Belovedwarrior - Oh I didn't realize they were season 6...all I saw was 5. That's great in case we forget to tape. I'm so hooked on that show and dh thinks I'm crazy I think. :)

Well I'd love to drink a grape soda...:D used to love those things when I was a kid. If the gas continues I might try it...just have to work it into my carb count unless there is sugar free. We do have some club soda but I hate the taste, but I guess I could try a little of that, never thought of it til now. I'm not bound up as in constipation, just full of gas . My abdomen was like this with my previous hernia which was repaired in 1991 and I'm not sure when it happened but by 2009 I found out it had opened up again. So I'm trying to put off the surgery until I get too uncomfortable. It is so different this time so far. I took two more gas pills and I'm feeling a little better tonight but it's still there.

So sorry you had to go through that when you were so young..my dh had to have several inches removed due to polyps that were pre-ca and they couldn't get otherwise, but nothing like you've gone through. Carol been through a lot too with her colon.

Our son just stopped in to spend the night, he worked late and spending the night here cuts his hour commute by half.

Good morning everyone,
I behaved badly on my diet yesterday as for some reason I felt hungry all day and therefore over ate by quite a bit. I'll try to make up for some of that today. I'm hoping to make a chicken dinner tonight it thaws in time as I just took it out of the freezer. If not, I'll make it tomorrow.

Carol - I got rid of my very old pressure cooker as it scared me too much but I know the new models are quite easy to use. I'm going to use my slow cooker for a roast this Super Bowl weekend and will try putting in a can of Cream of Mushroom Soup like you do. I've never done that before. I'll also put in potatoes; carrots and onion. Montreal is a very unfriendly place for English speaking people. They even have a "language officer". One business there had a sign advertising "Grilled Cheese Sandwiches" in English and was fined for not using French. Some parts of the city are more tolerant of English.

Beloved - Welcome to our group and hope you decide to join us.

Mary - are you feeling better today? Stomach and intestine problems are awful. I found out during a colonoscopy that I had a twisted bowel and diverticulosis which was causing much of my problems. I had to have almost 2 feet of my large intestine removed. For many years the doctor was treating me for tummy problems when all along it was the twisted bowel. Things are much better for me now but I still have occasional upsets. You sure have travelled a lot in your lifetime. In addition to living close to a beach I also live only 2 hours from Niagara Falls and have been there quite a few times years ago. I'm glad you enjoy coming to Canada.

Have a good day everyone,
Karrine

Karrine, I made the roast with the Mushroom Soup twice, so I want to give you some warning. The first time I did it I put in the whole can of mushroom soup and some beef broth, thinking I needed the liquid. Part way through I looked at it and the roast had released liquid and there seemed to be too much. I dumped some of it out, but since the Mushroom Soup was mixed it I lost some of the flavor from the soup. This time I added half the can of soup when I put the roast in, and just a small amount of broth, like 1/4 cup. Halfway through, there was more liquid than I wanted but not as much as last time. I used a ladle to take some of it out, then added the rest of the soup. I reserved what I took out and put it in a fat separator in case I needed more liquid, but I didn't need it. What I ended up with was so tasty and just about the consistency of gravy and so delicious. I put in on around 9 AM. I cooked it on high for an hour then turned it down. At noon, we went out to the store. When we came back, it didn't seem to be too tender so I turned it to high again for another hour, then back down to low. It was done around 3. I let it rest while I made the sides and we ate around 4:30. It was a very lean roast that I didn't think would get so tender, but it did.

When we went to Montreal, we made a wrong turn and ended up where they only speak French. We had to get directed back across a bridge it seems to where they spoke English. We didn't have any problem there, but we were only there a day or two. We went on a bus tour of the city. I don't remember a lot of it, but I probably have pictures. When we were in Niagara Falls we went on a boat tour up the St Lawrence. I wanted to do that because when my parents went there on their honeymoon, they went on that St Lawrence boat ride, too. It stopped at a castle and we toured that. Interesting.

