Hi & welcome, Don! Recently you wrote in a message to Daryl Stout:

Even had to take a colon test a couple of months ago.

Seems to me you're in good company... [wry grin].

they said I was normal. Hearing that...I cried for joy.

Uh-huh. Although I didn't think it was likely I had colon cancer I was quite relieved when my gastroenterologist found no evidence of it.... :-)

The reason...have had the "truck driver's syndrome"
since my early 20's & didn't want anything causing
more pain than what I feel through the years.

Hmm....

Uncle Google says very little about it, except that it affects many people who spend a lot of time in a seated position. If you're a truck driver who has to eat & sleep whenever the opportunity becomes available I understand how these things can interfere with one's digestion etc. because I'm in a very similar situation. What made the matter more urgent in recent months was that I'd developed chronic diarrhea... beginning around the time people who used to eat out a lot started remaining at home & learning to bake bread. The grocery stores (for this & other reasons) often couldn't meet the unprecedented demand for so many things I won't try to list them. I reckon the situation in the US was probably much the same. I saw no complaint in this echo WRT how difficult it was to obtain xxx, yyy, or zzz for quite awhile. But I remember what Daryl said about joking with his nurses & AFAIC we're on the same wave length there.

It was easier years ago to cross the Canada/US border than it is to get into a hospital nowadays. I remain patient while security guards ask me a bunch of questions about where I've been recently, whether I have any symptoms of COVID-19, and what my business is with the hospital. When I finally get to the outpatient clinic I have to answer the same questions all over again... so the moment I can be sure I'm talking to a nurse I let it all hang out & add to the simplistic responses other people expect. Do I have blah blah? Yes, I've had it for xxx months... that's why I'm here. The nurse who interviewed me in the gastroenterology clinic didn't miss a beat & we got along very well. :-))




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Ardith,

Even had to take a colon test a couple of months ago.

Seems to me you're in good company... [wry grin].

My next one is in April. But, I'm going to do the Citrate Of
Magnesia, and the Ducolax. That My-Lytely stuff sucks...the acid
reflux I had reacted so with it, it felt like my esophagus and
throat were on fire...so I couldn't finish the prep work.

they said I was normal. Hearing that...I cried for joy.

Uh-huh. Although I didn't think it was likely I had colon
cancer I was quite relieved when my gastroenterologist found no
evidence of it.... :-)

That's what I'm hoping for. When I had my last one nearly 3 years
ago, there was a woman in her mid-80's getting her first one. My gastrointerologist, a black guy with a great sense of humor (but
very cordial and informative) was very annoyed with this woman for
waiting so long.

Uncle Google says very little about it, except that it
affects many people who spend a lot of time in a seated position. If you're a truck driver who has to eat & sleep whenever the opportunity becomes available I understand how these things can interfere with
one's digestion etc. because I'm in a very similar situation. What
made the matter more urgent in recent months was that I'd developed chronic diarrhea... beginning around the time people who used to eat
out a lot started remaining at home & learning to bake bread. The
grocery stores (for this & other reasons) often couldn't meet the unprecedented demand for so many things I won't try to list them. I reckon the situation in the US was probably much the same. I saw no complaint in this echo WRT how difficult it was to obtain xxx, yyy, or
zzz for quite awhile. But I remember what Daryl said about joking with his nurses & AFAIC we're on the same wave length there.

When I first had the rectal bleeding (red), I thought it was cancer.
But, if it's red, it's hemorrhoids. When my doctor said "you've got
the same thing women get from having babies", I growled "I'm not a
woman, and men can't have babies". When he did a flexsigmoidoscopy
on me (I was not sedated for that, and the cramping was awful), he
said "Look!! Your colon on TV!!". I growled "I want to change the
channel!! Where are the dancing girls??".

This was also the same one who had a poster on his exam room door,
that said "Ask Me About Viagra" (this was around the time it first
came out). My wife was in there with me, as I was having "male
problems". So, I said to him, "OK, Doc...I'll bite...what about it??".
Grinning like the cat who just swallowed the canary, he said "I've
had 8 men ask...2 women ask...and I personally don't give a [crap]".

It was easier years ago to cross the Canada/US border than
it is to get into a hospital nowadays. I remain patient while security guards ask me a bunch of questions about where I've been recently,
whether I have any symptoms of COVID-19, and what my business is with
the hospital. When I finally get to the outpatient clinic I have to answer the same questions all over again... so the moment I can be sure I'm talking to a nurse I let it all hang out & add to the simplistic responses other people expect. Do I have blah blah? Yes, I've had it
for xxx months... that's why I'm here. The nurse who interviewed me in the gastroenterology clinic didn't miss a beat & we got along very
well. :-))

I have a 13 page med list of all my surgeries, conditions, medicines, doctors, specialists, etc. The only thing it doesn't have is a full
front and full back nude photo of me. Then, it would be "Everything
you wanted to know about me medically...but were afraid to ask". <G>
If I'm going for a full physical, a procedure, or an emergency room
visit, I print the full med list. When the nurse asked about my
medical history, I handed it to her, and said "Read this!!" <G>.

