i would have to say that the top question i receive is, “what is going on with your guts?”
to be completely honest, i have avoided answering this because i am so, so frustrated with my body not functioning properly. i hate to think about it let alone blog about it. but today, i am blogging about it. this is going to be long and wordy.
if you are just joining us, let me give you a rundown. i have a lazy colon and the smooth muscle nerve endings in my insides don’t function properly. i have severe abdominal pain and bloating on a near daily basis. i poop rarely. it’s my blog, i can talk about poop. so, after thousands of dollars and several tests… there is no real conclusion or diagnosis for my situation. the doctors just wanna remove my colon. i really don’t want to let them. i have had my colon for awhile.. 29 years and 5 months to be exact. i am somewhat attached to it.
if you want more of a back story than that, you can read this post or watch this video or read this post. careful with that last link. there are some not so awesome photos of my bloat sitch. warned ya.
last time i posted about my issues was back in march. i tried a really dumb 7 day cleanse called zrii.. it did nothing. i went to a naturopath with a groupon and she did a little bit of acupuncture and gave me some suggestions but we didn’t really click. don’t get me wrong, i think the advice she gave was great, but i wasn’t really confident that she could help me, so i didn’t go back. i went to a colon specialist and had a motility test, which ruled out pelvic floor dysfunction–which i was kind of hoping it was because a blog friend had this condition and used biofeedback and is completely better now. darn it, i hate being a mystery.
so, i left off last march. the colon specialist wants me to get a couple more medical tests–a defecogram and a sitz marker test–both of which will cost me quite a bit of money even with my insurance. the reason i have shied away from getting the tests just yet is because the doc told me that, depending on the outcome of the tests, i’d either need to get my colon partially or completely removed OR i would have to take prescription medication for time and all eternity. neither option seem very swell. those are both last resort situations for me.
ever since april i have just dealt with my dumb guts. i will say that eliminating the majority of dairy has seemed to help. i don’t know why, because it’s a muscular dysfunction (as far as i know), but i think that maybe the lack of dairy causes less bloating and build up in my intestines which then leads to less work my dysfunctional colon has to do which THEN leads to less pain. maybe. i dunno. i am no expert, but those are my thoughts. i quit cottage cheese, cow’s milk, whey protein, and the majority of dairy… but i haven’t quit other cheeses, ice cream, or the (very) occasional greek yogurt. i can’t say that this has eliminated my pain and problems, but it seems like they are a little less severe. i did try whey protein powder again a couple months ago and it gave me a pretty bad stomach ache, so i decided to stick to my plant fusion protein powder rather than the whey. i miss cottage cheese like CRAZY!!!! but i tried it again awhile ago and it caused added pain and bloating, so i just don’t eat it. it sucks.. i love cottage cheese! but i don’t love added pain.
anyway… let’s talk about today. or yesterday, i guess. yesterday my boss asked me how my colon/stomach/gut situation was, and i told him it was the same as usual. still painful, still bloated, still a mystery. he insisted i go to dr. ding. he didn’t really tell me what type of doctor he was, but he told me he would use natural medicine and fix me. he said he trusts dr. ding with his life! i trust my boss–a lot. he is one of the most trustworthy people i know and whenever i need a doctor referral he is the person i ask. i don’t know why i didn’t ask him about a natural doctor referral before–it never occurred to me. i am glad he threw the suggestion out there yesterday.
SO.. today, i went to see dr. ding. and i loved him. he was knowledgeable, professional, courteous, and helpful. i paid $55 for a consultation and acupuncture session, which i believe is very affordable and fair. i had looked into naturopathy and herbal medicine before and one session was around $250! can’t hack that. i was pleasantly surprised at the fair price for the two and a half hours i was at his office today.
i actually just thought i was paying for a consultation, not an acupuncture session, so when he took me into the acupuncture room and told me to hop on the bed i was caught off guard. i figured i had nothing to lose, though, so i hopped up and got poked in ten million places. okay, not ten million, only about 25. there were needles in my ears, the top of my head, my abdominal region, my shins, my ankles, my arms, and my wrists. i looked like a porcupine!
this acupuncture session was way different than the one i had last march. these needles didn’t even feel like anything going into my skin. dr. ding explained everything as he poked and punctured my body. he had a LOT to say and he talks really fast.. so i felt a little overwhelmed with the information, but it all definitely made a lot of sense.
