#blood test to see food intolerance

[akbaripolyclinic]

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[celestiamour]

‧₊˚✧ ❛[ two girls in the cut ]❜

━━━ .°˖✧ requested by anon┊edit creds to ilovemode1ling ˚₊ ⊹

ft. kang sae-byeok, se-mi x f! reader — squid game

╰₊✧ how sae-byeok & se-mi would compete for your affections in the games┊1.5k words

setting: season 2 timeline!! au where sae-byeok is also a winner!! contains: gay gay homosexual gay, useless lesbians be upon ye, jealousy, reader is an oblivious sweetheart

➤ author's note: god, imagine them as a duo together, they would have been so powerful!!

╰₊✧ when sae-byeok reluctantly agreed to return to that damned island with gi-hun to put an end to the games, she expected to be faced with more blood and death, but not to find herself falling for the cute girl she saved during “red light, green light.” she knew she was done for when she looked into your fearful eyes and felt crushed at the thought of you being unable to make it without her, and despite telling herself she wasn’t going to get attached like she did last time, she was unable to push you away or keep her distance when you ended up following her like a lost puppy. behind her stoic demeanor, she quickly developed a noticeable soft spot for you where she was mostly stone-faced around others and kind towards you (noticeable, as in, everyone around her noticed this except for you because you didn’t know if she was kind in a platonic way or a romantic way because that’s sapphic experiences for you).

╰₊✧ and as if grappling with her complicated inner feelings and trying to ensure that both of you (and her basically adopted father and everyone else in the alliance, but especially you) survived, she soon noticed that there was another young woman who was also smitten by your charms and was out in an open attempt to woo you. she can’t remember any moment she took her eyes off of you for you to meet se-mi without her noticing, but one thing is for certain, and it’s that if she didn’t start making moves of her own, she would see you get swept off your feet by this new girl.

╰₊✧ se-mi is bold and flirtatious, confident in herself, making her advances clear as day, and being damn good at making you flustered with a single statement. it would almost be impressive if the twisting feeling of jealousy wasn’t there every time her treasured time with you was interrupted each time she came to join your guys for every meal, and of course, you welcomed her with open arms each and every time because you didn’t know about their little unspoken rivalry. 

“they don’t give us enough food in here,” you whined, shuffling around the grains of white rice with your chopsticks, “you would think that with the millions and millions of won we could win, they would give us more than one meal a day that isn’t overcooked… i’m still hungry…”

as soon as that last statement left your lips with a pout, sae-byeok grabbed her unopened carton of milk and turned to hand it over to you, only to find that se-mi was also holding out her given milk for you to take. there was a moment of awkward silence between the two as the feeling of competition hung in the air, waiting for you to give the point by accepting one of their pints over the other.

however, you simply took both of them at the same time with a wide smile, completely oblivious to the tension, “aw, you guys are so nice to me! are you sure? i don’t want you guys to be hungry just because i took both your milks.”

“don’t worry about it, i’m lactose intolerant anyway,” se-mi assured. “i’m pretty sure everyone else here is too, that’s korea for you.”

you hummed cheerfully as you opened up the little thin cardboard package and drank the milk inside. usually you wouldn’t drink so much of it and you weren’t sure if it was healthy, but your stomach was grumbling like you were testing in a quiet classroom back in high school so you didn’t think it would be too bad to drink some extra to fill up for the couple of days you would be here.

all the while, the two women are staring each other down, one with a little smirk on her face, and the other with a blank glare. 

╰₊✧ every time you ask to use the restroom, you’ll magically find both of them at your side arguing as calmly as possible about who should go with you. outside of the island, girls already go do their business in pairs or groups for safety, but it’s especially true here because most people are too scared to be vulnerable here alone when they are being watched by guards with rifles, even the men. while they quarrel over this one stupid thing, you probably end up going with jun-hee who also needed to go while they’re unable to make up their minds.

╰₊✧ sae-byeok is maybe a tad bit insecure about her mannerisms compared to se-mi’s. she’s expressionless most of the time and struggles so much to put how she feels into words, often coming off as not caring or sometimes even brash. thankfully, you don’t take it the wrong way and understand without her needing to tell you that she cares in her own special way. if she didn’t, then why would she bother making a beeline for you every game to ensure that you were safe with a hand possessively wrapped around your waist? she’s more than willing to put herself in danger to protect you because she already knows what to expect having played these games before and also has the alliance looking out for her.

╰₊✧ speaking of the alliance, they all know about her crush on you although they are too intimidated by her to tease her directly for it. dae-ho gives tips on how to impress you using his experience growing up with his sisters and hearing about their dating lives. gi-hun blatantly asks you if you have a boyfriend, and when you bashfully say you don’t, he then asks if you have a girlfriend because you guys could die any day here, why bother to play the long game? (sae-byeok definitely smacks him though because she feels like she could die from embarrassment, but at least she got the answer “not yet” which means you’re open to dating another girl.)

╰₊✧ oh god, mingle is a nightmare because the two of them refuse to part with you during the final round, their voices ringing clear above all of the music and chaos while they have a tight grip on both your arms. sae-byeok ended up being the bigger person and running off with someone else as se-mi pulled you into safety. 

╰₊✧ they bicker constantly over the little things when it comes to you, which is surprising considering how chill they seem in terms of attitude, only letting up when you start pouting and offer a compromise which they begrudgingly agree to. 

╰₊✧ se-mi is well aware that sae-byeok also has feelings for you, evident by the way she always lingers behind you like an overprotective guard dog and not–so-subtly stares daggers into her every time she approaches you, but doesn’t mind a little competition. she actually finds it to be a nice distraction from everything going on, living out the life as the second female lead in a yuri love triangle fanfiction. in another life where you met in different circumstances, se-mi would take courting you a lot more seriously, but her main goal at the moment is surviving, and whatever comes next is an afterthought. 

“you know…” se-mi started, staring up blankly at the ceiling, and catching sae-byeok’s attention. this was the first time they had a conversation without you, one-on-one, while everyone else was dead asleep. “i don’t really think all three of us are going to make it out of here together…”

similar to how they couldn’t decide who should accompany you to the restroom, they also couldn’t decide who should watch over you in case a fight broke out like in the last game. in the end, they both stayed up sitting in their bunks next to yours, focusing on not falling asleep before the other did because it would determine who was fit for the job. 

she stayed silent as the weight of her words sunk in, allowing se-mi to continue, “if anything happens to me, you’ll look after her, right? i don’t plan on going anytime soon, but… anything can happen in a place like this…”

“... only if you take care of her in case anything happens to me…”

her eyes wandered in the dark, first fixating on your slumbering body with your chest steadily rising to the beat of your breathing, then meeting the eyes of se-mi. there was a mutual understanding that didn’t need to be said, and then the two of them finally sighed before going to bed. there’s a certain relief in knowing your loved one is in good hands if the universe has other plans for you.

