Category: The Crohn’s And Colitis Summit

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World IBD Day 2020

Happy World IBD Day

On May 19th, the official World IBD Day we posted a shortened version of this post on Instagram, I finally have the time to post this here as well.

World IBD Day 2020
This is our day. A day to shine. A day to Thrive. A day to remember those lost. A day to tell a story that doesn’t always get told. A day to take action towards your unique Great Gut.

Today I am grateful for these fine people from the One Great Gut Community, and some from the One Great Gut Network

Dr. Inna Lukyanovsky, PharmD from Digestive Reset, who healed herself and now helps others get the same results. Special One Great Gut gift if you have a call with her. Dr. Inna is a doctor of pharmacy, a best selling author, functional medicine practitioner, gut and hormone expert, a creator of digestive solutions for Crohn’s/colitis and a mom of three boys. She works with clients locally and nationally. Her practice is focused on helping people reset their digestion, balance hormones, reduce inflammatory symptoms, get more energy and restore their immune system. She lives with her family in Marlboro, New Jersey. Contact her through her website, or directly at 732-414-6223 for extra savings.

Emma Becca the authentic, vulnerable, and hilarious author of Gut Tales. A must-read! Especially for family and friends to understand what our life looks like sometimes. 100% proceeds of her fun read helps others with IBD Thrive. Follow her on Instagram here: @haute_wellness

Brad Brinkman aka “The Beach Seller”. Brad is a Crohn’s Warrior and Realtor. He has  21 years of experience and experience in buying, selling, and investing in real estate. He specializes in coastal San Diego – Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach & La Jolla. He’s a speaker, dad, coach, and best known for his Real Estate Survival Guide and appearances on ESPN Radio. Finally, he’s one of the only real estate agents willing to guarantee your property sold in 37 days, or he’ll paying your mortgage until it sells. Contact him through his website, or directly at 858-225-7385 for a discount. Just tell him you found him on One Great Gut

Dr. Lorna Walker PhD.  Dr. Lorna has a Ph.D. in Nutrition Education with a B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science. She is also a Certified Nutritionist Consultant. Her traditional medical background coupled with my doctorate in nutrition gives her a unique ability to view health conditions from a functional and medical perspective. She specializes in nutrition for autoimmune conditions, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, histamine intolerance, hypoglycemia, mast cell activation syndrome, nutrigenomics, and weight loss, as well as general overall health. She will work remotely with you. Contact her through her website or directly at 954-205-2218

Joe and Paul who state they are 100% healed or cured from IBD as we discovered in The Crohns and Colitis Summit

Joel Sprechman(me!) our fearless, compassionate, driven and Transformational Coaching Founder. Yes, you’re allowed to be grateful for yourself.

Christopher Gasink – The man behind the team who created Stelara! Lead, Medical Affairs- Gastroenterology, Immunology at Janssen Scientific Affairs, Johnson and Johnson .

And to you , loyal dear follower, leader, and reader. Thank You for being with us on this Great Journey. Your support is appreciated and noticed.

Who are you most grateful on 2020 World IBD Day?

🙏🙌👋💚

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Case Study DIAGNOSIS EAT Herbal Medicine Nutrition Pharmaceuticals Recipies Resources STORIES-OF-HOPE The Crohn's And Colitis Summit

The Crohns Colitis Summit Changed My Life. Don’t give up the good fight! You are bringing so much healing to the world….

…that’s what Mia emailed me. After asking her to elaborate, this is what she said next:

I have rheumatoid arthritis. I got diagnosed at the end of 2016, with a 4 months wait to see a rheumatologist, on state insurance because I wasn’t able to work from the pain and fatigue, and with Trump attacking the ACA I was terrorized over the idea of being dependent on the US medical system and then being denied coverage.
I decided to seek further education in proactive healthcare I could rely on. I spent that time doing AIP to see if anything besides gluten was triggering my flares and researching anything holistic or lifestyle-related that I could try to help my symptoms. I was terrified of pharma, and putting off trying it. My rheumatologist was hitting the scare tactics pretty hard, so I didn’t really trust him. But they were ok monitoring my attempts with the diet etc. And just checking in every 4 months. They had nothing to offer me except to take the meds and no real dialogue about the medications.

