A Chronic Entrepreneur: Sharon Pegrum
Sharon Pegrum knows the power of validation – she lived for years with a condition called Pyrroles disorder which can manifest in social anxiety, depression, mood swings, poor stress control and many more symptoms. In 2017 she was diagnosed with Pyrroles disorder and has since been working with her naturopath to address vitamin deficiency and manage the condition. Sharon shares her story and the impact that the diagnosis has had on her life below.
What’s your Chronic?
I have Pyrroles disorder (Pyroluria) which is a chronic zinc and B6 deficiency that results in anxiety and fatigue.
Where/when were you diagnosed?
In 2017, by my naturopath. The testing for pyrroles is a simple urine test, unfortunately, however many conventional GP’s don’t recognise it as a legitimate condition.
What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?
It’s vital to the lifestyle I want to live. It means that I can homeschool my children, indulge my love of writing by blogging and rest when I need to rest. It gives me the control over who I work with, what I do and how that looks every day.
What came first, the chronic or the entrepreneurism?
I guess being an entrepreneur, although I didn’t realise I was an entrepreneur until a few years into my business when I started to really refine what I do.
How did this path come to you?
I was working in family day care and I started doing some bookkeeping on the side. I answered a gumtree ad for a VA and from there my business expanded until I eventually nailed what I was good at and what I loved doing most.
Did you go through any sort of 12-stages of grief with the diagnosis or take it in its stride? How did the process manifest itself? Did you immediately reassess your life?
Not really, I have felt crappy for most of my life – overweight, tired, anxious…all the fun stuff. When I read the symptoms of Pyrroles I felt like someone had pulled out all my complaints and put them in a neat list. It was the moment I finally felt like I wasn’t just lazy or a hypochondriac, there was a physical reason why I felt like I did. I am still on a journey to heal my body but am finally working with a naturopath who is an expert in my conditions and, whilst it will take some time, I am making progress every day.
Did you seek out or join organisations representing your chronic for support or did you find comfort and answers elsewhere? What would you recommend in hindsight?
I don’t think there are any organisations given that Pyrroles is still not recognised by many. I learnt a lot from the Pyrroles Australia Facebook group and this really helped me to understand my condition and take charge of my own health. I also listened to and read a lot of Trudy Scott’s work around Pyrroles which was incredibly helpful. In hindsight I wish I had spent the money and taken the time to find someone that really understood my disorder. I take a lot of supplements and probably always will, but some of the dosage wasn’t right for me early on and there were also some vital nutrients I was missing that I discovered both on my own and after my new naturopath analysed my previous bloods.
How have you changed, if at all, in your relationships, decisions and values?
Pyrroles often manifests as social anxiety, so combining it with fatigue, and feeling like someone had sucked all the energy and nutrients out of my body – I feel so different now! Previously I would go out for a few hours, feel stressed the whole time and come home exhausted, practically passing out in front of Netflix for hours. Now, I can go out all day and still come home and be able to function. It means I can make better decisions about what is important to me and actually have the physical ability to action it. I performed in two plays back to back in our local theatre this year, something I have always wanted to do but never felt able to. It was intense and tiring for everyone but I managed to make it through and enjoy both. I could not have done this a year ago, I would have been exhausted a few weeks in and unable to continue.
What is your life philosophy and has this changed?
My diagnosis, and starting treatment has given me the space to be able to do more with my life. I am more forgiving of myself for the things I can’t do or struggle with. Previously the anxiety made me a much angrier and bitter person, I know feel a lot calmer and at peace with the world.
What do you wish you’d known before?
I wish I had known that Pyrroles existed. I have probably had this my whole life though it would have been exacerbated by a few traumatic periods in my life. If I had known about why I felt the way I do as a teenager I could have been taking the supplements I require and been able to achieve so much more.
Are you on any treatments? Why/why not?
I will need to take zinc and B6 for most of my life. With Pyrroles these nutrients are very hard to absorb and are literally flushed out of my system. I also take a lot of other supplements which won’t be forever but I am currently working with my naturopath on investigating my other deficiencies and how to address these in the long-term.
What advice do you have for others starting out on this journey?
Know that if you feel like something is not right it’s ok to push until you get answers.
What is a ‘bad day’ for you?
When the anxiety crashes in and seems to encompass everything else. The first time I heard someone else describe how I felt was Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffanys when she describes the mean reds as “suddenly you are afraid and you don’t know what you are afraid of”. This is a good description of me on a bad day, it’s hard to shake and sometimes even recognise.
What do you do on a ‘bad day’?
I have less and less bad days as I try to manage my condition to the point where things don’t overcome me. The strategies I use daily are yoga and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) as well as supplements to support me.
How do you deal with stress?
Much better than I use to. After years of feeling like I was constantly running from a tiger now things don’t seem anywhere near as stressful. I am fortunate that my diagnosis and treatment actually reduced my stress.
What do you struggle with the most?
Probably the idea that there is one diet/exercise/lifestyle that works for everyone. I get really fed up with vegans preaching their lifestyle as best for everyone, when for me it would mean I would get extremely sick as the nutrients I get from animal products are essential for me. The same with exercise, most people with pyrroles don’t tolerate high intensity exercise and for most of my life I have been labelled as lazy and unfit when in fact that form of exercise is just very detrimental to me.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the person I am becoming and for standing up for myself (both to external influences and my own voice of self-doubt).
Who are your back up dancers?
I have very few close friends because of the years of social anxiety that cut me off from many people. But I have a couple of close friends that understand my struggles and I would be lost without them.
Best bits of being a chronic entrepreneur?
Playing by your own rules and being able to find the lifestyle that works for you.
Worst bits of being a chronic entrepreneur?
Being alone and having to work super hard for what you want.
Are you a 5-year planner or are you winging it?
Winging it!
Dream weekend plans and have these changed?
Not sure.
Ultimate dinner party guests?
Not sure.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You are not lazy. Don’t believe the people who make you feel like you are.
What’s next?
I am continuing to grow my business and expand my blogging. I have reached a fairly comfortable balance in what I do but I would like to write more blogs and make this side of my business more financially viable.
How can people find you?
Facebook
Instagram @oursimplehomeschoollife
You can also find my regular blogs over at weloveperth.net as well as my own blog sharonpegrum.com.au
Let us know what you think below and share your story with us on Instagram tagging @achronicentrepreneur and using the hashtag #achronicentrepreneur.