╰₊✧ what they don’t know is that your oblivious nature is a facade, you’re freaking out because of the insane gay panic these two ridiculously attractive women are giving you and you would be unable to choose if held at gunpoint. in just a few more days, you hope, you’ll able to come to terms with your feelings and decide who you really fell in love with when you care so intensely for both of them. all you have to do before then is survive, which shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

hey guys, imagine if sae-byeok actually saved se-mi and then they all run out together and have a happy poly relationship yipee

request was as follows:

okay hear me out. im a se mi and saebyeok girly.. i was wondering if you could make a cute little semi x reader x saebyeok (s2 squid games timeline maybe? ur choice :3c) where semi n saebyeok are in a bit of a rivalry because they both adore reader! they might fight over things like who would have night guard duties with reader, offer reader food at the same time, etc! (i love ur writing sm btw ♡)

[cdragons]

❄︎ House Stark & Spicy Food ❄︎ - w/ spicy loving reader

Cries if there's too much pepper:

All of them, Sansa and Robb - these two will actually die if they have the slightest sense of heat to any food they try. Like their hair, they get it from their mother.

Robb will try so hard to pretend that he has any spice tolerance...he doesn't...he REALLY doesn't

This boy wants to impress you so badly while also dying and you are not being very helpful bc you keep laughing at how red his face gets

You didn't even put that much in, it was barely a dash of cayenne or one jalapeno seed and he will DIE

If you ever try to put spice in his dishes, he will look at you with the biggest look of betrayal

Redding Wedding what? Nope, the real, most unforgivable act of treason against this King of the North was putting a ghost pepper in his stew after he pissed you off and drinking all his water to make sure that there wasn't any left near him.

Are the two of you married? Does not matter - off to the dungeons with you.

Okay, not really, but he will be seriously pissed and have a huge pouty face for the rest of the week.

He feels even more betrayed when he sees Grey Wind sleeping next to you after you put the pepper in his food.

"Are you on my side or hers?" - Grey Wind is on Team Cuddles and Being Spoiled.

If you end up eating something too spicy for you, he WILL be the most insufferable person about it

Sansa is literally no different, if not worse, than her brother.

Everything that was written above -> multiply that by 10000 in terms of spice intolerance, and you get Sansa.

She does NOT care about impressing you with improving her spice tolerance.

You could try to convince her that spicy food is better for her body and there are a ton of health benefits, but you will FAIL

You once gave her a Cubanelle pepper (About 1,000 SHU) bc the only less spicy option was a bell pepper and bell peppers are only peppers in name and not in spirit

She did not react well

She RAN 🏃‍♀️ to the well and drank the water out of the pail.

...Was it bad that you laughed at her reaction? Yes

Would you do it again? Also, yes

Was it totally worth being banned from nighttime cuddles and kisses for an entire month?...Okay, maybe you won't do it again

You could make fun of her unseasoned potatoes and closer-to-water soup all you want. She is not interested in damaging her stomach lining and developing stomach cancer.

She WILL make fun of you if you end up eating something too spicy for YOU, and you let her because you love seeing her more childish smile and side.

Slightly Dying, but Otherwise Okay and Kind of Digs It:

Jon can eat spicy foods...theoretically.

He's eaten Wilding food and the rotten food from Castle Black -> compared to that, he can take a little heat.

He was wrong - He was so very, VERY wrong. Your level of heat and spice was something that only a demon could take.

Jon was convinced that you were part dragon bc he can't think of any other reason as to how and WHY you put yourself through this?

Eventually, he DOES develop a bit of spice tolerance, and you take full credit for it, especially because this means his taste palette is more on your level. You aren't as afraid of accidentally killing him with your cooking preferences.

But it ends up lowkey backfiring on him bc you won't stop sneaking spicy food into his meals, and sometimes Tormund and his brothers in Black will sneak a bite off his plate (no one died...everyone lives...shhhhhhhhh)

Sam is dead - he died, you killed him. Gilly is officially out for your blood, and little Sam is raised with the single goal of piercing you with a pointy stick bc you killed his dad.

Pyp and Edd are also lowkey dying. Still, they actually enjoy the heat and are always happy to taste test for your dishes...despite their bowels hating them for it

Grenn and Tormund fucking LOVE the heat. They can easily down bowl after bowl after bowl of your cooking.

Bran SHOULD not eat spicy food...but he does because it makes you so happy, and he will literally do anything for your smile and cuddles.

Like his love of climbing and scary stories, he honestly lives for the thrill of taking the heat.

All of his siblings are terrified he's going to get a stomach ulcer one day because he keeps adding more spice to his food, and they are ALL blaming you, and you're just like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

While he's traveling with Osha, Hodor, Rickon, and Reed Siblings, it's your cooking that helps keep them warm.

When he becomes the Three-Eyed Raven and King of the Seven Kingdoms, he and you will go to the kitchens to make your favorite dishes from your shared past because it brings a little of the old Bran back.

It's only around you that he can still smile and laugh, and you love him no matter what.

Love Spicy Food and Can ACTUALLY Take it

Arya LOVESSSSS the heat - All Day, Everyday Baby

While she was in Braavos and training in the House of Black and White, she sampled so many dishes and spices from the markets.

This opened a whole new world to her tastebuds, and when she returned to Winterfell - she still loved the food because it was all the food of her childhood, but it just tasted...boring.

You and her actually met while she was training in Braavos, and your family ran a spice stall in one of the markets.

You were fascinated by the girl and always offered a warm meal and housing if she ever needed it. While cooking for her, Arya would tell you stories about Ned and Jon and all her other siblings.

When she reunited with her family at Winterfell, she thought it was adorable how happy and excited you were to meet them. She also highly encouraged you to share one of your spiciest dishes with them.

Bran didn't have much of a reaction save for a small cough, but Jon immediately reached for his water while Sansa just fainted from the shock of the heat assault in her mouth.

Rickon is the only sibling who can actually eat your food and so he automatically becomes your favorite Stark after Arya.

Rickon and you met while traveling with your siblings (Meera and Jojen) to find Bran. You carried many foreign spices with you (for whatever reason).

Immediately, he was smitten with you because you were the youngest sibling around his age. Shaddydog also loved you from the beginning, which helped your case.

A lot of the spices you carried also had medicinal purposes, so you were in charge of cooking while Meera handled the weapons and Jojen helped guide Bran to the 3ER.

