I was looking for relief from symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis - an autoimmune disease of the liver. The symptoms that needed addressing were insomnia, chronic pain & fatigue, and pruritis (itchiness from bilirubin.) I started in February of this year. In seven days, a decade of insomnia just stopped. Within three months the pain and fatigue had dwindled, but some days there is a bit of trouble. Within the last 60 days, I have noticed the pruritius lessening.

I also needed to lose weight from 10 years of SAD foods with no strength to exercise and no luck on any of the diets my specialist suggested. I was 386 and am now 319. I walk a mile or more daily and ride my bike for sprints since I fear my weight and running having an effect on my leg joints.

So my quality of life has exploded. I wouldn't go back for anything. The fantastic improvement has pretty much destroyed any craving for any food that might cause a relapse of symptoms.

WARNING; WOMEN ISSUES MENTIONED:

• So I was having problems "down there," it felt like I had a UTI immediately after sex that would last up to 5 hours, it would stinging really bad, it was really painful. I saw three separate doctors, they suggested it was irritation w condoms, being allergic to semen, or other issues, but none of what they suggested helped, this went on for 7 months until I read something about PH Levels. I didn't really understand it, but I saw someone mention "healthier eating," so when I began going paleo, almost instantly did my pain go away. Five months later, I have cured myself of this wretched pain, and even if that was the ONLY thing it did - it's good enough for me!

  • Other things include; better overall attitude, better ability to focus, more energy, etc etc

11 years ago (at age 15) I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Scoliosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. My symptoms went through phases and sometimes you wouldn't believe I was ill yet other days I couldn't raise myself from bed. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with Raised Tryptase levels which essentially causes me to go into anaphylactic shock spontaniously requiring adrennaline to open up my airways. 8 months ago I started developing abcesses on my face, anti-biotics didn't help at all and I required surgery twice, with two near misses.

5 months ago, a dear friend of mine convinced to try Paleo for just two weeks (I had a low grain intake anyway so my sugar cravings were never going to be too bad). After two weeks I had more energy, no more peaks and trophs in energy, better sleep, less panic attacks, reduced pain, less minor allergic reactions and my body starting telling me what it needed. This was enough to get me on board!

Now that I'm 5 months in, I've lost 30 pounds, gained much leaner more effective muscles, my hair breaks less, I've had to buy nail cutters as they don't break at all, I've stopped having panic attacks, I'm much happier, I'm less bloated, I'm more motivated and my focus has improved ten fold.

But all of these are just bonuses compared to main improvement, since going Paleo I have not suffered a single Fibromyalgia symptom. No insomnia, no bloating, and the biggest feat of all, no muscle aches (except as expected post workout)!!

SEX, sex, sex, sexxxxx! Oh, and perfect skin! Improved anxiety levels! I could also wrestle a small bear with my bare hands (although this has not come up yet, and I hope it never does: I like bears).

My "roots" are not nearly as grey as before. When it was time to go back to get my age erased for another 6 weeks, she asked me what I had done! (Yes, I know, dying my hair is not Paleo. Neither is my truck, my computer, my air conditioning, my pedicures, etc.)

I also have more energy and can stay focused for longer periods of time. I am still easily distracted, but can refocus without much effort.

Glucose levels are coming down, weight is coming off, and when people piss me off, I no longer immediately begin to plot their demise. =)

The clincher for me was that I no longer get painful cramps with my period. I used to get so sick for the first 24-48 hours - cramps, shivering, diarrhea, vomiting - just unbearable! This week marks my seventh cycle without ibuprofen (and I used to average 12 a day for those 2 days).
Also, not being constantly bloated has its perks!

Well, I feel better, clearer, stronger, but, and this is purely emotional, I feel good that I am taking care of myself. Everytime I choose a salad over a pizza, it is a little victory for me. I feel strong, good about my willpower, good about my food choices, proud that I am on track and eating clean and healthfully.

Physically, I have lots of energy (even with chemo). It's great to not be hungry all the time and thinking about food all the time or shaky with hypoglycemia.

Basically I feel like a different person.

My nails and hair grow very fast. A co-worker referred to me as Chia-beard at one time because when I shave, the beard is pretty much back (and not a little hipster dirtyface beard) in 2 weeks.

