Bringing meat back.

I was confronted and challenged when I recently caught up with some people at Nutrition Diagnostics who said that vegetarianism and veganism is voluntary malnutrition. I was challenged. To hear that was going against alot of what I thought about vegetarinism and healthy eating...and mind you alot of what I changed and read about over the past 3 years. I thought for my gut to be healthy I needed to eat no meat and lots of fruit and vegetables. I also ate no cheese, milk products (except for occasional goats cheese and milk) and no cream. I did ocasinally have yoghurt for its pro-biotic factors.

I thought that eating meat was what was causing alot of the digestive problems in society today and that we needed to cut back on what we ate. And me being me..I just quit animal altogether. I had read and learnt that especially eating red meat, when digested, stays in the gut for too long and rots in our GI tract and causes bad fermentation and therefore the diseases that are known today. I have heard mentioned that bowel cancer is on the rise due to our increased meat intake. I would beg to differ and say that we have gut problems from the increased junk food, carbs, sugar and carcinogenic foods we ingest. AND alcohol also. I recently went to a mental health seminar and a psych nurse of 25 years stated that she hasn't seen any drug cause so much damage to the body, both physically and mentally, than that of alcohol!! Just a thought.

There is always evidence and research to back up whatever we want, depending on what companies are paying for the research. Since being enlightened by the importance of meat I have found alot of good research talking about the importannce of having animal product apart of everyday meals. There are some great books that talk about the benfit of animal protein. Such as 'The Maker's Diet' and 'Nourishing Traditions.' Definitely worth a read. The Weston A. Price website www.westonaprice.org  is also another great resource and an article called 'The Protien Debate' by Dr. Loren Cordain and Dr. T. Colin Cambell. It is a good article debating both sides.

Apparently you cannot get complete protien from plant based food. Only from animal based foods. Our bodies need complete protien. Protien builds and repairs the body in so many ways. To take that out of the diet is taking away its building and fighting mechanisms. I noticed this significantly when I wasnt eating meat for about 3 years. I lost a significant amount of weight due to my body's loss of protien and it turned on itslef and started to eat its own protein (muscle). I lost muscle mass and could not tone no matter how much exercise I did. I was getting increasingly tired and easily picked up colds and flus. From my blood chemistry my body was starting to head into an auto-immune state.

To lose weight is not always a good thing. Losing fat is good but not muscle. To have a strong, toned and healthy looking body means that your body is in a healthy place to ward off disease and sickness. It also means that the muscle in your digestive tract is also strong and healthy which will aid good digestion and cut down the likely hood of infection and disease in the GI tract. A crohns/irritable bowel/celiacs/anyone for that... matter person wants to have a strong healthy gut lining. The lining of the gut is muscle and to strengthen it you need to eat animal protein/good fats and exercise.

Another huge key factor in having a clean and healthy gut lining is having good fats. When you eat a diet high in animal product you will be having good fats. This will dramatically help the digestion process. Some good fats include coconut oil, avocado oil, macadamia oil, olive oil (cold only), all grass feed, local meats, eggs, butter, cream, good quality cheeses, coconut cream and coconut milk.

When I started eating meat and good fats and significantly decreased my carb intake I noticed a huge difference in my digestive tract and stools. Quite amazed. To be honest I had pain reduced in my gut to nil and my stools  became clean and smooth and easy!! Which says sooooo much about your tract. Thats something you are very aware of when you have gut problems. What comes out tells you what is going on inside. Maybe I shoud do a blog on stools!! More to come...

Thanks for reading, Have a great day.

Em.

Starting up the blog again...

Its been nearly 7 years since my crohn's diagnosis and emergency surgery. I have had a drastic change in diet and lifestyle. I have learnt an incredible amount about food, sickness and health and am continually learning more. I married an amazing man 4 years ago and we now have two boys aged 22 months and 9 weeks. I stopped my blog for a while and deleted a lot off it as life was too hectic with pregnancy and babies. I had no head space for writing as I wasn't well with pregnancy and  life after babies is chaotic. So I shut it down. I have of late had quite a few people wondering where it went and many still ask me about health and digestive issues and about my story. So I thought I would revive the site again and slowly add more info and thoughts to the blog. Hopefully it encourages you in your health journey and at least leads you to some useful and helpful info that has helped me along the way.

