Meet our Herbie of the Week, Darlene. Through a plant-based diet, Darlene overcame crippling pain and depression with the added bonus of a 65-lb. weight loss!
HH: Can you tell us a little bit about your history with pain?
Many years ago, I became disabled when I injured my back while lifting a patient, working as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit. Subsequent surgeries made my back much worse. I worked for a while in an insurance company, but chronic pain interfered too much with my ability to work. My back pain became such an issue that a pain pump was implanted in me, delivering pain medication directly into my spinal canal. Chronic pain (and not being able to work) is such a difficult thing to deal with day after day, year after year, that it also lead to me becoming depressed.
I went through many years of medication trials and was diagnosed with Medication-Resistant Major Depression. Actually, one medication worked really well within one week's time but had to be stopped because of a potentially dangerous side effect. Over time, with continued back pain and depression, I gained a lot of weight. I found I felt better when I ate sweet food like ice cream and chocolate, although that feeling didn't last long and I wanted more to feel better.