My Journey Towards Better Health

maggiedemi said:

Someday I'm gonna have to visit you and sample your mac and cheese. Is that the one with the Saltine crackers crumbled on top? I love casseroles.

Today went better than I could have imagined at my doc. He was so glad I was there without my mom. He canceled the blood work and said to just continue what I'm doing and make absolute sure that I poop every single day. Sorry if that's gross! He said not to take any pills or supplements from my mom EVER again. He wants me to cook my own meals too. He said that I saved my own life by being honest about the stool hardeners that my mom slipped me. He said they thought I had cancer and were about to operate. But when I told them what my mom did, they gave me the colonoscopy & enema instead and that cleared out the mass. It was impacted poop, not cancer.

I told my mom a few things he said, not all, and she is in the kitchen throwing things.

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So glad you're doing better!!! It is going to be an adjustment for your mom but she's gonna have to get used to it. Keep standing up for yourself, you're doing great! You may not be completely independent but you're still a person and not an object or toy for her to mess with like that.

After the first enema, she slipped me stool hardener capsules because she believes that diarrhea is unhealthy. I tried to explain to her that this is how it works, they clear you out. I didn't know she was slipping them to me at first, I thought they were Tylenol because the room was dark. She still won't believe that she did anything wrong, even though the doctor said she did. That's what's so scary.

The sad thing is that she takes these stool hardeners often and she has a lot of pain and health problems. The capsules might be causing her pain.

maggiedemi said:

After the first enema, she slipped me stool hardener capsules because she believes that diarrhea is unhealthy. I tried to explain to her that this is how it works, they clear you out. I didn't know she was slipping them to me at first, I thought they were Tylenol because the room was dark. She still won't believe that she did anything wrong, even though the doctor said she did. That's what's so scary.

The sad thing is that she takes these stool hardeners often and she has a lot of pain and health problems. The capsules might be causing her pain.

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Well the thing is people are gonna do what they wanna do. Can't control them. It hurts to watch when it's your own mom. All you can do is take care of yourself and be available to her if she really wants to change..

Don’t stress about the potassium. It should be in balance now or doc would have done labs. Eat right and it should be good. Sarah had it too. She was fine after getting it right again. Very glad you have a doc who is listening and paying attention. Good report! I am going to the doc today myself. Lol I hope my visit goes that well.

maggiedemi said:

Today went better than I could have imagined at my doc. He was so glad I was there without my mom. He canceled the blood work and said to just continue what I'm doing and make absolute sure that I poop every single day. Sorry if that's gross! He said not to take any pills or supplements from my mom EVER again. He wants me to cook my own meals too. He said that I saved my own life by being honest about the stool hardeners that my mom slipped me. He said they thought I had cancer and were about to operate. But when I told them what my mom did, they gave me the colonoscopy & enema instead and that cleared out the mass. It was impacted poop, not cancer.

I told my mom a few things he said, not all, and she is in the kitchen throwing things.

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I'm so glad you did that! You are on your way to independence. She doesn't know what she's talking about. Keep up the good work!

DreamerRose said:

I'm so glad you did that! You are on your way to independence. She doesn't know what she's talking about.

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Yeah, when these young girls do these starvation diets like I did, they aren't thinking about their bowels and poop. If they can't get your bowels working again, you die. It's not very glamorous, but it's the truth. And my mom almost messed it up with her stupid pills.

Jcatbird said:

Don’t stress about the potassium. It should be in balance now or doc would have done labs.

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He said to eat bananas often, but they are not something I usually eat much. There is Potassium in my Ensure drink though and I think it's in multivitamins, so I might get one of those just in case. I forgot to ask him if I still have to drink the Ensure, but I have like a month's supply, so I'm gonna drink them.

maggiedemi said:

He said to eat bananas often, but they are not something I usually eat much.

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Since I'm allergic to bananas, I have discovered that there is a lot of potassium in potatoes. Starchy, yes, but potassium none the less.

kashmir64 said:

I have discovered that there is a lot of potassium in potatoes.

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That's good news! Thank you. I eat a lot more potatoes than I do bananas.

Plenty to choose from.
15 Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a Banana

maggiedemi said:

After the first enema, she slipped me stool hardener capsules because she believes that diarrhea is unhealthy. I tried to explain to her that this is how it works, they clear you out. I didn't know she was slipping them to me at first, I thought they were Tylenol because the room was dark. She still won't believe that she did anything wrong, even though the doctor said she did. That's what's so scary.

The sad thing is that she takes these stool hardeners often and she has a lot of pain and health problems. The capsules might be causing her pain.

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That's the thing, Diarrhea IS unhealthy, and can actually result in death by dehydration if it's a chronic condition and you do nothing about it. But that's only if it's a CHRONIC condition, not just for a couple days because of something like eating contaminated food or a one-off as a result of medication.

But as you found out, taking stool hardeners when there is not an issue with loose stool cause problems of their own. If she's taking them regularly for no reason then she is harming herself.

verna davies said:

Plenty to choose from.
15 Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a Banana

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Thank you for the list!

Talien said:

But that's only if it's a CHRONIC condition, not just for a couple days because of something

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I know, it was just from the enema clearing me out. It would have stopped. I don't know what she was thinking playing doctor like that.

