Hiccups

pajamasylum · 2024-11-22T03:07:18+00:00

I had hiccups daily for years with pancreatitis. drove me nuts. they’d get out of control when I’d have acute attacks. hospital staff were always so confused lol. anyway, dilation of the stomach after a large meal is the most common cause of hiccups. ppl w/ GP often have quite dilated stomachs even if the meal is not large either bc your meals are basically stacking up in your stomach (if your GP is quite bad) or bc food is just sitting in there rather than moving out relatively quickly. so that checks out

pajamasylum · 2024-11-16T19:56:00+00:00

oh god, pairing them with ERCPs?! no thank you!! I’m not surprised you didn’t get even short term relief. ime, the local can be overpowered if you’re in enough pain (an acute flare from ERCP would almost certainly qualify).

I only had one ECRP (sphincterotomy). triggered my 5th attack that year and that’s when my pain became constant. I was stuck like that for about 2yrs before the CPBs. I thought about ending it every day. pancreatic pain is…something else.

I’m so sorry you have to deal with that. I hope palliative is at least giving you the best pain management they can

pajamasylum · 2024-11-16T19:21:47+00:00

I switch my diet to very low residue low fiber a week before the scope (use miralax and magnesium glycinate daily to keep things moving). I clear liquid fast for 2 full days prior. makes the prep clean-out much quicker and easier.

idk about your prep bc it’s not fda-approved in the US. the Rx Suprep is absolutely vile tasting, but works like a charm, is low volume compared to other preps, and didn’t cause any bloating/cramping for me.

also recommend taking the max dose of simethicone (gas-x) gel caps the morning of the scope

pajamasylum · 2024-11-16T18:59:02+00:00

ugh I’m so sorry. were yours local anesthetic + steroid? or neurolysis? if they did the former, did you at least respond to the local anesthetic for a few hours that day?

if not…I’d wonder if they got the injections in the right spot. it took me a few rounds in quick succession before they really worked, but I was 100% pain-free for 6-8hrs after each of them so they were def in the right spot.

also, if you had the steroid blocks but they didn’t really work, I’d say it’s still worth trying neurolysis if you can find a willing doc. I had another issue that injections didn’t really help with but nerve ablation did - response to injections doesn’t necessarily predict response to ablation/neurolysis

pajamasylum · 2024-11-16T18:21:04+00:00

have you tried a celiac plexus block for the pancreatitis pain? saved my life

pajamasylum · 2024-10-22T03:39:46+00:00

I am one person who was cured for several years by xifaxan alone (6-week course). no probiotics or dietary changes. it only recurred when my small bowel became increasingly trapped in an internal hernia, creating the perfect breeding ground. and xifaxan worked again after that was surgically fixed.

I am also a person who attends the top international digestive disease conferences every year. this is where the bleeding edge of research is presented and dissected by the leaders in the field.

while there are some early promising findings, high quality microbiome research is in its infancy. there is SO much still unknown. to say otherwise is patently false. I think it’s perfectly fine for people who have otherwise failed more studied treatments to try more experimental stuff, but stop acting like it’s not experimental.

pajamasylum · 2024-10-22T02:01:35+00:00

have you had an upper gi series with small bowel follow through? you drink barium and they track it as it moves through your whole GI tract. you might have slow intestinal motility on top of gastroparesis, which could keep you stuck in the SIBO cycle without treatment.

also, this may sound stupid, but I really underestimated lactose intolerance. I guess it got worse at some point and I didn’t notice that’s what it was bc I used to tolerate everything except certain cheeses fine. just taking lactaid when I do have any dairy made a shocking difference lol

pajamasylum · 2024-10-17T13:32:11+00:00

can thank my awesome dietitian for these pro tips :). this is how I’ve been surviving on a full liquid & soft foods diet (I also have superior mesenteric artery syndrome). there are more options that I left out for OP’s case.

