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how do/did you guys spend your days when flaring?

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Posted 6/27/2013 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sick of staying indoors and feeling down!

I've been making scd friendly meals and made some scd almond flour muffins today.

I never baked or cook before developing IBD and fyi, I failed... it came out like as a giant cookie Lol

I'm a typical guy, turning 24 soon, supposed to be at grad school.
how do you spend your days when flaring? It's not like I need to sleep 24/7, I'm just overwhelmed by the thought that I should be doing something instead.

I don't want to watch movies all day and don't feel like reading all day.
So what do you guys do?
Posted 6/27/2013 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
I try to plan little outings when I can. The flare I'm currently at the end of (I hope) allowed me 15 min or so between BR runs.

With that time, I could drive to the health food store. Take a pit stop or two while there. Peruse herbs/supplements, get some healthy snacks. Then drive straight home. Or to another place with a BR.

I was also able to make it to work and back (barely, a few times).

No fun, for sure.
Posted 6/27/2013 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
I facebook :) lol

Hope you find something to give you some happiness.
Posted 6/27/2013 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
geeker, what kind of healthy snacks?
Posted 6/28/2013 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I have been in a nonstop flare for three years since diagnosis. Even though it has changed my life to some degree I still live a fairly normal life, with adjustments. So, I can't really answer your question.
Posted 6/28/2013 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Healthy snacks for Geeker: sunbutter (from a spoon is fine), Noosa yogurt (the best brand ever...delicious, esp the honey), rice crackers, organic spinach leaves, bananas, kefir, lemonade with cane sugar, applesauce, avocadoes, ground rice hot cereal (cream of rice) These were in heavy rotation.

I am not 100% gluten-free but avoid it if I can.

I use the spinach leaves as a carrier for dips. I especially like to eat hummus on them. Stack a couple of leaves, add a schmear of hummus, roll up YUM.

Seriosuly...I cannot say enough about how DELICIOUS Noosa yogurt is...I don't even like yogurt but I like Noosa.
Posted 6/28/2013 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
I usually get tons of things out from the library like books, magazines, movies, yoga dvds, and cds. I also like to tale baths and lay outside in the sun. If i had a pool, you know i'd be in there.
Posted 6/28/2013 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I know exactly how you feel being stuck indoors i have crohns and just recently hadsurgery for a fistula and i cant do anything either. It definatly sucks and all i do is sit in my chair or go to bed im so depressed its not funny the whole summer is shot! Im trying to get better but i think they like keeping us down. I am having a time trying to get pain meds. Got a four inch hole in my ass cheek and i think they like to keep me in pain. I have had crohns for 19 years and it sucks! I really would like to get back to doing something. I have no income i eant them to help get my disabilty because you cant work with this. Cut here surgery there you csnt do anything with all this going on. I know what you are going through! I feel for you gotta beleive its gonna get better. Its very trying on your mind!
Posted 6/28/2013 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I know exactly how you feel being stuck indoors i have crohns and just recently hadsurgery for a fistula and i cant do anything either. It definatly sucks and all i do is sit in my chair or go to bed im so depressed its not funny the whole summer is shot! Im trying to get better but i think they like keeping us down. I am having a time trying to get pain meds. Got a four inch hole in my ass cheek and i think they like to keep me in pain. I have had crohns for 19 years and it sucks! I really would like to get back to doing something. I have no income i eant them to help get my disabilty because you cant work with this. Cut here surgery there you csnt do anything with all this going on. I know what you are going through! I feel for you gotta beleive its gonna get better. Its very trying on your mind!
Posted 6/28/2013 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I never just didn't do anything (unless I was flaring badly - then I would cuddle on the couch with my trusty pooch). When I was younger, I couldn't just not do anything..I had two young children to care for. But when they got older I realized that I could actually take a "breather" and concentrate on myself. So I found things that I enjoyed...in my case I was doing crafts. I also started to write again (children's novels).

