Jean’s Story: Diverticulitis

My name is Jean. I am 59 years old and live in Cape Vincent, New York along the St. Lawrence River. We joke that we live in Lower Canada. I am a mental health therapist and live with my partner and two hunting dogs. I don’t hunt, but they do. I train them. It’s a very active lifestyle. One that I was just about to lose had I not found help at the right time. 

Today, I have no complaints. I feel great. But that was not the case in the fall of 2023. Just before Thanksgiving, I had an episode of Diverticulitis that had me feverish and unable to move. I was so tired. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I was in dire straits. I may have been on my way out. I was scared. I contacted my brother who had had diverticulitis. He had to have 13 inches of his colon removed. He still has trouble eating what he loves. I thought this might happen to me if I didn’t change something. Other siblings also have diverticulitis and none of them are making changes in how they take care of themselves. The idea that I might need an ostomy bag was not acceptable to me. It made me panic, actually. I started looking for help. I was ready and willing to do whatever it took to get better. I wanted to live my life, uninterrupted by this illness.

I began to have periods of diverticulitis symptoms during Covid. At first it would be a couple days, then it was a week. The worst episode was last Thanksgiving, 2023. My symptoms included abdominal pain, not wanting to eat, not being able to eat, weight loss, bowel movements that were unhealthy, loose or painful. I was anxious, depressed and worried. Sleep was hard. I did work, though focus was difficult. I also had cramping in my legs. I had arthritis pain. In August 2023 I had my right knee replaced. I was on antibiotics and narcotic pain killers for a while. Then I used NSAIDS. My colon suffered from all of those medications. Things did not look or feel normal or healthy at all.

I spoke to a friend of mine and found out she had worked with Russell Mariani. She explained why she was working with him and the progress she was making. She suggested I look at his website (www.russellmariani.com). This gave me some hope.      I found his book on audible.com and listened to it. Then I realized I would need to have a print copy because I would need to look at the recipes. I bought a copy online. 

Eventually, I contacted Russell and scheduled a free 30 minute first step conversation on the phone. He was very easy to talk to and calm. A few days later we had a 90 minute Consultation via Zoom. He included my partner in the discussion and showed a genuine interest and hope in helping me get better. He shared his story with me and this helped me to feel that I was not alone. I decided after these first two conversations that I wanted Russell to be the one to help me at this time. 

I started my program with Russell in January, 2024. I made several important changes to some of my core lifestyle habits, including a routine for proper daily hydration and a (mostly) organic whole foods diet. I took superfood supplements and probiotics and took some specialized herbal products to improve the condition of my gut microbiome. 

I learned the difference between complementary and insulting habits, like proper chewing of my food and not eating late at night and many others. And I took a redox signaling supplement. I met with Russell weekly on Zoom and any time I had a question or concern, he responded immediately via text or email. I never felt alone. I felt supported every step along the way.

Within a few weeks time, I was feeling so much better about everything. No more pain or discomfort in my stomach. My chronic fatigue was disappearing and it was replaced with feeling energized and yet balanced and calm at the same time. I had a positive outlook and was no longer worried, anxious or depressed. Oh, and I had normal bowel movements for the first time in a very long time. I was relieved. I was starting to feel healthy again.

Megan Moore  (co-founder of The Center for Functional Nutrition and Russell’s wife and partner) made sure I had all the supplements I needed throughout my program and helped me to manage my various supplement accounts. With the supplements in Russell’s program, I no longer need any other supplements at all. This is not only a cost savings but it is a source of peace of mind because I don’t think the other supplements were working. Today, I feel so good. I used to have cold sores all the time. I used to take a prescription anti-viral to stop them. Since I started on Russell’s program, I have not had a cold sore. At one point, a cold sore threatened to develop. I felt it trying to surface, so I thought about taking a pill like I have always done in the past. Instead, I used the redox gel (one of the supplements in the program) and by that night, I knew it was going to heal completely. By morning it was gone and there was no pain and no evidence that I had even had the beginnings of a cold sore.

I want to mention that I have used the redox supplement for my dog. She is a German Short Haired Pointer. And, a great hunting companion. She is a runner and can get pretty roughed up in the field. She broke a toe nail recently and quite severely. I dipped her toes in the redox liquid a couple times a day for a couple days in a row, and it has completely healed. She has also been having some muscle pain (from her strenuous running activities) and I’m using the redox liquid and the redox gel with some amazing benefits for her. Her limp stops within the hour after putting the redox gel on her sore muscles and knees. She drinks the redox liquid from a cup without hesitation. I also noticed that she can get red and sore on her belly from running in the field. The redness goes away when I spray the redox liquid on it. She is happier than ever.

I want to thank both Russell and Megan for all their help in my healing journey. I suppose I could have tried to figure out how to use all the supplements on my own and how to conduct the Kidney and Liver Cleanses. But, I really needed the personal attention and the one on one guidance and support. The daily communication with Russell was key to my recovery. Megan was/is always there to help me make my orders for products and help me to manage my accounts.

I look forward to enjoying my life as it is now. I have no pain and no worry. I do think about what I eat a lot more and find that my decisions are more “complementary” and my confidence is increasing daily. I am completely grateful for all the help I have received from Russell and Megan. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone who needs help with digestive issues. In fact, I think it could be helpful to anyone at all with any negative health condition.

Jean (age 59)

Cape Vincent, NY

April, 2024