I thought she was going to kiss me!! She said "This makes it so
much easier for us"...and I replied "Then, I don't have to remember
all of it!!".

Daryl

... WARNING!! I'm naked under these clothes!!
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Hi, Daryl! Early last month you wrote in a message to Don Lowery:

Actually, the color of ones [poop] can be an indicator
of something more serious.

Makes sense to me.... :-)

If it's black, it means internal bleeding...

Or it may be a side effect of the type of iron supplement people are often given on the understanding that +/- 200 mg will go down the toilet. :-Q

and if it's another color, it's a bile issue with the
liver.

Yes, an off-white or pale yellow shade may indicate liver damage. I read that somewhere & noticed it a month before it showed up on our daughter's liver function tests while she was in treatment for leukemia. IIRC this was a side effect of methotrexate which is usually reversible. I mention it because Dallas & I knew a guy years ago who was prescribed the same drug for arthritis and I suspect it may be used WRT various other medical conditions too.... :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Ardith,

Actually, the color of ones [poop] can be an indicator
of something more serious.

Makes sense to me.... :-)

There's an article that I have from WebMD, that I'll post (along
with other items every few days, recycling every 90 days), on that.
I just wanted to get permission to do such. The majority of the
information is what I've captured from WebMD, and I'm giving credit
to them for it...the same way when citing a reference in a research paper...so, I'm not plagiarizling (sp?).

A fellow ham radio operator told of his daughter and new grandbaby
(with the expected diaper changes)...and after about a week or two,
his daughter said "God put the stink in it". <G> From what I read,
a newborn's stool is "golden yellow" with "a fairly sweetish odor"...
but as noted above, that apparently doesn't last long. :P

I heard of an experience at a restaurant, where Momma had her 2
young kids there, and it kept smelling like her son had pooped in
his pants. So, as discreetely as she could, she was asking him "are
you sure you don't need to go potty??". With that, he finally stood
up, dropped his pants and underwear, mooned her, and "spread his butt cheeks"...then said "See, Mom?? It's just farts!!" :P

But the stench of the methane is an indication of that the bacteria
in your colon are doing their job in digesting the food. Plus, what
you eat can increase it...such as certain beans and other legumes. I
personally like baked beans (I hear that the Bush's Baked Beans are
quite good, but I've never tried them...I always liked the "Beanie
Weenies" (baked beans and hot dogs). But, I think it's one thing I'm
not supposed to eat much of, due to oxylates.

I'm reminded of the commercial years ago (I want to say that it was
from Tractor Supply Company, but I'm not sure. The family is at the
dinner table, asking The Good Lord to bless the food before the meal,
and the dog is there under the table. Well, apparently, the dog knew
what they were eating (Beano was apparently not even considered at
the table <G>), so as soon as he heard "Amen!!", he was off like a shot...heading upstairs to the bedroom. He "opens" the chest of drawers,
and starts digging through items, trying to find a certain item. On the
third drawer, he finds his quarry...a gas mask!!

So, the next shot, you see the dog, with the mask on, bounding down
the stairs, and gets back under the table...the family didn't even
notice he was gone, as they were "feeding their faces".

Then, you hear the announcers voice "We have what you want!!" <BG>.

If it's black, it means internal bleeding...

Or it may be a side effect of the type of iron supplement
people are often given on the understanding that +/- 200 mg will go
down the toilet. :-Q

Pepto Bismol apparently will do that. I might have taken that once.
Right now, the prescription strength Prilosec is taking care of the acid reflux...the OTC version isn't strong enough, and they only let you take
that for 2 weeks. But, once you have acid reflux, it lasts far longer
than 2 weeks.

and if it's another color, it's a bile issue with the
liver.

Yes, an off-white or pale yellow shade may indicate liver damage. I read that somewhere & noticed it a month before it showed up
on our daughter's liver function tests while she was in treatment for leukemia. IIRC this was a side effect of methotrexate which is usually reversible. I mention it because Dallas & I knew a guy years ago who
was prescribed the same drug for arthritis and I suspect it may be used WRT various other medical conditions too.... :-)

I used to have problems with a fatty liver...but the blood work this past March only showed a very low B-12 and testosterone count. The Hemoglobin
A1C was steady at 6.1, and everything else (cholesterol, triglycerides,
liver enzymes, blood sugar, etc.) were all within "normal limits".