after sticking me all over the place, he shined some heat lamps on my porcupiney body, turned off the lights, and told me to take a mental break for the next 45 minutes. i was actually quite surprised at this because i wasn’t expecting it. it was definitely nice to just lay there, but i have to say it was a little hard for me to shut my brain off and relax. i got a tad antsy as time went by, but the 45 minutes was eventually over and dr. ding came back in, removed the needles, and we met back in his office.
he’d explained many things to me regarding how to treat my issues with acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine, which has been around for four thousand years. here is some more info about the medicine he prescribed to me.
i am taking three pills–one for constipation, one for bloating, and one for kidney function (aside from my gut problems, i also get chronic urinary tract infections.. i know, i fail at life.)
i made another acupuncture appointment for next tuesday. in the meantime, i am to take the prescribed herbs as well as follow a few guidelines:
- eliminate dairy completely (ugh)
- avoid coffee (gah!) and soda (no big deal)
- avoid extremely cold food and drinks
- avoid super spicy foods
- practice the “four commandments” each day
the four commandments can be found here (in great detail) but in a nutshell they are:
- perform relaxed deep breathing (six breaths every two hours.) the logic behind this is “running water is never stale”, and deep breathing can maximize all channels of the body and mind so detoxification and received nourishment will occur.
- eliminate negative thoughts and focus on creating positive chemical production of the brain which then transfers to energizing body cells to help us heal. (he explains it better if you click that link, i just don’t want to plagiarize.. ha)
- a mini tune up: run warm water along your spinal cord to stimulate more chi (body energy.)
- grounding exercise: soak feet in warm epsom salt water for 15-30 minutes to generate downward energy flow.
i know many people are against this type of healing and medicine or think it is BS, but i want to give it a shot. if it works (or, i should say WHEN it works!) then it is a whole hell of a lot better than removing my colon. that’s so… permanent. and may not even fix the situation. no thanks.
i know this has been word-heavy, but i also know several of you were wondering what was up with my guts. now you know. i will try not to be so flaky on the updates.. promise.
penny and randy say hi!
okay, just kidding, randy doesn’t say hi. he’s fast asleep… bored from my rambles ;)
thanks for reading!
Qs~
1. have you tried acupuncture? if so, what for? if not, would you?
2. what are your thoughts on eastern medicine vs. western medicine?
xo. janetha g.
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Chinese medicine and acupuncture really does solve problems that western medicine cant solve, I had experience before. the key is to find a good doctor. hope your guts problem gets solved this time!
I actually had acupuncture done by a chinese medicine practitioner for the first time last week! It was amazing. I suffer from a lot of bloating and abdominal pain too – due to food intolerances though. But the reason I went was for an alternative to anti-depressants (which are giving me terrible side effects). She seemed quite confident that she would help me out with both problems. A lot of people I have spoken to get skeptical real quick when I mention stuff about blocked chakras etc, but if western medicine isn’t helping I don’t see any harm in being open minded and trying something different.
This is really great to hear. Do you mind keeping me posted on how it does for your depression? I have someone who is looking for natural remedies for depression and I’d love to have an insider’s opinion.
Yeah, I definitely will :)
Thank you!
Both my dad and I went to an acupuncturist who also stuck 293575935493 needles into our bodies and left us with the warm light. Dad really felt a benefit. I went for my shoulder pain, which we later found out was a bunch of torn ligaments which obviously couldn’t be fixed by acupuncture. But I NEVER failed to sleep during the 45 minute rest sessions- it was so restorative, so i definitely benefited as well. FIngers, toes, paws crossed this solves your problems!
I was kind of afraid to fall asleep! Maybe I will next time…
Ps I can’t believe (well yes I can) that a doc would want to cut out ur colon without first having u do an elimination diet. I kno u don’t want to but if u gave up EVERYTHING except meat/seafood , non starchy veg & fats for a month then add back in one thing at a time. The big ones to cut: sugar, grains of all kinds, dairy, nuts/seeds, legumes and yes even some fruit- just for a month. Then u will kno any dietary culprits. I must say that since doing low carb/primal I ONLY get bloated now when I have certain protein powders and toooo many veggies especially raw. For what it’s worth with 3568097532 people telling u what cured them.
