When I got Ulcerative Colitis

My name is Matt Cadman and I’ve been struggling with Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or IBD), since the summer of 2002. My condition began in a seemingly harmless manner–just a bit of blood in my stool. However, within only 3.5 years, it soon elevated to a nearly deadly level. In the fall of 2005, I experienced significant weight loss for the first time since developing the disease by means of what is commonly called a “flare-up”. Consequently, this was my second major flare and the worst that I have experienced to this day. My weight rapidly dropped from 170 to between 120-125 pounds (I am 6’5″ tall). I experienced excessive weight loss, dehydration, 20-30 extremely bloody bowel movements per day, severe abdominal pain, anemia, insomnia, hair loss, arthritic symptoms, kidney stones, acid reflux, and emotional distress. It was only by God’s grace, that after multiple unsuccessful treatments, I was released from a 12-day hospital stint with my colon intact. Consequently, the day that I was released from the hospital was the day that I was supposed to have my colon removed. After 8 months of recovery, my third major flare started and I repeated the whole painful process again. I dropped to 125 pounds, less than a year after my last episode. My body could not handle that type of damage so often. I was not satisfied with the ineffectiveness of the standard treatment, nor the statement, “This is a chronic disease and there is no cure short of having your colon removed.” I cried out to God so often…and He answered me in my distress.

What was really going on…

Many serious IBD flare-ups are triggered or aggravated by an imbalance of intestinal bacteria (or flora). Harmful bacteria can produce damaging byproducts by fermentation of undigested carbohydrates in the digestive system. One sign that an unhealthy level of fermentation is taking place in the large intestine is an excessive level of gas and/or diarrhea. During my worst flare-ups, severe bacterial infections were detected in my intestines. Eliminating harmful bacteria is key to recovery. If harmful bacteria are injuring your digestive tract during a flare, your body does not have a chance to recover until this problem is resolved. There are several ways to reduce harmful bacteria in the digestive tract: probiotics and diet.

Beneficial bacteria in the form of “probiotics” battle for resources with harmful bacteria. Therefore, a healthy ingestion of acidophilus, fermented vegetables, kefir, and natural yogurt can be very beneficial to IBD patients (Be aware that even something good like yogurt, when loaded with sugar, can result in more food for harmful bacteria). A wonderful way to control bacterial production is by following The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (See links) also called “The SCD” which limits types of carbohydrates. The late Elaine Gottschall developed the SCD. She treated and ultimately cured her ulcerative colitis-diseased daughter, who after two years on the diet stopped having flares. Her daughter is now an adult, and to my knowledge has never experienced another flare. This diet, when followed strictly leads to a very high chance of recovery.

Well known author, Wolfgang Lutz, M.D., documents one study in his book Life without Bread where 74 patients with active ulcerative colitis were treated with a low carbohydrate diet (<=72 gm carbs/day). Over 60% of the patients were symptom-free after two years, and over 90% after eight years. Similar occurrences were observed with Crohn’s Disease, but with faster recovery rates (>60% in 6 mo.; ~90% in 1.5 yr). Lutz explains in his book, “In contrast to Crohn’s disease, even after the resolution of ulcerative colitis there can be a relapse. From year to year, these relapses become less probable and less severe. The recurrent disease is usually mild and lasts only a few months […] Once a person has colitis, their immune system will remain primed toward the colon, but the colon becomes more resistant and can cope better with the immune system’s attacks. After a while, the immune system loses interest in such attacks. Because the colon does not react to the attacks, the immune system is less stimulated and its reactions are less intense.”

My wife watched me go through this trauma and cried many many tears for me. Leaving me at the hospital every night, she would drive home sobbing, only to spend countless hours searching unsuccessfully for “the cure for Crohn’s”. The purpose of this website is to provide other IBD sufferers with a remedy that we didn’t have. I plan to post my complete story and detail many of the facets of IBD and other degenerative diseases here, so please keep checking back. IBD can be seem harmless at first, only to become a storm that cannot be calmed.

“…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” –Jesus