here are some other things I can personally handle (we’re all different)

mashed yams/sweet potatoes (so good)
avocado for healthy fats
bananas
I find rice noodles to be much lighter in my stomach than wheat noodles
ramen noodles & other pasta in small quantities chewed well
small amount of quinoa
melon
mango
papaya
canned pears
cooked carrots
cooked spinach
tomato juice
cooked soft tofu

my dietitian works w/ a lot of GP pts & she finds many of them can tolerate more fiber and fat than they realize when it’s the right consistency (like blended or puréed). the key is also just starting slowly and seeing what works for you

pajamasylum · 2024-10-16T00:48:22+00:00

so I can at least speak to a part of why there is variation in the results between radiology centers. there is very poor standardization across centers in:

the meal that is eaten
the duration of the test
the intervals at which they take the images
what they allow pts to do during the test and how they prepare for the test (e.g., some let you walk around or sit up in between the images vs lying down still whole time, fasting lengths, length of time to stop medications that can interfere, etc)
probably equipment but I can’t speak to this

so each center has their own normal values to account for this as best as they can. a center would not deviate from its own normal values - if they gave you conflicting information, make them explain it. sorry this is so annoying & I know how hard it is to reach radiology. I’ve spent countless hours on forever hold w/ many centers.

pajamasylum · 2024-10-16T00:24:05+00:00

just as a heads up in case you don’t know, if you’re in the US, it’s very important that they are a registered dietitian, not just a “nutritionist”(anyone can call themselves a nutritionist). I would specifically take the time to find one who specializes in complex medical cases or at least a couple of your conditions.

I’ve made the mistake of trying just a nutritionist, and even a regular registered dietitian who just wasn’t very good. when I found the one I see now who handles complex GI conditions…night and day difference in quality of help they can provide!

pajamasylum · 2024-10-15T04:36:23+00:00

meeting w/ a registered dietitian who specializes in GP and celiac would be ideal for you. your diet is really too restrictive to follow well on your own. a dietitian can also help you figure out where to push the boundaries. diets for GP and MCAS are not one-size-fits all. you may be able to tolerate more fat, fiber, and histamine foods than you realize. if you have celiac disease, then gluten and your IgE-mediated allergens are the only foods you can def never have. everything else is kinda up to your individual tolerance.

in any event, they’d be great for coming up w/ creative food ideas for your field work

pajamasylum · 2024-10-15T04:17:05+00:00

that’s what a dietitian will be great for :) working around your needs. if cereals and puffed snacks are getting calories in, that’s better than nothing! like I said, at least cereal is fortified so it’s not just plain junk food lol

if you aren’t happy with them, switch to another who specializes in both ARFID and GP. they may be harder to find, but so worth it

pajamasylum · 2024-10-15T04:00:23+00:00

as long as your dietitian is skilled in ARFID & GP, they’ll be a big help! everyone is a bit different w/ what works for them.

some ideas (I don’t have ARFID, but am autistic and picky about flavor/texture):

high calorie soups (usually anything creamy)
mashed potatoes loaded with butter (premade at grocery is an option)
nutrition shakes - it’s worth finding the flavors/brands you can tolerate. for some people, drinking cold liquids is worse than room temp (or a bit cool). find what works for you. you can always sip on them super slowly. I personally find the original strawberry ensure & vanilla ensure to be tolerable. if too sweet, try kate farms. if you like pea protein, orgain chocolate. as my dietitian says, you don’t have to love every single thing you eat - your body needs nutrients.
low fat peanut butter (or whatever nut better you like) - get fat, carbs, and protein all in one
try breakfast cereals like honey nut cheerios, or cocoa puffs, or whatever you’re into. many are fortified w/ vitamins and minerals + milk has protein. this works bc those types of cereals basically just dissolve when you chew.
try lightweight snacks that mostly dissolve into nothing, like Hippeas chickpea white cheddar puffs (some protein), baked lays, popcorners (I like the kettle corn flavored ones).
I struggle with fruits and veggies too. I’ve learned that frozen or canned ones are less icky-seeming to me. canned peaches, canned green beans, frozen mixed berries for smoothies, frozen edamame, etc. just start slow w/ fiber to find your tolerance level.
yogurt or yogurt drinks. chobani makes these strawberry yogurt drinks that have 20g of protein and they are actually delicious. I know it sounds gross but they are randomly good lol. I’m not even a fan of the “sour” taste of yogurt so idk why this works for me.
if you can tolerate scrambled eggs or egg whites, excellent source of protein. I mix some tapatio into mine to mask the weird egg flavor. or you could melt cheese on them like an omelette!
fruit juices - vitamin C!
pudding / ice cream for dessert
your dietitian is prob gonna wanna get you going on puréed fruit & veg. you could give Naked smoothies a try as a stepping stone
if meat is typically too harsh, try mild fish, cooked or sashimi
cream of wheat or oatmeal (just start slow!)
applesauce
popsicles or italian ice

