What Our Clients Are Saying About Working With Us...
I am so grateful to have found Billie! I've had different health issues since childhood, ranging from migraines, general nausea, anxiety, and insomnia, to chronic hives. Billie saw that these issues, while treated as disconnected in the traditional medical community, were truly connected and all tied to MCAS. I feel like before I met Billie, I was floundering and going to many different doctors looking for answers. She has been able to help guide and give structure to my journey, as well as to provide real answers through diagnostics. One important thing for me is that Billie is not only knowledgeable but that she is able to explain complex body processes in an understandable way. When managing chronic health problems that have been unexplained forso long, things like patient education are so important to me! Since working with Billie, I’ve not had a hive breakout in over year, my anxiety is down so much so that I’ve been able to greatly reduce my medications, I’m sleeping better, having less migraines, and my nausea is a thing of the past. Overall I am feeling much more positive about my journey with chronic health issues with Billie as my coach!"
--Betsy Ambrosino, Denver, CO
It is very hard for me to put into words how incredibly blessed I’ve been to work with Ayla. Her vast knowledge and expertise has guided my body through extensive protocols that have helped me with a wide array of symptoms, some common and some not. The progress I’ve made under her guidance has been noticed in many areas, but specifically with dizziness and vertigo attacks that were keeping a busy mom of 3 bedridden, helpless, and terrified. Ayla has taught me to listen to my body and handle symptoms instead of fear them. She has also guided me in embracing where I’m at and focusing on what my body needs rather than putting more strain and stress on it by what I expect of it. Her compassion and understanding was evident as she continually provided tools, ideas, and applications specific to my needs and my body. She feels much more like a friend than a practitioner because of her genuine kindness that is so evident in everything she does for her clients. She’ll probably never truly know how much I sincerely appreciate the help with symptoms as well as her kindness and compassion. At a time that I truly felt completely alone, she dramatically influenced my health and my life in the most positive ways!”
-Ashley, Texas
Working with Billie Shellist has been an absolute pleasure. I am a scientist and suddenly fell ill over a year ago shortly after starting a new job. I was eventually diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAS), but none of my specialists could figure out why I started having the daily allergic-like reactions that are a part of this disorder. I had been previously diagnosed with a genetic connective tissue disorder (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – hEDS), but until last year nearly all my chronic problems seemed more strictly related to musculo-skeletal pain and joint instability. As these new allergic symptoms became increasingly severe and frequent and my doctors started running out of tests to run or extra medications to throw at me, I searched for alternative solutions and stumbled across Billie with Functional Diagnostic Healing.
Billie’s help became a major turning point for me, and I truly believe my work with her has been life-saving. She ordered testing that helped me identify the root causes of my MCAS including foods and environmental factors were contributing to my daily reactions, and then provided lots of education and recommendations on how to alter my diet and lifestyle accordingly.
Before discovering Billie, I spent the better part of a year (along with a care team consisting of a geneticist, allergist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, ER doctors, et cetera) trying to discover what was wrong with me. Within our first consultation, Billie guessed it might be mold in my office. She was more knowledgeable about Mast Cell Activation than anyone else I’ve ever consulted with. I wish I’d found her right away…I’m so grateful to finally have answers about what caused all of this. Even more importantly, Billie has been able to get to me to a more stable place with less frequency and severity of reactions. I cannot recommend Billie Shellist with Functional Diagnostic Healing highly enough.
- Delci Primous, California
I’ve been working with Ayla for a little over a year, and I’ve experienced some big transformations. Before I found her, I was struggling with Lyme disease and co-infections. While I had seen some improvements after starting a detox protocol with a naturopath, my symptoms eventually returned, and I began to develop new, frustrating issues like a persistent red, itchy rash around my eyes and mouth. Despite my naturopath’s efforts, nothing seemed to help, and I was stuck for months without relief. That’s when I was introduced to Ayla. She conducted thorough tests to gain a comprehensive understanding of what was happening in my body, and it turned out that something major had been overlooked by my previous treatments—mold toxicity and parasitic infections. I had been living in an environment contaminated with toxic mold, and it was wreaking havoc on my system. Ayla quickly identified this and designed a protocol for me.
Over the course of our work together, Ayla constantly adapted my treatment. She has an ability to see how various imbalances and infections interact, knowing exactly what to prioritize in my healing journey. The progress wasn’t always fast, but it was steady. One of the most immediate changes was the clearing of the rash around my eyes—something I had been battling for nine months! Beyond just physical healing, Ayla has been emotionally and spiritually supportive. Dealing with chronic symptoms can be exhausting and disheartening, but she helped me reframe my symptoms as signals from my body rather than something to fear. Her support allowed me to understand that healing isn’t always linear, and having her by my side made the journey so much more manageable.
After a year of working with Ayla, not only do I feel significantly better, but I also have a much deeper understanding of my body and its signals. She’s taught me invaluable tools to take control of my own health, and I now feel empowered rather than overwhelmed when something feels off.
