Posts by Grace Richardson24

mellowskipper said:I have a different take

This is a must-read.
My Crohn's was actually treated like I was just being a hypochondriac at first—so instead of seeing a gastroenterologist, I ended up talking to a psychiatrist because that's what the insurance company decided 🙄

It’s actually pretty common—you check your tracking number and it says the item is still sitting in Hong Kong, then boom, the mail carrier is at your door the next day.

Basically, once they toss everything into a shipping container in Washington, D.C., the status just sits there until that container is either full or finally scheduled to head toward its destination.
You aren't going to see the actual transit progress; you only see movement once it arrives and gets scanned after being pulled out of the bin.
So, it’s totally plausible that your package is already miles away from Washington, D.C. and the European Union—it just hasn't been "checked in" yet.😁

It's going to be tough for anyone to offer a solid diagnosis based solely on what’s been shared here.
If even the gastroenterologists aren't certain because they don't have the full medical records in front of them—well, then this forum isn't going to be much help either.

If you're seeing blood and mucus in your stool, that definitely points to some kind of inflammation or change in the gut that doesn't look good.

There is an option for Crohn's (not "chron" as you wrote it) 😉complete nutritional support Modulen ibd which can be used as a supplement or even a total meal replacement.
Ask your GI doctor to recommend that—or perhaps another enteral formula—to use as a dietary supplement just to help get your strength back up a bit.

Unless they’re sick—or high—there isn't anyone.
Like Bill Gates mentioned, you really need to run some searches.

My neighbor was clearly struggling to swallow—even just tilting his head—all because of an enlarged thyroid.

Trying to diagnose why you’re having trouble swallowing by reading forum posts (or worse, Googling it) will only lead you down a rabbit hole of anxiety.
Just go see a doctor at your local clinic to find out exactly what's going on.

Are you just bragging about not smelling, or are you actually looking for advice on how to start?

Anyway, pork and chicken are a far cry from what most people call "healthy eating" (if we're even going to go there)

By the way, I constantly run into folks who claim they don't have any odor—and then go on to say that deodorant and soap are basically toxic—so it’s perfectly fine to wear the same clothes for a few days straight 😬

🤣 You can always just pretend you don't smell.

Honestly, those developers over at Reddit can't seem to make up their minds—they change things in every single update.
One minute you have sticky threads sitting right on top of everything else, and then the next version comes along and moves them into some random dropdown menu...

By the way, that free Reddit app from the Google Play Store? It’s completely useless—honestly, don't even bother with it.

I was a smoker for over 20 years—hitting about three packs a day lately.
I quit cold turkey—no patches, no therapy sessions, and absolutely no whining. I just made the cut one day and that was that.
Looking back ten years later, I realize how much I actually stunk and what a waste of time it all was. I’m a completely different person now. Back then, I wasn't any different from an alcoholic or a drug addict—even though I used to tell myself those were the ones who really needed to work on themselves. 😁

A doctor or a nurse can't be considered high-quality staff if they're smoking in the restroom.
It's totally unprofessional.
Besides, all that health education they received in medical school doesn't mean much if they're sneaking off to a corner to light up like teenagers. 🤷

We're starting to gossip like old ladies at a farmer's market—anyway, I'm signing off now.

@Alexander Thompson/">@@Alexander Thompson - it doesn't really matter if you don't visit; someone else will likely walk into that room and cough or sneeze right toward your father.
That's the actual issue we're talking about—people with zero consideration for others—not people like you, who just bring over some juice and a newspaper for a quick 10-15 minute chat.

He thought he was calling his sister over, but she’s definitely not going to show up with twenty ounces of premium deli ham and some local craft beer from the grocery store.
Or maybe some fresh laundry.
🙂
Alright, look—being a patient at, say, Mayo Clinic isn't quite the same experience as being treated like a pig at a Midwest BBQ joint.
The first group might have blurry vision, sure, but they can still grab a beer and joke around.
For everyone else, things aren't exactly "fun"—you definitely shouldn't be hooked up to any machines, and you desperately need peace, quiet, and as much rest as humanly possible. At that point, nothing else really matters.

Addicts don't really fall into that specific category of patients; they can often receive visitors for longer periods under different sets of rules.
Then you have those in mental health programs who spend their days in outpatient day programs.

Now, healthcare workers who struggle with addiction—well, that’s a whole different story.
A person like that might be recognized as a top-tier specialist, but if they aren't looking after their own health, how can I expect them to look after mine?
🤷

Andrew Peterson2 said:Let's say you're hooked up to machines constantly—nobody is checking in on you, and you can't even ask a sister to grab you something—maybe something personal or just a snack from the convenience store.
I certainly wouldn't suggest calling home to have them drop stuff off; after all, you're in a hospital.

