What stress does.
 

I really hope it's ok to post a link here. This is THE major player in dealing successfully with pain issues IMO. I've not seen better and these issues have been a game changer for me in my struggles with fear and pain. I hope someone else can make use of this. As horrific as this disease feels, it's been a wake up call for me and shown me how I might have gotten to this place in my life and even more importantly shows me how to change the game should I decide the game I've been playing is not the right one for my happiness. I would have to say then that in some very important ways this disease has been my best teacher.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/proje...or-perception/

There's something to this I would agree. Mind over matter is very important. i know once I was told I had a certain health issue years ago my mindset changed. i became a more fragile, panicked, vulnerable person. I was always on edge awaiting the latest blood test result or scan result, etc.

At the same time when pain is real you will not talk yourself out of it and you will seek out mercy. Big pharma is not completely awful, there ARE good life saving medicines out there. For someone in excruciating pain there is a place for painkillers. Anesthesia is a big pharma invention and is essential. Same with thyroid and some hormone therapies. Thing is, pharmaceuticals should be a last resort, not a quick fix.

I tend to agree. I'm not throwing out all my meds yet. But considering the results I'm getting I'm encouraged to go through them and either reduce dosages or eliminate them if they aren't really doing the job. And I know things like Armor Thyroid is helping me.

What the documentary is advocating IMO is self knowledge and doing your own research and experimentation rather than getting a doc to throw you a pill and considering that due diligence. But there is a lot more to that video than this IMO.

And since I've been doing my relaxation work and diet change I can't help but believe it's really seriously helping me. It's likely helped reduce my pain by half at least. I'm going to cut back slowly on my Gabapentin and see (see the video) if that so called "side effect" of inhibiting urination might be the cause of my bladder issues. I'll let you all know one way or the other.

But even if it wasn't helping much with pain my psychological health has improved dramatically also and was happening before the real pain reduction kicked in. I'm handling my life better in all areas.

Am I right, will it work for others? I'm not sure ultimately, things could come roaring back any minute. But they haven't and not for a while so I think I'll keep on keeping on until my body shows me I'm not on the right track.

Cutting down on the pills
 

My wife has contracted cancer twice now from taking pills to help Psoriasis.Humira has it listed as a side effect but the advertisements seem to downplay it and smooth it over. Anything IMHO that allows you to get off a med without much loss of quality of life is the right track. I used some serious pain meds for a while. They have their place IMO as a bridge that you have to use. I feel that each idividual would have a different reaction to a stress reduction. Some more profound than others but all definitely positive. Anything you can think of to be more happy, right?P.S. Wife's lung nodule deemed scar tiki issue, woohoo!!!!

Thanks for this Icelander. I have always believed that stress and anxiety in my life has been a large contributing factor to developing PN. (If not the root cause.)

Don't have time tonight, but I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and viewing that documentary as soon as I can. I'm also thinking about getting that book "full Catastrophe Living" that you posted about earlier.

I'm glad that you seem to be finding some measure of peace. I hope things keep moving in the right direction for you. :)

My symptoms came on after the most stressful year of my life. I worked with an awful person who pretty much terrorized everyone that they worked with (and this still goes on). And I had to work with this person VERY closely. Sigh...

This wasn't the cause of my SFN, but it was sure fuel for the fire....especially if my neuropathy is immune-mediated, you really have to wonder.

The one positive thing that I've learned from this disease and this whole medical experience is that there is nothing medically that will ever scare me.

Thanks for all the replies friends. The other thing I forgot to mention is that stress raises blood sugar and mind didn't get below 100 until I learned to calm down. Tonight I'm at 95 at thee hours post meal. Before this that would have been around 120.

It may not be the magic bullet but it might come close for some of us, who knows, I'm just beginning this process at this intensity. I'm lucky to be retired as I can do this three or more times a day.

I found a great CD with several programs just made for folk like us. It's called GOODBYE WORRIES by Roberta Shapiro. This is one of the best I've found after years of searching these CDs.
There are 4 programs on the CD.

1) Hypnosis/relaxation
2)Barrier Meditation Training (how to stop negative thought loops)
3) Relaxation Meditation
4) Breath and Music meditation
All are different lengths from about 8 min to 22 min.

There are so many benefits to being relaxed and calm, it can really smooth out relationships strained by this disease. I hope it can help some of you even more than it's helped me. Or at least some. I think it will. The most difficult part is getting started of course but some results will show up quickly if you work it and the rest come along soon after. Assuming you will get them. I think it's pretty universally known that stress is a killer.

Thank you Icelander for posting this here and helping me to turn on my "front brain." (from the video).

I just watched the video and it was quite educational. I took notes so I could refer to them when I need a refresher. The explanation of protection response (stress effects) on the body made more sense then anything I've heard before on this popular subject. My symptoms also came on after an obscenely stressful year and I know because it was continuous and there was no recovery phase my wires short circuited. I am thinking about possibilities :)

I'm so glad and grateful you may find some help here. :hug:

A new phase of my life begins on Monday as I start a full-time job for the first time in 12 years. I'd worked sporadically during some of those years, but not full-time and not in stressful positions.