I know that they can't really treat arthritis, and I have it all through
my body (confirmed by X-Ray). It's in the shoulders, spine (degenerative
disk disease), hips (radiating across the groin and buttocks), legs,
knees, and feet. The bones in my neck are so kinked (confirmed by X-Ray),
yet, it's rare I'm bothered by it. My PCP couldn't believe I'm not in more
pain than I am. I take a cane wherever I go, but have the walker next to
the bed.

To me, the only "golden" thing about "The Golden Years" is the color
of ones urine. :P And, that's also another subject as well.

Briefly, if it's clear, you're likely overhydrated, drinking too much
water, or you may be on Lasix (been there, done that). After they removed
a bladder stone earlier this year, I had to spend the night in the
hospital (I had no one to stay with me at home), and they gave me 10
pitchers of ice water, and a big Lasix tablet. I was filling up the
urinal bottles in 5 minutes time!! It made no sense to go back and forth
to the toilet. I thought I was going to pee my member off!! :P

Golden yellow is the ideal color, sort of like apple juice (more on that
in a minute). If it seems bright as a neon sign, I want to say it's due
to a certain vitamin or something else. If it's brown, it's concentrated,
but one could be getting dehydrated (that can also lead to kidney stone formation). If it's red, it's either hematuria (blood in the urine), or
one has eaten beets (those who like these, can have my portion <G>).

As for the apple juice, there was a story of this man who was in the hospital, and this one nurse kept "baby talking to him", and he was
highly offended by it. Well, revenge is a dish best served cold <G>, so
he ordered a thing of apple juice, but he let it sit and warm up. The
"baby talking nurse" came in, asking for a urine sample...then she
stepped out while he could void into the specimen up. Unknown to her,
he poured the apple juice in it instead. When she came back in, she
lamented "Ooooo....a bit dark". To which, the man grabbed the specimen
cup from her, with the warm apple juice in it, and he said "That's OK.
I'll run it through again", and swigged it down.

The nurse fainted dead away...and never bothered him again. <G>

Several years ago, quite a few of the ladies I square danced with
(one of my other hobbies) were nurses on my ward. They gave me loads
of grief <BG>. Of course, nudity means nothing to them, but if they
were going to pull my chain and have fun with me, I might as well do
likewise <G>.

Daryl

... "Farfrompoopin'" - German word for constipation.
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Hi, Daryl -- on Aug 20 2020 at 09:39, you wrote:

There's an article that I have from WebMD, that I'll post (along
with other items every few days, recycling every 90 days), on that.
I just wanted to get permission to do such. The majority of the

Regretfully, permission denied. Survivor echo is not a place for
regurgitation of published (or unpublished!) articles; it is a place for
people to discuss their issues and to offer support to others. There are
other places to get detailed medical information. WebMD is very good for
that, but frankly, the gruesome details of someone's illness aren't what
we're here for.

Thanks for asking!


Cheers... Dallas

--- timEd/NT 1.30+
* Origin: The BandMaster, Vancouver, CANADA (1:153/7715)

Dallas,

Regretfully, permission denied. Survivor echo is not a place for regurgitation of published (or unpublished!) articles; it is a place
for people to discuss their issues and to offer support to others.
There are other places to get detailed medical information. WebMD is
very good for that, but frankly, the gruesome details of someone's
illness aren't what we're here for.

Thanks for asking!

I decided not to do it after all...and that was before I saw the post
you made.

Daryl

... Sign on a Maternity Room Door: Push!! Push!! Push!!
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Hi, Daryl -- on Aug 22 2020 at 20:31, you wrote:

I decided not to do it after all...and that was before I saw the post
you made.

Super - a wise decision, I think. Thanks!


Cheers... Dallas

--- timEd/NT 1.30+
* Origin: The BandMaster, Vancouver, CANADA (1:153/7715)

Hi, Daryl! Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

Even had to take a colon test a couple of months ago.

Seems to me you're in good company... [wry grin].

My next one is in April. But, I'm going to do the Citrate
of Magnesia, and the Ducolax. That My-Lytely stuff sucks
...the acid reflux I had reacted so with it, it felt like
my esophagus throat were on fire...so I couldn't finish
the prep work.

Dallas & I both used Colyte, because that's what the local pharmacy had, and found it reasonably tolerable. I could ask our friend again what she was so impressed by... but I guess you've established what works for you. :-)

When I first had the rectal bleeding (red), I thought it
was cancer. But, if it's red, it's hemorrhoids.

Or skin tags, which are also close to the surface & may be found in both males & females. What matters here AFAIK is that blood looks red when it has been exposed to oxygen but hasn't gone through the digestive system. When you have a stool test for occult ("hidden") blood the idea is that it can't be seen by the naked eye & is identified by chemical tests. If the specimens one provides are contaminated with blood from the rectum a colonoscopy may be next on the agenda because there's no other way to be sure what's going on.... :-)

When my doctor said "you've got the same thing women get
from having babies", I growled "I'm not a woman, and men
can't have babies".

