Posts by vividsailor7

wearygardener19 said:Why on earth did you cherry-pick just one fragment of my sentence? I clearly explained that this specifically applies to drinking milk on an empty stomach! My gastroenterologist was the one who gave me the breakdown regarding calcium. Look, I don't just take anyone's word for it blindly, but I’m sharing this because I felt a massive difference firsthand. Here's the deal: before I knew better, I was drinking cow's milk every single morning on an empty stomach. Once I followed my doctor's advice, I switched to soy milk—specifically the kind labeled "calcium-free." I can't even begin to describe the absolute relief my stomach felt just from that one change. For a while, everything was perfect. But soy milk isn't cheap, and when money got tight, I went back to dairy, and predictably, my stomach sensitivity came roaring right back. Eventually, I cut out milk entirely, and now everything is fine. You might think I'm talking nonsense, but my doctor was right. Case closed.

I'm not even going to get into the whole calcium absorption debate because it's way too controversial right now.
What you're describing is lactose intolerance, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with Calcium. This is a functional issue, not an organic one.

wearygardener19 said:I’ve got the exact same diagnosis as you. The only difference is I haven't actually thrown up yet, though I definitely deal with that acid reflux situation where it feels like it's crawling back up my esophagus during a burp.
So, I was dealing with this absolute nightmare of a symptom cluster—constant pain, burping, acid reflux, and that raw, "wounded" feeling in my stomach. Honestly, if I ate even one thing slightly off, I’d end up with this massive lump in my throat for days, making it nearly impossible to swallow. After a few days of trying to recover, I decided to just take matters into my own hands and booked a gastroscopy with a private specialist. This guy is supposedly top-tier, and frankly, I went in fully expecting him to find at least two ulcers or some other disaster lurking in there. But nope. Everything turned out perfectly fine. He actually had me watch the monitor to prove how healthy my stomach and duodenal linings looked. As he was pulling the scope back through my esophagus, he kept pointing out how flawless everything was. Just a total non-event.
So, his official diagnosis? Apparently, I’ve got this hypersensitive, super-reactive stomach, which basically means I have to watch every single thing I put in my mouth like it's a crime scene.
Since I've seen a few posts floating around lately about mental health being the root cause of gut issues, I feel like I should weigh in. In my case, that’s just not how it works. My stomach doesn't act up because I'm stressed or spiraling; it gets "wounded" exclusively when I eat certain foods. It's purely a physical reaction to what's on my plate, nothing more.