I have had fairly good health for the past 7 years. I am conscious of what I eat as I am aware that with crohns disease I can go backwards and flare up quickly. Statistically people with crohns have a bowel resection every 5-10 years with much of life in and out of hospital with flare ups. During my pregnancy I struggled to eat well as I was vomiting and unwell most days. I wasn't as strict with my diet for that period of time and resorted to a lot of comfort carbs as you do when pregnant and some crohns symptoms re-appeared. Once we cleaned things back up again the symptoms also cleared up. I wasn't as strict as I had been pre pregnancy when I was pregnant. I vomited daily and didn't keep a huge amount down. But obviously enough for my bub to grow. It was hard being sick daily though pregnancy and trying to eat well. Most days consisted of sourdough toast with apricot jam and potato in many different ways. I also ate some good old road house meat pies and lots of very cold chocolate milks.

Now 2 months post partum. I am getting back on track with food again. Getting back to more low carb, healthy fats (LCHF). I am lucky to have a very supportive husband who is also convicted in eating this way as he notices his health is much better for it also. Its a continual journey of learning and experimenting. Even more so when a chronic illness is evident and can rear its ugly head so quickly and easily. I also believe healthy eating helps the mind, causes us to be aware of where our food is coming from, brings simplicity into our lives and teaches us respect for our bodies. It can only be a good thing.

Part four of my journey with crohns.

So I was out of hospital and home and attempting to change my diet radically to bring about whole healing. I obviously had check ups at the hospital and GP. I had an appointment with the specialists two weeks after the surgery. I was told I needed to go onto 3 monthly b12 shots, yearly iron infusions (dependant on my levels of energy) and every now and then have colonoscopy to see how things are going in my gut. My first one would be in a year post this surgery. I was also told I needed to go onto some drugs, one being a new drug that had been developed for crohn's patients recently. I was told it was still being trialled but would be hugely beneficial if I went on it. I asked if I should change my diet and if it would do anything? He said that diet wouldn't do anything and there is no point trying. I will have crohns disease for the rest of my life and I will be on drugs for the rest of my life. I was a little dumbfounded and struggled with that statement. I had a lot to digest and think on.

Firstly I looked into these drugs I was to apparently to go onto for the rest of my life. Imuran and infliximab were two mentioned. I looked into them all, checked out side effects, looked into research papers that I could get my hands on to find out about them and their postive and negative effects on my mind and body. The bad outweighed the good for me and I just could not bring myself to being dependant on them. I decided that for 1 year I would go hard core with my diet and then have some blood tests done to see how I was going and have the colonoscopy. If all was well I would continue my diet/lifestyle changes. If the disease was re-occurring then I would take the medication route they were suggesting strongly.

I started having b12 injections at the doctors surgery. I went in a month or so after surgery also, to have an iron infusion. I went into the Holman Clinic at the hosiptal and sat in a chair and had iron infused into my veins for about 5 hours. I was told I needed these two things as my body could no longer absorb iron and b12 in the gut.

About 12 months to the day, post surgery, I ended up in hospital again. I had been vomiting huge amounts and had increased pain. It all happened within a matter of hours, it did not build up to that point like previously. I was living with mum and dad at the time and dad took me in to the after-hours doctors surgery. He checked me over and could tell I was obviously very unwell. I was so worked up and anxious due to all that had previously happened I was hyperventilating and vomiting and ended up dry wreaching when I had nothing left to vomit. It was awful. I was transferred over to the emergency department. After they had checked me over and done some tests they said I had a twisted colon (which is common at the site of scar tissue - which actually has nothing to do with crohns itself). I was relieved to know it wasn't crohns related as such. They said they had to put a nasogastric tube down my nose and throat and to put me on IV fluids. They said they needed to see if my bowel would untwist itself or if not, I would need to go in for more surgery and have it manually untwisted. I was devastated and sickened to the gut about what could potentially be ahead. I could not handle going through surgery again. I fought with the doctor about having the NGT. I just wanted to get out of there. I was being unreasonable. I felt so angry and frusturated. I had been working my arse off all year to get my diet under control and this happens. Yet, it wasnt diet related at all. Its just the potential repercussions of what can happen after you have had bowel surgery.