No... but they can strain at stool, as some folks put it, and I was instructed to reproduce this action during the final stage of childbirth. :-)

When he did a flexsigmoidoscopy on me (I was not sedated
for that, and the cramping was awful), he said "Look!!
Your colon on TV!!". I growled "I want to change the
channel!! Where are the dancing girls??".

Very good. Stay as sweet as you are... [ROFL].

I have a 13 page med list of all my surgeries, conditions,
medicines, doctors, specialists, etc. The only thing it
doesn't have is a full front and full back nude photo of me.
Then, it would be "Everything you wanted to know about me
medically...but were afraid to ask". <G> If I'm going for a
full physical, a procedure, or an emergency room visit, I
print the full med list.

Dallas & do likewise. It saves all concerned time & effort, and it helps ensure the junior Dr. assigned to taking the history gets it right. :-Q




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Dallas,

I decided not to do it after all...and that was before I saw the post you made.

Super - a wise decision, I think. Thanks!

At least I did ask the moderator beforehand. :)

On another note, the testapel (testosterone pellets) for Low-T
(basically male menopause) are STILL back ordered, due to COVID-19,
and Arkansas Urology has no idea when they'll get them in. So, I
have to get weekly shots in the gleute. I quipped that "I think they
use barbed wire for the needles" (that first stick really stings),
and the nurse sarcastically said "We dip them in rust beforehand" <G>.

My level is on the LOW end of the medium scale...and the doctor
said over a month ago that "if we wait, your levels will crash, and
you'll develop cardiovascular (heart and lung) and diabetes issues".
That was too big a risk for me to take.

My Hemoglobin A1C has been hovering around 6.1 -- and I keep hearing different figures of the threshold for Type 2 diabetes...with values
from 6.4 to 7.0 -- and some even lower than 6.0 -- would it be too much trouble if we could make up our minds?? I think that the American
Diabetes Association has the level at 7.0 -- if anyone can clarify that,
I'd appreciate it. I'd be most likely to develop type 2.

I don't eat that many sweets (especially candy, although I love plain M&M's), but at times, I get a craving for something sweet. Yet, I can't
eat the rich foods too often (especially cheesecake or frostings), or
it upsets my colon something fierce.

I skipped an area Train Show And Sale over the weekend. Because of
COVID-19, they weren't selling food and drink, and requiring everyone
to wear masks. While I didn't have a problem with that, I had laundry
to do instead...and along that line, clean underwear comes to mind...
although with incontinence (part of growing old), it's having to wear
Depends now.

I think of a meme that showed this woman speeding in a car, next
to an ambulance in emergency mode. Apparently, it was taking her son
to the hospital, and she holds out a pair of clean underwear, telling
the paramedics "to put those on him before they take him into the
Emergency Room". <G>

There was another cartoon where the woman's son was in the Emergency
Room, and the doctor comes out to talk to her, and says "I have good
news and bad news". The mother panics, as the doctor continues "He'll
be OK, but he didn't have clean underwear on!!". At that point, Momma
is kicking and screaming on the floor, "NO!! NO!! WHY??!! WHY??!!" <G>.

Yet, nudity and dirty underwear means nothing to the medical folks.

Also, in the restaurants, because of COVID-19, some are only doing
take-out orders only, but some are still closed. Those that are open
in the dining room (at least in Arkansas), can have 2/3 (67%) capacity.

But, in some places, even before COVID-19, they were automatically
putting a 20% gratuity on the bill, whether you were the only one in
the party, or you had more than 15. So, some folks got some business
cards created, noting that they disagreed with that policy. I do as
well, because if the food and service is going to be lousy, I don't
feel they deserve a tip. But, if the food and service is good, I will
leave a nice tip.

Back to the card, it noted "Since you want a tip, I'll give you
three"...and had these listed:

1) Plant your corn early.
2) Keep your powder dry.
3) Always have clean underwear on.

I've seriously considering doing that myself <G>...although I've
known people, who when finding out there was going to be that 20%
charge beforehand, they turned around, and walked out of the business.
In some cases, they are even charging "a COVID-19 treatment fee". Most
folks, like myself are "frugal cheapskates", and will definitely not be
going to places that have those expensive surcharges...whether for
health reasons or otherwise.

Daryl

... DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE -- FOR SYSOP USE ONLY.
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Ardith,

Dallas & I both used Colyte, because that's what the local pharmacy had, and found it reasonably tolerable. I could ask our
friend again what she was so impressed by... but I guess you've established what works for you. :-)

Never heard of that brand...will have to remember that. My late wife
referred to the Citrate Of Magnesia as "sprite with a kick".

