My Story

[Guest guest]

Hi SDC'ers,

I have read a couple emails about people expressing their frustrations

about the diet and the slow process. I just wanted to share my story

in hopes that it may give a little encouragement about the diet. I am

26 and was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 13. Shortly after my Mom

found the diet and I went on it for two years and went into remission

completely. I then hit my teenage years/ college years and went

through that invincible state. In my early 20's, I had a huge flare

up which has lasted for years. I was on every medication possible,

have been on pain meds for five years straight now because I had a

fistula that burrowed into my posterior pelvic bone, and this year it

got to the point where I had to have surgery. My doctor removed an

abscess the size of an orange and I felt better. But, a month later

was back in the hospital with another abscess because the resection

leaked. I had a second surgery which leaked again and I ended up have

a severe E Coli infection in my gut. It ruined my intestines and I

had to have a third surgery that lead to an ileostomy because they

could not put back my intestines in such a poor condition. It was

supposed to be temporary but my intestines aren't healing and the last

time I went to my Doc she said that 'If I were older, she would just

remove everything " . This really put a fire under my butt. That day I

went back on the diet. For the first time in five years, my back pain

is going away. I never thought my Crohn's would get this bad. I

never thought I would have an ileostomy. I wish that I had decided to

go on the diet earlier and maybe I wouldn't be in the situation I am

now. So, if you have the opportunity to be exposed to the diet...as

hard as it maybe be and as crapy as you may feel in the

beginning...give it a shot. Take control of your disease. My doctors

have given up on me..and they have actually said that! Don't let the

diet be your last resort as it was for me.