Changing Careers due to MC?

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JLH
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Ginny

Post by JLH »

Please Google the words "MS" and "gluten" together.

Here's one source that came up when I did. http://renegadeneurologist.com/multiple ... nsitivity/
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.

LDN July 18, 2014

Joan
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hoosier1
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Post by hoosier1 »

Hi Gabes,

Boy would I love to have a 48 hours advance notice for travel. But I guess in the end, since I am usually traveling, that really doesn't matter. What I have found that I need to take more time getting out and back, so that I can have less stress, eat right, and get the sleep I need. I still haven't reached that equilibrium but I am trying.

Rich
"It's not what I believe. It's what I can prove." - A Few Good Men
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Rich
i figured the 48hr notice was no different to the situation of a working mum or someone who cares for an elderly relative if they were to travel for work they would need that much notice to make alternative arrangements.

I wanted to start it how i wanted it to finish type thing
bit different in your case where for many years you have been superman and leaping tall buildings in a single bound at 5 minutes notice.... it is a bit hard to change peoples expectations.
Gabes Ryan

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explosive
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Post by explosive »

I am impressed and inspired by all those who have shared their story here. My doctor at my last appointment just assumed I had already signed up and gotten my disablilty. I must admit that I find it very hard some days just to get out of bed. I have suffered for 20 years undiagnosed. I had one brief spell of norman for about 6 months and my Dad passed away and it all just came flooding back (no pun intended). I had my supervisor call me in her office to ask why I was going to the bathroom so many times and that I had to cut it out. She did not believe it was a necessity. In the past 3 years I have given up my office job and started to clean a medical office in the eveing and I was providing child care for a little boy with autism until he started to school. This last year I have had to give up the cleaning job as I simply do not have the energy to do it. I am struggling but do not want to give up. I have no insurance now and the medicine is so expensive. I am going to save up to have my food intorences tested on the lab you all have suggested. I am going to try everything I can. Most people just do not understand. I am so glad I found all of you. I am supposed to have a sleep apnea test done and have to see a pulmonologist for my lung issues. I am going to ask about the mast cells there too. It helps just knowing what to ask about. I would love to find work from home but just do not know how to do it.

Sharon
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Sharon
I couldn’t afford the enterolab testing so did the slow and steady method of trial and error with the foods. It took me about 6 months to figure out what works and what doesn’t food wise , as I mentioned in another thread recently I have my everyday foods, my sometimes foods, foods that cause mild reaction and foods that cause chronic reaction. 95% of the time I stick to the every day foods and if life has been a bit intense (either physically or mentally or emotionally) I will spend a day or more having simple gooey texture easy to digest meals.

Re working, imo it is important that you enjoy your job, whether it be the tasks you do or the people you interact with or even the location, it helps if you are motivated about going to work. If you are working with the motive that you need to to pay medical bills it may become a stress.
Similarly, I am motivated to stick to the MC diet that works for me as that is what gives me wellness and energy, I live alone and don’t have family near by so there is an element of being well enough to work and support myself then again it is also the saying of making sure you are working to live NOT living to work…..


and like Fillards recent post, going back to square one, wipe the slate clean and figure out if meds or foods are doing you good or making it worse. Once these types of mysteries are solved, you will sleep better, you will have more energy in the morning, and your mind will be willing to work.

some days it will be a bit like two steps forward, one step back, spin on the spot and shake your hands in the air type thing gradually these types of situations reduce and it is 'softly sofly catchy monkey' slow and gentle will get the result!

big hugs
Gabes Ryan

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hoosier1
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Post by hoosier1 »

Gabes,

Changing peoples expectations is a huge deal for me. My associates know I have a problem, but none of them really know how much I struggle with it, except for my boss perhaps. Maybe it is because I try to hide it so well, you know, put on my game face. Reminds me of the Beatles song Eleanor Rigby, "keeping her face in a jar that she wears by the door" I think is the quote. Poetic.

My new office manager is great. She is even going to cook things for me I can eat. Too bad I am rarely there to eat them. But her sincerity and compassion is greatly appreciated. My other associates, whom I have known for years, never express their concern for me. They never ask how I am doing or if they can help. A little of that would be nice to hear. Why are people so self-absorbed. This disease sucks and the only people who seem to know that, or care, or the people on this board.

As I continue to reflect on me, what I do, and how I feel, I have recently been following the plight of Steve Jobs of Apple, someone whom I have always admired. I own his products and his stock. I believe in his genius and his artistry. As you know, he is sick again and I feel connected to him, especially now, because I know how hard it is to put your game face on when you don't well. I cant imagine the weight he must be feeling. My prayers go out to him.

If you want to hear something inspirational from Steve, click on the following youtube link when he spoke at Stanford University's commencement in 2005. OMG that strikes a cord in me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA

Really gets you thinking, doesn't it?

Regards,

Rich
"It's not what I believe. It's what I can prove." - A Few Good Men
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tex
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Post by tex »

Yep, That was one inspirational speech. It bothers me somewhat that he had to read off every line, rather than to use a more informal style of delivery. It probably means that even with all the success that he has achieved in his lifetime, he still feels insecure, and that in itself is a valuable, and inspirational lesson.

In fact, that is probably the point of his message - we cannot afford to ever feel secure. Insecurity is a powerful source of motivation, and sometimes it is the mother of invention. I have to say that even though the products that he has created don't appeal to me, personally - as an individual, and a businessman, and a creator of "gadgets" for the masses, he truly rocks.