Beloved Warrior, back in 2010 or so, I started having pain low in my groin. It would come and go. Finally one day I woke up and it was very bad. Pain so bad I had to hold onto the walls to walk down the hallway. DH said I ate something bad. After 6 hours of this, I made him take me to the ER. I told him I didn't care if they told me I had a stomach ache, I wanted to get checked. At the ER they did tests and told me I had to go up for surgery immediately. They said if I had waited another 2 hours to come I would have probably died. It turned out that I had diverticulitis but didn't know it. My colon had perforated and leaked into my abdominal cavity and I had perotonitis. The surgeon told my husband that he really didn't think I would make it through the surgery, I was so full of puss and infection. When I woke up, they told me I still had infection and wasn't out of the woods. They had removed part of my colon and rectum. I had to have a colostomy bag for 6 months while it healed, and then I had it reversed. I didn't like the colostomy bag, but I got used to it. The problem was my stoma was flat against my stomach instead of sticking up a bit, and I had a lot of problems with the bag, with leakage. It wouldn't stay in place correctly. I was always so afraid to go out anywhere for fear I would have a leak. Also, I had a fear after the reversal because they told me that some people's bowels never return to normal afterwards, but mine did after about a week, then gradually got better. When I had the colostomy I had to be careful what I ate. Never popcorn! Nothing that could get stuck in the stoma. I had to eat slowly and chew my food thoroughly. The doctor told me the diverticulitis could return so I have to be careful and get scared every time I get a pain.

Mary, I am obsessed with The Young and The Restless and the Bold and the Beautiful, the way you are with Downton Abby. When I worked, I taped them and watched them in the evening. That was 1 1/2 hours of watching, so I rarely watched anything else and never got into watching TV in the evening. Now I'm home when it's on from 12:30-2 so I watch it then, and try to exercise while watching it. If we go out somewhere, it's on again in the evening on another channel so I watch it then. Even if you miss a day or two of watching, it's easy to catch up because a day in the soap opera usually lasts a week on TV. LOL DH doesn't watch it with me, but sometimes he's in the room when it's on and he's gotten to know some of the characters. A lot of the soap operas have been taken off the air. I'm so glad mine hasn't. I am so obsessed with it, I sometimes have dreams that these people are in my life. I didn't watch soap operas all my life. I was around 50 years old when a woman at work got me interested in it.

I hope you start to feel better. I'm wondering if it would be any soda that would help you, not just grape. Maybe that's what they had in the hospital. I would think it was the carbonation that helped. I hope you don't have to have surgery again. I get pains sometimes on my left side but it's down by my waist. That's where I had the nerve pain when I had shingles and I always think it's just residual pain. DH had his shingles across his chest. If he puts his cell phone in his shirt pocket he gets a burning pain and has to take it out.

Good morning GG's,

Kind of an overcast day here today. Maybe that is a good thing ~ I read that the groundhog didn't see his shadow, so an early spring.

The walking has been kind of sparodic. I get to working on some project and I want to keep going with it and don't want to stop to walk. What am I gonna do with me? I sort of feel like ~ keeping busy is a good thing ~ I am up and moving around even if it isn't formal exercise.

I did a lot of puttery stuff yesterday. Felt good to get stuff done. Today dentist appointments.

Carol Sue ~ Your roast sounds yummy. I watched soap operas some at different times in my life. I remember my grandma used to watch some ~ she called them her “stories”. I remember asking her questions about the characters. In Jr. Hi the big thing was to watch Dark Shadows. Then when my kids were little, I got hooked on General Hospital and another one. When I started timing my errands and my life around those shows so I wouldn't miss them, I decided that maybe I shouldn't watch them anymore. My dad used to watch them in the afternoons after we were grown and gone (he was a night shift worker). But he eventually quit. My mom started watching a couple after she retired. Dad had been soap opera free for quite a while and kind of growled at her for her watching habit. When she started with the dementia, he kind of made me mad ~ she didn't remember when they were on and because he didn't like them, he wouldn't turn them on for her. He did the same thing with the show American Idol ~ mom liked that and he hated it, so he took advantage of her not remembering when it was on and wouldn't turn it on for her. I loved my dad, but that just didn't seem very nice thing to do to mom.

Karrine ~ you'll get back on track with your diet. How is your ankle doing? When our kids were little, we lived in Maine and used to go into Canada a lot ~ different places. Montreal, Quebec City, Nova Scotia. My husband's father's people were from Nova Scotia, so that was an interesting area for him to see.

Mary ~ sorry you are not feeling well. Maybe this is why you were not feeling like doing anything here lately. Please, I hope you would go to the doctor if this keeps going on ~ to find out what is wrong. I want you to be ok. Glad you got a little “son' time.

Welcome Belovedwarrior ~ glad to have you join us.

How are you doing Homegirl?

Hello Sandy ~ hope all is well with you.

Guess I'd better get off here ~ get showered and dressed for the dentist. Think they might not enjoy the site of me showing up in my jammies ~ LOL.

Hope you all are having a good day.

Hi again,
I'm not too busy today so am on the computer more playing games and writing letters. I'm also doing a little more genealogy research for my family tree.

