In early 2004 I started to have diarrhea & blood. Assuming the worst (cancer), I had a colonoscopy done, and that is where my UC was diagnosed. I was relieved that it was not cancer. Having no idea what UC was, I started to read up on it. My doctor was quick to prescribe me Asacol, but I am a skeptical person. When my doctor told me that no one knows the cause of UC, that no medication will heal me and that in the long term, I might have to consider colon surgery, I was very motivated to find other solutions.
After a lot of research I came across Elaine’s website with her Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which was very helpful in reducing my symptoms. It reduced my symptoms dramatically from 10 (bathroom 10 times a day) to about 3 (bathroom 3 times a day), but I still had diarrhea and occasionally blood.
Not being content with this result, I wanted medical advice. I did not like my old “prescribe & cut” doctor. Through some trial and error, I found a great doctor, who had great results with patients either a) following Elaine’s diet or b) following the Anti-Fungal Diet.
The Anti-Fungal Diet worked like a charm for me. My symptoms improved dramatically and I am now down (on average) to one formed bowl movement a day, with no blood.
In my case, I also realized, that psychological factors were at least a contributing, if not causing, factor in my illness and I spent considerable time addressing that aspect of my illness.
It is now Nov 2006, and I feel great. I am on my way to full recovery. I put this website together, as I am beginning to lose interest in this illness, and I want to share my experience before I move on to the rest of my life.
In the process of adapting my diet, I learned a lot about nutrition, and I don’t believe I will ever go back to the standard American diet, so adequately abbreviated as “SAD”. I have more energy than I ever had before, I don’t have my 3 pm craving for sweats anymore and my blood pressure went down.
Looking back, I believe that UC, at least for me, was a blessing in disguise, although at the height of my illness that would have sounded like a sick joke to me.