Some of my favorite links:
Mike (my husband)
There is only so much one can say about IBS in the space of a few days. Either you are in a good phase or a bad phase...
Further, there is only so much one can say about stress, unless in the midst of some heavy stress, in which case one might expound volumes (and really only say the same over and over).Fiber. I am learning how to manage fiber. One of the best ways to manage IBS is to take extra fiber. There are commercial brands (metamucil) and then there is the natural food store selection. I prefer the latter b/c it doesn't contain any extra stuff, like sugar or artificial flavors. Who cares about flavor? This stuff is ground up cardboard that you mix in water or juice and drink down really fast, chased with a tall glass of water. Flavor doesn't count.
Why is fiber so important to the IBS'er? I'll try to explain... since there is no actual functional diseaseit is hard to be precise about what happens. Here goes; the smooth muscle of the intestine either reacts constantly or doesn't react at all. Basically, peristaltic action is disassociated - it doesn't occur when it is supposed to, thus the owner either has diarrhea or constipation, or swings between the two, b/c timing of intestinal smooth muscle action is off kilter.
Fiber helps keep the muscle stabilised by keeping the intestinal walls from closing in on themselves - preventing spiraling muscle contraction. The fiber keeps the intestinal walls in a tension, e.g. stasis, so that the irritablebowel can achieve a state of normalcy.The thing about some of us IBS'ers is that fiber, if not managed correctly, can add to discomfort. The first time I tried it I took the amount recommended on the container. WRONG. Then I read up on how to manage IBS and realised that I needed to listen to my gut - and take the amount I felt comfortable taking.
That changed everything! I started out with a dose about 1/4 of the recommended amount. I stuck with that for a week or two, then added another 1/4 at another time of day. So, I take fiber twice a day.I admit, it takes some getting used to - but healthy and happy elimination is more than worth the inconvenience of scheduling a big gulp of fiber twice a day!
Now if only they could do something about the flavor....
posted by LST 9/22/2000 07:57:55 PM
18.9.00
Today had stress potential. I can think of three or four events that could have triggered fight or flight reactions. Didn't happen. Am I proud? NAH.I am very happy. Stayed centered. All day. Way cool.
Big goal = stay centered and self confident (result of staying centered) over the long term (lifetime?). Manage stress and the rest will take care of itself.Yoga has been very helpful for relieving stress. I try to do an hour a day. Routine includes many 'gut' stretches, some are like those side bends from high school gym, only more so. I also do some breathing exercises and finish with a rhythmic "om". The om promotes what I call my voice - that inner self fighting to speak up...
Running is another stress release. Great for stimulating brain as well as gut! I come up with solutions to problems, innovative ideas for my work, and new household projects! I love it.
Later.
posted by LST 9/18/2000 08:53:08 PM
17.9.00
I am learning (the hard way?) to manage stress. Actually, I am learning more about what my stress triggers are. They're everywhere! AAAAAGGGGHHHH....Most recent example is the trial I put myself through this weekend. I bought an OS (OS 9 if you must know) because the next OS is in public beta and while I wanted that one I realized that when it comes to things technogeek I am the world's laggard. My husband, on the other hand, is on the cutting edge. Thus I figured I was relatively safe - his confidence would just rub off...
Ha.
So I tried to install this OS Friday just a few minutes before we were supposed to go out (isn't it always like that?). I tried twice. My stomach began to tighten...
I called Apple service b/c the message I got was weird. Even the service guy hadn't heard it before. Here it is: "Problems were encountered reading the source file "big system morsels". Installation cannot continue." Did I say twice? Third time was a charm. Just about the time I loaded up, the service guy finds the answer. You'll laugh.
The problem was a speck of dust on the CD, and we figured the spinning finally threw it off. Why don't problem messages just say what they mean?Then we had to check for any other potential problems. None found. Only the knot in my tummy. UNFH!
Next day there were plenty. Some have been resolved, others have not.
The funny thing is that I am less and less inclined to stress about it.
Moral of story: Don't sweat the small stuff? NAHHH... Pay attention to how you react to the 'small stuff' b/c often it is that gut wrenching reaction that, piled upon a heap of others, is the one that throws you into a serious IBS bout.Until Friday I was having a very good week. Had a birthday on Tuesday. Have been 'regular' all week.
I am rambling.
One last tribute to stress. It abounds. I am truly amazed at the ability of the psyche, and gut, to react almost instantaneously to any variety of triggers. Triggers can be physical, emotional, or psychological. They can be so ingrained it is hard to extract them and manage them. Maybe I should start cataloging stress triggers. Hmmmmm. Nope, too stressful.
I'll just write about 'em here.
So, as you may have guessed, technogeek stuff stresses me -- b/c I do not understand most of it, and b/c I still fear losing my data and files even though I back up. And because it is so time consuming to get everything back to working order!I'll write again soon.
posted by LST 9/17/2000 04:40:23 PM