Need to vent...looking for help, support, whatever
#146027 - 02/02/05 06:20 PM
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Computr821
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 445
Loc: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA/ Baltimore, MD
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Long post, so be warned; and it's a bit more detailed than you might want to know.
Ok, here's how my day went:
Morning. Breakfast was some Honey Nut Cheerios and Rice Chex. Went to 9:00 a.m. class, had BM, not the greatest, but not horrific. As an IBS-C, I measure things by length of time; the longer it is, the worse I feel.
Got back to my dorm a little after 10:30, and saw I had a message from the University of Pennsylvania Health Referral System. Since I'm a Baltimoron, my primary GI specialist is in Baltimore, not here in Philly. So not only do I want a local doctor, but I'm actually looking for a second opinion since there was almost no workup in my case.
Anyway, so I call back and get bounced around a bit because I'm not in the Hospital at the University of Pennylania (HUP) system; only the school's Student Health System. After finding that there's a IBS program only a few blocks away from my dorm (for the Philadelphians, it's on 39th and Market, Presbyterian Hospital) and getting all my info in, I get an appointment....for March. Argh.
After all this time, I make it to lunch. I eat, fairly quickly, some potatoes and three vegetarian meatballs along with some oatmeal cookies. Quick trip to the bathroom, easy BM. Run to 12:00 class, make it until 1:20, then dash for the bathroom. Rather long and painful BM, then off to 2:00 class. Before the class even starts, I'm back in the bathroom. It starts OK, but then becomes thin BMs that are hard to push out. Towards the end, I notice I'm bleeding a bit, but that's not too unusual for C. When I leave, I notice according to the clock that I was in there for a little over 20 minutes, which is bordering on not good.
Back in class, and as soon as the class ends at 2:50, I'm back in the bathroom, where a BM (for lack of better word) explodes. Then off to 3:00 class. Things went OK until dinner. At dinner, I eat some chicken, white rice, polenta, and chicken rice soup with a lot of water and some oatmeal cookies (with a few raisins in the cookies). Start having LOTS of gas, go to the bathroom, BM. Some blood again. Hurts a bit to get out.
Gas progresses through the evening, make it back to my dorm room at 7:15, in the bathroom, quite painful now, small BM, still some blood post-BM. Took my SFS (Metamucil). Been snacking on some orzo during the evening. Just went to the bathroom AGAIN and had an EXTREMELY painful BM with thin BMs and maybe even a bit of blood in the BM, but I think it could be tomato pieces also.
I have a test tomorrow, and I can't deal with this and the test at the same time. Did I do something wrong? Is there another medical issue here I can't see? 
Thanks for reading through this.
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Oh no. I would be kinda worried too. Nobody likes blood. 
Is the blood from being constipated and pushing too hard? Or do you think it's from something else? I would wait and see what your next BM in the morning is like? Have you had any testing for Inflammatory Bowel Disease? That's obviously a worse case scenerio but it should get ruled out.
Try not to stress too much.
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I would normally attribute it to pushing too much. I didn't have any testing for IBD; in fact, my doctor just asked me about my symptoms and and did an exam (you know what type). That's it. Hence, the desire to check for a second opinion.
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Oh ya, I would do that.  But you already knew that. 
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Oooh the blood is not a good thing, even if it may be typical with extreme pushing. If I were you, I'd go to urgent care and tell them about the blood - this may speed up your appointment and tests! I noticed doctors always want you to see someone immediately when there's blood involved.
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- Jennifer
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Hi,
It sounded like your day started off pretty good. Then you hit the stress of trying to make the appointment. Then a hurried lunch and rush to class. I definitely think that stress is a big factor here. I would also wait to see how you are doing in the morning.
Hope you feel better,
Karen
PS - I moved from Abingdon Maryland to Rockwall Texas. My doctor was Dr. Nicoomanesh. Did you see him too?
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No, I'm a whole Baltimoron, so I saw someone more locally. Thanks for the good wishes.
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Hi,
Dr. Nick (short version) is at Hopkins Bayview. I was just curious about who you were seeing. Have you had your records sent to the new doctor yet? Since you have to wait until March, this would be a good time to do so. They will need a signed release from you, but that can be done by fax machine. At least the new doctor will know your history up to now.