After I had settled down and the doctor had explained to me the neccessity of the NGT I had it put down and an IVC put in and I was later on taken up to a ward, the same ward I had recovered in a year ago after theatre. I was there for 4 days. I couldnt eat until the doctors gave the word to say all was clear and I had bowel movements again, then I was eating again after 3 days, and my amazing mum brought me in homecooked healthy food. I left hospital and went to uni as I was in my first year of nursing. Didnt want to miss more classes.

At some point throughout this year (maybe 6 months post surgery) I also went and saw Leciester Jones, a doctor of nutrition and educated in many health alternatives. He is highly knowledgeable and I valued alot of what he had to say. He said that I need to start eating some lamb here and there to get some iron into me. He said to steer clear of the iron infusions and try and get iron into me as natural as possible. I am better off having iron supplements and some lamb. He  mentioned some other things that I will mention about in another blog. Thats another blogs worth of info.

About 12-14 months post surgery I went to see my GP about cancelling my B12 injections and iron infusions as I found a cheaper oral alternative that was something you only had every couple of months sublingually (under the tongue). He checked it over and was hesitant. I said can I try it for 3 months and then come back and have some blood tests to check my iron and B12 levels. He agreed. I also was scheduled for a colonoscopy. I went for the procedure at the hospital and about a week or so later went and saw my GP for all the results. I waited in the waiting room for a while and was quite nervous about my results. I didnt know what to expect. If things were bad and flaring up I would need to re think my strategy (not that anything indicated that was the case).

My GP called me in and sat me down and stated that he was thrilled with my results. My iron was through the roof and I needed to tame it down a bit! My B12 levels were normal. My colonoscopy results were amazing. There was NOTHING to indicate that I even had crohns except for the scar and the missing parts of my bowel! WOW. I was stoked. He said to just keep doing what I am doing. That was testament for itself. What I was doing was working. I was so thrilled. All that work paid off!! I see that as God powerfully bringing healing to my body and along the way has taught me an incredible amount about myself and the body and mind. I see it as a MIRACLE and I am incredible grateful of which I am not about to throw it all away by going back to eating the way I used to...as some people did ask.

This was an entire mindset and lifestyle change that was to continue and to grow for the rest of my days as my knowledge would increase. I was so excited and super keen to keep growing in my understanding and pursuit of good health and helping those the best that I can with my testimony and knowledge to those that wanted to know and understand more.

I must say, after all this, 6 months later I think, I was scheduled for another appointment at the hospital with the gastroenterologist's registrar. Not the same one I had 18 months ago. I went in for the appointment. I thought it was just going to be a general check up and I thought he would be thrilled with my results. I was wrong of course. I sat down in his office and he stated that I needed to start on the crohns medication and that I needed to have a colonscopy soon again. I went into explain that after looking into the drugs I had decided a while ago that I would not take them. They would be my backup if changing my diet did not work. I also mentioned that I did not want a colonoscopy. I had only had one 6 months ago with a clear result and did not see any need for another one. They can be dangerous causing perforated bowels and I only see the need for one if absolutely neccessary. I explained my side to him and what I had chosen to do and that my diet was working very well for me and that my GP is very happy with my results. He was angry with me and I left.

I understand that he has a place to share with me what he understands I need. They have to. Its their job to reccomend the medical treatment for health problems. And he did it well, but it wasnt enough to convince me that I needed it. Some doctors need to be aware of other ways of bringing about health to the body. Some, like the one I went to see that day, had boxes to tick and things to be done and drugs to prescribe. He has no understanding of nutition. His background is in medicine so I dont expect him to know about nutrition. But I do expect him to respect my decisions. Then, some doctors, like my GP, I appreciate that he has worked with me on this and helped me become more in control of my health and respecting my informed decisons and celebrating with me such good results.

Thanks for reading.

Part three of my journey with crohns.

So I moved into Mum and Dad's garage and lived there for a couple of months as I recovered after surgery. Things were slow for a while, I rested alot and the major activities for the day were showering and going outside. Sometimes I would have to stop half way through drying myself, after a shower, and rest for a bit. It was exhausting. My bowels were slowly getting back to normal. Some movements, at the start, after the surgery were incredibly painful (tears would be had), but that was also on the mend.

I started my journey of research into how to eat post surgery as a crohns patient. About a week or so after my surgery I went and visited a naturopath breifly. I sat down with her for about half an hour and she educated me on what foods are good to eat and what I should stay away from and the reason. Even though it was hard to hear what she had to say, I loved that she spoke to me as though I would definitly change and that I could definitley do it. She set the bar high for me so I could reap the benefits. She did not speak to me in such a way as to think I couldnt do it, or its too hard, or just go halfway and you will be ok. She understood much more than me and knew that I needed to make the change and respected me enough to set the bar high. I appreciate that more than anything. It was a challenge I needed to take it on and own it for myself.