Note: For credible AIP information check out The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook: Eating for All Phases of the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol by Angie Alt and the SAD to AIP in SIX online course which runs a few times a year.

I signed up dor anything autoimmune-related because I realized that was the better diagnosis. Sticking to RA focused information isolated me from a larger pool of information. So I signed up for the Crohns And Colitis Summit. And I saw you had an interview with Dr. Konijeti about medication. I trusted her input because she led that study on the AIP diet. Your interview questions were SO good and her answers were equally valuable. After that interview, all my questions about medication were touched on, and I felt better about trying pharma. I also noticed in the interviews with people who are controlling their AI without medication, there was a common pattern. They used pharma to break the inflammation cycles and get to a place where they could maintain their status quo without the medication.
I’m now 14 months pain-free. 20 months on medication. We’re planning to start trying to conceive my first child next month. Which was my dearest dream for getting my RA under control.
I’ve learned so much. A big one no one talks about is how autoimmune diseases are often catabolic that means recovery and ramping down the immune system includes expected weight gain as the metabolism adjusts. For a woman, that is terrifying in our society. Its a huge fear for us in everyday situations, and will stop a woman from continuing treatment.
Its been a wild 2 years. Your summit was a big turning point in my approach to treatment. By the time I started meds, I was a peace with it, and I think that absolutely contributed to how fast my first medication worked for me.
So. Thank you.
Mia Maria Siler
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Biologics C-reactive protein (CRP) CalProctetin Colonoscopy Crohn's Disease Nutrition One Great Gut Collection Pharmaceuticals RESEARCH Resources STORIES-OF-HOPE The Crohn's And Colitis Summit TREATMENT Ulcerative Colitis

US FDA approves Stelara for ulcerative colitis

Do you find these articles helpful? Please donate today so we may continue this service so humanity may prosper in a peaceful world with a peaceful microbiome

This past October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ustekinumab (Stelara by Janssen), a human IL-12 and IL-23 antagonist.

This is based on data from a phase 3 UNIFI trial, which demonstrated that ustekinumab induced and maintained clinical remission in a significantly greater proportion of adults with moderately to severely active UC compared with placebo.

Trial And Study Results

Janssen said at the time the UNIFI data was released that at Week 8, the trial data showed Stelara hit some of its major secondary endpoints, which includes the proportion of patients in clinical response, endoscopic healing, as well as health-related quality of life scores. In addition, Janssen said that at least 50 percent of study participants were considered biologically refractory, and 17 percent had a history of inadequate response or intolerance to any anti-TNF antibody and Takeda’s Entyvio (vedolizumab). It is unknown if diet and lifestyle were tracked in these studies.

Stelara, Janssen said, is the first and only approved biologic therapy for UC that targets the interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 cytokines. The IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines have been shown to play an important role in inflammatory and immune responses.

The UNIFI trial includes an initial induction study and was followed by a maintenance study eight weeks later where patients received subcutaneous injections of Stelara every 8 weeks for 44 weeks. In the Induction study, 19% of patients receiving Stelara achieved clinical remission in 8 weeks. Janssen also noted that Stelara provided rapid relief of symptoms as 58 percent of patients experienced a clinical response at Week 8. It is not known what diet or lifestyle factors were being implemented by the patients during the study

