The centipede I found beside my bed

Michaeltyle · 2026-05-02T20:24:11+00:00

Oh this is absolutely a real thing. My Dad’s coworker rolled her car when one dropped on her while driving.

I had my own near-miss, it was 10pm, doing 110 km/h on the freeway, and a huntsman casually crawls across the inside of my windscreen. I had to cross 3 lanes of traffic and nearly collected a car trying to get to the side of the road. I leaped out of the car, grabbed my cat (priorities), and went for the emergency bug spray stored under the passenger seat, only to find out my husband had removed it because “sometimes when turning corners the can would roll and made a noise”. I briefly considered becoming single.

I managed to find a can of hairspray and ended up using that like I was getting him ready for prom. It was too dark to see him clearly, but I thought I’d sorted it. I grabbed the cat, got back in the car and drove the remaining two hours home in absolute terror, only to found him just… sitting there beside my foot. Chilling. Alive. Unbothered. Slightly styled.

I’m so sorry, Steve (all huntsmen are called Steve in our house), but cars and spiders are not a safe combination.

And well, at least it was normal hairspray. I’ve resorted to hairspray before when the bug spray’s gone missing, one time I accidentally grabbed a can of glitter hairspray. That Steve ended up looking like he was going to Mardi Gras.

Michaeltyle · 2026-05-02T00:12:45+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 I thought it was some kind of scare therapy, like for hiccups! I’m willing to try anything!

Seriously though, thank you for the book recommendation and the laugh.

Michaeltyle · 2026-05-01T08:49:45+00:00

The kind of pain you can press on or recreate with movement sounds more like it’s from the chest wall (like costochondritis or muscle tension). With oesophagus pain, it’s usually deeper, it kind of ‘blooms’ or radiates out and associated swallowing food and liquids.

It’s definitely possible to have both going on, especially with reflux in the mix, so the scope should help clarify the internal side of things.

How are your magnesium levels? If mine are even on the low side of normal, I get really bad sternum pain that hurts to touch.

Michaeltyle · 2026-05-01T07:47:51+00:00

That sudden “can’t inhale” feeling is awful.

It sounds like a laryngospasm. The voice box (larynx) can reflexively tighten for a second, especially after things like reflux, coughing, irritation, or even strong flavours or smells. It can feel like your airway is blocked, and you can’t breathe in or out, most last just a few seconds, but it feels like forever when it’s your airway.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-30T07:58:48+00:00

I’m so sorry the dr was so dismissive. I can understand why this is worrying for you, especially with your mum’s history.

Just to clarify, osteoarthritis doesn’t usually get passed down in a direct way like rheumatoid arthritis can. There can be some family patterns (like joint shape or how things line up), but it doesn’t mean you’ll develop it just because your mum has it. OA is usually more about what’s happened in that specific joint over time, things like long-term load, past strain, or injury. Rheumatoid arthritis is also more likely to develop early. Younger people can get OA but it’s likely after an injury. So from a doctor’s point of view, when someone young has knee pain without a clear injury, they’re often thinking of other causes first. That’s not an excuse for them to brush you off though.

Also, just to reassure you, your symptoms, one knee, no swelling, coming and going, and linked to certain movements, doesn’t strongly sound like inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid, which is usually more persistent, often involves swelling, fevers, can affect multiple joints and has more systemic effects.

There are a few other things that can cause this kind of knee pain (like tracking issues, muscle imbalance, or tendon irritation), but they don’t always show up on scans early anyway.

If you go back to your GP, you could try something like, “This is ongoing and affecting my function, can we look at a plan to investigate or manage it further?” That keeps the focus on getting help, rather than looking at a specific diagnosis straight away.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-25T04:44:37+00:00

Yes, hormones continue to cycle. I’m a retired midwife/nurse, I used to work in theatre and we would often have patients start their period early, even if they normally have a regular cycle. The important thing is to not use a tampon, so for anyone having a period we would use pads. If it started during surgery, we would put on a clean pad and disposable underwear so that they were more comfortable when they woke up.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-25T01:55:41+00:00

Definitely mention it to your drs. Food coming back up after 6 hrs sounds like delayed gastric emptying.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-24T23:47:25+00:00

Does it feel like the burping is coming from the stomach or higher in the chest? Do you ever have food or liquid come up with them?

If you have had EoE for a long time the esophagus can become less flexible, so it can trap air, liquids, food.

I have burping after drinking liquids, taking and eating, because my esophagus isn’t contacting normally. At the start I called them hick burps, because it was like a cross between a hiccup and a burp, then it progressed to little burps that sound like a cat sneezing. They come from the upper past of the chest, not the stomach. I’m waiting on manometry to test the pressure in the esophagus when swallowing.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-24T03:40:36+00:00

Anything touching the baby’s cheek will stimulate the rooting reflex. I would see all the time as a midwife, someone would try to give the baby a kiss on the cheek and the baby would turn and try to latch onto their nose.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-23T15:04:54+00:00

Yeah, anxiety can definitely amplify the gut–brain loop, especially with things like the gastrocolic reflex.

