Good morning!
I had my second Remicade infusion yesterday morning, but before I headed into the city for my appointment, I had a nice morning with my boys.
I ate breakfast with Mal.
And then we headed outside with Quinn and Murphy for a family walk.
It was a chilly morning, so I broke out our winter gear for the season.
We walked for about 30 minutes and then Mal drove me to the T, so I could head into the city.
I arrived at Charles/MGH with about 15 minutes to spare before my appointment, so I stopped into the nearby Whole Foods for an iced soy latte and second breakfast.
Second breakfast = the best.
I worked non-stop during my nearly 3-hour infusion. (I’m feeling a lot better, and I’m down to 20mg of Prednisone!) Mal sent me cute baby and pugs pics while I was at the hospital.
When I got home, we snapped Quinn’s 5-month pic. I can’t believe how big he is getting!
Then I snacked on a whole wheat wrap with almond butter, pumpkin cream cheese, and banana slices inside. Oh, yes, it was delicious!
I also drank a big mug of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, which is my favorite holiday tea.
So, I’ve been meaning to put all of this info in one place for awhile now. I get so many questions about UC stuff, and I thought it would be helpful to anyone struggling with IBD or who was recently diagnosed. I definitely don’t have all of the answers, but I am more than willing to share my experiences and offer any sort of support that I can. IBD is a terribly frustrating disease and if there is anything I can do to make it easier for someone who is dealing with it, I am more than happy to help.
Here’s a quick history and background of my disease: I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in June 2011 right before I turned 31 years old. It came out of nowhere and no one in my family has IBD or autoimmune diseases. I guess I am just lucky. Here’s a little timeline of how my disease has played out over the years.
Below I have listed all of the different things I’ve tried over the years to get my symptoms and flares under control. Besides Prednisone and pregnancy, nothing I did ever made me 100% healthy. I always had some sort of symptoms. However, I don’t regret trying any of these things one bit. I needed to try them. I needed to know if they would work or not. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for me, but they might for someone else. I’ve heard so many successful stories of IBD patients managing their disease with things other than drugs, so I know it’s possible, and I want to make others aware of what’s out there. (Obviously, I am not a doctor, so please talk to yours before trying any of these things.)
Clearly, remission without “hardcore” (immunosuppressor) drugs wasn’t in the cards for me, so, with that said, here’s a list of everything I tried before Remicade. Various blog posts are linked below, so check them out for additional information. And, of course, feel free to contact me if you have specific questions. I’ll do my best to answer them.
DRUGS
- Lialda
- Rowasa
- Asacol
- Apriso
- Cortifoam
- Hydrocortisone
- Uceris <— I paid $900 for it and it didn’t work at all!
- Canasa
- Prednisone <— The only drug that worked.
DIET CHANGES
- Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
- Paleo/Whole 9
- Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)
- RepairVite
- Gluten-free
- Juicing
- Avoiding salicylates
- Drinking bone broth
SUPPLEMENTS
- Probiotics (VSL3, VSL3 DS, Natren Healthy Trinity)
- Tumero Active
- Resvero Active
- Super Oxicell
- Nitric Balance
- L-glutamine
- Ultra D (high dose of vitamin D)
- Gastro ULC
- Parastonil
- i-flora
- Glutathione Recycler
- Gabatone
- Wheat grass
- Aloe vera
TESTS
- Food sensitivities
- GI Effects Microbial Ecology Profile (stool test)
- Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen
- Nutritional Response Therapy
STOPPING HIGH-INTENSITY EXERCISE
Chicco TRE Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered to win a high-performance TRE jogging stroller from Chicco! Here is your winner:
Angela
The one hand fold sounds so convenient! I’m due with my first little one in December and I need all the help I can get.
Congrats, Angela! Please email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your full name, mailing address, and stroller color preference.
Questions of the Day
Have you ever struggled with a chronic disease? What ultimately put you into remission/made you healthy?