So, I just got back from seeing my gastroenterologist. Oh, and I totally forgot to mention—turns out there wasn’t any HP bacteria present. Anyway, the doctor gave me this massive list of dietary restrictions, and honestly, it's kind of hilarious how specific he was. It felt like he basically banned everything I actually enjoy eating. If I were to touch even a tiny amount of half this stuff, I'd be stuck trying to fix my stomach lining for days. According to him, raw fruit is a total no-go—specifically apples, bananas, and citrus. If I want fruit, I have to eat it cooked, like in some sort of compote. Same deal with veggies: nothing raw except maybe some green salad. That means absolutely no garlic, red onions, raw peppers, or cucumbers. Everything else pretty much has to be boiled or steamed. Then there's the protein situation. Bluefish is off the table entirely, but white fish is fine. But the real kicker? Sugar. He was adamant about avoiding sweets, especially the heavy hitters like Nutella or those Mars bars. Ideally, I should cut out all sugar because it triggers such intense acidity. And don't even get me started on soda or sugary drinks; it's strictly water from here on out. The only exceptions are compotes or herbal teas that are supposed to be soothing for the gut—he mentioned chamomile tea specifically helps heal a wounded stomach lining. The hierarchy of acid triggers is pretty clear: sugar is the biggest offender, followed closely by fats. So, I'm supposed to steer clear of anything greasy or processed, like bacon or deli meats. I can drizzle a little oil on a salad, but that's about it. It’s a lot to manage, but hey, if it keeps the acid levels down, I guess I'll be living the bland life for a while.
My doctor basically told me to stop overthinking it and just listen to my own body—figure out what works for me and run with it. For instance, I’ve realized that white bread is actually my best friend. Most people swear by rye or whole grain, but for my sensitive stomach, those things are absolute killers. So, I stick to white bread, usually having a slice with every meal because it helps soak up all that excess acid. My go-to setup is pretty simple: some white bread, cooked veggies, and some light, easy-on-the-stomach chicken. I’ve definitely messed up a few times, though. One time I accidentally ate something with even a hint of garlic in it, and man, let me tell you, it was a total disaster. 😲 I dealt with some nasty stomach issues a few days back—basically couldn't eat anything without feeling miserable. Constant burping, and I had this constant "lump" sensation in my throat that made swallowing feel like a chore. It took a few days of recovery before I could actually get back to eating normally. This whole thing flared up again once after I ate some sardines and a bit of raw cabbage (which were just minor slips following a gastroscopy, honestly). Look, I have my own little system for fixing my stomach when I mess up like that. Since I’m pretty careful most of the time, this only happens a few times a year, but when it does, I make a simple batch of kid-style cream of wheat with milk. I’ll eat tiny portions throughout the entire day, and after a couple of days, everything settles back down. Now, full disclosure: milk isn't great for you in the long run because it can irritate the stomach lining. My gastroenterologist actually explained that we don't even absorb the calcium from milk properly because of something else in there—phosphorus, I think, but don't quote me on that—which basically lets the calcium just float around the stomach and irritate the walls. Seriously, ever since I stopped drinking milk on an empty stomach in the morning, I felt significantly better. As for the cream of wheat trick, the wheat dilutes the milk, making it okay for short-term use to soothe things after an irritation. Just don't drink straight milk, especially not on an empty stomach. It also reminded me that coffee is a huge no-go. I don't touch it at all. If you absolutely *must* have it, try diluting it with a little milk and definitely wait until after you've eaten something—even if it's just a piece of toast. The biggest thing with stomach health is what you put in there first thing in the morning; that's when it's most vulnerable. Personally, I always start my day with some white bread and a decent slice of ham (stay away from those heavy, greasy deli meats). Once that's down, my stomach is ready for a real meal. Avoid greasy breakfasts like heavy omelets, stay away from anything overly spicy, skip the cigarettes entirely, and avoid fried foods. Honestly, you're much better off basing most of your diet on boiled or steamed foods.
Oh, one more thing—if you're dealing with stomach acid issues, you really need to focus on balancing out acidic foods with alkaline ones. Just do a quick search online for what counts as alkaline; basically, the more alkaline stuff you eat, the better. For example, potatoes are alkaline. Personally, if I just wolf down a steak, I’ll be reaching for some Tums pretty much immediately after lunch. But, if I balance that meat with an equal amount of potatoes, my acid levels stay steady and I don't even need the antacids.
Also, try eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day instead of hitting one massive meal. And whatever you do, don't eat anything heavy at least 4-5 hours before you head to bed.
I think that’s pretty much everything I can think of off the top of my head.😁

Pure nonsense.

Jeffrey Watson14 said:The diagnosis: no ulcers, just a sensitive, exhausted stomach. Internally, everything looks fine—at least according to what the endoscopy could show.

I’ve been taking Emanera tablets, though I never went more than 40 days straight before taking a break.

In general, I haven't done much to address this. I actually just started seeing a psychologist recently. But when it comes to fixing my stomach, even the specialists didn't have much to offer. Hopefully, things turn around better here.

Well, what exactly are they supposed to tell you when the tests come back clean? If the results say you're healthy, then there's nothing to "fix."
You can always check out the weekly meal plans provided by Pfizer.

Rachel Bennett90 said:I’m looking for some advice here... I know someone else on this thread has definitely dealt with this before, but I haven't had a spare second to catch up on every single post, so please bear with me. Basically, I've been struggling with hemorrhoids for about ten years now. Usually, I can manage to soothe them within a few days using various methods, but this current situation is absolutely horrific. I gave birth two months ago, and while I knew I’d be facing this agony again, I had no idea it would be this excruciating. I am fully aware that surgery might be my only permanent fix, but since I'm breastfeeding, that isn't even an option right now. So, I need to know: is there *anything* else that can provide temporary relief? They've never bled like this before, and honestly, every single trip to the bathroom feels worse than the actual labor. This time, both the internal and external ones are flared up constantly, and nothing—not the creams, not the sitz baths—is touching the pain. I actually went to pick up some Pilex, but they told me I can't use it while nursing. Help!

