Hi everyone, My mum was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer in july. Due to other medical conditions the doctors said treatment wasn't an option. She's still at home and although she's tired and in pain is still relatively independent. She has carers come in twice a day and a lovely friend who keeps an eye on her and takes her to appointment etc. I live in another country and have been trying to see her every six weeks or so with my work very generously giving me the time off. I wish I could see her more but life at the moment is going to see him for a couple of weeks. Then 6 weeks of frantically catching up with work then repeat. I don't feel stressed in my head. I'm naturally a positive person and enjoy my job and can't say I've noticed a difference in my behaviour but my guts are telling me otherwise. Had serious stomach pain, nausea etc for the last few months. Many expensive tests later and the doc reckons it's stress related IBS. Has anyone had similar? Especially when your brain is telling you're ok but your guts are telling you you're super stressed. I've realised it does get worse the nearer it gets to me travelling ok. How to tell my guts everything is ok? Or do I need to listen to my guts and embrace being stressed?
Sorry to read about what you are going through, I know how easy it can be to think we are managing until we find perhaps not so much. I note you have said "frantically catching up with work" and I think many people might find that quite stressful.
There is a lot of research on the issues around long term stress and indeed disgestive issues can be quite a common symptom.
Someting my GP recommeded to me was ecotherapy - just going for a walk especially amoung trees and stopping and listening to the birdsong and noticing nature and that was actually quite helpful.
<<hugs>>
Steve
