How Do You Get Through The Pain

[Newtoitall]

This is really a question for those who don't yet have it all figured out.

When you have D or C or just bad gas pain or something like that, what get's you through it?

So how do you cope with these (for some commonplace) pains, what helps you not totally break down at the idea that you will always have to face these?

what about those of you that have to work?? How to you beat just the fear of D at work or something?

[love2travel]

This is really a question for those who don't yet have it all figured out.

When you have D or C or just bad gas pain or something like that, what get's you through it?

So how do you cope with these (for some commonplace) pains, what helps you not totally break down at the idea that you will always have to face these?

what about those of you that have to work?? How to you beat just the fear of D at work or something?

Having had intense and debilitating chronic pain for nearly four years (herniated discs, fibromyalgia and so on) I have found it difficult. So many things are based on how my back is doing at that moment. We have had to cancel so many plans due to constant pain. I literally cannot sit longer than 15 minutes and standing long is very difficult. Even when I am teaching cooking classes I excuse myself to lie down for a few minutes. I must lie down to watch TV and eat often (even at restaurants I often stand). Many surgeons, etc. have told me this is how it will be for the rest of my life. As I also have degenerative disc disease it can even get worse in the future. There may not be much the medical professionals can do about it but there are things I can do about it!

For the first nearly three years I had fear avoidance which means you fear what COULD happen. It may, it may not. That would prevent me from doing much at all. The pain literally kept me in bed for most of three years. However, I am coping with it far better now. No, the pain has not decreased (narcotics, painkillers, NSAIDs and all that don't touch it) but I do things I love regardless. Sure, I may pay for it but I refused to allow myself slip into depression. My entire attitude and outlook has changed in the last year and that is a HUGE part of healing. I go ahead and plan things and follow through. For example, I find it almost impossible to sit in church so I only went occasionally. Now I get up and go without worrying about it. Sure, I must get up and walk around in the back but I just do it. I also refuse to let my pain define me and control me. I have found joy in doing selfless things. For ages I was thinking mostly of me. Not healthy. Distractions really help, too. I have tons of hobbies and interests. Now when my pain becomes extra bad rather than lying down and wallowing in self pity I go for a walk and walk as long as I am able. I CHOOSE to conquer my pain. I also do not allow myself to think about tomorrow or the day after or the day after that and focus on doing things at this moment. Sometimes I treat myself to Amazon book orders or gorgeous food ingredients. My husband whisks me away to the city for the weekend to do major food shopping regularly.

So, I can honestly say that even though I have unbelievable pain I do experience happiness and true joy. I feel wiser and smarter because I have been forced to step back and evaluate my life. For me the biggest part of that is God. He gives me the perfect amount of strength every single morning to get through each day.

[Newtoitall]

That's pretty intense, certainly inspiring that you don't let it get you down, the idea of going out is pretty destroyed for me at the moment, still months after all this, still amazes me how much food plays a roll in society lol, now I even notice half the tv shows I've watched involve them at a bar or restaurant =p

while different types of pain, that element of it may not go away..was the big one, and if you can beat that, that gives me some hope.

so thank you for the inspiring story =)

believing in god seems to do wondrous things for people, I love that you don't let the anger grip you, I have trouble with the god idea, how can so many suffer so much y'know but I'm not going after religion, it's good to have something more in your life.

[Marilyn R]

This is really a question for those who don't yet have it all figured out.

When you have D or C or just bad gas pain or something like that, what get's you through it?

So how do you cope with these (for some commonplace) pains, what helps you not totally break down at the idea that you will always have to face these?

what about those of you that have to work?? How to you beat just the fear of D at work or something?

The first thing is hope. Hope that you will figure out what it is that is upsetting your system so you can avoid it in the future. Hope and confidence that you will feel crummy for a couple of days to a week, but that you will feel better.

Perspective. Even my worse days are better than my best days before.

Preparedness. Cooking or shopping for the week ahead so that I have safe food stocked up to pack lunches and make meals.

OTC Drugs and a couple of prescriptions. Name brand Pepto Bismo, Excedrin Extra Strength, a few vitamins, Zyrtec. RX: Anti-anxiety, anti-nausea. I haven't had to use them in awhile.

Need. I must keep my job, so I must go. totally get the anxiety associated with D, but haven't had uncontrolled D since before going gluten-free, and can sprint to the bathroom. I know an RN who had leaky gut and she still showed up to work (with a bag full of clean clothes to change into).

It really sucks sometimes. But I guess we're stronger...and getting even stronger!

I always try to focus on the positive. Yes it's a disease, but it isn't MS or Lou Gehrig's or cancer. It's something we can control by paying really good attention to what we stick in our mouth.

[txplowgirl]

I have been in pain since I was 8 years old that I can remember. My mother says she can remember when I was at least 6 of me waking up in the middle of the night crying because my legs and back hurt. I hurt 24/7 and I had a father who wouldn't or didn't beleve me, telling me I was lazy, all in my head, etc. I have learned to live with it. Dosen't mean I like it, and yes there are days that it does wear on me but my father taught me to put one foot in front of the other and just keep moving. It wasn't until I was 45 I found out that I had Fibro, rheumatoid arthritis and gluten. In a way i'm glad my father had passed on because there would be no way he would have believed it. He came from the old school that if you weren't bleeding like a stuck hog or had a limb facing the opposite direction there wasn't anything wrong with you.

I drive a big truck and there are days I just want to pull over and go to sleep but I keep moving, I have been known to cry because of the pain going down the road. So if you see a lady truck driver crying while she's driving, that's probably me. lol

I love going out in the woods and being by myself, camping, gold prospecting, growing herbs and roses when I can be home.

If I let this get me down I would never do anything. I believe that this is my living hell and that the good lord has a place for me with no pain when he's ready for me. That's what gets me through this life. I take evry day as it comes and try to enjoy it the best I can.

[Newtoitall]

I have been in pain since I was 8 years old that I can remember. My mother says she can remember when I was at least 6 of me waking up in the middle of the night crying because my legs and back hurt. I hurt 24/7 and I had a father who wouldn't or didn't beleve me, telling me I was lazy, all in my head, etc. I have learned to live with it. Dosen't mean I like it, and yes there are days that it does wear on me but my father taught me to put one foot in front of the other and just keep moving. It wasn't until I was 45 I found out that I had Fibro, rheumatoid arthritis and gluten. In a way i'm glad my father had passed on because there would be no way he would have believed it. He came from the old school that if you weren't bleeding like a stuck hog or had a limb facing the opposite direction there wasn't anything wrong with you.

I drive a big truck and there are days I just want to pull over and go to sleep but I keep moving, I have been known to cry because of the pain going down the road. So if you see a lady truck driver crying while she's driving, that's probably me. lol

I love going out in the woods and being by myself, camping, gold prospecting, growing herbs and roses when I can be home.

If I let this get me down I would never do anything. I believe that this is my living hell and that the good lord has a place for me with no pain when he's ready for me. That's what gets me through this life. I take evry day as it comes and try to enjoy it the best I can.

lol gold prospecting, full of surprises aren't you xD hmm the idea of finding a nugget of solid money would certainly take away any negative thoughts for a while =D