How to Overcome Fatigue- Pray! (Part 2)

       This March and April, before I got my full diagnosis, when I was mostly bedridden, I spent whatever little energy I had to read about adrenal fatigue and chronic fatigue. I was determined to find out anything I could do to get better, and I read six different books on adrenal/ chronic fatigue, and at least fifty different articles. I was obsessed - I wanted to get my life back, and not just so I could pace myself to do dishes and make dinner - I mean get back the energy of a normal person. The books pretty much said all the same things - eat plenty of fruits and veggies, pace yourself, do graded exercise, and relax. Good advice which helped me graduate from bed-ridden to housebound, but not much hope for living a normal life - at least not for years!!  I spent a lot of time praying, "God, if it is Your will for me to be this sick, ok, but if there is anything I can be doing to get better faster, can you lead me to what it is!"
      While very discouragedly surfing the net one day, I ran across an article about a guy named Jordan Rubin. He had almost died from Crohn's disease but fully recovered eating a kosher/ organic diet and taking something called HSO's (homeostatic soil organisms).  His story really stuck out to me, but I figured it was just because was a Christian and he got over an incurable disease, which was what I was trying to do. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened to him, so I ordered a few of his books, "The Maker's Diet" and "Patient Heal Thyself" from the public library, for some inspiration to keep me looking for a cure.

      A few days before I got the books from the library, I finally got my full diagnosis (candida, leaky gut, and ahem, another digestive issue.) I was very thankful for a diagnosis, but some of these problems are rather complicated to overcome. My doctor told me to double-up on probiotics. Now, I have been taking probiotics for years, and my first thought was, "If they haven't helped me yet, I doubt they will in the future!" A few days later we got "The Maker's Diet" from the library, and I realized the HSO's which turned Rubin's health around were actually probiotics! He wrote, "HSOs also seem to act aggressively against protozoa, worms, and other parasites within the intestines and related organs and tissues. Even Candida albicans, along with other yeasts and molds, is obliterated." (pg78)
       I was intrigued, did a little more research online, and came across a study which showed that the HSO probiotics his company developed, Primal Defense, (based on customer demand after hearing his story about overcoming Crohn's disease) was proven to fight candida  http://www.crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/FungalDef_PrimalDef.shtml. The study mentioned another product called "Fungal Defense as well. I showed the study to my husband, Pete, and he said, "Order them". Coincidence? I say it was answered prayer!
       I took Fungal Defense for two weeks, and while it helped me get better, the die-off symptoms were almost unbearable at times. I have been taking Primal Defense Ultra for about three weeks, and have been feeling great! I have been charting my activities in an "Activity Log" I got from a book about chronic fatigue. Before starting either of these products, I had gradually worked my way up to walking down my stairs and half way up my driveway in about 8 minutes. Now, five weeks later, I can walk about a tenth of a mile in the same amount of time! WAY faster than the chronic fatigue books act like is possible with graded exercise, so I know this is working.
        I have also been, for the past three weeks,  following the very strict anti-Candida diet Rubin lays out in his book, "Restoring Your Digestive Health", which consists of goat's milk yogurt, organic chicken soup, organic eggs, vegetable juice, and well-chewed raw and cooked veggies (he makes a HUGE deal about chewing!). In a week I graduate to adding organic fish and beef - I am so excited! This has taken a huge degree of commitment (and boy do I miss certain foods!), but I am determined to get completey well, and I see the pay-off already. So by God's grace (I am praying A LOT these days!) and with my wonderful husband's support, I am going to see this through until I am completely well!