Or skin tags, which are also close to the surface & may be found in both males & females. What matters here AFAIK is that blood looks red when it has been exposed to oxygen but hasn't gone through
the digestive system. When you have a stool test for occult ("hidden") blood the idea is that it can't be seen by the naked eye & is
identified by chemical tests. If the specimens one provides are contaminated with blood from the rectum a colonoscopy may be next on
the agenda because there's no other way to be sure what's going on....
:-)

I've got those as well. The next colonoscopy is set for April...I'm
going to try to get something besides that MyLytely this next time.

No... but they can strain at stool, as some folks put it,
and I was instructed to reproduce this action during the final stage of childbirth. :-)

When they were checking for a hernia in the groin area, I was told
to bear down, and "broke wind". :P

I remember Dr. Drew Pinsky doing a show, talking to new mothers to
be (he actually got to deliver his own kids!!), and was asking them
what "advice" that their Mom, BFF, etc. gave them. In the teaser for
the show, you didn't hear "the winner", but everyone was roaring in
laughter, and he was as red as a tomato.

My wife was still alive at that time, and we were watching the show,
and they revealed "the winner"..."Don't poop on the table!!" <BG>. My
wife and I were laughing as well!! :)

Your colon on TV!!". I growled "I want to change the
channel!! Where are the dancing girls??".

Very good. Stay as sweet as you are... [ROFL].

I'm getting razzed now that Laura (the hurricane, whose remnants
are supposed to affect my area late Wednesday into at least Friday),
is "my new girlfriend". A fellow ham radio operator in the New Orleans
area quipped "she's a high maintenance female"...I told him "I don't
want to know". <G>

Dallas & do likewise. It saves all concerned time & effort, and it helps ensure the junior Dr. assigned to taking the history gets
it right. :-Q

Then, you don't have to remember all of it. I joke that the only
thing it doesn't have is a full front and full back nude photo of
my anatomy. Then, it would be "Everything You Wanted To Know About
Me, Medically...But Were Afraid To Ask" <G>.

Daryl

... I'm making chocolate chip cookies, and I have more M&M's to peel.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
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Hi, Daryl! Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

...then said "See, Mom?? It's just farts!!" :P

But the stench of the methane is an indication of that
the bacteria in your colon are doing their job in
digesting the food.

According to both of my favourite dictionaries methane, despite its reputation, is odourless. However, it seems to me that whenever decomposition involves large numbers of anaerobic bacteria the smell can be pretty bad. :-)

Right now, the prescription strength Prilosec is taking
care of the acid reflux...the OTC version isn't strong
enough, and they only let you take that for 2 weeks.

With OTC drugs the manufacturers want to make sure you're not using the product on a long-term basis without seeking medical advice. When you do, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose or tell you it's okay to go on using the stuff. Either way you're acting under supervision from a person qualified to determine what's going on. WRT some ailments symptomatic relief may be the best one can expect... OTOH, self-treatment may hide more serious issues. :-)

I know that they can't really treat arthritis, and I have
it all through my body (confirmed by X-Ray).

Archaeologists have found arthritis in the bones of humans who were in their 20's when they died, and IIRC such a person commented that anyone who lives long enough will get it eventually. Sometimes it's painful... sometimes it's not. Because the pain tends to come & go, and because different remedies may affect different people in different ways, there are no easy answers. :-)



[re urine]

If it's brown, it's concentrated, but one could be
getting dehydrated (that can also lead to kidney stone
formation).

I noticed that during a heat wave when our daughter was still using the potty & had been given an antibiotic which resulted in diarrhea. It's not hard, under such conditions, to monitor the volume of urinary output.... :-))

If it's red, it's either hematuria (blood in the urine),
or one has eaten beets (those who like these, can have
my portion <G>).

I'm told other foods can also have this effect, but my first & only experience with it occurred a few hours after I ate multi-coloured nacho chips at a restaurant I'd never visited before. Thanks to Uncle Google we were able to see that the red ones must have been dyed with beetroot juice... [chuckle].



[re the "baby talking" nurse]

The nurse fainted dead away...and never bothered him
again. <G>

Alternatively, you may be able to get rid of certain people just by telling the unvarnished truth. Years ago I was in the gynaecology ward of one of our local hospitals, i.e. a teaching hospital. Since I'd dutifully watched the required film about hysterectomy (together with most of the other patients in the ward) it wasn't difficult to guess why most were there. However, I was there for another reason... and I figured so was my roommate, who looked to be about 15 years old. When a young doctor came into the room & asked permission to do an internal exam of Yours Truly I was puzzled as to what he thought he'd be able to see, considering I was bleeding. I guess folks like him need folks like me to practise on... but I also realize teens may be very sensitive about such things. When, as an afterthought, he enquired why I was there I told him calmly & quietly that I was having a miscarriage. He immediately fled & never showed his face again. I can't help wondering who would choose gynaecology if s/he can't stand the sight of blood. Perhaps it wasn't his choice, but I hope he's now learned to read the charts before initiating various procedures. :-Q




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Ardith,

According to both of my favourite dictionaries methane,
despite its reputation, is odourless. However, it seems to me that whenever decomposition involves large numbers of anaerobic bacteria the smell can be pretty bad. :-)

Talk about being a group of little stinkers. <G> The dogs are especially
bad at such (especially with the SBD bombs), but like anything else, it's determined on what the human or animal eats.

