In October of 2007, I was diagnosed with an auto immune disease, mild Left Sided Ulcerative Colitis, one of two Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). The other is Crohns Disease, which effects much more of the digestive tract than UC. At the time, I didn't think much of it, was given a prescription for a drug called Asacol and after a few weeks, thought it really wasn't such a big deal and quit taking the drug.
Little did I know that 3 1/2 years later, I would wind up in the hospital for 16 days to control bleeding from my severely damaged colon. Throughout those years, I became progressively worse physically, emotionally and mentally, becoming virtually a hermit for long periods of time. I tried various medications, probiotics, diet changes, and tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for awhile, making my own yogurt and then eating glutein free. But nothing prepared me for the "retreat" I had in the hospital (Good Samaritan Exempla in Lafayette, CO). After the 3rd day, after some major realizations, I understood that every single nurse, nurses aide, food service employees, and housekeeping crew were there because they wanted me to HEAL and help me, so I just let go and let them do their jobs.
In particular, my Kaiser IBD team was beyond any doubt invested in me, and their caring for and about my health, sharing of information and ability to explain my treatment was phenomenal. I can't ever thank them enough. I have some ideas that I believe would help them do their job even better for more people.
Eventually I was released in much better health, on a high dose of Prednisone, which I'm slowly tapering now. In addition, I'm on a program of infusions called Remicade, which seems to be healing me, too.
Following my release, I began to explore alternative therapies as an adjunct to Western Medicine, met with a nutritionist, and had something called a Visceral Massage by a fantastically intuitive massage therapist/healer, Candace. This is a practice that has been used in France and is also taught in Florida. I don't have the academic specifics of the doctors who do the teaching yet, but they are impressive. From a layman's point of view, Visceral Massage is massaging the organs of the body themselves. It may have been the most gentle and relaxing massage I've ever had, yet had phenomenal results. Candace was firm in telling me that I could not have another visceral massage for 3 more weeks, during which time she was going for further training anyway.
My other healer was a nutritionist, who certainly had a lot to deal with all the Western meds in my system... Remicade, which stays in the system several weeks, followed by 16 days of 60 mg IV prednisone followed by anothe week of 60 mg prednisone. I came to her with kind of a toxic soup. She suggested several supplements based on my health history, which I promptly went out and bought at Vitamin Cottage (who has a great reputation with me now, and I hope to interview them soon.) However the clerk was not as well trained as I would have liked, and I ended up with a bit of a mish mash.
I really started to have symptoms from the prednisone... I described myself as feeling like the Tinman from the Wizard of Oz. I got moon face (right during the full moon!) and ankles/kankles. Otherwise, I felt pretty good and shopped in Manitou and old Colorado City, meeting some wonderful people there, too. It was truly a retreat and path to healing.
Then home again, with 2 weeks of walking twice a day with my buddy the Jack Russell Terror Winston! The healing was gradual but I was finally on my way back from hermitage.
Little did I know that 3 1/2 years later, I would wind up in the hospital for 16 days to control bleeding from my severely damaged colon. Throughout those years, I became progressively worse physically, emotionally and mentally, becoming virtually a hermit for long periods of time. I tried various medications, probiotics, diet changes, and tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for awhile, making my own yogurt and then eating glutein free. But nothing prepared me for the "retreat" I had in the hospital (Good Samaritan Exempla in Lafayette, CO). After the 3rd day, after some major realizations, I understood that every single nurse, nurses aide, food service employees, and housekeeping crew were there because they wanted me to HEAL and help me, so I just let go and let them do their jobs.
In particular, my Kaiser IBD team was beyond any doubt invested in me, and their caring for and about my health, sharing of information and ability to explain my treatment was phenomenal. I can't ever thank them enough. I have some ideas that I believe would help them do their job even better for more people.
Eventually I was released in much better health, on a high dose of Prednisone, which I'm slowly tapering now. In addition, I'm on a program of infusions called Remicade, which seems to be healing me, too.
Following my release, I began to explore alternative therapies as an adjunct to Western Medicine, met with a nutritionist, and had something called a Visceral Massage by a fantastically intuitive massage therapist/healer, Candace. This is a practice that has been used in France and is also taught in Florida. I don't have the academic specifics of the doctors who do the teaching yet, but they are impressive. From a layman's point of view, Visceral Massage is massaging the organs of the body themselves. It may have been the most gentle and relaxing massage I've ever had, yet had phenomenal results. Candace was firm in telling me that I could not have another visceral massage for 3 more weeks, during which time she was going for further training anyway.
My other healer was a nutritionist, who certainly had a lot to deal with all the Western meds in my system... Remicade, which stays in the system several weeks, followed by 16 days of 60 mg IV prednisone followed by anothe week of 60 mg prednisone. I came to her with kind of a toxic soup. She suggested several supplements based on my health history, which I promptly went out and bought at Vitamin Cottage (who has a great reputation with me now, and I hope to interview them soon.) However the clerk was not as well trained as I would have liked, and I ended up with a bit of a mish mash.
I really started to have symptoms from the prednisone... I described myself as feeling like the Tinman from the Wizard of Oz. I got moon face (right during the full moon!) and ankles/kankles. Otherwise, I felt pretty good and shopped in Manitou and old Colorado City, meeting some wonderful people there, too. It was truly a retreat and path to healing.
Then home again, with 2 weeks of walking twice a day with my buddy the Jack Russell Terror Winston! The healing was gradual but I was finally on my way back from hermitage.