It was during the coldest and most freezing blizzard nights, you used one of your hottest spices to make a stew. It was a miracle by fate that Rickon LOVED it.

Since then, he's always begging you to put hotter spices in the meals, but you refuse bc your spices are expensive and because you don't want to accidentally kill the rest of the "Save The World" Gang.

Shaddydog is a huge issue when you're making food because he's very curious about all the different smells and tastes, and you have to keep booping his nose out of the way because you love adding garlic, and it's not good for canines to eat garlic and salt.

*BONUS*

Catelyn - cannot eat anything spicy for the life of her

Ned - same as his wife, tbh lol

[rottenpumpkin13]

How would Shinra handle dietary problems copping up with a SOLDIER? Can be as simple (lactose intolerance, nutrient deficiency,) or extreme as you like (an allergy, malabsorption,). I'm curious how the company'd tackle any of their "perfect" weapons having a health issue that may not be an easy fix.

SOLDIERs are subjected to regular nutritional screenings and blood tests so deficiencies can be corrected through fortified meals, supplements, nutrient infusions, pills, etc. For the average SOLDIER member, compliance is enforced with strict meal plans, mandatory check-ins, and the occasional threat, like when Lazard told Zack if he didn't stop drowning everything in ranch, his cholesterol would qualify as a biohazard and he'd be legally required to hang a warning sign around his neck. Zack asked if he could at least dip the sign in ranch to bring him joy.

Other considerations include Genesis' iron deficiency and mild lactose intolerance, which he adamantly refuses to acknowledge; Angeal's gut issues—nothing severe, but enough that SOLDIER's dietitians recommend food restrictions, which he ignores because "Real warriors eat what's on their plate." And then there's Sephiroth, who can eat just about anything, but stress and anxiety tank his appetite. Shinra deals with all of this through enforcing meal plans. None of them like it very much.

*Angeal, Sephiroth, and Genesis are sitting at lunch with their enforced meal plans after the monthly screening*

Genesis, poking at his iron-fortified meal: They took my dessert. My daily chocolate soufflé. Replaced it with kale. I'm a poet, not a rabbit.

Angeal, staring at his steamed vegetables and plain chicken: Be grateful. I had to sign a waiver saying I wouldn't fight the dietitian again.

Sephiroth: At least you both have regular meal portions. They gave me this mountain of food and said if I don't finish this, enforcers will appear to "spoon-feed" me.

Angeal: Then you better eat unless you want Hojo to force a feeding tube down your throat.

Sephiroth: I've eaten enough. I physically cannot consume more. Besides, I'm curious to see what kind of enforcers they'd actually send to force-feed me. It must be Hojo's assistants, or perhaps an infantry novice who I can fight off easily.

*Angeal and Genesis silently pick up their spoons and stand*

Sephiroth: !

[lpsluvblr]

Headcanon about Russell’s marshmallow phobia!

(Russel’s pov)

I never thought I'd end up afraid of marshmallows, of all things. As a kid, I was the definition of not picky. If it was food, I ate it—tacos, pizza, hot dogs, whatever. My dad didn’t have to fight with me at the dinner table. One of my favorite times was family BBQs. The smell of grilled meat and the laughter of everyone gathered together. It was all good.

I remember the day it all changed. We were having s’mores. It was a summer evening, and the sun was setting just right. My dad, always the one to be the first to toast a marshmallow, handed me one. I didn’t think twice. It was a marshmallow. How could something so fluffy and sweet do any harm? So, I popped it in my mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Nothing weird happened right away. It felt just like any other food.

But about 20 minutes later, I started to feel uncomfortable. It started in my stomach—just a dull ache at first, like maybe I'd eaten too much. But then it escalated. My stomach twisted into sharp pains, and I felt this growing pressure. It got worse fast, and I couldn't ignore it anymore. I went up to my dad and told him, but he thought it was just a regular stomach ache. He said I probably overdid it with the food.

But it wasn’t normal. The pain kept growing. I couldn’t sit still, couldn’t focus on anything else. The cramps were relentless, and soon, I started feeling nauseous. My face went pale, and I could tell my dad was starting to panic. He rushed me to the hospital..it got so bad I could barely move. They had to pump my stomach—my first real hospital experience, and it wasn’t pretty.

The doctors couldn’t figure out what happened, but they told my dad that I should avoid marshmallows from now on. They ran tests and more tests, but everything came back inconclusive. No one could tell me why marshmallows triggered such a violent reaction, but all I knew was that they were dangerous. And I wasn’t taking any chances.

Over the years, I’ve seen a few specialists, but they can’t pinpoint the exact cause. They think it might be some kind of weird allergy, but they're not sure. What they are sure about is that marshmallows and anything containing them are off-limits for me. That day in the hospital stuck with me, too. Even though I’ve tried to act normal about it, there’s this part of me that feels on edge whenever I see marshmallows or smell them roasting.

It’s not just the physical reaction I fear anymore—it’s the fear of being caught off guard again. My stomach drops when I see them, even if I’m just walking past a display at a store. I can’t explain it entirely, but I’ve developed this phobia. The memory of being that helpless, in so much pain, still lingers with me. I can’t let my guard down when it comes to marshmallows, so I avoid them entirely. And no matter how many doctors I see or how much time passes, I still don’t know exactly what happened that day. All I know is marshmallows are dangerous for me—and I’m never taking that risk again.

-For a while now I’ve had this thought that Russell has this sorta intolerance to marshmallows! It’s so bad that even eating anything with a little of the sweet treat in it can trigger a painful/violent reaction for him! He gets sorta (ptsd) even seeing one near him for good reason. (he also doesn’t tell anyone unless he’s directly asked and just tells people it’s an allergy or a phobia then just leaves it at that.

Symptoms he gets

• cramps/sharp pains

•vomiting

•bloating

In very severe circumstances!

•blood in vomit

• diarrhea

• (along with symptoms above) 





[oattoast]

cw vent, sick cat, mention of pet death. grief.

Greasy took a turn for the worse. We rushed to the vet again yesterday. She was straining and dripping bloody urine everywhere two days after finishing up a round of antibiotics. They tested her urine yesterday, and today told me over the phone that there's no bacteria. It could be caused by cancer, crystals, or stress (idiopathic cystitis or something like that). Unfortunately the urinary stress food has chicken in it, which she has an intolerance to, and I don't see any other options for food. It's hard enough to find a kidney food she can eat with no chicken.

