In 2007, I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease. At this time in my life, I was a junior in high school. I was very involved in sports, had a great social life, but my health was definitely taking a turn for the worse. Although I was diagnosed in 2007, it took a whole year to diagnose me, and then I was having symptoms for a whole year before that. So I was around 14 years old when I was starting to feel sick. I would get dizzy really easy and would find myself blacking out, I had horrible abdominal pain that would leave me hunched over on the couch, I felt like most of my time was spent in the bathroom, and then this disease started to affect my joints. My ankles would swell up and look like elephant trunks and the disease got so bad that it was attacking my knees. They were in so much pain, I couldn't walk. By this point, I had to go to the doctors to figure this out. It was keeping me from playing basketball and I was very concerned. The doctors couldn't figure it out at first. There are so many cases of IBS these days that it is hard at times to pin point Crohns. After they took me more seriously when my knees were in pain, they finally did some internal tests and diagnosed me with Crohns.
I had never heard of Crohns before at this time and didn't know how serious it was. Every doctor has a different opinion on how to treat Crohns. The doctors I started out with gave me a medication and then told me to avoid consuming dairy and wheat. Being that I was in high school, I had a very hard time living these expectations. Even worse, I was told that I needed to stop playing sports so my body can try to heal. I was in shock! I had always dreamed about continuing to Varsity and possibly getting a scholarship. I was so mad at what was happening. This didn't help because stress has a lot to do with triggering Crohns disease. I felt like Crohns had officially taken over my life and it was in control over me. From 2007 and 2010, my doctors weren't paying close enough attention to my symptoms and health. The medication and diet restrictions weren't helping me and I was slowly getting worse. I then found the right doctor who actually cared and she told me the meds I had been taking weren't strong enough for me and that I needed to be on a stricter diet. All that time "wasted" caused me to have to have surgery. We tried Remicade infusions to see if it would help, but it was just too late. I had my first surgery in 2010 and got 14 inches of my small intestines removed. I had a hard time recovering from this surgery. It wasn't a great experience at all.
All the damage was removed so I was anxious to keep my body healthy so it wouldn't come back. I took some meds and then was put on a different diet. Only whole wheat, no dairy, and no fast food. This seemed simple enough and I did pretty well for a good year until all of a sudden the pains came back. The week before my wedding day, the symptoms and pain were coming back! I was mortified and discouraged! All this time I thought that I was healed and better when in actuality, this disease was slowly attacking my stomach lining again. I had to be put on prednisone so I could enjoy my wedding day but from then on forward, my Crohns had taken control over me again. SO much pain that caused me to be so lethargic. I had no energy to clean the house, I didn't ever want to eat because it just caused so much pain! I was depressed! My doctor introduced the SCD diet for me and had me go buy the book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle. I started to try to live this diet but failed miserably. I was in such a sick state, that this diet just made me feel even more sick. It was a lifestyle I wasn't used to and whether I ate according to the diet or not, I was feeling sick. I just wasn't ready for it yet.
I lived my life laying on the couch, or being in the bathroom. I was losing so much weight because I couldn't eat and when I did, it just went right through me. I was put on prednisone which caused me to swell up everywhere, especially in my face. I had gained 30 lbs over the next month and it was embarrassing. My self esteem and confidence went down the drain. Sure, I was feeling relief from my symptoms but I started to not fit in my clothes and I didn't even want to look at myself in the mirror!
I told my doctor that I couldn't live this way. I needed to get off prednisone. We decided to start Remicade Infusions again. I was so confused on what kind of diet I needed to follow. I didn't know what was going to hurt my body because I felt like, no matter what I ate, I was in pain after. To me, there was no hope. I was going to have to live like this forever and surgeries were inevitable. Then I came across a couple documentaries on Netflix that really changed my life and perspective. They are called, Hungry For Change, and Food Matters. The information I learned from these documentaries was crucial for me. It gave me an understanding of why I am sick and what is in all the food that I have allowed myself to eat. Processed food is TOXIC!
