ITS BEEN A LONG LONG TIME

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:23 pm

Hi Tex and all of my family here, I can't remember when I posted last. I just had to take a minute and thank everyone here for changing my life and being the answer to desperate prayers in 2008. I've been in remission since 2010 I think, all due to the advice and hand holding that I received here. I just had to post after the conversation I just had with the nurse at the gastroenterology clinic that scheduled my colonoscopy. She was asking me questions for the procedure and I told her that during my last one in 2008 I was diagnosed with MC. She asked if I was having problems with it and I said no, thanks to a support group I found which helped me eliminate gluten, dairy, soy, and other food sensitivities. She became so interested and asked me all sorts of questions about the board, she wrote down the website, and wanted to know about the book. She said there are so many patients that are suffering and need this kind of help. She said she was going to give the information to the doctors and patients. Wow! I could hardly believe it! She was so happy to know that there is a group of people out there that can help.
In the past year I lost my mother and father-in-law. I had to travel to Arizona and meet with other family from out of state to settle her estate. There was a lot of stress because she didn't leave her affairs in very good order. We had to work from an old will we found from 1992. Probate ended a couple of months ago. I don't know if she thought she was never going to die or if she just wanted to live her life on her own terms and to heck with everyone else! She was always a rebel. Everyone should set up a trust and avoid the expenses of attorneys and all the trauma and drama it causes for family members.
Through it all, MC behaved itself and I got through it.
I'm hoping that the coming school year will be my last for teaching and that I can retire next summer. There are so many things I want to do and one is to give back to this board in any way I can. I wish I could catch up with each of you and see how you are doing. I see there are oodles of new members and many veterans who are still here giving back. I just want to thank the veterans for all they've done for me and tell the new ones that I am an example of someone who got her life back because of this board.

Love JoAnn

Post by **tex** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:20 pm

Hi JoAnn,

It's great to see an update from you, and to hear that you've been able to continue to control your MC so well. I'm very sorry to hear that you lost both your mother and your father-in law in the past year, but it's impressive that your MC remained under control despite all the stress that you were under.

And that's awesome that you found a nurse who is so interested in helping the MC patients at that clinic. Apparently they must have a lot of patients who have been diagnosed with the disease. Here's hoping that she will be able to convince some of the doctors to consider recommending diet changes to at least some of their patients. You may have planted a seed that will grow to help many, many others who are suffering with this disease. Kudos to you, and to that nurse.

Thank you for the inspiring update, and we'll be looking forward to next summer, right along with you.

Love,
Tex

coryhub · Post by **coryhub** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 3:50 pm

Hi JoAnn,

Nice to read your posting and hear your remission has lasted long and through some rough patches. I hope you can retire next summer. That's my goal too. This disease has taught me that a feel good day is not a day to be taken forgranted. I need to get out of this stressful job where I do the work of two people for no extra compensation, but because of the economy and lack of employment opportunities. I want to spend more time: cooking GF meals, exercising, and yes, chatting on this board!

Best,
Cory

Grahm · Post by **Grahm** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:07 pm

Joann, thank you for your post. You are already giving back. I'm new here , just diagnosed this month with LC. You give us hope and inspiration,, Thanks so much and hope you continue to heal and that you enjoy your retirement. Love, Connie

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:17 pm

Fantastic to hear from you,
:bigbighug:

albeit it has been a tough few months for you, wonderful to hear that your body (gut) supported you through the trauma and drama.
Enjoy the Summer and planning your wish list once you retire

hugs
xoxoxo

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:20 pm

What an inspiring update, JoAnn!

Some nurses are truly beautiful people that just want their patients to be well.

Nancy

Heady · Post by **Heady** » Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:22 am

I started here in April , and am so thankful as have been D free since. Sorry for your loss. Happy for your MC symptom freedom. Every day without D is a blessing. Summer is fast approaching so take the time to rest, relax and have some fun. Best wishes

Martha · Post by **Martha** » Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:37 pm

Dear JoAnn,

How nice to hear from you again and hear how you are doing.

I'm sorry for the loss of your mom and father-in-law, and all the stress that went with that, in addition to the sorrow. But it's great that it didn't cause an MC flare.

We've been encouraging my mother-in-law to make a will. She's gotten some advice from a friend who does legal documents, and it sounds like she's choosing to make all of her accounts "payable on death" to other family members. I hope that's not going to cause headaches for us later on. Is a trust better than a will?

I hope you have a good summer, and an uneventful last year of teaching.

Love,
Martha

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sat Jun 14, 2014 3:18 pm

Great to hear, JoAnne!

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:27 am

Great news! Glad you you are feeling better and it's wonderful you have a nurse that took interest in what you had to offer instead of brushing you off like you couldn't possibly know what works for you (like mine).

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 5:23 am

JoAnne it is really great to hear from you and that you have maintained remission with all that you have going on. Sorry to hear about your loss and wills have been preying on my mind for a while now. You have inspired me to get things in order.

Hope you get to retire next June and that is also my target date for full retirement. Already winding things down.

Love, Maggie

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:38 am

Hey JoAnn!

So good to see an update from you. I am sorry for your family losses but happy to learn that your MC is behaving itself. I agree about your advice to have a will/trust in place. I have seen families forever fractured because of fighting over the estate when someone dies without clear instructions. So sad.

I say "three cheers" for nurses too. Their training is holistic, whereas it is not for docs, unfortunately. They are really eclectic, "can-do" folks, in my experience.

Enjoy your last year of teaching. I will look forward to seeing more of you here!

Love,

Polly

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:03 pm

I just want to tell all of you how much I love you and wish I could see you and throw my arms around you! I vanished out of town after that post and just returned and what a joy to read all these posts. Some of you are my dear old friends that got me through the rough times. Some of you I met along the way, and others are new. It really doesn't matter, the compassion and friendship of this board is a special gift that everyone here so freely gives. Thanks for always being there. You all inspire me. I've got to run off on another adventure, but I hope to check back in in a few weeks, Love JoAnn