Don’t you dare go playing doctor with your own health—especially when it comes to stuff like Pilex or any other nonsense like it! Seriously, stop it. You need to talk to your actual doctor before you mess anything up. If you're looking for something that actually works, maybe look into Hemopropin instead.

Michael Diaz4 said:You really need to have a doctor take a look at this. I don't have the specific instructions for Lidoproct handy right now—it's what was recommended to me following my surgery—but you can't just wing it. As for whether it's safe for pregnant women or what the specific dosage should be? I honestly have no clue. However, I will tell you this: that cream GUARANTEED to help. It literally numbs the painful tissue instantly. There is also a Doloproct gel available, but again, I’m not a doctor, so I have no idea if that’s even an option for you. Get professional advice before you try anything. I believe you can.Look, I’m telling you again—you absolutely HAVE to have a doctor look at this. Seriously. I feel for you, I really do; I know exactly how much this hurts.😢 Good luck...🙂

I can't see it. I can't even find the medication instructions!!!

Jeffrey Watson14 said:Greetings. I’m 31. Up until about four or five years ago, my health was practically non-existent as a concern. At 6'2", I maintained a decent weight, stayed active, and generally didn't give my physical state a second thought. Then, five years ago, I hit a major breaking point. It triggered a long period of nightmares, and the fallout resulted in a chronic issue: waking up every morning with excess saliva and acid reflux. Initially, it wasn't a massive deal—I'd just deal with it and move on with my day. But things spiraled quickly. My appetite vanished, replaced by a genuine aversion to food. I've lost significant weight and now find myself constantly fighting off infections due to a weakened immune system. I've tried various medications; they help somewhat, I suppose.

However, I’m starting this thread because I believe it deserves its own space. It might help others dealing with similar struggles, whether it's eating disorders or anything else like my situation. HOW DO YOU RECOVER A DESTROYED STOMACH? What should I be eating? What should I drink? Does exercise play a role, and more importantly, what should I stay far away from? I suspect there must be certain foods that actually strengthen a stomach worn down by constant vomiting. To be blunt, I see no difference in my digestive health now compared to four years ago. Even after cutting out milk and rarely touching chocolate, nothing seems to improve.

A quick note: no one in my family deals with anything like this. Their standard advice is "just eat some bacon or have a shot of whiskey and you'll be fine." They are wrong. I am genuinely looking for advice because I feel like I'm hitting a wall. I'm physically weak, and I need an intervention. I know there are no miracles; I'm not expecting a fix in a week. It could take months or even a year, but I truly want to get better. Thanks.

P.S. I sincerely hope this doesn't get merged into a larger thread. This is simultaneously a psychological issue, a gastric issue, an immunity issue, and a weight issue. Please bear with me for at least a week or two.

First off, please list your diagnoses, what kind of medical workup you've had, and what specific medications you've been taking.

Carol Moore7 said:Unfortunately, I don't have the lab report right in front of me.

APTV is elevated and there’s a note attached.
*** (result is outside the reference range) refers to the APTV.
(* - outside recommended range, *** - result outside reference range, ***** - critical value)

That's honestly all I can remember.

I had the test done about a month or two after my laparoscopy because I was getting ready to start birth control pills.

I’ve been dealing with this constant pulling sensation (in a vein) on my right thigh; I actually went in for a vascular ultrasound to check the veins and arteries, and everything came back perfectly normal.

I weigh 24kg.

