Sue's Story

If we had not changed to Dr. Fuhrman's diet, I would have died.  I think our son, through Dr. Fuhrman, saved my life. For ten years I experienced increasing health problems including arthritis, unexplained GI problems, high cholesterol (307), increasing blood glucose (105), blood pressure about 135/85 and my C-reactive protein was over 12.  Since I was the only person in my family who did not have type 2 diabetes, and my siblings had all died young from diabetes related problems, I was concerned.  I tried lowering my cholesterol and blood sugar through exercise and diet, but to no avail. My cholesterol went up to 327, my weight stayed the same, and my sugar remained in the 100 to 105 range.  

I tried the Adkins diet, lost 40 pounds, but gained it back again within six months. The doctor put me on 40 mgs of Zocor and 10 of Zetia to control my cholesterol, but my blood sugar remained above 100 and my CRP stayed high. Throughout this, I developed GERD, was constantly bloated, had repeated bouts of GI pain that no tests explained, and I was either constipated or had diarrhea or loose stool. Nexium was prescribed to address my GERD, and I had every test possible to no avail (upper and lower GI, sonogram, cardiac tests, blood tests, and cat scans).  Doctors said I probably had a bout of diverticulitis.

In 2006, my GI problems got worse with more frequent bouts of distress even though I had been on Nexium for six years. My average blood sugar ran between 105 and 115, my weight was running above 180 (I'm 5ft. 5in.) and I was now taking Vytorin 10/40, Nexium,  over-the-counter antacids, stool softeners and fiber pills daily, and was still having the same symptoms.  Doctors decided it might be my gall bladder, so they removed it.  

But nothing changed and my health went downhill.  My doctor said I just had gastritis. In 2008 I went to the emergency room with head pain with numbness on the right side of my face. After numerous scans and opinions, doctors determined I had a non-specific version of Trigeminal Neuralgia.  Neurontin and another drug were added to my medication list but to little avail.  The numbness and pain visited me intermittently, with no specific trigger.

Over the next three years I went to the emergency room at least eight times with abdominal pain and tachycardia with skipped beats. They prescribed a beta blocker and ran another series of GI tests which showed nothing; various medicines were prescribed, none helped. I've had three colonoscopies, three endoscopies, six cat scans, and one sonogram.  None of my doctors knew what I had and none of them looked at my blood sugar other than to tell me what it was.

My symptoms continued and worsened. I thought I was dying and no one was helping me. Then, Christmas of 2011, we visited our 33 year old son, a trip we almost cancelled because I was so sick.  He gave us Eat To Live. He had turned vegan and lost 70 pounds. We began our diet that Christmas. Since then I lost 50 pounds, now weighing 130 pounds. My numbers are now great: blood sugar 80, blood pressure 96/54. My cholesterol is running between 100 and 130 although I am still on a statin (which my doctor does not want me to stop).  I no longer take Nexium or any over-the-counter drugs other than vitamins.  By February my GI and neurological symptoms had disappeared.  My bowels are regular.  I have no more arthritic pain. I feel great.  My husband lost 30 pounds, weighs 166 pounds and no longer has arthritic pains.  His doctor had told him he would need a new hip due to arthritis, but now has changed his diagnosis.

Results may vary.