My brother in law is a quadriplegic for 42 years. 24/7 caretaking His parents have given their life for him. They are 82 and still taking care of him. They are all Saints
Ooooh my goodness! I completely understand so much of what Cameron is saying. I’ve had a bad skin disorder my whole life, was always passed around by dermatologists, finally quit them, then slept on black mold for months without knowing, launched into a disease called TSW and most dermatologists deny that, stuck in a cycle or CIRS. Currently researching Mast Cells and Histamine Intolerance… Been on a journey of uniting my suffering to Christ’s for reparation of sin in the world. It’s a heavy cross a lot of the time, but what a privileged place to be in, to participate in suffering for the sanctification of the world. Thank you, Cameron, for your vulnerability and strength! Heart is with you and you’re not alone. Much of what you shared I have felt and still do. Blessings, Fradds! Praying for your healing, Cameron. ❤
This episode is for everyone to hear! Her words are such a powerful example of God's Trust and his Mercy. God bless you both Matt and Cameron, and your family.
Thank you so much for this. It's like you are telling my own story except I have never had the courage to question Doctors and push for better answers. I so relate to what you both shared - I know my husband will too. It has been so very many years of unanswered pain. Thank you so much. Even the pain of lifting a bottle of water = same. The being able to cook them dinner if they do the cleaning = same. The hair washing = same. Thank you for loving Jesus so much and for having the courage to share your story. God bless you and I pray for God's strength to sustain you both.
Cameron I am praying for a healing for you and asking for the intercession of St Giuseppe Moscati who was a wonderful doc and many miracles are attributed to his intercession. God bless you both. 😷🙏🏻✝️🕊️
Oh yes, the waiting list are so stupid, ppl in America so don’t understand how the “free” health care works, on paper its free health care but actually there are a bunch of problems, like long lines, taxes, overworked medical professionals who can’t give you time, like and it doesn’t matter if you worked your whole life or not, you could be in the same room with a homeless person and no one cares that you contributed way more in your life and there are countless other flawed things.
Not sure if you’ll see my comment but I wanted to say how I appreciated this episode. I have Multiple Sclerosis and our teen daughter was just diagnosed with Hypermobility Joint Syndrome & we’re being sent to a specialist to see if it’s actually EDS. She’s been suffering for years with joint pain and all her joints popping. Anyway, I usually do not comment on videos but we’ve been watching your channel for awhile now & are converting to Catholicism, currently in RCIA expecting to be confirmed the day before Easter. Suffering is a gift once it can be embraced but it doesn’t make the cross any lighter to carry. God bless you and your wife.
I'm going to recommend this episode to my daughter and niece, bot of whom have autoimmune disorders. I will be adding Cameron to my prayers. My own chronic pain is nothing in comparison.
Ever been tested for Lyme disease? I had all the auto immune symptoms and was diagnosed with a unspecified connective tissue disorder… then took a Lyme titer and figured out it was Lyme all along…
I do. I've just started watching. All I can think of so far, is how lucky she is to have a supportive husband. I'm one step down from that with no husband, and the worst would be an unsupportive husband.
When Cameron mentioned how much better she does at the beach, it reminded me how beneficial salt therapy is like the salt caves you can go to and rent sessions. I feel she may get very similar benefits. Any ways to get sodium like that, breathing it in, even soaking in it like Epsom salt baths.
Literally THE best episode of Pints with Aquinas that has ever been made. God BLESS both of your vulnerability, your suffering, and your Tremendous commitment to your Sacramental vocation to one another and your children. Cameron, you are an INSPIRATION for what it means to be a Joyful, Authentic Catholic. Hearing you be completely real and tell your story of experience is So humbling and evidential of God’s Faithfulness. Matt, you are a Beautiful husband to your wife and servant leader to your family. The love you two share is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. God bless you both. Be assured of my prayers!! + ONE in the Body of Christ +
I love Cameron! It’s not easy to find Catholic women podcasters who don’t come across as too fluffy and giggly. Someone who talks straight about hard things seems more relevant and needed now. I am grateful for her. 💕
My aunt and uncle had bad chronic knee pain for years. Idk what exactly was there issues, something with the bones I believe. But they were desperate for a solution. They got stem cells into their knees, and they no longer have pain, it greatly diminished. It was costly, 10,000 dollars, but they say it was worth it. Hope and pray everyone living with chronic pain can find some relief and peace. 🙏Very sad for those who suffer and struggle.
Not sure if your husband has sciatica but my husband is dealing with chronic pain in the same places because of sciatica. It’s been very difficult to witness and I pray they can both recover soon
Your health story sounds very similar to Mikhaila Peterson (Jordan Peterson's daughter). She was able to get off all medications by going on a red meat only diet (she calls it the Lion Diet), and her whole family is now on it. She has a website and quite a few videos covering the topic. After looking into it, the support groups have thousands of stories of resolving and helping chronic conditions including MS, IBS, Crohn's, MCAS, Lyme and others. I was told diet had nothing to do with crohn's by 4 different specialists, but was able to completely resolve it with a strict carnivore diet.
