Making good progress with alt treatment and zero meds! I'm shocked!

Hello everyone. I was diagnosed with UC in 2009 and since then things have been a roller coaster. It wasn't until I got my first severe extraintestinal symptom last month that my complacency with my disease turned into motivation to cure it. I have read a lot of stories on this forum ranging from mild to severe. I definitely do not have it as bad as some do and my heart goes out to everyone here who has to put up with UC/Crohn's.

Although it had taken me a while to get into a good routine, I was fine with taking my meds and watching my diet for the rest of my life (avoiding nightshades, uncooked veggies, caffeine, fake sugars, eggs, and anything with lactose in it.) I no longer find this way of life acceptable as my first extraintenstinal symptom is looking more like a case of Arthritis of the spin and all other large joints (Thankfully it hasn't reached my fingers yet)

I was finding it very difficult to treat the arthritis and my UC because Naproxen and IBUPROFEN causes bleeding in my colon. For a time I had to turn to expensive supplements and other alternatives that help somewhat but do not give me anywhere near the pain relief of IBUPROFEN.

I was tired all the time, and I mean brain fog all day long. I would almost pass out several times at work because I could not stay awake. I had a feeling that the root of all of this is my UC. I did a lot of research online, spent a lot of my own personal money for a wide variety of natural and rare supplements. Most did nothing, some did a little good and some made things temporarily worse.

Here are the positive results of my long and expensive search for a natural treatment:

Kefir: Previously I have responded poorly to most probiotics. Most of the pill/liquid forms have knocked me on my ass and caused all sorts of problems. It wasn't until 5 months ago a physical therapist friend of mine who is into all of the Alternative medicines had a chat with me about it to help get my stomach ulcers under control. She was more right than I knew at the time. Within a day I was going from 5-10 restroom rush visits a day to only 2. Within a week I was only using the restroom once a day. My stool was perfectly formed and I was feeling incredible. My stomach ulcer were no longer bothering me either. I no longer have blood in my stool. I can now eat foods that used to bother me. I can tolerate cheeses and popcorn but I still tend to stay away from extreme triggers like fake sugar, caffeine and eggs. I do not take pharma meds anymore because it doesn't appear to do anything for me now. Kefir has also helped with my joint pain. I don't know how or why but there are some days where I don't have any pain at all. You do have to take Kefir every day though. The cultures only live a day or two and have to be replenished. I once stopped drinking it for 2 days because I ran out. My joint pain came back in a bad way and so did my restroom visits. I simply cannot say enough good things about it. I do want to be clear that this is not a cure but the best treatment I have had to date.

Bottom line: Kefir has given me the most dramatic improvement in treating my UC and Arthritis. My over all quality of life has increased dramatically. They make it in blueberry flavor and you would be crazy not to try it.


Moringa: It is currently been touted in the US as a cure all superfood. Well its mostly all BS but what it does have some very interesting properties that make it a legitimate option to try. If you have never heard of this stuff, you should check out the discovery channel documentary on Moringa. ( http://youtu.be/Cqwk9KFLTI0 ) Its loaded with vitamins and proteins which my body seems to need. I know this because I am not nearly as tired as I used to be. I buy it in powder form and make my own pills. I now have energy to stay awake and make it through my work day. I have experimented with different dosages and I have found 400mg - 800mg to be the most effective. I have tried larger amounts, but have noticed no additional advantages. I have yet to try fresh Moringa from different parts of the plant, which I hear is better.

Bottom line: It helps with the brainfog/alertness and over all feeling of Wellbeing. I would also go so far as to say that it has given me minor relief to my UC.


Choline and Inositol Combo - These two together are amazing but let me talk about them separately.

Choline Bitartrate: "Brain fog destroyer in a pill" is what I would call Choline. Your body naturally produces this stuff but it might not be producing enough of. Choline levels are depleted when you drink Alcohol. Even if you don't drink alcohol your body can still struggle to make it. It is also found in Eggs which I cannot eat. Choline Bitartrate has been compared to caffeine without the jitters. You can feel the energy and alertness it brings but I have never felt like it was fake or forced. I really just felt like me on a really great day. You will have to experiment with your dosage. I take 400 - 800mg of it along with Inositol. I don't take it every day because when your body has enough of it, it will no longer be as effective. Best taken every other day or just a few times a week. It lasts for about 6-8 hours so its great for taking in the morning and feeling the effects all day.

Inositol: Inositol although in the B vitamin class tends to be lesser known. I use it for two different things, Stablizing the effects of Choline and to help me relax at night. The dosage sweet spot is about 1/4 - 1/2 of the amount you take in Choline Bitartrate. Example: If you took 800mg of Choline you should take 200mg - 400mg of Inositol. I recommend doing your own research if you are interested.

Bottom line: It has brought me back from really bad brain fog to a sharper thinking person that I was before my UC hit.


So there it is! I hope that someone is able to find something useful in my ramblings. I've gone from a mild/medium case of UC / Arthritis to an almost remission status. I still have the disease but it doesn't inconvenience me like it used to.

Thanks for reading!

Post Edited (LaughingBowels) : 7/16/2014 1:18:24 PM (GMT-6)

Thank you for sharing.

Jordan Rubin once said that if he had any disease, it would be one pertaining to the colon, as the gut *appears* to at the root cause of autoimmunity. His story is quite fascinating. Goat Kefir pretty much brought him back from the dead (he had terminal crohn's disease).

The science pertaining to "leaky gut" is continuing to be validated by studies. Seal the gut and you automatically treat extraintestinal manifestations like arthritis. I don't take UC as a blessing, but it is the trending disease at the moment, due to the burgeoning research on the microbiotica

I don't doubt kefir helped you. It helped me as well. I usually take it after meals so that the cultures have something to feed on.

Best.

Guardian: Good to know its working for others! I usually take it as my breakfast as it tends to fill me up with just one glass. I haven't tried it after my meals. Sounds like its worth a shot.

Hateuc: I buy it at the store. The brands that have a slight fermentation flavor to them (super mild carbonation) seem to be the most effective. Brands I like so far: Greek Gods, Green Valley. Ok Brands: Lifeway, Nancy's. I don't usually buy these two much because they can give me a little acid reflux. Better than nothing and they are much more widely available. There are others out there.

My friend who turned me on to this stuff says making it is better. Given that I have had such a great response to it so far and I have a little mad scientist brewing inside of me.. why not?

BTW if you have never tried Kefir before, there might be a battle in your GI track before things get better. Just a warning and it was only an hour or two of trips then a bit of gas before all was calm.