You have kindly provided us with a view of the world according to Rolf Koksvik, and for that we are grateful. But maybe it would be helpful if I review the reasons for the existence of this discussion and support board. This website was originally created because we were sick and tired of being sick and tired, and our doctors were unable to help us. We found that by sharing experiences and comparing notes we could help each other to find the solutions that we needed. This forum has been operating continuously for over 10 years now, and in that time many thousands of people all over the world have managed to snatch their life back from the hopeless feeling enveloped them before they discovered this website. Note that they were in that hopeless situation because they were unable to get the information they needed from the medical community.
So with a 10-year success record, I never cease to be amazed at how so many new members come here for help, and yet they actually believe that they know more about treating MC than everyone else here. And while they pretend to accept what we suggest to them, in their heart, they still doubt everything we say, for the reasons you cited:
I believe I understand why so many new members feel this way. First of all, they still trust their doctors, despite what they say about being disillusioned about them. But guess what? Most everyone here also trusts their doctors — we just don't trust them to treat our MC. And secondly, most of us here are overachievers — it's almost a prerequisite to the development of MC. In fact, if someone has MC and they are not an overachiever, they are probably one of the unluckiest people in the world, because the odds show that they should never have developed the disease. So sure, we're doubters, we understand the value of self-confidence and self-reliance, and we're used to doing it our way.Rolf wrote:I have never in my life had a problem with my digestive system until this MC issue turned up 4 months ago. I have never had any allergies. I have never had any food intolerances. I have my own theory about what caused this and I am going to test it whatever doomsday scenario you throw at me.
But as Bearcat so eloquently pointed out, "the medical community knows little, if nothing, about microscopic colitis". And that is precisely why clinging to the false hope that a physician who recommends a gluten challenge might actually know how to treat MC, is an exercises in futility.
So that's why we seem to repeat our recommendations excessively, because quite frankly, a lot of newbies don't want to believe what we say. They don't want to have to make the lifestyle changes that we have made in order to resolve our symptoms. They want to resolve their problems their own way — the way that they have always solved their problems. The trouble with that attitude is that their way doesn't work for treating MC. If their way had any merit, then why would they come here searching for help?
So please be aware that the reason why Gabes, Bearcat, Louis, Lilja, and others have reached out to you, is out of love, compassion, and a sincere desire to save you from having to go through months or years of unnecessary suffering, as so many of us have done. The bottom line is, you are certainly free to approach the problem any way you choose, and if you prefer to punish yourself for a few more months or even another year or so, that is your right, and we will support you in that choice. We all are short of time, and we all have better things to do than to waste that precious time trying to make your life miserable. That certainly was not our intent. We thought that we were trying to help you to save some time and unnecessary suffering in your recovery program. Were we wrong to try to do that?
Incidentally, Jean is quite correct that your rude post to Gabes was totally inappropriate. Another post that contains remarks similar to that one will get you banned from this board.
Tex
