I can't resist the temptation to add another 'view' to the picture presented by
Frank's allegory. This is NOT in conflict with his; just a possible other way
of looking at it - which may not fit for everyone - but I'd be willing to bet
that it fits for many - which is why I'm sticking my neck out here, to talk
about it again. I really think there's a big chance that this IS something
that many of us, if not all, need to check into, and do something to stop.
Perhaps that 'pebble' was steroids or antibiotics (keep in mind, that though
only a pebble, it was heavy enough/hit hard enough to make a dent.) When the
pebble hit, that was the steroids and/or antibiotics that killed off good
bacteria that kept your internal environment in balance. The 'rust' that
grows is candida fungus (something normally present in everyone's body), now
growing out of proportion because a lot of the good bacteria that keeps it in
check has been killed off by the steroids/antibiotics. And because you're not
feeling too great, you often crave sweets/simple carbohydrates for
energy/comfort - not knowing that that is what feeds the fungus, now that it's
already out of control, to keep it growing. As this tends to weaken your
immune system, you develop other conditions, some of which may need more
steroids/antibiotics, thus insuring that the cycle is kept going. Your immune
system weakens > you develope more problems > your doctors question the
validity of your really having all these 'illnesses', implying that maybe some
of it's in your mind > you start to question yourself - even if you don't admit
it > you may even become somewhat stressed/depressed about it, which only
(literally, physically) increases the candidiasis problem/weakens your immune
system more > and here we all are, wondering what's wrong with us!
I totally agree with Frank's analogy. The TM was nothing more than a pebble,
but one that set other things in motion. Regardless of whether or not my
throwing candidiasis into the analogy is fitting for everyone, we do ALL need
to concentrate on strengthening our immune systems (controlling the rust) -
right?
Sally