Oh, wow! I’m just starting my Carnivore/Lion diet journey. I have watched the Peterson’s videos. If you’re not aware, Tammy Peterson, Jordan’s wife has been healed of her autoimmune diseases, too. She eats only lamb. Cameron and Tammy’s testimonies made me look into it. I have already found out one week in that I have a problem with oxalate dumping. I jumped in too fast and now have to back track a little and adjust my diet more slowly. Did you feel extremely tired when you began the diet? It seems like I just can’t get enough sleep.
Matt, your face when she was giving her testimony about her stomach pains in Canada, while she was describing how she kept food down, is how I look when my husband is talking sometimes. It's a look that says to me, "my spouse might already be a saint. I need to get my life together."
Oh wow! I suffered from PCOS and endometriosis as well. The validation thing was amazing!! Cysts would burst and I would pass out an highschool… but we didn’t know what it was. I would wake up in ambulances after passing out from these shocky pains. The 10 day periods… the miscarriages when I was married…. I have one son, my miracle baby, who came between miscarriages. The docs said I shouldn’t have been able to carry him. I felt like a walking case study. My parents thought I was a hypochondriac. I also went on the pill because I would get so anemic from my menses. I had an injury while playing soccer and tore my right ACL/MCL. I learned I have hyper mobile joints, so the docs wouldn’t repair the knee. I began having fall after fall, eventually wrecking my other knee and my spine in the process. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at this point. My doc said I had probably had it most of my life, but they didn’t know what it was back then. I got depressed, felt so lifeless. Gained 150 lbs in about a year. My knees constantly come out of the sockets, I’m losing weight to (God-willing) have knee replacements soon. I rarely walk. I’m in a wheelchair usually. I developed a hiatal hernia. I had a gallstone get stuck in my common bile duct, had a procedure to open it enough to it to pass thru the duct… only for it to get stuck in a diverticula where it went on what I’ve named “the trifecta of ewwwww!” That stone drove a fistula from my colon through my lady bits and into my bladder! Seriously…. What more?! Yes, everything hurts and some days are just terrible. But I have learned that every bit of pain is NOTHING when I look at what Jesus endured during His passion, or what Mother Mary endured in her seven sorrows. God bless you, Cameron, what a beautiful message of hope. I’m hoping that one day I will earn some bit of grace… I feel like I am just constantly falling short.
God bless you, sweet friend. I am so grateful for your comment; it really helps me see Jesus. You are so beautiful, and I'm praying for you. I am so sorry you are going through this.
There are so many people hurt out there. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through so much. I, too have fibromyalgia, and also, several autoimmune disease that cause me constant pain. I’ve gained a ton of weight from steroids. Look for Cameron’s video where she says she is off all her meds and doing the Carnivore Diet. I’m going to give it a try. God bless you and give you the grace you need to accomplish His will for you🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
As someone who is also choleric and struggles with chronic illness, this was extremely validating. Thank you for sharing Cameron! Also to Matt, it's so evident on your face that you love your wife. Very sweet to watch! :)
Sometimes I think with my pain, I’ve wanted to hear from my spouse, even if it NEVER gets better, I’m in this with you. Sometimes I’m afraid that the constant optimism is because that’s the only way he could deal. And I get scared that he could handle it if I didn’t get better. So to me, the best thing is to know that no matter what, my spouse is on my team and in it to win it. And the recovery and optimism is secondary to the commitment to the worst possible scenario in regards to health.
Thank you for this comment. I do think that women often force themselves into optimism and coping because the men in their lives cannot bear to see them in pain, and it's just 'easier' to suffer alone than to suffer your pain and cope with their inability to cope at the same time.
I’ve thought about what if my pain stopped and I could be normal again. It’s kind of scary, in a way. What would I do? After 20+ years of pain, I’ve lost who I am without it. I know I would try to serve God in some way, but doing what, I don’t know. But, I’d like to try it, i think.
I loved this episode. I rarely enjoy couples interviews because the couples are giggly or disingenuous in a way I can’t explain- but I loved watching you two. Praying for you, Cameron- If Cincinnati wasn’t on the other side of Ohio I’d find some way to bump into you (gently so as not to throw a joint out) and say hi! Also: I LOVE that you encouraged others to not let their conditions become their identity. After my diagnosis I joined some support groups for it, and swiftly left because it was SO depressing by how the poor souls there just made that their entire identity.
It's a weird couple though. He mentionned that they wrestled to the ground in a cafe. Despite knowing how terrible her dislocating condition is . I can tell they were not meant for each other. It's a real strenuous relationship. I hope she not somatizing.
