Definition:
Piebald: composed of incongruous parts; or, spotted with two
different colors (often referring to animal coloring)
Vegan: a person who does not eat any food that comes from
animals and who often also does not use animal products
Piebald Vegan: a person made up of incongruous parts that
abstains from consuming animals or using animals products
However, piebald vegan is not an actual term, just a term
that I coined because essentially it describes my journey to becoming vegan.
As some of you know that follow my other blog (http://incunabulalife.blogspot.com)
my health has not always been a friend to me.
Ever since I can remember I was the girl with the
stomachaches. I remember lying on my parents couch curled up in the fetal
position crying and praying the cramps would go away. The cramps always did go
away, but normally not for several hours. I never knew what triggered them and
how long they would last. Through high school my stomach, intestinal tract and
bowel movements were the main focus of my life.
Can I just say, talk about embarrassing?
I thought the peak of my sickness was when I was 21/22. I
was constantly struggling with stomach and gastrointestinal issues. I was
miserable and on top of that I couldn’t stop peeing blood and the doctors
couldn’t figure out why. I was
constantly at the doctors having tests ran, from blood tests to CT scans to a
cystoscopy. The last resort was going to be a kidney biopsy to rule out cancer.
I was petrified and my quality of life had withered down to almost nothingness.
A friend of mine at the time referred me to go see a
Naturopath. The naturopath ran lots more tests on me and ended up diagnosing me
with being intolerant to gluten. I went gluten free and my quality of life came
back with vigor. I lived the gluten free lifestyle for 3 years before I
realized I still wasn’t feeling awesome. There were times where my stomach
would act up and I would still have gastrointestinal problems. I had friends who were vegetarian and swore
by it, and my sister was also a vegetarian, so I decided I would try it. I was
immediately hooked. I was obsessed and
loved learning to cook without meat products.
Fast-forward a year, I was still gluten free and vegetarian
but I was still struggling with stomach and gastrointestinal problems. I
started going back to the doctor to try and figure out what was wrong, to finally
deduce why I was still in pain. The doctor explained to me that I had tearing
in my intestinal tract that hadn’t been able to heal. I knew the tears were
there, I was told years ago, but I had figured (as did the doctors) they would
heal on their own. Unfortunately they did not. My first doctor modified my diet
and told me I needed to eat 40 grams of fiber a day and drink 1 to 2 gallons of
water a day to help the tears. He also told me I would feel like the Hindenburg
for the first few weeks on this diet. At this point I just decided to go vegan.
I figured it would be easier to get my fiber and give my stomach a break from all
animal products.
The diet didn’t work; 2 months later I was profusely
defecating blood and had to go to the emergency room. After 8 hours of prodding
and poking the doctors told me what I already knew, my tears had not healed and
had become worse.
Hey, thanks doctors, couldn’t of figured that out on my own.
The next day a new doctor saw me. It was a very emotional doctor
visit. I cried and was beyond frustrated. I left that day with an appointment
for a colonoscopy and Botox injections into my rectal intestinal muscles to
paralyze them. The doctor told me if the muscles stopped contracting it would
give the tears in my intestinal tract time to heal.
I went through the procedure and was beyond hopeful that it would
work. I was told to wait 6-8 weeks before coming back for my post-op. By the
time the 8 weeks were up I was in worse shape then before I had the procedure.
I was in constant pain and couldn’t go to the bathroom without crying and
feeling like I was going to vomit. When I went back in my doctor told me the
only option was a sphincterotomy. This is where the doctor cuts the sphincter
so it stops contracting and lets the tears heals.
I had been so miserable for so long I opted for the surgery.
It was a miserable surgery and the recovery has been humbling to say the least.
No 26 year old should ever have to wear diapers, even just for a few
weeks. Luckily I am on the tail end of
it (pun intended) and am finally healing and feeling better!
So what does this have to do with veganism you make ask?
I realized I have spent 26 years struggling to find my health.
Beyond my stomach and gastrointestinal issues, I have had an array of other
health ailments. I am tired of being sick. I want to be healthy and full of
vitality, so I started doing some research and exploring more into the vegan
lifestyle and what I have stumbled on has completely altered my lifestyle.
First I found the book “Super Immunity” by Joel Fuhrman. His
book explains how the immune system works and how we can eat certain foods to
strengthen our immune system, he even goes as far as to say how our diet can
affect our chances of getting cancer.
Which was my “aha” moment that linked my health struggles to
my running.
I run for Team In Training (TNT). TNT is a fundraising
program that raises funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I started participating
with TNT for my best friend’s mother who passed away from Leukemia. Since I
joined TNT in 2014 I only have become involved and become connected to more
people who have been affected by blood cancers. I really believe in the TNT
cause, however fundraising has always been a struggle and it doesn’t always
feel like I am doing enough.
So in the long and short of it I am creating this blog on
veganism. It will have lifestyle tips, diet tips, recipes and a slew of other
surprises to keep helping people be the healthiest they can be!
I always found it hard it to do the research and the
footwork to find out how to truly live gluten free, vegan lifestyle and sustain
my energy and well-being. I do not want anyone else to struggle and am here to
help with the struggle!
All questions, comments and suggestions will be very
appreciated!
If you enjoy my blog and want to help make a difference in
the world by finding a cure for blood cancers check out my fundraising page:
All proceeds go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!