I highly recommend Ayla to anyone looking for a compassionate, knowledgeable, and intuitive practitioner. She doesn’t just treat symptoms—she helps you heal at the core. And when you're working through long-lasting symptoms, you want someone that understands. Ayla has gone through her own healing journey and though I don't know the details of her story, having someone in your corner that's gone through it is key in feeling seen and understood. If you’re ready to truly transform your health and gain a deeper connection to your body, Ayla is the person to help you get there.
-Laura, Colorado
I started working with Billie after participating in one of her webinars on MCAS. I have Chronic Lyme disease and CIRS and have grown increasingly sensitive and reactive to foods, smells, EMF's, and all treatments. When I first started working with her, I was having extreme mast cell reactions around the clock that included POTS, migraines, rashes that all got much worse just before and during my period. My reactions were so extreme, that I was in and out of the ER several times a week. I could not tolerate any of the treatments my lyme and functional doctors were recommending to me, and I was only getting worse. Within the first 2 weeks of working with Billie, she was able to get me stabilized to where I could get out of bed without a severe POTS episodes sometimes, my migraines were much less frequent, my rashes starting clearing up, and for the first cycle in over 4 months, I didn't have MC episodes that would be land in the ER. I'm now stable enough to start working on treating the root causes of my MCAS again and feel hopeful for the first time in over a year. She does things slowly and strategically and doesn't throw a ton of solutions at me at once which I appreciate. Billie is such a treasure and genuinely wants to help people get well. I'm so grateful to be working with her, she is a blessing to me and my family." - Kristy Adams, Alpharetta, GA
Billie has been invaluable in my journey towards healing from Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). I’ve been through so many doctors and alternative health practitioners. I tried every diet and every supplement to only find temporary relief. And then my hyper-reactive symptoms would reappear with a vengeance.
When I reached out to Billie I was heavily over-supplemented and undernourished. I was down to eating less than a handful of vegetables and had put on 20 pounds! I was reacting to everything from foods to supplements to my environment, and everything in between,
Her investigative approach has helped me end the cycle of a decade of trial and error and get to the root causes of my symptoms. When you have such debilitating conditions it can feel quite lonely and depressing. But Billie has been there every step of the way offering me guidance and support without any pressure.
Her program proved to me that I can heal from extreme food sensitivities, infections and MCAS making the necessary lifestyle changes and trusting the process. After 4 months of working with her, thankfully I’m now able to eat a larger variety of foods and I feel a lot more comfortable in my skin - I already lost 17 pounds. I’m super grateful for the progress I’ve made so far and looking forward to more successes in the future. - Berna K., Lebanon
Ayla is a beautiful soul! She has helped me get my life back and continues to help me create the life of my dreams--freeing myself from the invisible chains that have kept me stuck. She is incredibly supportive and I feel so safe with her. I am finally getting answers to things that have gone unanswered for many years. It's amazing to be in a space where I can heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually with the love, support, and guidance I receive from Ayla”
-Chelsie, North Carolina
Working with Billie is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I originally contacted her because my naturopath suspected SIBO. I never could have managed the SIBO diet on my own since it is quite restrictive. I am single and was rarely cooking any more, so it was going to be quite a challenge for me. I ordered 4 weeks of personalized meal plans in which Billie introduced me to foods that have now become staples for me. She makes it so easy since she provides a grocery shopping list for the week’s menus and the recipes are easy to follow and delicious.
She was also the first person that looked at my complete health history and suggested testing for h. pylori , food sensitivities, and Lyme disease based on some unusual health issues I’ve had over the years. Sure enough the test results all came back positive for food intolerance, h. pylori, and Lyme and co-infections. Once I removed the foods I tested sensitive to and started to rebalance my gut, my digestion almost immediately improved.
Thanks to Billie’s knowledge and support I am well on my way to conquering my health issues. My only regret is that I didn’t start working with Billie years ago. She has tackled so many of her own health issues; she understands what it’s like and what the challenges are. If you decide to work with her, you will not regret it! " - Diane K, Colorado
I cannot say enough good things about working with Billie. I call her the "Lyme Whisperer" because she has been priceless in helping me navigate the very confusing, overwhelming, and complicated ins and outs of treating chronic lyme and mold illness. She was able to help me identify a few things that were really holding me back from being able to make noticeable progress- namely the state of my gut microbiome and my inability to detox. I had been stalled and feeling frustrated when I first reached out to her and now I'm making progress again and watching symptoms lessen or fade away." - Lauren Davis, California
" In my 17-year search of health and wellness and after seeing several Naturopaths, Billie is by far the most thorough practitioner I have ever worked with. She was able to find the root causes of my Hashimoto's, joint pain, general inflammation & digestive issues and thanks to her I'm living a much fuller life with many less symptoms and my Hashimoto's is in remission! Her attention to detail, in-depth explanation of test results and how that correlates to my symptoms, & meal planning make her protocols very easy to follow and effective. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is serious about getting better! " - Tracy Quattropani, Connecticut
As I have suffered from Lyme & Mold illness, Billie has helped me navigate and prioritize my treatment plan and was the only provider to figure out I was dealing with a severe immune dysfunction called Mast Cell Activation that was keeping me from being able to tolerate treatment and make progress. Once I followed her suggestions on how to calm my hyper-sensitive immune system, my extreme , reactive-like symptoms decreased and I was able to start treating the root causes again. She shared so much of her knowledge and insight not only on MCAS but also on nutrition, supplements, & hormones that has helped me enormously. She's so caring and has such a passion for wanting to help others achieve a healthier life! " - Valerie, Colorado
"Billie came highly recommended to me from a good friend. When I reached out to Billie I was feeling physically and mentally terrible. I was overweight, anxious, experiencing extreme brain fog, had ZERO energy, wasn’t sleeping, and was falling into depression.