In the maintenance study, 45% of patients who received Stelara remained in remission after one year. Stelara also helped patients achieve clinical remission without the use of corticosteroids, the company noted. At the end of the first year, 43% of patients treated with Stelara were in clinical remission and not receiving steroids, Janssen said. At the risk of sounding repetitive, it is not known what diet or lifestyle factors were being implemented by the patients during the study. Not the downplay the efficacy and results of these studies and trials, we know from both the Crohn’s And Colitis Summit and One Great Gut Collection that Diet and Lifestyle alone can induce long term remission, deep mucosal healing sometimes confirmed by visual examination via Colononsocopy per the patient request, sometimes simply confirmed by a high Quality of Life, Thriving lifestyle, and lack of debilitating symptoms

In addition to the latest approval from the FDA, Stelara has been approved as a treatment for adults living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, adolescent patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, adults with active psoriatic arthritis and adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. The drug brings in about $4 billion in annual sales which shows the need for this drug in today’s current environment and the additional need for Dietary and Lifestyle guidance.

If you’re unsure which pro inflamantroy markers are high in your body, consider your options here: IBD Crohn’s Colitis test you can order from home. Doctor approval is direct from the companies listed, you do not need to obtain prior approval from your personal Doctor, which can lead to unwanted delays, or being denied to have the blood test you wish to see the results of for your body to make the most educated decision for your health.

Monitoring your health. The Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and  Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) are useful tools to consider using.  They access disease activity in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. For children, consider the Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index(PCDAI ) or Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI).

Lab Tests to Consider

TH1 TH2 Cytokine Test – Basic
For those with a confirmed autoimmune condition, the Th1 Th2 test is possibly the most important test. The test points out imbalances in the immune system by looking at cytokines, proteins that the immune system relies on to communicate. Bad communication results in complications for those with autoimmune conditions. The information this test provides helps your doctor develop a strong and effective treatment plan for you, especially when seeking alternative medicine support.

The immune system works like a seesaw. On one side you have Th1 cytokines that initiate the first line of defense. On the other side, you have Th2 cytokines that help produce antibodies to protect you from future invasions. However, when one side goes up, the other side goes down. This can contribute to a weak immune system and potentially promote autoimmune issues. Running this test will help to understand where the imbalance is. Because certain botanicals used in natural medicine can boost Th1 cytokines and Th2 cytokines, this test can help you and your doctor develop an effective plan to help balance a weak immune system and turn the volume down on autoimmune attacks.

TH1 TH2 TH17 Cytokine Test – Advanced aka CytoDX
This test is more detailed than the above with readings including

  • Inflammatory Cytokines- Th1
    • INF Gamma: Th1
    • IL-1 beta: Th1
    • IL-2: Th1
    • IL-6: Th1 and Th2
    • IL-7: Weak Th1
    • IL-8: Weak Th1
    • IL-12 p70: Th1
    • IL-17A: Th17
    • IL-18: Weak Th1
    • TNF alpha- Th1
  • Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines- Th2
    • IL-4: Th2
    • IL-5: Th2
    • IL-10: T-regulatory cells
    • IL-13: Th2
    • IL-15: Weak Th2

TH17 Test
New studies show that an increase in a particular type of white blood cell, called Th17 cells, can trigger and determine the severity of autoimmune conditions. Monitoring Th17 levels can help you and your doctor better treat the condition.

Basic CD4 CD8 Ratio Test
The CD4 CD8 ratio profile helps assess the immune system in detail. This test is crucial for patients who are suspected of having a compromised immune system as seen in autoimmune conditions and HIV.

Any purchase from the lab test companies above using the above links will allow the One Great Gut Foundation to get closer to curing IBD Crohn’s and Colitis. So you can invest in your health and build a healthier world through our initiatives, at the same time.

Stelara Efficacy and Frequency

Many of us are already familiar with the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in Crohn’s disease given that it has been commercially available for more than 3 years now,” Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, Chief Medical Editor of Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, said in an interview. The approval was based on the UNIFI induction and maintenance trials, which was published late last month in The New England Journal of Medicine. Along with the usual endpoints, ustekinumab was found to be significantly more effective than a placebo at inducing and maintaining a combined endpoint of both endoscopic and histologic improvement.”

