When Even Your Internist Doesn’t Get It

Like many people, I have a regular internist I see for checkups every now and again. A couple of weeks ago, I went for my annual physical. I happened to be experiencing a small flare at the time — and by small, I mean I only needed 30 mg of prednisone and was not lying in
I personally don’t see the harm in yoga. There are no side effects. Maybe it’s not the answer for you but it may help someone else at least cope with a chronic condition. I wish more physicians would recognize alternative medicine alongside traditional.
I have Crohn’s and it dies t sound likecyoit internist was saying that all flare-ups are caused by stress or anxiety, but I know for myself and for many people with Crohn’s that stress/anxiety from other things in life can definitely cause my physical symptoms to get worse and possibly start a flare up. If your internist was suggesting yoga as a stress/reliever, I don’t think there’s anything bad about that. She wasn’t saying that yoga would cure Crohn’s but that it can help with stress, which in turn can be one of many tools that helps a lot of people during flare ups or possibly prolonging the remission in between flares.
The times that I would get upset with a Dr. are if they were stating that Crohn’s is actually curable with yoga or that anxiety causes the disease itself.
Oops, my phone went crazy- I meant “It doesn’t sound like your internist was”
Judy, I get it….. I experience the same scenarios when I see some of my specialists. I do say give yoga a try, there are some great, free classes on the internet but I think I understand your point of bringing it up. I’m tired of my specialists asking me each visit if I’m depressed. (I understand it’s with good intentions and they need to ask.) I give my standard reply, “No, I’m not depressed, I’m frustrated/scared that I’m running out treatment options and I’m so tired of being sick. I know it can be worse, and I’m grateful it’s not.” Thanks for sharing your feelings, I get it:) I feel for you and all your body is struggling with. Try to stay positive and I say give the yoga a try. I recently started and it’s empowering to take control of something with my body, even if it’s only for 15-30 minutes. I’m sending you positive, healing energy:) Best of luck!
I am so glad that I did yoga semi-regularly for the…wait for it…ten years preceding the onset of my symptoms.
A whole freaking decade.
I am not opposed to yoga.
But it did not prevent my illness, and it ain’t gonna cure it neither. 🙂