Do any of you have a chronic medical condition?

[streetsoldier]

"Father Steve....

Officer Bill.....

Nurse Annette....

LOL

Mary - I already have a title, Miss Mary!"


YES...Miss Mary, owner and operator of the snack bar and gift shop...how COULD I have forgotten? Specializing in "Miss Mary's Pies", and ably assisted by petal*pusher, the procurer of WINTERGREEN LOZENGES and other delicacies!

[Miss Mary]

Well, I would take Caramel Popcorn, going to match a batch this afternoon in fact, but I think Dennis would protest! He makes it more than I do. And I tend to make it a lot.

Maybe I'll sub for Dennis' caramel popcorn and I'll make the pies. I have been known to make a few apple pies from scratch, seriously. Dough and everything....

Mary

[Pburgh]

Good for you Mary. You're so right. Making dough from scratch takes some practice if you want it flakey. Do you use better or crisco??

[Kelarie]

I have a few problems that are joyously chronic...

first and foremost, I'm still getting over a bulging disk between L1 & L2... I have to resort to physical therapy every so often. Usually, I do exercises on my own. I've been given Naproxen (doesn't work), Vicatin (can't take it) and flexeril (my friend!) ...I basically just grin and bear it. Due to that problem, I'll have numbness up and down my left leg and commonly don't have feeling on my left foot.

second, I have migraines... I usually get them 1-2x / month... I currently take Maxalt for any migraine flair ups.

Third, THE most painful... I have extra bones in my feet (just under the ankle)... well, its genetic and my left foot NEEDS surgery to remove the bone. Right now, its bone on bone collision... there is no cartilege between the bones... The doctors think the bone is jagged shaped and is starting to rip at the tendon or the nerves. (I'll have really strong pains... enough where I can't walk) I have to be extremely careful not to hit that side of my foot.... Its immense pain if I do.

I've had foot problems all my life and besides the bone problem, I've needed to wear inserts for many years now. Because my feet grew too fast, my muscles didn't stretch enough to support the bone growth... Its sharp pains in my arches.. no it's not cramping... its Sharp, sharp pains! I'll be sprinting (swimming) and I'll get a flare up... that will instantly stop you in your tracks.

If the Maxalt stops working for you, Frova and Zomig are ones that work for me. Do they have you on a preventative?

[CFL]

I've got asthma, fibromyalgia, and plantar fasciitis. I manage well with antihistimines, an inhaler, and Birkenstock shoes. Biofreeze is a wonderful pain rub I've found for the muscle knots and pain. Also love gentle yoga - SO relaxing!

[hurricanedude]

Migraines......to the point I have to get shots at times!

[Miss Mary]

Good for you Mary. You're so right. Making dough from scratch takes some practice if you want it flakey. Do you use better or crisco??

Years ago I used Crisco. Last few times I used butter. I don't know why but even contemplating using Crisco turns me off these days. Just seems way too high in fat. When I taught my daughter Nina how to bake and a recipe called for Crisco, we'd pop the lid off the can. She'd take one look inside and shout out - what IS that stuff? Ewww, what is it made out of!!!! So butter it is. In fact Laura's taking a Nutrition class right now. Their teacher told them to avoid any butter substitute. Just to use real butter, but in moderation. Apparently it's much healthier for us that margarine sticks and spreads! She said the same thing for sugar - either use the real thing if you can eat it, or skip it altogether. Never to use artificial sweeteners. Now I have heard that one (sugar vs sweetener). I finally asked Laura what about processed foods - noodle mixes, cake mixes, frozen entree/sides, etc. She said to skip all of them, buy fresh vegetables and try to make your baked goods from scratch. This teacher sure sounds like a throwback to my Home Ec teacher - a nun named Sr. Marjorie. We all used to say - such a waste, she would have made the perfect wife and mother.

Mary

[azsnowman]

I have DDD (Degenerative Disk Disease)......my lower back is going, I also arthiritis in my lower back and with winter setting in rather QUICK this year, my back is KILLING me........I "live" on Lortab 10mg, 3x a day, 7 days a week, so YES.......I AM a addicted to them it's either that or not be able to function at ALL! I have clearence to take them while on duty now, I'm working C.I., now when I was working PATROL....I had to SUFFER through the shift, I COULD NOT take them PERIOD!

Dennis

[CentFLgal]

I have panic disorder (have since I was 9, I'm 26 now) and am agoraphobic....let me tell you how much fun that is Add that to the asthma, allergies, GERD, restless legs, migraines, cold-induced hives.....I'm a mess!

