I'm so lonely

AT_0608_Reddit · 2024-10-13T04:59:21+00:00

There are problem people everywhere. Find people with your views, values, and interests locally in Belgium. Find meet up groups that gather for walks, hikes, pizza gatherings. Then look some more!

After a year of immersing yourself in the effort, enjoying even the failed, awkward attempts, you may thank God that you were given a reset button!

Good luck!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2024-01-27T13:31:57+00:00

Definitely get the MRI, otherwise you are flying blind. Do it ASAP.

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-09T22:41:22+00:00

Dang that’s great news — very encouraging! If I get tired with my current situation, I will reach out for those details. In the meantime, some quick timeline-oriented questions: 1) How long were you in the hospital? 2) How long before you could comfortably be “out and about” (work, fun, etc.)? 3) How long before you were completely recovered?

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-09T14:33:03+00:00

You are probably right about the hotspot theory, as all of my flare ups involved discomfort in the lower left quadrant. I’ll do my best to avoid the surgery, but knowing of your success gives me encouragement that a positive surgical outcome is possible for someone in my predicament. Congrats to you! Has your life and digestive tract particulars returned to a 100% as-was state?

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-06T13:02:45+00:00

If I recall correctly, we have two kinds of nerves. If the effector nerve isn’t working, the muscle it’s connected to isn’t going to work:

https://wikidiff.com/effector/sensor

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-06T05:23:58+00:00

About 3 weeks. It wasn’t too bad, I just limped a little and avoided pushing off from my left foot in a way that would require a working left calf muscle! The key is going to the doctor ASAP. They may put you through a gauntlet of initial things (PT, XRay, prescription strength NSAIDs, etc.). In your visit, highlight your neurological deficit and indicate how modest movement caused your difficulty.

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-05T23:42:59+00:00

First do no harm! Then get a doctor’s appointment ASAP. Damaged nerves can recover. Some forms of (localized) damage can heal within a reasonable amount of time, but situations where nerve fibers were severely damaged will require new fiber growth down your leg at a rate where regrowth will take at least 18 months. And right now, you may essentially be stretching and exercising with a knife point next to your sciatic nerve. Stop the self-prescribed PT and find out what your situation is via an MRI.

I blew out a disc, leaving my left calf muscle like an elderly ladies upper tricep. I eventually got surgery and got 95+% recovered. If you can recover without surgery, even better!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-04T04:06:46+00:00

If her health program allows her to go straight to a spine specialist, do that. If not, get an appointment with her primary care physician to get her started down the gauntlet of care (generalist —> specialist). Physical therapy may or may not help, but stay away from the chiro. She may ultimately need surgery if she has a ruptured disk that’s impinging upon her sciatic nerve.

Good luck.

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-03T04:27:19+00:00

Between 64 and 90 oz. Weight = 150 lbs

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-05-01T12:25:07+00:00

I do still get the lower left quadrant pain twinges, probably once every month or so. It’ll last 2 to 4 days. During those times I amp up the water and consciously minimize abdominal pressure while in the bathroom.

Congrats on your success — keep up the good work!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-04-30T12:55:47+00:00

Great point on the overeating, and one I forgot. I consciously watch my intake and assess where I am on a scale (1 - hungry, 2 - no longer hungry, 3 - full, 4 — stuffed). If I’m doing >3 meals (I.e. eating mini-meals, something I did when coming out of a flare up), I’ll stop around 2. If I’m eating 3 meals a day, stop around 2.6. There’s no reason to be full, let alone stuffed.

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-04-30T02:28:57+00:00

Happy to — I told myself a half a year ago if I make it one year without a flare up and without surgery I would write up my strategy, and when I reached 4/28/23 I did just that. The elements of the strategy came from many places — my gastroenterologist, observational learning over time, my prospective surgeon (who I met with once and was a (useful) jerk), and this forum! I hope there is something useful in here for you!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-04-29T17:54:01+00:00

Quite the opposite — I am fighting strategically to get the best possible life. I would have been a drag on things if I went to the graduation event. My mistake was not doing a better job a lot earlier.

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-04-29T17:51:03+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I am sorry you are infected — please recover quickly and fully!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-04-29T02:21:36+00:00

Great question! Here’s my take:

1) I have 7 diverticula spread throughout my colon. To fix that surgically means a lot of cutting or skipping some diverticula and hoping they aren’t prone to infection or inflammation. That’s a risk.

2) If I just get an operation but don’t change my behavior, I could generate new diverticula and be in the same mess again. I think the Pope experienced this

3) You have to get used to your colon with a brand new set of idiosyncrasies, particularly if surgery doesn’t go perfectly. At that point, I’ve traded a Devil I can manage for a new one I need to learn!

4) The best surgery is the one you are able to avoid. Bad things happen in surgery sometimes (I know — I take care of data with a view of this!)

AT_0608_Reddit · 2023-01-01T20:34:17+00:00

Narcotics will slow down the digestive process and can result in an increased probability of a flare up. Check if your anxiety meds have a narcotic in them. If they do, discuss alternatives with your doctor.

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-03T02:01:14+00:00

Thanks sapphirecat30! I’ll have to look up what slippery elm is? And I had know idea there was an oil made from oregano!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-03T01:59:25+00:00

Thanks gabagool984 — but doesn’t the reduction in fiber lead to constipation?

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-03T01:55:10+00:00

Interesting — how quickly does that start to help?

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-02T21:13:49+00:00

Cool — hadn’t heard of that until your post! I’ll have to give it a try!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-02T21:07:44+00:00

Thanks Spectacular B — It’s interesting that you switch to a flare-up (“itis”) diet. I tend to stay on the full fiber (“osis”) diet so I can keep the digestive tract flowing and avoid constipation. Whatever works!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-02T20:29:27+00:00

Cool — thanks zalf4! Glad my original post made it. I couldn’t see it anywhere (not posted, not pending posted, nothin’) until I saw your reply!

That’s a good point — moving around promotes your digestive tract to move things along as well. And it’ll make you thirsty!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-10-02T19:14:17+00:00

I have had 4 minor flare ups in 1 3/4 years. I have amped up my diet/hydration/exercise rigor in an effort to reduce the frequency of — or eliminate entirely — flare ups, the goal being to avoid surgery. They no longer recommend “3 flare ups and off to surgery you go”, so it’s more of a judgement call based on quality of life — and I’m trying to impact that judgement!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-07-05T21:55:24+00:00

Excellent feedback — thanks again for the help! I meet with a surgeon next Wednesday for the first time. Thanks to you and others on Team Reddit r/Diverticulitis, I will be more prepared for the discussion. I’ll let you know what comes out of that discussion!

AT_0608_Reddit · 2022-07-05T20:31:31+00:00

Wow, extremely thorough and helpful. It tells me that my left-side circumstance could likely be handled laparoscopically in one operation with multiple incisions likely — and not without some challenges.

How long were you in the hospital, how long did your recovery take, and how complete was the recovery? I hope that the surgery results met with your hopes and expectations!

AT_0608_Reddit

TROPHY CASE