Meet the Chef
Hi there, I’m Vanessa. I graduated from a culinary arts program at Renton Technical College in 1999. Cooking and food for health is a huge passion for me! After trying to work in local kitchens & being rejected for being a female, I opened my own business as a personal chef. Thank goodness times have changed and women are accepted now as Chef’s! Since then, I’ve helped others live a healthy lifestyle for over 25 years – as ‘Chef V’.
Then my life took a tragic turn in 2016 – I became severely limited in what I could do. Standing for long periods at a time became difficult. When my symptoms got out of whack I get a stool, sit on the floor or counter, wear compression socks or leggings. Chronic illness doesn’t come with an instruction manual so be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can without a recipe to follow…Until Now!
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Sugar and spice is SO yesterday... instead, be salty, defiant, and extremely noncompliant. That's what happens out of nowhere with our bodies.
In 2014 I was starting to have bad gastroenterologist issues, not being able to hold food down, nausea, and lots of stomach pains. In February 2015 I had surgery for colon cancer. That took a toll on my body in so many ways. Fall of 2016 I started having heart palpitations, passing out dizziness, chronic fatigue, lots of pain, my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest, my heart rate going from 260-40, brain fog, headaches and lots of nausea. In December 2017 my Primary Care Provider, Melanie Hammond, got me into Stanford. This gave me a diagnosis, POTS. I never fought for a diagnosis to know what I have. I fight for figuring it out so I can get better… But how do you treat it?!? Over the years I have found that nutrition, medications, high sodium intake, electrolytes, physical therapy, massage, chiropractic, GI doctor, cardiologist, PCP, stretching throughout the day, botox to manage my headaches, electric stim, dry needling, compression socks or leggings, and supplements have helped manage my symptoms.
In July 2019 I was weighing over 220 lbs. I needed to change my lifestyle to better myself, so I took the challenge of my knowledge of nutrition. I lost 50lbs by February 2020. That’s when I started experiencing convulsive syncope episodes. For a while I was having what looked like seizures, but it was syncope with convulsions due to tachycardia dropping quickly into bradycardia and/or my blood pressure dropping extremely low. I was unable to walk, passing out over a dozen times a day, in a wheelchair, using a walker, migraines, stuttering, shaky, and burning sensation all over. These are a few of my crazy symptoms. No one had answers and it was hard to find the right healthcare providers.
Before being admitted into the hospital I felt hopeless. In March 2020 I met an amazing local cardiologist, Dr. Waddy Gonzalez. He went outside of the box to understand POTS. He placed me on midodrine and a low dose of Fludrocortisone. After a few weeks of being placed on these medications, I stop having any convulsive syncope episodes. I experienced less passing out and didn’t need a wheelchair.
Today, I celebrate my body not for how it looks, but for the life it carries, the stories it tells, and the incredible journey it's on.
After this I felt the need of a therapist. Is this to workout my shit out or the grieve of my diagnosis of this awful chronic illness?!? A little bit of both for me. Remember we can all get in a dark place when first diagnosed because we don’t understand. We may loose loved ones over this illness because they didn’t take the time to really understand what we go through. But don’t ever give up or feel like you’re alone. September 2020 I received a power port to help me with receiving lactated rings. It’s hard to keep up with fluids no matter how much I I intake myself. Going to the hospital 2-3 times a week became exhausting. With travel time and staying at the hospital it took over 3-4 hours each time. I was able to start accessing my own port and do my own infusions at home. It took time and practice to feel comfortable to do these myself. I still have days I reach out to my home nurse to help me access my port.
In 2021 I started advocating for so us that have Dysautonomia. Unfortunately, I found out having this is such a full time job. Throughout the next few years I looked into different treatments, medications, or any suggestions for any kind of relief. I tried acupuncture, PT, massage, chiropractic, dry needling, electric stim, Stanford, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, finding the right fit of drs who could manage and actually understands Dysautonomia.
No, it’s not in our heads or anxiety. These are real symptoms! 2022 I was able to really have an understanding of what we have. Can you say you have someone in your life who can pass out of nowhere? It’s not clear all the time how or where our symptoms come from but here we are. I’d like to think I’m strong but some days get the best of me.
2023 I was introduced to Marci Zavala. After working with her for a few months I found out her husband, Damon Zavala, is the one who helped diagnose me. Melanie Hammond went to him in 2017 after dealing with crazy symptoms for over a year. Corlanor was suggested to me in May 2023 and my symptoms became less sympathetic. But every day is still an adventure! Marci helped me get on the proper supplements and they’ve helped me tremendously. Remember just because one thing works for one person doesn’t always work for another. All of our bodies are different. After Marci had me take a Dutch Test & GI Map Test we found a lot of areas in my body that needed a little extra love. She also helped me get a diagnosis of EDS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. EDS affects the connective tissue, primarily the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. The best way to describe it is to be able to do crazy party tricks.
Let not one person take away your sparkle! Shine bright and be the unique person you are!
The best advice I can give you on keeping the weight off is to remember it’s a mental challenge, not a physical one. If you can take control of your mind and body, the weight loss will follow. Remember it’s not about being skinny. It’s about being healthy and you’re the only one in control of your body. Take care of yourself. Emotionally, Mentally and Physically. Don’t allow others to bring you down, and remember to always be in control of yourself!
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