HEALING MY GUT ... YEARS OF SUFFERING

Extreme bloating that you think you're pregnant? Tired at the wrong time of day? Foggy Brain? Diarrhea for months on end or constipated, or both? Cramping. Skin Dry? Brittle hair? Bladder infections? Lost your mojo?

This was me about 5, nearly 6 years ago. I've told this story to people who want to know or who are in the same predicament. I was dubious about sharing this with you. Well, it's personal you know, really personal. However, the more people I meet, the more I realise how widespread this gut issue is. Perhaps my story will be helpful to you or at least give you some practicals on where or how to get yourself on track.

WHAT I'M NOT.

So, to get the biggies out of the way, remember that I am not a doctor, naturopath or homeopath. I am not en employee of any of the companies mentioned and do not sell any of the products listed in this blog. This is just my story and based on my findings as I've walked this journey.

MY PROBLEMS.

I was suffering when I was living in Cape Town about 5 or 6 years ago. As you have already read, I was bloated. Every time I ate, I would have to run to the bathroom with diarrhea. My food was passing through my gut without being absorbed and whatever was expelled came out almost in whole form. I was so tired that I battled to keep my eyes open behind the wheel. I was always hungry (because of malabsorption) and had major cravings for sugar. I remember waking up on holiday, in Mauritius, and some of the joints in my hands were aching. I would have trouble sleeping after drinking a single glass of red wine. My heart would race and I would overheat in bed, so much so that I battled to sleep with blankets. I would find myself struggling to find the right words in conversation or as they call it "foggy brain". This continued for some time. I would feel fine for about 6-8 days and then by day 9 or 10, I would be so bloated and my stomach so distended, you could not squash a finger under my rib cage (which you should be able to do). Kev had to come get me, I was lying on the bathroom floor, wanting to pass out and sweating terribly. That was the turning point. I needed help.

THE START: MY FAMILY DOCTOR

My wonderful house doctor, Dr Louise Serfontein, helped me by process of elimination. Dr Serfontein discussed with me that treating the candida and other symptoms I had was not fixing the source of the problem, and requested a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. It is via this process that we could pick up any abnormalities that were contributing to my issues. Turns out, I had a very small hernia about 2cm and the surgeon/presiding doc in hospital said it was nothing to worry about. He did ask me whether I suffered from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and if I was a "worrier" or if there were issues that were bothering me to cause the IBS. I denied it completely and went back to my GP! I was in total denial and oblivious to my shadows.

Dr Serfontein said that since the report came back pretty clean, the next step would be to see Professor Patrick Bouic whom she had met at a conference and he was doing enhanced testing for people who had issues like mine.

SYNEXA LABS CAPE TOWN

It was