@@major9004 I think you have been very careful to NOT understand what they were talking about. Is English by some chance not your first language? While I think I'd be very put off by a couple publicly wrestling - I prefer a certain amount of restraint and decorum and dignity in public, and I would not want to see something that is obviously 'private play' to them - they made it very clear that they enjoy that kind of physical expression. It's like play to them BOTH; they both voluntarily engage in it and Cameron said that Matt stops immediately if she tells him to. There's clearly great mutual love and respect between them. Look at Matt Fradd's eyes when his wife talks about her suffering. There's no doubt that he is completely in awe of her as a person and loves her deeply. Also, did you completely ignore how faith-based their courtship was and how she is absolutely certain that he is right for her? You've missed 98% of what they talk about and how they interact and then drawn a wrong conclusion.
@@major9004Though I doubt I would ever do such a thing, it is possible that they were with friends, and weren’t bothered by what they thought. Anyway, as the other commenter said, you can’t just pick out one thing and say they don’t belong together. They expressed so much love for each other, especially Matt, you can see how much he loves her. Don’t judge then on one thing. I have a 40 year old daughter that is always play fighting with two of her siblings, so I guess it’s not too unusual, annoying at times, though.
0:00 Hair care 3:27 Talking to women and being a tomboy 6:10 Need for validation 12:02 Birth control pills 13:40 Intensive Care Unit 19:15 Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, joint dislocations 23:55 Wrestling (and Fradd's aggressive relationship) 27:38 After ICU, vestibular rehabilitation (learning to walk again) 29:51 Downplaying own pain 32:17 Skepticism about diagnosis, ADHD 35:11 Offering up own suffer, prayer life 41:34 Growing in community, supportive friends 44:32 Uncertainty if the disease goes away, 46:55 Despair and humility 48:28 Other people's assumptions 51:18 How to be helpful to a person with chronic pain 1:00:55 Difficulties in loving the spouse 1:02:57 Expressing the pain 1:04:47 C-section in Ireland 1:07:09 Text from Fr. Jason, life is hard 1:09:10 Having hope (regarding a Canadian ad for assisted suicide) 1:11:26 Concerns about slothfulness 1:14:04 Travelling, preparations 1:16:25 Supporting a spouse who doesn't want to get better 1:22:14 Fasting, meatless days 1:23:45 Self-care vs self-indulgence 1:26:25 Are there men with chronic diseases? 1:28:35 Feeling pressure of traditional wife model 1:30:58 Favorite type of doctor 1:33:37 Medical expenses 1:37:20 Taking identity in own pain 1:40:10 Enjoying life 1:47:58 Gratitude Journal 1:57:29 Having a sick wife (apologies) 2:00:25 Being open, turning to Jesus 2:01:51 Failures of medical system, Cameron's childhood 2:04:16 Hallow app shout-out YAJUN YUAN is great at providing timecodes, but since I haven't seen him/her in comments lately, I thought I could give it a go while listening. Maybe it will be helpful.
@@kimberlysmiley0033So, did your husband watch it? Did it help him to better understand your situation? I’m hoping my husband will watch it, but 2 hours is longer than his attention span. Lol Seriously, he falls asleep all the time! Anyway, did it help? God bless you and heal you. I hope you’re doing well.🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Had me in tears at the end due to the raw honesty and vulnerability. Thank you, Cameron, for sharing your sufferings. Thank you, Matt, for apologizing to Cameron for not “seeing” her as she is. I think this episode is very powerful and shares an aspect of life that isn’t talked about very much.
Cameron your honesty is so healing to me. Thank you for sharing your post partum depression journey and how our wounds are the key to ministry. You have no idea how much you've helped me.
Wow. Thank you for this episode. I've been suffering from chronic pain and chronic health issues for years. It's so hard to go through the day and keep a supernatural outlook. God Bless you!
There is not enough Catholic support like this for people who suffer from physical chronic pain; so I thank you. Videos are made to help people who are caretakers or who have someone close to them suffering, but zippo for those with the actual challenge of enduring illness and pain.
My husband and I have watched this together after he recommended it to me. My husband is actually the one with EDS, POTS, MCAS, GERD, etc. and just wanted to share because while it seems predominantly women, my husband suffers with that chronic pain. And so much of what you both have said applies to us as a couple. THANK YOU for sharing so openly the sufferings, joys, and couplehood inside your marriage. 💚
This conversation between you two was so incredible to witness. I am quite sick with my pregnancy and even though I know it will end, it can feel so intense and isolating. Friends have banded together to help us in so many ways and my husband is handling it with so much grace. But it’s HARD. Thank you for speaking so much truth and sharing your lives. So grateful!