If your doctor didn't make a specific point of commenting on it, then there really isn't any reason to worry. Generally speaking, when it's elevated, it just means the blood isn't clotting quite the way it should.

shadowsailor10 said:I wrote something before about the issues I was dealing with back in May of last year. A similar situation hit me again during Christmas, so once the holidays were over, I went looking for specialist help...
My primary care doctor sent me straight to digestive surgery. Some surgeon saw me and performed a digital rectal exam... then told me I needed to see a gastroenterologist instead. There wasn't even a single mention of a fissure in the report!! He claimed my condition isn't even surgical, just focusing on mucosal irritation and inflammatory changes, etc., etc. Not to mention I practically turned inside out during the exam itself,,,
So now I'm just confused. Are "proctologists" actually surgeons? Because right now, I'm stuck in limbo. My gastroenterologist can't find anything definitive in the results and is going to demand I follow up with a proctologist once the inflammation dies down—and believe me, I am not in the mood to be "probed" every single month." lab: WBC 16.7 CRP 80

Thanks in advance

There's nothing for a Gastroenterologist to do here. Surgeons really need to start doing their actual jobs instead of just passing everything off to internists because "it's not their problem." Good God, don't even get me started on post-op care.
Bottom line: go see a proctologist.

Carol Moore7 said:Does anyone know if an elevated APTv level (second stage) requires any follow-up testing? I've been reading up on APTv online, but I honestly can't wrap my head around what this elevation actually signifies. My doctor took one quick glance at the results and didn't say a single word or suggest any further labs.

For heaven's sake, just read the first post. Is that really too much to ask?

Justin Campbell19 said:Can anyone tell me what this actually means?
Clotted blood (4-24)
Glucose 4.1 L ( 4.2 - 6 )
ALT 11 ( 10 - 36 )
Fe 38.2 H ( 8 - 30 )
UIBC 25.9 L ( 26 - 59 )
MCHC 321 ( 320 - 345 )
Everything else is within the normal range! I'm 21 years old and I had these tests done because of some seborrheic dermatitis (on my face). Thanks for any help!

Read the first post, or better yet, just post your complete results.

Maria Fisher46 said:That response wasn't meant for you, vividsailor7—it was directed at Kate Jackson83. So, I’m not going to answer your question. Actually, let me rephrase: my answer is zero. 🙂

My bad. I honestly thought that was aimed at me.🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Right now, if you want to change your eye color, your only real option is colored contact lenses. However, there's one company currently working on a laser technique that could permanently switch eye color from brown to blue.

Thanks for the reply. But I’m looking for specifics here—I want to know exactly how on earth "changing your diet" is supposed to change your eye color.

Kate Jackson83 said:You can actually change your eye color, but you have to overhaul your diet to eliminate as many toxins as possible.

Like what, exactly?

boldfalcon82 said:Hey everyone!

I'm really struggling with this situation...

I've been coughing for three weeks straight now. Sometimes it's dry, sometimes it's productive, but I don't have a fever and my chest or throat doesn't hurt—it's just that my nose won't stop running like crazy!
My family is honestly sick of hearing me cough, so they went out and bought me some syrup—Panatus forte. The pharmacist told them it was the absolute best, the strongest, the "gold standard," etc., but specifically noted it should be used for a dry cough.
The problem is, my cough isn't dry!! Not even close!
But it didn't matter... I ended up taking it even though I fought it with everything I had.

And now, to top it all off, I have a headache.

What I want to know is: how is this going to affect my cough? Is it actually going to make things worse? 🤷

I seriously do NOT want to take this stuff anymore!!!

Look, if you have a productive cough—meaning you actually have phlegm to clear out—then absolutely do NOT take Panatus or any other suppressant/tablet designed for a dry cough.

Sophia Johnson19 said:We had blood drawn yesterday, and the results were ready immediately. We went straight back to the pediatrician to show her everything. After looking them over, she decided to go ahead with antibiotics—specifically Sumamed, 5ml once a day for three days. So, the prescription was handed out yesterday. Honestly, the blood work didn't look nearly as bad to me as it did to her; she kept insisting there was something off. (She mentioned elevated leukocytes, too many erythrocytes, and claimed the blood work was "haywire"). The temperature just hit 99.5°F. The kid coughs occasionally, but only a few times a day. She diagnosed a sore throat yesterday, but says the lungs sound "clear" and there’s no ear infection.

Imagine what she'd say if something actually *was* wrong.🙄
Well, fine. Let them take the Sumamed and see what happens.
I'm speechless.

