When I was in my late twenties, my health slowly deteriorated.

It started where I’d have an odd day here or there when I’d feel a little dizzy. I thought, maybe it’s allergies messing with my sinuses, or my low blood pressure. And when I googled vertigo, everyone on the internet made it seem pretty normal as long as it didn’t last too long. Mine was certainly no big deal.

Then there were days when my stomach would hurt and puff up way past my “I can pull off a crop top” comfort zone. I’d feel a little embarrassed about my bloated belly – but let’s be real – I’m a woman, and I’ve yet to meet a woman who doesn’t get bloated from time to time. I didn’t think it could be anything serious.

And sure, my left hip got “creaky” and “crabby” sometimes. But I figured it was just an old dance injury acting up.

Somehow these things slowly became a regularity in my life.

I blamed it all on getting older: hormones changing, a slowing metabolism, lack of sleep, or too much to do. And no way did I think these things could possibly be related to each other.

I had to take a step back and look at myself.

My left hip ached with deep, chronic pain – some days I had trouble standing alone on my left foot and even sleeping was painful because of it.

I’d had a couple bouts of intense vertigo, and a constant mild dizziness had somehow become the norm.

Most days, I had a stomach ache for at least an hour or two. My bloated belly was bad enough that I felt embarrassed to ever wear anything tight because of how “pregnant” I looked. And when I stepped on the bathroom scale (something I almost never do), I couldn’t believe that I’d somehow gained 10 pounds.

My hands sometimes felt “weird” – shaky and achey, and my tongue would frequently either burn or feel numb.

I grew up spending most of my childhood in the dance studio (bunhead all the way), and my wannabe hippie mom had me eating broccoli and spelt bread and a daily multivitamin while other kids were having Lunchables and Mountain Dew.

My dance background and healthy upbringing led me to yoga and fitness as a I got older, and eventually took me down the path of becoming a yoga and barre instructor.

As someone whose lifestyle was focused on being health conscious, I brushed aside all my symptoms when I started to feel sick. I didn’t think there could possibly be anything wrong with me!

I stopped teaching fitness.

After a handful of doctor appointments and several blood tests that checked for everything from celiac antibodies to thyroid hormones to amino acids in my blood to vitamins and minerals in my cells, I got my diagnosis. Hemochromatosis. Iron overload disorder.

One of those blood tests had included thorough iron panel, and when my doctor saw the numbers, she followed up with the genetic test for hereditary hemochromatosis, and it turned out I had two copies of the C282Y mutation. 

I know some people can start bloodletting and BOOM right away they see big changes. Not me.

I went on a new healthy diet plan and had even more extensive blood tests done to test my immune system’s inflammatory responses. 

Healing was hard work – in the end, I gave up some of my favorite foods and learned to cook in a new low-iron and anti-inflammatory way, and kept up with regular blood donations.

It was a winding road to recovery.

On top of diet changes and bloodletting, I removed my IUD, worked with a nutritionist, had my poop studied, tried running (my least favorite form of exercise!), experimented with herbs, spices, and supplements, and researched (like crazy) the best strategies and methods for dealing with hemochromatosis.

I dedicated myself to doing whatever it took to heal myself.

I want to help anyone going through a similar situation.

On top of that, I didn’t have easy access to good information.

I’m constantly learning new information, trying new recipes, researching how hemochromatosis works, and doing whatever it takes to protect my body from the dizzy spells, achey joints, and agonizing gut pains I felt in my late twenties.

Just a heads up, I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist, and I don’t know the perfect or “right” diet/lifestyle for hemochromatosis.

I’ve just been asking questions about how to live well with hemochromatosis, and I’ve been writing down all the insights and answers I can find right here.

talorae is my place to organize everything I’ve discovered about hemochromatosis (from hepcidin to polyphenols to smoothie recipes to cooking tricks to the best stretches for joint pain). But I also dive into other things that I think are worth sharing – plant-based food choices, yoga sequences, fitness tips, stress-management, and mindfulness….anything and everything that’s been helpful for me!

When I’m not caught up blogging on talorae, you can find me in a yoga class, walking my dog lil’ P, crafting new “iron-fighting” recipes in the kitchen, watching re-runs of my favorite 90’s shows, and drinking tea – oh and some red wine too!

And, just in case you’re curious, talorae got its name because of my Finnish grandmother. I spent a lot of time growing up around her. “Talo” in Finnish means “house,” and talorae.com is my way of welcoming you to my little blogging home here.