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Carol wrote:In all honesty I was afraid I was getting fibromyalgia or whatever the next round of auto-immune issues might be for me (my dad had fibromyalgia so it's always a thought in the back of my mind). It's a relief to see that I'm probably not there yet.
I have a hunch that some day fibromyalgia will be shown to develop due to a combination of stress, genetics, gluten and other food sensitivities, and inappropriate mast cell activity. So hopefully you will be able to prevent it from ever developing, by continuing your program for controlling MC.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Those were my thoughts when it was brought up to me as the magical answer a few years ago. I declined the drugs they offered and concentrated on the advice offered here. It didn't happen overnight but many of my fybromyalgia complaints have ceased to be an issue. In my case, I felt like it was the convenient label for my unknown pain and fatigue similar to the IBS dx. They gave me a name instead of saying they didn't know. Although, they did insist it was NOT related to my MC. That's when I stopped chasing the dream that I would get a definitive dx, treat it, and be just like new again.
Similarly, the surgeon who did my total thyroidectomy was the first doctor I saw in 7 years that told me I had issues and not to let anyone tell me I didn't. When I first saw him this past August, he too, said my complaints were not thyroid related and suggested I see another specialist after I recooped from my surgery. When I went back a few weeks later to have the steri strips removed from the incision he told me to hold off with the specialist until I got my meds adjusted to see how I feel. I suspect my un-dx hashimotos made him reconsider my list of complaints (it was a couple of pages long).
I now take a combo of levothyroxine and liothronine and am beginning to feel like the old me. I am also beginning to be able to identify what is a MC symptom vs a thyroid symptom. I guess whatever your medical issue is, once you start to understand it, you can make the necessary steps to manage it. A dx of fibromyalgia is advertised as the guess of what what your body may be doing. I'm sure others with are very satisfied with their treatment program because they are finding relief but in my case it wasn't the road I wanted to go down.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
DJ (and all)-- Re stress: right now I am being challenged considerably. Without going into too much detail, I am assigned to a school where the administrator has no heart for children with special needs. Her attitude of disdain for children with disabilities hits me at my core. As a School Psych (and simply a caring person) we are there to advocate for every child. She's even been known to run families off and since we are an 'open enrollment' district families can go to whatever school they want. And they can leave when offended. In the 3 1/2 years that I've been there we have improved special ed services tremendously (my boss had to intervene on my behalf a few times). Even principal admits to the improvement and she said "under your leadership".
But I had a conversation with her last Weds where she was clearly put-off because a family whose child has Down syndrome is planning on enrolling at her school. It hit me upside the head: the culture isn't changing there in spite of all the progress in programming. I don't want to be associated with this kind of prejudice and I fear that at some point people will associate me with the culture at this school. It grates on me almost continually.
And I wonder why I've declined lately? GAH! I keep reminding myself that work is not my life but when something offends your values that deeply it's hard to shake off.
Time to pull out all the stops on the coping skills-- which is why I have to get a handle on the aches and pains. I need to be exercising and have some energy to do some enjoyable things.
thanks for listening,
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
I've never understood why people who obviously don't like children choose to go into education. What you said about your school reminded me of an article I just read yesterday
In my early 20's I worked as a teacher's aid in a school for multiply handicapped children. A teacher who I worked with asked me to do something that I felt was cruel to the child involved and I refused. I just don't get it. If you don't like children don't get into education. It is hard to figure out how to continue to care, do your job responsibly and take care of yourself at the same time. If you find the magic formula please let me know.
HI Jean,
I'm with you. It's baffling how that happens. The thing is if you are in education you have to realize that not everyone comes into the world with the same advantages. And every child who walks through your door is just looking for acceptance. Truthfully that's all some parents are looking for too.
It is hard to figure out how to continue to care, do your job responsibly and take care of yourself at the same time.
Very hard. I've been giving it a lot of thought and my current strategy is to load up my life with so many good things that this particular principal and her poisonous attitude is barely a blip on my radar. I'm putting it in bold because I am DETERMINED.
Who was it in this thread that suggested we MCers are the ones digging in our heels on issues? I think they have a point.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Carol, I taught high school Industrial Technolgy. I got the toughest students in the school, and was threatened all the time. It was of no use to report it because it fell on deaf ears. I had a draw full of knives and various weapons taken from the students. To relieve the stress I joined a health club and worked out everyday and it helped with the stress. I survived and did not developed any unwanted holes. Jon
Carol,
We might be 'digging in our heels' about stuff, I think it is because having mc reveals an appreciation for wellness, days of minimal symptoms, compassion and grace for those (and ourselves) when we are having symptoms, and the awareness that we don't want to spend our days suffering, we want to enjoy life, feel contentment and peace and fulfilment.
We become more aware of toxic unsettled people, we don't want them to influence us, or dampen our mood, nor the hard work we have spent getting out the door that day.
