Just read Tex's book about stress

[Hoggett]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading Tex's book, can't put it down And I have started to think about my own situation and the stress that I have had in the past.

In 1991 my mam had to have a aortic bypass done which eventually led to her losing one of her legs below knee, she was in hospital for 7 month leaving me to look after my dad and the dogs and home. She never really recovered from this and was unable to walk. Then 13 years ago my dad was diagnosed with cancer ( he worked with asbestos) so i looked after the both of them and the home etc for three month till he passed away. Ten years ago my mam's health deteriated and in the autumn of 2003 she passed away, now the interesting ppart, in th spring of 2004 I started to have problems with my feet due to diabetes ( had it for over 10 years by then with no probs) I eneded up having to have several ops (10 in total) finally ended up a double amputee. I asked the doctor why this all hjappened now, his reply was that the stress of losing my mother had a bad reaction on my body etc. So to me it is very likely that I may have started the process off then for getting MC.

Have any of you had major stresses before you got MC?

Sorry for the long post

Ian

[humbird753]

Hi Ian - If I have never greeted you before, I want to welcome you to this awesome internet family.

I am sorry for all the stressful circumstances you have had to face. In answer to your question on whether there were major stresses prior to getting MC, I have to reply with a YES.

My story - in October of 2008 I found my birth daughter whom I placed for adoption in 1970. We did not connect until June of 2009 via emails and phone calls. My mom was very ill at the time, and I was told she had less than a year to live. My daughter wanted to meet me on her 39th birthday in August of 2009. The stress of 39 years flashing back was awful for me, to say the least. 2 weeks before meeting her I started having D. I ignored it because I thought it was only stress. I waited about 5 weeks before seeing my doctor to have blood tests and stool sample to see what was wrong. All turned out negative. Since I had my 1st colonoscopy just 1-1/2 years prior and all was very good, I felt no need to do it again. In Dec., 2009 my mom passed away, March of 2010 my boss' wife (and friend of mine) had a hemorrhagic stroke, and 4 days later I ended up with my appendix removed which was gangrenous and perforated, and in June, 2010 I had my 2nd colonoscopy which is when I was diagnosed with LC. Those were the major stresses that immediately preceded my diagnosis.

When I look back on my life (since reading Tex's book), I see other long-term stresses. My father deserted the family and left my mom with 5 daughters under 11 yrs. of age, and my mom suffered with a mental illness. All 4 of my sisters failed to be there for mom financially or emotionally the last 20+ yrs. of her life, which left me as the only caretaker. The other long-term stress was a stalker (total stranger) who caused major fear and stress for me for 13 years (almost a daily basis) before Wisconsin finally put their stalking law into place. Of course both of these stresses were at the same time.

There is no doubt in my mind that stress plays a huge role in our health. My guess is that we all have our stories. Some things in our lives are very stressful yet unavoidable. I question, however, if I could have handled mine in a better way to have avoided getting MC.

Again, Ian, I welcome you.

Paula

[humbird753]

Hi again - I want to encourage you to read a post by Gabes-Apq which is entitled Attn newbies and anyone struggling...

It is maybe 5 posts below yours. I found it to be very uplifting.



Paula

[Gabes-Apg]

Paula- thank you

Ian - there was a post a few weeks ago that a study had been done regarding people who had stressful childhoods/lots of childhood illness and linkage to auto-immune conditions later in life.
Major illness, not just autoimmune, things like cancer have been linked to occurring due to a major stress event.

the events/circumstances/issues of our past, are our past. In cases like MC, yes they have had impact, and when we are having MC symptoms it is like a daily reminder of those events. it is important to do the mental/emotional work that those events do not have to define us, they don't have to control our lives now (unless we let it)

Connie (stanz) wrote in post a few weeks ago something along the lines of - life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it!

I suppose part of the 'trauma' of things like MC, is that it uncovers and reveals all those wounds of our past, and even our parents past if you look at genetics and the like. All those wounds and scars are revealed and vulnerable. so while we are trying to figure out what the hell we can eat and not have D, our minds and our hearts are also struggling with the wounds and scars that are open.

now that I am starting to be on the other side, I see this event as the gift that came with MC, rather than have all those elements buried (buried = not dealt with and in some cases festering) I have not tried to cover them up or bury them again, I am going through a major forgiveness process. A key one is forgiving myself for many things which is like the hardest step!

like all the posts and advice about eating, all the information is there, the hard part is taking ownership of it and doing it! because that means embracing the Dx, and all that is interlinked to it, (all these wounds and scars are linked to it like spiders web)
that takes a shite load of courage!

hence why so many here are willing to support and help and give hugs and do what they can......

[gluten]

Hi, I was under all types of heavy stress before I was dx with MC. Jon

[ObsessedMrFixit]

I had one huge year of stress before I was diagnosed with LC. My son was born, and two months later we found he had a massively compromised digestive system. We had to relearn from zero how to cook and eat and live. My body lasted a year, and then gave out. Too much stress.