Humor IS Related To IBS!

457 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by AMF, May 23, 1999

LindaB

Discussion Starter · May 20, 1999

A friend emailed me that my name was being bandied about in a nasty feud on this board so, naturally, I had to check it out.I was disappointed to read the following comment from Peter in his post with the subject "KEN""as for parkview being more IBS related hell all I ever see is jokes overthere by Charlie and Linda and the rest."I realize, Peter, that you also said earlier in that same post that you enjoyed the jokes, but I think that last comment indicates otherwise. You bet I've posted some funnies, but I've also posted many, many times with information relative directly to the medical side of IBS. I'm hoping that your comment was merely the result of your frustration with "Ken/Musem" and not an indication that you don't come to the Parkview board because it is saturated with funnies from me and Charlie. I visit both Jeff's and Parkview's boards as often as I can. I spend more time at Parkview because that's the one I found first, and I received an immediate and gracious response, which made me feel "at home." From reading many of the posts on both boards, it seems that stress is a major contributor to the onset or recurrence of IBS. Have any of you ever read a book by Norman Cousins titled "Anatomy of An Illness"? As I recall, one of the things he mentions is that laughter releases endorphins, which are our body's natural pain killers and healers.Check out this web site from the American Psychological Assn. http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep97/humor.html Please remember, I'm not saying we can laugh all the time, or that we shouldn't ######, 'cause we all need to vent and blow off steam. But we also do our bodies a great deal of good just by laughing - the harder the better!Bad as it is, we are not in a life-threatening condition and will not die *from* IBS but will probably die *with* it. I was very close to a friend for the 3 years it took him to die from ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). When I get really ticked off at my colon and what I can or can't eat, I try to think of him, and I remember something my Dad quoted to me - "I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet."

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Rose

· #2 · May 20, 1999

Linda B,That quote made me smile. My dad used to say the same thing. I used that quote from my father on a post some months back. I guess we both had pretty smart dads.

------------------"Today is the first day of the rest of your life"Rose

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Lisa K

· #3 · May 21, 1999

Hey LindaBHow are you?Its been a while since Ive seen you too

Yes,Rose I agree , I loved that quote, the more inspiration the better...We are trying to compromise on *IBS-issues &IBS-anecdotals & Laughter*

Sadly a ruckus ensued, but I honestly hope that the Board can be restored & any misunderstandings reconciled for *everyone* newbies & oldies. Everyone here essentially means well. Happiness to All

Lisa K

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LindaB

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 21, 1999

Thanks for asking, Lisa K. I had been doing great since having my gallbladder removed about a month ago - no symptoms at all and eating everything in sight. BUT then the doctor put me on a decongestant (Rynatan) for fluid in my ear. Well, that stuff dried everything up and I got a big case of C, which set off my diverticulitis. Sooo, I'm back on antibiotics and clear liquids to give my poop chute a chance to heal. Of course, I didn't have enough stress in my life, so my husband tried to die on me again and spent 5 days in the hospital for a perforated small intestine. He is a rare bird! I've never heard of anyone having diverticulitis of the small bowel!

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LindaB

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 21, 1999

This is another interesting site to reference for Humor & Health: http://www.intop.net/~jrdunn/ The following is an excerpt from a reported interview there with Dr. Fry. "Medical Perspectives on Humor:An Interview with William F. Fry, Jr., MD by Joseph R. Dunn, PhD Dr. Fry, much of your research has been concerned with the medical and physiological effects of mirth humor, and laughter. Would you share some of the significant findings with us? Just as there are psychological dynamics associated with humor, mirth, and laughter, there are physiological changes as well. Even mere giggling or chuckling will cause an increase in certain bodily activities. We now have laboratory evidence which demonstrates that most of the major physiologic systems of the body are stimulated or activated during mirthful laughter. My personal view is that mirth is a total body experience. What I mean is that the whole body participates in the experience of mirth. The laboratory evidence has not been collected yet to support the involvement of all physiological systems. The data is still out on the gastrointestinal system, the urinary system, the genital system, and the metabolic system. For example, we do not know how many calories are consumed by various degrees of laughter. There are many questions which need to be researched. The systems on which we have evidence that mirthful laughter has an impact are: the skeletal muscular system, the central nervous system, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the endocrine system. We have scientific laboratory evidence, not speculatory ideas, that all of these systems are responsive and active during the response of mirthful laughter. Dr. William Fry is a psychiatrist and Emeritus Associate Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at Stanford University and Emeritus Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He has authored about 90 publications. Dr. Fry's books include: Sweet Madness: A Study of Humor; Make 'Em Laugh (with Dr. Melanie Allen); and Handbook of Humor and Psychotherapy (co-editor with Dr. Waleed Salameh)." [This message has been edited by LindaB (edited 05-20-99).]

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Missycat

· #6 · May 21, 1999

All I've got to say is: WHOO HOO!!------------------Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.Missycat

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· #7 · May 21, 1999

Linda,A good laugh surely does me good. Sorry to hear about your husband and hope he's ok now.------------------LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A CURE TO THIS IBS SOON!BETTIE

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LindaB

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 22, 1999

I absolutely could not pass on this one!There was a fly buzzing around a barn oneday when he happened on a pile of fresh cow manure. Due to the fact that it hadbeen hours since his last meal, he flewdown and began to eat. He ate and ate and ate. Finally, he decided he had eaten enough and tried to fly away. He had eaten too much though and could not get off the ground.As he looked around wondering what to donow, he spotted a pitchfork leaning up against the wall. He climbed to the top of the handle and jumped off, thinking that once he got airborne, he would be able to take flight. Unfortunately, he was wrong and dropped like a rock, splatting when he hit the floor. Dead.The moral to the story is:Never fly off the handle when you knowyou're full of sh*t!

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Anxious

· #9 · May 22, 1999

LindaB - that was GREAT!! Loved it!

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· #10 · May 22, 1999

Thanks LindaB - that was the best! I love to laugh, it really helps any body problem. I hope I can remember yours so I can tell it again (usually forget the good ones!!!).I'll try to think of some of my best to give you a chuckle - thanks again!

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· #11 · May 23, 1999

LindaB: I know the need to laugh as well. I have been in so much pain lately that I really need laughter to help in the healing process. However, I did not think that the bird who ate too much food and then flew off the handle and fell dead was too funny. But then again, I don't get many jokes, either. But I did get this one. I think my sense of humor has been screwed up for a long time. And I cannot remember jokes or tell them either.I know that I am rambling; but keep the laughter coming; even if some of it doesn't make me laugh. But I smile sometimes; does that count?Do you remember the show, "Make Me Laugh"?I wish that I could have played on it because I could have won; nobody could make me laugh on that show except the rare sometimes that occurred. HA!I hope nobody gets mad at me for expressing my opinion. Does anyone understand me - you know - about NOT getting jokes?AMF

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