Getting my life back without meds!

[tlras]

Hi all,

Just wanted to give everyone an update. I'm doing very well! So happy right now. For those who don't know, I started on Pepto the first week in September after dealing with daily WD since April, 2012. I gave up gluten on July 1 and dairy on Aug. 24. Still had D so started on Pepto. However, my nausea, pain and bloating had subsided substantially. The Pepto gave me my life back as I've had normans since the first day of starting that treatment. I stuck strict with GF/DF diet and low and behold I think it's finally kicked in. I've been off Pepto since December 10th....took a few dosages per week during the holidays....and now totally Pepto free for over a month now. I realize I could flare at any time but not showing any signs of that so far. I've gotten a little sluggish even before my little surgery and have added some beans and more veggies to my diet. It's been wonderful to be able to eat more foods. My next goal is to lower my carbs but afraid of losing weight from that. I have gained 10 pounds back and would like to stay this way.

For Valentine's Day I had a GF/DF/SF dark chocolate bar from Enjoy Life and it was to die for. My stomach felt weird afterwards but I don't really know if it was from the bar or the emotional stress I'm going through this week. I finally decided that I would not attend the social event this weekend as seeing my in-laws would send me back on meds again. I know I've made the right decision as I know I'm still in the healing process and I will not risk a relapse! Luckily, my husband is understandable. We all here know that stress is NOT OUR FRIEND!

Another happy note is my cervical and uterine biopsies came back negative! They got all the nasty stuff out and I now have the all clear to have a hysterectomy come June! Can't wait to get those useless organs out of me. I get to retain my ovaries which is good. I honestly didn't think I could deal with a cancer diagnosis along with all this other nastiness. My prayers have finally been answered.

I'm so thankful every day for this forum and hope that I can help others like others have helped me. There is hope! I lost hope for awhile but with patience and a strict diet, we can all get better. I've now been given the all clear to exercise again and I actually have the strength to do it now. Feeling very blessed today.

Love to you all,


Terri

[tex]

Hi Terri,

Thanks for the inspiring post, and the update with the good news. I've been wondering about the biopsy results.

Life is good after we conquer all the dragons, isn't it.

Love,
Tex

[mzh]

So glad things are looking up for you, Terri!

[JenniferS]

How wonderful! When is your hysterectomy? (I hear recovery from those require large doses of chocolate. ;) )

[Leah]

It's so great to hear good news from someone who I remember hearing from back when you first found us. Great news about the biopsies too! So happy for you!... The stomach upset after the chocolate could have been that it was just too much sugar. Sometimes I do the same thing and have to remind myself about portion control :)

Leah

[coryhub]

Hi Terri,

Thanks for your update. I love to hear success stories like yours. I too have been meds free since Xmas and am trying to break my record of going 6 months without a flare up. Last time, I only made it four months.
That is great news about your biopsies and who needs those useless organs anyways!

Cheers,
Cory

[TXBrenda]

Glad to hear your about your success. Hope your surgery goes well. I wish I didn't have my ovaries now. They really are useless after a hysterectomy. Only thing they seem to be good for now is growing cysts.

[jgivens]

Such good news! It inspires those of us who are still in the healing process. Thanks for sharing!

[Gabes-Apg]

Woo Hoo
great news!



the enjoy life rice crisp bar is very yummy! i can get the enjoy life range here in Aus

relax, be patient, and be kind to your body while it is healing. take your time and dont add too many new things too soon.
Enjoy that rainbow that has appeared after the storm!

[wmonique2]

TERRI!

Girlfriend, you DID IT! no meds at all? WOW! VERY HAPPY FOR YOU...just don't go hog wild on food, OK?






Love,

Monique

[tlras]

Thank you all so much!

@JenniferS...lol.....wouldn't that be nice!! I'm a chocolate fiend! My surgery is in June.

@Leah....oh, if I could only stop at a square...lol....will have more willpower next time! You are right....too much sugar!! Btw...just ate french fries again and like you, I feel stuffed. But luckily I never have any issues with them. My celebration dinner this evening!

@Cory....I had read about your recent flare...glad you are back off the Entocort and doing well. Gosh.....I sure hope to go 6 months without a flare! I'm surprised I haven't had one yet as I totally pig out on food. So hungry all the time.

@Brenda...yes, I do worry about those nasty ovarian cysts but hope I get lucky and don't have to deal with them. I'm glad they are staying put for now as I'm not ready for menopause. I do hope they don't cause me any problems. Excited to get off my birth control pills.

@Gabes...I have eaten those bars as well. I will take your advice.

@mzh @ Jane....thank you!

@Tex....you are a Godsend!

Terri

[tlras]

Thank you Monique! Little too late....pigged out tonight! lol! But I usually do and don't have issues. But promise to stick to my current diet for now.

I get to dance again! Gotta take it slow though.

I have to say I'm in awe of you getting off that Elavil....I still can't get off that stuff. Are you doing Lialda every 3 days now? I think it's awesome you have managed to get off 2 drugs in the last few months...am I correct about that?

Terri

[wmonique2]

Hey Terri,

Good to hear you're doing good! Yes, I did get off Entecort and Elavil. Elavil was packing the pounds, like you I was hungry all the time and didn't like the feeling. I picked up 4 lbs and my size 2 pants were getting tight. I hate having to shop for a whole new wardrobe so I stopped taking it and replaced it with allegra. I figured that the elavil was working on mast cells and I was right because the transition from it to allegra was seamless. I also didn't like the fact that I was sleepy all the time even after a 10 hour night. Hated that!

I am now on only 1 mesalamine. I intend to tackle that sometimes in the future. I am under the weather today, though. I decided to speed up my weight loss by taking garcinia cambogia (an appetite suppressant) and took them yesterday. MISTAKE! it made me sick with cramps and nausea and I've been home feeling sorry for myself and beating myself on the head for doing something as stupid as that while I was doing so well. I hope it doesn't last long...or reverts to some god-awful relapse (remember this story when you "indulge").

Anywho, I am truly happy for you! BTW, have you tried going on a reduced dose of elavil? like cutting it in half?

Love,

Monique

[tlras]

Interesting about your switch to Allegra. If I could get off this darn Elavil I would give that a try but I've been on it for many years so it's harder to get off of. Yes, I've thought about decreasing the dosage and see what happens. I'm taking 25mg....maybe should try the 12.5 gram tablets as I've done that before. I managed to get off the stuff when I got pregnant but then had to get back on it due to jaw pain and headaches. It doesn't affect my sleep anymore.

So sorry you aren't feeling well. Throw that appetite suppressant away!! I do hope you are feeling much better by tomorrow. Ya just never know what's gonna get us! As for weight loss...you will eventually get back to where you were now that you are off Elavil....no need to rush that. The prescription for you.....MORE BELLY AND BALLROOM DANCING!!

BTW...you can give me that 4 pounds....trying to get back up to 125. I'm still a Size 6...sometimes a 4.

Praying you don't have a relapse...but it sounds like you are healing well.

Terri

[wmonique2]

Terri,

yes, you should try cutting the elavil dose. either do it yourself or have your doc prescribe the 10 mg ones (that's what I took).

Yes, was that stupid or what? taking that darn pill kept me home yesterday and today and feeling sick over 4 stupid pounds! I should have just sent them over to you! you could use them and you know what? I had started belly dancing again and ballroom dancing and I feel even stupider because I get impatient sometimes over dumbs***t. Oh well.

I tell you that allegra works...

Love,

Monique