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Home / Life / The Beginning (My Story)

The Beginning (My Story)

December 29, 2012 Leave a Comment

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Hi everyone (that is when people start to read this thing)

I wanted to write a quick post to explain why I am starting this blog and hope that at least one person out there can benefit from what I have learned.

I will keep this brief for now, but here is the gist…

Years ago I started having troubles with my bowels (I will be frank- I started having diarrhea). Initially my troubles were episodic. I would get what I would call my “stomach sickness” every few weeks to months. I would come down with severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Each episode would last a few days and then resolve. No one around me ever got sick, so I knew that it wasn’t infectious. I tried keeping a food diary to see if I could find a pattern; I couldn’t. My symptoms lasted for about 2 years before I sought any medical help. I had a number of tests and eventually ended up getting referred to a gastroenterologist and had both a colonoscopy and endoscopy. I was told they were normal and that I “probably just had irritable bowel syndrome.” The doctor told me I could take Immodium for my symptoms. I was devastated and extremely frustrated. Here was the medical expert telling me that all I could do was try to mask my symptoms with a pill? I knew that was not my solution. I didn’t just want to treat my symptoms, I wanted to prevent them in the first place! After that my symptoms progressed. I started suffering from daily diarrhea. At its worst I was having 8-10 episodes per day. Wherever I went I was always on the lookout for the closest bathroom, as I never knew when my symptoms would hit. I stopped going for the outdoor runs that I loved so much, as I could never predict when my diarrhea would come. Life was getting miserable. And did I mention that by this time I had been accepted to, and had started medical school?

I started doing my own research into what I could do to help my symptoms. I tried a gluten free diet for over a year, with very minimal results. I also tried cutting out dairy, and again I saw very minimal changes. It was then that I sought the help of an integrative medical doctor in our city to try to find answers. We tried a lot of things, and I had a lot of expensive testing done. I was treated for a parasite in my bowels, for bacterial overgrowth as well as yeast. I also went gluten, soy and dairy free, and took a variety of supplements including probiotics and digestive enzymes.  I did see some improvements, but I was still having 4-5 loose stools per day, at unpredictable times.  My doctor finally mentioned the book “Breaking the Vicious Cycle” which is the bible for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). I was reluctant at first because the diet is very different from the average North American diet these days, and I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to eat anything. I finally broke down and tried it at the same time that I was starting my medical residency (could I have picked a more stressful time? I mean really…). Anyways, long story short the diet has changed my life. I won’t say that my bowels are perfect, but they are MUCH MUCH better.

After one and half years on the diet and through some trial and error I have come up with a diet that works well for me. I consider it a combination of the SCD, paleo and GAPS diets (I will explain more about each of these at another time). The big diversion I have made from the traditional SCD diet is that I have realized I do not tolerate fibre well. At all. So I follow a higher fat, low fibre version of the traditional SCD diet, incorporating aspects of both paleo and GAPS diets as well. Through this blog I hope to share some of the recipes I have come up with along the way, share tips for those struggling with digestive and other health issues and help spread the word that diet and nutrition can be a very important aspect of healing.

Ok I think that is quite enough for one night. See ya next time!

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DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

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Hi friends! I'm Dr. Erin Carter

I'm a physician by day and health and wellness blogger by night. I believe that real food and healthy living are medicine and that eating healthy shouldn't be boring or restrictive. Here you'll find many easy and delicious recipes and tons of healthy living tips! Meet Dr. Erin Carter

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