I had the "pleasure" of spending two weeks in the ICU—plugged into quite a few interesting gadgets myself.
Believe me— you don't need anything from a store 😁when you're in that state, nor do you really care about personal items when you're tucked under a hospital sheet.

And visits? What visits?! My family came by, we exchanged a look, and I sent them on their way.
What you actually need is peace—pure, uninterrupted peace and sleep.

The real issue here is the patients out on the wards—most of them are mobile, they just prefer staying in bed—but then a whole swarm of family members rolls in from the nearby suburbs like a tidal wave, making noise and crowding the rooms like they're at a county fair.

At Varaždin Hospital, across the three different units where I was treated, there are lounges available everywhere—yet everyone just crowds into the patient rooms instead.

shadownomad43 said:Ah, baby, baby... (That's just my little catchphrase for the people I care about... Just let it go...)
Where on earth did you get the idea that we were arguing?!

We didn't argue—we just didn't have time to finish the fight!
And look, I'm not offended by "baby" 🙂, but being called "son" felt a bit condescending, if you know what I mean. 🕺
Perhaps we aren't so far apart in our thinking after all.😁

I got into a bit of a debate with shadownomad43 on the forums—we definitely don't see eye to eye on healthcare policy—but when it comes to visitation rules, I'm 100% on her side.
I second everything she said. 👍

There are day-care facilities available for a reason, so if people want to hang out and chat, they can do it there.

The absolute worst? People who show up and immediately claim my hospital bed. Like, sorry, but I shouldn't have to squeeze myself over just so you can get comfortable. No thanks.

Visits should be kept to a quick two-minute check-in—just long enough for a family member to drop off clean laundry and ask if anything is needed.
And honestly, I have zero tolerance for those massive family reunions involving rotisserie chicken and dessert trays in the middle of a ward. 😬

I think you might find those bitter nail lacquers at any local CVS or Walgreens—they’re usually meant for kids to stop them from biting their nails, but they work!
Also, maybe try being more mindful whenever you start picking—just take a second to realize everything you touch might have germs on it.
Honestly, you're basically just licking bacteria off your hands. 😬

"Self-discharge"? What a joke!
Honestly, whenever I stay at a place like the Mayo Clinic, it just takes me a few days to get used to a different bed...
I usually make friends with the staff within the first couple of days—and frankly, I’ve never had a single bad experience in any ward.

It's not like they're kicking me out early! 🤣

Everything really comes down to how you treat the nurses. If a patient shows up being grumpy and difficult, well—that’s definitely not helping their case.
A little smile or a quick joke doesn't cost a dime, yet it can totally disarm even the toughest nurse on the floor. 👍

shadownomad43 said:It’s truly a pleasure...
Let’s look at it this way...
I’m addressing you and everyone else all at once here, simply because I have no interest in going back and forth through every single individual comment like some kind of pedantic nitpicker.

To be quite specific regarding AML—acute myeloid leukemia—I actually had a case within my immediate family, so I have firsthand experience with what a sick person goes through, as well as the emotional toll it takes on their closest relatives. I am choosing to speak about this in the past tense, intentionally. I believe it’s important to be clear enough for anyone listening to truly grasp the gravity of the situation.

Furthermore, if anyone is genuinely curious about the specific ailments I’ve dealt with in the past or what I'm currently struggling through, feel free to dig through the forum archives. There should be plenty of my old posts floating around that cover those details quite thoroughly.

I only stepped into this thread for one reason: to weigh in on the poll regarding whether we are for or against. Since I find myself firmly on the opposing side, I’ve already laid out my position in a previous post—mostly because that very first entry in the survey had the nerve to label those of us who disagree as selfish. Period.

Look, I have absolutely no interest in being labeled a troll, nor do I have any desire to spend my energy bickering with anyone else here. So, I’ll just leave it at this: I wish you all nothing but the best—may you live long, stay sharp, and above all, enjoy nothing but good health.

So long for now.

You can save that kind of talk for your family back home—talking to strangers on an online forum with "sweetie, dear" just isn't part of the etiquette, and it never will be.

I am certainly not your child—in fact, I don't even have parents anymore, as they passed away years ago—and since I'm well into my adult years, I won't sit here and let someone patronize me like I'm some little kid.

