HELP PLEASE

[Kari]

Hi Nikanjoe,

Welcome to this wonderful, supportive and informative board from one newbie to another. Your support of your mom is admirable. All the posts you have received so far will hopefully give you the information you need to help your mom take the next step in healing.

Wanted to share my own story as a testimonial as it seems like your mom and I share the timeframe of being sick, as well as our age (I'm 59). I have struggled with this debilitating disease for 10 years and have tried just about everything to figure it out and get better. GI's have been of no help to me. Only when I stumbled across the gluten connection less than two months ago, and immediately went gluten free, did I see substantial improvements in my condition. I have since gone dairy free and soy free, and have just ordered my tests from Enterolab, which I hope will help me in getting a better handle of what I can eat.

Making the switch in my eating habits has been quite easy for me since there are so many items available as substitutes for wheat based foods. It seems a small sacrifice to me if I can get my life back, which means not spending it on the toilet - my own, or anyone else's where I chance to be!!!!! I would also add that one has to get to a certain desperation level before being willing to make a lifestyle change like this. As the saying goes: "People will only make a change when the pain of staying in the current situation is greater than the pain of changing". I hope your mom will be able to get on this board and read some of the stories and information here, but meanwhile, perhaps you can print some of the information out for her???

Also, I am trying to heal by diet alone (not using pills other than a couple of pepto bismol when I have a flare), and so far it seems to be working. However, we are all different, so what works for one may not necessarily work for all. Lots of luck to you and your mom in defeating this awful disease!!!!

Best regards,
Kari

[Ginny]

Nickanjoe, welcome to this very caring and supportive board! Absolutely the diet will help and you do get use to it! Because a changed diet is better than D. Also recognize that everyone has to find their own way. All of us have the same goal; to handle this disease without meds, BUT depending upon the situation that's not always possible (as Gloria has well stated). It sounds like your Mom has suffered a lot and we can relate. She needs to be able to see some results quickly, so Entocort or Pepto Bismal may be the answer until she can figure out how to eat. I also recommend Enterolab to find out exactly what intolerance(s) she might have; knowledge is powerful.

Please keep us informed and ask your questions. We do wish for your Mom to get well.................and she will! Ginny