Gold Medal Attitude

[Guest guest]

I don't have any brilliant news to share - but I DID finally come to

terms with the idea that I have a problem that nobody can solve that

may or may not get worse over time.

As many of you know, I was at the Michigan State Fair (even though

nobody wanted to meet me..boo-hoo)...and while sitting at a show a

lady pulled a wheelechair up next to me. We chatted. She was the

caretaker of the young gal in the chair....who was flailing, had

akward twitchings, her eyes never focussed, she couldn't talk and she

was drooling miserably. I was so saddened by her condition. The

lady told me that this girl was completely NORMAL until one day she

came home from school in about the 4th grade and her eyes were going

in different directions......she had some type of auto-immune disease

that wrecked her physically and would sooner or later cause her

death. When I considered how lucky I was to have my auto-immune

condition ONLY effecting my esophagus....I couldn't have felt more

blessed. Then, my husband was reading an article in the

newspaper about how Olympic Medals effected perceived happiness.

Athletes that won the gold were obviously happy...strangely those

that got Bronze were also happy. But, those that got Silver were

very unhappy. This is because they compared themselves to the the

Gold standard and felt like if they had just been a bit better THEY

would have won the Gold. Instead they felt like failures. Whereas

the Bronze medal winners were thrilled to be on the platform -

comparing themselves against the field of athletes that didn't get

anything! They felt like " winners. " !

Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but

there are a whole lot worse things in life.

Joy (in Michigan)

[Guest guest]

I am waiting for the day I can share your thoughts. I still havent come to terms that I have A and it is making my life very difficult. I am still very jealous of people who can eat anything they want ! Ofcourse I can eat at the moment and my depression is probably preventing me of trying other food. I wish there was a little pill that would solve everything.

The day when I come to terms with A will be one of the happiest in my life. I am very glad for you that you have comme to terms with it ! (((hugs)))

Biancka

Gold Medal Attitude

I don't have any brilliant news to share - but I DID finally come to terms with the idea that I have a problem that nobody can solve that may or may not get worse over time. As many of you know, I was at the Michigan State Fair (even though nobody wanted to meet me..boo-hoo)...and while sitting at a show a lady pulled a wheelechair up next to me. We chatted. She was the caretaker of the young gal in the chair....who was flailing, had akward twitchings, her eyes never focussed, she couldn't talk and she was drooling miserably. I was so saddened by her condition. The lady told me that this girl was completely NORMAL until one day she came home from school in about the 4th grade and her eyes were going in different directions......she had some type of auto-immune disease that wrecked her physically and would sooner or later cause her death. When I considered how lucky I was to have my auto-immune condition ONLY effecting my esophagus....I couldn't have felt more blessed. Then, my husband was reading an article in the newspaper about how Olympic Medals effected perceived happiness. Athletes that won the gold were obviously happy...strangely those that got Bronze were also happy. But, those that got Silver were very unhappy. This is because they compared themselves to the the Gold standard and felt like if they had just been a bit better THEY would have won the Gold. Instead they felt like failures. Whereas the Bronze medal winners were thrilled to be on the platform - comparing themselves against the field of athletes that didn't get anything! They felt like "winners."! Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but there are a whole lot worse things in life.Joy (in Michigan)

[Guest guest]

Hello q.t@...,

In reference to your comment:

Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but there are a whole lot worse things in life.Joy (in Michigan)

Joy, that is my theory exactly! I am also lucky that I waited

as late in life to get it. So many of you are so much younger

than I. You will have to deal with a lot longer.

Hugs

Maggie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing that. I am printing it for my " Achalasia File " and will

reread as needed. What a great perspective.

Blessings,

Martha

PS I would have loved to come to the fair, but it was a little too far from

Seattle! Thanks for the invitation, though.

Gold Medal Attitude

> I don't have any brilliant news to share - but I DID finally come to

> terms with the idea that I have a problem that nobody can solve that

> may or may not get worse over time.

