Hi! My name is Ariel Wachowiak. I support individuals struggling from chronic Lyme Disease move from ‘just surviving’ to thriving. I grew up living an active life in rural New Hampshire. I competed in ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, and horseback riding. Although I was highly active, I began to develop strange symptoms as a child and teenager. I lost my voice for five months, I felt constantly fatigued, I had insomnia and migraines. It wasn’t until I was in my early 20s when I could no longer ignore these symptoms. I developed horrific constant body pain that made me want to cut my skin open to relieve the tension. I developed restless leg syndrome with worsening insomnia. I suffered through multiple migraines per week with never-ending brain fog. I experienced bottomless fatigue that made me barter with myself just to get out of bed. I then developed a rare, potentially fatal disease known as Guillian Barre Syndrome, or glove and stocking paralysis, that stole my ability to contract my leg muscles or wiggle my toes. From lifelong athlete to wheelchair bound, I was in an identity crisis and nobody seemed to be able to help. I traveled thousands of miles to see specialists, but nobody had any answers. Worse than this, doctors often didn’t believe the symptoms I was experiencing, and would tell me my experience was simply in my head. I was young enough to not grasp the full magnitude of my illness. My friend got mad at me for not taking my illness seriously. I just always thought it would go away. And then it didn’t.
A doctor from NYC clinically diagnosed me with Lyme Disease, but told me that my diagnostic lab results were merely suggestive, and did not yield enough evidence for the standard treatment of a pic line and months of antibiotics. I was absolutely lost and I didn’t know what to do. I was looking for alternatives. It was then that I remembered acupuncture and my experience with my dog. My dog had a spinal injury that resulted in pain and paralysis. The vet wanted to ‘throw a hail Mary’ and try acupuncture. Although we had scheduled to euthanize her to end her suffering, within three treatments she was walking again. This is when I gave up my quest for answers and began relying solely on Chinese medicine for support. With the help of (daily) acupuncture, Chinese botanical medicine, dietary changes, and lifestyle accommodations, I was gradually able to climb out of the depths of despair and back into optimal health. I now have the freedom to life the life I want. I am back on the ice, playing and coaching ice hockey, as well as swimming every morning.
The moment you’re about to give up is the moment where everything can change. Hold onto hope, for help and optimal health are just around the corner.
Three Things I Stand For
Over the years, I started to realize three things that I set out to change…
Conventional medicine is ill-equipped to deal with chronic disease. Conventional medicine is overloaded with patients. This causes people with complex, multi-system, chronic ailments to not get the attention and help that they need and deserve.
Chronic Lyme Disease is a worldwide epidemic that we cannot afford to ignore. Lyme Disease is found throughout the United States, as well as in more than sixty other countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme Disease in the US every year… Which is 1.5 times the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer. But here's the kicker: Because Lyme Disease can be difficult to diagnose, many people who actually have Lyme Disease may be misdiagnosed with other conditions, leading experts to believe that the true number of cases per year is actually much higher. When Lyme Disease is not diagnosed and treated early, the disease spreads and hides throughout the body for weeks, months, or years at a time. Untreated or underrated Lyme Disease can lead to severe symptoms that are difficult to resolve. This can lead to problems with the brain, nervous system, muscles, joints, heart, circulation, digestion, reproductive system, and skin. With conventional medicine being overloaded with patients, people with chronic Lyme Disease are often left in the cold, unable to find the right help.
With the right tools, you CAN rid yourself of even the most aggressive, persistent Lyme Disease and get back to living your dream life!
What patients are saying about working with me:
Ariel is nothing short or a miracle worker. not only from her own life story, but the health..the life she has given me back through her treatments has been life changing. I have been a guinea pig for Western medicine for too long and after being with her for two years now I will never go back to that type of medicine. Ariel is a beautiful soul and her energy is absolutely wonderful to be around and absorb. I would highly, highly, recommend her if you want your health back .. your life back. Her dedication, knowledge and compassion for her patients is incredible. She has been a blessing in my life and I am forever grateful to have found her! ~ Marissa B.
Ariel has a wonderful approach and I would highly recommend her. She is an excellent listener, extremely thoughtful, and an advocate for your health. You always feel like her priority when working together is to get you on a clear path to healing. Ariel is professional, approachable, and a necessary tool for your journey to wellness. ~ Amy C.
Chronic Lyme Disease can be a monster… but you don’t have to go through it alone.
You may be struggling to juggle time with your family and kids when you’re unsure of how to even get out of bed. Your family may look at you with disappointment because they can’t understand what you’re going through. You may be crying out in pain but nobody is around to hear it. The worst part of Lyme Disease may be that you feel like you can’t be a supportive parent or spouse. You may fear being abandoned if your symptoms get to be too much for others to handle. You may feel like you are a slave to your body. You may worry that people whisper behind your back, believing that you are over exaggerating your symptoms. Conventional medicine may tell you that all of your symptoms are in your head, or they may tell you to adjust to your new normal because things are never going to get better. You may have taken antibiotics, only to have all of your symptoms return with a vengeance when you stopped taking them.
If you’ve been suffering with Lyme Disease and can’t seem to get rid of it, I can help you troubleshoot some of the hidden blockages to recovery and help you stop that flare up from getting even worse. Click the link below to learn more about my free 45 minute Lyme Disease Troubleshooting Session (done virtually or in-office) where we’ll explore your health history in more detail and identify some of the top root causes of your chronic Lyme symptoms.
Click here to book your appointment now, or get in touch via email: acupuncturebyariel@gmail.com or phone: (716)427-4359.
I look forward to meeting you!
Ariel Wachowiak