Take care,
Karen
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Getting doctor's appts here in Philly sucks. Which is part of why I've pretty much given up on doctors other than for birth control stuff (which I get at Planned Parenthood, not a normal doc). Anyways, best of luck when you do get to your appt, I went to a gastro at UPenn Hospital (the one on Spruce and 34th) in Fall '03/Winter '04, she ran all the tests, but wasn't much help...told me I needed a high fiber diet (like whole wheat and bran and stuff), even though I'm IBS-D and kept trying to put me on antidepressants that I had nasty reactions to. I didn't realize there was specifically an IBS thing at Presby, let me know how it goes.
*HUGS* Feel better and good luck on your test tomorrow!
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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Hi -
I'm sure the stress factor falls in there somewhere, but what college student isn't under too much stress? So, with the bleeding, I would recommend a bath if you can get one - I remember not actually havning access to a bathtub in college till I was a senior and living in an on campus appartment with 3 other girls. If not, get some tucks pads (actually get them either way, they're REALLY soothing) and then in the evening while you're studying and wearing pajamas or sweatpants, (warning - sorry if this sounds gross but it's helped me in the past)place a couple of the tucks on your bum inside your underware for about half an hour and then flush them. You'll feel better afterwards.
Hope you feel better soon.
Also - it made me smile to see you refer to yourself as a "Baltimoron" - I work in DC and live in Arlington and have referred to freinds from Baltimore as Baltimorons - some arn't so fond of the term!  Just a joke though - right! Anyways, relax as much as possible and feel better soon.
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I'm also an ibs-c and know the pain and futility of trying to push and it just doesn't happen or its sooo painful. Do you take anything to soften your stool..... any type of lax, and are you regular with the metamucil? By the way, have you tried a different sfs than metamucil. From everythign i've read, it's the worst for gas and bloating?
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Hi computer! (Can't remember the # now).
So it sounds like you have hemmorhoids. I've had em' too.  How much blood are you getting? What color is it? Bright or dark? If it's bright...it's prob just hems.
What do you do for it? Please, PLEASE don't eat any more oatmeal cookies or any dried fruit for that matter.
Stay away from chicken soup for now...too much fat (for now). It's also a very rich and filling food and I personally find when I eat it on Shabbos if I'm having problems with C it can exacerbate the problem.
Try to stick very carefully to Heather's diet. Drink herbal teas. Take your SFS. Drink lots of water..sipping it's a good way to get it all in. Stay away from fruits and veggies unless they're well cooked or pureed. The veggie food you ate...do you know what was in it? Those things can have what I called hidden nasties (high fructose corn syrup, msg, etc.). Oh, and use Tucks. They REALLY help 
If I think of anything else I'll let you know. Keep us posted, ok?
Oh..one more thing. If you can, take a book to the bathroom with you. And if you feel it ripping...ease it out. (Sorry to be so graphic!) When I have had HEMs lately that's what I've had to do. It's better than the ripping (although I gotta say it still hurts me).
*sigh* I hope this ends for all of us soon!
Good luck! HTH!
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Thank you all for your replies! Today started out OK, but didn't end up great. Gas throughout the morning and no BM until 12:45, and that was major C with some pain. Midterm was at 4:15. Class from 1-2:30, in bathroom at 2:45, some C, some pain. In bathroom again at 3:45, starts OK, then moves to thin BM, then I don't know how to describe it, but I don't get out until 4:14. Made it through the test OK. Now I'm back to gas.
Breakfast was Rice Chex, lunch was some cheeseless pizza, RKT, oatmeal cookies sans raisins, plain oatmeal, breadstick, and some pasta. Dinner was some breadstick, RKT, oatmeal, rice, flounder, and oatmeal cookies (I hadn't read the posts yet, sorry).
I have no idea what was in the fake meatballs. It's whatever the Hillel dining hall is serving. All the food I eat for lunch and dinner is at Hillel. I rarely have the time otherwise to make my own food, which is why I have so many problems sticking to the diet. My schedule is such that I eat on the run and have limited options.