Tex
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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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Post by MBombardier »

Sharon, working from home is a growing trend. I am thankful to work at home (WAH) for a friend of mine who lets me do most of my work from home, just going into the office when I need something. I don't want to overwhelm you, so I am just going to give you two websites. The first is (in my opinion) probably one of the best to use for learning about WAH jobs and looking for work. The second is a website that specializes in employment opportunities for the disabled. I hope you find these helpful.

http://blog.2work-at-home.com/WordPress/ This one looks pretty spammy, but it has some good stuff, especially the articles, and is sort of a one-stop place for craiglist ads all over the country, etc. Finding a WAH job takes work, dedication, and discipline. Most people cannot decide they want to work from home and just go get a WAH job. That being said, there are jobs out there. A number of companies only use WAH workers. Many of these are call centers that do customer service for corporations.

http://www.nticentral.org/work-at-home- ... abled.shtm I don't know what the parameters for being disabled are for this website, nor do I know how many employers this website works with, but as far as I know, they are a legitimate source of WAH jobs for people who are disabled.

Of course, YMMV, and you might find these websites a total waste of time. I want to encourage you that even though there are lots of scams out there (a good rule of thumb is never to pay for a WAH job opportunity), there are also legitimate opportunities and not to give up.
Marliss Bombardier

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Joefnh
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Post by Joefnh »

Hi Rich. That was a good speech by Steve Jobs and I agree he and his company have taken engineering to an art form.

The goal should not be to change the expectations of you in relation to others, but accept your own limitations and just live within them. Try not to put on the face that states nothings wrong. In putting that face on it will just result in you having to expend more energy in living up to those unrealistic expectations and defending yourself when you cannot. Bottom line you are just lying to yourself.

I have had to deal with this same issue at work over this last year and initially did try to keep up my 'invincibility' cape and it just does not work. I ended up finding out the sooner I was honest with myself and those I worked with the easier things became. Through this process most of my coworkers understand and accept my limitations and adjust to them.

This is not an easy process, but remember in acceptance will come peace.

Take Care Rich

--Joe
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explosive
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Post by explosive »

Gabes and Marliss,

Thank you for the words of encouragment. I have always known foods that "bother me" but have just started to really keep a food diary and as weird as this sounds a poop diary also. This way I can adjust accordingly. I already know for one thing that red meat is really bad for me. I become deathly ill. I am going to keep chugging along and figure out what works for me and if I can afford the tests one day that's ok too but until then I will do what you did Gabes. Turkey and chicken are getting bad too. I may have to give up meat altogether.

I am going to look into those websites too Marliss. It is scary to think you may end up in a scam but you never know until you try and use common sense in the process.

Sharon :smile:
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

to figure out my foods i went on a really basic eating plan, gooey rice & poached chicken, clear juice (ie apple) i would only try a new type of food or ingredient if i had a week of minimal symptoms. i would try small amounts and if there was a small reaction, i would wait a few days and try again. it was a bit like a 3 strikes and your out type system.
as i wanted to make sure it was that ingredient and not other things causing the symptoms (stress etc)

track all reactions in the diary, some of my sometimes foods cause a reaction over the period of 2 days. the chronic dont touch type foods create a reaction within 20 mins.
and as i mentioned recently the food/poop/reactions diary helped me figure out that i couldnt have carrot and cauliflower in the same meal or even the same day.

as you may have read in other posts, this condition can be very individual.

also make sure that the items you purchasing and cooking with are definately gluten free, lactose free etc. In australia alot of the cold meats (ham, chicken and turkey) have gluten and lactose in the curing process.

it could be something as simple as whatever oil or butter you may be cooking with might be causing the issue.
figuring out the main triggers was like a roller coaster ride (and others have had similar experience) i eliminated gluten 100% felt good then couple of weeks later D and pain, realised i could not tolerate yeast, eliminated yeast 100% out of my cupboard felt good and then month or so later D and pain, ok, so it is caesin, stopped all dairy, felt good and then a month weeks later D and pain, it was Soy.
inbetween all of this i figured out which vegetables i could handle and which ones i couldnt
I stopped using lipstick as they all have gluten and soy in them.

if you are sensitive to multiple things you have to be super super diligent and check everything.

hope this helps, it sounds a bit intense, but basically within 6 months i had most of the stuff figured out. I was working full time whilst i was figuring out the foods things, and managed to travel to france for 3 weeks for work this was a 36hr transit each way

looking back now, the time i invested in the process was a small price to pay time wise....
Gabes Ryan

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tex
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Post by tex »

Sharon,

FYI, that's not a "poop" diary - on this board, it's officially a "Winning the Poo" diary. If I remember correctly, Ant came up with that "catchy" name suggestion. :thumbsup:

I used one for 2 and a half years, but unfortunately, back in those days, I didn't I have a nifty name for it. :lol:

Tex
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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.
ant
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Post by ant »

Dear all

I was blown away yesterday.

A client said I needed to come to a lunch meeting. He knew I had food intolerances because in the past I had been frank about it to him. So he asked for (and I emailed to him) my "to the chef card" of what I can and cannot eat. Not only did he fix the right meal, he got his secretary to retype and laminate for me 4 copies of the card. I now have a very efficient and official looking card in my wallet that 'is the business' for waiters and chefs where ever I go.

We are going to win this war!!!

Best ant
harma
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Post by harma »

wow ant, that sounds great!!! :cool: :cool: :cool: client (and his secretary) you have!!!
"As the sense of identity shifts from the imaginary person to your real being as presence awareness, the life of suffering dissolves like mist before the rising sun"
Kari
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Post by Kari »

Ant - how totally awesome!!! They must have personal experience with food intolerances to be so "tuned in".

When I received my MRT test results, they included a laminated card (with my highly reactive foods) similar to what you describe, and it's firmly lodged in my wallet :grin: .

Amazing how little things make for lots of happiness :grin: .

Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
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