Toxic people are the reminder that I have changed, changed for the better. My appreciation for life and being content is worth every bit of effort I have invested.
Hope the improvement and reduction with symptoms continues xoxo
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
I agree completely about toxic people. I simply don't want to be around them. In fact I have just decided that I have to move because my toxic downstairs neighbor is sapping too much of my energy. I have referred to her as a toxic waste dump with noxious sound rather than noxious fumes rising from her. I like my apartment but living here is a daily assault and I need to live somewhere where it is more peaceful and less stressful. I hope you are settling in OK into your new digs and that it is a non-toxic environment for you.
Wow Gabes. I could not have said it better myself. Thanks. This is the perspective I need to keep right now.
And Jon-- your class was a saving grace for those kids who struggled with language based tasks but had strong mechanical and visual-spatial skills. I'm sure some days it didn't seem like it but it's true. Your class might have well been the one place some kids were successful. I'm am happy to hear that you came away in-tact with no unwanted holes. Thanks for hanging in there and trying to teach those kids marketable skills.
C.
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Carol,
I totally understand your feelings. I am in a school where students with disabilities are not a priority. My school is a neighborhood school with 98% free/reduced lunch. The poverty and school grade is all the principal can focus on at this time so I do not blame him. I have always loved my work, but I have come to realize that even though I love it....there is stress and I have made the decision to retire in May. Now, I am just trying to prepare for departure.
I had a total meltdown two weeks because I had to miss work and I felt miserable. I had gone to a neuropath and had tried some natural stuff. That only worked for 3 weeks. I went to my GP and she gave me Elavil which has quieted my head and my gut. She also wanted me to try cholestyramine and I have tried a half dose to see if it would make any difference. I stopped all the natural stuff. My appetite is back and I am close to N. I only went to school one day last week though so of course I am less stressed. I am watching everything I eat carefully and saying lots of prayers that my gut stays settled. I am beginning to see the correlation with stress, but we can't live in a bubble so I will explore ways to cope....I do fairly well when things are going well! Ha! No surprise there....now to have it carryover into stressful times. More practice I guess. I am in a Gratitude group and we write down 5 things we are grateful for each day and send it to the members of the group via email. Reading everyone's posts makes me smile and has helped with my perspective. Hope you feel better soon.
Jean
Everything will be ok in the end, if it's not ok, it's not the end.
They say that stress can kill you. Well, it nearly did me. I was certain that I was going to go before my husband did.
I just want to say that I have so much admiration and respect for those of you who hold down jobs. I am awed and amazed. I frankly don't know how you do it. Just having this condition is stressful enough. I don't even think that I could hold down a job for even 4 hours a day. Maybe 2. I take that back. Nothing is better. The stress of having an obligation when I never know how I am going to feel would be just too much.
Just want to send my deep love for all of you. You humble me.
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Hi, There is good energy and bad energy. Toxic people have bad energy. In many Asian cultures they bow instead of shaking your hand. This avoids the possible of a bad energy exchange. Did you ever shake a hand and feel their energy? Jon
I can feel people's energy soon as I am in their energy field, near them but sometimes even from a distance. I stay away from dark entities soon as I feel them. They scare me and they are emotional leeches. I need all my energy for myself. Can't handle anybody sucking it out of me...
I try to meditate everyday even for a few minutes so that I can elevate my energy levels. It's a fulltime job just to take care of this body of mine.
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Jeane, I think it would be extremely difficult to have MC and be a teacher. Where probably 50% of my time is spent alone, teachers always have to be 'on'. When I had days of feeling rotten often I could rearrange my plans so I could stay in my office. I could take meds and do desk work, phone calls, write reports, etc. If I were a teacher I wouldn't have that option. Teachers are amazing people- so intelligent and can multi-task like no one else. It's a high energy job that requires you to have your finger on the pulse of the needs of all 25 students in your class, and it's physically demanding as well as mentally rigorous.
I understand your choice to retire and take care of your health. I am weighing pros and cons of early retirement in another year and would work part-time or work at something else (but what?). I'm glad you are doing better with the addition of Elavil. Certainly it's been helpful to me.
take care, Keep us posted on your progress.
Monique, I think if you took a poll people would say "you just do what you gotta do". I'm often not at my best first thing in the morning, but I know that will pass. I trudge through, pick my priorities and still find ways to get the job done. And I'll use a sick day if I feel I have to. It's just the way it is now.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
I totally get it. It is a good thing that you have a job where you can take it easier...I can't imagine me cranking out copy like I used to for newspapers. I have a chronic case of brain fog now. This condition is so debilitating...
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
That's when I stopped chasing the dream that I would get a definitive dx, treat it, and be just like new again. 
GAH! I keep reminding myself that work is not my life but when something offends your values that deeply it's hard to shake off. .jpg){kind=avatar}