The first dose of ustekinumab will be administered intravenously in a health care facility. After that, the remaining doses will be given subcutaneously 8 weeks after the first dose and then every 8 weeks thereafter. Sometimes varying frequencies outside of the 8-week window is needed. I know of patients who are approved to take ustekinumab every 6 or 7 weeks to manage their symptoms.

Lifestyle and Diet

In many patients, diet and lifestyle changes have increased the success of ustekinumab and decreased unwanted side effects. To learn about the most effective dietary and lifestyle techniques that worked for other’s who found full remission, some claiming they are cured, with evidence-backed by Colonoscopy which showed no sign of IBD, ever. As a matter of fact the Gastroentrolgist stated that if the patient had not let him know that they previously had a challenging case of Crohn’s or Colitis, they would never have known. ref: Crohn’s And Colitis Summit and One Great Gut Collection

Remember, what works for one may not work for another. I recommend that you allow Science to be your map, and intuition to be your compass. We’ve noticed that healing is accelerated when the patient heals themselves not just Physically, but also Emotionally, Mentally and Spiritually.  As a matter of fact I’ve interviewed some who claim to be cured, simply by doing the work mentally(Paul), or spiritually(Joshua).

Look, You didn’t get into this alone, and you aren’t getting out of it that way, either. Join this community and your poops will soon shine. Friends don’t let friends suffer alone.

I’ve been Thriving with IBD since 2019

Are you looking for more information on how you too can Thrive with IBD? Join our email list(No Spam, No nonsense, no longer daily, just useful updates) and follow us on Instagram(@onegreatgut) Twitter and Facebook. I’m also on TikTok and Snapchat but don’t post there often and have no idea what I’m doing there except enjoying the creativity of the next generation. Does anyone want to help me out there?

Do you find these articles hgelpful?  Please donate today so we may continue this service so humanity may prosper in a peaceful world with a peaceful microbiome

Note: Originally published in December 2019, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

Ref:
Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease
Biospace – Janssen’s Stelara Wins FDA Approval for Ulcerative Colitis

 

 

 

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BREATHE Case Study Crohn's Disease Entheogens Meditation Nutrition One Great Gut Collection RESEARCH Resources STORIES-OF-HOPE The Crohn's And Colitis Summit Ulcerative Colitis

Second US City Decriminalize’s Entheogens

crohns ulcerative colitis grounding chakra wachuma cactus san pedro entheogen
Trichocereus pachanoi - known as San Pedro cactus or Huachuma

Oakland’s city council unanimously decriminalized 🍄magic mushrooms🍄 and other natural entheogenic or psychoactive plants and fungi including cactuses, ayahuasca, and iboga.

Imperial College London Professor Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris in the Department of Medicine believes “magic mushrooms” could replace antidepressants.

“I would imagine if you had some bookmakers doing the odds, there would be strong odds on that [psychedelic therapy] will be licensed sometime in the next five to 10 years – maybe sooner” Robin-Carthart-Harris told the Independent a British online newspaper.

From Futurism an independently owned media company based out of New York City:

Robin-Carhart-Harris is currently leading a Centre for Psychedelic Research trial to compare the ability of psilocybin, or “magic,” mushrooms and leading antidepressants to treat depression.

He told The Independent that so far, participants are reporting that the psilocybin leaves them feeling like they’ve experienced an emotional “release,” while patients often criticize antidepressants for making them feel like their emotions are “blunted.”

Given the positive feedback from study participants and psilocybin mushrooms’ extremely low risk for overdose or addiction, it’s not hard to see why Carhart-Harris is optimistic that doctors will soon be able to use psychedelics to treat patients.

