Sandra Hayes88 said:If you're looking for answers, here's an article on how diet can help.
The SCD diet isn't some magic fix for everyone. Sure, I know a few people who swear by it, but honestly? There are way more folks out there for whom it does absolutely nothing—or worse, it actually makes things harder. If someone is thinking about jumping into it, they really need to be careful. I’m talking specifically about people dealing with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, since those are the groups usually pushing this diet.
Look, it’s definitely not a guarantee that you’re infertile just because it’s the first or maybe even the second day. It’s entirely possible for an egg to mature a little earlier than expected right during your period, and boom—you’re pregnant. You wouldn't be the first person this has happened to. The odds are slim, sure, but it's far from impossible.
Look, I’d rather we just chat here instead of over on my own forum. Just hit me up once you get those results back. You’ll probably end up needing a colonoscopy anyway. If you're based in New York City, I’d suggest reaching out to Dr. Vucelić at Mount Sinai.
Susan Gonzalez4 said:I need help! For about 10 days now, I’ve had stomach pains right around my belly button—sometimes slightly above, sometimes below, left, right, everywhere... they just migrate. Along with the pain, I feel this constant urge to run to the bathroom, like 6 to 12 times a day. It isn't exactly diarrhea; it fluctuates between hard and soft stools, usually with a ton of mucus, or just straight mucus, mostly after I eat. I went to the ER; bloodwork was okay, though I was a little anemic (it was day 4 of my period). They gave me some Loperamide, which made me feel better for one day before everything came crashing back. Then I saw a gastroenterologist, and they recommended a specific diet and stool tests for parasites and bacteria, plus I still have to turn in a fecal culture. I won't get the results until Tuesday afternoon, but by then I'll probably have spent the whole time sprinting to the restroom. I can't even leave the house😢. My temperature is hovering around 98.6 to 99.5... I've read up on every possible illness online, and nothing seems to fit perfectly. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms? Please help. 🙏 🙏
I don't want to freak you out, but those sound like potential symptoms of ulcerative colitis. When you follow up with your doctor, definitely bring that up, because a lot of them don't even consider it. I live with it, and it took them two years to actually figure out what was wrong, though since cases are on the rise lately, doctors are getting better at spotting it. It's a type of inflammatory bowel disease. The hallmarks are frequent bathroom trips (doesn't always mean diarrhea; often it's just alternating consistencies), mucus and blood in the stool (though it doesn't have to be; I didn't see blood until a year into my diagnosis, and even now it's rare), painful cramping, and often anemia and a low-grade fever due to the inflammation. There's a link in my signature for a forum dedicated to ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease. If that's what this is, Loperamide isn't really the best way to handle it. Get back to the doctor as soon as you can and ask about it.
stormycyclist13 said:The discomfort I'm feeling isn't even really pain. It’s more like that heavy, bloated sensation you get right after an intense workout—you know, that weird "weight" or pressure in your gut? It doesn't hurt, it just feels... uncomfortable. ugh
My doctor checked me out, and since there was no actual tenderness when she pressed down, she just put me on these pills.
So, we're talking about her physical exam from some other appointment (hopefully she was being professional about it) 😁 , but honestly, this whole thing feels way more like gastritis to me.
paučko said:ha! everyone wants to believe they can crush their directorial debut. sounds impossible if you don't, right? Owen is actually a decent guy and he’s got a solid vision, but let's be real—his shark movie wasn't exactly a home run. let me go check out the rest of the crew to see who else made the cut...
I agree that Owen is alright, but honestly, I've seen much worse debuts than his shark movie. It wasn't a masterpiece, sure, but it definitely wasn't the worst American indie out there, which isn't a bad start for a rookie. This new project is getting a lot of buzz, so it might actually be better, but I'll wait until it actually drops before I decide.
So, I just had my gastroscopy done. Honestly, I didn't have any major issues afterward, though your throat can feel a little sore. The biggest thing is just not freaking out—you really have to listen to whatever your doctor tells you. Some people get so anxious that they tense up their throat muscles, which makes the tube entry painful and leaves them with a nasty sore throat later on. Look, the whole thing isn't exactly "fun," but it’s over pretty fast.
If I remember right—and I might be wrong here—that procedure involving the chalk is called a passage, and it's usually used more for small bowel imaging than for checking the stomach.
You're being a little vague here. What kind of pills did they actually put you on? And are we talking stomach issues or intestinal stuff? Even if the pain feels pretty high up, it could still be your gut. What was the doctor's actual take on this?
I don't know about everyone else, but I’m definitely not here to laugh at you or judge you. Look, having a good physique is great for your confidence, sure, but there are much healthier ways to get there. The main thing you have to realize is that you didn't just gain all this weight in a month, so you aren't going to drop it all in a month through some crash diet either. Honestly? You should probably talk to a therapist or a nutritionist. And please, reach out to someone close to you—like your parents or whoever—because you really need some actual support right now.
It was pretty obvious he felt awkward talking about it, so he didn't specify if it was on or inside the butt. If it's on the surface, it's probably just some pimples, but if it's internal, you really need to see a doctor. I deal with my own gut issues, and unfortunately, I know from experience that you shouldn't mess around with stuff like that.