Before my wife died, we were on our Futon, otherwise "intimately
occupied", and the dachshund was in his bed on the floor. All of a
sudden, this horrible stench permeated my nostrils, and I started
gagging...the dog had dropped a methane bomb!! My wife was laughing uncontrollably, saying "You know he's down there, going 'Hee Hee Hee!!
Ignore my [butt], will you??" <G>. Needless to say, any romance went
out the window...I had to get dressed, and take the weiner widget for
a walk. :P

The dogs check each other out, by sniffing each other butts. At least
humans don't literally do that. :P

With OTC drugs the manufacturers want to make sure you're
not using the product on a long-term basis without seeking medical
advice. When you do, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose or tell you it's okay to go on using the stuff. Either way you're acting under supervision from a person qualified to determine what's going on. WRT some ailments symptomatic relief may be the best one can expect...
OTOH, self-treatment may hide more serious issues. :-)

This is why I'm not one for the herbal or home remedies. Of course, your mileage may vary...as everyone's system is different. My clinic is also
part of this group that makes sure controlled substances that have been prescribed are being properly used.

Several years ago, when I had a large cyst develop on the left buttocks cheek, it had to be removed surgically. It was benign, but it had to heal
from the inside out. I had to have home health care for 2 months, to clean
the wound, change and repack the bandages, etc. They even inspected my
medicine cabinet; but since everything in there had been legally prescribed, they couldn't touch me. The scar is rather large, and at times, it itches.

Archaeologists have found arthritis in the bones of humans
who were in their 20's when they died, and IIRC such a person commented that anyone who lives long enough will get it eventually. Sometimes
it's painful... sometimes it's not. Because the pain tends to come &
go, and because different remedies may affect different people in different ways, there are no easy answers. :-)

The bones in my neck are so kinked, my PCP is amazed I'm not in more
pain than I am now. I use a cane everywhere, and have the walker and a wheelchair for emergencies.

I noticed that during a heat wave when our daughter was
still using the potty & had been given an antibiotic which resulted in diarrhea. It's not hard, under such conditions, to monitor the volume
of urinary output.... :-))

I'm battling diarrhea now, but it's because I'm drinking at least six
12 ounce bottles of diet green tea citrus a day, to keep hydrated. They
did blood work to check my B-12 level this morning, but I had to set up
a full blood work (diabetes, cholesterol, etc.) check for next week. That
gets done every 6 months.

I still had to get the B-12 shot this morning, but if it helps the level
(I should know today's results by next week), then I may not need the
shots anymore. But, it's the Ozemprazole (prescription strength Prilosec) causing the B-12 issues...the OTC Prilosec has no effect on my acid
reflux, and they say you shouldn't take that for more than 14 days. I also
got the next Low-T shot this morning, and while they think they have a
supply of testapel (testosterone pellets) in, they're not sure...and
they have a backlog of patients waiting to get them. So, I have to keep
getting the shots until they get around to me.

Plus, they're going to get full blood work from me there in 2 weeks. Basically, I see Dracula twice in the next 2 weeks. Along that line, the tagline below (which I procured <G>) fits my mood. ;)

I'm told other foods can also have this effect, but my first
& only experience with it occurred a few hours after I ate
multi-coloured nacho chips at a restaurant I'd never visited before. Thanks to Uncle Google we were able to see that the red ones must have been dyed with beetroot juice... [chuckle].

When someone tells me about eggplant, I quip "I thought that was redneck
for 'chicken'" <G>.

Alternatively, you may be able to get rid of certain people just by telling the unvarnished truth. Years ago I was in the
gynaecology ward of one of our local hospitals, i.e. a teaching
hospital. Since I'd dutifully watched the required film about hysterectomy (together with most of the other patients in the ward) it wasn't difficult to guess why most were there. However, I was there
for another reason... and I figured so was my roommate, who looked to
be about 15 years old. When a young doctor came into the room & asked permission to do an internal exam of Yours Truly I was puzzled as to
what he thought he'd be able to see, considering I was bleeding. I
guess folks like him need folks like me to practise on... but I also realize teens may be very sensitive about such things. When, as an afterthought, he enquired why I was there I told him calmly & quietly
that I was having a miscarriage. He immediately fled & never showed
his face again. I can't help wondering who would choose gynaecology if s/he can't stand the sight of blood. Perhaps it wasn't his choice, but
I hope he's now learned to read the charts before initiating various procedures. :-Q

I saw a story on the news this morning, where this woman, who had just graduated from nursing school...was inspired to do so by her 98 year old
Mom, who had been a nurse for 61 years. I wish we had more stories like
that.

