Healthy Belly

Inadvertently, I started this journey into a healthier me a few months ago. It wasn't really planned, but a necessity.

Two years ago, I finally started to get serious about taking care of my stomach problems. I had chronic issues. I had severe heart burn, cramping after eating and terrible pain. My dairy intolerance worsened to the point of having to go dairy free. Dairy had started to do more than cause gas and bloating. It sent me to the floor writhing in pain, followed by days to weeks of trying to get my digestive system back on track and even joint pain.

I went to the doctor. They ordered tests and put me on meds. The tests found nothing. The meds weren't enough. So, the doctor increased meds. She had me on a combo of three daily double (prescription) doses of Pepcid and Nexium. Even with that, if I missed doses, I was miserable.

The meds helped the heartburn, but the stomach issues and pain continued.

Late last year, my stomach issues again peaked and sent me to the emergency room. I couldn't keep a lot down and specific foods sent me to the floor in pain. I had a textbook case of having a bad gallbladder. Again, I had every scan and ultrasound possible. The best they could tell me was that I had possibly passed gallstones, but they were no showing as stuck in any bile duct or liver.

The major pain and vomiting subsided, but the stomach pain didn't.

I'd tried probiotics on suggestion from friends. There were so many, I went through one brand and kind after another and nothing seemed to work.

A few months ago, I saw one of my Ohio friends fb post about a probiotic. She listed some of the things I had experienced. She had IBS, which was one of the things the doctors had suggested. Since they weren't sure, they suggested that, ulcer or possibly diverticulitis. At any rate, there were no answers, but the pain made me desperate.

When my friend posted, I researched the product. It was part of a product line sold in up lines. To simplify what I'm saying, it looked to be a typical pyramid scheme. While the product looked good, I was skeptical of the sales method. Leery to say the least. I'm not a product pusher and those things would never work for me. I stay clear.

With hesitation, I bought the product. After a month, I could tell that my digestive system was changing. Still lots of pain, gas and bloating, but other things were better.

I was patient and stayed on the probiotic. Here I am at thee months continuous use and I feel like a new person. Ok, maybe just a person with a new stomach.

For starters, I am now on only one single dose, OTC heartburn med. I try to take it daily, but don't have a problem with heartburn unless I go 3-4 days without it. That's huge!

I definitely have far fewer problems with gas and bloating. Probably the biggest change is pain. I can go weeks without stomach cramps or pain. When I do get pain, it's minimal and doesn't last. I can usually associate it with something I've eaten or lack of fruits and veggies.

There are times I can tolerate tiny bits of dairy. I'm not jumping back into that, but it's good to know my tolerance is better.

I know. It probably seems like this is a small thing, just like walking a half mile. But it too is huge. When you don't feel good, you aren't motivated to do anything or take care of yourself. This too is a step in the right direction.