On the week Greasy became sick, I was under an extreme amount of stress. I had two university system transfer applications due, final exams and papers, my childhood best friend hundreds of miles away was recently disabled and sick and now her husband is leaving her so I was trying to support from afar because she has little family support, my sister was going through abdominal pain and too traumatized to go to the doctor, my dad had some virtual proctored tests for his auto mechanic job licenses and had to use my computer and was techphobic and overwhelmed by it and being an ass, I was withdrawing from rexulti (a psych med that had been supporting my functioning for a year but had intolerable side effects), etc. I fear that if Greasy's illness is caused by stress, it is my fault because it was my own stress that she perceived and absorbed.

Today, Greasy ate maybe 15% of the food I served her. I fear she is nearing the end. Her body doesn't want to fight anymore. She struggles with the stress of subcutaneous fluids every other day, medications multiple times a day, and frequent vet visits. The vet noticed she was extra afraid yesterday. I think she is protesting. Her body is tired and she doesn't want to do this anymore.

I think back to September, when the vet gave her only a few weeks to live. On the car ride home I promised her I would never take her to the vet again. We did everything we could to keep her comfortable. And she got better instead. She stopped hiding under the bed. She started eating with gusto. She was herself again, loving and sweet. It was good. It was so, so good for two months. I felt like I stole her back from death. I was grateful for the extra time. I tried to be present every day and feel how lucky we were. I loved her.

Then two weeks ago I got stressed, and she got sick. I got greedy for more time. All of December I've just been dragging her to the vet for tests and more treatments when she gets sick. I want her to be comfortable. I want to avoid suffering. Am I doing that? Am I forcing her to stay alive with me now, under so much stress from fluids and medicines and especially vet visits? Am I being selfish? She went down from a healthy 9-10 pounds to just 5.95 pounds in the last couple of years. I can feel her ribs and the bumps of her spine. She is weak and anemic, which makes her cold. She just wants to cuddle and purr. She is very old. Eighteen years of being my constant companion and dearest friend. I don't experience romantic or sexual attraction, so I'll never have a partner in life. I'm in my thirties. My friends and family partnered off and have started their lives. Greasy has been my closest friend and family. She gives me physical affection. She gives me purpose and motivation to get up when I can't scrounge it up for myself. She is home, safety, comfort. And has been for 18 years. Am I blinded to her suffering because of how much I don't want to let her go?

We stopped the "just in case" antibiotic today and kept her on an opiate pain med, which has stopped all the urinary symptoms (a sign that this is not a UTI and is in fact stress related). I have 2 more days of the opiate. I will talk to her regular vet tomorrow to go over the blood work we took yesterday and make a solid treatment plan in depth. I am going to emphasize comfort care. Just pain medicine.

My dad asked me why I'm crying so much, when I already did my crying back in September when we got the first bad prognosis. He said I got these bonus months already. We got a good long time out of Greasy. I did my grieving.

I don't think I'll ever be done grieving her, long after she is gone. I didn't do all my crying. I never will do all my crying. I think I will grieve as long as I live, and that's okay. It's beautiful to have shared a life with this small precious creature so full of love and comfort and safety. It was so good to have 18 years of uncomplicated healthy constant companionship. This is a gift. The pain is only proportional to the love. Big love. Big loss. Big pain.

[dolce-tenebra-toscana]

Me * does a blood test for food allergies *

My doctor " So your level of gluten/nickel intolerance are like super high. Avoid wheat/spices/tomatoes/potatoes and all food related to them for like 5 months. Then we'll see how to slowly reintroduce them in your diet "

Me "......so you are telling me that i'm basically celiac and i have a medium level nickel allergy....since WHEN??!"

Doctor " oh your whole life honey, they just thought it was hormone based "

Me * has lived in a household where pasta, potatoes and chili peppers were the Holy Trinity * " Well that explains a lot...."

[suzieb-fit]

Holding on to my own principle -

I have to work for this, but this has to work for me!

I'm an active person. Fitness is a massive priority in my life, and neglecting it recently isn't doing me any good at all.

So I'm getting that part of "me" back. Partially, at least. Seriously, I was a machine only a year or so again. That's not healthy, but neither is being the opposite. So I'm meeting somewhere in the middle. Different days will go different ways!

Yesterday, I did literally nothing. I was miserable and totally knocked flat by the continuing mucus problem.

But meh, onwards. I got up determined, this morning.

My usual breakfast outside, half hour walk in the fresh, morning air, a resistance band workout, a load of washing done and hung out to dry, dusted the whole house (ok, it's a tiny house, but still...), then a HIIT strength/cardio workout.

Lunch soon. And yes, the mucus is still very much there, but I feel better inside.

Active mornings give me good days!

Avocado and grated carrot omelette, made with EVOO. I mixed the oil into the egg, rather than just put it in the pan. Salad and strawberries on the side. Lovely!

But the mucus is terrible. Had now I'm genuinely worried it's the olive oil, or just olives themselves. It's hit hard after each time I've used it since yesterday.

That will be a knock, as I just got my delivery!

Anyway, even though I really don't have the disposable income to make it comfortable, I've ordered an allergy test. I've done two (pretty cheap) hair strand intolerance tests before, with no benefit. This is a blood (not hair) test for allergies, not intolerances.

Have to find out if I am actually allergic to anything. Can't carry on like this. It's seriously affecting every aspect of my health - physical, mental and emotional.

Anyway, I made sure to have the best day possible, including a second little walk after that delicious (but potentially damaging) lunch!

Dinner was beef, mixed veggies, olives, fresh ginger, mixed herbs (that's what's in the little bag), psyllium husk powder and fresh cherries. And a good spray of that extra virgin olive oil!

I logged my food for the first time in a while, to see how my macros are looking, and yep, with just a few minor telesales, to bring them into a better balance for me, they're bang on target!

My symptoms are not in my control until I find out what's causing them. But one thing that IS in my control? How I react to them!

[ed-recovery-affirmations]

What do you think about some people in recovery saying "there are no good or bad foods". Whenever I see that, it always reassures me, but then the comments talk about how unhealthy certain foods are and talk about diabetes, heart problems, etc, and then I feel very triggered.

So I've posted a little bit about this before, and my constant saying is "food has no morality."

So here's the thing. There are objectively food items that contain higher concentrations of vitamins. There are also foods that give you your macronutrients in better ways than others. For people who have, say, high cholesterol, there are foods to be generally avoided to help keep it down. For those with fructose intolerance, veggies are a better go than fruits for getting your fiber. If you have high blood pressure, you'll want to eat a low-salt diet, but if you have low blood pressure, you might find yourself needing more salt than the average person.