Wow, what alot of craziness. You two blow my mind how hilariously honest you both are. God bless your relationship and your witness. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪
Oh my gosh, yes Cameron. I’m an RN and suffer with chronic pain. I went through the endometriosis thing and had a full hysterectomy which ended that, but over time was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis an autoimmune disease. I have a multitude of other chronic illnesses, a mild form of EDS, Just loose joint syndrome, migraines and have had to live on pain medication and have had multiple surgeries, bones breaking in fact breaking both legs by tripping and falling one on one day and 10 days later the other leg, and it goes on and on. But without God I think I’d be dead.
I can’t thank you enough for this interview. My daughter told me I was a lot like Cameron, she loves Among the Lilies. I had no idea until I watched this episode how similar we are in personality and chronic pain. I’m not a girly girl, either. I don’t know if I’d get through any of this without my faith, either. I’ve been to the edge of despair. Anyway, thank you, again, I felt validated watching this.
I pray for healing to all who suffer from chronic pain. I care for my husband who has leg ulcers and I changed my thinking when feeling overwhelmed from, "I have to dress his leg again" to " I get to dress his leg again because he is still with me and alive." God bless you Cameron, Matt and family.
The amount that I relate to Cameron is incredible. I'm not a "girly girl," I'm not super emotional, it took me like 4 years to get diagnosed with PCOS, I have Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, and recently found out I have ulcers and liver problems. I also have a bad back/nerve issues from a botched spinal cord surgery. She's right. It is only by the grace of God that we can get through it. Doctors belittle you, meds don't work, you can't make it through a day. Prayers for you always!
Yes...doctors put me on psych meds...while i have visible damage in my spine, shoulders, hands, ankles due to spondilitis which is a joint inflamatory condition. Its been 11 yrs until finally i am officially diagnosed. We feel so alone and misunderstood like Our Lord in Getsemani
Oh wow! I think you have as many illnesses as I have! It’s rough, I know. I’ve been going through chronic pain for 20+ years. God bless you and give you the grace you need to get through it!🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
@@etcwhatever that’s horrible they should be sued! I had an allergist 30 years ago put down on my patient file that I was depressed. That’s all he got out of everything I told him? What the heck? What a bad doctor he was! Have you seen Cameron’s video on her healing from the Carnivore diet? There’s also one on Tammy Peterson’s channel, where she was healed from the Lion diet. I’m going to give her a try! Praying for your healing🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Bless you and your wife. The love in your eyes when you look at her while she spoke of her pain made me cry several times during this. Thank you both for being incredibly real. I'll be praying for both of you. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much for this episode, I have never felt so heard or understood. I am a 20 year old with PCOS and ENDO, and the *only* things getting me through my pain episodes is my faith and my partner. I hit rock bottom at 17, that same year I met my best friend and now fiancée, meeting him also brought me back to my faith (even though he's a Catholic and I'm Orthodox). Knowing that there is a happy and stable future for me has given my pain purpose. Matt and Cameron, thank you for being so candid and vulnerable in this episode, I already know I will be rewatching it multiple times whenever I need strength. I always appreciate hearing women speak on this podcast and the passion and empathy in Cameron's eyes while she spoke healed my soul in a way I didn't know it could (or needed to) be. Thank you.
Liam, Kiara, Avila and Peter..if you are reading this pls love your parents so much..they've done so much for you and are sooo amazing..especially love your mom as Jesus loved His..she is really standing upright by her cross like Mary..she is a superwoman..God bless
I am a physician myself. My wife is suffering from Long-Covid (for a year now), but she has had multiple health issues for years before that. Hormonal Migraine, growing food intolerance (and noone knows why really), insomnia, interior agitation, GI stuff - just to name a few. And trust me, there are MANY things evidence based medicine doesn't know. There are many things no one really knows. Evidence based medicine (EbM) is great for acute diseases, but does a really lousy job when it comes to chronic diseases - all it does is sometimes control the symptoms without really getting to the core (for instance in all autoinflammatory diseases). Many people, like my wife, no longer go to a normal doctor, because they know what to expect - no substantial help. They learn to cope, they learn to suffer. They even learn not to be understood by many.
Can I give this conversation a hundred Thumbs Up??? This was the best podcast EVER! And the healing method Cameron was describing being done by the chiropractor in Florida is called CranioSacral Therapy. My daughter is a PT who is trained in it, and it's truly amazing. I just LOVE you guys, and can't wait to float the Seine in France with you next summer!
Please look into the Carnivore diet Cameron. I am about your age and have been amazed to hear my story in yours. I think at 37 I am finally starting to heal my body and I hope to feel better in my 40's than I did in my 30's I, like you, can't imagine dealing with all of this without my Catholic Faith.
I’m here to second this! I’ve been doing an adjusted carnivore diet plus some other stuff recommended by Dr. Ray Peat (electrolytes and raw carrot salads) and I no longer need my immune modifying drugs.
I will give it a third - after more than a decade of chronic issues, I have a new life now after only 10 months on carnivore. Don’t dismiss it like I did at first because it sounds so extreme - educate yourself and give it a try. Amazing results!!!