In 2014 I interviewed Roman Hanis who shared his health journey dealing with Crohn’s after Western and Eastern medicine were not sufficient and Doctors were recommending surgery. From Israel to New York to Peru he found entheogenic plants and cured himself.

crohns ulcerative colitis grounding chakra wachuma cactus san pedro entheogen
Trichocereus pachanoi – known as San Pedro cactus, or Huachuma

In 2016 I interviewed Marcus from Europe who was able to safely stop all pharmaceutical medications after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, treating himself with entheogenic plants. 😮

Both of these interviews were released in 2017 as part of The Crohn’s And Colitis Summit. 92% of our listeners loved my interviewing style. That’s quite a feat considering I was still very sick then detoxing from toxic metals, mold and more. 😥

In 2016 my friend Jack told me that Ayauasca cured his Autoimmune disorder called Pemphigoid in just two days, 👍after 9 years of various conventional and alternative treatments where only corticosteroid steroids were most helpful and they also were causing damage to his bones.

Also in 2016 I was on a Skype call with a Shamen in Peru who told me I am a shaman. I’m not so sure about that. Nor the recent claims I’m a Doctor. Nope, sorry to disappoint 

A recent 2019 study published in The American Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Abuse, DMT, also an entheogen was shown to improve depression and anxiety when administered in a group setting as shown by the Johns Hopkins University survey 80% of the participants.

In the One Great Gut Collection I interview Erica Sandstedt, a shaman, and Caitlin Thompson who with a background in neurobiology defeated a difficult case of IBS, lyme, SIBO, microbiome dysbiosis, emotional trauma and depression through various Integrative methods including entheogens. Today she is an IAKP certified Kambo practitioner – 🐸

Note: Originally published in June 2019, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

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Anxiety CalProctetin Crohn's Disease Depression DIAGNOSIS Emotional Inflammation LOVE Mood Changes Pharmaceuticals RESEARCH Resources Self Love Supplements SYMPTOMS The Crohn's And Colitis Summit TREATMENT Ulcerative Colitis

DMT May Rapidly Improve Depression, Anxiety, and Inflammatory Markers

According to a recent study[1] published in The American Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Abuse, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) may improve depression and anxiety when administered in a group setting.

In the Johns Hopkins University survey 80% of the participants found that the drug(medicine) improved anxiety and depression symptoms.

Studies show that a significant portion of those with IBD, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis suffer from depression and/or anxiety. [2]

I’d bet you a green smoothie that 100% of those with IBD have at some point suffered from depression and anxiety. I’d further bet you a mug of Bone Broth that 100% of humans have at some point experienced depression and anxiety.  It’s part of being human.

If you’ve met me you’d likely be surprised that even I have my bad days. But I do! I’ve given up before. I’ve had suicidal thoughts. I’ve texted the “crisis text line” looking for help.

I’ve also experienced DMT.  Once at a friends medical clinic. and once in a private ceremony. Both times were profoundly positive experiences. Both times I asked a lot of questions, and found myself extremely nervous beforehand – not knowing what to expert even though I’ve spoken to many who have, have done heaps of research, and have witnessed other’s experiencing DMT.

Everyone’s experience is different and I recommend only considering this with the right guidance and in the right setting.

DMT is a pretty hardcore psychedelic. It’s almost unbelievable that I would even consider taking a psychedelic as I grew up extremely against any illicit drugs, including marijuana though it was then legal in many states.

To make a long story short. I was diagnosed with IBD, experienced the horrendous side effects of Prednisone, and decided there must be a better way.  In my research I found Roman Hanis and Marcus, who both healed themselves from Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis with outside-the-box alternative therapies.

I then learned of a government-sponsored study by professor Dr. David Nutt that showed the damage of certain drugs.

Then there was learning the history of marijuana prohibition and the healing of Justine Meader’s Crohn’s Disease through cannabis.

Each of these moments and thousands of other conversations opened up my mind to think about trying psychedelics for the first time.

I asked a friend about his DMT experience, this was his reply:

I’ve had to hold people down who were trying to sprint through a glass patio door, another person who was slamming his legs into the ground so hard he would have broken his heel had we not stopped him, etc… and people under the influence are 100% no conscious of what they’re doing.