My gut problems are gone. I don't fart, nor do I have severe lower GI upset like the back and forth between diarrhea and constipation that was all-to-common when I was eating bad food.

I sleep better. While for some reason I'm no longer waking up as early as I did before I started, I still wake up feeling fairly refreshed.

soreness, fatigue, depression, coldness....I think this was from too many raw leafy greens. I recently fixed the problem and feel better.

3 planters warts...they had been there for years...I tried to burn them, freeze them and then I tried, of course, duct tape...which did help, but it never got rid of them, it would just cause them to shrink...within 2 months of Paleo...Gone! It was as though these warts were running for the hills!

Now I know that there is no proof that that is why they finally died out...but I was doing the exact same things with the exact same tape, the only thing that changed was what I was eating...I'm happy with the results though I know some might want to call in Mulder and Scully to really investigate how it worked...but…I want to believe!

Truth.

My frequent panic attacks have disappeared. My heartburn is gone. A small ganglion cyst that I had on my wrist for 15 years just went away. I lost over 40 pounds. I haven't been experiencing depression like I was before. My blood work was excellent! Before changing my diet I was sick all the time, I would go from having a cold, barely recover and then get another cold. Constantly. I was miserable. I have had one cold in the past 18 months!

I still have symptoms of fibromyalgia and I have chronic daily headache and have had for nearly 30 years now. My headaches haven't changed. :(

I feel healthy despite the headaches.

I used to have chronic acne on my neck and chin, and it's completely gone since I started paleo. My scalp produces less oil (this is good), too. The biggest change is that I have more energy. Also, my meals satisfy my hunger for much longer, so I have time for other things besides eating, and the energy to do them. I was in a vicious cycle of not having enough energy to cook healthy meals (meaning I ate like crap and then felt tired from the crap food, and on and on), and now I am so much more active. A while ago, my boyfriend remarked that I used to never want to go out of the apartment and do things and now on a Saturday, I get ants in my pants if we're not making outdoor plans before noon.

FYI - there are already a ton of these threads here.

But I'll say that I was thrilled to realize this week that I needed to cut my nails because they became too long for pracicality. Not one of them had broken. A few months ago I couldn't grow them 2 milimeters before they would split and break off.

I've experienced an almost complete elimination of emotional overreaction to life's events. I've concentrated on adapting my eating for blood sugar stability and it has worked.

I'm patient and non-argumentative. I'm more energetic so when my wife asks me to do things I don't mind doing them so I don't get angry.

Sleep like a baby too. My respiration and heart rates are lower.

Its amazing really.

Sleep more deeply, Nails are stronger, Aches and pains gone in my legs, No need to take ibuprofen or aspirin - no aches and pains, Arthritis pain in my hands eliminated, Heat-burn gone - no more prilosec, No more trips to the bathroom at night, Blood sugar level run between 78-95.

It's only been 9 days for me, but I can already tell that my skin has improved a lot!

glowing skin, greater endurance, a craving to exercise, way increased sex-drive, firmer body, healthier teeth, increased immune function, better sleep, waking up after 6 hours totally rested, better mood... the list probably goes on and on :)

I find I have more energy and motivation to do everything!!! I'm more organized, exercise more, the house is cleaner, I'm just happier, my body composition is changing, my performance at work is better, my anxiety is less, my sleeping habits are better, my Lyme symptoms have subsided - my whole life has changed!!!

Wart re-absorbed back into my body. Irritability gone.

My bi-polar went from insanely rapid-cycling (my mood would change violently every HOUR, for no discernible reason) to.. not really there so much. I still have social anxiety, self-esteem and BDD issues, but I am no longer a slave to utterly crazy, out-of-control moods. It's very liberating, I feel like I can think now. Can't wait to get the other issues taken care of (which, granted, might take counseling and not just diet changes).

And I no longer sleep every 3 days, I sleep every night! Like I'm supposed to! (Even if I haven't yet decided if I do better sleeping at night or during the day. The point is that I sleep.)

Higher HDL and lower blood pressure. More effect on the diastolic than on the systolic, which is up some with job stress.

Improved digestion, better sleep, less anxiety, more relaxed and patient, less sensitive eyes (I can go outside in the sunlight without wearing sunglasses now!), skin less prone to sunburn, more energy, lower resting heart rate.