Navigating Chronic Digestive Challenges My Journey with Crohn's SIBO IBS and Natural Healing

Dealing with chronic digestive conditions can feel like an exhausting challenge. My journey through Crohn's disease, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), gastritis, and acid reflux has been filled with hurdles and little hope. But in this post and posts to follow, I will share my personal experiences and the natural approaches that significantly helped me manage my symptoms, even when I faced conflicting advice from various healthcare professionals, who's opinions-almost all proved to be wrong.

Understanding My Conditions

The terms Crohn’s, SIBO, IBS, gastritis, and acid reflux sounds daunting. Each condition presents its own set of symptoms. Crohn’s, a type of inflammatory bowel disease, can lead to severe abdominal pain, fatigue, and substantial weight loss. In fact, studies show that about 70% of people with Crohn's experience weight loss due to malabsorption. SIBO can cause bloating and diarrhea, affecting roughly 84% of IBS patients. IBS itself introduces patterns of cramping and unpredictable bowel habits. Gastritis inflames the stomach lining, and reflux can cause uncomfortable heartburn and regurgitation, impacting daily living.

The overlap in these symptoms sometimes complicates diagnosis and treatment. Each condition can worsen the other, creating a tangled web of discomfort.

Initial Treatments: A Frustrating Path

My treatment journey began with various prescriptions and strict dietary guidelines set by doctors. Medications aimed at reducing inflammation often left me feeling worse rather than better. In fact, I experienced side effects such as lack of appetite, nausea and fatigue that diminished my quality of life. And potentially even furthered issues in other areas, surrounding the stomach, if you catch my drift.

For example, following a low-FODMAP diet helped some, but it became frustrating to track every food’s impact on my symptoms. Some specialists recommended avoiding dairy and gluten altogether, while others argued that those foods were fine in moderation. This inconsistency left me feeling confused and discouraged about what to eat.

On top of it, my recent gut map showed my high reactivity to ingredients like arrow root and tapioca starch, which are used in gluten free products. As well as many of the sugar free components, as someone who is also dealing with an increased insulin level, due most likely to my body's prolonged fight or flight, which is a whole other thing I might get into at some point here...

Discovering the Power of Food

After numerous consultations and trying countless remedies for over 10 years and in numerous states, I finally gave in to the fact of the significant role food plays in healing. I started learning about foods that might help improve gut health. Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet changed my outlook on health. Working alongside my new doctor's care now with supplements to balance out my bad gut bacteria, guiding me as I research what works for my body as well. Instead of restrictive diets, I focused on what I could include:

• Fresh fruits like blueberries: Rich in antioxidants, they can reduce inflammation.

• Protein: To support the gut healing process, muscle growth, and so much more

• Clean Foods: Most importantly just eating foods, chicken, rice, potato, no sauces, no seasonings, eating the food itself

  
  

And on the flip side, I strictly eliminated processed foods, refined sugars, and gluten—foods that studies suggest can trigger flare-ups in those with digestive issues. The gut is certain states cannot heal itself if there is a large enough level of bacteria overgrowth, and you continue feeding it. So you must remove the foods from your diet that feed overgrowth, such as: sugars in all forms, refined carbs and starches, fermentable fibers (apples, onions, garlic, yes that includes both garlic and onion powders...., legumes, broccoli, and much more...), dairy, yeast and mold containing foods, yeah I know it sucks. But trust me when I tell you, you have to starve the overgrowth before it's going to get any better.

What it realistically looked like for me is now 2 weeks of white rice or quinoa or peeled white potatoes, chicken or chicken thighs, steamed green beans or carrots, rice cakes, oatmeal, strawberries or blueberries, raw almond or peanut butter... but when I tell you I can see the changes in my digestion clearing up, it's really doing the trick.

Embracing Natural Remedies

Beyond dietary changes, I explored the benefits of supplements and learning what your gut levels are currently, where they should be, and what needs to be done to return them to their proper working state. As well as focusing on the mental health part as well, as someone who's struggled with this my whole life, where to even begin on how much of a mental weigh in this has us is a hard start. But just know that it is true, your mental health can be poorly effected by your gut health, and while healing will be uncomfortable, it will be worth it for you overall, in more ways than one.

Findings from Mindfulness Practices

As my physical health improves, I recognized the importance of mental well-being. Chronic digestive pain can heavily impact mental health and lead to stress, which in turn can exacerbate symptoms. This led me to explore mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation, which positively transformed my life. Another powerful one for me was a solid 30 minute TRE session, at least one a week. Start paying attention to what was actually "wrong" outside of my stomach, and working on those items.

By focusing on deep breathing and mindful eating, I was able to reconnect with my body. Research indicates that stress management can significantly improve IBS symptoms, with studies showing that mindfulness practices reduced symptoms in over 50% of participants.

The Role of Support

While I wish I could say this was something to talk about here, it's not, and that's why I wanted to create this blog. For people to come to, where a real person talks about how I deal with it and get better, I'm not paid, I'm not some healthcare professional selling you their method, just a girl, sharing her story.

Celebrating Small Victories

As I progressed, I learned to celebrate small victories. Each day of reduced symptoms felt monumental, whether achieving a new food milestone or simply enjoying my meal with less fear. I kept a health diary to track not only my meals and their effects, which empowered me to make informed choices for my health. But also what was happening each day mentally, with my digestion, everything, because at the end of the day, it's all connected!

This practice helped illuminate what worked for me, fostering a sense of ownership over my journey that I had previously lacked while following conventional treatments, just kind of guessing, and believing whatever the doctor's would tell me.

Re-evaluating My Health Care Approach

So after hoping around from doctor to doctor, almost 10 years of my life, and only seeing my symptoms, body, and mental health just get worse; I finally had spoken up loud enough, when a friend of mine referred me to a non traditional homeopathic doctor. They started from the top all the way down, did I bruise easily, was my hair thin or falling out, did I get cold easily, mental, BMs, the whole 9, everything you'd want them to think of and then some. After running tests and blood work, they sent me supplements based on what my gut looked like and what it needed to get back to running properly. This doctor confirmed, that all the previous doctors telling you to just eat healthy greens, salads, avoid red meat, and things like that without running GI tests to see how YOUR stomach responds to foods, is just wrong. As anyone with Crohn's knows, dark leafy greens especially in a hyper tensive ongoing flare up, are like taking a rake through your GI tract. Every doctor up to this point had suggested everyone gastro medicine under the sun that had hit the shelves: Linzess, Trulance, dicylomine, one even went as far as antidepressants and Gabapentin. None of these were ever going to help my gut, or heal me, but I was too naive to think anything other.

A Journey of Hope and Healing

Navigating chronic digestive issues such as Crohn’s, SIBO, IBS, gastritis, and reflux can be isolating and overwhelming. However, my journey has shown me that hope and healing are attainable, even amidst conflicting advice from various doctors.

By exploring the impact of food, natural remedies, mindfulness, and supportive communities, I discovered a proactive approach to managing my symptoms. The empowerment I found on this journey transformed my relationship with my health.

For anyone facing similar challenges, remember your journey is uniquely yours. Advocate for your health, explore diverse options, and celebrate every victory—however small. The path may be challenging, but it is also filled with opportunities for growth, understanding, and natural healing.

I’d love to hear your stories, or questions, or anything, it’s an unhealthy gut safe space here!