@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

Honey, did you get your doctor appt yet? Something is going on in your system for these symptoms to last this long. It sounds like IBS or something similar from what you describe, but I'm no doctor, There is medication if that is it, but you gotta get checked out. Musiccandy's orders. Thanksgiving is stressful enough so don't even try to please everyone with their wish list of food or whatever. Let me know how it goes. I am working Thursday at 3 but having church dinner with the comunity. I already cooked my side dishes so I can rest tomorrow. You rest too.

I was on the cancellation list for my doctor (actualy a PA) for today but no cancellations. I have an appt for Friday morning at 9 for a doctor at the same office. My headache went away last night and I am off today and got to spend time at the Y, so I'm in better spirits.

Well, I am glad you are feeling a bit better. I hope you get some answers with your visit tomorrow. It is hard to take off from school I know, so at least it is a Holiday. Speaking of . Thanksgiving, I wonder if you have been able to enjoy a meal at all. I ate mostly stuffing/dressing that I made myself - 3 kinds, raisin/pecan, roasted veggie and oyster-- with copious amounts of butter. Some sweet potatoes and acorn squash- more butter and cinnamen . That's about it even though there was a big variety at the church dinner. Sad but true. I am sure I'll be hungry for protein sometime tonight since I'm here all night. I am going to freeze the rest of it, at least.

Other than that, I'm glad the stress of getting to and fro on time is over. We picked up my mom for the dinner and she had a nice time, no drama. I watched Macy's Parade too which I always look forward to - mostly the bands. It brings back HS band days memories for me.I will wait to hear back from you as to what is going on with your digestion. - I'll say a prayer.

The doctor has me taking a prescription acid reducer for a week or two, plus an OTC fiber supplement that is non-fermenting (Citrucell) to clean me out a bit. If it doesn't resolve, I'm to go see a gastroenterologist. I could try to fit that in over Christmas break, since I'm sure that would lead to tests and eventually I'll have to take time off, which I hate to do. I am hoping my stomach settles with the medicine because I have been slacking on the exercise lately. I am still doing some, but not as much as I was before.

I was actually able to eat yesterday. I had no breakfast, but around 1:00 I had some lunch and then ate Thanksgiving dinner. It was actually the best my stomach has felt lately. I guess my body gave me a break for the day. It was nice to see my boys, and we met the younger one's gf for the first time. His first real gf. She's very nice.

Your stuffing sounds delicious! I would eat all 3 kinds! Plus the sweet potatoes! I made mashed sweet potatoes, oyster dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. My husband smoked the turkey and it was very tasty. My younger son made my mom's rolls with her recipe and they were good.

Today we are going to meet the boys for a sushi dinner, and then my husband is coming home and the boys and I are going to see Thor. I pretty much only go to the movies when I am with them, which means I mostly see superhero movies. I'm not that into them, but at least Thor is cute!

I am bringing my son back to Richmond tomorrow, and we will pick up the gf from work and go to the art museum to see the terracotta soldier exhibit. I saw it a few years back in DC and it is amazing. Unfortunately her work schedule will give us just an hour to see it, which is not enough, but it will still be fun.

I hope your day was wonderful! Thank you for the prayers. I am getting tired of this stomach thing. I want to get back to just my normal struggles!!

PS I did not see the Macy's parade. I used to watch that every year growing up, but I have not seen it in years now. My dad used to make dates stuffed with cream cheese that we would eat while we watched and my mom and aunt cooked. I'm not sure where that idea came from but they were tasty.

After dinner my family always watched Miracle on 34th St on TV, but even though I got a (VCR) copy of it when my boys were little, nobody here wants to watch it with me, so I have not watched that in years either. I'd have to upgrade to a DVD to do it anyway!

I miss those traditions!

I am glad to hear that you were able to enjoy some of Thanksgiving, and especially time with your family. My Mom also made dates with cream cheese! I think we had them at Christmas dusted with powdered sugar. I'll have to make some now that you reminded me.

I slept most of today after working 11-7, then got a call that my mom fell and had to get stitches and Another CT head scan - they always do that no matter how small it is. I didn't go to the ER with her ( I was asleep) but after I got up, my fiance took some of his percocet that he had left over, since she said she really needed something stronger than what the doctor gave her. Of course, so no free time for us.

But then, even worse news - the triple homicide in Chester was a mother,daughter,boyfriend shot by the Dad ( a youth Pastor) and the girl was my daughter Abi's friend. She was devastated when one of the friends called her right after they released the names on the news. From what anyone knew, they were the perfect family, it is just shocking. That whole church and family must be in unbelievable agony, Thaksgiving Day. At least the friends have the week-end to be together and comfort each other and do what they can. Nothing will really help I'm afraid, but being together makes something like that bearable.

I want to see the exhibit too - the museum is across the street from my hospital. It is amazing that we can be literally that close at times! We are fortunate to be able to just hop over anytime. I have the rest of this week-end to work and then back to the routine. I hope you get better from the meds. Fiance and I were joking about how "Life" gets in the way when you are making other plans. I replied, "well, its all Life,. until it isn't anymore, and then it's all over" That was 2 hours before I heard the news. Funy how things some out like that.

Hi there, I just got back to the computer after a very busy few days, and you are-- not here. . I hope you are OK.

I have been concerned for your physical health , but I know you sometimes go through emotionally down times, so either way I jusy want you to know I'm thinking of you. Just like the Hallmark card says, haha. I wonder if that phrase is just a bland way saying something when you don't know what to say, other than to reach out.

