there are times when I'm in so much pain I don't know what to do with myself.
sometimes during a bad bout the only relief I get is to break wind, which is somewhat embarassing!!!
I can relate to that - some people are unsympathetic and think you're suffering from SSA syndrome (Sadly Seeking Attention).
I was very reluctant to contribute to this thread that my friend Betty Boop started whilst I was in hospital, so, they'd get a lashing from my tongue if they implied that I was 'putting it on" or looking for some attention..... It's very real, at times the pain is unbearable, it's incurable and life changing.!
I can either talk about it in here or go off and post in the Crohn's forum, either way it makes not one iota of difference to me.
I can get up in the morning and feel fine, and then by dinnertime (for no obvious reason) have my guts hurting like hell - I'm blessed with a good understanding husband who has read leaflets and other articles I've printed off.
He's not just accepted that I have Crohn's, he's got involved too, especially with the food and cooking - poor booger is banging his head against a brick wall deciding what to cook that won't set it off or he's having to cook two completely different meals every night.
Stress doesn't help, but as I tell hubby, I'm stressed because I don't know what's causing the pain.
It's natural to feel that way and the 'not knowing' is a very difficult period to get through. Stress does indeed exacerbate many conditions. Laid in a hospital bed for weeks and looking at people who have had life saving major bowel surgery, it was easy to get depressed and it sent my mind into overdrive, fearing the worse.
I think once you have a name for whatever ails you, you can educate yourself beyond what the doctors are limited telling you, which is because of the consulting time restraints placed on appointments.
Read specific forums - not just articles (which in some cases are not helpful at all, in fact some are tripe and downright dangerous) - read posts by people who have IBS, and then you realise that you're just 'one of many', and whilst it's an individual thing, they pass on information that may help.
I left hospital with a two page leaflet that told me nothing that I didn't already know...and the 'after care' ? well there lies another tale.
One thing I'm going to do within the next few days, is buy a RADAR key which unlocks the disabled toilets - I cannot afford to stand in a queue for the ladies toilets when the constipation has stopped and the diarrhoea comes on.
Sanji x