I've talked to some medical folks, veterinary and otherwise, where while
they can handle the sight of urine, blood, and feces, vomitus is where
they draw the line, as it were...especially if you have a weak gag reflex,
as I do.

Years ago, when they first diagnosed me with digestive tract issues (irritable bowel syndrome, nervous stomach, spastic colon, and diverticulitis), I was first told I had to watch what I ate (meaning
diet). I replied "I do...from the plate to the mouth"...they didn't
like my answer. <G> When I had rectal bleeding, I thought it was colon
cancer, but it was hemorrhoids. My next colonoscopy is in April. I am
going to try to go back to the citrate of magnesia and Ducolax. That
MyLytely was so tart and acidic, that it reacted with the stomach acid,
and was burning my esophagus and throat...so, I couldn't finish the prep
work.

Next, they decided to do "prune" me, with a drink which was like a
thick strawberry shake and Sprite (I think it was actually a barium
contrast solution, that was to go from the top down, rather than from
the bottom up...pun intended). They said "don't even pause to belch",
and I swigged that down like a drunkard. Amazed, they said "this man
knows how to drink". It was the first thing I had been permitted to have
in 3 days, and I love strawberries and Sprite, anyway. I told them "you
better have the stepstool here, in case I have to bid a hasty retreat"...
and it was only 10 minutes when (as comedian Jeff Foxworthy put it, on prepping for his colonoscopy) "my underwear tapped me on the shoulder,
and said 'RUN!!'". <G> They told me that I was LUCKY -- some folks had
to stay down there 5 HOURS to get cleaned out...I cringed.

Well, something on the ultrasound and X-Ray in the abdomen looked very suspicious, as if I was going to need an appendectomy. They had me on
NPO (nothing by mouth), as they thought they'd have to do surgery. The
nurse walked in, and had the gall to ask for a stool sample!! I growled
"Where do you think I'm going to get it?? From the bedpan in the next
room?? You haven't fed me in 3 days!!". She finally looked at my chart,
and admitted "Well, you can't manufacture it, if you ain't got it". So,
they gave me green Jello to "get their quota".

I lost 10 pounds the hard way that week. My employer wasn't happy, as
the dirty work at my job fell in his lap. I snarled "If you think I'd
rather be on a cold and hard emergency room table, with constant vomiting
and diarrhea, not to mention severe pain, you are crazy".

When the arthritis and migraines got so bad, and I went in to my now
former workplace, and announced I was quitting, I said "My body won't
let me do it anymore". Had I not stopped when I did, I would've either
been in worse shape, or dead long ago.

I found out a little bit ago that my mother-in-law passed away this
past Sunday (my father-in-law called to deliver the news). Her birthday
was August 7, but apparently she was in the hospital and very ill...but
my wishes were relayed to her. Yesterday (Sept. 1) would've been my Mom's
94th birthday, had she lived (she died 3 weeks before her 93rd birthday).

Daryl

... Why look at the Docs?? The nurses are prettier.
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Well, I thought I'd give folks an update...from Doctor Quackenbush...
aka Groucho Marx...who noted "Either this man is dead, or my watch has stopped". <G>

Seriously, I was concerned that I had glaucoma, as they suspected
such on an eye exam in March. A follow-up this last week showed that
my corneas were nice and thick, with an eye pressure of 9 in the left
eye, and 11 in the right (the highest it has ever been in either eye
has been 14). I think the threshold for glaucoma is 21. So, while I
do have astigmatism and double vision in the right eye at times, he
said I don't have to go back until December. One eye has always been
worse than the other...before and after cataract surgery 11 years ago.
I went from 20/2000 visual acuity before the surgery to 20/20 afterwards.

My appointments for blood work and a physical exam with my PCP, and procedures with my urologist are 3 months late. In mid-February, two
back to back snowstorms hit the central Arkansas area...and one of my
clinics suffered significant water damage...so much so, that they were
closed for a month...then they had a huge backlog of patients. The
urology clinic was shut down, but they didn't have water damage. However,
they did have a backlog in patients.

Anyway, at the PCP blood draw, they thought I was dehydrated, as the
blood out of my left arm was real thick. I have been drinking a half
gallon of diet green tea citrus a day, as it's a diuretic...which has
kept me free of kidney stones for over a year now...and the caffeine
keeps the migraine headaches away. Well, at the urology clinic, out of
the right arm, they got the blood to flow just fine. I wasn't thirsty
at the time...but I had such a migraine sinus headache yesterday (June
28) that I ate and drank very little...since I couldn't hold my eyes
open (I did very little computer/BBS work), and slept much of Monday.
I can't just drink water, as it sets my colon off...but the diet green
tea doesn't. Drinking excess water for me is like I was swigging prune juice...and we all know what that does. :P

After a car wreck in January (which wasn't my fault), I had to
undergo $9100 of chiropractic care (but I didn't have to pay for
it). I bought a pre-owned car (Uber was costing $40 a day), but had
to pay for repairs on it (pre-owned cars are sold AS IS, with NO
WARRANTY).

