For years I lived with a constant fear. I never knew when my body would react again. That is why I always carried an adrenaline pen. Not as a precaution, but because I could need it at any moment.
I am 51 years old. At the age of two and a half I lost one of my kidneys to a Wilms tumour, a form of childhood cancer. Until I was twenty I lived with one kidney without any complaints.
Around the age of twenty I became seriously ill. In one month I gained eight kilos and was extremely tired. Only after a year of tests did it become clear that my thyroid had completely failed. Thanks to medication I got this under control – until I was thirty.
Then came a painful divorce. Shortly afterwards my body started to rebel again. I got bumps, itching and a burning sensation all over my body. This was accompanied by fever and oedema in my face, so severe that my eyes were almost shut and my lips swelled up until they touched my nose. An unknown allergy was diagnosed, falling under the heading of hives. The cause, however, remained unknown. It completely disrupted my daily life. I could no longer sleep and could barely function. My hands and feet swelled up, making walking almost impossible.
For nineteen years I sought help, both in Turkey and in the Netherlands. I went from doctor to doctor and regularly ended up in the emergency department with severe shortness of breath and a swollen tongue that terrified me. I carried an adrenaline pen as standard and received treatment with corticosteroids time and time again. My situation became so hopeless that at times I no longer wanted to live.
During an appointment at the physiotherapist I ran into Jenneke, someone I already knew from a few years earlier. She saw immediately that my complaints did not fit the “picture” of physiotherapy. She encouraged me to go to the emergency room when things really went wrong. But she also said: if they find nothing, come back – then I want to help you in a different way.
Among other things, she talked about water. Honestly, at first I had to laugh. How could water help me after everything I had been through? I had nothing left to lose, so I decided to give it a try anyway. From that moment, something slowly began to change.
The first months were not without challenges. My body sometimes reacted strongly. I had periods of diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, skin rashes and strong fluctuations in my energy. With natural support this period was easier to get through.
Yet within two weeks I already noticed that something was starting to change. My rash first got worse and then subsided. After three weeks, improvements were already visible in my blood values. My cholesterol, blood sugar, fatigue and stomach complaints also showed that my body was starting to respond differently.
In January 2025 I stopped my hormone tablets. That temporarily caused major fluctuations again: low mood, migraine, mood swings, hot flushes and binge eating. Fortunately this phase also passed. After that I felt myself getting stronger and stronger and noticed that my body could handle more, step by step.
I could tolerate food again that I had not been able to eat for years. Tomato, aubergine, oyster mushroom, nuts, banana, kiwi… It felt as if I was getting my life back bit by bit. How special it is, after years, to enjoy a simple peanut butter sandwich again?
Throughout this whole process Jenneke stood by me. She listened, explained, gave advice on nutrition and supplements and reassured me time and again. Jenneke treated me where needed to bring relief.
And now, eight months later, my life has completely changed. For the first time in years I no longer use any medication. No hormones, no anti-inflammatories (corticosteroids), no antihistamines, no sleeping pills and no emergency medication such as an adrenaline pen.
For the first time in years I feel free, clear and in balance. My body no longer reacts to every stimulus. I am living again.
— Alime
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