hi there!
So why me and what do I have to do with it all?
Well, to put it simply, I’ve been there. At 14, back pain incapacitated me. At 25, a perfect storm of health issues cropped up after a trip abroad – thyroid disorder, celiac disease, parasite infections and a severe gastric motility disorder of the colon. At 35, after decades of advocating for myself, I finally got the correct diagnosis of Late Stage Neurological Lyme Disease and Co-infections. I’ve learned how to manage my condition and live life full speed ahead
Chronic health conditions along the way – from Celiac Disease to parasite infections to a hypothyroid condition – triggered a need to identify the underlying problems that were screwing with my system. So I embarked on an intense journey through doctors’ offices, medical clinics, IV labs, fancy specialists offices and assorted spiritual communities. It was a huge wake up call. Did every doctor, healer, specialist and guru have my best interests in mind? Some did – some didn’t, but they all took an incredible amount of energy and resources to sort through.
All of these experiences – the trials, the errors, the successes and the failures – were a major turning point. I realized that just because the latest health trend or exclusive specialist worked for some, it didn’t necessarily work for me. I learned how crucial it is to focus on my needs first and surround myself with a team of professionals best suited for me. I realized I had to start questioning even the most established “professionals,” putting the right team together, and finding out what my individual needs really were, and putting them first.
I became an active participant in my own health and got more involved, educated and invested in the healing process. I finally got the correct diagnosis of Late Stage Lyme Disease and Coinfections. It wasn’t long before my interest in health and wellness evolved into a true passion, and I ultimately became a Certified Health Coach, Patient Advocate, and Wellness Advisor. I also saw a gap in patient care and built a health coaching practice for a prominent NYC doctor to be a help to his practice, before I left and went out on my own.
I started writing books, which healed me in ways I didn’t expect, and if I didn’t do that, there wouldn't be me and you, friend. I regularly speak to live audiences, media and podcasts about my journey. No one should be defined by an illness or condition, or have to suffer down the same long road that I did – and that means you!
I realized the only way I was going to recover was to become an active participant in my own well-being.
I was able to help myself, and I am confident I will be able to help you. The most important thing in this whole process is to be validated. I see you. I hear you. I get you. This is a no fluff stop on the train. I won’t tell you everything you have already heard, and I refuse to lead you astray.
I deeply believe in the power of self-care and it is my mission to teach you how to truly take care of yourself. Now I listen to my inner guide, make everyday a chance to move for fitness and emotional well being, eat right for nourishment and pleasure, and connect with people who feed my spirit. And I want to show you how to do the same. So I invite you to come along, learn some things, feel a part of something bigger than yourself, and pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get to advocating for your health and wellbeing. Because, guess what? No one knows you better than you. You got me? Let’s go!
About Amy
Amy Kurtz is a trailblazing author, certified health coach, patient advocate, and speaker dedicated to helping patients reclaim agency over their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Lena Dunham has called her a "guiding light," and Jamie-Lynn Sigler has described her as a "lighthouse" for those navigating chronic illness. A distinct voice in the health space, Amy has earned praise from Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr Gabrielle Lyon, Kris Carr, and many others. Amy has been featured on Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, NPR, The Boston Globe, New York Magazine, Newsweek, Messy, Fox, and more.
In her debut book, Kicking Sick: Your Go-To Guide for Thriving with Chronic Health Conditions, Amy shares her own journey with chronic illness and offers a practical roadmap to help readers manage debilitating conditions and live fully. Dunham named it one of her "Top 10 desert island books of all time" in New York Magazine.
Her second book, But You Look Fine: Trapped in the Hell Between Sick and Well and How to Break Free, breaks the silence around one of the most painful and pervasive phases of healing from chronic illness, one that has long been overlooked… until now. Mark Hyman calls it a "paradigm shifting book and a must read" and But You Look Fine was selected in The Next Big Idea June book selection in the culture category.
