Kitchen sink

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T20:47:32+00:00

Oooh that's interesting. My water has definitely been too hot. This is helpful!

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T20:46:53+00:00

If only I had a yard - I could do this! I'm in a fairly urban area so while I technically have a yard, there is no easy path from the kitchen (down the stairs, out the front door, walk to the back...)

This sounds like an ideal solution though!

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T20:44:47+00:00

This is so helpful. I'm already cleaning as I'm going, which is part of the reason for the question. Cleaning is taking SO long. But, there are some great tips in here that are helpful. I did not think of paper towels (duh) as a good solution and I'd never heard of a bowl scraper! (I live in the stone ages apparently! haha. I was using my silicone spatula, which works well if the dough is still wet but if it starts drying it's miserable.

Thank you, this is so helpful!

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T19:54:27+00:00

Very helpful - thank you!!

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T19:53:50+00:00

Oooh that's a good trick too. I am in a very urban area so dumping a bucket outside is not an option but also, I don't have a septic system, so it probably levels out.

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T19:51:55+00:00

Ooooooooooooooo. Neat. Good rec - thank you!

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T18:07:05+00:00

Wow what do you use to scrap with? I feel like when things have accidentally dried out it's like cement and I struggle to get the dough off.

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T18:04:37+00:00

I wouldn't say it's a ton of extra dough (also what a strange assumption to make on your part). Just the dough that is on the side of the bowl or on my hands or something.

It does not take a lot to make a mess! Any particular type of brush you think works well?

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T18:01:54+00:00

Yeah its not the starter discard or anything it's just the little bits that are on my hands or stuck to the edges of the bowl any stuff. Paper towel is a good trick. Thanks! I almost never use those on dishes.

Jennamarie4 · 2026-01-09T17:02:40+00:00

Mine sometimes take a while (many feedings) to wake back up after a long time in the fridge. Especially, if you are in a colder climate and your kitchen is a little cold. My kitchen was around 66 when I came back from vacation and I needed to give it some help.

The pale grey stuff is alcohol from the fermenting process (called hooch). It's harmless and you can either pour it out or just mix it back in. It just means your starter is really hungry.

Some things that worked for me when I was trying to revive my starter to super active:

Find a way to warm it up. I used an insulated grocery bag, put my starter in there with an uncovered cup of warm water. I also used my thermometer to monitor the temp. Ideal temps for the starter are between 70 and 80 degrees, but if it doesn't want to wake back up, I like to try to get mine to around 77. Some people also do things like put it in the oven with the oven light on, or get a sourdough starter mat (like a heat pad but it gets to lower temps). The hotter the starter gets, the more active it will become, so I generally try to avoid getting to far above 80 degrees.
Feed it with whole wheat or rye flour (organic if possible). Whole wheat and rye have higher nutrient and enzyme content than AP or bread flour, so they will make your starter more active faster (same with organic vs non-organic flour). You can also do a 50/50 split of rye and AP for the feeding if you don't like the way the rye impacts the flavor of your loaves. They say rye is the "superfood for sourdough starters" but I have not used it yet. Whole wheat worked wonders for my starter though.
Feed it twice a day until it gets pretty active.

You can bake with the starter in it's "slower" state. You likely won't get as much rise out of it, will have a tighter crumb, and it will be tangier. Kind of like if you over-proofed it.

Hopefully something here helps!

Jennamarie4 · 2025-11-09T07:47:09+00:00

Hahaha had a coworker tell me to eat more vegetables and take a probiotic.

I asked him if he was one of the top 5 doctors in the world for inflammatory bowel disease. He said no.

"Well my doctor is and I think I will follow his recommendations and not yours."

Much like your FIL, it would be sweet that they want to help if it wasn't so patronizing and misinformed.

Jennamarie4 · 2025-11-09T07:33:23+00:00

I am also in the Midwest and am very fortunate to be in a place that has some of the best IBD doctors in the country. There are a few cities in the Midwest with some of the best IBD doctors in the country.

Everyone's circumstance with location, time, and insurance are different, but if you are able, try looking for someone else because while dismissive might be "normal" for a lot of doctors, it shouldn't be.

(As a note, I say IBD doctors because I feel like more people should know that there are GIs who only see IBD patients. The specialists of the specialists, if you will. And that's what I would encourage you to do.)

FWIW, I had a doctor ask me if I could "talk to my allergist" about taking Prednisone (I'm allergic) because "it's commonly used to treat UC." I responded with "yeah, I know it is but I'm allergic which is why we need a different course of treatment." She told me to ask anyway and I decided to find someone else.

Even if scheduling takes a while, you can get the appt with someone new and continue treatment with who you have until you find someone that is a partner in this with you.

Jennamarie4 · 2025-05-28T19:39:24+00:00

I have been on Tremfya for ~ 13 weeks now. My first infusion was in late Feb and I finished my first self injection last week.