Lol I love you. I agree. I need to do a bare bones elimination diet. You are the best in the east and the west. Making you the best overall :)
I think the more you can stay away from pharmaceuticals, the better off you are. I have never heard anything bad about acupuncture. Sounds like the fit is good and his message sounds spot on.
Look up night shades. I have been reading about them lately because I developed heartburn out of the blue and my massage therapist mentioned that night shades are a cause of inflammation which can trigger all sorts of things. Yikes! Nightshades are like my basic food group, but ill try anything so I don’t have to give money to the pharma.
Good luck and breathe happy and grateful for what you have.
I love your blog.
Alayne, I appreciate your comment so much. Thanks for mentioning nighshades, I had never heard of the term before. Off to Google it NOW. Also thank you for reminding me to be grateful for what I have and for the kind words about my blog. It means a lot! xoxo
I hope this works for you, lady!
I’ve been numeroussss times. I went as PT after having both miniscus (miniscuses?) removed and it def helped. I also went for a summer after I was diagnosed with slight scoliosis. My rib pops out off place after most exercising, so I had acupuncture + chiropractic alignment. Oh man, I use to feel amazing after that! I haven’t been in years!
Hope this helps for you. I can’t imagine how frustrating this must be!
You have had quite the runin with injury and medical stuff! I am glad it worked for you! I love your face.
I used to suffer from the worst migraines for years (so bad I always had to carry the emergency shot) and absolutely nothing helped, until I tried acupuncture. I actually had it done my the acupuncture therapist who worked on my horse at the time (figured, if it helped with the horse, should help with me) and wasn’t very convinced. However, six month later I was migraine free and have been since (about 15 years). So yes, I am a fan, and also proof that it works even if you don’t believe 100% in it…
I love that you used the logic about it working for your horse. That warms my heart! I am so glad to hear it worked. My good friend gets BAD migraines and doesn’t know why. I will mention this to her!
IF (and I’m not saying when, you know) it ever came to removing your colon, did they say whether or not you would have an ileostomy or a j pouch? I only ask because I have an ileostomy (due to Crohn’s disease) and I love it. I really didn’t realize how much pain I was in before surgery because it had become so normal after 4 years. I really had to limit what I could eat before surgery and now I can eat anything! I know it’s best to avoid surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary but it really improved my quality of life.
I get acupuncture too and while I’m not totally sure it does anything, I had my biggest flare up to date during the couple of months that I didn’t go so I’m sticking with it!
We didn’t get that far into the discussion, but I appreciate this info because it’s comforting to know! Was the surgery bad? And the recovery? So happy you are feeling 100% now!
Thanks! The surgery was rough, not gonna lie. I was doing pretty poorly going into though and they weren’t quite sure what to expect so it had to be open abdominal and from what I understand laprascopic is a much easier/faster recovery. I was in the hospital about 10 days and then about a month after I got home I felt fairly normal… actually a lot better than my previous normal!
I know some people are horrified at the idea of having an ileostomy bag but it’s actually pretty awesome. I feel like my waste elimination system is way classier than other people because I don’t use my butt. Also my ileostomy is only temporary (I’ve had it since june, reversal surgery probably next month) so it’s been easy to deal with!
Sounds very interesting. I am especially interested in the four commandments (not so much interested in giving up coffee!!!) :) But we do what we have to, right?
Good for you, why not try it- nothing to lose. I think there are good and bad things about eastern AND (especially)Western medicine, the latter of which seems a lot more invasive at times and a lot more about alleviating symptoms than finding the root of the problem that is causing the symptoms. GOOD LUCK. Will be anxious to hear how it goes.
Thanks, Amy! Hope you are having a great week!
Hooray! Janetha, I’m so happy your boss recommended Dr. Ding, that you clicked with him, and that you’re giving Eastern medicine a chance.
1) I’ve never had (but am completely open to) acupuncture.
2) I am Reiki master Practitioner/Teacher. Reiki is Eastern “medicine.” It works with the Ki (Chi).
What I learned over the course of my certification, and since I’ve been practicing, is Eastern medicines address the root of the issue at hand, and that is the major difference between it and Western medicine which, by and large, treats symptoms (unless, like a commenter mentioned above, you’re talking torn ligaments, or broken bones and the like).
