To Chrissy

[Guest guest]

Hi there Chrissy,

I hope you are having a great day with those oysters and

marshmallows! After some good times again, I'm having a pretty bad

day with really bad gassy-type cramps. It may be because I tried to

reintroduce gluten again over the last three days. (You may remember

that I'm still on my old gluten-free diet from the 1988 coeliac

diagnosis.)

Chrissy, how graphically you express wht illness seems to do in

changing the basic person! But you know, with the same gusto and

determination that you brought to everything else, you will find

your way to cope with this...somehow. I forget now where I once read

about acceptance of illness being something akin to coming to terms

with a bereavement. There are several different different stages

(eg. denial, anger, grieving etc.) but, in the end, one has to come

to terms with it. I know you'll do that really well one day. I don't

know how because I don't know what the final physical consequences

of this condition will be for you but I can't imagine you not doing

so. I may be talking rubbish; I don't know you after all, but I feel

that you have great strength. I hope saying that doesn't place more

stress on you. You will need support, as we all do, but I think

you'll make it. You haven't reached the end of the line yet in terms

of medical advice. Please hang on in there. I know it's hard. It's

easier for me because I'm older, I don't have young children and,

although I don't want to reire just yet, even if I do, it will only

be one year earlier than planned anyway. I'm trying to imagine how

you must feel, Chrissy and I'm hoping you find the strength to carry

on hoping and fighting.

BTW, of course you MUST NOT do too much at work etc. but like you, I

managed to continue somehow and in many ways, it helped me. It does

give an important focus if you enjoy your work and can still do it.

However, from the point of view of convincing your doc that things

need to be done, what do you think? Docs look at the overall

situation don't they? If someone is still working and functioning

apparently normally, isn't that one way they judge pain levels etc?

I think my own diagnosis was delayed because I was at

times........just about........able to continue working. Just a

thought.

Have a good fun weekend and be as well as possible. Let us know how

that next appointment goes. What day was it? Wednesday?

Good wishes,

Fliss