Health and ideal diet varies incredibly. Though the diet industry will have you obsessed with food purity and only consuming foods they've deemed "good," our bodies are more complicated than that. And food is meant to be enjoyed. We are biologically wired to crave sugars, salts, fats, and carbs, because if we were living in more primitive conditions, these things would be much harder to come by and would provide lengthy boosts of caloric energy. The fact that we still crave these things today is not a moral failing, but an instinct. And indulging in treats because you enjoy them does not mean you're "being bad."

I'm sorry to hear you feel so anxious and triggered, though! It's certainly scary to hear constant fearmongering about food-related health problems. While lack of access to proper, balanced nutrition can be a contributing factor in several health problems, this will not be caused by eating the occasional dessert or having a comfort meal, especially if your other health needs are met. But no one else can understand your personal health needs - you have to work with your doctor based on what you know about your body. Unfortunately medical fatphobia is still rampant, and many doctors may assume that you have all of these health problems if you don't have a thin body. However, these health problems can only be confirmed by test. There are fat people who do not have diabetes. There are fat people who do not have heart disease. These things can only be diagnosed after proper testing has been done.

Keep in mind that, when you hear non-medical-professionals loudly insisting that body-positive and food-positive posters must have all these health problems, many of these people have dedicated their lives to weight loss and dieting and "clean eating" based on what was marketed to them. They have based their worth on their ability to stay thin. And so the thought that somebody else might be living their own best life not doing these things is completely counterintuitive to them at this point. So they might be triggered, themselves. It's hard and scary, but you can remind yourself when you're triggered that the majority of these people have no medical expertise.

Eating a single "unhealthy" food is not going to be the wrench in the system that kills your entire body. Unless, of course, you have an allergy or intolerance to something in that food.

[evanoxvt]

Having chronic health is a full time job, and is often disabling.

Let's start with the most basic of concepts. A full time job is 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. AKA 40 hours. Chronic health SYMPTOMS are usually 6-7 days a week (because once in a blue moon we get ONE EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD DAY), and are often EVERY WAKING MOMENT, and possibly every sleeping moment too. Sometimes we get a few hour break from our symptoms, but they are generally 24/7.

That in an of itself is far more than a full time job. And we don't get paid for it.

Then you have all the doctor appointments. These take long periods of time, and cost you money. That's a triple negative on your time sheet, you got energy spent on health symptoms, the doctor appointment, AND loosing money you aren't able to make.

So now where do we add in the time for all the little life necessities? It often takes disabled folks much more physical energy and more time to do things like shower or brush teeth because we can get injured and/or fatigued from things like this which normal people do not. Cooking is another time consuming and energy draining task. The amount of time I loose from spending 5 mins cooking instant ramen makes it really not worth it. There's a reason many of us go without food for long periods of time if we do not have a support person doing basic life things for us or with us to ease the burden.

NOW imagine how much MORE energy it takes to do chores, like washing your dishes or laundry. I'm not even talking general cleaning, just the bare necessities here.

Somewhere in there you need the energy to ACTUALLY EAT the food you or someone else made.

If you haven't caught on to the massive amount of energy it takes for us to do these things yet, you probably need to go learn about it elsewhere because I'd like to get to the next portion of this.

We often face medical gaslighting from doctors, and general gaslighting from the rest of the world, especially people who know us well or absolute strangers. People who know you a LITTLE BIT are the most likely to not gaslight you in my experience.

This means for every SINGLE doctor appointment, we have to PROVE there is an issue before we even get to see the doctor.

My most current personal example is meeting my new PCP (of whom I will likely be changing AGAIN due to his fear of dogs and inadequate care related to my service dog being in the room with me). He did a basic physical, looked at my recent labs and test results, and then told me "You are healthy, I cannot find anything wrong with you." That is not acceptable as I was there after having ANOTHER doctor say the same shit when I am getting dizzy constantly, having clear cut tachycardia issues, and having signs of BP issues (debatable on the issues itself). These things, in addition to my medical history AND life-long experiences indicate I very likely have POTS.

POTS is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. This is a autonomic dysfunction condition (falls under dysautonomia). I'm really not the best at explaining this condition, but common symptoms are: Dizziness, I believe both Orthostatic intolerance and orthostatic hypotension, obviously tachycardia (but I've heard you can have bradycardia as well, unsure on that one). POTS is considered a syndrome because it is a conglomeration or group of symptoms and cannot be diagnosed by a single type of test.

I have heard of several tests that can make it much easier to get diagnoses, but even then you may struggle to get diagnosed.

I personally have done an ECG/EKG, as well as a 24hr holter monitor (basically 24hr EKG), and a huge amount of blood tests. At home, I have done a number of tests (specific and random) of both my blood pressure AND my heartrate. This is how I found out that I have abnormal BP and HR.

There was an issue with the day I got the 24hr test done, as I became ill (from doing laundry) and had to lay down for the MAJORITY of the 24 hours. As a result they did not see the tachycardia in the way we needed it to be seen (aka I wasn't standing up enough to get the results to prove the tachycardia).

I have literal videos and pictures PROVING that I have tachycardia and what we believe to be orthostatic intolerance (but could be hypotension....we highly doubt that though). The doctors ignore it because I DID IT. They however will not do the STRICT testing required to prove it. They also won't refer me to the departments required to test these issues.

I was literally sent home with some "homework" by the nurse to get current vitals all weekend long and email them in to prove the issue and request a referral to the blood pressure clinic. Today I spent 40 mins doing this so far. It will actually take longer later today when I do it again because I need to start with laying down for an hour.

Generally you spend 20 mins to do this 'test', but I have to do the version that is comparable to a tilt table test, as my doctors have refused time and time again to give me the test to prove if I have or have not been passing out. Yep, you read that correctly. It turns out I very likely have been passing out for very brief amounts of time but have no way to confirm without tests LIKE a tilt table test.

I'm not the best at working quotes in so take a look at it then I will discuss more.

"Results showed that standing after being supine for 1 hour was at least as good as 10-minute tilt; longer tilts introduced excessive numbers of false positives. Standing HR and BP measurements were taken at 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes. Thus, standing tests for POTS requires previous supine rest. In our hands, >20 minutes is needed to reach fluid equilibrium."

Reference:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3639459/

This means the original test I was told to do (which took 20 mins) is not as accurate as this one. In the one I've done, which has MORE THAN PROVEN the issue, you lay down for 10 minutes, not 1 hour, take your laying BP, stand and immediately take your BP, wait 2 mins, take BP, wait 3 more mins, take BP, and wait the last 5 minutes to take your BP. Aside from the laying down BP these are done AT minutes 1, 3, 5, and 10 OF STANDING. Overall this is a 20 minute test. While trying to use it in place of a tilt table test you need to add an hour instead of 10 minutes, so it comes out to be 70 mins total.