I’ve never experienced anything remotely like that before, and though I’m usually a pleasantly positive person, I do feel intense anger and injustice on the inside at times.   As we learned from Dr. Vincent Pedre whom I interviewed for The Crohn’s And Colitis Summit – Autoimmune Disease is often anger turner inward.

One of the 5-MeO-DMT study authors, Joseph Peter Barsuglia had this to say:

My two cents (or 50 ; ) about our group scientific article on the sacred molecule, 5-MeO-DMT that made it into Medscape[3] and a few other sources last month…

The way the news surrounding this article spread is awesome. I do want to note that there was an omission of details about the context that is interesting and perhaps quite important. It appeared on the social media headlines that because the news came through Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the study was conducted on individuals there, or conducted on a general survey of recreational users. Alan Davis was the fantastic primary author and is a research fellow at Hopkins, which is the reason for the affiliation.

However, what is essential is that the sample in this study were all initiates from a specific spiritual community who partook of this compound as a “sacrament”, only in group formats, and only in a ceremonial/ritualistic context.

The individuals who received the compound in this study were not explicitly seeking the medicine as a treatment for either depression or anxiety, although the majority reported improvements if they had a psychiatric history. This was not a treatment study or primarily an assessment of a clinical population. It was an observational study of “church” members of sorts.

These juicy tidbits did not make it into the news summaries in a clear way. An impressive percentage of individuals in this spiritual group who had prior diagnoses of depression and anxiety reported reductions in symptoms. However, for those who do know ; ) these phenomena are likely secondary byproducts of what is primarily a profound and rather reliable sacred/spiritual encounter.

I find this far more intriguing and perhaps relevant in some ways. The 5 can reduce depression and anxiety which is amazing, yet it is just barely scratching the surface of the infinite, as we are ; )

My sense is the capacity of this molecule to occasion spiritual awakening is what should be on the headlines, as I trust it will be in the near awakened future.

A little more detail on DMT: 

The medicine(drug) is extracted from the venom of The Colorado River Toad. The psychedelic experience typically lasts between 15 and 90 minutes depending on many factors including dosage, prior food and drink intake, and the type of DMT.

I wanted to write this quick blog to document what I believe to be a promising treatment for those seeking assistance with depression and anxiety.

Have you experienced DMT? Helpful? Harmful? Share your thoughts in the comments below so all may benefit from your experience.

First published in April 2019 this article has been updated for further accuracy.

References:
[1] The American Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Abuse – 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety –  Alan K. Davis PhD, Sara So MS, Rafael Lancelotta MS, Joseph P. Barsuglia PhD & Roland R. Griffiths PhD – Epub 2019 Mar 1

[2] Canadian Journal Of Gastroenterology and Hepatology – Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease  – Glynis Byrne, Greg Rosenfeld, Yvette Leung,  Hong Qian,  Julia Raudzus,  Carlos Nunez,  and Brian Bressler. Published online 2017 Oct 18

[3] ‘Toad Venom’ Psychedelic May Rapidly Improve Depression, Anxiety

[4] DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences by Dr. Rick Strassman

[5] Psychedelic drug 5-MeO-DMT induces rapid changes in inflammatory markers

[6] Psychopharmacology: Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment, Malin V Uthaug, Rafael Lancelotta, Attila Szabo, Alan K Davis, Jordi Riba & Johannes G Ramaekers

 

 

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Documentary Joel's Story One Great Gut Collection Recommended Resources Resources STORIES-OF-HOPE The Crohn's And Colitis Summit

Today I woke up in a funk. A “mood”…

Today I woke up in a funk. A “mood”
This surprised me as life as been recently full of gifts.

Gratitude

My nightly gratitude practice includes a mental list of what I have to be grateful for.
The Crohns Colitis Collection product launch creation is going smoooooth. (Formerly The IBD Crohns Colitis Bundle)

The other day “A” told me that she contributed to my GoFundMe last year, and invited her whole company to do the same.