Be patient and persistent with this course of treatment, grasshopper. ;-) My hope for you is that it will be as effective as I’ve witnessed Reiki to be with my clients. :-)
Thank you for your input, Ellen! So true.. western med wants to cover the problem with drugs all too often rather than tackling the root of the problem. Great point! xoxo
Glad to hear it went well
Have you tried paleo yet? I have similar symptoms: slow colon, lots of bloating/pain. I finally went paleo and eliminated all grains and dairy and my pain and bloating went away!!! The constipation still exists somewhat – I used to take miralax everyday so now I take it every other day which I consider a vast improvement.
Good luck!!
Miralax does nothing for me, unfortunately. I haven’t tried a paleo diet, I don’t plan to only because I don’t agree with some of it.. but we will see what the doc has me do.
OH but I am so glad you have found relief! :)
I have the same stomach issues and I started taking probiotics from GNC and it has really helped. acupuncture sounds like a great way to go too, keep us posted!
I tried a few different brands of probiotics but nothing seemed to help a great deal. I also don’t think they hurt, though! Glad they have helped your tum!
i have done acupuncture. I actually really enjoyed it. It made me relax, or try to. I had it done on my stomach. I hope it works for you. Don’t worry, i’ll drink your coffee for you for now.
;-)
Holding you to it :)
Have you considered giving up gluten? I have had the same kind of gut issues as you have, but back in September I gave up dairy and gluten because I had read it could be helpful with anxiety problems (which I also have in spades, but the reason I point that out is because I did *not* give those things up hoping it would help my gut issues at all!) and my gut issues were, quite to my surprise, almost totally cleared up as a result (helped tremendously with the anxiety too, in case you were curious). I guarantee you I don’t have celiac and would test negative for it, which I think many people do that still may be suffering from gluten sensitivity.
I think nontraditional medicine can absolutely help where western medicine fails. My thinking is that it never hurts to try, right?
I haven’t tried going gluten free (yet) but I am open to it. Right now I am going to try the dairy free thing and see where it takes me. I am glad to hear it has helped you! Yeah, I got tested for celiac and it was negative, but that doesn’t rule out a sensitivity, like you said!
Even though I have never done it, I hear wonders about acupuncture. Always thinking about you and praying you feel relief!
Thanks, love! I know you’ve been through it ALL and I appreciate your support!
I hope this works for you. My mom has gone to an acupuncturist for a while and swears that it helps her.
Oh girl, I feel for you. Those pictures of your belly just looked like you were in so much pain/discomfort. I know exactly what you mean about working hard with clean eating and exercise, only to have a big, bloated belly full of air. I have digestive issues myself, but I think mine are more hormonal and have been regulated somewhat by hormonal birth control (I guess hormones determine how much water goes into your colon, and when they’re off, things can get dry and slow).
I love acupuncture and go whenever I can. I have a friend who swears a Chinese medicine practitioner saved his life when he was suffering from fibromyalgia. Good luck– it sounds like you are on a hopeful track here.
That is crazy about the hormones and colon relation! Thanks for sharing. I am glad you have been able to regulate your issues! xoxo
1. I’ve had acupuncture for migraines and it was so helpful! Decreases in both frequency and severity- yay!! I also found my time in the acupuncture room to be some of the deepest rest I’ve ever had.
2. I’m a big fan of when Eastern and Western medicine work together. I even took a certification course in Holistic Healthcare at a local college. I find myself using holistic techniques both at home and in my job.
Best of luck!
Agreed–I think it’s best when you can find a good balance using all medical methods available!
I also notice a huge correlation to certain dairy intake and bloating and pain. I recently started buying Chobani and eating it as a snack at work, a few hours later, my stomach would be hugely bloated and painful :( I get the same effect with all other dairy, although not as severe.
I hope this works for you, I cant imagine being in pain every day and bloated.
So they want to take your colon and give you a colostomy? Or just reroute your guts so you dont have an ostomy?
I would have to have the other tests suggested to find out for sure. I heard the resolutions to the outcome of the tests and was scared to death! So.. who knows.. I will cross that bridge if and when I come to it. Isn’t it so weird that some dairy hurts and others don’t? I found that cottage cheese is the worst, but something like cheddar cheese isn’t as bad!
