Well, it's a gift with some definite suffering attached, but for me it is still a gift. I wouldn't be the person I am today without having developed Chrohn's back in 1962 when I was 18.
At the time, I was highly competitive,kind of arrogant and insensitive. That sure changed when I began feeling really sick, lost 50 pounds and didn't understand what was happening to me.
It took a year to really confirm the diagnosis which was done at Mayo Clinic because the docs in Winnipeg weren't sure. My symptoms were not typical in that I have never suffered from diarrhea.
I went through 10 years following an allopathic medical approach including the use of prednisone and in 1971 a surgical resection while a student in California
However while studying at Stanford, I sat in on a popular course called The Psychology of Consciousness, and in the discussion group, the facilitator mentioned a book called Fringe Medicine and a relaxation technique called Autogenic Training.
I began to follow some of the suggested practices and went through a change in my attitude.
Since then, up until about a year and a half ago, I haven't really considered myself as 'having Crohn's' because I felt the label was too constricting. Rather, I would describe myself as having food sensitivities, a sensitive gut sometimes but most often not really have it in the forefront of my thinking.
I followed a range of self care practices including yoga/meditation, avoidance of gluten and dairy and eating organic foods as much as possible, and looking at any stresses and family issues to understand myself better. ( The gluten free and organic) came about after a 1977 visit to a pioneering Clinical Ecologist named Theron Randolph who had set up a wing of a hospital in Zion Illinois to work with a range of people with varying symptoms using fasting and an elimination diet)
Surprisingly, about a year and a half ago, I began to feel unwell again with flare-ups that reminded me of my early days. I dealt with them by working less, beginning to use more probiotics and a product called IBD relief.
Last week though, I was violently ill, and went into Emergency for a partial obstruction. I stayed there for 15 hours had a CATScan, and IV fluids and began to feel better.
I decided to ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist-I haven't really seen one for 35 years, and my experience prompted me to join the Forum as well.
I'm continuing my alternatives and am warily open to possibilities from mainstream medicine that could complement what I now do
At the time, I was highly competitive,kind of arrogant and insensitive. That sure changed when I began feeling really sick, lost 50 pounds and didn't understand what was happening to me.
It took a year to really confirm the diagnosis which was done at Mayo Clinic because the docs in Winnipeg weren't sure. My symptoms were not typical in that I have never suffered from diarrhea.
I went through 10 years following an allopathic medical approach including the use of prednisone and in 1971 a surgical resection while a student in California
However while studying at Stanford, I sat in on a popular course called The Psychology of Consciousness, and in the discussion group, the facilitator mentioned a book called Fringe Medicine and a relaxation technique called Autogenic Training.
I began to follow some of the suggested practices and went through a change in my attitude.
Since then, up until about a year and a half ago, I haven't really considered myself as 'having Crohn's' because I felt the label was too constricting. Rather, I would describe myself as having food sensitivities, a sensitive gut sometimes but most often not really have it in the forefront of my thinking.
I followed a range of self care practices including yoga/meditation, avoidance of gluten and dairy and eating organic foods as much as possible, and looking at any stresses and family issues to understand myself better. ( The gluten free and organic) came about after a 1977 visit to a pioneering Clinical Ecologist named Theron Randolph who had set up a wing of a hospital in Zion Illinois to work with a range of people with varying symptoms using fasting and an elimination diet)
Surprisingly, about a year and a half ago, I began to feel unwell again with flare-ups that reminded me of my early days. I dealt with them by working less, beginning to use more probiotics and a product called IBD relief.
Last week though, I was violently ill, and went into Emergency for a partial obstruction. I stayed there for 15 hours had a CATScan, and IV fluids and began to feel better.
I decided to ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist-I haven't really seen one for 35 years, and my experience prompted me to join the Forum as well.
I'm continuing my alternatives and am warily open to possibilities from mainstream medicine that could complement what I now do
Definetly have a good nosy around as there will be plenty of info here along with lots of support. Will keep fingers crossed that you can see a GI soon, please keep us updated on how you are getting on.