The list she gave me of what to avoid was this...

FOODS TO AVOID: (underlined were absolute definites)

wheat

diary

alcohol

caffeine

citrus

nightshade vegetable (capsicum, potato, pumpkin...)

corn

soy

peanuts

red meat

sugar

junk food

processed and packaged foods

colours

preservatives

flavourings

She reccomended I have lemon water 15mon prior to meals and to drink about 2L water a day. She then she went into all the things that I can replace all I have been eating with healthy alternatives.

She told me about quinoa, chia seeds, buckwheat, millet, nuts, seeds, legumes, rice milk, spelt and kamut flour, and so many other options. To be honest, when she gave me the list of 'avoids' I was dumbfounded and was wondering what I was going to eat. Then she mentioned some of the many other options, and as I started to hunt around in alternative and health food stores and health sections in main grocery stores I was quite amazed at alot of the options out there.

Now it was all about discipline, experimentation and changing my taste buds. The next 9-12 months for me was so, so hard. I struggled to come off all the food I normally ate and all my little addictions. I craved all the food I used to enjoy and was attempting to change my mindset  and taste buds to a whole new way of eating. It was damn hard work!! I failed some days, but would make sure I just  got back into eating well again and not beat myself up about it. I was going cold turkey and gung ho into it. My driving motivator was thinking about what I had just been through and not wanting to go there again. I was determined to live a healthy vibrant life. I would make sure I would do what I can with whats in my hand, which is so much more than I originally thought! I now believe we have a hugely significant amount of control over our health.

I remember thinking I thought I was quite healthy pre surgery. But the more I was learning, I realised I was not at all. There was so much to learn and so much to implement. I started at first just changing what I normally ate with something else healthier. So my cereals/breads would become kamut or spelt bread and I would get organic oats or brown rice flakes etc from the health food stores and have those for breakfast. I made sure that anything I bought that was packaged that I knew exactly what was in it. I started reading all the labels/ingredients in the food I was buying and if it wasnt wholesome it would go back on the shelf.

Reading labels on food was  HUGE eye opener to me as to what I was actually putting into my body. For example I thought I was just having bread, or a cereal or a can of food, or even a harmless fruit bar, but the label said other wise. So once I was getting into the habit of reading what was in my food my options diminished greatly.  I go by the rule, if I dont know what it is, or can't pronounce it, or it has any numbers, then I dont buy it. That makes it easy.

So I continued on. I would substitute wheat pasta for rice, millet, buckwheat pasta. Milk was substituted with rice, oat, and after about a year or so, goats milk and coconut milk. I found some delicious mung bean noodles in the asian section of woolies. I continued to bake and just substituted the flours with wholemeal kamut or spelt flour and sugar for honey or coconut sugar. I tried to get as wholesome and organic as possible.

Snacks were fruit and veg, rye/rice crackers, nut butters and I experiemented and made chocolate pastes with dates, avocados, raw cacao powder and coconut oil. That was one of my favourite treats. I occasionally ate chicken and fish. I ate alot more brown rice and millet, lentils, chickpeas and lots of salads and vegies. I quickly learned how to supplement with good and healthy foods compared to what I normally had. I was learning to love hearbal teas also. I used to drink 6 or so cups of coffee a day and this new diet showed me other hot drink options!! I was feeling great as I was slowly recovering.

I am not a good cook and I had no passion for cooking (it is slowly changing). One of my desires in a husband was to be with someone who loved cooking!  But with the change of diet I was learning to appreciate food and cooking more. I learned to initiate eating at places I knew I could eat at if catching up with people and if that was unavoidable then I would ask the cooks/waiters questions about what is in their food and work out what would suit me best. I have come to appreciate and understand the importance of saying no nicely if I am offered food I cant have, with respect to the person having made it and realising that it is my health that is the priority. When people know what you have been through and why you say no they completely understand, if they dont, then who cares what they think. Your the one that has to deal with side effects! So be strong and stick with your convictions to be healthy.

