If there was one thing you could banish from your life, what would it be?

[Kirsten]

For me, it would be nausea. I'm dealing with many health problems, but nausea is the worst for me. I hate it so much, and it keeps me from doing the things I'd like to do. The worst is, it has cut down my social life for years as I cannot stand other people around me when I'm feeling sick. And I'm feeling like this almost all the time! I think without this dreadful nausea, I would finally have a chance to get my life back.

What about you? If you could eliminate one thing for good, what would it be?

[pomtzu]

That's a tough one Kirsten, and as a sufferer of IBS, I probably should say that. However, I think it would be my brittle bones, as I am always in fear of yet another fracture as I have had several already - that in addition to my crumbling spine! I have been undergoing Boniva infusion every 3 months for the past 2 years to strengthen my bones, but it doesn't appear to be helping. I just had another bone density scan yesterday, and my doc called me this morning with the results - it has gotten worse and not better. I have an appointment with him in a couple of weeks, and he will discuss changing to a different med for the infusion.
Someone suggested wrapping me in bubble wrap for protection! Another "dear friend" - yes, you know who you are - said that when I die my family could sell me for scrap metal with all the rods and plates and screws that I have in my body!

[Kirsten]

That's a tough one Kirsten, and as a sufferer of IBS, I probably should say that. However, I think it would be my brittle bones, as I am always in fear of yet another fracture as I have had several already - that in addition to my crumbling spine! I have been undergoing Boniva infusion every 3 months for the past 2 years to strengthen my bones, but it doesn't appear to be helping. I just had another bone density scan yesterday, and my doc called me this morning with the results - it has gotten worse and not better. I have an appointment with him in a couple of weeks, and he will discuss changing to a different med for the infusion.

I'm sorry to hear that your bone density is getting worse! I understand that you would want this to go away. My spine is also causing many problems, and I can take no meds because that makes the nausea even worse. My bowels are sooo messed up! At least I got my disability pension now.

Someone suggested wrapping me in bubble wrap for protection! Another "dear friend" - yes, you know who you are - said that when I die my family could sell me for scrap metal with all the rods and plates and screws that I have in my body!

Wow!! Yes, I know what kind of advice you'll get from "good friends". Like today, when I was told to do all the things I like, regardless of the nausea and the other health problems. I can tell people a hundred times that this is something I've tried for many years, and that it made things even worse because it burned me out, and led to even more frustration because you realize you cannot make it, and on the top of it, you're getting on other peoples' nerves when you cannot keep up with them. My doctor told me now the best way would probably be to accept my limits, and make the most of what is left. But that's probably hard to understand for some people!!

[pomtzu]

Wow!! Yes, I know what kind of advice you'll get from "good friends". Like today, when I was told to do all the things I like, regardless of the nausea and the other health problems.

Oh yeah - it's just so much fun to be out and about, when all you want to do is barf!!!
When the nausea hits me, I just want to be left alone - period! I have a prescription med to take for it - sometimes it helps and other times not. I think my system has built up an immunity to it. The only thing that helps me any when the meds don't work, is to just lay down and try not to move until it eases up.
Have you asked your doc about a prescription med that you could take that might help? I take Phenergan (promethazine) and I imagine you have the same available where you are, but maybe under a different name. Wouldn't hurt to ask about it. I can't believe your doc suggested that you just accept your limits, etc. I would have to get a 2nd opinion there, and a 3rd and 4th and so on, if necessary!

[Karen]

Hmmm, my allergies would be good to ban! But then I probably would get sick as often as normal people do, so that's a tough one. Kirsten, do none of the anti-nausea meds work for you? I was given one for the times I have an allergic reaction that involves vomiting for 12-16 hours, and it really worked, which was such a relief!

[Kirsten]

Kirsten, do none of the anti-nausea meds work for you? I was given one for the times I have an allergic reaction that involves vomiting for 12-16 hours, and it really worked, which was such a relief!

Sometimes they help, but they make me very tired and my depression gets worse. BTW, I'm not vomiting, it's just the nausea, and bowel problems in general. I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance a while ago, but I think there are more food allergies than that one. And ever since I made that test (4 weeks ago), my bowels seem to be even more messed up.

[Kirsten]

Oh yeah - it's just so much fun to be out and about, when all you want to do is barf!!!
When the nausea hits me, I just want to be left alone - period! I have a prescription med to take for it - sometimes it helps and other times not. I think my system has built up an immunity to it. The only thing that helps me any when the meds don't work, is to just lay down and try not to move until it eases up.

Exactly, it's the same here. I cannot have anyone around when I'm nauseous, I cannot talk, and I cannot move. Like you said, just lay down and wait till it's over. I'm an emetophobic, so I fear vomiting a lot, and I fear even more that someone would see it happen.

