Healing Crohns Holistically

Approaching the age of 50, I thought I was finally going to get what I deserved........... in as far as the financial and business accolades I had been working towards for 30 + years. Turned out, what the universe had in store for me was something entirely different. I know now I was working towards a success that was never going to come given my then state of mind. Sure there were some successes to keep me interested, but all in all I was in a losing fight. I was a very intense, stressed person ( my children would call it grumpy, much to my chagrin ) for many years, chasing the money dream and taking care of family, not in a nurturing way, but from a place of control and ego. Turns out this isn't so good for the gastrointestinal system.

The diagnosis

What began as painful cramps, inconsistent and increasingly frequent bowel movements as well as other symptoms I don't care to go into, apart from saying no amount of cold baths, warm baths, creams, ointments, salves, powders or pain killers would alleviate the symptoms. This became frequent late night visits to the emergency room and at this point, it became traumatic. Months worth of hospital visits and still no diagnosis would or could be made. The frustration I felt was evident and continued to where it finally turned into a full blown flare up. I then spent 11 days in hospital where I remember having only 1 hour of restful sleep and eventually reaching a weight of 50 kgs. At least by this stage the medical professionals could diagnose my condition as Crohns disease.

Here I was now being told by the medical practitioners there was no cure and the rest of my life would entail ingesting methotrexate ( a drug used in cancer treatment ) every week. This was in order to suppress my 'gone haywire" immune system, which was attacking my bowels, having begun to consider them an alien part of my body. As a man who rarely takes pills, the odd pain killer here and there maybe, I did not take too kindly to having this become a regular part of my life. I was to consider a shorter life span, bowel operations, dietary changes or limitations and a host of pill side effects. Now, to a person who has always loved all types of food, regularly cooks and eats all variations of it, this was not a joyful prognosis. In any case, i considered this was my lot from here on in.

The effects.

At the time, the dieticians or medical professionals were not able to advise me what I could or could not eat and it was recommended I get a journal to log my findings. So, after months of trying different diets, cutting out dairy, cutting out meat, cutting out bread, etc, etc, eating one thing one week and not being able to eat the same thing the following week all instilled a sense of bewilderment and utter frustration. As I mentioned, I love all food groups.

Within a short period of taking methotrexate I began to feel my fingers locking up, arthritis had set in. I seemed to always have the flu. I was always tired. I felt nauseous all the time. My ablutions were inconsistent and irregular. I knew every toilet between northern rivers New South Wales and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland ( my regular work movements, pardon the pun....... ).  I had regular headaches.

All this wreaked havoc on a mindset which had always been one of self regulation and self sufficiency. Reliance on anything or anyone was not my way. It was time for a different attitude to the process. I approached the doctors for a solution and it was recommended I increase the dosage of methotrexate. I absorbed this statement and I think this was probably my trigger moment. I replied to the doctor I don't think this is the way I want to go, and that I will be giving them up completely. I promptly thanked him for his care and left. This was November 2017.

While I am not concerned with economic costs, I feel it needs mentioning. The latest study conducted by Deloitte Access Economics was commissioned by Crohns & Colitis Australia in 2007. It was found that Crohns disease cost Australia's economy $2.7 billion dollars in that year alone with approximately 75,000 Australians living with it. The forecast was to be 100,000 by 2021. There have been no subsequent studies.

My recovery

I began to take a different look at life. A more relaxed look at life. A less materialistic one. A less anxious one. I began resting my gut, eating 2 meals a day. Smaller quantities. Oh, and during my stint in hospital I took the opportunity to quit cigarettes. I consider this to have been a big contributor to my ailment along with the stress I put myself through in life. By choice. 

I stopped drinking alcohol. A gradual and organic process happened where I allowed my business to fall away, to where it eventually collapsed. My creditors were not impressed. I am not remorseful (anymore that is), was for a time and my ego was bruised as well, but my health became more important.

I began to meditate, to exercise, cycling and swimming every morning, getting fit and healthy. The cold water swims were therapeutic. My increased fitness was invigorating and inspiring. I felt life coming back into my body. There was a sense of gratitude, a sense of kindness and compassion I directed to my body, my self. A sense of love that had not been there previously. I began to look at my healing as a holistic process, I read everything, not discounting any point of view or recommendation. I mediated on this and directed my thoughts to every cell in my body to see what resonated. I sent loving, grateful, positive thoughts to my body every day. Where I had previously felt shut down by the pills, my body had now begun to come alive, responding I believe to the love and kindness it was receiving. I began to trust the process.

And this process is now in its 6th year. I am very grateful. I love life, I love my body and I love being alive. I am content, I am compassionate towards myself, working less hours, I manage stress with greater capability. I seek balance and harmony in all aspects of my life. More importantly, I say humbly, I allow myself to eat everything and anything. In moderation that is. I sometimes pay for this with my bowel letting me know quickly in evacuating what has been received, but this in itself is love to me. I have cut down on sugar and processed foods. Junk food I dont eat. I drink moderate amounts of alcohol. I am passionate about my health. My last few annually scheduled colonoscopies, have shown no inflammation, with the last being a few months ago and showing no scar tissue. As far as the specialist is concerned, a normal healthy bowel with no visible symptoms of Crohns. Relief and Wonder are the emotions I feel. I look back on the last 7 years and I am thankful for the lesson. It has given me a true sense of purpose, greater empathy and a will to help others in their healing journey.

How did I heal from Crohn’s Disease ? I am asked this  question often and my answer is this.

There are 8 billion people in this world and it is my belief that there are 8 billion different ways to heal, 8 billion different bodies which will react in different ways to the healing process. What worked for me may not work for anybody else. What I will say is this, and I wholeheartedly believe:

'It all begins with our mindset'

The lifestyle change is profound, the attitude change can be confronting, the mindfulness and spirituality change will cause anxiety, it will be a slow process, it will not be a full cure, there is not one single food or pill that will cure this disease. This is an holistic process and you must be open to change if you want to heal and recover to a better, more fulfilling life. Basically, the same mind that created the disease can heal the disease. This will begin with having the right mindset.

References;

The economic costs of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis – Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) (crohnsandcolitis.org.au)