A few months ago I had a minor medical emergency. There was some blood involved and a trip to the ER. Everybody assured me it was likely nothing, but I should get checked out fully just to be safe. And so they shoved a camera up you know where so we could all rest easier. But we couldn’t. They found something.
A few months ago I had a polyp removed. The big ‘C’ came into play. And not in a theoretical, hypothetical, maybe sometime in the future this might have developed into something more than just a blob. No, it was “I think we got it all, but we don’t know for sure.”
And so decisions were made and delayed. Some people want to hack into me and start yanking things out. I’m all Sally Fields in the latest production of “Not Without My Colon”. The doctors and surgeons and I are still on speaking terms, but not nearly as much as my new lifestyle and the people supporting me. We started attacking this the “holistic” way. A slow process that has built up steam. It grows with confidence each day. This morning was yet another breakthrough.
Yesterday I was in Connecticut, saying goodbye to a wonderful lady – my Dad’s younger “Irish twin”. As sad as the event was, all of us cousins and aunts and uncles who were able to make the trip were so happy to see each other. Too much time had passed for many of us. I hadn’t seen my “rich Aunt Mary from Connecticut” (as she once introduced herself to me) for a few years, but at least I could make up the time with her kids. So in our typical family tradition the funeral became more of a reunion. And as conversations turned from topic to topic it came out that others had intestinal issues, too – Coeliac disease. And so we talked about diets and nutrition and the medical community – a far too frequent conversation these days. And I told them what I was going through. And I realized how much we’re all in this together.
This morning, after a day of “cheating” (how could I say no to a Guinness and shepherd’s pie?) and being away from my roughage and supplements my system was off. I’ve been “running” in the morning and it felt like the day off might jeopardize that. But then my body kicked into gear, flushed itself out, got ready and said “let’s move”. And so I got out and hit the road. And suddenly I felt faster, stronger and fitter than before. An extra lap around the track and still my fastest time. At home my body didn’t ache.
These things I’m doing? The green shakes, the digestive enzymes, the psyllium hulls, the essential oils, the running… it’s working. The extra 10 pounds and the small pouch that started to form? It’s gone. Being winded after a 30 second jog? Gone. Bloating and general discomfort after eating? Gone and gone. My body has re-learned how to take care of itself. So while I may cheat from time to time and take a day off every so often, my body will tell me what’s wrong and when and how to fix it. Today I am more sure of that than ever.
Dear Colon,
If there’s anything bad left in there, we’ve got to get rid of it together. I’ll give you whatever you need. Don’t give up on me, because I’m not giving up on you.