By E. Brown

Have you noticed how common IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) is nowadays? There are commercials on television because it seems to have become so prevalent. Even studies show that youth are plagued by this more and more.

Why is this? Could it be stress?

I believe stress has a lot to do with it. In today’s fast-paced world the bar is set higher and there are many more expectations and outside influences placed upon us than in years past. Some people have learned to cope with stress while many have not. Many internalize anxiety and the result is IBS or worse.

If you’ve researched IBS and IBD you will see that diet, exercise, and rest can play into the illness as well. But, as I have found in my life, stress is the main instigator.

Current Conditions
So, this brings me to current conditions. This last month has seen few posts by me due to what I have called a “perfect storm” of illness. I had one thing after another that hit me and sent my body spiraling down.

It first started with stress-filled news regarding work. Not three weeks later I had a colonoscopy scheduled. If you have ever prepared for this procedure it will mess with your digestive system. A week after the colonoscopy I got a sinus infection. I figured I’d weather the infection and let it runs it’s course. Christmas week came and went with all the holiday busyness. The weekend before New Years I got some bug that ran through me over a 24-hour period. Whew, I was feeling rough. My body was talking to me and it was starting to feel worn.

As a result of my colonoscopy, my doctor prescribed a medicine I had never taken before. I took the medicine for a week and my world was turned upside-down. I felt achy all over and had a total loss of energy. I even had trouble concentrating.

I immediately stopped taking the medication.

It took about another week before it worked it was out of my system, but it seems the damage was done. My energy was still low and I had little to no appetite. I lost about 20 pounds.

After talking with the doctor I was prescribed a medication that I had taken in the past. That began the slow rebuild of my digestive system.

It is truly amazing how the human body is constructed and how much of an incredible system it is. You are never more aware of this than when one part is not working well and you see how it affects the whole. In my case I have been struck with colitis. I have an inflamed colon and it is slow going introducing foods back into my diet.

It has taken me two weeks to get to the point where I have felt good enough to get out of the house a couple times. I certainly have not come back as quickly as I hoped, but every day is better than the last. With this said, I should be getting back to blogging on a more regular basis.

I hope this has been helpful and informative for some of you. It has definitely been a learning process for me — one I hope I do not have to go through again any time soon.

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