I have been trying to help my daughter through her grief, and lo and behold, Another of her friends killed- the VCU grad who was shot in a driving pull over by,, Park Police?? That is just too much, He was Iranian,first generation American who did eberything right- He was active in Greek Life, a leader, and that is how my daughter knew him. There was some kind of suspicion of a hit and run, but he was probably scared and ran from the pursuit-- but he was unarmed and 28 years old. Like my daughter said, these things seem to happen around the Holidays. She is doing OK with staying busy at work and being with friends. The memotial for the girl friend is Saturday and that small church will be a circus I'm sure- with all the friends, colleagues and,, the media. She and the friends are going on a river walk and remember the good times they shared, That will be better I'm sure.

I'll check back tomorrow . Hugs.

I am here. Not doing too badly emotionally, except for being tired of multiple chronic health problems! The acid reducer that the doctor put me on was having no effect, so I emailed a friend who is a doctor in Fredbg to ask her opinion of the gastroenterology practice that the doctor referred me to. She called me Tues night and we talked and she was a great help. The medication directions say to wait 30-60 min to eat after taking. She said eat after 15 min because that "activates" it, and she told me take it twice a day instead of once, plus to add in Pepcid twice a day and do all that for 2 weeks. So on Wed I took the first pill and ate breakfast 15 min later, and my stomach did not flare up. It still bothered me all day, but I ate breakfast and lunch successfully. It flared up badly after dinner but overall it was an improvement. Yesterday was the same pattern. My friend also called a gastro practice that she refers people to and set up an appt for me on Dec 12, plus is going to order bloodwork for me to do beforehand so that certain things (like H. Pylori) can be ruled in or out by the gastro doctor.

I have been skipping meals because I couldn't stand the flareups, but then stuffing myself later in the day because I was so hungry. Plus I have not been strong about treats. Wed and yesterday I have tried to get back to regular eating of good food with fewer treats. Of course today is the monthly birthday treats day at work so there will be a whole table of junk in the staff kitchen, sigh. My exercise has also been less because it feels bad to jiggle my stomach around. I don't think I am to the point where I can get back to normal with that, but I am still doing some.

Ok, that is enough whining for now. I did have a great visit to the museum with my son and his gf. We could not go until 4, and they close at 5, so it was a rush but very nice. I might try to get back before the terracotta exhibit leaves. I hope that you get to go - it is wonderful! I had not been there in years, and I think they were renovating when I was last there, because it looks a lot nicer and like there is more stuff, so I want to go back anyway to see the rest of the museum too.

I am so sorry about your daughter's friends! That is terrible. Young people should not have to go through the grief of losing friends, and to lose them from such violence is too much. I know that is hard on you too, watching her go through that. I will say a prayer for you both. I do not watch the news because of endless stories like this. I can't handle it.

The other thing we are having at school today is a monthly spirit day, and it is superhero day. I am wearing a Wonder Woman shirt, and knee-high socks that look sort of like her boots. I am looking forward to the silliness of that, and hoping that will distract from my stomach and I will have a good day today!

Thank you so much for checking on me and for caring! I have been feeling too blah to write, but your message got me going.

So happy to see you back and managing somewhat with your tummy problems. I know it will be a relief when you find out what is really wrong. I'm glad your friend was able to help some. My neice and nephew both havd IBS, and they are young! Just do the best you can with the sweets at work and what little bit of exercise you can do. It is supposed to be a nice weather week-end to maybe take a walk.

My whloe routine is off -- again--. It is the week our church houses and feeds homeless women, 35 coming Saturday. I volunteered to do the lunches which is packing the bags and making the sandwiches for 7 days, so that is about 260 lunches. I did a lot of the prep work last week, plus raked a lot of leaves in my yard- but no good meals as I should. .Raking was good outdoor exercise and it was kind of ZEN. which helps with all the trauma my daughter is going through. Another week-end of work for me so that's where I am now. I'll check with you later.

Peace

Hello friend! The two acid reducers I am taking (twice a day each) are keeping my stomach from doing the big flareups when I eat, so I am back to eating normally, no skipping meals. My stomach is still upset most of the day, and had me awake during the night last night, and I am getting really tired of it. My friend is going to order the bloodwork, and I am pretty likely to keep that appt with the gastro next week. I have stuck to some exercise - yoga, my one trainer session, swim once, cardio at the Y once. What I have not done for weeks that I had been really good at was my quickie workouts at home on the mornings when I can't go to the Y. I was doing abs on all those days too, something I really need!

My eating is mostly back to normal since the meds are helping with that. I did have a bad treat day yesterday. One of the paras brought a huge bag of candy into our office with lots of chocolate. I took a chocolate hazelnut bar that had 16 little squares. I should have eaten 4 at lunch, 4 as my afternoon treat, and repeat the next day. Instead I ate all 16 at lunch in one sitting. No self control. Then I ate two other smaller pieces of other candy later in the day. The principal hasn't even ramped up her holiday junk food offerings yet and I'm already slipping! Grrr!!

Wow, you are so wonderful to help with all those meals! How did that go? It's so kind of you to spend your time prepping meals for needy people and sacrifice time to make stuff for yourself. My hat is off to you! I know what you mean about something like raking leaves being zen. When I clean all the dropped hay out of the animal pen it's like that. I only do it once a month or so, so there is plenty built up. It's nice to get into something active and be outside too, plus it accomplishes something useful!

How is your daughter doing? I hope the joy of the upcoming holidays will give her some relief or at least a little distraction from her grief.

How was work this weekend? I got a lot done around the house on Saturday, and very little on Sunday. We did go to our Indian restaurant on Sunday and had a lovely meal. I never get anything very spicy anyway, but I got a dish I knew was very mild.

I took my first pill 15 min ago, so I am off to eat breakfast now to "activate" it. I hope things are well in your world!