I need to get back to the Carnivore diet or at least a modified one. 2 years I tried it and found I was no longer reaching for my anti-inflammatory medicine! I had injuries all over my body from years of working in restaurants. Then I no longer needed my anti depressant! However, bad carbs started creeping back into my life and have gained back about 15 pounds of the 20 I lost. I do reach for the Aleve more often again, but fortunately have not had a need for the anti depressants but need to stop this cycle before I do.
@@windsongshf you've got this Windsong. Try to make a point to do it for 2 weeks so that you can remember how good it feels and then that will be your incentive to continue. 🙂
Has Cameron been diagnosed with Celiac Sprue? She said two key things that jumped out at me: "I feel like I'm drunk on a ship at sea", and "I take high dose supplements without them registering." Celiac can have some crazy neurological ramifications. (I'm sure she's been tested for this throughout her health journey via celiac blood panel and targeted endoscopy, but on the off chance she hasn't, just want to mention it!)
I saw a recent video of hers and she said that she is off of all her meds because she went on the carnivore diet. Praise the Lord! This diet seems to be working, wonders with many people, including the famous Jordan Peterson and his family. Maybe it would work for you, too. I have many auto immune diseases and I am giving it a try. I’m on day seven. God bless🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
I love Cameron’s RU-vid and her video on on offering up our pain really helped me tremendously. If she hasn’t looked into I highly recommend checking out the carnivore diet, specifically Mikhaila Peterson’s story. 🙏 💕
Cameron, towards the end of the interview, you mentioned that going to Florida is very helpful in reducing your pain and that coming back to Steubenville becomes hard since the pain comes back. If I understood the conversation correctly, why not permanently move to Florida?
The following quote was shared with me (place of origin unknown) I have MS and this helped me put things into perspective as well. Thank you so much for this interview. "My Doctor Recently Asked Me How Many "Usable Hours" I Have in a Day. She told me that a healthy person has, on average, around 10 "usable hours" a day. These hours can be spent going to work, getting errands done, and fulfilling other responsibilities. We realized that, on a good day, I have around 4 "usable hours" with lots of rest in between. This really hit home for me because, despite knowing better, I still try to keep up with healthy people. I try to squeeze their 10 hours of socially-acceptable responsibilities into my 4 hours each day. The equivalent would be if a healthy person tried to fit 25 hours of responsibilities into their 10 usable hours a day. It also made me understand why I felt like time was slipping me by so quickly; because a healthy person has approximately 6 more usable hours a day than me, 42 more a week and 186 more a month."
Yes, that makes a lot of sense to me! Have you heard of the spoon theory? Everybody gets so many spoons each day. You use them up as you do things. Those of us who have chronic pain or illness get less spoons at the beginning of the day, and sometimes it takes more than one spoon to accomplish something. Blessings🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
As a person living with chronic pain (Lupus, RA, Sjogrens, Menniere’s, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Asthma, disc degeneration) I can totally relate to Cameron. But, God’s grace has seen me through all of it. God bless you both 🙏🏼
Sorry if this is TLDR (Too Long Didn't Read, added this toward the end of my commenting)... I am a male in pain 24/7 who prior to this period was a roofer, recovered from major surgeries and prolonged diagnosis periods and worked the whole time through them, worked full-time while getting an engineering degree in my 30s with a wife and kids. These were some of the most difficult things for me to get through at the time, but I did them. None of these matter as perspective for what I am currently going through since the perception is everyone lives and does things in pain. One person even said hey my feet hurt all day when I am standing on concrete and I still function. There is a stigmatism associated with being a Christian that is hard to get past with chronic issues such that eventually you dread the question "How are you?"I broke down and cried in front of a work nurse because at the time she was the first person to indicate I was going through real issue and not just trying to get paid not to work. Day to day I take some solace from my primary care physician and my mental health therapist, who are both great Christian individuals, because they have told me I encourage them... HOW I AM NOT GETTING BETTER... There is no way through this without Christ and in some respects I wouldn't trade the last 10 years for a better life because I have learned so much about Christ in this period. Prior to this I did everything on my own strength and abilities. Anyway, I didn't want to write this comment but more than once the question is are there any males that go through this. Yes, but I still don't want to admit it. The difference between Chronic pain and everyday pain that others work and function through; simply put you can sit or sleep and feel better. When I go to bed I actually hurt more since I don't have a distraction. I can lay there listing to my wife snore cause she fell asleep in 5 minutes. In the last 10 years the only time I was pain free was for two hours after a morphine shot that took an hour to kick in. There is no pain medication for chronic pain as they either don't work or can't be taken for prolonged periods. I know Christ can heal me, but even if He doesn't where else could I go? I recently realized I need God's grace and mercy and that needs to be the way I judge others because scripture says we will be judged by the same measure that we judge others. Hitting the comment button or trusting new people is the hardest thing ever, but God has a support system out there for you and it took me a long time to find them, but they are worth it.