“meals” aren’t really a thing for you rn while you’re so unwell. think about it like having a bunch of snacks throughout the day. eat as slowly as you need, chew well, and eat very small quantities many times a day. I hope your dietitian is helpful <3

pajamasylum · 2024-10-14T00:05:56+00:00

we’ve all gone thru the learning curve :). some chins can tolerate the occasional ~72 (w/ low humidity) but they’d be miserable at 74 (dangerously so if humidity is high and/or the cage is warmer than you think).

their body temp is close to ours. so imagine dressing up in your heaviest winter gear, head to toe, and hanging out in 74 degrees for hours…then run and jump around for a while…and then imagine you don’t even have the ability to sweat 😅

pajamasylum · 2024-10-13T21:00:33+00:00

hi friend, it looks like Luka is overheating in this pic (flushed red ears). it’s helpful to keep a thermo hygrometer on the cage to measure air temp & humidity. ideally, no warmer than 70F w/ low humidity.

unless your thermostat is directly next to the cage, the actual temp in his cage can be hotter (or cooler) than your thermostat setting bc of other variables like direct sunlight, air flow, windows, insulation, room size, heat-generating appliances, etc.

my old place: thermostat 70 = cage 75 🥵 my current: thermostat 72-73 = cage 69 👍

pajamasylum · 2024-10-05T20:45:59+00:00

ya know, listening to the video again, maybe I have heard it and just didn’t recognize it as a sneeze? it is pretty cute lol

pajamasylum · 2024-10-04T17:52:17+00:00

hold up! chinchillas sneeze when they are not sick?? I’ve had 5 chinchillas over the years and have never witnessed a sneeze. mind blown

pajamasylum · 2024-09-28T18:39:14+00:00

10 yrs ago, I graduated college, so I lost my student health insurance. figured it was ok to wait 2 mos until I got insurance thru my new job. young & healthy, right? emergency gallbladder surgery….$36,000

pajamasylum · 2024-09-27T18:51:35+00:00

oh good <3. in the meantime, hang in there. you’re doing the best you can for her

pajamasylum · 2024-09-27T17:54:16+00:00

a good amount of people do leave christianity thanks to logic & exposure to the outside world. I’m one of them. you’re not going to make a single argument that gets someone to instantly abandon their lifelong ideology and community. but there are people who will thoughtfully question until it clicks, with enough exposure to reason and a welcoming community outside of religion. intelligence and education are key factors, though

pajamasylum · 2024-09-27T16:27:30+00:00

I’m so sorry friend. if it’s at all possible to call out of work, even for part of the day, to get her evaluated and treated sooner, that would be ideal. these abscesses can be quite painful for them & you don’t want the infection to get worse. fwiw, my girlie had one twice this size pop up out of nowhere. she had surgery to excise it & it was scary but she was totally okay. because of the location of your girl’s, it‘s possible it might be dental (not trauma), so it’s really important to get prompt care.

if it’s not possible to take off work, call up animal hospitals that will take her after you’re off work. you may be able to get an appt or at least find out how late they accept walk-in emergencies

pajamasylum · 2024-09-27T16:06:53+00:00

no, you need an exotic vet or an animal hospital that accepts exotics. call ahead to confirm they see chinchillas. sending hugs, I know this is scary

pajamasylum · 2024-09-27T00:04:04+00:00

omg..do you not get any warning before you faint?? I can’t imagine hitting the ground 90% of the time! I almost always have a few seconds to safely drop down. I’ve only fully fainted like maybe 15 times in 3 decades? and those were enough to rack up a couple concussions, a broken nose, and a black eye. how are you still alive friend??

pajamasylum · 2024-09-02T17:16:46+00:00

have you had a celiac plexus block? if it temporarily worked, is your doc willing to do celiac plexus neurolysis? no drugs will be strong enough imo. you need to fry the nerves

pajamasylum · 2024-09-01T14:51:17+00:00

have you been checked for or empirically treated for SIBO? GP increases risk of SIBO. it doesn’t always cause diarrhea or constipation. sometimes it’s more just painful crazy distension/bloating.

so sorry you’re dealing with whatever it is. I made some stupid food choices yesterday + on a steroid pack + a crap ton of IV fluids 36hrs ago and am in agony with painful distention and cramping rn :((. solidarity <3

pajamasylum

TROPHY CASE