Olivia Anderson10 said:I’m repeating myself here in the hopes that someone actually decides to weigh in. Thanks.

Comment on what exactly?

Sophia Johnson19 said:I would really appreciate some input here. Could someone who actually knows what they're looking at please help me interpret these blood test results? It's for my 16-month-old.
Lkc 9.1 (6.0-16.0)
NEU 31.3 (30.0-72.0)
LYM 55.6 (15.0-55.0)
MONO 13.1 (5.0-13.0)
(K) Erc 4.64 (4.00-5.00)
Hgb 127 (109-138)
(K) HTC 0.379 (0.320-0.404)
MCV 82.0 (73.8-89.4)
MCH 27.3 (24.3-29.2)
MCHC 334 (300-350)
RDW 12.6 (11.9-16.2)
Potassium (K) 272 (Ref range: 150-450)

Everything looks clean on the lab results.
So, this lab work was done on Monday, and she’s already put her on Sumamed today based on those results. Is the kid running a fever right now? And how's the throat looking—is it inflamed?

Sophia Johnson19 said:Thank you so much for the response! I’m feeling a little more at ease now after reading your comment about how his blood work actually looks normal—even if the specific way the pediatrician described the results still leaves me totally confused! But honestly, the most important thing is just that he's okay. He gave me quite a scare yesterday! Saying that anything could come from this... honestly, you aren't wrong. Anything at all!And on top of that, she didn't provide a single concrete detail—aside from mentioning that sore throat! Thanks for the help, everyone.🙂!

I would go right back there and demand she clarify exactly what she means by that.
In any case, there's just so much sheer illogic here.

Brenda Stewart59 said:Yeah, I’ve definitely fallen into the "morning zombie" club, and lately, it feels even more intense.
I couldn't tell if it was my blood pressure acting up or something else, so now I'm trying to "categorize my symptoms"...

Before I got pregnant, my BP used to sit around 140/100, and at one point early on during an incredibly stressful moment, it spiked all the way to 170/110...
But since I started heparin because of thrombophilia, it’s dropped down to 100/55...
So honestly, I have no clue if it's low blood pressure or low blood sugar making me feel like this in the morning.

This KKS, with a GUk of 3.9, is from a couple of days ago. I’m seeing the hematologist tomorrow, so I’m currently "preparing" a list of questions to ask.

If this was happening even before you were pregnant, then you really need to get a full workup done.

Brenda Stewart59 said:I'll just ask my doctor.

I had an abdominal ultrasound done, and according to my doctor, my gallbladder looks like a "textbook example of a healthy gallbladder."
Liver is fine.
The kidneys are a bit "unusual," but they're okay.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check in with my doctor about next steps, especially since I'm currently pregnant, so I definitely need to be careful here...

Did this happen before you were pregnant?

Brenda Stewart59 said:Thanks, I'm just now reading this....

Look, I’m not diabetic, and I’m definitely not on insulin....
But most mornings, the symptoms hit me hard.
I get dizzy, totally disoriented, losing my balance, shaking, feeling anxious, weak—and occasionally, I feel nauseous too...
The second I have a coffee loaded with sugar, I feel like a whole new person.

I haven't done any insulin testing yet... Is there actually any point in doing that? Any need?
Or should I just keep "treating" myself with sweets?

Given the symptoms you're describing, I would suggest further diagnostic workup. Primarily, you need to rule out insulin issues.
Basically, the essential next steps would be checking your blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin levels, C-peptide, amylase, lipase, Ca, a full metabolic panel, and an abdominal ultrasound with a specific focus on the pancreas. Based on those results, you can then plan for specialized gastroenterology or endocrinology follow-ups, such as an abdominal MRI with angiography, stress tests, and so on.

Brenda Stewart59 said:What does "low blood sugar" actually mean in principle? Does it even cause any symptoms?

At the lab, the minimum is 4.4, but I’m sitting at 3.9. And this has been my life for years.... Either I'm right on the edge or I've already fallen off...

Just type "hypoglycemia symptoms" into Google
Are you on insulin?
Are you dealing with any other issues?