Right away, I changed my lifestyle to a completely raw and natural diet called Paleo. I also went out and bought a juicer and started cleansing my body. I was getting so excited about healing my body with the foods I ate. I felt hope again! When I told my doctor about my new lifestyle, she was thrilled! But she encouraged that I try to live the SCD diet and continue to be dairy free. I tried it before and failed, but now with this new knowledge about processed food, and my success with Paleo, it was so much easier for me to start the SCD diet. It is stricter and there were so many details to learn; it just takes time.
I craved junk food so bad. I had to have so much self control to not give in during social events. The knowledge helped me from buying them at grocery stores but when every one else is eating something at a party or what not, it is so hard to be the only one without anything to eat. I couldn't cheat once. After about a month, those cravings went away, and sure enough, I started to crave only the good things. Yes, it can happen, and you can do it too! But wait, my journey got all kinds of complicated all over again...
I got pregnant with my first child near the end of 2015. A couple months in, I began to have one of the biggest flairs I have ever had. I got Erythema Nodosum at its worst, I couldn't walk and had to use crutches (while pregnant, talk about awful) and I was having digestive pain and the runs. The doctors made me feel awful. They told me I was crazy for ever attempting to get pregnant while not on medications. I cried many times in those appointments. I felt so bullied. I felt like a failure for having to go on meds while pregnant but at the time, I felt like there was no other option. So I started a medication that I had to give myself every month. It was painful and frustrating. I actually couldn't even do it myself. I had my husband or mom do it for me. It didn't get rid of my digestive issues but it at least got rid of all my arthritis and skin problems. I could walk again.
After giving birth to my daughter, I stopped taking the self injections and I was trying to heal myself with a Paleo diet. I kept getting sicker and sicker and as a new mom, dealing with postpartum, getting absolutely no sleep, and not having the energy to even hold my child, I felt desperate for help once again and went back to the doctors. They started me back on Remicade infusions hoping that my body could handle it for a third time. Luckily, no ugly side effects occurred and I started to feel better once again, getting infusions every 6 weeks. I was told that diet was not enough. I felt like an absolute failure!!! I felt so deeply inside that these doctors were wrong. Food should be the answer. My body should be able to heal itself. This can't be my forever solution. I went through another phase of depression that I know the Remicade was not helping. After nursing my daughter while on Remicade and then it being over a year that I started receiving treatment, my husband and I started to discuss when we would try having another child. I just didn't feel good about being pregnant while on Remicade and as I started to research the side effects and the risks I take with every infusion, I began feeling guilty for making the decision to nurse while on such a strong drug. I decided that I could not get pregnant and have a peace of mind while continuing to receive infusions. I wasn't happy in general being on the drug. None if it sat right with me.
After praying constantly every day for guidance, I was led to a man named Chris Wark. He has a program called the Square One Protocol. I was so inspired by him and his journey of healing his Cancer. I watched all his modules and just knew that applying what he did for himself is what was going to help me. In my religion, we have what is called The Word Of Wisdom. I felt like everything that Chris was teaching I had already been taught before but had never applied to myself. Eat an abundance of fruit and vegetables, food from the earth, and eliminate meat and dairy and processed foods. I was so anxious to get started, especially when I started reading the book, Discovering the Word of Wisdom by Jane Birch. It taught me so much and my testimony of this lifestyle was so strong and I hadn't even fully applied it yet. haha I slowly started eating less meat, eliminated dairy completely, and started eating more vegetables.
With literally what I felt like was the world against me, I decided to stop taking Remicade and approach my health in this entirely different way. My world was now all about eating a Whole Food Plant Based lifestyle. I had never felt happier, with so much peace of mind. I was doing so well and overcame symptoms. BUT, about 6 months passed and I was back to being sick as a dog. I got really sick with some kind of cold virus and was unable to recover my gut. My Crohn's flare was at it's worst once again. It was frustrating, humbling, and eye opening all at the same time. Because of my desire to have more children and to live a life where I can feel healthy and strong for my family, I felt guided to accept the help of medications in my life. At least for now. Who knows how I will feel years down the road and I have been in remission for years at a time. I dont know what the future holds exactly. But for now, it includes receiving Remicade infusions every 8 weeks while following a whole food plant based diet as best as I can. It is the best decision for me now mentally and physically. I am trying to remind myself that I am not a failure for being on meds. I am doing the best I can and God is in control.