Now take this morning for example:

I was already laying down for far over an hour since I was awake but not getting up yet (technically I got up a few hours prior to use the restroom and take care of the dog, but I immediately laid back down and multiple hours passes). I took my BP, then did the 10 mins of standing and took those BP's, then did the same thing but while laying for another 10 mins, and finally changed HOW I WAS LAYING to my usual laying position and did 2 in that position, 1 after initially moving and the other after 10 minutes.

So for A SINGLE one of these I spent 40 minutes, and later will have to ADD an hour onto that, JUST SO I CAN PROVE the thing the doctors are ignoring.

Now tell me how spending several hours A DAY on doing 'homework' for your doctor ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE is somehow not A FULL TIME JOB??? If you really thing it isn't you need to get off your high horse. Because this is real and a serious problem.

Disabled folks, like myself, are constantly being told we aren't doing enough or that we need to just try harder, or that we aren't worth it because we don't work, etc. BUT these people saying this cannot even begin to fathom what we go through on a daily basis or how much energy it would take them to simply do our 'homework' for the doctors. Literally, tell me you have a full time job that lets you take nearly 2 hour breaks on a frequent basis to check you BP or to test your heartrate, or to let you lay down and decompress (physically or mentally) or that lets you take frequent breaks for HOWEVER LONG YOU NEED, or that lets you call out sick FREQUENTLY, with anywhere from a decent notice to absolutely no notice, or even having to leave work early because you overestimated your capacity for the day.

Jobs like that DO NOT EXIST. They don't. There are small companies that may allow that, but that would be the one-off exception, and is certainly not easy to find. Jobs like streaming give you the flexibility for all of these accommodations and more, but does not provide you with medical, dental, or even a steady stable income.

So please for the love of all things good in this world, stop treating disabled people like we don't do enough. We shouldn't have to earn the right to EXISTING. We shouldn't have to PROVE that there is an issue to the people expected (and paid) to help us. We shouldn't have to beg for help because the rest of the world has turned their backs on us.

It's ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Be kind. Be understanding. Lend your ear if you cannot do anything else. We work harder than you will hopefully ever have to know.

Thank you all so much for reading this far into my post!!! I don't really feel comfortable with promoting myself but I will use the mental excuse that its almost my birthday so "just do it already FFS".

There are a few ways you can support me, both with and without paying a single cent!

My first link is going to be my throne, where you can safely buy me gifts that are delivered directly to my door! You can get me most kinds of things, and I do sometimes update it to contain alot of fun stuff (especially around holidays). I can received several very helpful health related gifts, and love that my community has shown a desire for my health to be improved in any way possible. This is very heartwarming and really makes me feel seen, heard, and appreciated. You can find anything from streaming stuff, health stuff, dog stuff, and fun stuff on my throne so feel free to browse. I also have some payout items that go to my throne balance for me to spend on whatever I want in case you can't make up your mind.

The second link is my carrd link, which contains a bit more information about me, as well as EVERY POSSIBLE LINK you could want to find to support me. This is where the free support comes in. If you follow me on my socials, youtube, or twitch you will be able to interact with me. As we all know, the world of social media and content creation requires people to interact with you and your content. I will be posting to youtube again soon, but as of right now my most active places are discord (where you can get health updates, live notifications, and just chat and chill with me), twitch (where I stream), and Twitter/X (where I am currently most familiar with posting things).

I appreciate alot of the little things and am unfortunately not the best at expressing it....but I try, and that is kind of the most important part. Again, thank you for reading this far, it really means alot to me.

[cumaeansibyl]

health and diet (not weight loss) stuff under cut. tl;dr I'm chronically ill now?

around about the time of the panini I started having a lot of fatigue and muscle soreness, and I thought to myself well, I've gotten quite sedentary and I'm stressed the hell out about everything all the time, that's probably what it is

I had a history of mild hypothyroidism but it seemed to have resolved itself around 2013, so I mentioned this to my doctor and she put thyroid testing in all my labs since then, but it was showing up as "subclinical" -- basically one number was normal and the other was high, which is not generally thought to produce symptoms

so I sought allergy testing and shots as another possibility (and learned I'm allergic to cats, lol) and I'm sure that's not not helping, like, I do feel somewhat less stuffy overall, but the fatigue persists

at my last regular blood test I finally hit the hypothyroidism threshold so they prescribed me some medication and also some more detailed followup testing after a month. which found that the medication was working but also that I have incredibly high levels of thyroid enzyme antibodies. which indicates that it's autoimmune (aka Hashimoto's) and also that, even with my thyroid producing the correct amount of things, my immune system is still attacking me. which quite neatly explains the fatigue and muscle soreness that's still persisting! (and also possibly the mild elevation in white blood cells that's been persistent in other tests)

so! Doc says she's seen this in other autoimmune thyroid patients, where the medication gives some relief to the primary symptoms, but there remains this other problem. And her first recommendation is an elimination diet to test the response to three common inflammatory foods: dairy, gluten, and refined sugar. So that's my next 3-6 months spoken for.

now if I'm honest I see a lot of that "inflammatory foods" business from the same kind of people who think the body's full of "toxins" requiring fancy expensive laxative potions to sluice out -- and also I'm sure that like, refined sugar isn't providing any health benefits, but I'm skeptical about the actual chemical differences between that and the "unrefined" stuff (yes I know there are many different sugars but how much difference does it reeeeaaaaallly make once it's in the body)

but as far as I know there's no like. antibody chelation protocols or whatever. so I have to give this a try because if it doesn't do anything then at least we know. I'm not super thrilled about having to go into "good foods vs bad foods" mode, which tends to take me into dark places pretty quickly, but I am hoping to focus more on "these are the good things I can eat lots of" instead of the alternative.

anyway this is requiring some cognitive reframing from "these are real symptoms but it's mainly stress and poor lifestyle choices" to "oh actually I'm sick and have been for some time" which, on the one hand it's incredibly affirming when your doctor says "yes, you do feel terrible and there's a reason!" but on the other hand, whew, that's a lot to take in actually.

(we won't talk about the times when i told myself "this is just how people feel and you're a whiny bastard for not handling it better" because I was mostly sure people don't just feel this bad all the time.)

anyway I only have to go dairy-free first, then take out gluten, and sugar goes last, so that shouldn't be bad -- Charles is lactose intolerant so we've already switched over to some non-dairy options. And I can sort of gradually phase out gluten-containing products as I use up the last of them. Anyone got any pasta recs? That's probably gonna be the heaviest lift for me.