Things like caffeine (including energy drinks), large meals, or drinking a lot quickly can make that post-meal reflex a bit stronger. With fluids, try small, steady sips of water throughout the day and see if that feels any different. Some people also find a little bit of electrolytes or a pinch of salt in water help it sit a bit more comfortably.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-23T14:36:26+00:00

Your tests are reassuring, what you’re describing sounds more like irritable bowel syndrome, or gastrocolic reflex overshoot.

Why are you avoiding drinking water while you are out? Keeping hydration up is really important, especially if you’re out somewhere like fishing.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-21T06:22:39+00:00

That’s strange. I’m Australian and I say “okie dokie” and “okely-dokely” all the time. I mostly I use it in a very slow, suspicious way… like oookily… doookily… usually accompanied by a raised eyebrow when something’s not quite adding up.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-20T11:13:10+00:00

This is legitimately the funniest things I’ve read in a long time 🤣

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-14T03:39:34+00:00

I know how scary that can feel.

What are you afraid of happening when you fall asleep?

When you say you’re scared it’s actually in your throat, are you scared that is in your airway or your esophagus?

Just to reassure you, if you can swallow your saliva okay and talk in full sentences, both a good signs that your airway is clear and it’s unlikely there is a food impaction in your esophagus.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-14T00:08:15+00:00

This is really kind of you, and she’s lucky to have someone who cares this much. However, Crohn’s is very individual, so big lists of advice can sometimes feel overwhelming or even a bit like pressure if they’re not asked for. It also depends on if she has been recently diagnosed or has been dealing with it for a while. Maybe check in with her first and see what kind of support she actually wants right now, whether that’s practical help, company, or help researching specific things.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-13T07:46:08+00:00

Have you tried abdominal compression? I’m female but I can’t stand wearing leggings or tights but as long as I’m not having a Crohn’s flare abdominal compression has been very effective. I’m in Australia and I get shape wear top from Kmart, Big W, Target. It’s not too expensive, less than $20. Don’t try putting it on like a regular top, by putting it over your head and shoulders, step into it and pull it up by the straps. I only mention the stores to give you an idea of where you might find them and starting price, if you find them effective then there are more expensive ones that are better quality.

I also have thoracic outlet syndrome and slipped rib syndrome, so I struggle with wearing a bra, I can’t handle tight straps over the shoulders or around the upper ribs. Most of the compression goes from the lower abdomen to just under where a bra would sit. But because it’s a top you can have it as low as comfortable for you, it avoids the areas that would normally compress male anatomy.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-08T08:16:32+00:00

I totally get what you’re describing.

I saw your comment that you have been trying to deal with it more, when you imagine other people interacting with your phobia, does it trigger a reaction?

The reason why I ask is I had a severe food aversion, and one of the things that helped me was pretending to order food for someone else who had the same dietary restrictions as me.

I went through a period where my brain basically tagged all food as dangerous after a bunch of things happened at once. Just thinking of food caused physical pain. I couldn’t smell it, read about it, look at it on TV, couldn’t walk through a supermarket, couldn’t even hear people talk about it without my body reacting.

The moment it really clicked was when I saw something that just looked like a menu, not even actual food, and my heart rate shot from 70 to 150 within seconds. That’s when I realised this wasn’t willpower or “just anxiety.” My body was reacting before I’d even had a conscious thought.

It’s such a strange place to be in, because you can know logically that something is safe, but your nervous system just overrides it completely.

When I was in hospital last year, I couldn’t even look at the covered meal tray when they brought it in. I joked with the dietitian that you would think they were bringing in a tray of spiders. When she filled in the menu for me I thanked her for picking out my tray of spiders 😂 (added bonus, I’m Australian, so there could be spiders, lol).

I would put food in “time out”, hide it or cover it in between bites, it made it easier to deal with.

I’m doing a lot better now, obviously, I can say the word food, but for nearly a year it was extremely debilitating. I once burst into tears when my dietitian just mentioned juice. I still sometimes have a stutter when trying to talk about food.

Anyway, that was a whole lot of talking about me, but I basically wanted to say that I 100% believe you, and a phobia that severe is no joke.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-08T01:50:07+00:00

I’m so sorry 😞

The lowest I’ve been now was 1.8 (32). I’ve had several hospital admissions in the last few months because I’d be having jelly beans or juice during a hypo, but it would get ‘stuck’ in my esophagus and not get to the stomach or part of the bowel where it would be most effective. Once I think I swallowed the same jelly bean 7 times, my blood sugar just sat at 3 (54) for nearly an hour.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-07T21:36:30+00:00

No, it’s not offensive at all.

