Stayed home today. Needed a personal day. Bowel is doing just fine. Has been for weeks now. I am quite happy about that. Yes, I do have a day here and there that is not up to par, but I haven't had any major block ups for a while. Am still aiming for perfect health.

Still using the Chi Nei Tsang, Natren probiotics, and am trying to exercise everyday. This may not be a run and yoga, but a walk, as today, and yoga or just some stretching. And, of course our evening walk, the after-dinner-digestion-aid walk. That is also a time for us to catch up on our day with each other. It is a calming exercise.

I made a list for myself for today, didn't think I would get to it all. I did. And relaxed along the way. Cool.

Am going off to read now.
Posted by LST 8/8/2002 05:38:27 PM

That dichotomy thing pervades. Some people profess to want to help others, but then hurt them, either emotionally or otherwise, b/c the help was unasked for and inappropriate.

What works for you may not necessarily work for me. And vice versa. All we can each do, if we truly wish to come to someone else's aid, is give them knowledge from our own experience. Then let them decide if or how that information may be useful in their own quest.

I come up against this all the time - from both ends. Someone will express concern about my health issues, deciding they can help without asking if I feel a need for help, and their method or approach is grating to me = inappropriate for me. Or, another will ask for my help, and then want me to make their decisions for them. Neither of these scenarios is cool. They do not benefit anyone. It remains for me to stay centered and acknowledge what I see and feel, and move on.

Humans are funny beings. We each learn best from our experiences. We can incorporate other's knowledge and experiences into our decision-making, but that is a far second to actual experience and realization. And, we also incorporate our emotion, character, and beliefs into whatever decisions and actions we take.

The body is a depository for all experience. Our cellular structure is programmed to retain all experience, including emotional, physical, spiritual, etc. If you have gut issues, the locus of your cellular memory deposits itself in the gut. Same for back, shoulders, head, etc. One way to work through physical ailments is to be introspective = find out what is really bothering you and work through it.

That is one excellent way to heal psyche and physiology simultaneously. Dichotomy? Maybe. But my instinct tells me it is all one, the dichotomy has been learned via social structure. We might take a clue or two from other animal species...
Posted by LST 8/7/2002 08:34:25 AM

We have established a local intestinal health support group and one of the things I like about it is comparing experiences with intestinal health issues. Most of the people in the group have IBD in one form or another. There is one celiac person, and one other person who is IBS challenged, but doesn't understand that his sub-diagnosis is a form of IBS (yet - he'll figure it out b/c he is smart).

This group has been meeting once every 5-6 weeks for a few months now. Some people come and go, others are 'core'. It is interesting to me how a group like this flows. Mike and I are the organizers, and it happens at our house. Initially, we thought the group might grow and take on a larger self, but I realize now that unless we 'promote' the concept, we won't gain much visibility or acceptance.

Most people do not concern themselves with intestinal health. They don't want to, or the subject is taboo b/c of old cultural mores. We still come up against this in our own families: these are people who care about us and are interested in our well-being, but who do not want to know anything about the actual reality of our intestinal health issues. Some still cannot understand why we don't just take a pill to make it all go away...

I am quite intrigued with the dichotomy of being.
More later - gotta go to work now.
Posted by LST 8/6/2002 05:50:41 AM

We had a lovely weekend.
Just the two of us. No social obligations. No family obligations. No urgent errands. Nada. Niente.

But, it's Monday now.

Oh well.

I am thinking of changing my IBSLog attitude. The intro page says this is about my trials and tribulations with IBS. I think a more positive stance would be to say it is about my adventures and experiments with managing my IBS.

After all, I have moved from being constantly tribulated to being much more proactive and experimental. I have gained knowledge and insight through every adventure or experiment. I have also gained confidence that any or every setback is for a reason (altho I may not always know the reason right off).

I am healthier than ever - even when a setback occurs, it rarely compares with my old life of constant irritation.

It's set, then. This coming week - or as soon as I have time - I will make those changes to the blog.

I am doing quite well these days. I think since early June, I have been steady. A couple of blip days here and there, but no long run issues. I feel as though I have reached another level of healthful insight and stability. I am more centered. Even through all the lessons learned from dealing with my family, I remain centered. This is wonderful.

Credit goes to....ME.

HA!

I love the probiotics from Natren. I am quite happy moving my CHI through the Chi Nei Tsang belly massage. I gain insight from every uncomfortable family situation/encounter. And I am making much progress on my work. I hope to finish with my dissertation in the spring.

Mike made a fabulous dinner last night - broiled halibut with a fig compote. It was exquisite. The man can cook! See his blog for pics and full description. (link is to the left).

I am slowly getting used to testing my voice - speaking up as it were, instead of holding it all in.

More later.
Posted by LST 8/5/2002 08:47:10 AM