Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Thank you so much for your words of comfort. You have no idea how much your support means to me, especially since I am not getting it from my friends and family right now. I consider this website a blessing, and I thank God I have you in my life right now. Otherwise, I think I would go crazy. You're right. Not many people understand what this is like.

My husband is coming around. Today, he called me and asked me to meet him for lunch. I thought I was going to die driving over to his office. I hugged the steering wheel because I could not sit back in the seat because of the pain in my back. When I told him this at lunch, he offered to trade cars with me, since his has the lumbar support in the seat and is much more comfortable than mine. He also said for me to make a list of chores that he needs to do and he will do them tonight.

That is another thing that is hard for me to accept---not being able to do housework. The physical therapist doesn't even want me doing laundry right now, because she doesn't want me bending over, like to get things out of the dryer. Last night, I tried to fix dinner, but I realized how many times I'd have to bend over (to get things out of the refrigerator and off the bottom cabinet shelf.) You just take these things for granted until you can't do them anymore.

But I am excited to say that today's physical therapy session was a lot less painful---and I made great progress. She is having me lie on my stomach and push up with my hands, arching my back and thus, strengthening the opposite muscles from the ones you use to bend over with. Monday, I was in tears and could barely do a few of them. Today, I started out at 30 percent mobility and by the end of the session, I could almost straighten my arms out when pushing up.

She swears this will take the pressure off that nerve and move the muscle that supports the discs. I hope she knows what she's doing. Only time will tell. I'm supposed to do these exercises every 2 hours, so I guess I will be on the floor tonight while watching American Idol!

Also, I called the doctor's office about the anti-inflammatory, Mobic, waking me up in the middle of the night with severe stomach pain. The nurse told me to stop it immediately, and after much discussion, we decided that I would start the Celebrex back. I took it for a little while this fall and it did help. I know it's gotten a lot of bad publicity lately because of the heart problems, but it doesn't cause stomach problems and that is what my mother and I have had problems with in the past. I hope that is the right decision!

Thank you again for listening. I appreciate you so much!

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