Billie has been just the person I needed and with her help and support I have been able to make much needed changes to my diet and lifestyle that have resulted in drastic improvements in my health. Through lab work and testing Billie was able to determine the root causes of my symptoms, clearly explain and interpret the results of my testing, and gave me a dietary and lifestyle plan to resolve my symptoms. This concrete, fact based approach gave me insight into how my body was functioning and even more motivation to get back in balance.
I didn’t have to wait long to reap the rewards; within one week my sleep began to improve, within three weeks my mood was much improved and the brain fog was clearing, within a few more weeks my energy began to return, and all along I was losing weight. After working with Billie over the last four months the improvement in how I feel is night and day - my anxiety and depression are thing of the past. Her support and knowledge has made a challenging lifestyle reset as easy as it could ever be. I highly recommend Billie to anyone seeking to improve their health through nutrition; I couldn’t be happier with my results and I will always be grateful for her support.” -Rachel, California
As someone who has struggled with health issues and has researched and tried many different ways to find a way to a better life, I can say I am now looking forward to a great 2017! In addition to extreme fatigue, muscle aches and major IBS issues, life was a struggle many days. Eventually, my homocysteine was over 16 and I had Barrett's esophagus and heartburn. My diet was already fairly healthy, with no gluten or dairy in the past 10 years but I was still struggling daily. After working with Billie, I have now been feeling well for almost all of the last 6 months! My homocysteine is down into normal range and my Barrett's is gone!! It's hard enough to find someone who can actually help you live a better life, but the thing that is rare, is someone who will listen and not judge as well. I could not have a higher regard and recommendation for Billie for those struggling with chronic health issues." - Connie Simonds, Colorado
After 5 years dealing with continual bloating, burping, and gas that affected my life both professionally and personally. The GI doctors I had consulted with told me I had IBS and gave me a PPI to help with symptoms. I told them I wanted to know WHY I had IBS and WHAT I could do to get rid of it but they could not help, just told me that I was stuck with it for life. After meeting with Billie, she suggested we test for SIBO and parasites in order to get to the root cause of my symptoms and lo and behold, I tested positive for parasites, h.pylori, and SIBO. Now after just 90 days of following the personalized gut health protocol Billie provided, I have eliminated almost all of my symptoms and I'm eating foods that I was not able to tolerate before. The other very surprising thing that has happened is that my brain function has also seemed to improve. I find that I can now focus easier, I'm more productive overall, and that I'm in a better mood consistently. I can't thank Billie enough for her support and expertise! " - Ethan R., Colorado
" I'm absolutely thrilled with the nutritional counseling I am receiving. I've never in my 67 years had someone working with me who is as caring and knowledgeable as Billie. I've had Lyme disease my whole life and it feels so good to work with someone who understands my needs and my disease the way Billie does." - Marcia, Colorado
Working one one with Billie has really been an eye-opening experience for me! I have Hashimotto's thyroid disease and know how important it is to be gluten & dairy free but it was often difficult to stick to. Billie's customized an eating plan for me and gave me a weekly plan with make-ahead instructions to simplify my life. The recipes actually taste good and my family enjoyed most of the meals as well! The food kept me satisfied so that I was able to stick to it and I feel great! Billie also helped me identify my specific food sensitivities and some hidden gut infections like candida and SIBO and after implementing her protocol, I'm happy to report I'm migraine free, my digestion has improved, my energy has increased, and my husband says I'm smiling again! Plus my endocrinologist was very impressed when he saw my thyroid antibody numbers go down by over 50%. " -Melissa Jacobson, Illinois
Working one on one with Billie for the last 6 months has been a life changer for me! I feel so lucky to have met her – truly! As someone who deals with Chronic Lyme Disease, Billie really understood my needs and frustrations. She has taught me so much about nutrition, clean cooking, and taking care of myself that will last me a lifetime. Billie’s step by step protocols, compassionate and fun approach, and delicious recipes have helped me effortlessly lose weight and keep it off without trying and my C-reactive protein went down into normal range after being elevated for the last few years. Billie helped me heal my gut and get my lifetime, chronic candida infection under control. I'm making more progress with my lyme treatments now that we've really worked on healing my gut and balancing and my hormones. I'm so grateful for her support, expertise, and caring ways." - Rachel White, Colorado