My son with chronic pain has been under anesthesia twice for medical procedures and both times the pain was still there when he woke up. When he had his wisdom teeth out, the opiates he was given eased the pain in his jaw, but did absolutely nothing for his regular pain. He won't talk about his relationship with God much, but he does come to Mass when he can and I can't imagine how either one of us would stay sane if we didn't have God's grace.
I am so sorry for you. I understand chronic pain that isn’t relieved by anything, as I’ve experienced it. I think there are many men with chronic pain. I know of one who had back surgery that failed and put him in worse intractable pain. I’ve seen many men on the website, ‘Patient’s Like Me’ that are in pain. Maybe it’s the male stigma of men not wanting to look weak, so they don’t mention it, and that’s why we don’t know so many of them🤷🏻♀️ I have been living through it for over 20 years. As I was watching this video, I could relate to so many things Cameron said, and it brought me to tears several times. Now, reading your comment I’m crying again. One of the worst things about chronic pain is that people don’t really understand it. I have been told things like, “my feet hurt all the time,”(yet she proceeds to go to aerobics class); “you don’t understand, my husband was in the worst pain, and he handles pain really well, but he couldn’t move without moaning” (in a response to me when I said I had too much pain to do something). I don’t understand, really? How would you like to spend 20 years Ike that?; or “you just need to move more”(insinuating if I’d just exercise and lose some weight I wouldn’t hurt so much); and this one that has been said by a friend so many times, “Well, I have a really high pain tolerance”(this comment really makes me upset because it really trivializes my situation and my chronic pain! This friend actually just doesn’t feel much pain. So, if you don’t feel it, do you really have a high pain tolerance? No, because you don’t feel it! I have a high pain tolerance because I feel it and somehow I’m still here and somehow surviving! I’ve tried to explain it to her a couple of times, but it’s worthless. I’ll just let her to continue in her delusion! Sorry for the rant, but I really do understand the difference between everyday normal, ‘everyone has it’ pain and chronic ‘it won’t go away ever’ pain. When people make light of your pain or they just dismiss it as just being ordinary, it hurts, especially when it’s a family member or a friend. Even after 20 years, my husband and kids don’t really understand it and trivialize my suffering. People that have support, like Cameron, should count their blessings. Like she said, “When you don’t have validation, you go into despair.” I’ve been there many times. You’re not alone with the distraction thing either. When my pain gets out of hand, which is fairly often, I use TV or videos to distract me from it, too. It can give you a temporary reprieve. I think I would have gone insane if I didn’t find a little relief somewhere. When you say there is a stigma about being a Christian and having chronic pain, is it because people expect you to be healed? I have been told a few times by family members, that maybe I don’t have enough faith and that’s why I’m not cured. That hurts a lot, and it’s not true. Especially when you’ve been praying for many years to be heal or at least have the grace to suffer through it. It’s like no one’s even noticed how hard you struggle. They insult our faith. It could actually be that they don’t have enough faith or they haven’t been praying enough for you! Jesus told the disciples once that one person wasn’t healed because THEY didn’t have enough faith. It had nothing to do with the person they prayed for. God has a plan, and for whatever reason we’ve been chosen to carry this cross. I remember reading this quote from St. Bernadette about when visitor’s asked her if she had heard about the wonders at Lourdes, she said no. When they didn’t understand, she said, “You see, my business is to be ill.” St. Bernadette, pray for us so we can accept our sufferings as “our business,” and so we will one day rejoice in heaven with you. I don’t know what kind or type of pain you’re in or what it’s from, but have you been to a pain management doctor? It’s probably a stupid question , so please don’t take this the wrong way, I’m sure you have tried all kinds of things. I’m just hoping to help, as I hate for anyone to suffer so much. I know the US government has really caused a lot of trouble for pain patient’s, making us feel like drug addicts, but there are still some doctors out there that can help you. I suffer from a few types of pain, from several diseases, arthritis, fibromyalgia, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, and a few others, but the worst unrelenting pain I have is from idiopathic small and large fiber neuropathy. It causes pain all over my body. At times I can’t even wear my glasses because the frame on my nose hurts to much. A breeze from a fan can feel like it’s burning my skin. I’ve been told it’s most likely from my Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I never get any relief from this pain, which started suddenly, during a strange stomach infection I somehow contracted. If your pain is nerve pain, I can tell you what has helped me. I tried so many medications for this, lyrica, gabapentin, amitriptyline, and so many others that I can’t remember them all, along with several opiates. When nothing helped, and I was at wit’s end because I couldn’t sleep, my doctor prescribed Ambien. It was amazing, not only did it allow me to sleep, it took the edge off of the nerve pain,so I could. If only they would make a drug like that, that I could take during the day! I recommend you try it, if