Hi all,
Just thought I'd post an update. Last night we went to visit some dear friends. The last time we'd been to their house was January 7 - about a month after I first went GF and just a week or so after I went DF (3 weeks before my diagnosis with MC, though I'd been dealing with D for probably 10 years before that). At that original visit, I had been absolutely miserable - spent most of the visit in the bathroom, with WD probably 8-10 times during the 3 hours or so we were there. Last night we were there 3 1/2 hours; I went once, and it was basically Norman! Now I had been on prednisone for 5 days, from Friday through Wednesday morning, but no other drugs - except for the prednisone burst for my asthma, I'm managing my MC with diet alone (a strict diet, admittedly, but diet alone).
I'm under no illusion that my troubles are over. I recognize that there are still going to be plenty of ups and downs, and I'm continuing to watch for things I'm reacting to. I know the prednisone is helping some too, and when it wears off completely I will get some worse again. I've developed issues with GERD that I either didn't have before or at least didn't recognize. I still have plenty of days when I have soft-serve at best, and some with WD. But it's been a long time since I was as sick as I was back in January when we made that previous visit. There is no question in my mind that I am really seeing very significant improvement.
I want to say a couple of things here:
1) THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who have continued to stick around this forum to provide much-needed counsel and support for those of us "newbies" who have no idea what to do or where to turn. I know of no one else anywhere who is giving this kind of counsel - and no one else who really can provide any hope of remission.
2) Reading this forum can be discouraging at first - so many people struggling so much, and people with incredible numbers of sensitivities. But as I've stuck around, I'm seeing people improve and begin to feel better as they compromise less and less and as they stick around long enough to heal.
3) Healing takes TIME!!! When I first started on the diet with my nutritionist, I thought a couple of weeks was a long time. I've discovered a couple of weeks is a very short time period in this process. It has taken me over 6 months of being very, very strict with a GF diet, and several months of being strictly DF/EF/SF (along with avoiding most sugar, all sugar substitutes except stevia, all citrus, all preservatives and additives, pretty much all raw fruits and veggies) to really be able to see significant progress.
4) If you only look back over the previous few weeks, you may not see the progress at all. I can't tell you how frustrated and discouraged I've been, especially lately, as I look at where I am and where I want to be. I feel like I'm not making any progress at all toward my goal of basically one Norman per day. It wasn't until I looked back 5-6 months to where I was basically at the beginning of this process that I realized how far I've really come.
This morning I took my 15-year-old daughter to do a service project with her National Honor Society group. I dropped her off at 9 am and went shopping with a good friend; came back at noon and picked her up; took her out to lunch and went shopping with her until 3 pm. In all that time, I used the bathroom once, with no real urgency; while it was soft, I was not uncomfortable and didn't have to rush. I could not believe it. Folks, it's true - I have my life back!!!!
Be encouraged,
Deanna
Definitely Healing!
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Deanna in CO
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:16 pm
- Location: Colorado
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Deanna - how wonderful to read such a positive update from you - thanks for taking the time to write it.
You're so right that only by looking back to were we started do we see how much progress we've made. Keeping that in mind is very helpful in terms of coping with the many set-backs that inevitably happen.
Love,
Kari
You're so right that only by looking back to were we started do we see how much progress we've made. Keeping that in mind is very helpful in terms of coping with the many set-backs that inevitably happen.
Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
Thanks for the encouraging words, Deanna-
As I sit here eating my turkey and rice, feeling a bit disgusted and down because I can't eat the homecooking my Mom shared with the family, I am grateful for words like yours. I'm feeling a bit run down today because of the peanutbutter (2 stinking little spoonfulls) I ate this morning in a rush to get out the door. It was quick and right there looking at me and tastes so good. I've ruined a beatiful day for something I've suspected may be an issue but was hungry and didn't have time to cook. Days and weeks used to seem like forever when eliminating foods then later months seemed like a long time. I'm at about the 6 month point and am beginning to get a bit impatient. But I thank you for the reminder. Looking back 6 months, a year, five years....... I am doing better. I'm not where I want to be, but better due to diet. Thanks Deanna, I'm happy you are getting better each day- you inspire me to keep with the plan.
As I sit here eating my turkey and rice, feeling a bit disgusted and down because I can't eat the homecooking my Mom shared with the family, I am grateful for words like yours. I'm feeling a bit run down today because of the peanutbutter (2 stinking little spoonfulls) I ate this morning in a rush to get out the door. It was quick and right there looking at me and tastes so good. I've ruined a beatiful day for something I've suspected may be an issue but was hungry and didn't have time to cook. Days and weeks used to seem like forever when eliminating foods then later months seemed like a long time. I'm at about the 6 month point and am beginning to get a bit impatient. But I thank you for the reminder. Looking back 6 months, a year, five years....... I am doing better. I'm not where I want to be, but better due to diet. Thanks Deanna, I'm happy you are getting better each day- you inspire me to keep with the plan.
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
What an inspirational post Deanna and congratulation on the road to healing. It is interesting that when you look back at where we started we can actually see how far we have come. Just takes time and dedication and you are doing both.
Love, Maggie
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
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Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
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Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
