Nurse with IBD

Hi Mary Lee,

Starting with your diet and how what you eat makes you feel is great. But, since you aren't able to see a corollary between foods and your symptoms you might want to take a look at your stress levels.

I KNOW, first hand that stress isn't the cause of IBD, but I also know that stress can affect my symptoms and make them worse. You're a nurse, so I can only imagine that you are under some stress from your job, as well as the long hours you probably work, and the rest of your responsibilities in life. Do you have a way to cope with stress? To de-stress? Yoga, meditation, rhythmic breathing, a 20-minute walk, alone, per day? A half hour to read a favorite book or magazine?

Making time for ourselves seems like a luxury, I know, but it is so very important for keeping our lives balanced and this includes our body as well as our souls. In my 10 years of living well despite having both IBD and IBS I have learned, that for me, keeping a good balance between work and family and responsibility and time for myself is IMPERATIVE to staying healthy.

Schedule time in each day, even if it's only 10 minutes, just for YOU. And do what you want with that time. The gut is the root of all physical and emotional 'stuff' in our body. You may actually be a lot more stressed than you fully realize and you may be storing that stress in your gut.

Just start by giving yourself 10 minutes a day and see how you feel in a week.

Good luck,

Elizabeth  

Mary Lee,

I'm glad my suggestions helped. And, Bravo! for taking a day for yourself. It can be hard to do but so important - Yipppeee!

Thank you for regarding my book well enough to recommend it (you cold write a review on amazon.com if you were inclined). I have thought of writing a 2nd book but am not settled yet on which path to take it. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on what you would find helpful or would like to read more about - you could email me with your thoughts, if you'd like: ibdauthor@yahoo.com

I grew up in Racine, WI (and love Madison!) and know how brutally hot and humid those mid-west summers can be. I find that big weather shifts and extremes (either really hot or really cold) can adversely affect my gut as well. Just a thought. . .   

Keep up the good work!

You mentioned removing things off your diet - have you tried eliminating red meat?  We have done that with my daughter, 11 - who has ulcerative colitis, along with high-fat foods and milk, and it seems to really make a difference in diminshing the stomach pain.  When she does have pain, we give her Gas X (symethicone), the highest dose possible, and that usually takes care of it within 30 minutes.  Good luck!