Page 56 - NGA NATURALmag 2019 SPRING-SUMMER Issue

Spring-Summer 2019
Redemption
BY: JEREMY CREQUE JERKRIS1@YAHOO COM
In 2008 I I was diagnosed with with ulcerative colitis after dealing with intestinal issues for about a a a a year prior Ulcerative colitis is a a a chronic or long lasting autoimmune disease that causes inflammation irritation or or swelling and sores called ulcers on
the inner lining of the large intestine Unfortunately after being in in in remission for for many years in in in in March 2015 my symptoms returned with with a a a a a a a vengeance! Experimenting with with every drug known to calm this disease as as as as well as as as as biological medica- tion
and high doses of of prednisone my my body body was still failing Losing close to 1/3 of of of my my body body weight multiple hospitalizations a a a a a a a a a few scares of of of death and the the finding of of dysplasia fin in in my my colon I decided to to have surgery to to to “try” and and clear the the the the disease from my my body and and to to to eliminate any further chance that the the the dysplasia would turn to to cancer Even with surgery there is is no cure for ulcerative colitis In January 2018 I I started the the 3 part surgical process at at the the the Cleveland Clinic that took place over the the course of 12 months which involved removing my my entire colon living with an ostomy bag for 7
months and finally fin in in in in in September 2018 having an an an internal holding “tank” known as a a a a a a a a a a a a J-Pouch (kind of of like a a a a a a a a a a man-made colon) created by surgeons out of of tissue from my small intestine to to allow me to to live a a a a a a a a halfway normal life with no no external bag (AMAZING)!
The struggle is real from day day to to day day trying to to find my my new normal as as well as as learning what foods my my body will tolerate and absorb Luckily unlike a a a a a a a a a a a a lot of of of people that have gone through this process I am am fine with the consumption of of of higher amounts of of of protein Unfortunately I am no longer able able to eat any form of fruits or or or or vegetables which makes things very difficult as as nutrition is the the most important aspect of of overall health especially in in in the the sport of of bodybuilding I have become very efficient during contest preparation and cutting body body fat although I am consuming all all of of my carbs unconventionally in in in the form of of mashed potatoes and rice I have been involved in in in American Kenpo body- building fitness and nutrition for the majority
of of my my my life so when I I was told by my my my J-Pouch GI specialist specialist along with most of of my my my other specialists and caretakers that it it would be a a a a a a a a a good idea to find 56 NGA NATURALmag