It's been awhile since I have posted anything mainly because I've been doing pretty good. I am maintaining my diet of gf/sf/df/ef, also taking 3mg of entocort daily with a lot of success until……..
Unfortunately, my mom, who is 86 and lives in NJ with the rest of my family, had an appendectomy early September. Since then she hasn't been the same, lost her strength, had a couple of infections, landed back in the hospital and is currently in a rehab. She will not be able to live alone anymore and she is fighting that, lots of family decisions to make. Also diagnosed with the beginning of dementia.
I went to NJ to help, on 10/17 through 10/25, while my mom was first released from the hospital and was at home. It was a nightmare of drama within the family, my mom being completely dependent on me that week for everything, I wasn't prepared for the state she was in.
Anyway, I was under a tremendous amount of stress and yesterday (exactly a week after I got home) my D is back with a vengeance, the gassiness is back, I feel like it's a total relapse but is that possible while still on 3mg of entocort?
I truly never experienced that much stress in such a short time and my family really doesn't understand how serious MC is. I felt very conflicted over the guilt if I didn't go back and help them and at the same time, protecting my health.
Sorry, I am rambling. Is stress the culprit here?
Stress and flair-ups
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Stress and flair-ups
Diagnosed with MC - May 2012
Hi Jan,
I'm sorry your mom is having so many health problems, and I'm sorry that you're having an MC flare. Yes, as Jon indicated, stress is a wild card that seems to be able to put an end to MC remission for most of us, when the stress is intensive enough, and it lasts for an extended period (IOW, chronic stress). Sometimes, those of us who are in an extended, fully stable state of remission (i. e., those of us who have had at least a couple of years of healing, and we no longer have any symptoms, and we haven't needed an anti-inflammatory medication for many months) are able to deal with a stressful situation without relapsing. But during the first couple of years of recovery, especially, we seem to be very vulnerable to stress.
In fact, I have a theory (which I described in detail in the last chapter of my book) that chronic stress is the primary prerequisite that predisposes anyone to the development of not only MC, but any IBD, and probably any other autoimmune-type syndrome as well. IOW, IMO we would never have developed this disease in the first place if it were not for the influence of chronic stress of some type. As evidence of why we are so vulnerable to stress, it appears that a very high percentage of the members of this board are people who are highly qualified, high-performing individuals who tend to be perfectionists. That means that many of us encounter high levels of chronic stress in our work, and even those of us who are fortunate enough to escape significant stress in our work, tend to encounter it at home, or within our family.
It may also be necessary to go back to a more basic, bland diet, that includes a minimum of fiber, sugar, and other items known to aggravate our digestive system when it becomes inflamed. Possibly there may still be 1 or 2 foods in your diet that are causing inflammation at a lower level than the main food sensitivities, but they are enough of a problem that they make you more vulnerable to the effects of stress.
Hopefully, as the stressful situation that you are in begins to settle down, you will be able to regain remission, but in the short term, it may be necessary for you to increase your dosage of Entocort in order to counteract the influence of stress, especially if you are already on a very restricted, simple diet. Unfortunately, the inflammatory effects of stress are very real.
Tex
I'm sorry your mom is having so many health problems, and I'm sorry that you're having an MC flare. Yes, as Jon indicated, stress is a wild card that seems to be able to put an end to MC remission for most of us, when the stress is intensive enough, and it lasts for an extended period (IOW, chronic stress). Sometimes, those of us who are in an extended, fully stable state of remission (i. e., those of us who have had at least a couple of years of healing, and we no longer have any symptoms, and we haven't needed an anti-inflammatory medication for many months) are able to deal with a stressful situation without relapsing. But during the first couple of years of recovery, especially, we seem to be very vulnerable to stress.
In fact, I have a theory (which I described in detail in the last chapter of my book) that chronic stress is the primary prerequisite that predisposes anyone to the development of not only MC, but any IBD, and probably any other autoimmune-type syndrome as well. IOW, IMO we would never have developed this disease in the first place if it were not for the influence of chronic stress of some type. As evidence of why we are so vulnerable to stress, it appears that a very high percentage of the members of this board are people who are highly qualified, high-performing individuals who tend to be perfectionists. That means that many of us encounter high levels of chronic stress in our work, and even those of us who are fortunate enough to escape significant stress in our work, tend to encounter it at home, or within our family.
It may also be necessary to go back to a more basic, bland diet, that includes a minimum of fiber, sugar, and other items known to aggravate our digestive system when it becomes inflamed. Possibly there may still be 1 or 2 foods in your diet that are causing inflammation at a lower level than the main food sensitivities, but they are enough of a problem that they make you more vulnerable to the effects of stress.
Hopefully, as the stressful situation that you are in begins to settle down, you will be able to regain remission, but in the short term, it may be necessary for you to increase your dosage of Entocort in order to counteract the influence of stress, especially if you are already on a very restricted, simple diet. Unfortunately, the inflammatory effects of stress are very real.
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.
-
Sheila
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 5:10 am
- Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl
Oh yes, stress can definitely cause a relapse especially the severe stress you experienced. I was down to 3 mg entocort every other day along with the usual GF/SF/DF/EF diet. I took a tremendous fall, flat on my face onto a concrete sidewalk. I literally broke my fall with my face. What a mess!!! The next day I had WD, didn't make it to the bathroom. The only thing that changed was the stress of the injury. On the other hand, I recently had surgery with no D at all. Emotional stress seems to be a huge trigger.
