SC - Re: Tummy grumbles

[Laura C. Minnick]

Sue Clemenger wrote:
> 
> Oooh, I _do_ hate it when I get the middle of a thread before I get the
> beginning....
> I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling good, and I know how frustrating it
> can be to be hungra AND have an upset digestive tract...kinda like a
> mine field, trying to find stuff that's "safe."

French fries are *right out*. :-(

I'm tired of plain baked chicken, yogurt, naked pasta. And yes, Olwen,
I've tried herbal teas. I've cut WAAAYYY back on my caffeine
consumption- including my breakfast tea, though I still had that in camp
while Seumas and I made breakfast for the household.

The doctor sez that in my case- especially since under normal
circumstances I have a pretty decent diet- this is probably about 80%
(if not more) STRESS. She offered me anti-anxiety drugs to go with the
stomach meds but I told her no- because a) they just knock me out. Cold.
Tried that tactic before. And b) I really need to be fully awake and
aware to be able to *deal with* the circumstances that make the stress,
you know?... 

She also suggested that I try dropping dairy products. I'm thinking
about it, but it sort of doesn't make any sense- I've never had a
problem before, and dairy foods are some of the few things I can
tolerate...

> What did you do to your knee? 
<snip>
> When I
> couldn't take the anti-inflammatory drugs either, the dr. had me
> elevating and icing it, which helped somewhat.  I still have reusable
> icepacks stashed here at home and in the freezer at work....<g>

I didn't really *do* anything. I have fibromyalgia, which is systemic
and can cause joint problems on its own. My knees frequently hurt, and
thanks to that and other problems, I get around with a cane (mostly
because otherwise I end up falling on my a** with an alarming frequency.
I still do- just not as often). But no, this appears to be excess of
birthdays, overuse, and Someone in the Universe Hates Me. The doctor
asked if I mas working as a maid or janitor and on my knees scubbing
alot. No, unless you count my occasional frenzies cleaning the bathroom
(I'm kinda anal about that). Do I play alot of sports? HA! Do I have
toddlers? (I guess for the getting upand down and up and down and
picking up toys and...) No, I have teenagers. I can whack 'em without
stooping. ;-) Basically I have here a knee worthy of an Old Used Duke,
and I didn't even have to rhino my way through the lists to get it!
(tongue firmly in cheek... ;-P) Anyway, about a month ago it started
making a clicking noise going upstairs. And kept doing it. and last week
instead of the click, it became a *click-crunch*. So I went in. She says
the noise is the grumpy cartilage. Well I'll tell you who's grumpy...

Ibuprofen. STAY OFF OF IT. alternating hot and cold packs if the
swelling if a problem. Some mild exercises. A brace if I think it will
help with stability. And MSM or Glucosamine, neither of which is covered
by my ins, natch. 

Life bites- but consider the alternative? 

> Hope you feel better soon,

Thanks, Maire. And thanks everybody. This list has some of the greatest
people on it!

*Obligatory Food Content" (besides my whining...) Does anyone know how
they get the lactose *out* of milk? (To make the Lactaid milk, that is).

a Very Grumpy 'Lainie