Having a tough time

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:38 am

You people are the best! MaryJo, Karen, Kari, Polly and Gloria thanks for your concerns and input.

Polly, stress for me is probably the biggest factor in my "non-recovery". As my DH has said for years, "if you don't have something to worry about, you'll find something to worry about"! Oh how true and sad. I just feel totally responsible for what happens to my family and with a handicapped daughter and no relatives to speak of, at times I LET it become overwhelming. When I became so sick two years ago, I just couldn't do anything for anyone and it was amazing how everything worked out and how much love was showered on me within my little family.

I told them that I needed a "Ginny" weekend last night which means I just am going to do a lot of relaxing, sleeping, reading, stitching, puzzling and no shopping of any kind. My DH takes me on long rides in the country (who cares how much gas cost

) Oh Polly, I also do a lot of talking to myself as well! What I am working on right now is the POSITIVE things around me and only today (that's the tough one). Stress will always be in our lives;I just never been very good at handling it and now I "think" I can't handle any of it!. Will be looking forward to hearing your book review.

My foods are all from scratch, or fresh, with the exception of cream of rice and buckwheat and rice cakes. I will check out the old toothpaste, but outside of that to the best of my knowledge everything is GF/DF/SF/CF/EF including all my vitamins.

Gloria, I know when I've talked with MaryBeth she has mentioned the cycling of foods, especially for some of us that have so many intolerances. I'm going to give this a whirl! I went back to 2 Entocort a day. I will really be glad when Christmas is over.................all the food advertisements!!

MaryJo, let us know how you did going back to work? Honey, I am feeling good vibes for you today! Love Ginny

catsrule · Post by **catsrule** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:39 am

Thank you Ginny. I work second shift, 3:30 - midnight. I will let you know how I do. It is good that I work second shift, less people, quieter, and I am amongst friends, so if I break down I know they will help me.

Mary Jo

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:50 am

Hi Ginny,

So sorry you are still having such difficulty. Stress is certainly bad this time of year and Polly's suggestions for relaxation are good ones. You might be reacting to a food you perceive as safe and one that isn't the usual problematic food around here. I have a problem with almonds and turkey and those aren;'t things we usually talk about.

I sent you a PM . . . .

Hugs,

Mary Beth

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:50 pm

Ginny
MC definately does test our patience, and our inner strength to keep smiling even though things are crap (pun intended)

These days stress and over doing it are my biggest enemies. reading posts here times like this i appreciate that i live alone as when i am tired or a have had a big day, i do get quiet time each night and each morning. I have adopted lots of techniques (thanks

polly) that help me to switch my brain OFF and to ensure i get good rest and sleep. I only have to worry about my foods and meals

I havent tried anything new for 4 months or more. at the moment i am focussing on moving house and changing jobs

as tex mentioned maybe there is a trigger item hidden somewhere, I have noticed that some products the ingredients change between batches, so I check the labels every time.

big hugs, hope the rest and relaxation helps

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:17 pm

Ginny,

I was sorry to read that you're having to go through all this especially during the holidays. I wish there was a fast way to work through all this, but there just isn't. So many ups and downs and hits and misses and so many things like stress to wonder about. I may have missed some of the information you've shared, but have you gone back to the 3 entocort? I thought I read that you're at 2. I'm sure you're doing everything you know to get this under control. I spent last year's holidays in a flare and it's no fun. Hopefully next year you'll be looking back at this as some distant memory. I'm thinking of you, praying for you, and hoping your answers will come soon, Love JoAnn

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:22 am

JoAnn, thanks for the hugs and good wishes! I am back to 2 (that's all I can stand; 3 makes me sick) and 1/2 Imodium in the morning. I'm going to go ahead with the MRT testing. I just discovered that my Vit D-3 has corn and so does the Earth Balance soy free spread. I haven't fully tested corn, but am pretty sure it doesn't work for me. I also am on a 3-day cycle of food (except for rice) to see if I can pinpoint this flare. Starting to think chicken could be out. Not much fun. You are right about the holidays, and I have a couple of social engagements all around food and drink that I am dreading. Of course, I can take something, but what I eat now doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy as it is.

After doing so well this past Sept/Oct, I am going to be skeptical of getting off Entocort at all the next time if and when I get this under control again. I had it down to one every two days and felt good. Now I just have tummy cramps most times I eat and no real control over the bowels or gas pains.

Just griping and don't really mean to because this is the way it is for now. Hopefully after I get the MRT test done, I might have further insight to my problems.

I think you mentioned you are going away for the holidays, and if so I hope you have a wonderful and stress free time. Love Ginny

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:30 pm

Ginny, so sorry to hear you are struggling just before the holidays.
Hopefully the MRT testing will help you to discover any other intolerances you might have. Did you get a "Ginny" weekend?