Then, a device in one of the bathroom toilets failed, causing
the tank to overflow, flooding both bathrooms. I had to dig into
some of that insurance money because of medical, transportation,
and other issues. I'm to see if I can get a bare bones bathroom
rebuild in the coming days...but everyone has agreed that "if I
didn't have my health, it wouldn't do any good getting the bathrooms
fixed". I cried several days either side of my birthday over 3 months
ago...and nearly hung up on my cousin when she called, as I was so
distraught. I still haven't been able to schedule an upper and lower
GI, due to cost. Right now, there are no sinks or vanities in either
bathroom, the offending toilet has been shut down, and they have
stuff in the shower area. I have to go out to the kitchen to wash
my hands, but at least I still have one working toilet.

I won't know the bloodwork results for at least a week...and likely
will have to resume low-T treatments. If I become type 2 diabetic, that
will be a major game changer.

Daryl

... Who needs veggies and nutrition? Give me the luscious fat!!
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A quick health update, as I haven't been in here in awhile.

Just over a year ago, I was diagnosed with atrial flutter, with
an erratic to high heart rate of 155. This was likely caused by
my drinking a half gallon of diet green tea citrus a day. I had
given up drinking carbonated beverages, as they likely were causing
kidney stones. As a side note, they term Arkansas and Tennessee as
"the kidney stone belt", due to the proliferation of cases of kidney stones...which may be caused by limestone in the water.

While tea is a diuretic, the caffeine was like the energy drinks, accelerating the heart rate. So, I got put on heart rate medication,
and a blood thinner, to prevent blood clots that would cause a fatal
stroke or heart attack. Then, this past March, I was diagnosed with
congestive heart failure, and put on Lasix.

Shortly after that, in a follow-up with my cardiologist, he said
I should go ahead and have ablation surgery done. They do the surgery outpatient, stripping you nude, and putting you to sleep. Then, they
go up through the groin to the heart, and burn away certain areas
where the blood tends to pool and clot, because of the erratic
heartbeat. The procedure stops both of these from occurring, and one
can get off the heart rate medication (either diltiazem, rhythmol,
or something else) immediately after the surgery...but one has to
stay on the blood thinner (Eliquis) for at least another month.

Just over 4 hours after the anesthesia took effect, they were
discharging me to go home. I just have to take it easy for a few
days, but otherwise, I feel great. The doctor who did the procedure,
came highly recommended...several noted that "she's one of the best
in the central Arkansas area".

I have a home health care nurse from my HMO coming by on Tuesday,
for the yearly wellness check. Then, the following Tuesday, I go in
to my PCP for the yearly complete physical, full blood work, and
diabetes check. Last month, I got a good report from the urologist,
and don't have to see him or the nurse practitioner again until next
July.

I did have to give up driving (and sell my car) 2 months ago, due
to my corneas constantly drying out. It would cause blurred vision,
and eye pain, hitting without warning...and, you obviously can't have
that while driving. While I'm on Systane Eye drops, it was just better
I quit driving. The eye pressures were 12 and 13 (which is excellent;
as they don't worry about glaucoma until the pressures hit 20), but
they have classed me as having "suspect glaucoma". They noted there
was no sign of macular degeneration, or danger of going blind. I also
have seen no signs of a detached retina developing...which requires
emergency surgery to prevent blindness.

But, by giving up the car, I no longer have to worry about things
like gasoline prices, car insurance, property taxes, license tags,
car repairs (which can be in the thousands of dollars), flat tires,
etc. It is kind of a drag not being able to have the independence
to go where and when you want...but medical issues forced me to give
up driving...and I felt it best to do such, before I hurt or killed
myself or someone else.

Daryl

... Deliver a pizza? Whoever heard of a liver pizza?
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Just over 4 hours after the anesthesia took effect, they were
discharging me to go home. I just have to take it easy for a few
days, but otherwise, I feel great. The doctor who did the procedure,
came highly recommended...several noted that "she's one of the best
in the central Arkansas area".

Daryl,
Good to hear that the procedure went well!

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Arnold Layne, don't do it again!
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Mike,

Good to hear that the procedure went well!

I wasn't concerned, as the doctor who did it, is one of the best in
the central Arkansas area on doing it.

My problem now is trying to lose weight, which is obviously easier
said than done. :P But, if I cut down my eating, then my colon gives
me fits.

Daryl

... Blizzard Warning: Your Dairy Queen Shake Is Ready.
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