The Year to Address IBS and a Career Change--to stay or go?
#341440 - 01/30/09 09:03 PM
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Kata
Reged: 01/11/09
Posts: 15
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Hey Everyone,
I have been incorporating Heather's acacia tummy fiber into my daily routine and I am absolutely loving the fact that the humidity in the south has not taken over yet. I truly believe that heat and humidity are stressors. My doctor had never heard of that before.
I also ordered some Align. I am nervous about switching from my Bio-K pro-biotic. Anyone have any success with Align?
I went for my first accupuncture treatment this week and I am optimistic about it. I have another session next week. My doctor is an MD who originally specialized in Infectious Disease from the Mayo Clinic. She then returned to school in China where she received training in accupuncture. She really understands IBS. I am truly lucky to have found her.
I am also debating whether to leave my job for another legal position. I have been working in a law firm as an associate for two, going on three years now. I know the job (i.e., billable hours) contributes to my stress level. I have been presented with an opportunity to leave the private sector and enter the public sector. It would be less stressful, but less pay...significantly less. This is causing stress because it will impact my large student loan debt. My husband is supportive of my decision and ready to make the financial sacrifices we will need to make. I am again very lucky to have such a supportive spouse.
Yet, I am my own worst enemy--I am a worrier, plain and simple. With the economy, I am not sure if this is the right time to make a move. While I know my big firm job causes me stress, moving to another job won't eliminate the stress entirely. It will still be there when my anxiety is triggered. I will also have to develop my own private practice on the side for a little extra money--again, I know this is going to cause some stress. I would like to think that this other opportunity would give me more free time, but in reality, I am very bad at stopping or knowing when to stop. I am a perfectionist and this isn't always a good thing.
This is somewhat a generic issue and I really don't expect an answer as to what I should do, or for anyone to think I am asking for them to make this decision for me. (Someone once said that the fortunate man is one who has no choices--I understand what he meant now.) However, I would appreciate any insight from anyone who feels that their career or work life contributes to their stress level and their ibs problems. Ultimately I think I need to deal with tackling ibs first. I don't know if a new job will be the answer.
Thanks for just listening/reading. Any feedback would be appreciated.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world...." Ghandi
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Heat is my #1 trigger. Heat speeds everything up. All things being equal, if I overheat, my stomach will go out.
Do a search for "heat" on the living room and diet boards and you'll find a lot of people here feel the same way. Coincidently, IBS-C people usually feel the opposite. During the summer, their stomachs generally get better.
~nelly~
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That is a really difficult decision to make. You have to weigh your options and see what job will be better for you. I like to make a list of pros and cons. You could try that with both jobs and see which one comes out ahead. Sometimes it helps to put your thoughts down on paper so you can see things clearly in black and white.
I wish you luck with your decision. You are fortunate to have a supportive spouse.
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Janey
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Thanks for the advice, Janey. And you are right--I am very lucky to have such a supportive spouse. I think sitting down with some paper and a pen delineating the pros and cons will definitely help.
As for the Superbowl game...I too am pulling for the Cardinals. They are the underdog and I too am a fan of Kurt Warner's. I hope it is a good game. Enjoy yourself too.
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I was certain the heat and humidity worsened my symptoms. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me. Is there anything you do differently to handle the weather--that is if you live in a hot and humid climate too? Thanks again, Nelly.
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Hello Kata! Thanks for the question-- I have a lot to write on the subject as it's taken my years to figure all this stuff out. If I can help one person with my info, i'm psyched...   
As for heat, I have to be in a place where I can control my climate. Like I said, All Things Being Equal, my stomach will go out 100% of the time if I overheat. I can do everything right, but once that wave of heat comes, I'm DONE for.
I chalk it up to my actual IBS symptoms. I'm a D-- When I get an attack, the first thing I get is a fever. Then I get a short, sharp pang in my stomach (it feels like an alien from the movie Alien scratching my stomach, trying to get out.) What it is really is trapped gas expanding in my bowels, tearing at my organs as it expands. Very painful and Not Fun. 
Then the stomach pangs get harder and closer together. They can start at 14 minutes apart, then 10 and so on til they're on top of each other. I can time them, like Lamaze class where you time baby contractions. If I go to the toilet and push before they're 1 minute apart, nothing comes and I end up tiring myself out...
I have to wait until the contractions are on top of each other before I release my bowels (*unclench*, *explode!* ) before I can expect any relief. As you can figure out, I can eat up a day pretty quickly in 14 minute increments, having an attack.
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The reason I think heat is my #1 trigger if that it imitates me spiking a fever, the first symptom of my attacks. I think the heat is tricking my body into believing that I'm going into full attack mode!
Pressure on my belly is the #2 trigger of my attacks. I again believe that the stomach pain is tricking my body into going into full attack. Pressure on my belly from tight jeans (ugh), seatbelts (double ugh!), my nephew sitting on my lap (NEVER AGAIN!! Try motivating a quick exit to the toilet while grimacing through an attack with a 6 year old on you and his mother next to you! Not fun!!)
So like I said, being in control of my environment is huuuge.
I drive everywhere so I'm the master of my a/c. In college I made sure I had complete control of the heat + a/c unit for my single room! It helped so much.
I also wear baggy tops and layers, so I can strip down if I'm hot and hide my poochy belly if I decide I have to unzip my pants in mixed company. Happens a lot.
Hope this helps! 
~nelly~
P.S. Oh, in case you're wondering, my #3 trigger is my diet and meds. Gotta take those Imodium as preventatives and stay away from the lactose, insoluble fiber and Mystery Food!!! Overeating is especially bad too. Like I said, all things being equal...
[Homer Simpson] Mmmm, Mystery Fooood...! [/Homer Simpson]
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