Ironically, Temima Simchi* was almost relieved to receive a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS isn’t child’s play; it’s a common chronic condition that affects the digestive system, causing uncomfortable stomach-related symptoms that tend to come and go, and can last for days, weeks, or months at a time. But Temima was grateful that at least there was a diagnosis to explain her symptoms.
“As a kid, I needed colonoscopies, endoscopies, and biopsies. It was a pain,” she says. But while the diagnosis precluded the need for invasive tests, it brought a whole other set of concerns. “I was young, in high school, and I didn’t want to be busy worrying about food.”
Still, she did her best to adjust to the particulars of her adjusted diet and follow her doctor’s instructions, though she didn’t see significant improvement. “I did my due diligence, watching what I ate, suffering setbacks, feeling incredibly ill, moving forward, starting all over again, until I went off to seminary in Eretz Yisrael.”
Then one day, when the sun was shining and the sky was that brilliant Jerusalem blue, Temima suffered a panic attack.
Create a free account to keep reading.