Shame on you!👎

I have another suspicion—that there’s been a bit of intentional trolling going on here, given how sensitive people tend to get about these topics, making it all too easy to bait someone. 🕺

We all enjoy a little mischief now and then, but there are specific forums for that kind of thing; seeing it happen here is just distasteful.

shadownomad43 said:What would I tell her?
If I were Dr. House, I’d probably just tell her: "Look, honey, your clock has run out."
But since I'm clearly not Dr. House, I’d go with something a bit more human: "Listen, friend, life can be incredibly cruel. Forget about the radiation, skip the chemo, and honestly, screw the whole pharmaceutical industry. Just hold your husband tight, grab your kids by the hands, and soak up every single second left with them..."

As for you, I’ll offer this: there is a curious little psychological quirk tucked away in our brains. It seems that once we finally stop obsessively agonizing over the things that weigh us down, the problem somehow begins to resolve itself.
The power of self-suggestion really does work wonders.

Well, look at that—we finally made it!
Eleven corrective surgeries down—and now we're just waiting on number twelve.
So, when I think about corrective surgery—you know, the real "fixing" kind—I’m talking about things like a breast lift, straightening bowed legs, or even fixing those prominent ears...

So—it's perfectly fine to boost someone's self-esteem through butt and breast implants, but the moment a woman fights for her own life, she’s suddenly labeled "selfish"?! WTF?

Since when does a dying patient start straightening their ears every single time? — honestly, I have to wonder!

Maybe we could also drop some psychological tips regarding autosuggestion—you know, that whole mindset shift thing—and such... 🤣
Honestly—no matter how much people try to hide behind their usernames here (which, by the way, are quite interesting)—it’s pretty obvious that there’s a lot of frustration brewing. It seems like many are dealing with some real issues, even if they aren't quite ready to admit it yet. 😉

I don't know—I’m just thinking out loud here—but once consciousness fades, it’s gone. Now, I know the religious folks will jump in and say it's the soul departing (which is fine by me, even if my own views lean a bit differently)—but that's just how I see it.
All that’s left is a pile of organic matter—which, let's face it, is going to spoil within a few hours and turn into literal rot almost immediately.

So, I was wondering—will your kidney end up in someone who can still enjoy a high-quality life for a while, or is it just going to be a feast for the worms and other critters in the ground?!
You aren't around to see the outcome anyway—so really, it comes down to this: would you rather someone be grateful for the gift of life, or just happy about a decent meal? Honestly, which one sounds better to you—and who would you actually want to be close with? 😬

John Baker said:Doesn't the idea of having someone else's organ "installed" inside you strike you as absolutely horrifying?
It’s just a piece of another human being.

As for that desperate craving to endure yet another agonizing day of pure suffering, I'm certain it's driven by nothing more than a paralyzing fear of death.
Everyone has that right, but I never find myself admiring people who act on it. It’s just pathetic.

So—blood received through a transfusion isn't actually considered part of another person? —Just a thought!
Oh right—she's just some sort of "renewable fluid," as someone else put it. 🤣

As for that craving to endure yet another desperate day filled with suffering—I’m convinced it really boils down to nothing more than a fear of death.

Life is truly a one-time deal—and honestly, getting to live just one more day to see your child or someone you love again? That’s something no vague story about heaven, eternal life, or any other fairy tale could ever hope to replace. 👍

Any sane individual fears death—only fanatics and lunatics would ever claim otherwise.

shadownomad43 said:There is a fundamental distinction between surgical intervention and amputation.

An ulcer isn't "amputated"; it’s repaired. It’s a matter of patching a leak rather than losing a limb.

The procedures I undergo are corrective in nature. Nothing is being introduced into my system, nor is anything being permanently extracted. We really shouldn't conflate "correction" with transplantation or amputation.
And let's be clear: I am not lecturing anyone. Everyone is entitled to their own freedom of choice, myself included.
Truth be told, the more people zealously attack my decisions without a shred of respect—even while I remain perfectly respectful of theirs—the more unshakable my own convictions become.

Since you've taken notice of the consecutive posts, it’s a bit odd that you haven't realized they are sequential because they are quoted replies to various different people on the forum.

Good grief...
Not all of us are tech wizards capable of replying to everyone simultaneously within a single post...
Perhaps there is a better way to format this, but I suppose I'll have to figure it out.

It seems we’ve reached a point where we definitely don't see eye to eye.
Stomach ulcers require removal—they get cut out... just like tumors.
That falls under the same umbrella as amputation.
The tissue is excised and discarded, then the healthy part is stitched back together (whether smaller or larger).
"Patching" is what happens when you cut yourself and they use a few stitches to make sure nothing is sticking out.

