness. Learn why cultivating a vision of wholeness—both short-term and long-term—can be life-saving, and how to leverage real connections, accurate data, and self-advocacy to move forward. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * How to Create a Compelling Future When Facing Chronic Illness: * Strategies for envisioning both immediate and long-term hope. * Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis) as a Game Changer: * What plasma exchange is, who it helps, and the journey to bring this advanced treatment into integrative health practice. * Using AI and Online Health Information Wisely: * Benefits and pitfalls of AI health tools, and how to assess online data with the guidance of trusted health professionals. * Navigating Complex Data & Chronic Illness Trials: * Understanding evidence, real-world limitations, and why personalized care often trumps large-scale studies for rare and complex health conditions. * Maintaining Identity Beyond Illness: * Encouragement to connect with real people, not let diagnoses define you, and seek supportive, healthy communities. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: * Apheresis Conference Information (general resource) [https://www.apheresis.org/] * Article: Hallucinated citations are polluting scientific literature. What can be done? — Nature, Apr 2026 [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00969-z] * Infuserve America: Methylene Blue information [https://infuserveamerica.com/] * MTBW Ep 24 Season 2 on Methylene Blue-https://shows.acast.com/made-to-be-whole/episodes/the-healing-power-of-methylene-blue-for-lyme-disease-bartone Reflect on your own compelling future. Take five minutes today to write down what motivates you to keep moving forward on your healing journey. Looking for advanced therapies or support? Reach out to our office if you have questions about plasma exchange, membership, or any recent changes in our practice. Share this episode! Know someone who struggles to find hope or feel overwhelmed by online health info? Send them this show and help them discover they're not alone. Stay tuned, and remember: You were made to be whole. All resources mentioned on the show can be found at: https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/ [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] Any references to any particular people, including family, have been shared with prior consent. Transcripts and notes generated with Descript and Castmagic and then edited by human eyes and hands. Lightly edited and produced by BiCurean Consulting, BiCurean.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Lyme and Babesia Healing Journey: From Patient to Health Coach

In this episode of the Made to Be Whole podcast, host Krista Michener sits down with Lyme disease and Babesia survivor Molly to explore her long journey toward healing, remission, and her decision to become a health coach. This intimate conversation covers the realities of living with chronic illness, misdiagnosis, the value of integrative and innovative treatments, and how lived experience inspires Molly to support others on their path to wholeness. If you or a loved one have been impacted by Lyme, Babesia, or chronic health struggles, this episode offers hope, practical advice, and insight from someone who’s walked the path and returned to help others. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE * A Survivor’s Story: Molly shares her personal experience with years of undiagnosed symptoms, misdiagnoses, and how her eventual Babesia and Lyme diagnosis changed her life and recovery path. * Navigating Complex Symptoms: Understanding the physical, neurological, and emotional toll of Lyme and Babesia, from debilitating pain and night sweats to challenges with mental health and relationships. * Integrative Treatment Approaches: How comprehensive, modalities-based care (including plasmapheresis and IV therapies) helped Molly reach remission, and why ongoing professional development in integrative health is key for better patient outcomes. * Peer Support & Coaching: The vital role of patient-to-patient support and why a coach who’s “been there” can make the healing process less isolating and more effective. * Education and Advocacy: Molly’s insights as an educator on working with schools, advocating for children with chronic illness, and how customized education solutions can support families facing similar journeys. * Understanding Membership and Access to Care: Krista Michener and Molly explain the new membership program, addressing common concerns, and how it aims to increase access, responsiveness, and individualized support. Connect with Us: Struggling with Lyme, Babesia, or chronic symptoms? Reach out for support from our team of health coaches who have walked the walk. Learn More: Visit AHP Integrative Health [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] for resources on innovative treatments, education advocacy, and to learn about our new membership options. Book a Consultation: Ready to take the next step in your healing journey? Schedule a visit or call to receive individualized care and support. Stay tuned, and remember: You were made to be whole. All resources mentioned on the show can be found at: https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/ [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] Any references to any particular people, including family, have been shared with prior consent. Transcripts and notes generated with Descript and Castmagic and then edited by human eyes and hands. Lightly edited and produced by BiCurean Consulting, BiCurean.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Hope and Healing