My dad & I just went outside and took a walk around the house. It was really hard for me to walk through the grass though. I wish we had sidewalks here. We went to check the mail and the road felt better, so maybe we'll take some walks on the road, just have to be careful of traffic since big trucks go down these roads now.

I forgot to mention that my dad & I went to lunch today. We went to a cute little sandwich shop. They give you these pieces of paper and you circle what you want on your sandwich. It was so much fun not having my mom there and picking every single thing that went on my sandwich.

Then we went to Walmart and walked around. I got a pain cream for my back that my mom would probably hate, she would say the ingredients are junk. My caseworker recommended it, so we bought it.

Sweet! Sounds like you and Rockhead had a nice afternoon.

orange&white said:

Sweet! Sounds like you and Rockhead had a nice afternoon.

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We did! It was very relaxing and an almost perfect day.

So glad you had a good doctors appointment!
And your mother was not involved!

I did not know she was giving you ant-diarrhea pills. That is so bad..

I am admiring you for now starting to take control of your life. I can not even imagine the horrors you have been through.

Yes, you are definitely a SURVIVOR!
Remember that. Never give up. You a on your way to a healthy, happy life.

There may be a set back or two, but never give up this fight.

You deserve a much better life than you have lived through.

We are all here for you; adding all our best thoughts, love and prayers.

We are all brainstorming to get you healthy and happy.

Seems like you had a very good day. The walk with your dad must have done wonders for you. Getting out in the fresh air, without any additional stresses is what you need.

We can all help you plan good healthy easy meals.

Eggs are good. Scrambled with some cheese and toast. French toast is easy and nutritious. Get a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store—already cooked. Just add a baked sweet potato and some veggies. Green beans are good as well as canned corn.

Keep fighting

artiemom said:

Seems like you had a very good day. The walk with your dad must have done wonders for you. Getting out in the fresh air, without any additional stresses is what you need.

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I even waved to the mail lady instead of hiding. She looked surprised, she hasn't seen me in years.

artiemom said:

We can all help you plan good healthy easy meals.

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My mom called me from the grocery store last night and asked me which $11 family soup I wanted. I told her $11 is way too much money for soup and to just get some fresh kale and I will make my own soup. She replied that she is NEVER cooking fresh foods like that again because she's too old. I told her to just let me cook the soup. She said that it will take 2 hours to make a soup and that is way too much activity for me. That is not true, my surgeon wants me up and doing things, so I don't get a blood clot. We can't only eat processed foods, that is not healthy.

Do you think a vacuum weighs 10 pounds? I want to vacuum, but I can't lift anything over 10 pounds because of my surgery. My mom informed me that she is NEVER vacuuming again because she's too old. Does this sound like Dementia? How do you own a house but never vacuum it? It makes no sense. She can go shopping all day, but not vacuum?

maggiedemi said:

After the first enema, she slipped me stool hardener capsules because she believes that diarrhea is unhealthy. I tried to explain to her that this is how it works, they clear you out. I didn't know she was slipping them to me at first, I thought they were Tylenol because the room was dark. She still won't believe that she did anything wrong, even though the doctor said she did. That's what's so scary.

The sad thing is that she takes these stool hardeners often and she has a lot of pain and health problems. The capsules might be causing her pain.

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She should stop taking them. Being stopped up causes back and stomach pain. Not to mention very uncomfortable. Normal emptying of the plumbing should be at minumum once every 24 to 48 hours..spinach is my

maggiedemi said:

Yeah, when these young girls do these starvation diets like I did, they aren't thinking about their bowels and poop. If they can't get your bowels working again, you die. It's not very glamorous, but it's the truth. And my mom almost messed it up with her stupid pills.



He said to eat bananas often, but they are not something I usually eat much. There is Potassium in my Ensure drink though and I think it's in multivitamins, so I might get one of those just in case. I forgot to ask him if I still have to drink the Ensure, but I have like a month's supply, so I'm gonna drink them.

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Sweet potatoes have more potassium than bananas last I read...
It's WAY too early to vacuum. no pushing or pulling for 6 weeks after your surgery.

maggiedemi said:

Do you think a vacuum weighs 10 pounds? I want to vacuum, but I can't lift anything over 10 pounds because of my surgery. My mom informed me that she is NEVER vacuuming again because she's too old. Does this sound like Dementia? How do you own a house but never vacuum it? It makes no sense. She can go shopping all day, but not vacuum?

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Sounds like she's expecting you and Rockhead to do all the heavy lifting while she plays...just such BS!

Yes you don't want to start vacuuming yet..how many weeks has it been since your surgery? The muscles in your stomach need to heal and recover from being cut..the usual time is 6 weeks recovery from pushing/pulling vacuum. lawn mower, moping or any activity where you use your stomach muslces.

Walking is a great recovery exercise after your surgery..especially now that leaf season has come sooner than expected, maybe you and rockhead can take a stroll on those trails you know who talked about a year ago-last night was a partial frost here- 36 degrees at my house, hose had ice on it...so now if we get a good frost-no more bugs!


I am glad you are making strides to change your routine-it's great to read the steps you have taken..

Does Rockhead get mad if you ask him for help with lifting/vacuuming?

Growing up, my dad did the vacuuming because my mom was unable to walk for long distance in the stores-not sure if your mom struggles with physical mobility issues-my mom had a hard time moving around and doing simple things.