IBS consultation

‘Man is like a breath, his days are like a passing shadow.’ (Psalm 144:4)

 

A recent medical consultation for my irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) led me to pay closer attention to my IBS condition as well as a clearer understanding of what might have happened in my inner body. In this sense, I must be thankful to a good friend of mine for her perseverance in pestering me to go for treatment. On hindsight I should not bear with it and let it deteriorates over time. The specialist ordered full panel of liver, kidney and thyroid investigations on top of six blood tests and three stool samples. My condition must be complex and critical. The total cost came up to quite a sizeable amount despite most of the tests were half subsidised by the government. Two of which were expensive and not under subsidy. I can understand why high medical cost here is a concern especially if one has a chronic condition.

 

Thanks to Goggle that I was able to get more information about these various tests. The stool samples were taken to see whether bacteria such as E coli, Salmonella, and parasites such as Amoeba residing in the intestines. The faecal fat is to estimate the percentage of dietary fat the body has not absorbed. From there doctor can assess how well the liver, gall bladder, pancreas and intestines are working.

 

Anti Endomy Sial lgA is the most expensive test and does not qualified for subsidy. It is used to determine Coeliac disease, an autoimmune disorder of small intestine , which when it is exposed to dietary gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, the immune responses by mistakenly attacks and destroy healthy body tissue. This could lead to inflammation of the small intestine, making its inner wall less capable of absorbing nutrients. This blood test detects auto-antibodies in the blood system. Sedimentation Rate Erythrocyte (ESR) tests how much inflammation is in the body. Higher rate often associates with autoimmune disorder. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is to test the protein produced by liver. Higher reading means that there is inflammation throughout the body, which may indicate inflammatory diseases and even cancers.

 

In conclusion, the source of my problem, according to the doctor’s diagnosis at this moment, can be due to: -

 

(1) Parasites and bacteria in the intestines;

(2) Inflammation in any part of the body;

(3) Gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidney or thyroid not functioning well.

 

Come December I hope the tests will throw some lights into my conditions, failing which, I may have to go for more tests.

'Self-worth'

‘You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!’ (Psalm 139:13-16)

 

Almost two months ago I read with sadness that the famous actor and comedian, Robin Williams, apparently ended his life by committed suicide. It came as a surprise that the man who brought the world laughter, had been battling for severe depression for some time.

 

It is obvious that things are definitely getting better for most people with living standards going up and people are living much longer. We are in material utopia but unhappy lots. The great philosopher Aristotle ascribes high value to happiness when he defines it as a ‘highest good’. In his book, The Progress Paradox, Gregg Easterbrook concludes that the more progress a society is, the more its people are unhappy by looking at the number of depressed cases.

 

I think a person who struggled with his self-worth can never be a happy person. Too often people let other used yardsticks such as popularity, wealth, performance to judge his own significance. These are all ‘fluid’ parameters that are fleeting. How we value a person should be much more than that.

 

Easterbrook suggests some antidotes to unhappiness- to be optimistic, to show gratitude and acts of forgiveness. All these can make life more fulfilling, not only for oneself, but also for others. They give meaning and purpose to one’s existence. To the Christians, self-worthiness is never an issue as we are made by God and for God in his image with eternity destiny. Our worth is not really of the ‘self’ but the worth given to us by God as His children.