you haven’t. You need sleep. If that doesn’t work, try another. The days when I haven’t slept, are the worst, because I can’t cope as well . Also, the last year I have been taking morphine ER 3 times a day. I don’t know why, but this drug works much better than Opana, Norco, and Percocet. It takes the pain away enough that I don’t have to be thinking about it constantly, and wasn’t having the anxiety over it either. The ER means that it is long acting, you’ll need this, otherwise you’ll be on a rollercoaster with ups and downs all day. When my doctor first gave me this, he didn’t match the amount I had been taking on Opana. I wanted to raise it up after several months, so he had me go to Stanford Neurology Dept. to get a higher dose approved, basically. He was surprised that they said I should get a larger dose, as I guess most people he sends there are told they should be weaned off. Anyway, that tells you how bad my pain is. We’re all different, so what works for me may not work for you, but you really should try to find something that can help you. They are coming out with new things all the time. My doctor told me about something called Qutenza. It’s a capsaicin pad that they put on for about half an hour, then take it off, and your done. It lasts for 2-3 months. It’s supposed to help neuropathy. He has a patient that said it works well for him. Have you had any nerve blocks or tried one of the nerve stimulators they put in your spine? I think that’s my next step. I know I will never be completely out of pain unless God wills it, but I have to keep trying. How can we’ll continue without hope? One last thing, agin, i don’t know what kind of pain you have, but you may want to look into the Carnivore Diet. Jordan Peterson, renown psychologist, and his family have all been healed from autoimmune issues and other health problems from this diet. Tammy Peterson, Jordan’s wife has a video on how she healed with the stricter Lion Diet. Jordan and his daughter Mikhaila have many interviews on YT about it, and so does Cameron Fradd. She started it not too long ago and is already off all her meds. It seems amazing after watching this video. I have decided to give it a try, too. I feel God is calling me too, as I was praying to him about my pain, then when I finished I went on YT and there was her video in my feed. Then I discovered Tammy. Who knows, maybe we can be healed🤷🏻♀️ Talk about TLDR! Sorry to go a for so long. I will pray that God gives you some relief from your pain, that he directs you to the right drug or treatment, and that you’ll get some good sleep. God bless you🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
I can’t even begin to say how powerful this was, and how much it ministered to me. My issue is not chronic physical pain, yet I could relate to much of what Cameron shared - and I am both thankful and challenged by how she has offered up her suffering. It is beautiful to see and hear a loving couple share so openly and vulnerably. For various reasons, it is easy for me to succumb to a sense of disillusionment and even cynicism about marriage; seeing the love between Matt and Cameron, hearing his words of admiration for her, and especially hearing his heartfelt apology - that was like a healing balm to my heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this episode.
You cannot function without Gods Grace 🙏 I have been sick since I was 3 months old and just turned 56 after being told I had three years to live 35 years ago. God is Amazing and gives you the grace to live with so much🙏
WOW!!! She has such deep faith through everything she's been through and living with! Praise God for this episode and the call to be hopeful in the Lord no matter what. Laughed and cried through so much of this talk. Thank you so much and be assured of my prayers for you both and your family xx
How horrible for the family that lost a child. We have lost two through miscarriages, one quite traumatic, and almost lost our miracle baby earlier this year. Many prayers for them in their pain!
So many of these questions seem to boil down to unbelief, which is the issue I run into constantly. I’m the type who does NOT talk about my pain or fatigue, I don’t like to complain, so if I’m saying it it’s bad. This also often winds up causing depression for me, because not only am I suffering, but I’m not understood, believed, and this can cause me to feel alone and unloved.
I'm sitting here listening as a guy with chronic pain and I'm like I bet she's got POTS like me or was told that at some point. Bam when you live with something it's easier to see in others.
Seeing the love you have for your wife in your eyes Matt, melted my heart. I could see Jesus looking at Cameron. Thank you for allowing us to enter your sacred space and taste the goodness of God in the struggle.
Kind reminder to whoever oversees the social media to add the correct link for Cameron’s podcast. As someone with a chronic illness, it was so valuable to see a relationship between two godly people that involves someone with a chronic illness in practice. I know we shouldn’t be listing ourselves as our illness (I agree with Cameron on this) but there were some significant logistical realities that I face that make marriage feel out of reach. I feel more hope after listening to this podcast and will keep your family in my prayers. Thank you for answering the call and sharing this today.
I'm on a chronic illness journey as well, and I have found this RU-vidr "Ribeye Rach" who also has POTS, lyme, and similar things to Cameron. Her channel is amazing -- I especially appreciate her Christian perspective on the journey.
How do I "like" this more than once?:D This was really touching, thank you so much for sharing and testifying, I needed a conversion today, and this softened my heart.
