Gigi,
I am new on this board, so I don't have the experience of many of the other people who have posted a response to you, but I understand your frustration. After reading your post, I would say that we are "cut from the same cloth." Even though I was just recently diagnosed last month, I feel like I've been running a marathon from which I never get a break and never reach my destination.
"Perfectionism" I think can be just as much of an adversary as the MC. I've gotten so wrapped up sometimes in frustration because "my perfect plan" wasn't coming out the way I wanted it to - especially when I thought I had hit upon "the answer" to my diet issues. Then, as you said, I would beat myself up about it because I was "wrong." However, I've found a lot of comfort in coming to this forum and looking for answers (the "Search the Archives" is an excellent source) as well as a lot of support from the contributors to this forum - everyone is very supportive when you're feeling very alone.
I know that everyone is different, but I am having some success (fingers crossed) with the Autoimmune Paleo Diet, although I am having an issue with weight loss, so I do need to "tweak" it some. The book, "The Practical Paleo" is the one I am using primarily and it has some good recipes in it. I am certainly no Julia Child, but I am most definitely learning how to take care of MY needs with regard to my diet. And, I'm LEARNING how to cook some things I never would have attempted before - so I see that as a positive.
Good luck on your journey - one good attribute of perfectionism is that we are very tenacious and self-disciplined - that will help you stick to it and not give up! You can do it!
Kimber
Here's the Problem
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Gay,
You're right of course — making bold changes is not as easy when we're not as motivated. Many of us were "lucky" enough that our symptoms were so severe that they got our undivided attention, and few things are more motivating than uncontrollable D, accented by constant fatigue, migraines, stiff, sore, arthritic joints, and severe body aches and pains. Frankly, if my symptoms had not been so severe, I might never have gone to see a doctor, let alone jump through all the hoops that I jumped through while trying to get my life back.
That said, inflammation is a serious issue, because it leads to the development of additional AI diseases, so I'm glad that you have EnteroLab test results on the way, because seeing the problems spelled out in lab test results can also be motivating.
While it's not impossible that your chiropractor might have helped, the primary cause of headaches and migraines appears to be untreated gluten sensitivity. I was "eat up" (as they say) with migraines and headaches while I was reacting, but I haven't had a single one since my gut healed from the gluten damage. I've been in remission for over 10 years now and all of that is gone, including the severe RA symptoms that forced me to use a cane just to be able to walk around, 12 to 15 years ago.
And don't worry, regardless of how restricting the test results may seem, there are always other alternatives for modifying our diet. That's why we're here — to compare notes and learn from each other.
Tex
You're right of course — making bold changes is not as easy when we're not as motivated. Many of us were "lucky" enough that our symptoms were so severe that they got our undivided attention, and few things are more motivating than uncontrollable D, accented by constant fatigue, migraines, stiff, sore, arthritic joints, and severe body aches and pains. Frankly, if my symptoms had not been so severe, I might never have gone to see a doctor, let alone jump through all the hoops that I jumped through while trying to get my life back.
That said, inflammation is a serious issue, because it leads to the development of additional AI diseases, so I'm glad that you have EnteroLab test results on the way, because seeing the problems spelled out in lab test results can also be motivating.
While it's not impossible that your chiropractor might have helped, the primary cause of headaches and migraines appears to be untreated gluten sensitivity. I was "eat up" (as they say) with migraines and headaches while I was reacting, but I haven't had a single one since my gut healed from the gluten damage. I've been in remission for over 10 years now and all of that is gone, including the severe RA symptoms that forced me to use a cane just to be able to walk around, 12 to 15 years ago.
And don't worry, regardless of how restricting the test results may seem, there are always other alternatives for modifying our diet. That's why we're here — to compare notes and learn from each other.
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.
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That pretty much describes me, a world class procrastinator. I do want everything to come out "perfect" and that's scary, so it is just easier not to do it at all or at least leave things unfinished so I don't have to experience my inability to achieve anything even close to perfection. I am in the midst of some major procrastination right now and I know I am scared that I will screw up this project so it's easier to do some binge reading of mysteries rather than get to work.tex wrote:
I'm not so sure that you are so different. I was/am one of the world's worst procrastinators. I tend to start projects and then put off completing them for eons. I suspect the reason lies in the fact that I'm not satisfied until it's done right, and that's a disincentive for working on them. IOW, now, instead of bearing down on projects to get them completed, I spend much more time thinking through all the possible solutions, rather than physically trying various options. The brain works best when it has plenty of rest time to concentrate on concepts at a subconscious level, so that fits right in with procrastination. But the point is, when I finally get around to completing a project, if I don't consciously force myself to lower my sights a little, I won't be satisfied until it's "perfect". Old habits are hard to break.
I too have wondered about whether I fit into this type A personality characterization. Although I do not doubt that stress plays a major role in health or the lack of health, I believe that stress manifests itself in different ways in different people. I used to beat myself up a lot about everything I haven't accomplished in this life. I am less hard on myself now than I have ever been. I've given up a lot of my unrealistic expectations for myself and stayed satisfied with a life that is a lot less "full" and busy than how many people seem to live their lives. My symptoms became much worse after I had let go of much of the stress in my life but I had had lesser level symptoms for 40 years so I suspect that no amount of stress reduction was going to put things right and my increase in symptoms was probably just the result of a lifetime of bodily damage caused by foods. There are almost always multiple factors that figure into a person's health and it is entirely possible that importance of stress is different for different people. I have never seen it as primary in my case which is not the same as saying it hasn't played a role.
Jean