Saturday, January 22, 2011

My journey with IBD

The only reason I would write about Inflammitory Bowel Disease is if someone out there is having symptoms to be your own advocate and get help.  My journey started probably longer then I realized anything was wrong.  But made me aware was when I needed gallbladder surgery at 39 yrs old that everything got worse.  I started getting sick and when I was finally checked for Celiac disease (Because it is so common in this family), that they found Colitis.  I am the only one I know of in the family who has it.  My father was the first Celiac patient in the Atlantic provinces.  But he almost died before they finally found out what it was.  So I knew coming from a special breed that things would be difficult.  The Doc that found it didn't specialize in this so I was sent to the proper doc that was, which I was less then happy with.  I decided to go to Halifax for a second opinion.  Which I was happy with.   With IBD you can go for long periods and be well, but when it decides to show up there is nothing you can do to stop it.  But ride out the storm, of not being able to eat anything without a reaction.  You feel like you have the flu, your joints hurt.  Keeping food in a challenging.  I had enough at one point when we got back from Florida, it started and went for a year!  So i Decided to go to a Holistic Dr. in Bedford.  I was at the end of my rope at that point.  The thing with this disease, when you are in a flare you can't eat any raw fruit or vegs without a bad reaction.  Everything healthy seems to go against you.  Anyway I seen the Holistic doctor until my family became worried my weight had dropped off too much and was having other symptoms so I decided to stop.  And I went  on to be symptom free for 3 years!  I thought I had this thing beat, silly me!  I have had a couple eposides like when my older brother passed away.  But all was good, then after everything I have had to endure this fall, on Christmas day it started.  And you know right away when everything you eat or drink sets your bowel off and off you go.  And anyone who has this knows it isn't as simple as that.  There is alot that goes alone with it.  It feels like one bomb on my head after another and they say that doesn't set off this stuff but it sure doesn't help.  My family doc dropped out of practise so now I have no one to look after me.  I have no where to turn.  But am by no means a quitter, so I go about my business everyday, not letting this or anything else I suffer hold me down.  And I feel so much better for it.  Like they say to someone like me  "But you don't look sick"  ha, if they only knew...But I have great faith that everything will work out for my good.  And never feel sorry for yourself, just fight the good fight.
Happy Me, and I really am.  Meds may make you a little chunky, but who cares, I love being alive.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Winter time in the Maritimes

My son Tyler and our dog Chance.  I call him Chance because we gave him a second chance at life when he was a puppy.  We took him instead  of him being sent to the SPCA.  And have not regretted a moment of it.  He is the best friend to all of us.

He loves his new boots he got for Christmas.  He is 10 now and has minded the cold on his feet for quite some time.

This is a trail off of the other piece of land we own, that we want to build and retire on someday.

We haven't been on this walk in a while and this is the after effect from the wind storm.  This use to be a road.

If you come to Nova Scotia, this is the site you will never forget.  Blomidon.

Chancie and I are enjoying our day out.

I love taking pictures.  This one was on a drive, when I see something I just have to stop and get out.

This owl has been here to visit a couple times since Christmas.  It is the first time I got to see one up close.

He let me get right under him.

My daughter Kim, with her nephew Cole, my grandson.  They love their auntie.

Kim with her two nephews.

I am not a winter person, but this year it feels different.  The temperatures aren't bad.  The snow is full of picture opportunities.  Gotta love it.

My husband Peter and our grandson Cole, who love the outdoors like his grandpa.

The snow is deep here, grampie picks up Cole and sits him in and then the dog and they just sit there.

My two daughters, Jennifer and Kimberley and my grandson Cole.

The snowman Kim and Morgan built while we were on our walk.

They like coming to grammies and grampies, always a good time.  I hope it will always be like that.