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My Story

My  name is Erin Porter and this is my story of overcoming chronic illness due to mold, a difficult childhood, food addiction, and finding God in the process.

I have been blessed to be featured on PBS American Health Journal, Christian Television Network, Know the Cause, ABC, CBS, NBC and more.  The second edition of my book Eat Pray Get Well – A Journey from Chronic Illness & Brokenness to Wholeness & Healing includes exclusive interviews with others, like myself, who have cried out to God in desperation and for answers, such as Supermodel Carol Alt, Doug Kaufmann – Host of televisions Know the Cause, renowned cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra and much more.

Sharing my story on televisions Know the Cause

Health History

I had had a love affair with junk food for as long as I could remember.  I was also eating everything in sight and not gaining a pound for as long as I could remember.  Bagels, donuts, Cocoa Puffs, cookies, this is what made up probably 90% of my dietary intake.  At the age of 6 I started to develop health issues such as asthma and allergies when we moved into a home that unbeknownst to us had mold issues.

My Health Was About To Take A Nosedive

At 18 years old I started working in Manhattan and moved into an apartment that had a visible mold problem.  That is when I came down with my first sinus infection.  This is where things were about to get much worse.

I was immediately put on more antibiotics.  My infection would go away for about 30 days only to return stronger and so I was placed on stronger antibiotics. This went on for years.  I was not aware of it at the time (this was in the 80’s, early 90’s before the internet) I was destroying my health with the endless rounds of antibiotics.  With my immune system compromised I was plagued by the Epstein bar virus. Instead of the virus running its normal course, my body started attacking my nerves and I had nerve pain as well as a host of other problems.  I had to have a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, followed by more antibiotics, then went on to have FOUR separate sinus surgeries over the course of five years when the antibiotics were no longer working.

Resistant Infections

My infection also became resistant to some of the antibiotics I was taking because of the overuse.  I went to see an infectious disease doctor who wanted to place a PICC line in my arm and I would receive IV antibiotics.  My gut told me no.  The doctor did however convince me to take antibiotics for 6 or 7 out of my 9 months of pregnancy.  Even though my son is healthy this is something that bothers me to this day.

One of my interviews on Televisions Know The Cause sharing my story of chronic illness

More Health Problems

Along with chronic sinus infections,  I also battled with acid reflux (more specifically laryngopharyngeal reflux), asthma, food allergies, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia pain, nerve pain, restless leg, reoccurring Epstein Barr virus, and heart arrhythmias.  By this time I calculated I had probably taken approximately 100 courses of antibiotics in those 25 years.  I was a mess!   During that very dark time I remember crying out to God begging him for answers as to why I got sick and how to heal.   I will never forget, as I was crying and praying for answers I was also scoffing down a chocolate hostess cupcake.  That’s how far off course I was!  That was the first time God dealt with me about my detrimental eating habits.

Because I wasn’t overweight, I never viewed what I was eating (or how much) as a problem. The first thing I felt lead to do was go sugar free – yeast free.  My allergies to yeast and mold were off the chart so I knew this was a great start.  I wish I could say from that point on I never touched junk food again but I was addicted to sugar!  I would try to eat perfect for a day and often succeed only to binge the next day on anything I could get my hands on that had sugar in it.

Finding My “Cause”

Although I was seeing great improvement with my symptoms, I still didn’t have my eating under control.  It wasn’t until I saw Doug Kaufmann’s television show called Know the Cause, did the lightbulb go off.  He was discussing sinus infections and the 1999 study out of the mayo clinic which states that approximately 94% of chronic sinusitis is fungal and that the antibiotics we are given only fuels the fungus making you sicker.  In fact, Doug’s mantra is FUPO (fungus until proven otherwise).  Mine had ALREADY been proven.  The sinus culture from my last surgery had come back both bacterial (chronic pseudomonas and staph)and fungal!

When I found myself even sicker after my fourth sinus surgery I decided to fly to NY to see an ENT (formally from the Mayo clinic) who specialized in fungal sinusitis. He looked at my CT scan and said I had a SEVERE fungal infection exasperated by years of antibiotics.  Note: I had another ENT tell me I had one of the most severe fungal infections he had ever seen in his many years of practice.

Fighting Candida And Fungus

Instead of a fifth surgery I went on Doug Kaufmann’s Phase 1 recommend diet (then eventually phase II) and incorporated anti fungals and supplements like oil of oregano, colostrum (this made a huge difference as it heals the gut which in turn helps heal sinuses) and supplements like NAD, NAC, ALA, and Glutathione into my routine and watched my world transform.   Most of the former health issues were now in my rearview mirror however, I still had bouts of sinus issues but nothing like I experienced in the past.  Now I spend my life helping people discover how to help heal their bodies.  I have been featured on many television and radio shows and God has blessed me with this platform.  For me, my past hurts and illness are now being turned into something beautiful as God displays his promise in Romans 8:28.

History of Binging

I took this picture below of the food on my lap back when I was addicted to all things sugar!  I ran into my local Barnes and Noble for a book and came out with this! (Carmel turtle cheesecake AND a vanilla cupcake). Of course I ate it right there in my car and loved every second of it only to suffer the consequences in my health shortly after.  The crazy part is I could go on to eat an entire meal afterwards.  I didn’t have a weight problem so it never crossed my mind eating this way was a problem. By the time I took this picture I KNEW it was a problem but I still had trouble stopping. I hope it helps someone.  My story also includes overcoming a difficult (some may say abusive) childhood and my journey with God to healing from emotional scares as well.

Childhood History

I grew up in a difficult (some may say abusive) childhood and in my book The second edition of My book, Eat Pray Get Well ~ A Journey from Chronic Illness, Brokenness to Wholeness & Healing has been released. Forward written by Doug Kaufmann – Host of televisions “Know The Cause”  I have a section about overcoming emotional abuse and old wounds.  Hopefully through somewhat humorous childhood stories.  It can be found both on my website or on Amazon.

More of My Story On Televisions Know The Cause

All of my recipes are free of PROCESSED SUGAR, WHEAT, GLUTEN, PEANUTS, YEAST, CORN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS AND COLORS.

About Eat Pray Get Well Book (2nd edition)

It’s a story of overcoming chronic illness, a difficult childhood, and food addiction, plus exclusive interviews with Supermodel Carol Alt, renowned cardiologist Stephen Sinatra MD, Joe Cross of Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and more.   Also includes 55 recipes free of gluten, wheat, yeast, peanuts, refined sugar.

If you are sick and running from doctor to doctor in search of the “cause” of your mystery illness.  

Do you feel stuck from past hurts and in search of emotional freedom? . . .

Are a junk food junkie or have an unhealthy relationship with food?. . .

Read how it’s often in the tough times that we grow closer to God….

Eat Pray Get Well is an Eye Opener…

Eat Pray Get Well the book, can be found both on my website or on Amazon. As well as some retail book stores.

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Eat Pray Get Well Book

If you suffer from Chronic Fatigue, Sinus Infections, Fibromyalgia, Food Allergies, Auto Immune Disease, Acid Reflux, Candida, Depression – this book is for you.

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About Erin

I have been fortunate to be featured on national Television including PBS American Health Journal, Know the Cause, CTN, ABC, NBC, CBS and more. I was sick for decades, endured many surgeries, took over 100 courses of antibiotics, and then I changed everything and everything changed. My book Eat Pray Get Well is about overcoming a tumultuous childhood, decades of chronic illness, and finding God in the process. Includes exclusive interviews with renowned Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Supermodel Carol Alt, Doug Kaufmann, and many more. Plus 55 gluten free recipes woven throughout. 

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