[CFL]

Refresh my memory - what is agoraphobia? I know it's the fear of something but I forget what. If it's of crowded places I can say wholeheartedly that I understand your struggle!

[CentFLgal]

Well, it's a little bit different for everyone, but it does mean fear of crowds, and fear of being "trapped" and fear of being away from a "safe place" usually your home, or a "safe person". Some people are not able to leave their homes. I was at that point, right after I graduated high school. That was horrible for a 17-year old. Now, I have a few mile "radius", which I can work, shop, and be a relatively productive citizen, but it still is NO fun at all, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

[cajungal]

Pray that my condition gets better. Because my IBS has been really bad this week. I had constant flare ups and pain. Lately after I eat, I have been doubling over with stomach cramps. So, I am scared to eat sometimes. But, I try to never feel sorry for myself that I have this condition. Many have medical problems way worse than mine. At least mine is not life threatning. I know some people that have chrons and I know that has to be extremly painful as well. IBS mimics chrons disease. And the doctor suspects I may have chrons because the symptoms run so much alike.

[wxmann_91]

Well, it's a little bit different for everyone, but it does mean fear of crowds, and fear of being "trapped" and fear of being away from a "safe place" usually your home, or a "safe person". Some people are not able to leave their homes. I was at that point, right after I graduated high school. That was horrible for a 17-year old. Now, I have a few mile "radius", which I can work, shop, and be a relatively productive citizen, but it still is NO fun at all, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Now that you mentioned it, I think I have some of that too. I have practically NO social life and I do get nervous when I talk to a stranger or even on the phone to a stranger. I am also afraid of not having anybody around me, I just feel nervous.

Thankfully it's better now in H.S., I have a circle of friends now whom I can trust, but still am nervous when I am alone or when I'm around a lot of strangers. It was much worse in middle school.

[wxmann_91]

Pray that my condition gets better. Because my IBS has been really bad this week. I had constant flare ups and pain. Lately after I eat, I have been doubling over with stomach cramps. So, I am scared to eat sometimes. But, I try to never feel sorry for myself that I have this condition. Many have medical problems way worse than mine. At least mine is not life threatning. I know some people that have chrons and I know that has to be extremly painful as well. IBS mimics chrons disease. And the doctor suspects I may have chrons because the symptoms run so much alike.

I sure will cajungal. I hope that you will get better.

[Miss Mary]

cajungal - I sympathize. I know others have it much worse than you do but ya know what I think? When your GI tract is really out of whack, as I phrase it, you just can't function in normal society. I have all sorts of IBS like symptoms, but I suspect you have them worse than I do. When I get messed up I can't just sit in a restaurant, my stomach heaving, to and fro like a tiny ship in an angry ocean. Or sit in church, packed in tight. I always want the end seat in the pew. Yes, I am one of those parishioners that needs to flee at any moment. I use the cough trick a lot too, to mask other unpleasant side effects. Of which I'm sure you have too. People who have normal colons just do not understand. When I say I have to eat chocolate in moderation, they immediately say oh I couldn't give up chocolate. I live on chocolate! How can you do that? I say well, if I have a normal size piece of choc. cake w/ choc. icing, I am messed for days. Not hours. I am guessing offensive foods irritate the lining of your tract too, am I right? That is what I've discovered in these long, trying 6 years that I've been dealing with all of this. I really do feel better overall if I avoid the foods that mess me up!

A group of us socialized before a beloved band reunited in Cincinnati last Thanksgiving weekend. Couples who rarely go out anymore wanted to meet up with us. Now I don't eat past 2 p.m. on a night like that. I eat a very good breakfast and lunch by 11. Have a yogurt or banana as my last solid by 2. So they pick a place that was a nightclub/restaurant. As soon as all 6 of us were together, of course someone says oh let's take a table. And of course the waitress gives us all menu's. I kept mine closed. They were all saying oh what should we order. Even my hubby ordered, b/c he had had an earlier big lunch (not what I ate, he was at work). When the waitress came to me I said oh just another Michelob. I ate earlier. Raised eyebrows all around the table, except my hubby and one wife (who I had clued in earlier). Even the waitress said oh, okaaaaay, as if our food isn't good enough for you look. I just smiled and changed the subject. As they were all eating, I had to hear - can't believe you passed this up Mary, it was a good restaurant I'm sure. Absolutely no way was I was going to take that chance! Long story short, half way thru their meals, I went to the bathroom, not by necessity but for something to do. Putzed around with my hair, lipstick, that jazz. Walked back slowly and most were done. Crisis averted. Well, not really. But there's my best example of how I do NOT cave to peer pressure. People just do not understand what we go thru. And even my own husband doesn't always understand. He's watched me spend hours in the john, so much so that's I've completely worn out 2 commode's innards that have had to be replaced. They'll probably need it again....LOL

Hang in there. A liquid diet isn't a bad idea when you just aren't sure what to eat. My GI doc told me that. And I also believe it does our GI tracts good to calm down, no input for a while.