I am starting to realize that non traidition healthcare is the way to go. Western medicine is so shut off and only want to complete tests. I actually have a friend who is having gut issues, she went gluten free, which helped, but the thing that helped her the most was to do the GAPS diet. It’s a little hard, but it worked for them. Something you could read into at least. But I hope this works for you!
I haven’t heard of it! I have heard of FODMAPs but not GAPS. I will look into it. Thanks, Eden! xoxo
My best friend’s mom used to travel into NYC for acupuncture sessions – she swears by them! She used to get chronic migraines all the time. After these sessions she has said her migraines have been virtually eliminated! Personally, I don’t really have any ailments that would require acupuncture, but I do believe that it works.
I’m really excited for you, J. This sounds promising and, what’s more, you sound very enthusiastic about it. That can be a big help, in and of itself. Sending lots of good wishes to you and your gut! <3
Thanks, Tamara! I really think attitude has a lot to do with things.. more than we often realize! xo
I couldn’t agree more with you about that!! xox
Janetha, I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade (and I truly honestly hope this treatment brings you some relief, because you know I know this sucks), but the page you linked to with more info about your medication? It doesn’t really tell you anything. It doesn’t say precisely what’s in it, says statistics have shown it’s worked but doesn’t cite any published studies, and it’s also just a really unprofessional looking site, typos everywhere. These are all things that send up red flags for me. Again, disclaimer: I’ve never tried Eastern medicine and it’s obviously worked out great for many of you. My comment isn’t so much about that as about the importance of evaluating and researching courses of treatment before you start them. TL;DR version: look before you leap. Wishing you all the best!
Thanks for the concern, Sarah! I know his website isn’t exactly top notch and his English is less than stellar, but I assure you he knows his stuff and his products are high quality with several certifications. I was a little standoffish going off the website alone, but once I met Dr. Ding, his staff, and saw his office.. I immediately felt comfortable with the situation. Thank you, though! I appreciate your comment :)
You know what? If you are having this much discomfort, why not try it, ya know? It beats an extensive surgery! I hope this helps with your stomach and intestinal issues. I feel SO much better now that I don’t eat dairy. I am lactose intolerant, but I wasn’t always and now I am so much more regular that I don’t eat it! But if I ever get constipated (tmi?) I can just have a few bites of cottage cheese and it’s taken care of. ha!
p.s. I REALLY miss cottage cheese too :(
Never TMI over here, my love. Haha. Isn’t it weird how all of a sudden our bodies decide they don’t want us to eat something any more?! IT SUCKS.
haha k good :) Yes! It’s so flippin annoying! Sometimes it’s worth it to just say f it and eat it anyway. ha
Edit to my previous comment. I can see from the photo that the ingredients for the meds are listed on the bottle, so disregard that part of my post!
I 110% support this!!!!! I totally believe that this form of ‘medicine’ is so much better than any pill or surgery. I’m sending good vibes your way lady!
Thanks, Leila! P.S. love your name
I am fascinated with Chinese medicine, and completely believe it works if the practitioner know his or her stuff (sounds like Ding does!) Hope you start feeling better, Janetha :)
Wow, sorry for all of your colon troubles. My cat had a bad colon & couldn’t poop, so we removed part of it, then it happened again & we had to have another surgery to have it completely removed. It sucks, but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do. Hopefully these new treatments will work for you though. You’re a brave girl w/the acupuncture! I’d be scared to death – I hate needles (everything but tattoo needles)! Hope you start feeling better!! :)
I get acupuncure every three weeks for my sinus/allergy issues. I’ve been doing it for 5 years. I LOVE IT. It is the only thing that has ever worked for me. No over the counter stuff has ever made a difference, so I was surprised that this actually works. I hope it makes a difference for you!
You are really luck to find someone so resonably priced. I went to one who was 110 a visit. I enjoyed the experience but could not afford that on a weekly basis. Please keep us posted on if you feel any changed from this.
It doesn’t matter what other people think about it – if you feel comfortable, it’s not likely to hurt you and people don’t try to rip you off, it’s worth a try. The doc sounds good to me. I haven’t tried acupuncture or something similar yet. Every time it would’ve been an option, there was a money issue. I’d definitely try it though. Hope this finally works out for you!