[zuckarr]

1 year as a vegan 🌱 an honest overview

I'm a 30 year old woman, and I decided to go vegan in April 2022. I was never a vegetarian. I switched from an omnivorous diet to a plant-based diet overnight, and I have strictly adhered to the latter, with the only few exceptions being accidents.

I would like to write down how my journey as a vegan has been so far, what pros and cons I encountered and how my overall health was impacted. I intend to talk with my heart on my sleeve about everything and I am totally open to questions or clarifications. This post is nothing more than my own subjective, unique experience as a relatively new vegan person. However I won't be talking about the morality of veganism, nor the reasons why I decided to go vegan. I want to give voice to the bodily and mental changes I am going through instead, plus a few personal final thoughts.

I'd like to begin by stating that:

I have been taking several blood tests during the last year in order to keep track of the changes.

I have been taking vitamin B12 supplements as strongly recommended by every single doctor and veganism related website/source.

I have no prior sickness of any kind.

HEADACHES.

Headaches used to permeate my days before going vegan - so much that I had stopped noticing them (when bearable). During my first week as a vegan, the sudden disappearance of my headaches felt like a miracle. I would've never anticipated how life-changing that was. I was so used to my head pounding that the absence of the pain couldn't have gone unnoticed. I figured out I am intolerant to dairy, as countless others are, and yet I used to munch on cheese as my go-to comfort food... as countless others do.

BLOATING.

Bloating was probably also caused by my daily ingestion of dairy products, and was one of my body's cries for help. I did not feel bloated anymore once I started eating plant-based. The skin on my belly was softer at the touch and not as tense as before. People around me began asking if I had lost weight. I hadn't. It was just me deflating, lol.

SLEEP.

This is one of the most unexpected changes: I noticed I've been sleeping less, but better. I started waking up an hour or two earlier than usual, feeling well rested. Thanks to that, my days got longer, my mind got clearer, and my mood improved almost instantly.

ENERGY.

During the first weeks, I felt very energised. Must've been all of the vitamins suddenly filling my body! Who needs to get high when you can get the iron rush from a bunch of spinach, like good old Popeye taught us? Nevertheless, the energy sort of dissipated over time and I've been feeling pretty normal ever since.

POOP.

Oh no, it's poop talk! Fend yourselves, because I am not scared of being descriptive here. Long story short, I used to have frequent diarrhea before going vegan. Once again, my dairy intolerance most likely contributed to creating funny looking brown stuff. If I asked you how's your poop looking, what would you answer (assuming you wouldn't slap me)? And would you know what a healthy poop is supposed to look like? Welp, let's just say I've been proud of my toilet appointments since going vegan, because all I see are Pacha meme worthy sausages. Going to the loo is a happy time now, in comparison to the long minutes of agony spent with stomachache and funky smells.

FLATULENCE.

Can't have booty talk without mentioning the #1 cause of laughter among kids since the beginning of time! Farting is funny, but it is first and foremost the sign of a healthy gut. It takes a quick Google search to find out what farts truly are and why our bodies need to produce them. I confirm one of the most innocent prejudices against vegans - yes, we fart more than usual! But if you read into it, you'll only wish to do the same. Still, it is a largely acceptable change, and has not caused me any discomfort or unfortunate situations whatsoever.

CHOLESTEROL, IRON, PROTEIN, ETC.

Before going vegan, I had high cholesterol, high fibrinogen, low hemoglobin, low albumin, and a few other things that weren't importantly unbalanced. As aforementioned, I've taken several blood tests during the last year which showed ALL of the highs & lows quickly going back to normal. When I saw my cholesterol lower for the first time, I cried. I haven't had normal cholesterol for years, so, seeing that was nothing less than a miracle for me. As for my iron and protein, they increased! My fibrinogen was REALLY high, which could've resulted in a heart attack due to a vascular occlusion, but I don't risk that anymore. I cannot express how ecstatic I am to be considered medically healthy now. I wish somebody had told me earlier about the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

COOKING AND GROCERY SHOPPING.

I was never a big fan of cooking, because I was mostly just hungry all the time and I couldn't be bothered to prep meals or to even chop up vegetables. As a vegan though, I was kind of forced to look at recipes in the beginning - I was pretty lost and didn't know what to cook! Well, vegan cooking turned out to be much easier than I thought. I remember my first vegan grocery shopping experience: a whole new world opened up in the mall. I had never looked at the veggies and fruits and legumes and seeds and cereals section properly before! It was ENORMOUS! Boxes and bags and baskets of wonderfully colored food, most of it really cheap (especially legumes); with half of the money that I used to spend on cheese and meat, I had double the amount of food in my shopping cart and I was so ready to start cooking. The more I cooked, the quicker my cooking skills drastically improved and I have so much fucking fun in the kitchen now! I made countless vegan meals and cakes, loved by everybody (non-vegans asked for recipes more than once!), even by my mother! She used to slaughter chickens and had never baked a cake without eggs before, and yet, she admitted that this way of eating is fantastic and convenient. After a few months, she praised my hair and skin because it looks brighter and healthier. As a matter of fact, I feel nourished and full most of the time. Most importantly, I began to feel grateful and to think of food as a way of loving myself and nurturing my body, rather than a mere matter of taste.

SOCIETY.

The problem with being a vegan in a human society is... other people. It is always, undoubtedly other people who will come @ me with their weird, uncalled for, and rude anti-vegan claims as soon as somebody ELSE reveals that I am a vegan. I swear to god. I have no idea where we picked up the scenario of the 'annoying vegan' because the truth is actually the opposite... it is others who annoy ME... whenever they asked questions, I was happy to answer and explain stuff, because I genuinely thought that they were interested and would have liked learning something new, just like I would've felt if they had talked to me about something that they are passionate about. But nope, the real reason why most people asked me questions was to 'debunk' what I would say and feel like they won the argument. Even though it wasn't an argument at all. It wasn't long before I started noticing the patterns, the same old questions asked, the same rebuttals, over and over, in an endless cycle of going nowhere. So I simply learned how to differentiate the 'gotchas' from the rare, decent people who truly want to know more about veganism. As for going out and eating out, it wasn't as hard nor as expensive as I anticipated. We now live in a very vegan friendly time, there are vegan alternatives to basically everything. I feel extremely lucky to be a vegan now, because I can't even begin to imagine how hard it would've been years before.

PEACE OF MIND.