I also started going to 'Wholesome House' which is a health food store in Mowbray, Launceston and 'Natures Works' which helped me out with getting different products.  I got onto chia seeds, carob, coconut oil, healthy chutneys and sauces (which I am attempting to make now), coconut water, brewers yeast...

Experimenting, reading, research and buying good recipe books, and looking on the net for good recipes and health sites became the new thing that I did. I also hunted down great people to talk to who were already ahead of me with healthy eating and lifestyle and I learnt from them.  One great book that was brilliant to read and who I could relate to a bit was 'The Makers Diet'. I would  reccomend this book to anyone struggling with gut problems who wants to change their diet and lifestyle.

I still have much more to share. I want to also go into my journey with the after care from the hospital, and the people I have met along the way and what they have shared with me and where I have come to today. My diet has changed drastically in 3 years from all that I have leant and I want to share so much with you. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Part two of my journey with crohns.

So I think what made me most nervous about this surgery was that I had been through it all before. Not the same kind. This was a bowel resection, where as in 2005 I had a major kidney operation and ended up in ICU and all. That is fine and good now, but it brought back all those memories and the experience and road to recovery there after.

So for the days leading up to the surgery I was spending alot of my time praying and reading, because I knew I wouldnt have the energy straight after the surgery for a good week or so. I prayed and got my mind and heart ready for it all. It was something I didnt want to go through again, but in a way knew I had to, and knew of no other option. It had already gone too far and parts of my bowel needed to be removed.

After the surgery, its the strangest feeling. You slowly wake up, like on the movies, and gain conciousness and try to see whats happening around you and whos there. Mum and Dad and Amy and Nathan were there. They helped by feeding me ice chips every now and then. Thats all I could tolerate. Apparently I was all swollen, which is normal. All I could do was lay there. I could say a few words. A lady across from me who was another patient who asked the nurse who brought me in, why I was in hospital. The nurse stated she couldnt say, and she could wait to see if I wanted to tell her. I gave her a wave to let her know I will tell her soon. Its strange seeing young people in hospital, especially for major surgery. I was a bit new and exciting, one of the drs told me, as they are normally working on cases for old people. Hospitals are more like acute aged care homes. I was the only young one in my room. I made friends with the oldies.

The first couple of days you sleep, and you are dosed up on pain relief like morphine and codine. This then can contribte to feeling sick and wanting to vomit. One day I took it too far and was sitting out of bed and was vomiting. Which can I say is awful after you have had major surgery on your gut. It CAINS!! All you can think about is your gut splitting open and all your intestines coming out! So I was in tears, vomiting and feeling sorry for myself. I didnt eat for about a week or so after, as you have to wait for your gut to have movement again. The drs do their rounds about 8 in the morning and they came by and listened to my gut. When they heard gurgling, I was good to start eating. That didnt happen for about a week. I was getting hungry!

I didnt shower for about two days, I didnt get out of bed for two days. The nurses are amazing and washed me in bed and I had a catheter in so I didnt have to get up and wee. Then on the third day I was up. I went for a shower, its a strange thing having a stranger help you shower. But I just tried to block it out and think that this, as a nusre, is what they do all the time. I had nothing that was any different to anyone else, they had already exposed me and operated on me and seen it all (very respectively might I say - I hope), whats a shower!

The days go by fast when your in hospital and your not well. Having a shower can take it out of you big time. Thats the major activity for the day. I would then go back to bed and need to rest for a good while. Mum and Dad and Amy visited everyday, which were the highlights of my day. I also had some friends visit which I so appreciated. I didnt tell me many people about what was going on. I was processing it for myself first, then would get around to it. Mum was telling all the family and I slowly told friends.

I had chantelle, one of my friends visit one day and she plucked my eye brows which was the biggest treat, as I could not do this myself as I had fluids going into my cubital fossa (the inside elbow bit), and you cant bend your arm when you have IV therapy going in. So that was a treat. My own personal beautician! haha. So the days went on. Drs came by to see how I was going. I would have good days and bad days. I slept alot, and had alot of pain relief that slowly got weaned down. I had physio and breathing activities to keep me up and moving. And I remember one night after my catheter was removed I urinated an incredible amount of wee. I obviously came out of theatre all swollen from a fluid build up and I felt so fat. I had to ask mum to get me some 'fat' pants, as nothing fit me. Then after all the fluid came out, I hadnt been eating for the past two weeks either and I had lost 10 kg, so then I had to get mum to get me some 'skinny' pants, as nothing fit. I felt so thin and frail.