Carol - Thank you so much for warning me about adding the Cream of Mushroom soup & broth to the beef roast this weekend. I'll do what you did the second time. Oh my....did you ever have a wicked terrible time with your perforated colon and colostomy bag. I feel so sorry for you and what you went thru.

Gayle - at least you are keeping busy while at home with your projects. Sometimes when I get really involved with my genealogy I forget the time and I'm also not looking for food when my mind is so occupied which is good.

My ankle still hurts and I can't walk far. My winter boots give it more support and I can walk better with my boots on. All in all I think it is improving because I am managing the staircase a little better now. Thank you for asking.

Karrine

Felt slightly better this morning but the gas is still there. I feel like I'm nine months pregnant and my tummy is very tender. I did drop 1.5#..which includes the same 1/2# which I had gained back. One step forward, one step back is the way I go. Anyway, I did drink 1/2 bottle of club soda last night and it seemed to help a little so thanks AKHomeGirl for suggesting that. I gave our son most of what we accidentally bought but still have the remaining 1/2 bottle so I'll drink more today if it doesn't go away soon.

It was nice to have our son here for the night although we were all tired and went to bed soon after he got here. Halo was so happy to see him and to share the bedroom with him. I think she still misses him a lot.

Those (that you mentioned) are the places in Canada I'd still like to see. We have only been to British Columbia ....Vancouver and to Paradise Lake (not far from Vancouver), Victoria and Whistler.

Glynne - I still watch the old Dark Shadows shows from Netflix on DVD. They are so corny they are good. :D Strange how they actually used to seem scary. Another thing that is strange is according to what I've read online they started in 1966 but I feel like I watched them when I was a teenager and I graduated (and left home) in 1961. Guess my memory is wrong but it sure seems that way to me.

On soaps..I was never into them much ...my mom watched one and I used to laugh at her for it...but when I went on swing shift, there for a few years I got hooked on Edge of Night. I was about the same age you were when you started. If you watch them a few times, they have a way of drawing you in. I don't watch any day time shows now except at 4 pm we usually stop what we are doing and watch Judge Judy. Don't know why because many of them are reruns but we got started doing that when RVing.

Carol - That's what I like about crock pot cooking is you can adjust the temp according to your schedule, how tender the meat is etc. You may remember that I had diverticulitis with infection a few years back. Every since then I occasionally have pain in the area. I then increase the fiber in my diet and it goes away. But sometimes all the fiber makes me uncomfortable so I have to ease off...I have told the doctor and he agrees with this. I still usually get more fiber than he says most people do. But then the pain comes again and I have to increase the fiber again. It's a constant battle to find that sweet spot. Yes it is the soda that helps, not the grape, but the grape (and sugar) sure makes it taste better! :) All I have is the plain club soda so I'm using it.

Well need to get my day going...

:wave: Hey everyone...

Mary - I hope you are feeling better. I'm not sure if the Grape Soda thing will work or not, but if you try it ... it is BECAUSE it is GRAPE (I find a little red wine helps in the same way). I don't think the club soda would do the same. (I was writing this as you posted... so --- awesome that you found success with the club soda) :)

Karrine - Thank you for the warm welcome. I do believe this to be one of my 4 hang-outs. I appreciate all I've learned here so far :^: I'm so glad the DR finally found the reason for your discomfort!

Wannabehealthy - OH MY GOSH! How scary... :eek: I had my surgery when I was 24; 36 years ago... they didn't have the reversal option (that I know of) at that time... but I was soooooo sick for sooooo many years and misdiagnosed that I didn't care what they did as long as I could eat whatever I'd wanted because I didn't for so long before. I have been very happy with the ostomy bag. I have to be careful about what I eat. I know veggies can clog me up so... I am curious how the new plan/program I begin on Saturday might go [I will either begin Ideal Protein - which I will decide once I see the nurse/coach - for 2 - 3 months and then slide into South Beach ... or I will just start with SB. I did SB once before and the first week was an adjustment with my output. I'm sure I will have similar experience the beginning of which ever plan I choose]. RE: the flat stoma, I understand. I've had a nice stoma but, because of the weight I have gained (which I was warned about) ... things have changed drastically with the convexity of my stoma. I was not getting a good seal AT ALL! I was going through 3 appliances a day. Thank God... I did get some assistance from the Ostomy nurse and things have been better since October. I am a bit concerned about my stoma area and losing the weight regarding the muscle tone and such around my stomach... and what type of seal I will get... but -- ONE DAY AT A TIME! I won't know without trying ... and obviously what I'm doing now isn't working. Thank you for sharing your experience. (sorry to those of you who don't have a clue what we're discuss ;) )

Glynne - Thanks for sharing... it is sad to watch ppl being treated unkindly and holding your tongue. Some folks are just that way. I'm not saying you're speaking poorly of your dad... just so you don't feel bad... but, I understand it was not very thoughtful on his part. I hope things went well at the dentist. You said it's overcast by you... I'm in a snowglobe :) it's been only snowing 2 hours; it is beautiful and I am sooooo very glad to be retired.