I got pregnant with my first child near the end of 2015. A couple months in, I began to have one of the biggest flairs I have ever had. I got Erythema Nodosum at its worst, I couldn't walk and had to use crutches (while pregnant, talk about awful) and I was having digestive pain and the runs. The doctors made me feel awful. They told me I was crazy for ever attempting to get pregnant while not on medications. I cried many times in those appointments. I felt so bullied. I felt like a failure for having to go on meds while pregnant but at the time, I felt like there was no other option. So I started a medication that I had to give myself every month. It was painful and frustrating. I actually couldn't even do it myself. I had my husband or mom do it for me. It didn't get rid of my digestive issues but it at least got rid of all my arthritis and skin problems. I could walk again.
After giving birth to my daughter, I stopped taking the self injections and I was trying to heal myself with a Paleo diet. I kept getting sicker and sicker and as a new mom, dealing with postpartum, getting absolutely no sleep, and not having the energy to even hold my child, I felt desperate for help once again and went back to the doctors. They started me back on Remicade infusions hoping that my body could handle it for a third time. Luckily, no ugly side effects occurred and I started to feel better once again, getting infusions every 6 weeks. I was told that diet was not enough. I felt like an absolute failure!!! I felt so deeply inside that these doctors were wrong. Food should be the answer. My body should be able to heal itself. This can't be my forever solution. I went through another phase of depression that I know the Remicade was not helping. After nursing my daughter while on Remicade and then it being over a year that I started receiving treatment, my husband and I started to discuss when we would try having another child. I just didn't feel good about being pregnant while on Remicade and as I started to research the side effects and the risks I take with every infusion, I began feeling guilty for making the decision to nurse while on such a strong drug. I decided that I could not get pregnant and have a peace of mind while continuing to receive infusions. I wasn't happy in general being on the drug. None if it sat right with me.
After praying constantly every day for guidance, I was led to a man named Chris Wark. He has a program called the Square One Protocol. I was so inspired by him and his journey of healing his Cancer. I watched all his modules and just knew that applying what he did for himself is what was going to help me. In my religion, we have what is called The Word Of Wisdom. I felt like everything that Chris was teaching I had already been taught before but had never applied to myself. Eat an abundance of fruit and vegetables, food from the earth, and eliminate meat and dairy and processed foods. I was so anxious to get started, especially when I started reading the book, Discovering the Word of Wisdom by Jane Birch. It taught me so much and my testimony of this lifestyle was so strong and I hadn't even fully applied it yet. haha I slowly started eating less meat, eliminated dairy completely, and started eating more vegetables.
With literally what I felt like was the world against me, I decided to stop taking Remicade and approach my health in this entirely different way. My world was now all about eating a Whole Food Plant Based lifestyle. I had never felt happier, with so much peace of mind. I was doing so well and overcame symptoms. BUT, about 6 months passed and I was back to being sick as a dog. I got really sick with some kind of cold virus and was unable to recover my gut. My Crohn's flare was at it's worst once again. It was frustrating, humbling, and eye opening all at the same time. Because of my desire to have more children and to live a life where I can feel healthy and strong for my family, I felt guided to accept the help of medications in my life. At least for now. Who knows how I will feel years down the road and I have been in remission for years at a time. I dont know what the future holds exactly. But for now, it includes receiving Remicade infusions every 8 weeks while following a whole food plant based diet as best as I can. It is the best decision for me now mentally and physically. I am trying to remind myself that I am not a failure for being on meds. I am doing the best I can and God is in control.
I no longer endorse a Paleo or SCD lifestyle. I do feel like these lifestyles prepared me for the lifestyle I am choosing now, WFPB. I also encourage you all to watch documentaries like Forks Over Knives and In Defense of Food. It will really open your eyes as to why eating meat and dairy can be so damaging to our health as well as other processed foods.
I truly hope this blog can inspire others with autoimmune diseases, especially those with Crohns, to find healing with their efforts of eating healthy.
Thanks for visiting my blog and learning about my story.
I truly hope this blog can inspire others with autoimmune diseases, especially those with Crohns, to find healing with their efforts of eating healthy.
Thanks for visiting my blog and learning about my story.
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