Some severe IBS sufferers have opted for colostomies. Not saying you are anywhere near this stage. But from posts I've read on internet message boards, they feel 100% better and wonder why they hadn't had done sooner.

I do feel your pain.

Mary

[cajungal]

They do want to run a colonospy by the time I turn 30. I will be 30 at the end of June this coming year. Because of the high cancer risk in my family. My grandmother died of colon cancer. My paternal great-grandfather also died of colon cancer. My grandmother's 2 brothers had it. And my grandfather had polyps removed that would of turned cancer if they had not discovered it.

I developed a fear of going out in public places. I always got to make sure a bathroom is near in case I get an attack. I get afraid to eat even though I love to eat. At work it is bad if I get an attack because we don't have our own bathroom. We have to share one with customers. And it will add to my agony if I have to wait in line. Once at work the pain got so bad that I only lasted 15 minutes at work. I don't like missing work because I can't really afford to. I rarely ever call in unless it gets really bad. But, I was keeling over in pain. And it was a Saturday a busy day full of customers. So, I went to my store manager and I was crying because the pain was so unbearable. He let me go home. I could not even drive my car because the pain was so bad. I had to call my mom to come get me and I sat miserable in pain waiting for her to come. I live a normal 15-minute car ride from work. But, on Saturdays the traffic is usually bad and it took her almost 30 minutes to get there. Then, had to ride another 20 minutes with the traffic to get to the emergency room. And since I don't have insurance with my job, I have to go to Charity hospital. And wait hours before I am seen. And they never do anything. Just make guesses about what is wrong, never to do a real exam, and just give me meds. And no matter what med they ever gave me, NOTHING works! I am trying to find a job with health insurance, but it is so hard finding something!

[CFL]

I just noticed your location, Cajungal. I bet the stress of the storm has made it worse. I have trouble with IBS, too. I've just always lumped it in with fibromyalgia. Stress sure does make mine worse. I had my first colonoscopy this year at age 32. That helped put me at ease somewhat as it came back normal. I've got colon cancer on both sides of my family so I understand the concern. I'll be praying that you get to feeling better!

[breeze]

Maybe we should have Storm2K start a clinic for us...breeze on clinical staff, Pburgh at the phone, and AFLAC running the 'puters.

And azskyman doing rounds as the resident chaplain/counselor?

LOL, dang, Bill - I love ya'll, but, it's
"after hours" - nuff's enough!

Do you mean to say that you don't want to hear...

HEL-LOOOOOOOOO, NURSE!



...every time you log on?

It may be tolerable as long as there are no phones
ringing, and, no one yelling, "Line One is for you!"
"Line Two is for you!"...And none of those rare diseases
that one in two million people get...I don't like to spend
too much time at home on research projects!

[azsnowman]

Pray that my condition gets better. Because my IBS has been really bad this week. I had constant flare ups and pain. Lately after I eat, I have been doubling over with stomach cramps. So, I am scared to eat sometimes. But, I try to never feel sorry for myself that I have this condition. Many have medical problems way worse than mine. At least mine is not life threatning. I know some people that have chrons and I know that has to be extremly painful as well. IBS mimics chrons disease. And the doctor suspects I may have chrons because the symptoms run so much alike.

cajungal, have they ever checked your gal bladder? I too would double over after a meal, felt like my stomach was tying itself into knots, finally gave up after 8 months, spent 8 days in the hospital BECAUSE I waited so long, my gal bladder was infected beyond belief, full of stones, needless to say, since it's been out I've felt like a million bucks in "that" area. Rest assured, you've got my blessings and prayers!

Dennis

[Stephanie]

I just noticed your location, Cajungal. I bet the stress of the storm has made it worse. I have trouble with IBS, too. I've just always lumped it in with fibromyalgia. Stress sure does make mine worse. I had my first colonoscopy this year at age 32. That helped put me at ease somewhat as it came back normal. I've got colon cancer on both sides of my family so I understand the concern. I'll be praying that you get to feeling better!

I couldn't agree more! I've always found that a few weeks or a couple of months after a stressful period, my stomach flares up with the cramps, etc. I always found that Dicyclomine helped me when I would have those spells.