Yesterday “M” told me: “I never told you this before, Joel, but I owe you my life”

I was invited to speak in “The Gut Solution” documentary.

My interview in Interconnected – The Power To Heal From Within launched with Dr. Pedram Shojai from well.org

Apparently these amazing gifts from the universe weren’t enough.

The techniques I teach others and use myself for turning a frown upside down into a smile weren’t working.

I thought about reaching out to friends, but decided I wanted to do this on my own.

Learning To Accept Rather Than Resist

Rather than fight the feels, I accepted the negative emotions.
What we resist, persists.

I began to accept what was truly going on inside this normally serial optimists body.
I now felt more grounded, rather than someone else I was hoping to be in these moments.

Though I was still in a funk, I accepted this mood. I honored this mood. I thanked this mood for showing up and allowing me to experience the full feels of life. The highs, and the lows.

I asked myself, my gut: “Why are you in a funk”?

I didn’t beat myself up or shame myself for feeling this way, I simply asked myself a question.

The answers surprised me. I had no idea these thoughts were underneath my normally cheerful self.

I then felt empowered. I knew what was going on underneath the surface of this beautiful soul.

With this new information I was easily able to use my proven techniques and strategies to cheer myself up.

It worked. Mostly.

My gut was still telling me something was still off.
My intuition then led me to my GoFundMe campaign last year where I raised $29,357 to #savejoelscolon
This was during my challenging month long hospital stay after my GI told me the colonoscopy showed

“The worst colon I’ve seen in my 40 years of practicing medicine”

Today, 15 months later I still have all my organs.
Despite being offered surgery numerous times during and after that hospital stay.
Despite one GI telling me “Joel, your colon is sick, it needs to come out”
Despite me initially not believing I would avoid the scalpel.

Though I’m grateful that surgeons can save my life if needed, it wasn’t.
I’m continual blown away by the strength and vitality of those who live the #NoColonStillRollin‘ lifestyle.

As a student of life, the the more I learn the more I learn how little I know.
However I obviously know how to save colons, my own, and others. #winning

Yes, I’m hoping to force a career change for a few surgeons #SorryNotSorry

As I looked through the 264 GoFundMe donations tears rolled down my cheeks.

Family, friends, “facebook friends”, even strangers all supporting me during a dire time of need.

Though it wasn’t easy to ask other’s for help, and embarrassed some family members, my brother Steven started the campaign.
I vulnerably updated everyone on my status and the rest is history.

The names on the list came from all walks of my life during the past few decades. High school, college, prior jobs, La Jolla Toastmasters, Yoga Teacher Training, Integrative Institute of Nutrition colleagues, meetinDC social group, volleyball teammates, Mankind Project brothers, Yoga studios, Doctors, Nurses, former girlfriends and their parents and siblings, Landmark Education, Yelp Elite, speakers from the Crohns and Colitis Summit, Burning man friends, family across the country, and globe in Israel and Australia, One Great Gut community members as far as Germany, former mens group friends, someone I once spoke to at the Encinitas Farmers Market, friends ex-wives, former roommates, freelancers I’ve hired, even Boston Redsox fans donated. 😉

Most touching were seeing names of those whose friendships didn’t end well.

Afterwards I felt like my normal self.
Whatever normal means.
I once again realized how supported and loved I am.
How supported and loved you are.
How supported and loved we are.

I don’t know why I shared this but my gut told me to share here rather than my private journal.

Be grateful.
Not just weekly or daily, but LIVE a gratitude filled life.
The benefits are profound and tangible, though you may not be able to see the results immediately.
Don’t fall out of the gratitude practice like I did, though the nurses and doctors are amazing, I guarantee you don’t want to experience a month long hospital stay.

The Gratitude Life.

It’s more than a lifestyle

It’s life saving.

Love you All 

 

Joel Sprechman namaste peaceful one great gut

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