I'm taking Metamucil because it's what my doc in Baltimore suggested. I slacked off for a couple of days due to lack of cups, but I'm picked it up again yesterday.
Called the Baltimore doc's office to fax my file to Philly. The receptionist tells me they only have one sheet on me from my only visit. I'm a bit surprised, but I have them fax whatever they have. Call Philly office, tell them fax is on the way, and add the pain and occaisional bleeding. One of the doctors is going to go over my file and decide if I warrant an earlier appointment, so here's hoping!
By the way, I am taking the newspaper with me, but because of the length of time, I'm usually done reading it early on. Drat.
The test went well, thanks to all those who wished me well on it. Now I just have to prepare for the math midterm on Monday and the 4-6 page paper for Tuesday
-Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Do you by any chance know a good place to get "specialized" safe food in the area? I was thinking Trader Joe's, but that tends to be limited.
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Fresh Grocer on 40th and Walnut has some stuff, soy meats, cheese, milk, and such, and rice stuff as well. If you can't find stuff there, there's a Whole Foods on 10th and South St, as well as one up by the Art Museum. The one on 10th and South is a little easier to get to via SEPTA, so I've only been to that one. Trader Joe's is alright, I can find No Pudge (fat free) brownie mix there and dairy free frozen pizzas there cheap. Let me know if you need more info.
Good luck with the midterm and paper.
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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Hi Avidan!
I went to Emerson and was Pres of the Hillel my senior year. We didn't have a Hillel house so I ate at BU's! LOL Do you keep Kosher?
Anyways...back to the food...
I hear ya on being in there for a while I keep loads of reading in my BR...but that doesn't work when you're at school. 
I'm glad the tests etc. are going well...that's cool.
You might try posting on here to college students to see what they suggest. 3rd year I had a studio apartment in Bsoton so I lived on my own and cooked most of my food. But I didn't have Heather's diet then  so I don't know how much help I can be.
The only thing I can come up with is this:
Buy a microwave if they'll allow it in the dorm. There's a ton of safe foods you can buy to heat up in the microwave. Including pasta! The only other thing I can suggest is letting the Hillel house know you have food issues and you need to know what's in things before you can eat them. I know, I know...maybe not your 1st choice...but it's an option.
I'll keep thinking for ya!
Btw, Metamucill can cause gas.  You may want to try a diff. fiber supplement. My doc also recommended it for me and it made my IBS worse (and I'm not the only one...many folks on the site feel that way). If you do a search on SFS types you should get accurate data...but from what I recall Acacia fiber and Benefiber are the best tolerated supplemets out there.
Btw, can you get hot water at the Hillel house? Have some tea with your meals? Maybe start a trend? I don't recall tea or hot water at BU...but maybe in Philly? Gosh, I would've loved it! Or carry some around in a thermos? I did that in college cause I was always so cold! 
Good luck...keep posting!
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Yes, I do keep kosher; I'm Orthodox. Here's my "black hat" picture (though I never wear a black hat) 
There is hot water in the Hillel, but they don't let me bring in outside food, including teabags. As one of the mashgichim (for the non-Hebrew inclined: kosher supervisors) I can understand where they're coming from. I suppose I could fill a thermos with hot water then make the tea outside...
I do have a microwave in my room. The problem is, my dorm is on one side of campus, my classes are on the completely other side of campus, and I usually have a half to 1 whole hour for lunch, making life difficult. Dinner, perhaps, can be easier, but only margainally. I put a post on here back in November asking for help in a college dorm situation, so I don't know if I need to do it again...maybe I'll find it and bump it.
Thanks for the help!
-Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Avidan,
You grew up Orthodox? You're SO LUCKY! I am a Balaas T'Shuva. I'm lucky too...but my friends and I all wish we'd grown up frum!
What does Avidan mean? It's Israeli right? Cool name!
Hmmm...I hear about the tea. Maybe you could write a petition for tea bags in the House?
Which sect is the hat for? I haven't seen that one before...
Wait...I just re-read that. You're one of the Mashgichim? That's awesome!
Hmm...can you prepare lunch ahead of time and brown bag it? Or do you hang out with your friends at the Hillel for lunch? Sounds like you're in a tough spot...running around campus like that you don't have many options. I'll keep thinkin'! You can always ask Hashem for a refuah! (I'd be more than happy to Daven for you if you give me your name...).