In this inspiring episode of Made to Be Whole, we sit down with Megan Krych to discuss her courageous battle with autoimmune encephalitis—a condition often misdiagnosed and misunderstood, especially in adults. Megan shares how her years-long search for answers, persistent symptoms, and an eventually validating diagnosis led her to IVIG therapy and a path of real healing. Listen as we explore key lessons about autoimmune encephalitis, the importance of persistence and support, and the hope that comes from being made whole. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Recognizing Adult Autoimmune Encephalitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Common Misconceptions * The Emotional Impact of Invisible Illness and the Validation of a Name * Navigating IVIG Therapy: From Side Effects to Lasting Relief * Building a Support System: Family, Friends, and Medical Teams * Strategies for Coping, Healing, and Looking Forward with Hope RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: * All resources mentioned on the show: https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/ [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] * Book: "Brain on Fire" [https://bookshop.org/a/90423/9781451621389] by Susannah Cahalan * More about IVIG Therapy: AHP Integrative Health’s IVIG resource [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] Feeling alone in your journey? Reach out for support—healing starts with connection! Have unexplained symptoms? Ask your provider about autoimmune brain panel testing and keep searching for answers. Know someone struggling with chronic anxiety or autoimmune issues? Share this episode to spread hope and awareness! Stay tuned, and remember: You were made to be whole. All resources mentioned on the show can be found at: https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/ [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] Any references to any particular people, including family, have been shared with prior consent. Transcripts and notes generated with Descript and Castmagic and then edited by human eyes and hands. Lightly edited and produced by BiCurean Consulting, BiCurean.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Meet Health Coach Megan Eicher

On this episode of Made to Be Whole, host Krista welcomes health coach Megan Eicher to share her family’s transformative journey with Lyme disease. Megan reflects on her experiences advocating for her sons, navigating complex diagnoses, and the practical shifts that empowered sustained healing. With personal and professional insight—including her background in social work, homeschooling, and functional medicine—Megan offers hope and actionable advice for families facing similar chronic health journeys. Target keywords: Lyme disease, family advocacy, functional medicine, health coaching, Megan Eicher. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: * Meeting Health Coach Megan Eicher: Learn about Megan’s family, background, and role at the practice. * A Family’s Journey Through Lyme Disease: From first symptoms to misdiagnosis, advocacy, and finding Lyme-literate care. * The Power of Functional Medicine and Genetic Testing: How targeted tests and interventions transformed her son’s health, especially regarding memory and executive functioning. * Practical Support for Diet and Lifestyle Changes: Real stories about handling gluten-free living, memory aids, and reducing overwhelm for both parents and kids. * The Importance of Support Systems: Building a circle of understanding through family, friends, and health coaches—even when some people don’t understand. * How Coaching Can Offer Hope and Guidance: Megan’s approach to helping others navigate complex healing, including her training and the unique support coaches can provide. * Advice for Families New to Chronic Illness: Finding the right provider, building your support team, and giving yourself permission to seek understanding and validation. Interested in personalized coaching or support? Meet our health coaches and find your partner on the healing journey at AHP Integrative Health [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/]. Ready to explore root causes? Ask your provider about functional medicine testing and how it could unlock your next steps in healing. Stay tuned, and remember: You were made to be whole. All resources mentioned on the show can be found at: https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/ [https://ahpintegrativehealth.com/] Any references to any particular people, including family, have been shared with prior consent. Transcripts and notes generated with Descript and Castmagic and then edited by human eyes and hands. Lightly edited and produced by BiCurean Consulting, BiCurean.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.