Symptom cluster: joint pain, irritable bowel, early wakening

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I recently joined and am so happy to have found this forum and to

have the opportunity of learning so much from the posts.

 

I have virtually renounced allopathic treatment and am exploring

nutritional and other natural therapies for the health problems I am

currently experiencing. I would be very grateful if you would allow

me to briefly summarize my health problems with a view to obtaining

your assistance. I am female and 45 years old.

 

After taking anti-depressant medication on and off for eight years, I

took myself of anti-depressants about six weeks ago. (I was told by

my general practitioner that I would have to be on them for 'the rest

of my life!). I have started on St John's Wort and am very happy with

the results. However, I seem to be waking up each morning between

3:30 and 4:30 am, and am very alert and wide awake upon wakening.

 

For joint pain, I have started taking glucosamine tablets 750 mg (one

tablet morning and night). This seems to be working fairly well but I

still have quite a few aches and pains, especially in the knees when

getting out of the car, climbing steps etc. Sometimes I get sharp,

stabbing pains in one or the other knee when lying down. I have

started walking daily but my gait is affected by general aches and

pains and I have lost that 'spring in my step' and feel a bit like an

old lady.

 

After a lifetime of thinking I had a 'cast iron gut', I seem to have

developed an irritable bowel kind of thing, which is chronic. Some

days it is worse than others. I get a colicky kind of pain in the

morning and usually have to go to the loo two or three times soon

after getting up. I have always regarded myself as strong and healthy

until recently. Last year I had two fibroids removed (myomectomy)

after cancelling the operation twice before finally going through

with it, (although I did refuse a general anaesthetic for the

surgery). Turns out it was not the fibroids that were the cause of

the abdominal pain! I recently had a barium enema (never again!!!)

which was normal.

 

Have been changing my eating habits lately - only eating when hungry,

lots of omega 3 foods, low fat diet, lots of veges, drinking lots of

water etc. Have had pleasing results but still battling these

seemingly chronic problems.

 

Many thanks...I hope through sending this post I can find out some

other positive changes I may be able to make in my life that will

help me regain a healthy and pain-free body.

 

Noelene

[Guest guest]

<Last year I had two fibroids removed (myomectomy)

after cancelling the operation twice before finally going through >

 

I have fibroids as well and know what you are going through. I was told to get

a hysterectomy but I am holding off for now. Mine seem to get larger at

different times of the month and when I am eating worse than I should be. I

notice that when I cut down my sugar consumption I feel better and I feel like

my fibroids get smaller, sounds strange, I know.

Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Noelene,

 

I am female, 48 years old and have been suffering from IBS (Irritable

Bowel Syndrome) since my son was born 22 years ago.

 

A low fat diet is a must and fiber is good but be sure you are

eating " soluble fiber " and not too much " insoluble fiber " .

 

Check out the message board by Heather Van Vorous (author of " Eating

For IBS " .

http://www.helpforibs.com/messageboards/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

 

Ruth

 

, " wethairmethod "

<wethairmethod> wrote:

> Hi,

> I recently joined and am so happy to have found this forum and to

> have the opportunity of learning so much from the posts.

>

> I have virtually renounced allopathic treatment and am exploring

> nutritional and other natural therapies for the health problems I

am

> currently experiencing. I would be very grateful if you would allow

> me to briefly summarize my health problems with a view to obtaining

> your assistance. I am female and 45 years old.

>

> After taking anti-depressant medication on and off for eight years,

I

> took myself of anti-depressants about six weeks ago. (I was told by

> my general practitioner that I would have to be on them for 'the

rest

> of my life!). I have started on St John's Wort and am very happy

with

> the results. However, I seem to be waking up each morning between

> 3:30 and 4:30 am, and am very alert and wide awake upon wakening.

>

> For joint pain, I have started taking glucosamine tablets 750 mg

(one

> tablet morning and night). This seems to be working fairly well but

I

> still have quite a few aches and pains, especially in the knees

when

> getting out of the car, climbing steps etc. Sometimes I get sharp,

> stabbing pains in one or the other knee when lying down. I have

> started walking daily but my gait is affected by general aches and

> pains and I have lost that 'spring in my step' and feel a bit like

an

> old lady.

>

> After a lifetime of thinking I had a 'cast iron gut', I seem to

have

> developed an irritable bowel kind of thing, which is chronic. Some

> days it is worse than others. I get a colicky kind of pain in the

> morning and usually have to go to the loo two or three times soon

> after getting up. I have always regarded myself as strong and

healthy

> until recently. Last year I had two fibroids removed (myomectomy)

> after cancelling the operation twice before finally going through

> with it, (although I did refuse a general anaesthetic for the

> surgery). Turns out it was not the fibroids that were the cause of

> the abdominal pain! I recently had a barium enema (never again!!!)

> which was normal.

>

> Have been changing my eating habits lately - only eating when

hungry,

> lots of omega 3 foods, low fat diet, lots of veges, drinking lots

of

> water etc. Have had pleasing results but still battling these

> seemingly chronic problems.

>

> Many thanks...I hope through sending this post I can find out some

> other positive changes I may be able to make in my life that will

> help me regain a healthy and pain-free body.

>

> Noelene

[Guest guest]

Kim,

 

Think very carefully before getting a hysterectomy. There are many

other treatments for fibroids which don't involve the loss of the

uterus. Mainstream doctors often recommend hysterectomy but this can

cause a lot of long term problems that they don't tell you about. I

am sure others can say more about this.

 

I have also noticed that I feel much better if I avoid sugar, which I

now do.

 

Noelene