I didn't know the soy/dairy free Earth Balance had corn in it. I use it for baking. Yipes! Thanks for telling us about that.

Linda

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:38 pm

Ginny,

I hope you can turn this flare around before the holidays. Try not to let it get you down. Tell yourself that you were doing well before, and you'll do well again. I'm confident that you will.

Gloria

catsrule · Post by **catsrule** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:28 am

Oh gosh Ginny I hope you can get this thing under control and feel better. Let us know how you are doing. Wishing you all the best!

Mary Jo

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:34 am

Thanks for all the "love" messages. Just taking one day at a time.

Linda, EB soy free's food coloring comes from corn. It may not bother you and it may not bother me; just don't know. I've been using it for a year now. I'm just looking at everything I am putting in my mouth to see if i can pinpoint the trigger.

Gloria I'm going to send you a PM with questions. I hate for the fact that you have been through so much, but I think some of us hard core sufferers can learn from your experience.

Wishing you all a beautiful day! Ginny

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:24 pm

hope you got a relaxing Ginny weekend.

and i hope the mystery of what is causing you issues is revealed and erradicated!!! take care

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:41 pm

Ginny, I tried EB sf df last year or during the past year. I react to it. If I remember right, doesn't it have pea protein in it? I'm still not sure what I react to in it, but there's definitely something. I gave up on spreads and just use coconut oil in place of butter. Hope you find some answers, Love JoAnn

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 2:21 pm

Gabes, I had a great weekend; very peaceful. My DH promises me one every weekend until I can retire................I'll be happy with one out of the month! Thanks for asking. Now more importantly, how is your move coming along? This is such an exciting time for you and I hope it is everything you have been wanting. Your philosophy on life is excellent. By the way, I am also working on the old brain at every opportunity.

JoAnn, you know my problem is that I never have an immediate reaction to anything now probably because of the limited variety of food that I am eating. It just shows up the next morning, however I will have stomach aches and gurglings during the day. I have also decided to eliminate the "spreads" and I just use EVOO; love the taste of it. I suspect chicken and I know that was a problem for you as well. Gloria uses turkey in place of chicken, so I am going to try that for awhile and see if it works. This is why I decided to try the 3-day cycle and journal every feeling, suspicion, and of course the potty results!

Peace to all of you, Ginny

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:03 pm

Thanks Ginny

i think my attitude has been helped (alot) by all the wonderful people in this family...

and thanks for asking -
It is a very hot and humid summer in brisbane at the moment (some days are 94% humidity) today it will be 31c (87F)
due to this and my limited store of energy, i have planned out the workload over the period so I have a 'moving project plan'. At the moment I am about 1day ahead with the tasks so that means i have 2 full days of 'buffer' should i need the rest.

work wise - finalisation of tasks and doing handover of key information is also going well.

As it is summer in australia most companies have compulsary shut down between christmas and the new year, it ends up being a 12 day break. I have organised for the moving truck to occur halfway during this period, as I dont have family near by I wont be doing anything for christmas so i have 5 full days to finalise packing etc the moving truck comes then i have 5 full days to unpack essentials, do my cook up, have some rest before i start the new job.

I have moved about 20 times in my adult life, most of which have occured while i am single. I have a priority system for the boxes; essential boxes are marked with the room, then i will get the movers to put all the remaining boxes in the garage, these are labelled P1 and P2 - P1 unpacked first P2 unpacked later.
then i will just do the unpacking box by box

the only change with this move is that
a) the 'IMPORTANT' box that comes with me in the car, i have added a MC emergency kit
b) i have planned out ingredients and meals
Times like this i do miss being able to eat fruit and and raw veges.

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:45 pm

Ginny,

My heart goes out to you. Getting up early is one of my coping mechanisms to allows my system to quiet down. Seems I need to get up earlier and earlier. I don't know what to tell you except I feel your anxiety and frustration. Don't give up the fight. I do recommend the relaxation techniques Polly suggested.

I'm really nervous about the end of my week. I have a 4 hour charter flight Thursday; wheels up at 6A. Airport is 45 minutes away. So I'm thinking I need to get up at 3A to let me system settle (hope it does). Then 4 hours on a plane with no bathroom. However, the pilot is a very cool older woman whom I have flown with in the past. If we need to put down short, she will. Then I have to do my job and go wheels up again at 6PM that evening to return to Michigan late. And oh boy, a fire scene in 10 degree weather on Friday. I was going to fly commercial by my schedule won't allow me to get where I need to go. Keep happy thoughts for me please.

Not complaining to you, just looking for support too. Today I was in the office but barely got out of my car on the way home and had explosive D. Wow!!! Just when things seem somewhat stable.

Rich