Well GG's ... until tomorrow -- stay healthy --- HUGS!! :hug:

Beloved Warrior- I thought it was the soda because they used to say drink a carbonated drink for an upset tummy. Of course, I do know that wine is good for stomach issues...even the in the Bible, Paul told Timothy to "drink a little wine for your stomach's sake." And it did seem to help a little bit, of course I had taken gas OTC med earlier so it's possible it was just that. ETA: I got your name wrong the first so had to edit..sorry. Oh and I'm wondering whether it is truly grape juice in the grape soda and not artificial flavoring..need to look that up now..LOL

Actually though my stomach is not upset...it is just my abdomen (belly) in general that feels bloated, sensitive, kinda hurts (but not really painful, more just uncomfortable than anything. When I walk I feel "heavily pregnant" if you know what I mean, sorta weighed down. If my abdomen is bumped it is kinda sore. If I sit too long and then get up, it's very uncomfortable. Yet I don't feel like moving around much so I tend to do a little work, then sit down again. I feel like I've experienced this before. I still feel it is caused by my hernia altho I am having less pain around that areas now but I'm also considering other possibilities...an infection of some sort (my bs is extra high today), or my colon. If it doesn't stop before long I'll go in to be checked.

Well it's time to move again..

Mary, the day that I went to the ER before my colostomy surgery my abdomen was very tender to the touch, all over. And on the way to the hospital, it hurt with every bump we hit. The doctor at the ER actually asked me that, if the trip to the hospital hurt when we hit bumps. Don't let it go too long.

Beloved Warrior, this is probably TMI for the others, but explain to me what you mean that the first week with SB was an adjustment with your output. Do you have different output depending on what you eat? I never thought about your stoma changing as you gain weight, but I guess it would. My abdomen is a mess now because they cut through my ab muscles for the colostomy surgery, then 6 month later after it healed, the cut through it again for the reversal. I guess you would not have been able to have a reversal if they removed your entire large intestine. They just cut out a piece of mine. I used the drainable bags and didn't have to change my appliance every day. About every third day, and I always changed it if I was going out somewhere.

When this happened to me, my husband called my friend to tell her what happened. She said it was terrible and she wouldn't know what to do if it happened to her. She spoke too soon, because a week later when she was having a hysterectemy, they nicked her bowel and she had to get a colostomy bag. She had her husband call us to tell us she had to get one too. So we went through it together. She had hers for 4 months before they reversed it, but I had to go for 6 months, as I had more extensive repairs done inside. Karrine, it probably sounds so horrible, but looking back, I got through it, and I know there are people who have much worse things happen to them. When I told people what happened to me, several of them knew people who had a similar thing and they died from it. I was lucky it was caught in time.

Gayle, I can tell by the way you talk about your mother than you are very loving and compassionate toward her. You are a very good daughter.

My mother watched General Hospital for years. I didn't understand what drew her to it. But my younger brother was disabled and she was really house bound with him. It gave some pleasure to her day to enjoy that show. I realize now that you start to feel as if you really know these people. My life is boring compared to theirs. I live vicariously through them. LOL

Hi all .. I don't have any problems answer questions... I hope those in this thread don't mind...

First ... Mary, I don't know what is going on and I heard someone say something about a previous surgery. When I get clogged, too much fiber... peanuts are TERRIBLE... I ate too much popcorn one time and after a day and a half ended up in the ER. After they gave me the dye for the ct-scan ... woosh... cleaned me right out. When I am blocked... it feels like gas pains under my breast area... then it grows and grows where if feels like someone is duking it out in side. I believe the reason for the grape soda's effectiveness is the grape dye... the red wine's red-stuff (I can't think of the word at this time) is what I think helps with that. If you are constipated and having these pains... I don't know... this may be similar to what I experience.

