Anyone else relate to this story: ?????? 

1. When I was born, I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis via sweat test.  I was then shuttled off to the Mayo Clinic where they ran another battery of tests on me, and proved through 2 other "weak positive" and 2 other "negative" sweat tests that I probably did not have Typical CF.  This was back in 1987-88.   They fed me antibiotics and steroids for the first two years of my life, mom was surprised i lived.

2. I go til the age of 17 with asthma -- but other than that, a pretty healthy normal guy. 

3. I feel pretty darn good at 18, I graduate 10th in my class and its time for college. 

4. I go to college and drop nearly 20,000 on my first year alone (housing food) -- I do really well, make dean's list.  Get transfered to honor's political science program (i wanted to be a laywer -- still do). 

5. I go thru the next two years of college with ease and enjoy every minute of it, I do really well... maintain a 3.7 GPA. 

6.  Senior year... I get a lung infection and doctor Rx some amoxycilin--that doesn't do the trick, Rx some doxycycline (for a month +) I battle this lung infection.  I get the flu around the 3rd week of my senior semester -- swine flu, hallucinate, get dominated. 

7.  From that moment until now (about 2.5 years), my digestive system does not work.  I have chronic gastritis, I have chronic esophagitis, I am now lactose intolerant, glucose/sucrose intolerate, gluten intolerant, and when its realy bad... i am protein intolerant pretty much.  Every single day from that moment--no exaggeration-- (October, 2009 until now) I have dealt with the worst digestive issues that I would not wish on my worst enemy.  Let me also add this:  My grandfather (moms side) died of esophageal cancer at 59, his brother, dies of stomach cancer at 54, my aunt (moms side) diagnosed Celiac thru biopsy at mayo clinic, other aunt diagnosed crohns disease, uncle has barrett's esophagus (his father was the one who died at 59 from esophageal cancer..... hmm...).  On top of that, I have multiple hereditary osteochondromas (look it up). 

8.  So... I am now 24 years old, stuggled to graduate and finish my final year of school -- I was literally a walking mess... brain fog, joint pain, headaches, naseau, constant digestive issues and simply.... malaise!  I was a now, chronically ill human being.  I am still to this day.... I have days where I feel somewhat normal, but literally.... every single day consists of digestive pain from my esophagus to my colon.  I am seeing a gastro doctor on 10/28/2011.  You may ask... what took you 2 years to see a doctor?

9.  I got dropped off my parent's insurance the moment I put the last period on my final exam.  On your own, boy.  So... I graduated from college, got a job painting houses in order to generate some good cash, and I did... then i began looking for work.

10.  Found my job here.... legal assistant.  Put on a strong face, my stomch hurts really bad when im stressed out, and got hired.   It took another 6months of probationary period at my job in order to get insurance. 

11. Got insurance thru my job.... so when you say, Mr. Gerson, just find another job!!!! you are failing to see the dilemma of which I am talking about.  THis country does not allow its chronically ill the right to not work.  For 21 years of my life, I didn't even think of the chronically ill... once I became one of them, I cannot relate to healthy humans.... its just hard for you to understand--again... perception.  

So my job is a vital necessity because it provides health insurance and a way to pay my loans.  It certainly is not my vocation... you are correct.  But when your job becomes a necessity in order to find ways to cure a health ailment, and to pay of student loans... it become more than just a job.. .it becomes a burden you must hold onto at all costs.  And that can be stressful. 

Now... and i get how this may sound. "Stop complaining you woosie!"

For the first 3 years of college, I was fine.  Then I got some sort of virus / bacteria that has set me off.  Along with the over RX of antibiotics which, especially in those who are suseptible (remember, i was on antibiotics and steriods for 2 years of my initial life.... my body is not configured with normal gut flora... coupled with my genetic pre-dispositions, of which i really didn't understand... I was healthy at that time!) can exasserbate one's digestive sensitivities.   Once I went thru that episode, the best way I can describe my current state of health is unbalanced, unnatural, painful, ineffective, and terrorizing.

Anyone else ????