| You did not give me my life back. You GAVE me A LIFE.......a life I've never, ever known. Sick is a word that cannot encompass my world of torment and pain. I've been afflicted with this problem since I was 5 years old (IBS-D), I am now in my 40's. My entire life, sometimes up to 3 times a week, suffering with crippling spasms for never ending hours upon hours. The excruciating spasms are what I find the most horrifying thing I have to live with. Vomiting from pain, pouring sweat, trying endlessly to get home as soon as I feel the very first inkling of a spasm. I honest to God, have always felt like I was going to die. I would simply dread every occasion, holiday, or even planning a vacation a year from now. I cannot live where I'd like to because any distance at all from my job, is too far when an attack is coming over me. My best case scenario would have been setting up a cot next to my desk. I can't even imagine how I still have a job. The humiliation of explaining my situation to every boss, boyfriend/husband and girlfriend is something I just can't seem to get used to because no one gets it. Basically they all have that same uncomfortable expression on their face (like, are we finished talking about this freaky subject yet?) Occasionally, some people would even say to me "Oh yea, I get cramps too when I have to go to the bathroom." I would become infuriated saying, NO, that is not what this is! I feel like I'm in labor pain! I'd say, "How would you like to feel like you're having a baby every week?" I don't know, it all just feels so much worse then those three letters... I-B-S. To top it off, I have a form of endometriosis. This is a very grim picture of a life. So.... in a constant state of depression, the doctors, who by the way, all acknowledged that it was IBS, told me it was nerves, nerves, nerves. That was the cause, period, amen. It's true. My whole family are totally nervous worriers and we all have the same condition although mine is the most severe of all of us (is this inherited?), so I really never thought for a minute, that the food I ate was antagonizing an already chronically inflamed colon. I didn't want to write you until I really felt absolutely certain of myself. It's been an extraordinary, unbelievable, incredible, UNTHINKABLE 7 months since my last attack!!! I feel like I'm dreaming. I keep standing in front of my calendar, counting, counting. I'm obsessed with counting the days. This can't be happening - - - can it??? My family keeps calling me asking, Still, STILL??? Doctor, after test, after pill and along comes Heather and Acacia. You should win the noble prize for that alone! I would scream it out to the entire world if I could, Acacia, Acacia, Acacia. There is no other word for it but... Miracle. You are my miracle. Finding you, is the single best thing that will ever happen to me in my entire life and I thank God for you. I now walk up and down my floor at work, watching people, listening to them talking, ordering food, laughing, smiling, all with no hint of worry or trace of fear and I say..... My God..... so this is what it feels like? A way of life and a feeling of peace I've never known before. A life that people take for granted. I make your delicious breads and eat it everyday for breakfast but quite honestly, I only eat turkey for lunch at work right now because it really agrees with me and I'm still fearful but I'm sure that very soon, as I become more confident I will be branching out. Aside from the 3 tablespoons of the Acacia everyday, I also take your peppermint caps and one probiotic, recommended by a friend's Doctor. Maybe you can advise me if it's even worth taking. I'm still working on acquiring a taste for the fennel tea. Heather, I'll love you with all my heart until the day I die. ( I can't have any children but I swear, my next kitty is going to be called "Heather") I'm Serious! If I didn't think it would traumatize my little Mia, I'd rename her now. (teehee. All My Love and Forever Grateful, Deborah |
