Bending Over Backwards

I discovered this past week that my insurance deductable for physical therapy is $350, and that I'd have to pay anywhere from 400-500 per session if I decided to do physical therapy a couple of times a week, as recommended by my PCP. Whoa! I certainly can't afford that, and I found that because I've been babying my back and being scrupulous about modifying any moves that might have an impact on my lower back, that I feel worlds better, and really have no need of expensive PT anyway.
Of course, I think staying away from Nitrates was also a good move, as I seem to get joint pain and swelling every time I consume any food like bacon that contains lots of nitrates, salt, preservatives and smoke flavoring.
I have also been having tons of Crohns flares all week, and I can only assume that my forays into eating whole grains and dried fruit like craisins are the culprits. I love oatmeal, and every now and then I try to have a scant cup of cinamon apple oatmeal for breakfast, or a homemade cookie with oatmeal, and I always end up paying the price in pain, as my colon seizes up on me.
It happened last week during Tuesday nights spin class with the delightful Danielle. Suddenly, as I leaned over to do jumps, a wave of pain washed over me and I felt as if my bowels were going to evacuate right there on the bike! I was mortified, and ran to the bathroom, but Danielle thought I was having an asthma attack or a heart attack, and sent people to knock on the bathroom door to ensure that I was okay. It was horribly embarrassing, because of course I was having what used to be known as the "bloody flux" and I was in considerable pain. Once I managed to get out of the bathroom, Danielle had me lay on the floor, draw my knees up to my chest, breathe in deeply and out deeply and then squeeze my ab muscles whenever I felt a wave of colon pain about to hit. Much to my shock, it worked, and my pain lessened dramatically. I have never been told to do that before, and was thrilled that there is now someway to aleviate the pain when I am away from home and pain meds. Susie, one of the gals in the class actually drove me home, while another Danielle, who is a nurse, followed to make sure I was okay. Thank you, gals, and thanks Danielle for helping me out in my time of need. Even though I was embarrassed, it was still a lesson learned.