Have you asked your doc about a prescription med that you could take that might help? I take Phenergan (promethazine) and I imagine you have the same available where you are, but maybe under a different name. Wouldn't hurt to ask about it. I can't believe your doc suggested that you just accept your limits, etc. I would have to get a 2nd opinion there, and a 3rd and 4th and so on, if necessary!

Like I just mentioned above, there are meds, but they make me tired and depressive. And sometimes they won't help at all. Since I'm dealing with so many different diseases, there are also different kinds of nausea, if that's making any sense.

[pomtzu]

Like I just mentioned above, there are meds, but they make me tired and depressive. And sometimes they won't help at all. Since I'm dealing with so many different diseases, there are also different kinds of nausea, if that's making any sense.

Yes - I know what you mean. If you are lactose intolerant, about the only thing you can do there, is to void the dairy products. You could also try lactose enzyme tablets before eating any dairy and see if that helps. Some people swear by them, but they don't help me much, and I never remember to take them anyway, so I end up with the nausea, cramps and bloating and everything else that accompanies it. Ice cream is the absolute worst for me - and I love that stuff!

[Kirsten]

Yes - I know what you mean. If you are lactose intolerant, about the only thing you can do there, is to void the dairy products. You could also try lactose enzyme tablets before eating any dairy and see if that helps. Some people swear by them, but they don't help me much, and I never remember to take them anyway, so I end up with the nausea, cramps and bloating and everything else that accompanies it. Ice cream is the absolute worst for me - and I love that stuff!

I tried these enzyme tablets, but I felt even more nauseous after that. But it's hard to tell because I'm feeling ill anyway since I made that test, so will try them again after a while. Right now, eating dairy products or eating no dairy products doesn't make a difference, I'm always feeling sick. Besides, I don't know what's left for me to eat. No dairy products, no fruit (never tolerated them, I'd bet I'm fructose intolerant also), I'm allergic to soy products and to nuts, I'm not allowed to eat flatulent vegetables or wholemeal products due to the diverticulosis, and I don't eat meat (for ethical reasons). There's basically nothing left I could eat. Yesterday, I ate cooked turnip cabbage, and after that, my belly was blown up as if I was 9 months pregnant. Not to mention the pain, my bowels still feel sore after that...

[Twisterdog]

Assuming we are only speaking of physical ailments here, I'd banish my lifelong problem with overeating. I would LOVE to just think of and react to food like a "normal" person, for once ... eat only when I'm hungry, only enough to make me not hungry, and decently healthy choices. I would LOVE to be rid of the addiction to carbs, sugars and fats that has consumed my life since I was old enough to feed myself.

[pomtzu]

Kirsten.......
rg girlca made a very good point, and I really should have thought about it too, since my ex has celiac - also known as sprue. He was diagnosed as a child and never outgrew it, tho a lot children do. There are so many gluten-free foods now, that it is much easier to prepare meals than when we were together, and I was trying to feed him. It was quite a challenge, since he couldn't have anything with wheat, rye, oats, barley, or buckwheat, or any by-products of those. I had to read labels on everything! He couldn't even have so much as a beer, and of course most other liquors too since they are made from grain. The times he decided to go off the diet, he paid dearly, and ended up in the hospital on more than one occasion!
Has your doctor ruled celiac out?

[cassiesmom]

Clutter! and stuff I have kept far too long.
Half my weight.
My tendency to over-analyze everything and miss opportunities.
My great ability to underestimate the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B and always arrive late.

[Alysser]

-My self-consciousness about weight, I'd love to be able to pass a mirror without looking at myself from a side view. Despite the fact that I've lost weight, I'll probably always do this. Always.
-Double Shifts at work!
-Traffic

[Kirsten]

I think it's interesting that most of us would love to get rid of health problems or at least health-related things. And yet it's only logical because it's such an essential thing. I was also wondering if I wouldn't rather ban poverty, or loneliness from my life, but then again, I could probably easily change these circumstances if I was healthier. In other words, I wouldn't be poor and lonely if I wasn't ill.


Karen, rg_girlca and pomtzu: I was tested for celiac disease/sprue a while ago and the test was negative, so I assume there's no gluten intolerance. Of course this could have changed over the last years, but I hope not. The gluten-free products over here are only available in health food shops and they are expensive, and I'm really poor now, I could never affort to buy those.

I've tried to find out which kinds of food I don't tolerate, but it's difficult - and confusing. There are days I can eat almost everything without any problems (even dairy products), but on other days, the same things are causing severe troubles. It's really frustrating. I assume (and my doctor thinks the same) that my autoimmune disease has messed up my system so badly that it became unpredictable.

[cassiesmom]

Clutter! and stuff I have kept far too long.
Half my weight.
My tendency to over-analyze everything and miss opportunities.
My great ability to underestimate the amount of time it takes to get from point A to point B and always arrive late.

Work!
Bad hair days.
Junk mail
Coffee that's been in the pot too long.