I think you just need to find what you enjoy and go from there.
Posted 6/28/2013 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I really cant do that much rite now every time i go to do something when i am standing im in pain i think the pressure of standing makes it impossible. And i have a two and a half year old son and he doesnt understand whats wrong with his daddy i told him daddy has a boo boo and cant do a whole lot. I just want to get better so i can get on with my life with him. I cant do much and it makes me feel so bad. And im an outdoor person who likes to fish and hunt and hike a.d do most stuff you do when its nice. Been down about two months and sometimes i am just ready to throw in the towel but im trying to keep it together for my son. Sometimes i really wander if all this is worth it!
Posted 6/28/2013 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
when i was flaring really badly i tried to just have small outings - going to see a movie with my sister, or even just getting together with a couple of my girlfriends at one of their places so at least i knew a bathroom was always nearby.
Posted 6/28/2013 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
also you could ask your gi if it would be okay for you to take some imodium? that might allow you to get out of the house for a few hours without bathroom worries.
Posted 6/28/2013 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
I work harder than usual on everything at home and at work, prednisone has many positives and many negatives - you have to turn lemons into lemonaide. If I am really bad at the start I work on my back with a monitor facing down thru cutout in simple desk I built then I can work and rest.
Posted 6/28/2013 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I started couponing as a way to offset the uninsured meds. i'm on - Asacol HD and Uceris. Couponing is easy to do at home thanks to a popular online couponing forum and I also enjoy clipping coupons i printout or receive in the paper. I receive and send them to other couponers, so fun mail arrives now. It gets exiting when you find free coupons or a store triples so an item is free. You gotta find ways to stay positive!
Posted 6/28/2013 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Xbox 360 and PS3 :) Mostly PS3 but currently hooked on State Of Decay on the x360. Great Zombie survival game that takes strategy and you can pause it anytime you need to go.
Posted 6/28/2013 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
I went to work through my last flare. If I do stay home, I am on the couch with my pooch in front of the TV
Posted 6/28/2013 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
honestly all I did was lie on the couch watching food network! but I couldn't walk without almost fainting. as I got better I added little walks though and visits from friends were nice.
Posted 6/28/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
GCOUPE - is there any option of you taking some of your grad courses through an online program?

Last month when I couldn't be more than a room or two away from the toilet, I did some work in my house - getting rid of old stuff thru freecycle (where people come and pick up the stuff) and painting a room that I'd never bothered to paint before. Not sure if you're in your own place / a rental / your parents' home - but maybe some small project to improve things, that you can just tackle in pieces when you're up for it. Or gardening / simple yard work if that's an option. Another such project that I have yet to undertake: inventorying stuff in the household for insurance purposes. Mega-boring, sure, but actually a (possibly) worthwhile endeavor, and again, something that can be done in small bits over time.

l.wical - hang in there. If you're able to get on disability, I hope you look into getting counseling. I think that at times these diseases can be just as (or more) psychologically and emotionally draining as they are physically taxing. Having someone to help deal with the feelings can be a really good thing.
Posted 6/29/2013 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I could go for online courses...

I'm just not feeling it, not motivated or have the will to commit to something at all because physically/mentally I feel so drained.

It's very hard to toughen up and stay that way when medications like prednisone and mesalamines aren't really working and the symptoms are just dragging you down.

p.s. i got a new car 2 months ago and no job+no insurance, I don't know how I will be making payments for my car insurance which is very expensive compared to my last car(regret that I bought one right before flaring), doctor's appt fees, Pentasa(paid already 400 bux for just 2 weeks worth)... and apartment rent...

I really need to figure something out.
Posted 6/30/2013 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I've always done everything and anything to live "normally" no matter how bad I was flaring.

I even went to the gym when I was flaring bad...

I'd make egg masks for my face out of egg yolk to look refreshed and healthier...

I'd experiment with different health foods and try new things...

I'd go to work and try to make the best of it...

I'd take my dog for a walk and pray along the way...

I've had UC on and off since 1980 so call me an old-timer. I've really switched from feeling sorry for myself to trying everything to be less self-immersed. When I see people now I try to imagine what problems they have.

email me any time.
John
Posted 6/30/2013 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Wow Super JP.....impressive shocked

All depends on how I'm feeling....usually the throbbing butt syndrome, urgency, painful poos and nausea does me in, so I pretty much go into sloth mode.

Once my rectal meds, increased probiotic, antispasmodic start to kick in (a few days later) and lower the frequency/urgency, I'll get back to doing clients if I have any.  Painful squeals from their bathrooms might freak them out.

q

Posted 7/1/2013 12:50 AM (GMT 0)

You are my kind of guy John. I refuse to just quit living and give up on the things I enjoy. I could never do the hard core diet thing so many do here. I think I would be as miserable as I am when I am in a flare almost. If I ever get to the point where I have to go to some of the extremes I read about I would just opt for surgery I think. 

JohnPhx said...
I've always done everything and anything to live "normally" no matter how bad I was flaring.

I even went to the gym when I was flaring bad...

I'd make egg masks for my face out of egg yolk to look refreshed and healthier...

I'd experiment with different health foods and try new things...

I'd go to work and try to make the best of it...

I'd take my dog for a walk and pray along the way...

I've had UC on and off since 1980 so call me an old-timer. I've really switched from feeling sorry for myself to trying everything to be less self-immersed. When I see people now I try to imagine what problems they have.

email me any time.
John

Posted 7/1/2013 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Running to the ER for fluids
Posted 7/1/2013 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
"I even went to the gym when I was flaring bad..."

cool jp - I've heard of those gyms where they have the squat racks where you really can "squat" and let er rip ! and along side the weight stacks they have tp towers :-) -

seriously, i'm glad you were able to work out when you were feeling under the weather, but unfortunately for many of us a bad flare means we can barely lift our asses out of bed to run to the toilet for the 17th time in a day -

i'm finally going to head back to the gym this week - been waaaaay too long -

keep hefting !
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