Once you get your Mom settled and life returns to normal, you should be fine. Yoga and relaxation techniques help as well.
Sheila W
Once you get your Mom settled and life returns to normal, you should be fine. Yoga and relaxation techniques help as well.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Jan
Stress whether it be mental, or physical or emotional (or all three!) is still a big trigger for me. Some of the trigger is linked to Histamine/Mast cell, so I use H1 and or H2 blockers for stressful events to minimise the reactions
Stress whether it be mental, or physical or emotional (or all three!) is still a big trigger for me. Some of the trigger is linked to Histamine/Mast cell, so I use H1 and or H2 blockers for stressful events to minimise the reactions
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Jan,
I feel for you in the situation with your mom. It isn't easy being a long-distance child of a sick parent--I was in that situation too with my mom. You feel guilt because your family that lives nearby bears the brunt of care-giving. Every time you get there to visit, your parent is more diminished. Luckily for me, we five siblings were mostly on the same page about my mom's care for the duration, but there is often family conflict in those situations. When my mom died after a 12-year long illness, I was in the midst of trying to wean off of Entocort and had a major flare that lasted a month.
You said your mom is in NJ. My mom was in PA, and at one point where there WAS conflict (over assisted living vs in-home care) my brother brought in an agency called IKOR to do a safety assessment of my mom's home/ her ability to function in the home/ her comfort level with in-home caregivers. This resulted in a recommendation for assisted living, which is what we did. Someone objective can help; sometimes siblings who will argue with each other will listen when someone "professional" acts as a mediator. The IKOR office we used was in Delaware, but there may be others, or other agencies that do the same sort of thing.
We felt the money spent was well worth it in terms of restoring our unity over how to proceed from there.
I feel for you in the situation with your mom. It isn't easy being a long-distance child of a sick parent--I was in that situation too with my mom. You feel guilt because your family that lives nearby bears the brunt of care-giving. Every time you get there to visit, your parent is more diminished. Luckily for me, we five siblings were mostly on the same page about my mom's care for the duration, but there is often family conflict in those situations. When my mom died after a 12-year long illness, I was in the midst of trying to wean off of Entocort and had a major flare that lasted a month.
You said your mom is in NJ. My mom was in PA, and at one point where there WAS conflict (over assisted living vs in-home care) my brother brought in an agency called IKOR to do a safety assessment of my mom's home/ her ability to function in the home/ her comfort level with in-home caregivers. This resulted in a recommendation for assisted living, which is what we did. Someone objective can help; sometimes siblings who will argue with each other will listen when someone "professional" acts as a mediator. The IKOR office we used was in Delaware, but there may be others, or other agencies that do the same sort of thing.
We felt the money spent was well worth it in terms of restoring our unity over how to proceed from there.
Suze
Jan,
The stress component is very real with MC. It's something we all have try to minimize, but I know that is not always easy to do.
Think of a way you enjoy relaxing...a walk, yoga, talking with a friend, reading, ...whatever works to take your mind off the worry for a period of time. See if you can fit something in each day.
I know it's easier said than done, but it will help you to start to feel better.
Best of luck to you!
The stress component is very real with MC. It's something we all have try to minimize, but I know that is not always easy to do.
Think of a way you enjoy relaxing...a walk, yoga, talking with a friend, reading, ...whatever works to take your mind off the worry for a period of time. See if you can fit something in each day.
I know it's easier said than done, but it will help you to start to feel better.
Best of luck to you!
Linda :)
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
Thanks to everyone for your advice and good wishes, I truly appreciate it.
Suze - going to check out IKOR, sounds like my family could benefit from them.
Tex - thanks for the advice, I am back on the bland diet and upped the entocort.
Leah - I need to read about the Histamine/Mast cells trigger.
Again, thanks to all who responded, I am going Zen know!!!! :)
Suze - going to check out IKOR, sounds like my family could benefit from them.
Tex - thanks for the advice, I am back on the bland diet and upped the entocort.
Leah - I need to read about the Histamine/Mast cells trigger.
Again, thanks to all who responded, I am going Zen know!!!! :)
Diagnosed with MC - May 2012
I believe it. The year my CC started, although at the time it wasn't diagnosed as such, I had a home-schooler graduating, a daughter marrying, we had our 25th wedding anniversary, and I turned 50. All but the anniversary had a party, planned by me. On our anniversary, DH took us away for a get away :) I can always attest to stress being the one common denominator in my CC. Still gives me flares rather regularly :(
Interestingly, I have found I can get mad about an issue and not have a 'gut' reaction. But grief, loss, sadness will initiate gut problems for me everytime.
Jan I hope things get worked out soon for you and your mom. It's such a major life change for everyone.
BUT first and foremost, take care of yourself. If you don't it will be harder to lend your energy to others.
take care,
Carol
Jan I hope things get worked out soon for you and your mom. It's such a major life change for everyone.
BUT first and foremost, take care of yourself. If you don't it will be harder to lend your energy to others.
take care,
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