Healing for Life exists to help individuals understand, execute, and maintain the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to manage IBD.
My Story
My Story
Hi everyone! My name is Angie, and I’ve been following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) for over 10 years. I can honestly say that the last 10 years of my life have been my healthiest, and I have SCD to thank for that!
My story begins when I was a little girl in the 1980s and 90s. I was plagued by “tummy aches” and missed a lot of school. My symptoms got worse as I got older, and my parents diligently took me to doctor after doctor trying to help me. Some doctors told me it was all in my head and I needed to relax; others told me to try medications, such as Zantac. Nothing helped and my symptoms persisted. I continued to lose weight and had no stamina. I was in constant pain and severely anemic. Finally, at the age of 21, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I was put on a mega dose of Pentasa for years, but it didn’t help either. I felt resigned to the daily pain and discomfort of Crohn’s, and did my best to live a normal life.
In 2001 I got married to the love of my life, Paul. He was (and still is) my biggest supporter and cheerleader. Early on in our marriage, I missed a lot of special times during vacations and holidays because of my GI troubles and pain. After being married for about 5 years, we decided to try to have a baby. After 2 years of trying on our own, we knew it was time to seek out professional help. Our reproductive endocrinologist ran bloodwork and told me my results showed that I was incredibly malnourished. But, he maintained that Crohn’s could have nothing to do with my struggle to get pregnant. He did suggest I go on a low-carb diet, which started my journey to understanding the impact that food has on how you feel and your health in general. On the low-carb diet, my Crohn’s symptoms greatly decreased, but did not go away completely. Next, I tried a gluten free diet. This also helped, but after a few weeks my Crohn’s symptoms came back with a vengeance. I was running on empty and incredibly frustrated, dealing with GI issues on top of not being able to get pregnant.
About Me
In 1999, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University. After teaching high school for six years, I went on to work at a private school as Curriculum Director and later as Academic Director. In 2012, I earned my Master of Education from Saginaw Valley State University. I am also a Certified Health Coach with the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, and a trained CDED (Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet) Expert.
services
Making dietary changes can be daunting and overwhelming, especially if you or a loved one are sick. With over 10 years of life-changing success following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, I can help you find success too. I have a love for teaching and am passionate about helping people.