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msnobody wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 03, 2026 7:09 am

Thank you, Jerz. I sent the information to her in an email. A lot to digest— pardon the pun. As they say, gotta laugh to keep from crying.

It's mind boggling, I know. So of course I thought of something more to add. Please share this with her. I'll try to make it brief. It's about bloating. Bloating isn't the same as "Oh I feel so full" after a meal. The bloating is gas building up in the digestive tract (often from fermentation) that is stretching the walls of the intestines. It HURTS. Think of it as if someone is inflating your gut with a bicycle tire pump. Happens fast after a meal and keeps coming in waves.

First Aid for Bloating

1. Do not sit still after a meal.

Get up, move, and find things to do. Take a walk outdoors. If you're afraid to leave home, walk around your house. Dust furniture, load the dishwasher, tidy up the house, water plants, go up and down stairs, whatever you can do to move. Dance to music if possible. Don't be afraid to stoop down and get up again, that's a really effective move and movement helps move the gas through. Try to work your way up to heavy lifting tasks. It hurts but be brave. You'll see that it's so good for you.

2. Take Simethicone

Simethicone gathers up small pockets of trapped gas into one or more larger bubbles to make it easier to expell. Directions say 1 with each meal. Ignore that. You can't overdose on Simethicone. After 7 pm I probably take it every 1-2 hours until 3 a.m. if I think I need to. GI doctor approved.

3. Abdominal Tapping

Works to move the gas through more directly. Tap under the diaphragm and over the belly button at the same time. Do it for 20 taps or more. Tap the sides of the abdomen at bell button level, try 20 taps. Go lower and keep tapping the sides. Tap lightly and when you get used to it, try slapping hard. It works! Remember it's the gas that hurts, the tapping/slapping is what moves it along. Very effective! If you feel the gas around your back, tap there. When you start to feel more relaxed, try laying on one side and see if more gas moves out. In time as you practice you'll actually become aware of the gas moving, where it's trapped, target those specific areas and know what requires light tapping or hard slapping or a break in the movement. It truly becomes an art form!

Moving the trapped gas through is what will reduce the pain and bring you peace. You're essentially burping yourself like a baby. This is no time to be a grown up, so forget modesty. The gas has to expell one way or another: entrance or exit. Accept it, get used to it, be glad for it, rejoice in it!

4. Apply Heat

Get a microwaveable heat pack and apply it around the lower abdomen (not pressing it) to relax the abdominal muscles and make it easier for the gas to move through and out.

Here is mine. I buy them in packs of 3 which reduces the price per item.
https://www.amazon.com/Carex-Buddy-Heat ... B000KBNPQ0

A warm shower will do the same. Direct the water over your belly and your back.

I do all of the above as needed all together or in combinations. I'm sitting here with a heat pack (after all of the above techniques) around my lower abdomen while making this post. I'll get up soon and find something to do or tap.

Summary: Get up and Move, Simethicone, Tapping, Heat.

Aww.

IWMP wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:10 pm

Aww.

It's miserable situation isn't it?

Jersey Girl wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 08, 2026 7:21 am

IWMP wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:10 pm

Aww.

It's miserable situation isn't it?

Sounds exhausting in so many ways.

msnobody wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 09, 2026 12:21 am

Jersey Girl wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 08, 2026 7:21 am

It's miserable situation isn't it?

Sounds exhausting in so many ways.

It's like what I said in my reply to the girl. Gear up for a marathon. I hate that she's so sick. It takes a toll on you that is hard to describe. I've never been so sick and debilitated for so long in my life. But I am miles ahead of where I was this time last year so I believe she can be better, too.

I was a pretty darn healthy and active normal person until this stuff swatted me like a bug. I bet she was, too. It's a shock.

Putting this hear for future reference. It really expresses how I've viewed some of what I've been through myself when I've considered that the Lord might be using my illness in ways to the benefit of someone else. I don't have the view of the world that God does but I think there could be multiple purposes in our suffering. This was shared on Facebook by someone I know who is a patient for another reason. From a believing perspective, I think it really nails it.

Jersey Girl wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 15, 2026 12:51 am

Putting this hear for future reference. It really expresses how I've viewed some of what I've been through myself when I've considered that the Lord might be using my illness in ways to the benefit of someone else. I don't have the view of the world that God does but I think there could be multiple purposes in our suffering. This was shared on Facebook by someone I know who is a patient for another reason. From a believing perspective, I think it really nails it.

This is lovely. It helps to be positive and it's easy to lose sight of that.

How are you doing?

I'm doing pretty well! Symptoms are different now, not as intense. Unless...I trigger myself by eating too much shortbread and then it's awake until 4/5 a.m. All I can say about that is that it's hard eating a restricted diet for this long. Sometimes I just want to break free and eat something normal and sometimes I go overboard with it.

Weight check...brb.

83.8 pounds

Let me convert that to stones...brb

5.98?

BMI check...brb

19.5

Healthy 18.5 – 24.9


Tirosint going well, so no more sugar alcohols. Bloods at 6 wks. I forget what else I need to do soon. I tend to shut things out like they don't exist until I need to do them.

Overall doing good enough I think. Waiting to trial more foods but you know me, I procrastinate until I'm good and ready.

I'm still reading chat. I'll be sitting here with symptoms and know I'm too aggravated to chat. I'd end up saying negative stuff and don't want to kill the vibe there.

Jersey Girl wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 18, 2026 5:29 am

I'm doing pretty well! Symptoms are different now, not as intense. Unless...I trigger myself by eating too much shortbread and then it's awake until 4/5 a.m. All I can say about that is that it's hard eating a restricted diet for this long. Sometimes I just want to break free and eat something normal and sometimes I go overboard with it.

Weight check...brb.

83.8 pounds

Let me convert that to stones...brb

5.98?

BMI check...brb

19.5

Healthy 18.5 – 24.9


Tirosint going well, so no more sugar alcohols. Bloods at 6 wks. I forget what else I need to do soon. I tend to shut things out like they don't exist until I need to do them.

Overall doing good enough I think. Waiting to trial more foods but you know me, I procrastinate until I'm good and ready.

I'm still reading chat. I'll be sitting here with symptoms and know I'm too aggravated to chat. I'd end up saying negative stuff and don't want to kill the vibe there.

<3 different is good. Something is working and changing.