by P. Collins
I was 26 years old and married for only a year and a half. I never had been ill before when I found myself facing the disease that almost took my life, “Crohn’s Disease”.
I gave birth to my first child, a daughter, in November 1994. For the next several months my health began to rapidly deteriorate. After several misdiagnoses by my doctor, in May 1995 I was admitted to hospital with daily bowel movements as 
high as 34 times a day and all blood.
After thirty-three long days in the hospital, many unpleasant tests, a blood transfusion and several almost emergency surgeries to remove my colon, I was finally able to come home. My immune system was totally wiped out, I had difficulty walking and my monthly prescription bill totaled $1200, medications included: Cyclosporin, Immuran, Prednisone, Asacol and Iron.
After being home for only 3-1/2 months I was again rushed back to hospital, was admitted and immediately booked to have my colon removed. My husband and I had serious discussions regarding our future with G.I. Specialists, Surgeons, and Ostomy specialists. We attended an ostomy meeting and talked with those who had been in similar situations; we read medical books and did a lot of research. Doug and I together decided that Surgery was not the answer for us. We were going to take my health into our own hands.
We read several informative books on nutrition, which gave us a better understanding of how the digestive system works and how nutrition plays a key role. With the help of this information we immediately began action. For a two week period I began a specific bland diet. Then I began taking a few natural health food products along with the elimination of wheat, dairy, meat and sugar from my regular diet. Right away I began to feel an improvement and with the help of my specialist I slowly began to decrease my prescription medications.
As of December 1996 I was totally off all prescription medication. In September 1997 I successfully delivered a second daughter and in July of 1999 I delivered a third child, a son, both with no pain, discomfort or flare-ups in my bowel of any kind.
In January 2000 I began to take therapeutic levels of Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics. Within a few days my Crohn’s symptoms seemed to come back in full force and it appeared the disease could be resurrecting itself. However, after researching this further, I discovered this was simply the enzymes and friendly bacteria cleaning out some unfinished business within my colon (detoxification and healing). After a few weeks the symptoms disappeared and my health improved dramatically as compared to over the past few years.
Today I use and highly encourage others to use Multiple Digestive Enzymes, Probiotic Blend and Nutritional Essentials available from Natural Choice Products (Kalispell, Montana) along with good dietary habits to maintain health.
Once a year I visit with a G.I. Specialist. He is still amazed at my success and recovery and believes that the prescription drugs got me to where I am today, that neither dietary changes nor the natural health food products had anything to do with my recovery.
We are currently using our researched information and health food supplements to educate others in their journey back to health.
