Colitis: Erica's Success Story
"I am the general manager of a natural foods store. Today I would say that my health is good. I might even say that it is very good, but it has been many years since I could even think about describing my health in that way. Actually for a very long time my health was very poor.
I typically gravitate towards alternative medicine but I have tried both alternative and Western medicine throughout my life. I have tried several different supplements, herbal remedies, chiropractic, and Jin Shin Jyutsu. My first choice is alternative, but I have also seen many Western doctors. Over the course of 10 years, I have seen 3 different gastroenterologists and have tried several, and I mean several, different medications.
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 19. During the past 11+ years there were periods where I was in remission, but there were periods of time that lasted for years, which were extremely bad. It got to the point where I would loose control of my bowels, sometimes twice a day. I decided to go on Remicade where I received infusions every eight weeks. I did this for about a year and had success with the Remicade. It was the first drug I had tried that was successful without horrible side effects. After a year of infusions however, I didn't feel as though I was healing. I still had diarrhea and urgencies to go to the bathroom.
During the time I was on the Remicade, I never lost control of my bowels even though I came very close. I wasn't fully satisfied. I was contemplating having a colostomy bag put in so I wouldn't have to deal with knowing where every bathroom in town was at all times; planning my day around "pit stops". I needed to exhaust all my options before I dealt with a bag for the rest of my life.
Even though I have had this problem for 11+ years, I am finally seeing the light at the end of the very dark tunnel! My problem controlled my life. I planned my days around bathrooms. I went to the bathroom 20+ times a day. I couldn't go grocery shopping without going to the bathroom 3 times during the shopping trip. I cried, I yelled, I lost sleep, I felt horrible all the time, I was depressed, and my quality of life was very poor.
This is when I decided to become gluten-free. It seemed like everyone else was doing it and having such great results. I had been gluten free for about a month with no major changes when my brother-in-law saw an ad in the paper about a seminar on gluten and bowel problems. I went to the one-hour seminar put on my Dr. Patrick and his wife. I have thanked my brother-in-law numerous times for letting me know about this seminar. It changed my life! When coming to Dr. Patrick’s office I did not have expectations. I had too many in the past without success. I knew not to get my hopes up because I could not handle more failure. I only hoped that things would not get worse. I had already tried Western and alternative care that seemed to aggravate my issues and all I wanted was to get better or stay the same.
I currently see Dr. Patrick and am no longer having Remicade infusions. I am off all medications!! In the beginning I saw Dr. P very frequently, but now I see him about every 5 weeks. I drink lots and lots of water and try to eat very little sugar/carbs.
I recently took a trip back East and did not have to make several trips to the bathroom, think about using the bathroom a hundred times, or have everything I did revolve around bathrooms. I used to have to go to the bathroom before I left the house/work even if I didn't actually have to go, just to try. Now I don't even think about it, I just get in the car and go. Oh, and I have a lot less diarrhea and make A LOT fewer trips to the bathroom!! I had pain throughout my entire digestive track and this pain has greatly decreased. In many areas the pain gone away completely! I feel better, I sleep better, I am happier and I feel like I am in control of my life!
It surprised me that putting little vials on my chest and poking my back did something. But I quickly realized he was treating me as an individual and not just as someone who has a disease that can be treated in the manner as someone else with the same disease; I am an individual and I have specific needs that no one else does. It may be different then any other thing that you have done, but I know it is the only thing that has truly helped me heal and not just put a band-aid on my issues. I can't explain how or why it works, but it does. "
- Erica
Chico, California
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Colitis: Norma's Success Story
“In 2007 I started having urgent and explosive stools, perineum pain after evacuating, and rectal bleeding. After a colonoscopy, I was diagnosed with colitis and was prescribed Asacol for the inflammation. I was told that I could eat anything I wanted, but I knew that certain foods like glutens and cow dairy gave me extreme weakness and drowsiness.
In 2009, a Weston A. Price chapter formed in Chico and I attended the first class. I started making bone broth and fermented foods. I avoided processed foods, and after learning about the effects of GMO’s I have avoided them also. I improved, but still had fairly frequent episodes of rectal bleeding.
In 2010, I read the Gut and Psychology book by Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD from Cambridge, England. I started following the healing protocol, and continued to improve but I still had episodes of rectal bleeding that only very expensive suppositories would alleviate. In 2011, Dr. Campbell-McBride offered trainings in the U.S. for medical professionals to become a GAPS Practitioner.
In 2014, on a trip to VT, I started having rectal bleeding and went back to eating only bone broth with some meat or fish, butternut squash, and some butter or ghee. After 9 months of not being able to progress to other vegetables, in April 2015, I saw Dr. Patrick for a consultation. Within a couple weeks of treatments, I was able to expand my diet and eat a variety of vegetables. The rectal bleeding stopped and 3 months later has not reoccured. My energy is better, and my friends remark that I am more vibrant!”
- Norma
Chico, California