Dr. Troy's Takes...

When people ask me why they are sick, I tell them "it's stress"Their response usually goes one of two ways: they either nod and agree thinking, "he's right, I have been dealing

You don't go from healthy to disease overnight even if your symptoms did.A while back, I had a patient who had been coming to see me for years walk in one day, visibly disturbed. I asked what was up and he reported, "I just came from the doctor, I was diagnosed with Diabetes"Hopefully he didn't see me crack a smile as I navigated how to respond. You see, this guy had been heavy the whole time I had known him, frequently described gluttonous meals, and generally lived a fairly type 2 diabetic life.I decided, sarcasm would be my angle, I said, "you know you had Diabetes yesterday too, right?"Thankfully he got my joke and provided the opportunity to discuss the lifestyle factors that contribute to Diabetes and poor health in general.

What is the Precautionary Poop? I thought you'd never ask. If you force yourself to try to go #2 out of fear before leaving the house or if you have thought "I'll just try to get rid of all the diarrhea so that I'm safe", I call that The Precautionary Poop - and I did it for years. This indicates a digestive problem (obviously) and may be more concerning, an issue with the mental "wiring" surrounding your digestion. 

You may notice I don't often write about research studies or complicated scientific analysis. It's not because it's unimportant, but for most of my audience, data and research articles only add to the overwhelm.  However, I do want to discuss a recent study on the effects of Glyphosate, an herbicide (definition: a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth ) used on crops such as wheat and corn. This herbicide most commonly goes by the name Roundup and is now the most used agricultural chemical ever. Since its inception in 1974, 10 million tons have been sprayed on the crops used for your food and the food eaten by all the animals you eat. It's pervasive even in organic crops due to runoff and over-spraying. It's even been found consistently in breast milk. Simple fact, it's everywhere.Why is this such a big deal? Because a new study has found that glyphosate disrupts our gut microbiome and blood chemistry...at levels regulators claim to be safe. So we all know too much of anything can be harmful but this study proves that even small amounts of this stuff IS harmful.

While I have gotten some recent compliments about my quarantine beard, my rugged handsomeness is not really what I'm talking about here.Through the years there have been multiple instances in which doctors, friends, family, and others underestimated the extent of my digestive issues - because I “looked” OK. I remember going to my pediatrician and sharing with him how frequently my stomach hurt. He looked me up and down and in all his medical knowledge, declared “well you’re taller than me, you don’t look sick!”  Thanks.

If you were doubling over in gut pain or having multiple bowel movements per day and some digestive “guru” simply told you not to think about your digestion, you would write that “guru” off pretty quick.Well, I’m no guru but I am telling you to minimize your focus on your bowel movements. Easier said than done, sure, but hear me out… As Dr. Thurman Fleet said in his book, Rays of the Dawn, “ Any part or function of the body is apt to become disordered if too much attention is centered on it. Body processes that are controlled by the innate mind are best performed when left undisturbed by the educated mind.  In the case of sleep and digestion, we cannot pay too LITTLE attention.” 

I used to toss and turn all night long…either half asleep or fully awake most of the night. I’d glance at the clock with increasing anxiety as another 15 minutes would tick by and I was STILL awake. I knew I’d finally doze off 10 minutes before my alarm went off (never failed!!). I eventually even started to dread going to bed!I was tired all day long…my body ached, I suffered from brain fog, and I just felt like I was just trying to get through my day with absolutely no energy. Not a good combo from someone who also suffers from Crohn’s Disease.

Hello! Dr. Troy here!If you’re reading this, it’s likely you or someone you love has been dealing with chronic diarrhea, bowel urgency, Crohn’s, Colitis, or other digestive issues that have been affecting your life in key areas. For example, have you been avoiding and losing opportunities in important areas of your life, such as travel, work, and relationships?  I would guess the answer is “yes.” I know because I’ve been there!As you may know, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was 20 years old, though I probably developed symptoms as young as 10-12 years old.

This week I thought I’d share a tool I’ve carried in my toolbox for some time. This is a technique that works for me and that has helped many of my clients over the years. Consider it a “sneak peek” into one of the many tools I use in my Solid Gut System program.

Let me ask you…have you ever been in a conversation with someone who knows you suffer from Crohn’s or Colitis and with no warning at all, they say the most ridiculous thing?I have. Many times.The truth is that while many people have heard of Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, they don’t really know what it is. And that’s okay…I don’t expect them to. But when those crazy comments come out of their mouths, it can be so frustrating.Here are a few of my favorites that I’ve heard over the  years…