I am so glad you had such a pleasant experience! The stuff you’re dealing with can be scary & unknown, so it’s great you found such a fab doctor.
I totally believe in natural remedies. I use 100% pure essential oils and I’ve not used a drug of any kind in over 2 years. I am healthier than I’ve ever been (my blood tests prove it too), and I have so much energy & stamina. It’s amazing! So more power to ya, girl! xo
Yup…love acupuncture. I had extreme plantar fascitis when I was dancing and docs tried everything….cortisone, pain pills, boot etc. I started seeing an acupuncturist and after each session I could actually walk without pain though it didn’t last so I went each week but I think it made me heal faster. Plus it gave me some peace of mind and helped me to relax and get through a miserable time.
That being said I think western and eastern should be complementary not exclusive especially if the problem is acute. For prevention though I’d do naturopathic first and foremost.
Hope it helps…either way what he prescribed is good for your overall health.
Dr. Ding…hee, hee…giggle, giggle…funny name…
haha i know, huh! xo love your face.
I recently started acupuncture for endometriosis. I don’t know if it is working (I don’t have many day-to-day symptoms), but I really love the relaxation part. I almost feel like it’s worth it for that alone. So often we talk about “taking time” or “de-stressing,” but I feel like I didn’t know the meaning of those words until I was forced to lay still for 45 minutes in the middle of the day. :)
Also, my acupuncturist takes my pulse at the beginning of each session. I don’t understand it, but one day I went in, and I had just had a horrible migraine the previous day. I didn’t mention this AT ALL to her, but after taking my pulse, she asked “Have you been having headaches?” CRAZY! I spent SO MUCH time at doctors for headaches/sinus issues when I was younger, but she stuck a few needles in me and I felt better! That really convinced me that this is something real. Hope it works for you!
i know, right?! it was so hard for me to unwind! i hope it helps you!
Happy to hear you found a doctor that you click with – that is sooo important. It is nice that all four “commandments” are so doable and cheap! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you!
I’ve been wondering how your gut was but figured you’d update us when you had something to share. I’ll be saying a little prayer and keeping my fingers crossed that you finally get some relief!
I wholeheartedly believe in the powers of western/alternative medicine. We started bringing our cats to a homeopathic vet 12 years ago because we had a kitten with brittle bone disease, and no one else had any idea how to treat her. That “kitten” just passed away last week. We are very, very sad about losing her but are also unspeakably grateful to our vet for helping us give her an enjoyable, relatively long life. Seriously, 12.5 years is an unthinkably long life for a cat with brittle bone disease. If anyone is interested, here is a thread I started on a forum several years back to try to find someone else with a cat with this condition:
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/5678/osteogenesis-imperfecta
Our other cats see this vet, too. Her treatments work. It’s obviously not a placebo effect–they’re cats!!! I hope Dr. Ding can work the same sort of miracle for you that my vet has worked for our cats.
Oh, I’m so glad that you’re getting some headway on this. It must have been incredibly encouraging to have Dr. Ding not only listen but feel confident that he can help (and in a noninvasive way!). I’ll be praying that it works out. I really believe that eastern and western medicine can coexist and they complement each other. I wish more “western” doctors were willing to study and use eastern medicine practices. I’ve had acupuncture done on my foot since I have chronic pain and it has really helped. It hasn’t made it go away but I’m typically pain free for about 6 months which is fantastic.
Here’s to a healthy gut! ;) Cheers!
I am so happy for you! Finding a doctor you click with is SO important and I believe its part of what helps us to heal. I am in FULL support of all healing modalities and am so interested in seeking out alternative care myself since this whole getting injured constantly thing stinks. Although probs not as much as your poop…situation. <–couldn't resist. ;)
xoxox
i’m about to get my license in acupuncture, and as an RN and experiencing both sides of the coin… i’d have to say i’ve seen some amazing results with patients and acupuncture, especially the TOUGH stuff to treat. its not just acu though, its a lifestyle and diet change, but it can be life changing, and it certainly IS for many. i can go on and on about it and i have very strong opinions about it. western medicine has its place for some things, but meds and surgery don’t have to be the first choice all the time..