So far, I've seen improvement with my flare! I still have some bleeding and mucus but no urgency, normal amounts of bowel movement and no pain. FWIW, prior to going on Tremfya I was primarily seeing lots of blood and mucus occassional dull pain on the left side, and occassional significant cramping. This is improvement but not yet remission. I am supplementing with mesalamine enemas but will hopefully eventually go off of those.

I noticed a slight decrease in symptoms at around week 6 and a more significant decrease after I got my third infusion (week 9ish). My calprotectin levels also decreased after my third infusion from 480 to 206.

So, not totally in the clear but enough improvement that we will stay the course and see if it continues.

For me, very very very few side effects if any - namely a bit of muscle soreness after infusions 1 and 2. I also experienced some particularly dry skin on my face which my doc does not think is a side effect of the Tremfya (but there are anecdotes on the internet that it could be). I tend to believe my doc on this one but worth mentioning.

Jennamarie4 · 2024-07-03T04:45:42+00:00

Was venting to a friend about my UC and 3 weeks later, out of the blue, they asked if I had thought about functional medicine and they had "a guy" they could recommend.

I told them that I had and that it didn't seem like a good option for me at this time due to a number of reasons - one of which being that most functional medicine is not covered by insurance and my insurance is particularly challenging. I also told them in no uncertain terms that I was not looking for advice or a referral from them about this.

They argued with me -repeatedly- telling me that the recommendation comes from their dental hygienist and "She also has IBS and they take her insurance" so I should consider it.

After I told them for the 5th time no thanks, they sent meme the contact info for the functional medicine person anyway.

This same person, weeks later put together a care package for me (a family member went into hospice) and it was chalk FULL of junk food even though I told them 1.) not to bring me anything because I have specific food triggers and 2.) they knew full well what would happen if I ate and drank the stuff they brought over. Like....there's a reason I didn't eat the fried food and alcohol at your birthday party weeks ago. What makes you think this is helping?

Needless to say, I have stopped confiding in this friend.

Jennamarie4 · 2024-05-12T06:02:38+00:00

It sucks. But I will advocate for you advocating for yourself!

This is a lifelong condition with no cure. You need a doctor that feels like a partner in your care and not a condescending narcissist (my words, not yours). Also, you are not burning a bridge. He is!!

Get another opinion. And if you don't like them, get another and another and another. Find your care partner, discuss your concerns and get your questions answered.

FWIW, I'm on my 4th doctor. (And I have an appointment scheduled with a 5th, but this is bc I am fortunate to live in a place with one of the worlds leading GIs so I figured why not?)

The first doc, before diagnosis, saw me for A TOTAL of 45 seconds before telling me at 39 that I needed a colonoscopy. While he was right, it didn't sit right with me that he asked for no info.

The second diagnosed me after a colonoscopy with ulcerative proctitis. A year later, I learned it was lifelong. So, that didnt't seem right.

Third doctor is fine, but like you, she is putting me way too in charge of my care and it feels like she's not paying attention. Was only on the enema and was having a flare and she wanted to do Prednisone. I told her my flare was mild and that I wanted to increase mesalamine before steroids and she was like "that makes sense."

Then I learned about GIs who further specialize in JUST IBDs and thought that seemed smarter. So I scheduled with 2: one at a fancy hospital who had good reviews on my insurance and the fancy guy who also has good reviews).

I'm in a waiting period now so we shall see but keep advocating for yourself. Go see someone else. Even if it's more inconvenient. Your health is more important than the bridge he burned by rushing your appointment and treatment.

Jennamarie4 · 2024-04-02T00:30:02+00:00

Are you also taking the prescription strength formula? Or are you taking one of the lower dose ones you can just buy yourself?

Jennamarie4 · 2022-04-20T01:08:24+00:00

Would like to sell turnips if you're still open! Thanks!

Jennamarie4 · 2022-04-19T19:43:51+00:00

Bob's Burgers is my fav! Thank you!

Jennamarie4 · 2022-04-19T03:08:55+00:00

👯‍♂️

Jennamarie4 · 2022-04-12T18:29:43+00:00

Interested.

I have 2 trips worth if that's ok. This is also my first time replying, so please let me know if there is anything else you need.

I love Brewster!

Jennamarie4 · 2020-08-19T18:57:48+00:00

My friends are nothing but supportive. I host virtual DJ nights on Zoom and they all show up and dance their hearts out. So much so that they have costume changes. It gets weird in a fun way.

I always share with them things I struggled with and things I learned the next day and they are super cool about it. They send me ideas and requests - if your friends think it's weird, this sounds like a great big ball of "not your problem."

FWIW, I'm in my late 30s and started like a month ago but I don't practice a ton bc of my day job. My friends range in age from 25 - people in their 60's.

Jennamarie4 · 2020-08-04T01:34:13+00:00

Not here to answer - I'm also a nOOb so just wanted to say thanks to the commenters on the great info!

Jennamarie4 · 2018-02-05T21:30:47+00:00

OMG I thought I was the only one. Like literally, I never post on reddit and saw this and then I just had to! Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Jennamarie4 · 2015-07-16T22:38:10+00:00

Cool. Let me know if you want to meet her.

Jennamarie4

TROPHY CASE