>

> As many of you know, I was at the Michigan State Fair (even though

> nobody wanted to meet me..boo-hoo)...and while sitting at a show a

> lady pulled a wheelechair up next to me. We chatted. She was the

> caretaker of the young gal in the chair....who was flailing, had

> akward twitchings, her eyes never focussed, she couldn't talk and she

> was drooling miserably. I was so saddened by her condition. The

> lady told me that this girl was completely NORMAL until one day she

> came home from school in about the 4th grade and her eyes were going

> in different directions......she had some type of auto-immune disease

> that wrecked her physically and would sooner or later cause her

> death. When I considered how lucky I was to have my auto-immune

> condition ONLY effecting my esophagus....I couldn't have felt more

> blessed. Then, my husband was reading an article in the

> newspaper about how Olympic Medals effected perceived happiness.

> Athletes that won the gold were obviously happy...strangely those

> that got Bronze were also happy. But, those that got Silver were

> very unhappy. This is because they compared themselves to the the

> Gold standard and felt like if they had just been a bit better THEY

> would have won the Gold. Instead they felt like failures. Whereas

> the Bronze medal winners were thrilled to be on the platform -

> comparing themselves against the field of athletes that didn't get

> anything! They felt like " winners. " !

> Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but

> there are a whole lot worse things in life.

> Joy (in Michigan)

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello q.t@...,

In reference to your comment:

Maggie, How old are you (if you don't mind me asking).

Joy, I don't mind at all. I am 74 and had my first noticeable

symptoms of Achalasia the later part of 2000 at the age of 70.

In July and August of 2001 I had Botox 3o days apart. They

didn't help at all and by that time I could not keep down either

food or water. In September 2000 I had a pneumatic dilatation

with a 4.0 balloon.

By the way, this time last year I was salmon fishing in your great state.

You must have been at Gulf Shores. That is a beautiful place.

I love going there, so the next time you go, stop by and pick

me up on the way.

Maggie

Alabama

[Guest guest]

Biancka,

I know how you feel....because I think we have all been there.

But, when I saw that gal in that wheelchair and thought to myself

that I could have been in her situation...drooling alll over myself

unable to speak with other people having to strap me to a chair....I

just am so thankful ALL I have is Achalasia. It is so trivial in the

broad scope of things. Mind you, I would really rather not have

A...but being I have had it about 32 years.....and am just now coming

upon my first surgery....I think mine is not progressing as fast as

others and at the moment it doesn't rule my life.....and I AM ALIVE!

It could be worse is all I was saying.

Joy

> I am waiting for the day I can share your thoughts. I still havent

come to terms that I have A and it is making my life very difficult.

I am still very jealous of people who can eat anything they want !

Ofcourse I can eat at the moment and my depression is probably

preventing me of trying other food. I wish there was a little pill

that would solve everything.

>

> The day when I come to terms with A will be one of the happiest in

my life. I am very glad for you that you have comme to terms with

it ! (((hugs)))

>

> Biancka

>

>

> Gold Medal Attitude

>

>

> I don't have any brilliant news to share - but I DID finally come

to

> terms with the idea that I have a problem that nobody can solve

that

> may or may not get worse over time.

>

> As many of you know, I was at the Michigan State Fair (even

though

> nobody wanted to meet me..boo-hoo)...and while sitting at a show

a

> lady pulled a wheelechair up next to me. We chatted. She was

the

> caretaker of the young gal in the chair....who was flailing, had

> akward twitchings, her eyes never focussed, she couldn't talk and

she

> was drooling miserably. I was so saddened by her condition. The

> lady told me that this girl was completely NORMAL until one day

she

> came home from school in about the 4th grade and her eyes were

going

> in different directions......she had some type of auto-immune

disease

> that wrecked her physically and would sooner or later cause her

> death. When I considered how lucky I was to have my auto-immune

> condition ONLY effecting my esophagus....I couldn't have felt

more

> blessed. Then, my husband was reading an article in the

> newspaper about how Olympic Medals effected perceived happiness.

> Athletes that won the gold were obviously happy...strangely those

> that got Bronze were also happy. But, those that got Silver were

> very unhappy. This is because they compared themselves to the

the

> Gold standard and felt like if they had just been a bit better

THEY

> would have won the Gold. Instead they felt like failures.

Whereas

> the Bronze medal winners were thrilled to be on the platform -

> comparing themselves against the field of athletes that didn't

get

> anything! They felt like " winners. " !

> Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but

> there are a whole lot worse things in life.

