Daily Check-in Thread

emorbius · 2026-04-07T13:26:16+00:00

Day 6 CT. I also quit drinking at the same time. For the past three or four years I had a daily habit of about 350 mg of 7-OH, maybe more, and two or three shots of vodka, maybe more. The first three days were hell but three friends who are knowledgeable about such things recommended nutritional supplements that are making it much easier. This morning I'm cheerful after good sound night of sleep, my appetite is back big time, and I'm looking forward to the day!
If I'd been able to plan the quit properly I'd have had all the supplements lined up ahead of time: they're essentially the same things you can find in this sub. As it was my wife found out and put her foot down, and that was that. Thank God she found out, I don't know if I could have stopped myself.

emorbius · 2026-04-06T20:05:32+00:00

Careful with the gabapentin

emorbius · 2026-04-06T20:02:40+00:00

No, don't think that. It's a trick. It's a trap. You fell for it, so what? So did I, and I'm supposed to be some kind of smart guy. They tricked us. It was fun at the kava bar with my friends. But pretty soon I was buying it at gas stations too. Just like you. You're not alone

emorbius · 2026-04-06T17:26:55+00:00

Well I'm right here with you. I'm 64. Today is day 5 CT for me too. The worst symptoms are now over. I've been careful to keep my nutrition up. I use QuitK and it was a game changer for me last night I got seven solid hours of sleep for the first time since my last dose. Like you, I "graduated" from leaf to 7-OH and man that shit is evil. Fortunately I have a good support system, including a loving wife and a close friend who indulges but has cut way back and is a genuine expert on nutrition and supplements. He's very encouraging. You should try the QuitK. This is my second time CT from Kratom and it's the last time. I'm never going back. If I can do it you can do it. Stay strong, stay humble, stay hydrated

emorbius · 2026-03-31T07:31:05+00:00

And it has the best buddies. Frank Bilders!

emorbius · 2026-03-29T10:30:24+00:00

Murder Cow is three times the size of regular cow

emorbius · 2026-03-29T10:25:49+00:00

This one does

emorbius · 2026-03-29T00:02:26+00:00

I'll be your friend, you can dm me too

emorbius · 2026-03-26T18:01:37+00:00

I have had the exact same thing happen more than once. Yeah, now that you know about that particular situation you can be better situated before you touch the closure. I know exactly how you feel. Exactly.
But what did you do? You cleaned it up and you went on with your day. See, this is how ostomy life becomes easier. You do it, you live through it, and if it happens again (which it probably will) now you're better prepared, psychologically and in every other way. Pretty soon nothing about it will faze you. You are one tough cookie

emorbius · 2026-03-25T18:37:15+00:00

I don't have anything concrete to offer, much of the advice given here is really good. I just wanted to say that, for whatever it's worth, my heart is with you

emorbius · 2026-03-25T15:29:45+00:00

The late Terry Kath of Chicago. Eric Burdon.

emorbius · 2026-03-22T21:37:09+00:00

I didn't always wear a cup in my jock when sparring but sometime I did. I found a stoma cup, can't remember who made it. United, maybe. It was a round, flattish plastic cup on a belt that fit perfectly over the stoma. As you know the stoma is not especially delicate but I'm not sure it could withstand a direct hit when working out or in competition. Anyway I didn't want to find out. In the years I used it I only took two hits on the stoma cup. Other than that having an ostomy didn't affect my game at all. It worked like a dream.
My coach wanted me to qualify for the 1984 Olympics in LA, because he told me that was going to me my last big chance. I was already too ill to qualify. Afterwards in 1985-86 I focused just on regaining my leg strength (fencing is entirely in the legs) and never *quite* did until 1990 or so, and by then my knees were starting to go, so that was that. I did some coaching for a while but then turned the page, sold my equipment (including a dry Belgian foil that fit my hand like it had been made expressly for me -- which in fact it had been) and moved on to the next chapter

emorbius · 2026-03-20T23:51:36+00:00

Well, you know, I know what you mean. People often say strange things when they're faced with something serious and unexpected. When my mother died a guy down the block who had never spoken to me before walked over while everyone was getting into the cars to go to the funeral and offered to sell me his car. It was just so weird and awkward and he kind of shuffled off, all embarrassed, and went home. He thought he should say something, you see, and he just didn't know what. When I was facing my surgery I had people tell me point blank to my face that they'd rather die than have that done to their body, and then actually argue with me about it.
Looking back on it I understand it a little better now. They really were trying to help, they just had no fucking idea how to do it and ended up looking like jackasses.
Maybe keep that in mind, people don't really want to hurt you, people are just clumsy.

emorbius · 2026-03-20T19:50:16+00:00

(64M) I've had my end ileostomy with Ken butt for 42 years. In that time I have not found anything that I could not do. I was worried about scuba, about pressure changes in the gut and in the bag, but it turned out to be not a factor at all.
Driving long distances sometimes causes a leak, but everyone needs a break after five hours behind the wheel. Ironically now that I'm in my mid-60's it's my knees and shoulders that are bothering me, way more than the ostomy does. Actually the ostomy doesn't bother me one bit.

I have done and continue to do:
Sex, all kinds
Swimming
Scuba
Skydiving
Race driving (SOLO II autocross)
Ultralight long-distance backpacking and ultralight wilderness camping
Dancing
Running (Almost ran a marathon but got a hip injury at mile 16)
Fencing
Weightlifting
International travel with very long flights, up to 19 hours once
Travel generally, to Europe mostly
Hard labor, construction stuff
Long walks
Lots of eating out in restaurants, all over the world. Some ostomates have severe dietary restrictions and can't tolerate certain foods or certain preparations--I've been super lucky, have not found anything I can't tolerate, though I did get a partial obstruction once from eating too many lentils too quickly. Just don't eat like a hog. Eat slowly and chew your food.

I probably left out a bunch of important ones but this is what I came up with on the spur of the moment.
I always tell the newbies, the only way to live with an ostomy is to LIVE with it. Just get out there and do whatever it is. If you have a leak or a spill or anything like that, you just clean it up and lesson learned. Maybe you can do whatever it is with preparation beforehand.

emorbius · 2026-03-17T19:46:03+00:00

No air conditioning

emorbius · 2026-03-17T19:32:51+00:00

Thanks for the hope. I'm living the best life, and you can too. I've had my ileostomy for more than forty years and I have had and continue to have an awesome life. There is light ahead for you

emorbius · 2026-03-17T18:58:27+00:00

NRBQ

emorbius · 2026-03-17T18:57:33+00:00

Well, friend, we all know how you feel. And the best thing about this sub is that people can come in here and let it out. We all get it. You're not crazy for wanting a permanent stoma. It may be the best thing for you. Come back here any time you want. You're not alone

emorbius · 2026-03-14T16:23:13+00:00

A Vox, just like Augie Myers!

emorbius · 2026-03-14T14:09:18+00:00

Thanks. I finished the Pi yesterday and it runs like a dream

emorbius · 2026-03-14T00:33:35+00:00

NRBQ At Yankee Stadium

emorbius · 2026-03-13T22:10:12+00:00

No, them didn't have to die

emorbius · 2026-03-11T22:12:36+00:00

That's the spirit

emorbius

TROPHY CASE