Days went by. My parents and Amy kept me company, and my oldie friends in the same room as me of course. I remember falling asleep on mum and dad at times, as I was so tired I just could not keep my eyes open. That was a strange feeling. It felt like pure bliss to close my eyes and sleep. Amazing what the body knows it needs and when. As I was slowly getting better and when I had been told I could start on clear fluids (jelly, broth, juices etc) I had a God-send of a lady come and see me.

This lady who was a nurse from another ward came and visited me. She was in her uniform, so obviously was on shift and she had been told by someone else on my ward to come and visit me and share her story with me. I cant even remember her name. She came and sat down at my bed and introduced herself. She then went into to share about how her daughter had been through the same thing. She was my age and had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of crohns also. She had to have a bowel resection and afterwards struggled deeply with what she had been through and was on all the medication and got depressed with it all, ate and drank terribly and took up smoking. Four years later she had to have surgery again and got a colostomy bag. She then realised she needed to change her ways or she would be in and out of hospital all her life. She started to re educate hersellf about diet and lifestyle and is now one of the healthiest and most active people she knows. Yes, she has a bag but it doesnt stop her living a healthy life. This woman encouraged me to look into my diet and lifestyle and to change it radically so that I could also live a healthy life. She said that she knows of some people with crohns and other health struggles who have made major changes with their diet, lifestyle and are drug free and they are healthier than your average person. She said look into all that is taught today in society and seek out the truth with food and drugs.

She said if I dont do anything, I will be back in here and most likely be getting a bag. That was enough to deter anyone!! This woman was an absolute God-send. I was so incredibly encouraged by her visiting me. I told Mum and Dad straight away when they came in and asked if mum would be able to make me some food to have in hospital as we all know the hospital food is awful, and very unhealthy. Mum made me soups that were delicious that got me started.

You come to appreciate so much when your in hospital for an extended period of time. I was amazed at how well I was doing compared to those around me (my age obviously a big contributer). I made good friends with the ladies in my room. We would rate the nurses on how lovely the girls were and how good looking the guys were. The drs too of course, there was one dr the ladies would tease me about saying he liked me coz he would hang out and chat with me and he was the one to canulate me coz everyone else struggled to! What a way to pick up! The oldies loved it! haha. I appreciated the little outside porch I could walk to and sit in the sun outside. BIG TREAT. I loved standing and showering myself, walking well, changing myself, eating. So many things. I loved it when my sister would come for a bit and we would watch comedy shows together she brought in. I couldnt read much, took too much concentrating. I tired too quickly. By the last two days I felt amazing. I was out in the courtyard walking and hanging out and chatting to and helping the oldies in my room myself and getting to know all the staff. But by the last two days I was super keen to get out. I was soon given the all clear to go home!

Just before I left I had a hospital dietician come and talk to me. I had to ask continually for her to come and see me. Then I was dumbfounded at what this woman told me. She said to eat lots of white carbohydrates and keep the fruits and vegies to a minimum. It was very basic and so wrong. I knew what she was telling me was wrong in the conversation and Im not even educated in dietetics. But your average jo blo knows that white carbs arnt good for you. I tried to engage in conversation with her and ask her questions, as I had so many, and get some claification, but she had no time for me. So I left it and left the hospital. Figured I would go else where.

Was strange making my way home. Mum and dad picked me up. Dad brought the car right up to the hospital as close as he could get it so I didnt have to walk far. And we drove home. I had no IV pole with me! That was a treat for sure, even though I had named him george and it had been with me the whole time, I loved to get rid of it. At home mum and dad had set up a room for me (as I had just moved back from sydney I had no where), and they looked after me. One thing that is weird when I got home and went to bed was that my bed was flat and I had to get used to that. In the hospital the beds can move and be slightly upright with your legs up a bit to alleviate the pain on the stomach. So I had to get used to that quick. With some pillow manoevering all was good.

I was home and could get on with recovering. More to come...

Thanks for reading

Emma :)

Part one of my story with crohns.