I’m a little worried about her kidney pain. It honestly takes me back to when I found out I had kidney stones. Everything feels identical, except for the fact that I was also:🙂
The pain is brutal, and nothing touched it for me except for some Voltaren injections. If it doesn't settle down soon, just take her to the ER. They can manage the pain and run an ultrasound to see what's actually going on.
I’m with you on the scheduling mess. Honestly, you could probably die before they even call your name for an appointment. But when it comes to the actual exam? I think it really just boils down to whether you luck out and get a doctor who actually knows what they're doing—not every specialist at a private clinic is top-tier by default. For instance, I had the same doctor perform a gastroscopy and a biopsy on my rib twice, and if I need another procedure, I'm going straight back to them. Also, during the two times I was admitted to the internal medicine ward at Cleveland, the nurses were absolutely incredible. During one particularly brutal procedure, a nurse actually held my hand and talked me through it. I'm not sure if we're allowed to drop names here, but if we were, I'd be naming that doctor in a heartbeat. I don't remember the nurses' names, which sucks because they truly deserved the credit.
I had my gastroscopy done at the Mayo Clinic and honestly, they did a great job. It was quick, and unlike some people I know, my throat wasn't sore afterward. nimbleskipper13 is spot on here. They use the exact same equipment, and half the time it’s even the same staff members moonlighting at private clinics on the side.
Rose said:Same here... and it’s not just when I first wake up, it happens in the afternoon too. My brain just goes completely dead during phone calls; all I can manage to mutter is "yeah" or "okay." 😛 Then, once the call ends, I just drift right back to sleep and have zero clue who I was even talking to, let alone what we discussed. 😕
My mom used to do this thing where if she got jolted awake and fell back asleep before she was fully conscious, she’d have total amnesia about whatever she did in that haze. Honestly, even though I was a pretty decent student, I definitely took advantage of that a few times when I needed to sign off on some grades. We laugh about it now. Personally, I'm a total grouch in the mornings, though I don't stay that way for long.🙂
rustymoose54 said:Sorry for going off-topic here, but is Benjamin Moore some kind of car part? 🤣
Don't take it personally, just asking.
😂 Oh please, who actually goes out to get their IQ tested these days?
I was gonna type something else, but honestly, there's no point—you basically read my mind. Benjamin Moore, I'm pretty sure you're dealing with something deep under the surface. Sometimes we don't even realize what's actually keeping us up at night. You just get this nagging feeling that something's off, but you can't quite put your finger on it. I went through a phase where my sleep was trashed for the exact same reason; I ended up sleeping more during the day than at night. Once I finally nailed down whatever was bothering me, everything clicked and I started sleeping normally again.
Look, I’m sorry if I sparked this whole debate. Honestly, I wasn't trying to play judge and jury on whose illness is worse. They all suck. Period. I was just trying to share what I’ve been through and point out that when you're sick, you don't really get a choice—you just have to figure out how to live in a body that isn't working right. A lot of people dealing with life-threatening stuff or chronic pain act all brave in public, but once they're behind closed doors and nobody's watching, they're falling apart. So, if someone close to you is struggling, please just show up for them. Don't matter how "well" they seem to be handling it; half the time, that toughness is just a mask for being terrified. People who aren't sick often get awkward around them. They're scared of saying the wrong thing, so they just shut down and stop talking about it entirely, even when the person actually needs to talk. Trust me, the best thing you can do to get past that awkwardness is to just be real and talk openly. That's why support groups are such a big deal. It's where you find people who are in the exact same shit as you, where you can actually vent or even make dark jokes about your condition without anyone judging you or missing the fear hiding behind your smile. I'm speaking from experience here. It makes things easier.
I can tell you from my own experience what it’s actually like dealing with this stuff. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 21. Look, it isn't a death sentence, but the cancer risk creeps up every single year you're dealing with it—and this is a lifelong thing. It messes with your life, too; when I'm in an active flare, I'm basically housebound. People love to say, "Oh, she's so strong," which sounds nice and all, but honestly? You don't really have a choice. You either learn to live with it or you lose your mind. When I first got hit, I blamed it on abandonment issues, mostly because I didn't want to admit to myself that I couldn't do everything I used to do. Eventually, I realized how stupid that was. I still have friends who have adjusted to my bullshit (I don't miss the ones who walked away), and I've met new people who know exactly who I am from the start. I just adjusted my pace to match what my body can handle and kept moving. I really hope that girl fighting leukemia pulls through. A friend of mine beat leukemia back when he was a kid, and he's totally healthy now and raising a daughter. Since I deal with health issues where diet is everything, I'm convinced that the way we eat today—all that processed junk—is one of the main reasons people are getting sick so much earlier now (stress is the other big culprit). I have plenty of info on ulcerative colitis, but I'm pretty sure the same goes for other conditions, especially cancer. If anyone else here is dealing with ulcerative colitis or Crohn, or if you just want to learn more about these things, check out http://com4.runboard.com/bforumcruc