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In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with board-certified health and wellness coach Debbie Roppo, we move beyond the shock of diagnosis and into the chapter that so many people are desperate for: what happens next.

Debbie was told her rheumatoid arthritis was a life sentence. She was warned that her future would only decline. But today, she’s living proof that a diagnosis does not always get the final word.

In this episode, Debbie shares the real steps she took after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease, including the functional medicine approach that helped her look beyond symptom suppression and start asking deeper questions about root causes, lifestyle triggers, and healing.

We talk about the changes that made the biggest difference including nutrition, movement, stress, mindset, and why the mind-body connection became the true turning point in her recovery and remission journey.

This is an episode about hope, resilience, and reclaiming your power after chronic illness.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Debbie’s simple explanation of functional medicine vs traditional medicine
• The lifestyle shifts that helped her calm inflammation naturally
• Why Debbie believes the mental and emotional piece is often the hardest part
• How thoughts and stress create real physiological changes in the body
• Early warning signs and learning to listen to your nervous system
• Why simplifying wellness can be more healing than chasing supplements and biohacks
• The power of language: “I was diagnosed with…” vs “I have…”
• How identity shapes chronic pain, healing, and long-term health outcomes

This conversation is especially meaningful for anyone navigating:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Chronic pain and chronic illness
• Stress, inflammation, and nervous system regulation
• Patient advocacy and taking ownership of your health journey

Even though Debbie’s story centers on RA, this episode is really about something universal: the “now what?” moment that comes after ANY diagnosis.

Debbie’s story is a reminder that healing is not always linear, and the future you’re told to accept in the exam room may not be the whole story.

She is now living in remission, after being told rheumatoid arthritis was forever.

If you know someone living with chronic pain, chronic illness, or navigating a new diagnosis, please share this episode with them. It might help them feel seen and less alone.

Connect with Debbie Roppo

Debbie is a board-certified health and wellness coach and founder of The Inner Empire, where she helps women build sustainable health, energy, and resilience from the inside out.

• Website: www.debbieroppohealthcoach.com
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• Email: info@thehealthhunt.com

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