Matt, I relate to you a ton, and my wife is incredibly similar to Cameron and her disposition. This conversation is an extraordinary reminder that our vocation is a beautiful means to grow in virtue and holiness. Thank you both for your authenticity and witness of love.
The ending was so heartfelt and deep. Thank-you for sharing your journey Cameron and thank-you Matt for showing your heart towards your beloved. I think women have such a hard time with submission because it's scary to 'need' your husband. But we have to admit we ARE the weaker vessel we do NEED our husbands. And it's okay to admit that. It's okay to feel weak and not strong. God shines through our weakness. Look up masculine/feminine polarity. It saved our marriage. Women sharing their heart with their man is so healing. It makes a man rise up and be the protector of your heart.
That part about curling up in the fetal position and giving up and feeling like dying....... Being abandoned by your spouse will do the same thing to you.
My husband and I wrestled for fun too before my back pain started getting worse. Having to deal with chronic pain that I know will be getting worse, is tough, and it's hard to think about everything that slowly gets lost, knowing there will continue to be more.
This is so true. Spouses of someone dealing with chronic pain really need support too. It's hard, because so much in life is effected by it. I see my husband struggling with it too. I would love for him to be able to talk to people who really get it.
Forgive me for stating this, but this video has been particularly difficult to watch. I can't imagine how much of a challenge it is and has been for you as a couple/family. But what makes it especially painful, yet (ironically) so beautiful, is the way Cameron/Mrs Fradd is accepting of it with grace. I'm moved, not only by her example as an individual, but also the way it all highlights the love you have for one another as a couple, as a family. Your marriage serves as an icon. My thoughts and prayers. God bless you.
It’s interesting you had such a negative experience of maternity care in Ireland. Just to let people know, Ireland has one of the highest standards for maternity care in the world.
The look of love and incredible compassion on Matt's face at 38:45 was heartbreaking. My wife of 42 years has faced many of the same issues and I feel embarrassed that I haven't been more compassionate. Great video guys!
Parasites are the cause of autoimmune conditions 90% of the time. My story was practically identical to Cameron's - I was finishing her sentences. Once I had kids, my hip pain eclipsed all of the other pain I'd had my entire life. I did a parasite cleanse earlier this year and my hip pain is barely detectable. Obviously it won't fix my faulty connective tissue that causes other problems, but I'm stunned that my excruciating hip pain is gone after it had been my primary pain complaint for 20 years.
Think of all the people who took the v a x who are now going to have medical issues for life and no doctors will validate their pain because they refuse to admit what these evil Big Pharma people have done to them. That lack of validation just adds so much insult to injury.
Oh my goodness, Matt, that last few minutes you made me cry my eyes out 😭 what an absolutely beautiful relationship. Real, and honest and raw. Something to aspire to, for sure. So beautiful.
I feel so seen and heard, hearing Cameron tell her story. I had a young adulthood of bad female “issues” that included tanking blood pressure, vomit-inducing pain, fainting, delirium, uncontrollable bleeding, 30 days of non stop vomiting that suddenly stopped in 2004, and a bunch of doctors saying “Interesting. Go on the pill and take some Advil”. Also can dislocate my femurs out of my pelvis on cue. Hearing Cameron speak is like realizing I apparently have a lovely blonde sister.
If you frequently partially dislocate joints everywhere in your body, look into connective tissue disorders. Like Hypermobile Joint disorder or a form of Ehlers-Danlos. But if it's just one or two joints maybe not. (Obviously I am not a doctor. I have hypermobility myself.)
I’ve never cared about hair, either. I’m very early into the video, but I have Crohn’s disease and all that comes with that. I still do not allow myself to be okay with having needs, especially due to the fatigue-I often just feel lazy and beat myself up for needing to slow down or rest.
This was such a beautiful episode! ❤ Thank you both for your vulnerability. This podcast was literally life changing. The Holy Spirit was definitely speaking through your story….thanks for being courageous enough to share it 🙏🏻
Minutes 1:53:21 through 2:00:00 is some of the most insightful, beautiful, and powerful "podcast" tv I've ever seen. Thank you both for being so open and vulnerable and for the wisdom Cameron shared. Beautiful!
Well I believe Cameron is a future saint for chronic illness. There is no way Jesus is allowing this much suffering for nothing. 😅 what an inspiration 👏👏👏 this made me stop and just pray pray pray for all of those out there with an undiagnosed illness. Personally I've been through a tough time with an infection last year and by the grace of God it was diagnosed and healed but it was not easy. I related so much to what she said about only getting through it with the Lord's graces.
I have so much of the same hurts!!! I'm Catholic and I can't stand and sit and stand so I just sit through Mass. I use the electric carts! My husband shops, cooks, cleans!!! He is such a wonderful help with my chronic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis!! I don't have to feel self conscious any more! I'm not alone!! Thank you for this podcast! God Bless you and stay safe. ✝️💖🙏🙏🙏💒
