My one year anniversary since being dx w/MC& CC-redux

[Stanz]

I've been a bad Potty Person, been gone for months before today. Too much happening in my life and the rush of summer work has finally slowed, so I thought I'd let you know how I'm doing.

For those newbies here and those who don't remember me, I was originally dx in mid-Oct. 09 after almost 3 years of D. That's when I found this place, and did the full series of tests w/Enterolab, which are posted here. I had already been GF since the first of Aug.'09 on advice of my oldest daughter and my ND, despite that I tested neg. for celiac, so I already had a head start.

Being the rebel I am, I refused the entocort that my GI doc recommended, and via research, my ND (who was treating me w/prolotherapy for joint damage) and I opted for L-Glutamine, probiotics, VitD and B-6/B-12 as my treatment plan. I started the L-G in mid November '09, as I recall, and most of my symptoms, which was pretty much D and arthritis, had pretty well stopped in about a month. I don't remember when I quit taking the L-Glutamine altogether, I'd begun to cut down months prior, but think it was the beginning of August. I did this just as an experiment, as I'd been doing so well. I figured I'd relapse, but haven't so far. I still take the probiotics, VitD and B-6/B-12, but frankly don't remember half the time. Frankly, this has been somewhat miraculous as despite my schedule and family circumstances, I am doing so well.

Stress is a factor for many of us and I'm no exception, my job is stressful and days are long. My DH quit his stressful job at the end of Sept., so now we are on Cobra and I'm the breadwinner. We got 3 days at the coast as a "vacation" before he had to leave and go be with his parents. His Dad is terminally ill and had to have his leg amputated 2 months ago because of complications of lung cancer treatment and diabetes. He wasn't progressing so Medicare shut off paying for his rehab and he was sent home and his Mom wasn't capable of dealing with it all. Recent lung xrays show another mass. DH is a paramedic, so he's been invaluable to them and he's been gone almost a month now getting hospice care arranged and getting their place adapted to someone in a wheelchair, he isn't likely a candidate for a prosthetic. I've been working a lot until recently, so haven't been able to join him.

We hope to take a vacation over the holidays, he hasn't had more than a few days off in 5 years that didn't involve his parents illnesses. He needs a vacation way more than I do and of course this brings up some real fears for me as a GF traveler.

So, in spite of all that, I have quit the L-G and have NO symptoms of MC/CC. We're all different, L-G and being GF worked for me. Glad to see the "regulars" still here, so dedicated to helping the newbies. You are an inspiration.

My grandson, who was born in the midst of all this last Dec. is walking now, time flies.

[Gloria]

What a great report on your MC progress! So sorry that you're having so much stress in your life. If you can keep MC at bay with all the stress, then you're probably over the "hump."

Grandchildren are wonderful, aren't they? There's nothing like being around them and watching them grow.

I hope you are able to take a well-deserved vacation with hubby.

Gloria

[tex]

Connie,

You must be very good at handling stress, to remain in remission with so much going on.

Thanks for the update, and I hope that you two can thoroughly enjoy that much-needed vacation, over the holidays.

Tex

[Stanz]

What a great report on your MC progress! So sorry that you're having so much stress in your life. If you can keep MC at bay with all the stress, then you're probably over the "hump."

Grandchildren are wonderful, aren't they? There's nothing like being around them and watching them grow.

I hope you are able to take a well-deserved vacation with hubby.

Gloria

Love my grandkids, wish I could see my LA grandson more often. Hope to see DH tomorrow and that we can actually take a vacation, considering all that's going on in his family. Think I'm officially over the hump.

[Stanz]

Connie,

You must be very good at handling stress, to remain in remission with so much going on.

Thanks for the update, and I hope that you two can thoroughly enjoy that much-needed vacation, over the holidays.

Tex

I hope so too. Glad to see you are still at the helm here, Tex.

[Rosie]

Good to see you posting, Connie, and it's great that you haven't had any flares with all the stress and worry in your life lately. Your husband quitting his job has made it possible to help out his terminally ill father, so that is all good. But the added pressure on you to bring in more work while an independent contractor makes it tough. Hopefully your situation will settle down a bit once your father-in-law's situation becomes more manageable thanks to your husband's efforts! I hope you get a chance for that vacation......... We are thinking about Hawaii again over Christmas, as we absolutely love Hawaii. And being on the West coast, like you, means that it's not a very long trip and good deals on flights are available. My son and daughter and their families will be here for Thanksgiving, but it's the other sides' turns for Christmas this year and it will be a bit depressing if we stay home. Hawaii is such a relaxing place, with a laid-back lifestyle. But not the Big Island.......we were there last year and the volcano wasn't erupting but letting out a lot of nasty, sulfurous, irritating "vog" or what they call volcano fog.

I haven't been posting much lately, but am back on board again......so many inspiring and helpful people.....

Rosie

[Gabes-Apg]

Congratulations on your achievement of 12 months


and even more so for coping with the events occuring around you and you continue to stay strong, and not let the MC cheeky monkey sneak bake in

good to see your post

take care

[Stanz]

Thanks all,

I've been on a weird sleep schedule of late, due to night shoots and having the flu, so I woke up at 5:30 am just as DH arrived home. He's still sleeping, so nice to have him back for awhile.

[Joefnh]

Connie thanks for sharing such a positive result. With how busy you are and all the stress you put up with daily, your progress really is an inspiration

--Joe

[harma]

Hi Conny, a hi from Amman, I switched countries. Great to hear you are doing so well with your MC (without medication). I hope you will keep on doing well.

harma

[Zizzle]

Congratulations on your drug-free remission!!

Quick question about the L-Glutamine. I have an unopened jar of L-Glutamine powder sitting at home... I'm afraid to take it because I'm sensitive to MSG (mostly GI symptoms). Did you consider yourself sensitive to MSG prior to starting the L-G? Did you experience any uncomfortable symptoms (GI or headaches, etc)?

[Stanz]

Congratulations on your drug-free remission!!

Quick question about the L-Glutamine. I have an unopened jar of L-Glutamine powder sitting at home... I'm afraid to take it because I'm sensitive to MSG (mostly GI symptoms). Did you consider yourself sensitive to MSG prior to starting the L-G? Did you experience any uncomfortable symptoms (GI or headaches, etc)?

Yes, I always have considered myself sensitive to MSG, it gave me overall body pain and headaches and I'd avoided it for years. What's interesting to me now, is that since I am GF, I can tolerate some MSG w/no problems, so maybe it was just a body overburdened by G. I do try to avoid MSG as much as possible for other obvious reasons.

I think, at least from my experience, that many "pain" symptoms i.e. arthritis, etc. are really GS issues, as since being GF for 15 mos. now, I am pretty pain free.

Do not confuse the word Glutamine with Glutamate. They are not the same thing. I had NO uncomfortable symptoms with the L-G, it stopped my D w/in 3 wks. There has been some discussion on here about this. I wish more people would try it first.