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Introducing Myself - My Story

Hi name is Jason Kirkpatrick,

Back in 2008 I experience a pain like I have never felt before. I'm sure many of you have experience this. I had gone over to a friends house for dinner where we had spaghetti and meatballs. That dinner gave me what I thought was indigestion and or gas. The pain continued to get worse. At this time I was enrolled in a community college that had a Doctor in the health clinic once a week. I went there to where they thought my appendix was going to burst and told me to go straight to the hospital. There I underwent many tests, x-rays, MRI's etc to figure out the issue. The ER doctor at that time told me that it looked like I had Colon Cancer and apologized for having to give me such a diagnosis. I was heart broker. Later, I found out that he wasn't a GI doctor and the specialist was furious for giving me such a diagnoses without knowing for sure and doing other tests like a biopsy since I had a growth in my intestine in the colon by the valve between the ileum and the colon. That was what was causing me so much pain. I went into surgery where they removed several inches of my ileum, the valve, appendix and 8 inches of my colon. I'm sure many of you have experienced worse than this. At the time it was frightening. The follow ups of having to be on medicines that had a whole list of side effects freaked me out. This whole experience brought me to learning energy healing and I have since become a Reiki Master. For me the alternative holistic approach has worked beautifully for me. I practice mindfulness and pay attention to what foods bother me and which ones don't. This has made me become practically a vegan. Which is torturous at the time but has become part of my spiritual practice. I still eat cheese. One thing I'm working on giving up since my body doesn't like it as much as my taste buds do. The benefits of energy healing and eating well I believe has helped the inflammation in my body as well as I have found a nutraceutical supplement that feels like a life changer for me. Majority of my symptoms are gone. Can't say I'm healed but I'm feeling great. A couple of months ago, my father went and got tested for a gene they say carries autoimmune diseases. My father has Ankylosing Spondylitis and Polymyalgia. He's also been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Through his path to treatment and healing he found out he was a carrier of this gene. The doctor at that time asked him if anyone in his family has Crohn's, which I do! Shocker. I also have aunts and uncles that have ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis. All I know is that inflammation seems to be running rampant through my family. That is why I looked to changing my diet first and cutting out the things that cause inflammation. Changing my diet has been really hard. I'm still working on cutting out many things. The first thing I did was cut out red meat and chicken. Then I cut out fish, which wasn't hard since I didn't like seafood anyway :-/ I'm working on cutting out Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Sugar, and Alcohol (don't drink much anyway). Has anyone else noticed good results with doing this? I'm doing my best to listen to my body but eating has become more of a eating to live and not living to eat type thing. I'd love some help with some good recipes also if anyone has some or knows of a good place to go for a vegetarian almost vegan person. I'm stilling doing cheese and eggs. Although the cheese will probably be gone soon since I have found a friend who wants to point me in the direction of some good vegan nut cheeses. Other than that, I feel most of the inflammation in my body is at a minimum. Just have to listen to my body. That's my number one recommendation to people. Listen to your body. Kind of like that old saying, I can't remember it exactly, goes something like this:

Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Well then don't do that.

This disease can be pretty scary. I know I've had some moments where I cry myself to sleep trying to figure out what I'm going to do and all of the changes that have happened in my life. I'm a very spiritual person and hold on to my faith and strength from my higher power. Do your best to just breath when it all feels overwhelming. Just Breath. Sounds easier said than done. I feel it's easier to focus on my breath as in meditation when I feel like my thoughts and fears are going to swallow me whole.

When I first was diagnosed with this disease I felt it was the worst thing to have happened to me. I honestly have to say it has been challenging. The biggest challenge of my life. It has pushed me into finding myself. Which is a never ending journey. So, I guess I'll never get it done. I have also met a bunch of truly amazing people who have shared their stories with me and their road to healing and overall well being. I can't wait to hear yours and be an ear to listen if you need it.

Love and Light to all.
 
Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to hearing more from you. It seems as I go further on my journey with this disease there are more and more things my body won't tolerate. God bless you.
 
Absolutely I listen to my body yesterday when I was having nose abdominal pains first I thought it was my bowels but it was an unfamiliar pain and I said it's time to go to the hospital this was within two hours when it first started but you must listen to your body we know our body and body aches if I didn't go to the hospital when I did my appendix would have burst.. I believe in Chinese remedies and herbs holistic is great too certain parts of the body have pressure points that go to the area that has been bothering you good luck to you and thank you for sharing
 

scottsma

Well-known member
Location
Tynemouth,
Hello Jason and welcome to the forum.I'm sure you post will be interesting and inspirational to many who are struggling with this disease.May you continue to stay well.
 
Hi, sounds like you are a fast learner. This can be tricky at times. Foods and even liquids can be a trigger, weeding out what is a challenge.
I echo the breathing, being able to center and meditation as a leg up to having a foothold. My strength in my faith is what gets me through.

I look forward to your future post. Everything is a learning experience. Thank you for sharing, sorry we are all meeting here but we very fortunate to have each other.

Be well, God Bless
 
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