THE MOTIVATION
In 1993, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Whoa. That’s a minute ago.
As a 19-year-old, living in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada, to say I wasn’t expecting this would be a huge and obvious understatement. How did it happen? What did I do? What can I do to fix it? And, oh yea, WHAT IS IT?
The first seven years were rough. Blindly I followed doctors’ suggestions and orders. I didn’t bother learning a thing about the condition. I accepted I had it, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was wrong.
In the year 2000, I ended up in surgery and had a good portion of my colon (and some other bits) removed. Immediately after, my gastroenterologist (gut doctor) wanted to put me back on the same medications. I was 26-years-old, still didn’t know a thing about my own condition, but I had learned one thing: what led me down this path couldn’t possibly be what I should do going forward. I decided, against doctors’ orders to avoid the medications and get myself healthy.
That’s such a general statement. “Get myself healthy”. What does that mean? I truly didn’t know. I decided I would eat better, and exercise more. A little elementary and unfocused, but it was my decision. The truth is, I really didn’t do much. I did start exercising. I did cut out soda as rule. I did try to learn a little more about my own condition. I went for 18 years this way. But then in 2018, I hit a roadblock.
On a routine colonoscopy, it was revealed that I had significant ulcerative damage forming in my colon and small intestine. My gastroenterologist told me in no uncertain terms I would have to immediately start a heavy-dose immunosuppressant to avoid further damage. It was at that moment, I decided. I decided to learn everything there is to know about Crohn’s disease and my own body. I decided to dig up my surgical report from 18 years earlier through hospital archives. I didn’t know how much had been done in my abdomen. I didn’t know Crohn’s is autoimmune. I didn’t know, much of anything.
This is the short version of the story, and I’m offering the punchline without the details. I turned it around, with a change in lifestyle practices and diet. I’m still a Crohn’s warrior. But now I understand autoimmune, and triggers, and digestion, and the mind-body connection. Exactly one year after my 2018 colonoscopy I went back to do another one. At my follow-up appointment, the same doctor who strongly suggested immunosuppressants as the only answer told me my imaging was clean, and everything looks good. Don’t let the quick version of this story fool you. It was a mind-blowing, exciting, and emotional day.
The telling of MY story is in no way a judgment against those who need medication or choose medication. It’s an offering that there are options. Even if you are struggling, and are on medications, there are choices you can make. This is my story. This is the reason I became a health coach. This is why Amaryllis Health exists.
Check out the detail-filled 1993-2018 journey! Joel Gallant – Long Story, Short Colon