So I have made a change to my blog and I am making it more 'gut and food' related. It consumes alot of my life and its one thing, of many, that I am passionate about. So I thought Id blog about my journey and what has helped me along the way, and what continues to inspire me. Think I need my blog to be more focussed on something otherwise I don't write enough. I want it to be of encouragement and help to people who are on a similar journey with their health. Also as I have journeyed along on this quest for good gut health I have had many people ask about my life and diet and some have shared with me their struggles with their health..so this is for you people and so I have something to direct you to of all my thoughts, ideas, ramblings and helpful info. Think I have liked the idea of writing a book about it all, but thats not going to happen. Blogs are quicker...and I can get it out there now!

So briefly...dont want to write HUGE blogs. A little at a time is good. I was diagnosed with crohns disease in march 2009 and went in for major surgey (bowel resection) in may 2009. It all happened fast as it was emergency surgery. I was very sick. For months I had been having stomach pains, but since I had been living a stressful lifestyle I put it down to stress ulcers that would go away when I settled my life down. Yet, this obviously didnt happen. After months of pain, cramps, diahhorea, bloating, constipation, more pain etc etc I went to see my Dr in sydney (I was living in sydney at the time). He checked me over and sent me for a scan immediately. He said I was to come back the next day at 7 (they opened the clinic early just for me). He was the best Dr! So lovely and caring. Anyways...went in the next morning, he looked at the scans and checked my gut (I was already significantly distended), he asked me all the questions and diagnosed me fast with crohns disease. I didnt even know what it was. I asked if I was going to die!!

He said that I needed to go see a specialist immediately. I said that I was soon to go to QLD for a wedding so couldnt this week, and then was moving back to Tasmania. Haha, good my priorities were in order. He said, excellent, as the best gastroenterologist was at the LGH in Launceston. He sent a referral to see the specialist there! I only thought of the blessing this was months later!

I had other things on my mind. I played it down and didnt think it was that serious. I had bridesmaid duties in QLD, then was driving to Tassie with all my stuf to move into my parents garage for a while. The timing couldnt have been more perfect.

When I arrived in Tassie I was getting sicker and sicker. I was starting to cut my food right back, as so much of what I ate caused considerable amounts of pain. I was not enjoying eating. I was soon only drinking my food. I had an appointment with the specialist at the LGH. He checked me over and said I had two options. He first wanted to try me on prednisone to decrease the inflammation. I tried that for 2 weeks and nothing happened. Then I went in again and he checked me over by touching my stomach slightly, very aware of the distention, and I was in tears from the pain. He said I was not going home and to be taken immediatly to a bed and I will be having major surgery. I was shocked.

Over the next 3 days me and my parents had meetings with all the different nurses and doctors and surgeons involved in the surgery. They took us through all that would happen and be involved and what would happen to me in theatre.

I had one doctor who sat with us and had all the time in the world and answered all our many questions. I was so scared and nervous and he took the time to share and be honest and care. He was a good doctor. I also had a colostomy nurse come by 'just in case' I had to have a colostomy bag after the surgery. That was my greatest fear to be honest. They didnt know if I would end up with that until they were in theatre. Ahh!!!!!!! Prayers were going off the show I can tell you!! I remember the days in hospital leading up to going in. The day came. I was called up last minute in the morning, thinking I was going in the arvo. It was all go when the call came. I had to put on my special theatre undies and gown and had been drinking this awful gastrolyte drink for the past two days to empty the bowels. I had nothing left. Then I was taken in. A nurse I connected with and who hung out with me came with me also. I will always remember her to. Mum and dad were there. Amy was making her way up. I wanted to see her. We got to the waiting area at theatre and she arrived just as I had been taken in and could only see her through the door. I was devastated, they wouldnt let her in. I cried. I was so over whelmed by everything. They tell you that you might die. What if that was the last time I saw her? Obviously it wasnt, but when your about to go into theatre you think about things like that.

7 hours later I woke up. I heard someone gently waking me and asking me if I had pain. My gut was so sore. I had a mask on for oxygen and straight away my thoughts went to 'do I have a colostomy bag?' I put my hand on my stomach where they said it would go if I was to have one, and nothing was there!! I was so excited, even though I couldnt show any emotion I was over-joyed in my mind. I was thanking God. I was then wheeled to my ward and mum, dad, amy and nath were there waiting for me. I was ok. It was a long surgery, 7 hours, with a very difficult and scary moment in the operation apparently (thats what the surgeoun said), but then all came together. I had 60cm taken out. My iliem, cecum, appendix and part of my ascending colon was removed. There was a long journey of recovery ahead.

Will write more again soon.

Thanks for reading :)