> Joy (in Michigan)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Maggie,

How old are you (if you don't mind me asking). I am 43 and had my

first symptoms at age 6 or 7. I do feel desparately sorry for the

young children I hear about having it....that has GOT to be rough. I

had spasms when I was young and incredible pains. Then, about 18 I

started with the swallowing difficulties and had a dilation. Botox

last Christmas and now, in a couple weeks- surgery. I hope things

continue to progress slowly....or maybe improve all-together.

Hey, we can hope!

By the way, this time last year I was salmon fishing in your great

state.

Joy (in Michigan)

hoogroups.com, LunaIam2@a... wrote:

> Hello q.t@s...,

>

>

> In reference to your comment:

> Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but

> there are a whole lot worse things in life.

> Joy (in Michigan)

>

> Joy, that is my theory exactly! I am also lucky that I waited

> as late in life to get it. So many of you are so much younger

> than I. You will have to deal with a lot longer.

>

> Hugs

> Maggie

[Guest guest]

Yikes Maggie...I got you confused with Martha (from Seattle).

Anyway, I LOVE Gulf Shores....I used to live in Niceville, Florida

when my parents lived in Pass Christian, Mississippi....so I drove

nearby there many times.

As for my lack of concentration, confusion and utter " shrinking

brain problem " ....I contribute it to being in a state of Menapause.

I feel really young for that change (43) but I GOT IT! And with

it...I lost all my ability to think or hold a thought pattern.

It is really pathetic. Sorry to always be confusing everybody all

the time. I truly don't mean to do it.

Joy (in Michigan)

> Hello q.t@s...,

>

>

> In reference to your comment:

> Maggie,

> How old are you (if you don't mind me asking).

> Joy, I don't mind at all. I am 74 and had my first noticeable

> symptoms of Achalasia the later part of 2000 at the age of 70.

> In July and August of 2001 I had Botox 3o days apart. They

> didn't help at all and by that time I could not keep down either

> food or water. In September 2000 I had a pneumatic dilatation

> with a 4.0 balloon.

> By the way, this time last year I was salmon fishing in your great

> state.

>

> You must have been at Gulf Shores. That is a beautiful place.

> I love going there, so the next time you go, stop by and pick

> me up on the way.

>

> Maggie

> Alabama

[Guest guest]

it is hard for all, i had my surg, in march,,,i am now seeing problems again,,,i know how i keep putting off lots of the problems, and now i have to try to face it...i have shed tears and sometimes it is tears that need to come...i went in the hospital before A. for gallbladder and ended up 82 days later coming out,,,a medical screwup, but with the grace of god and friends you will pull thru,,,,sometimes i find that i still have tears..sometimes you need to shed a tear,,,because we try to hide so much anyway...just keep up the spirit, and remember you and all of us are strong, and thank god for this, i love when we can share our lives...

Gold Medal Attitude

I don't have any brilliant news to share - but I DID finally come to terms with the idea that I have a problem that nobody can solve that may or may not get worse over time. As many of you know, I was at the Michigan State Fair (even though nobody wanted to meet me..boo-hoo)...and while sitting at a show a lady pulled a wheelechair up next to me. We chatted. She was the caretaker of the young gal in the chair....who was flailing, had akward twitchings, her eyes never focussed, she couldn't talk and she was drooling miserably. I was so saddened by her condition. The lady told me that this girl was completely NORMAL until one day she came home from school in about the 4th grade and her eyes were going in different directions......she had some type of auto-immune disease that wrecked her physically and would sooner or later cause her death. When I considered how lucky I was to have my auto-immune condition ONLY effecting my esophagus....I couldn't have felt more blessed. Then, my husband was reading an article in the newspaper about how Olympic Medals effected perceived happiness. Athletes that won the gold were obviously happy...strangely those that got Bronze were also happy. But, those that got Silver were very unhappy. This is because they compared themselves to the the Gold standard and felt like if they had just been a bit better THEY would have won the Gold. Instead they felt like failures. Whereas the Bronze medal winners were thrilled to be on the platform - comparing themselves against the field of athletes that didn't get anything! They felt like "winners."! Now, I am not saying that I am thrilled to have Achalasia....but there are a whole lot worse things in life.Joy (in Michigan)