The surgeries I undergo are purely corrective. Nothing is being put into me, nor is anything being taken out. So, let's not conflate "correction" with "transplantation," "amputation," and so on...

Even if it is a correction—say, removing excess skin on the abdomen or thighs, or "adjusting" nasal cartilage for a deviated septum—that still involves removing parts of the body God gave you, which you're now discarding with such distaste.😁 Blasphemy!

And let's be clear—I'm not lecturing anyone. Everyone has the right to choose, myself included.
But the more people zealously attack my choice without an ounce of respect—all while I respect theirs—the more unshakable my own decision becomes.

You’ve certainly started generalizing everyone who disagrees with you, even though you're the one "correcting" your own body.
It makes it seem like everyone is out to get you, and you're the lone voice whose opinion isn't allowed.

Let's be real—personally, I don't have a strong stance on organ donation.
In other words, once I'm gone, whether some vultures pick me apart or dismantle me to take whatever is useful... it doesn't matter.

However, I might think twice about *receiving* donated organs—purely because of my long history with immunosuppressants and immunomodulation. This damn chemistry.
Without those meds, I’d accept a donated organ in a heartbeat. But this way, I’d have to pass.
Actually, I probably would be a bit of a fool to do it.
When someone is at death's door, they grab at any straw. Most likely, despite all the side effects and risks, they just want to experience "one more birdsong and one more fragrant spring."

shadownomad43 said:Here is my take on the matter...
To be perfectly clear, I am firmly opposed to any kind of explantation, implantation, transplantation, or amputation.
And before anyone accuses me of being selfish—which would be quite the contradiction, given that (believe it or not...) I am a regular blood donor.
Why limit myself to just blood?
Because blood is something the body can actually replenish.

If the Architect who designed us had seen fit to include a mechanism for replacing or donating organs, they probably would have built in some sort of biological "reset button" alongside all our other gifts; perhaps organs would simply regenerate, making the whole concept of donation obsolete.

Instead, we were left with the umbilical cord. It’s a bit poetic, really—we are essentially living on a timer that starts ticking the very moment that cord is cut at birth.

So, I don't see people who agree with me as being selfish. If anything, the true selfishness lies with those who try to bypass the natural order through transplants, desperately attempting to artificially extend a deadline that was clearly set long ago.

shadownomad43 said:Exactly. That is precisely the point.
The mere thought of someone else's heart beating inside my chest feels, quite frankly, revolting.

As a side note, I have a pretty extensive medical history—which translates to a significant amount of "hospital experience"—and I am actually facing my 12th surgery in a few days.
Fortunately, or perhaps by the will of God, I don't suffer from any actual organ failure; my issues tend to be more "mechanical" in nature.
However...
Since every surgical procedure (especially those involving general anesthesia) carries its own inherent risks, I took the time to draft a three-page summary of my medical history. I wanted to make things a bit easier for the doctors as they navigate the complexities of my anatomy.

In that document, I made it explicitly clear that I do NOT consent to any amputations, transplants, removals, or implants under any circumstances.
At the same time, I gave them the green light to resuscitate me if things go south, provided they exhaust all efforts while respecting the boundaries I established in the previous sentence.
Essentially, I am fine with being treated using modern medical technology, appropriate medications (assuming they exist), and the specialized knowledge gained through years of schooling. But when the time comes for me to pass away—which, like everyone else, will eventually happen—I want to go out whole. Exactly as I was born.
Whether I am 5, 15, 50, or 155 at the time doesn't matter to me one bit.

I’m not really in the mood for deep philosophical debates, but reading your comments almost made me trip over my own feet.

So, in your first post, you claim that once the umbilical cord is cut, the clock starts ticking—and it just goes until it stops—but then in the next one, you mention waiting for your 12th surgery.

If that's the case, why not just live exactly how your God intended and turn those surgeries down?
Why let doctors cut into you or modify your body if you're against any kind of amputation?

In my book, removing an appendix or treating a stomach ulcer... that's a form of amputation, too. You aren't going into the ground exactly the way your mother brought you into this world because a piece of you is missing.

You're making some very contradictory statements—basically just playing devil's advocate whenever it suits you.
And it seems like anyone who disagrees with you (in any given moment) is automatically wrong.

I realize we're veering off-topic here—since the subject is organ donation—but when you start pushing ideas like "no amputations" or "no transfusions," it's only fair to explain why you personally undergo surgery while lecturing everyone else about an "expiration date."

Oh, and one more thing:
When a single user posts several times in a row like this, it starts to look like they're just having a conversation with themselves.😉