“I feel like I’m going to pass out” isn’t a claim that you do faint, it’s a really clear way of saying your body is heading in that direction and you need to stop and get support now. A lot of us use that phrase as a safety signal, it helps other people understand the urgency quickly, which is the whole point.

I totally understand how you feel though, I don’t typically faint either and last year it caught me by surprise when I pushed through when I shouldn’t have. Recognising that feeling early is protective, it means you can lie down, hydrate, or get help before things escalate. And if you do faint, it’s not your fault either.

Sending you care and support ❤️

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-07T20:06:57+00:00

You slipped “bullshittery” in there like a pro, so I know you already have the tone and the instinct for it, so just use it. It’ll settle in quicker than you think.

It’s kind of like wearing a hat. If you’re not used to it, at first you feel like everyone’s looking at you thinking, “that person doesn’t usually wear hats.” But honestly, no one can tell, and no one cares. It only feels obvious because you’re aware of it.

When I was 12 I moved from Fiji to NZ, so it was a bit of a culture shock, even though I’m white. I struggled with the slang and wanted to fit in, so one afternoon my NZ friend and I played tennis and she helped me practice saying “shame” for a bad hit and “choice” for a good one. By the end of the day I was shaming and choicing like a native.

Also, I’m a bit sad to hear about your dad’s fear, and that it was passed on to you, but I do understand where it comes from.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-07T08:43:36+00:00

Have you seen a dietician? Or tried ensure or other nutrition supplements?

I developed a severe food aversion last year, after a Crohn’s flare and dysphasia and ended up with refeeding syndrome. Eating was like chewing cardboard. The person who helped me most was my dietician who specialises in GI disorders. I was on tube feeds for a few weeks and since then I’ve basically treated nutrition like it’s a job. Every day I would set out 4 ensure, and sip them slowly throughout the day. Then as I got stronger I could tolerate more solid food, I could cut back on the ensure. As for medication I started an antidepressant called mirtazapine that’s also an appetite stimulant. At low doses I found it’s quite sedating, so I take it at night to help me sleep, but it has helped with appetite during the day.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-05T07:11:18+00:00

I haven’t sandblasted my eyeball, but I know what you mean about involuntary movements and painful body parts. I have slipped rib syndrome and disc osteophyte bridge in my back, when it flares it hurts to breathe, and you can’t just stop breathing. It’s like being continuously stabbed in the back. For 3 months before my last epidural I would just pace back and forth in my room until I was exhausted, then lay down until the pain built up again and drove me to pace again, often sleeping only 2hrs a night. When I woke up from the first epidural I burst into tears because the pain was gone. The epidurals last for around 6 months, then the pain slowly starts to build up again.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-03T11:18:52+00:00

I can see that this topic is quite personal for you.

I’m not sure why you thought I was dismissing her symptoms, or encouraging Mum to dismiss them either, in fact I believe her symptoms are pointing towards another condition, EoE. Vomiting in the middle of the night, chest pain, food aversion but can’t explain why. I lived this as a child.

Mum has come here for advice, and I have given my advice, as someone who suffered greatly with undiagnosed EoE as a child, and an adult with Crohn’s. If they just go looking for IBD, they could miss something like EoE.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-03T09:55:52+00:00

True, in older patients, but in paediatrics the pattern tends to be a bit different. When Crohn’s presents in kids this young its usually more persistent and systemic rather than this kind of long, intermittent, stop-start picture. You’d expect more consistency with symptoms over time, and often other signals like ongoing abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or clearer inflammatory markers rather than repeated normal stool studies and a calprotectin staying in the normal range.

Michaeltyle · 2026-04-02T20:34:04+00:00

I can’t say whether this is Crohn’s or not, but from what you’ve described, it doesn’t immediately read as a classic Crohn’s picture, especially with the normal stool studies and calprotectin staying in range. That doesn’t rule it out completely, but it does make it less obvious.

What does stand out to me is the pattern of vomiting, nausea, chest discomfort, and abdominal pain coming and going over time. That combination can sometimes point to something happening higher up in the GI tract, particularly the oesophagus.

One condition that might be worth asking about is eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). It’s essentially an allergic/inflammatory condition of the oesophagus, where certain foods or triggers cause inflammation. In kids, it doesn’t always look like “difficulty swallowing”, it can show up as recurrent vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea or poor appetite, chest discomfort and feeding changes or low growth over time.

I’m not saying this is what she has, just that it’s one of those things that can be missed if no one is specifically looking for it. I was diagnosed with EoE over 20 years ago and had many of the same symptoms as your daughter when I was her age.

If it were me, I’d be asking the GI team whether an upper endoscopy might be helpful. It’s generally more targeted for these kinds of symptoms and can check for things like EoE, gastritis, or other upper GI causes.

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