For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

Uncover the truth behind chronic illnesses that are often misdiagnosed for years. If you’ve been told your symptoms are anxiety, IBS, or autoimmune, this episode explores a groundbreaking approach that could change everything. Learn how the Shoemaker Protocol, backed by clinical research, helps identify and treat CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) caused by biotoxin exposure like mold.

In this episode, Barbara and Jacie walk through the first phase of the Shoemaker Protocol: determining whether CIRS is the root cause of your symptoms. You’ll learn how to recognize key symptom patterns, use the validated VCS (Visual Contrast Sensitivity) test, and identify common exposure sources such as water-damaged buildings and tick bites.

What you’ll learn: • The 35 symptom clusters linked to CIRS and how to assess your own • How the VCS test can be an early screening tool • Common exposure triggers that are often overlooked • The role of genetics and why pattern recognition matters • The first steps to begin a clinically validated path to recovery

CIRS can create widespread disruption in the body, from immune dysfunction to neurological symptoms, and is frequently mistaken for other conditions. This episode helps you connect the dots so you can move toward targeted, effective healing.

Whether you’re just starting your health journey or searching for answers after years of confusion, this is part one of a five-part series designed to bring clarity, direction, and hope.

Explore more resources and support at https://thecirsgroup.com

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro: an answer for healing 01:35 - Why we're covering the five phases of the Shoemaker Protocol 02:53 - What is CIRS? 04:09 - Common misdiagnoses 05:25 - Understanding CIRS Symptoms 08:23 - Four Pillars of CIRS Diagnosis: First, Symptom Clusters 09:00 - Second: Visual Contrast Sensitivity Test 12:48 - Third: Exposure History and Its Importance 16:25 - Fourth: Blood Work and Genetic Testing 19:20 - What CIRS is Not 20:30 - Next Steps for Diagnosis 22:15 - Personal Experiences and Hope for Healing 24:00 - Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs

The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/

Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie’s book on the Carnivore diet! https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/

Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara

Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

Jacie and Barbara discuss chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), emphasizing it as a real, multisystem illness rather than “just being tired,” and describe hallmark symptoms like post-exertional malaise (PEM), unrefreshing sleep, brain fog/word-finding issues, orthostatic intolerance, sensory sensitivity, pain, headaches, and the push-crash cycle. They explain how ME/CFS is often hard to diagnose due to lack of a single definitive test, the use of exclusionary testing and symptom criteria, and how cardiopulmonary exercise testing can objectively demonstrate impaired recovery and reduced oxygen utilization, which is useful for disability or legal documentation. They argue the diagnosis is a label, not a root cause, and propose chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) from biotoxin exposure (often water-damaged buildings/mold) as a potential driver, citing Dr. Ming Dooley’s review comparing ME/CFS research to CIRS treatment outcomes. They outline next steps: assess exposure history and symptom patterns, take symptom clusters and the VCS test, find a CIRS-literate practitioner, address current environments before protocols, and explore resources and their community membership. For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro to Chronic Fatigue / medical disclaimer 02:30 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is real, let's ask WHY 04:26 What is ME/CFS? 06:40 The CFS lived experience 09:09 Getting a ME/CFS diagnosis 11:05 Labels vs root cause 12:08 What is actually happening when you have ME/CFS 13:01 How CIRS may cause ME/CFS: published research backed 15:29 Why doctors miss CIRS 17:14 Next steps if you want to seek treatment 20:10 Testing and find a practitioner that is Shoemaker Certified 21:04 Resources

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Ming Dooley's published research connecting CFS and CIRS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40806417/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11623837/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41265402/ VCS test and symptom questions for CIRS: https://www.survivingmold.com/store/online-vcs-screening

Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs

The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/

Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie’s book on the Carnivore diet! https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/

Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara

Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

In this episode, Barbara and Jacie discuss how CIRS patients can tell when they’re ready to move to the next step of the Shoemaker Protocol or “graduate,." As always, healing is gradual and should be guided by a CIRS-literate practitioner. They recommend tracking symptoms over time and checking three key questions: whether symptoms are improving, whether labs support improvement, and whether ongoing exposure is still occurring. The Shoemaker Protocol can be divided into three phases: (1) getting out of exposure by identifying and removing biotoxins, (2) clearing biotoxins with binders like cholestyramine (often causing temporary fatigue/constipation) and treating MARCoNS; and (3) repairing immune and hormonal dysfunction with supportive therapies, diet, and lifestyle supports. They also cover what “graduation” means, and common side quests if stalled, including Lyme, gut issues, dental problems, microbiome disruptions, spike protein, and autoimmune-related damage. For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

Timestamps 00:00 Intro and disclaimer 01:18 The benefits of symptom tracking 03:16 The Shoemaker Protocol in three phases 04:15 Phase One: get out of exposure 06:13 When you can graduate to phase two 09:02 Phase Two: clear the biotoxins (take binders) 11:12 MARCoNs treatment 12:20 Phase Three: repair and regulate 15:03 Fix your brain with VIP Spray 18:51 What "graduation" actually means: Life after CIRS 20:19 When you stall, check for exposure 21:36 Check for Co-infections, co-morbidities, other side quests 25:26 Final takeaways

For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Our Neuroquant episode: https://youtu.be/Lc_LfUeiYTM?si=DNbUj0nSdaXFGIqr Our interview with Jenny Johnson, about Life After CIRS: https://youtu.be/-c_bWUjP_uI?si=3hCbQ_CIkBbXvtTa

Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs

The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/

Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie’s book on the Carnivore diet! https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/

Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara

Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.