doing well

[harma]

a while ago, I was posting that I was not doing so well. Well things have changed in a positive way. I am feeling better than ever (since diagnosed with MC in October 2009). I am still on my very simple plan boring diet, with apple sauce as the great appetizer. I can count the ingredients of my diet on two hands, getting my groceries goes very quick. I finally gave up experimenting with food and since than my gut is much happier. Because of that I sleep better and feel better.

I tried for one day last week to temper down my entocort (well budenofalk), from one pill a day to a pill every other day. Not ready for that yet. Although I am still not very fond of steroids I decided I just stick to my meds as long as I need them.

After more than six months of a very strict diet, I start to feel a difference. A difference even compared to the pre MC time. Less tired, clearer head, more present, more awareness, more alive. Actually it is great to notice these kind of improvements. It gives me hope that my live even will get better than before the MC. This is all probably due to the gluten.

Before I got MC I had "bowel issues" for almost 10 years like IBS. I prayed to god in spring last year for a solution for my bowel problems. What happened, it even got worse, much worse, I got MC. Well nice solution I told him, thank you very much (not). But maybe the answer came just in another way than I expected and it was my impatience that could not see the whole picture yet.

What happened to me last couple of weeks, it feels a bit like magic, like crossing the border of feeling sick - like a patients - I have something, a disease- to feeling normal healthy again. Sounds maybe strange, there is still a lot more I can't eat than I can and I still need the meds.

I think acceptance, inner piece is also a part of it.

And I haven't even mentioned my BM. That is slightly improving to totally normal too (but not there yet). Also less focused on that too.

Also I gave up alcohol. It does not bother my gut, but it makes my tired immediately after drinking it. Also from two wine a have almost a 24 hour hang over (only two wine!!!). Strangely enough it does not feel like I have to give up something. I just don't want it anymore. I feel so much better without it. Last Sunday I went it with friends in bar for a drink. You can have as much fun with ice tea and juice. Also this night was the first time in a year I really had fun going out (most of the time a cancelled at the last moment or left early due of being tired)

I have started studying again, an exam in three weeks. I study cultural science at the open university in the Netherlands, this module is about the Greeks and Romans and what happened before that in civilization terms. Agriculture and the first urban area's started in the middle east between the eufraat and Tigris in Iraq, every time I read about that I think 'yes thank you very much for introducing gluten into our lives", because is it their "fault". There it al started 10.000 years ago with the first wheat plants.

Also finally it is time to make plans for the future again.

[Joefnh]

That's great news harma, my story is more or less the same. A combination of a very simple consistent diet coupled with the Entocort has made a world of difference. While I haven't given up on alcohol, but I have reduced it to maybe 1 or 2 glass of wine on the weekend.

--Joe

[Jan]

Dear Harma,

I laughed really hard about your statement of gluten being started in the Middle East thousands of years ago.

Your whole post sounded so much better. I am glad you are making progress. It is a wonderful feeling when you can look back and see how far you have come.

Good luck on your studies and your continued progress in feeling well.

Jan

[Ginny]

Harma, it is so good to hear your positive results! You are right about patience! It is amazing how we finally come to accept who we are and where we are at. I have been at this since late Nov and have just started to see that "inner" improvement as well. I believe the modified diet is definitley the key to continuous improvement. Keep us posted and continued good health, Ginny

[Gabes-Apg]

Harma
like you, my ingredient quantity is less than 20! sticking to basic well cooked food is when my body is happiest!
hope your cooking and stock making is going well

I think acceptance, inner piece is also a part of it.

IMO - this is just as important as eliminating gluten.


good luck with the study and the exam!

[Linda in BC]

Dear Harma:

So glad to hear about your improvement. I loved your statement about how often when answers to our pleas come, we don't recognise them as offering solutions, because we are not seeing the "big picture". That has been so true for me in my life often. What seems like a tragedy at the time , in retrospect turns out to be the best thing that could have happened.

And I bet studying that period of time is so very interesting. Yes, too bad they did that (discovered wheat!!
Best wishes for your continued improvement and your studies.

Linda

[tex]

Harma,

That's very good news. You've been following the GF diet for approximately 6 months now, so your intestines should have healed enough by now, that they are probably healthier then they've been in a long time. It's always a pleasure to read such a good progress report, and I know how wonderful it is to feel like doing things again.

I hope you continue to improve.

Tex

[MaggieRedwings]

Congratulations Harma,

You sound so upbeat and positive so just keep doing what you are doing. Glad to hear that your results were relatively quick in coming. I cannot give up my wine so you are stronger than I.

Love, Maggie

[ant]

Dear Harma

I have followed your journey since you joined PP and am inspired by your philosophy of life. I hope your journey continues to progress.

Best, ant

[harma]

thank you all for your replies. I think it is important we share our difficult hard times but also our good times. That's why I posted here. I also hope I can be an inspiration to others who were just diagnosed. The diet is not always fun, a quite a life change with results only in the long run. It helped me a lot to read about others we have achieved remission after longer time of diet.

I am not there yet! Still on entecort, besides that It's so great to feel that all the efforts I have put into it the last months are giving me results.