I've accepted a job with a young high tech company going through a tremendous growth spurt. The stress is palpable, but been there done that. Worked for a high tech start-up for 14 years. The good news? Wear whatever you please. Sit on whatever you want. One woman's chair is one of those big inflatable balls. I know I'll least be comfortable sitting at a desk all day again.

So suddenly I'll be dealing with work stress. On the other side of the coin, financial stress will go away. Health insurance stress will go away. I'm putting on my big girl pants and being a responsible adult again.

I never learned to deal with work stress well. Couldn't turn it off at night and couldn't not bring it home with him. I'm hoping age and perspective will help this go-round.

Hi janieg

All the best for your new job tomorrow. Taking care of the financial & health insurance stress will be a huge weight off.

Re the work stress - just remind yourself that you've dealt with worse throughout your illness and work stress is just gonna have to take the back seat for once.

If I might make an indulgent suggestion - print out a copy of that photo I posted on my 'great day' posting - you know the beach one - tape it to your work station and when you find things getting to you at work just switch off for a moment and imagine yourself sitting in the sun in a beautiful location away from all the hassles.

Take care - bluesfan

You can do it. I think that picture is a great idea too!

I like that it is a modern workplace re: attire and work space- it should be a boon for your comfort.

Good luck tomorrow at work Janieg. In work (and life) situations I try to remind myself of my priorities and not get sucked in to the politics of wherever I am. Taking my lunch outdoors is a help for me. Sometimes I even got in a 10 minute meditation during lunch.

Thanks for the responses and encouragement. So far, so good, but the "fun" has yet to begin. The work environment was everything I'd hoped it would be too.

Regarding the photo, I think what I'll do is print a couple of photos printed of my favorite places I've visited so I can return there at a glance. Very good idea. :)

I got my first dose of work-related stress at the new job today. Yowza. It was like the SFN monster was standing at the control panel turning up a dial.

I know in the past my intestines were always a good measure of stress load, but NOTHING as quick and immediate as this. I'm really going to have to work on figuring out a way to deal with better. The good news is that they're all used to people doing weird things to deal with it. The owner himself does two things..

1. Takes a baseball and just paces back and forth in the grassy area in the back occasionally tossing it in the air

2. Goes into our "ping-pong room" and hits a ping-pong ball against the wall.

It seems like all the women just eat chocolate. :eek:

Hi Janieg,
Glad you've kept your sense of humor! I'm not sure what you like to do to relax but it sounds like no body would fault you. I definitely would stay away from the chocolate! :winky:

Working while having this condition is the absolute worst. I can manage my body so much better every time I take a week off from working.

Can you eventually work from home, on occasion, once you learn your job? I work from home about once per week and that really helps. Roll out of bed, don't comb the hair, pour the coffee, and fire up the computer!!! I love it.

I also have a sit-stand work station at the office, which is lovely to change up positions when I'm burning from sitting too long and I sometimes take 5 minute walks outside the building to break up the day (and break up the burning).

I work at a place that generally doesn't value work-life balance and they have no problem giving you more than 60 hours worth of work each week. No thanks!!!

I've found a way to mostly side-step this nonsense for now. I get along with well with my co-workers, I'm known as a problem solver and drop whatever I'm doing to help someone out, I do good quality work, and on occasion, I will put in a 18 hour day to help someone close a project. In my free time, I create tools that make my co-workers lives easier - screenshot instructions for working with various pieces of software or write macros to help them automate various tasks. I make sure everyone around me is generally happy and in exchange for that, I don't take ownership of big stressful projects, I forgo getting a promotion and I work 40 hours each week. And I'm going to ride this wave until it crashes...

They generally want you at the office because of all the interaction that takes place due to the nature of the job. The other thing is the set-up I have there is AMAZING. I have two 30" Dell monitors vs. my one 21" monitor here at home. I also think I'll have the option of getting sit-stand workstation once I get in my permanent office.

This is a start-up high tech company, and just like the last one I was at, everyone is flying arses over elbows all day every day. I knew that going into it because I actually like being crazy busy, but I think this situation will put that to the test.

Music will help once I can get to the point that I don't need to be talking to my officemates all the time while in learning mode. Certain singers/albums have a real calming effect on me.

Pinkynose, the unlimited chocolate and candy everywhere doesn't present a problem, but the ever-present boxes of Cheez-its in the kitchen are horribly tempting. Orangey/cheesey food-like substances are my one of my favorite evils, and it takes every ounce of self-control to stay away from them.

Yeah, I totally get why they want you to come into the office - that whole human interaction thing. Hahahaha - at my work they don't understand the concept. My set up is different in that I don't work directly with many people in my office. I love having large monitors. I'm jealous, I only have a 24 inch monitor at work and at home, with my tiny laptop serving as screen number 2. I have an Ergotron sit-stand and it is fantastic. They have models that accommodate 2 monitor set-ups.

I just bought an iPhone 6S, beats wireless headphones, and a subscription to Apple Music. I'm preparing for the fact that the next 5 months of my life are going to be super busy.

Sometimes I'll work a full day in the office, then if I have extra to do, I'll finish it up at home. This helps mitigate a ton of stress also and I don't have to miss dinner with the husband, which keeps the home front on the happy side!

Nice. I have hybrid- I can plug in, but I have human contact obligations too. Plugging in saves me... and my work ottoman, too.