Wannabe... yes, depending on what I eat will make a big difference in my output. It's kinda like a baby... the consistency and odor are effected by what I eat. When I started SB I would have eggs w/spinach and mushrooms, onions, turkey bacon. I think the thing that I reacted to was the spinach... it just liquefied every thing (breads, pasta, etc are binders) ... and made it difficult to maintain a good seal. As far as the changes I'm experiencing ... it's not my stoma that has changed, but rather the skin around it. My fat tummy has made somewhat of a cone around the stoma... keeping me from getting a good seal because the skin isn't flush. Thankfully they make convex flanges and that has helped tremendously. Changing an appliance 3 times in one day is far from the norm. Typically a person should get a good 5 days before having to change. Because of the new appliance I am getting 7 - 10 days of wear (again) ... Thank God! Those puppies are NOT cheap!

So, there is your anatomy 101 class for the evening :dizzy: Probably WAY TMI!! :D But, please... don't hesitate to ask questions.

Wannabe --- prior to my surgery I was sick for over 2 years... I ended up in the hospital because I was anemic. While in the hospital I went into toxic mega colon (large intestine filled with poison). Had it burst I would have died. I KNOW how lucky you are. You are a mini-miracle walking today ... as well are many of us, I'm sure.

Blessings to all... sleep well :smug:

Good morning everyone,

I don't have anything to tell you today....just another boring day doing the same things ie: reading; cleaning and some more computer research. I sure will be glad for spring so I can get out into the gardens and be more active. We have had an easy winter so far and not much snow. Last year we got so excited to finally see some grass from the melting snow but right now we can see more grass than snow on the lawns which sure is odd for this time of year.

Mary - glad you are starting to feel a little better and good for you losing another 1-1/2 lbs!!!. I have never followed the soups but do have friends who were hooked on them.

Beloved - with what you wrote and (I don't quite understand but do get the gist of it) it looks like many of us have intestinal problems in varying degrees. I feel bad for what you are going thru trying to find the right plan for yourself but do hope that whatever one you choose will help.

Mary - I don't know much about the more serious complications you all are having but would prune juice help at all? That is what they gave me in the hospital which helped.

Carol - you are were lucky that your problems were caught in time. My problems are insignificant compared to what some of you are putting up with and have been through and are still struggling.

I do know that I sure am glad that I am at home when my problems flair up and not in some nursing home where you have to share a bathroom.

Have a good day everyone,
Karrine

I'm amazed how calm each of you seem inspite of some truly major problems. I admire the way each of you cope and go on with living the best you can.

My largest issue now is the Asthma that flared up Christmas with Poinsettias decorating the Church and in the Chapel (where little ventilation is available.

After I finally was doing more normal, the snow storm hit and I was house bound for 10 days. THEN, the spot remover DD got, thinking she had a bargain, really caused the Asthma to flair beyond the meds I had available. Thank goodness I received new meds and am now breathing far better.

Today's massage and hair cut has me feeling so very, very good!!!. I had taken 1/2 peanut butter/orange marmalade sandwich on whole whenat bread and water for my lunch. Except for black coffee at Salon, I was happy with plenty of drinking water till I finally got home 8 hours later. Good to be home.

Scale really jumped this morning to number I"ve not seen in months. Not really sure why but hopefully as I get back to Gym tomorrow this weight will begin to go down at least to where I was a few weeks ago.

Beloved Warrior Glad you decided to make this one of your places to talk with us. I like coming here, too.

Gardening!!! Will we ever get to do so? I was on road all day, but DH actually cut down and mulched up the 10 foot tall Silver Grass that gives privacy between good neighbor with swiming pool next door. He also mowed our yard. It was in the 60's outside. Sorry I was stuck in car or in buildings. All snow is finally gone from our yard. In the city, some dirty piles are still taller than my car.

Sandy

Hello everyone. I got a call tonight that my 57 year old niece had a series of heart attacks and is in Intensive Care on life support. I am just heart sick. This started 2 weeks ago and they could not get in touch with me. (no one could find my phone number) I talked to her brother, who is going through treatment for cancer. He seems to be very uninformed as he answered "I don't know" to most of my questions, but from his description of the situation it seems very grave to me. I just want to sit down and cry, and I think I will.

Wannabe --- (Carol Sue) I am so sorry... this has just got to floor you. Being an Auntie is so precious... and to not know anything specific. Please, have a good cry and know that I'm crying for and with you... and praying for you and your niece and nephew also. HUGS!!! :grouphug:

Love2Garden - thank you for the kind words. I'm lucky because I just accepted my situation. Compared to the 2 years of being sick and the alternative ... Calm's a good choice :)

Hey Karrine - I see you mention you do genealogy... I've been dabbling with that on my mother's side for over 20 years. Not easy finding some stuff. My dad did all his side of the family and even found relatives in Norway :comp:

Mary -- I hope you are doing well today. Sending you HUGS! :getwell:

To all others... ENJOY your evening and we'll catch up with you tomorrow ...