Local RN shares her journey and offers hope to those suffering from pain, fatigue, and autoimmune diseases

Sharrie Thompson and husband Lennis

Thompson working on Heart Rhythms by strumming and drumming

Thompson and her two adult children

Thompson, Lennis and their two grandchildren 

A local RN no longer lives with pain, fatigue, and a host of other autoimmune symptoms after making significant changes in her life. Sharrie Thompson, is a Paducah resident, happily married, and living her best life, but that's not always been the case. Thompson and her husband Lennis both had careers in the medical field. Thompson was a registered nurse and Lennis a hospital administrator.  While living in Corbin, she was diagnosed with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and fibromyalgia. The family moved back to Paducah in order for Lennis to have help with their two children, a household, and a sick wife. Thompson confessed, "I hadn't always been living my best life." 
 
Thompson graduated nursing school from Murray State University in 1981 and worked 16 years for the Baptist Healthcare System in Paducah, La Grange, and Corbin. It was here she found solace in snack cakes, cigarettes, and coffee while leaving her untamed stress level to fate. There have been numerous studies on this very scenario. Nurses advise their patients to stay physically active, eat healthy, manage stress, get plenty of sleep, and keep up strong, satisfying relationships. The thing is, it doesn’t always translate into nurses' self-care. Thompson said, "At that time, nurses were the worst patients.  Many of us smoked, drank too much coffee, lived for the adrenaline rushes, ate out of the vending machines, and slept little. There was an 'invincibility thinking' that ran in the culture.”

After many years of taking care of others, Thompson fell ill and took a forced break from nursing in 1997 which lasted until 2013. Before falling ill, her health consisted of frequent colds, viruses, flu, headaches, heartburn {GERD], chronic bronchitis, and other minor infections. She was placed on antibiotics and steroids several times each cold and flu season. By 1997, Thompson had no energy, muscle aches, short-term memory loss, poor vision, swollen lymph glands, and trouble walking without assistance. It was during this time, she received the diagnosis of CFS and fibromyalgia. 

Thompson didn’t like the diagnosis. Though her doctor in Corbin knew her well, she sought second, third, and fourth opinions in Paducah and surrounding metropolitan areas, enduring many tests only to have the same answers. Acceptance was the next step. 

Then came the move to Paducah. Thompson was spending 16 to 20 hours a day in bed or on the couch. The family was in crisis.

The journey to healing began with cleaning up nutrition. At a loss and with limited information, Lennis started cooking salmon and making fresh salads every night. He would print articles for Thompson to read and set them by her bedside. Lennis did his research too. He found an article on yoga instruction and concluded that this mind and body practice could be a piece of the puzzle for those suffering from CHF and fibromyalgia. 

At that time, there weren’t any yoga instructors in Paducah. Thompson said that by divine intervention a hand-delivered flyer appeared in their mailbox about a new instructor in town, Suzi Renaud, and she was going to offer a weekend of free classes right across the street from Thompson's home. 

“The first class was brutal,” said Thompson. The months of inactivity had caused muscle wasting. Thompson started private classes and after a year, physical therapy. Shortly afterwards, Thompson started seeing Dr. Michael Winters a local chiropractor. 
 
Dr. Winters' individualized approach focuses on the prevention, management, and cause of a complex chronic disease. Dr. Winters posed the question, “How much change are you willing to do to get better?” 

That’s when ‘the clean’ lifestyle started. A clean lifestyle includes clean foods, hydration, sleep,  checking and removing toxins, and the use of supplements to support the body as it begins to heal. “Our body is designed to be self-healing if supported correctly,” said Thompson. 
 
A nutritional therapy practitioner, Victoria Lafont, also became a huge part of the healing journey. She worked with Thompson prescribing foods as medicine, focusing on the body's best functioning ability, managing the root problem, and providing support. 

Thompson’s daughter, Raachel Carroll, became a NTP and moved her practice from Elizabethtown to Paducah. Since moving back home,  she's now a big part of her mom’s wellness program. The practice, Well-Rounded Wellness. is on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Well-Rounded-Wellness-110042257559616
 
The combination of treatments lasted for several years. After such time, Thompson began to thrive and once again became a productive, get-out-of-bed kind of person. 
 
In 2013, Thompson started her practice, I. O. N. Wellness LLC (It’s Only Natural). Thompson is a RN living with autoimmune disease. In her practice she doesn’t diagnose, treat or prescribe; rather she teaches clients supporting techniques and how to merge them easily into their life.  
 
“While working through my health issues, it was basically a lot of trial and error, research, and sadness.” reflected Thompson. “I’ve been through it and wanted to share what I found, how it’s done, and an easier way.” Her complementary care approach uses conventional healthcare in conjunction with mind, body, and spirit wellness.  

Thompson's other specialties include a clinical certification in aromatherapy or essential oils.  She facilitates focusing energy where it’s needed through specialized training as a Reiki Master and Advanced Pranic Practitioner. She also educates as a  Heart Rhythms Protocol Facilitator and Indigenous Style Spiritual Healer.  

Clients of I.O.N. Wellness begin with an intake assessment covering physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional issues. “Prayer is a huge part of recovery,” said Thompson. She goes back to the question posed by Dr. Winters, “How much are you willing to change?” Thompson said, “If someone is so bogged down with stress that they're frozen, that’s not the time to discuss eating organic vegetables.” It’s left up to the client how much work they want to do and their time frame. 

There are a few local people who are influencers in Thompson’s practice. Jennifer Hunt with Living Arts Center is one of those influences. “She was my massage therapist as I began my travels to better health,” explained Thompson. Another influence is Janice Mickle out of Nashville, TN. She is Thompson’s mentor in indigenous training. “Both are very wise, spiritual women,” shared Thompson. 

When discussing Thompson’s lifestyle, there are things to consider. She said, “Any of the old symptoms creep back in if you take some time off your healthy lifestyle. If I walk the walk that I talk, I do great. When I decide to step off the path, I’ll have pain the next day with brain fog and processing issues as well as exaggerated fatigue.” She encourages clients to discuss with medical doctors the methods used at I.O.N. The connection between mind, body, and spirit taught in nursing programs is the central focus of her practice. 

Combining traditional medicine with complementary healthcare could be the best reward a client could give themselves. Thompson said, “It makes no sense to treat the wound but leave the knife that caused the wound in place.” I.O.N. has a Facebook page and would welcome the opportunity to discuss treatment options. Check out their page and send a private message. https://www.facebook.com/itsonlynaturalpaducah

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