I have so much to say on this topic but I’ll limit myself ;)
My husband is the only doctor I have. He’s a chiropractor and I cannot recommend (corrective) chiropractic care enough. Chiropractic looks to the cause of any ailment — by removing pressure from nerves. Simply put, if the right signal cannot make it’s way from the brain to the organ, it will malfunction. I have seen so many ‘mysterious’ ailments go away with chiropractic care. Chiropractic doesn’t cure anything — it just allows the body to function the way it was intended.
Agh! I’m so sorry to hear that you’re still struggling with this issue! I know how frustrating it can be–I have a dead thyroid that has caused major problems over the past two years. I hope Dr. Ding is the answer!
I believe that Eastern medicine can work. I actually look for veterinarians who incorporate Eastern principles into their practice. I feel like a lot of vets are too quick to prescribe pills or surgery for dogs, so I like an alternative approach. I guess I should consider this fact in light of my own health and not just my pets’!
I’m glad it was a positive visit and I hope it helps! While I know I don’t know what you are going through, I know how much it sucks to be bloated and feel like your insides are attacking. Fingers crossed.
I’m so glad you tried and loved your accupuncturist. It took me twice to find a Doctor who I really clicked with, but acupuncture has honestly changed my life. Not only is it helping a great deal with stomach issues (I just started working on these, mind you), it helped me get rid of my panic attacks (which I suffered from for years!), it also helped my hormones out, acne, a load of other stuff. I was a tad doubtful in the beginning, but after hearing all the information and actually following through with what the Doctor told me, I saw results after a few months. I know it’s not for everyone, because my Dad didn’t have the same results I did. However, it definitely is affective for others! I really hope this will help you find an answer and will help heal you!! I really hope the discomfort and pain clears up because no one deserves to be in constant pain like this!
Good for you!!! I’ve never tried acupuncture but did some hypnotherapy earlier in the year which helped with my IBS symptoms. Gotta do whatever works right :)
I faithfully go to acupuncture (going Friday) and I’m always like “it shouldn’t work it doesn’t make sense (and ps I go because I can’t go to the bathroom – so it works (for me)) and each time it works and blows my mind all over again)
Seriously, my worst nightmare. I wouldn’t be able to relax. I’m not sure that I would need it for anything though to be honest. Unless it cures fear of flying. Or maybe I’ll try a hypnotist… hmmm. Love your GUTS :!
First, I am SO sorry for everything you have gone through. My younger brother was diagnosed with UC and Crohn’s and had his colon removed and all of the reconstructive surgeries [3 in total]… Second, I was diagnosed with lupus and iron deficiency 3 years ago this fall and it took months for them to figure out what was truly wrong. Then I started having severe abdominal pain, debilitating- bloatiness, constipation, etc. all the lovely GI issues. After numerous tests and appointments and various diets they’ve ultimately said I have a slow digestive system [unsure why, maybe the lupus is slowing my organs?] and IBS. Phew, sorry for all of that BUT I can relate and am always interested in learning more about what things people have tried and had success or lack thereof with… Thinking of you!!!
I love this post! And I REALLY hope this doc helps you!
I totally relate with the gut issues! After all sorts of tests, the docs were convinced that I have a colon issue. I cut out all dairy as a last resort and almost 2 years later, my gut issues are few and very far between. I really really really hope that these changes and that doc provide the relief you’ve been waiting for!
Also- I love eastern medicine and hold it in a higher regard for prevention :) I tried acupuncture when I was 11 or so but it didn’t work at all. I think it was because my injuries were bone/cartilage/ligament stuff, but I have friends who swear by it
I LOVED this post. Thank you so much for opening up to the blog world. I totally believe in Eastern Medicine and I think that it treats the WHOLE person, not just one specific aspect. Do you have any suggestions on how to find a natural doctor other than trial and error?
Unfortunately, no :( I got lucky with a referral!
Lori and I have always enjoyed Eastern Medicine and ways of healing the body. I actually took a course in college on it, love it! Love acupuncture too, just wish I could afford to keep doing it.
Pumped for you. Hope you are feeling well soon. More than that, I hope you find something new that works. I’m going to copy some of those 4 commandments.
I’ve never had much luck with this kind of thing. Tried it all. I’m probably just missing something. You’ll have to teach me how to make it work.
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