Alright then Avidan, take care of yourself and have a Gut Shabbos! And a refuah shleimah!
Ruchie
P.S. What do you eat for Shabbos? this has always been tough for me...
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Avidan means "My father of justice" or "My father judges". It's actually a Biblical name in Bamidbar, though I gather it's not to uncommon to Israelis. However, I am not Israeli. At all.
Yeah, I don't wear a hat. I was having fun with someone else's hat. And I'm a student mashgiach, so I only do it occaisionally. I haven't done it recently because I'm too worried about visiting the bathroom in the middle and messing something up.
I do hang out with friends for lunch. I realize that this is not a great excuse for how I eat, but such is the balance of IBS to social life.
Shabbos is always a nightmare. I tend to eat a lot of challah (not egg) to try to offset whatever else I eat. Usually I have a lot of noodle or potato kugel. And some chicken, but not a ton. But I always know that Sunday will be my worst day. There just aren't enough options in Hillel on Shabbos to choose from.
Thanks for the well wishes.
Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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avidan...
#146658 - 02/04/05 10:00 AM
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khyricat
Reged: 08/05/04
Posts: 3612
Loc: Michigan
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a few suggestions- talk to the mashgihim and the cooks... a) can they stock either bagged or loose herbal tea for you? b) can they make a small part of the fridge you could keep safe sandwich fixings in? bread and sliced turkey for fleishig meals, maybe tuna or PB for dairy? also- double check the cereals you're eating- some of them have things in them that aren't good, and if I recall there is HFCS in the honey nut cheerios..
I imagine if you talk to them about your health issues and the extent its impacting your life, they will work with you so you can be healthier and take your turn as a mashgiah.. among other things... good luck!
I have it easier because I only lived in the dorms one semester even when I was a student and although I didn't eat any red meat then and rare dairy I wasn't as sick as I am now when I go off the diet...
one side note- we have solved the problem here at home by keeping a fleishig and pareve kitchen with a small section for dairy (one drawer in the fridge and 1 small cabinet for dishes, pot, pan and silverware for DH). my mother laughs when she is here because we have less dairy stuff in our kitchen then she has parve, adn she has little of that, but we do have more parve stuff since that enables me to attend dairy dinners with our havurah, among other things...
Amie
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Re: avidan...
#147148 - 02/06/05 08:20 AM
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Computr821
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 445
Loc: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA/ Baltimore, MD
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Well, I DO have a kitchen in my dorm room. Right now, it's been restricted to milchig and parve. As I said before, though, the biggest problem is finding time to make stuff.
I can probably talk to the kitchen staff; most of them know me by now. They added soy milk to the dairy days because I asked for it. Though I know I can't drink a lot of it.
Medical forms came today for the doctor's appointment next month! Thanks for all your help guys!
Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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Have you tried it with Beano? That might make it easier to digest at 1st. We're gonna get you well yet! Hatzlacha (good luck!) with the doc. I'm glad you are armed with so much info. from the boards....this way you'll know if the doc's a keeper or not. I hope they can help you....
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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and I hope it all works out.. the docs should help.. and btw- I'd talk tot eh itchen staff, if you can't have dairy, maybe they can work with you to have more parve options, as well as better for you meat options on fleishig days... I for one have found working with kosher organizations BETTER then working with non kosher ones on getting safe for me foods... as well as the fact that its easier to keep Kosher now that I don't do dairy and my husband only uses it in small infrequent amounts...
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Wait, Beano is kosher? I haven't been able to find any; they all use gelatin.
Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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I just read the ingredients and Beano HAS GELATIN!!!!!
I started taking it in high school. I was frum already but I didn't look at meds. I was just becoming frum at the time....
Oh no, I feel so bad! NO MORE BEANO FOR ME!!!
I'm so embarassed....
Avidan, thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. May it be a Zechus for you! Thank you again...
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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I'm sorry! But, if it makes you feel any better, many authorities allow taking non-kosher medication. But I think Beano drops might be kosher; they don't contain gelatin. Check it out!
Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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