There is a duck pond nearby and I often take walks through it. Sometimes I sit on a bench, look at the beautiful birds and their dreamy plumage, and I... appreciate them. Not for their meat, like I used to. I can't even fathom seeing those creatures as food now. I appreciate them as individuals, who dream, love, dance, think, sleep, bond with their kin... I feel at peace with animals and nature on a whole other level. I realized how wrong it felt to eat a steak and then pet my dog. I learned so much about animal agriculture, nutrition, human rights, environmentalism… and I have so much more to learn yet. It takes one heartfelt glance into an animal's eyes, to be reminded that we are all the same. I am honored to get to choose not to be cruel to them.

[jeneelestrange]

I see a lot of chronic illness people going to like, the scariest possible disgnoses without ruling shit out, which I GET BELIEVE ME because your body is screaming that it’s on fire and like two hundred years ago any of these things might have killed us but like……I’m more and more convinced a surprising amount of the time the answer boils down to a crack in the system from the fact that doctors have the least amount of training in nutrition and sussing out malabsorption/food allergies/intolerances, and even then, doing it is a BITCH and can’t be done in five minutes by throwing a pill at it, which insurance companies hate. Like, these have to be things we’re not testing or really looking into often or aren’t easy to look into.

Your heart’s fucking up? Ok, every doctor’s got a minimum of 100 hours on that. Nutrition issue? 25 hours. A lot of schools don’t even meet that and are suss on how they even count that. And don’t even get me started on nutrition RESEARCH which is the red headed stepchild and long story short there’s a long-winded reason why it feels like one year you’ll hear something like “Blueberries cause cancer!!!!” and “Blueberries cure cancer!!!!” the next and even a lot of the basics are built on pretty hnghhhhh suss shit but ANYWAY.

Think about it—if you are not absorbing a nutrient, you’re going to have symptoms that affect YOUR ENTIRE BODY. BELIEVE ME, I have confirmed four of them, and incredibly likely a fifth. Many of them cause anxiety, depression, fatigue, and believe me, it’s DEBILITATING(fyi if you look it up and have a LOT of anemia symptoms but your CBC is always normal, you may have too much folic acid for reasons I won’t get into for brevity and that hides it on the CBC—insist on a homocysteine blood test, if you have high cholesterol like just about every adult ever the doctor can use the ICD-10 code 78.00–certain countries like America also just have much lower standards for B12 for like, I don’t even know what reason even though the WHO has recommended the international standard be set to that of where Europe and Japan is at—ask me how I know all this hahaha 🙃). And if your doctor is shitty—depression, anxiety, and fatigue no matter how outrageous just gets you an SSRI consistently only.

And if you’re a fat woman and the deficiencies make you anxious and depressed? God help you. God. Help. You. They are looking for weight loss and even if they know micronutrients exist and would NOT cause that hmmmm or you could just have IBS and have depression and need to calm down, right? I could tell my GI doctor had only read the top sheet of my progress notes with the GI symptoms only and was probably like “abdominal pain lol” because unfortunately people in this office had a tendency to do that and then immediately stick their foot in their mouth. I told him I was concerned about malabsorption issues and he said, “But why? People with that are usually skin and bones.” I just paused aghast for a moment and said, “I have four vitamin deficiencies????? Three of them are different forms of anemia????? Might even have a fifth one but I’m not that interested in getting off magnesium for a month and getting full body cramps, migraines, and muscle twitches again for a blood test that isn’t very accurate.” I have never seen someone so quickly read a chart and say, “Well you’ve convinced me!!! Let’s schedule a colonoscopy!!!” and try to get out of the room.

You have to check off all the little weird shit your body is doing for the record so they can’t say they didn’t know, yes, the weird bruises that you don’t know where they come from, yes, the nosebleeds, everything. I used to be really butthurt about the diagnosis of fibromyalgia until I realized there’s very few ICD-10 codes that can be used to test for vitamin-D deficiency, so unfortunately some things are about getting us the best care in a broken system.

[laces-and-pearls]

I went to a hospital today and took a blood test to see if I have lactose intolerance for sure. I might have it, according to studies, 48% of people in my country have it after they are 20-25, and it also appears more often in the people who were fed by formula when they were newborns. I was born in the late hungry 90s, and mum didn't have milk because of stress and little food, so I was a formula baby while my other three siblings were fed by breastmilk. If it's true that I'm lactose intolerant, I'll start searching for solutions to deal with it. I'll have to wait two weeks, though, it's a long genetic test.

[ilshospitalskolkata]

When should I see a gastroenterologist?

Digestive health plays a vital role in overall well-being, and any persistent issues with your stomach, intestines, or liver should not be ignored. A Gastroenterologist in Dumdum specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system, including acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), liver diseases, and more. But how do you know when it’s time to see a specialist? Here are some key signs and symptoms that indicate you should consult a gastroenterologist.

Signs You Should See a Gastroenterologist

1. Persistent Heartburn or Acid Reflux

Occasional heartburn is common, but if you experience frequent acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a gastroenterologist can help with effective treatment options. Long-term reflux can damage the esophagus, leading to complications like Barrett’s esophagus.

2. Chronic Abdominal Pain

If you have persistent or severe stomach pain, bloating, or cramping that lasts for weeks, it could be a sign of ulcers, gallstones, Crohn’s disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Consulting a Gastroenterologist in Dumdum can help identify the cause and provide the right treatment.

3. Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)

Trouble swallowing food or liquids could indicate an esophageal disorder, narrowing of the esophagus, or even an underlying neurological condition. A gastroenterologist can perform tests such as an endoscopy to diagnose and treat the issue.

4. Unexplained Weight Loss

If you are losing weight rapidly without any changes in diet or lifestyle, it could be due to digestive disorders, celiac disease, or even gastrointestinal cancers. A gastroenterologist can help determine the underlying cause.

5. Blood in Stool or Changes in Bowel Habits

Bloody stools, black stools, constipation, diarrhea, or changes in bowel habits lasting more than a few weeks should not be ignored. These symptoms may indicate colorectal cancer, hemorrhoids, or infections, requiring immediate medical attention.

6. Jaundice or Liver Issues

Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), excessive fatigue, and swelling in the abdomen could indicate liver disease, hepatitis, or cirrhosis. A gastroenterologist specializes in liver health and can recommend the best course of treatment.

7. Frequent Bloating and Gas

Occasional bloating is normal, but persistent bloating, excessive gas, and stomach discomfort can be a sign of food intolerances, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or gastrointestinal disorders.

8. Family History of Digestive Disorders

If you have a family history of colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, regular screenings and check-ups with a gastroenterologist are essential to detect issues early and prevent complications.

Top Hospitals for Gastroenterology in Dumdum

1. ILS Hospitals, Dumdum

A leading multi-specialty hospital, ILS Hospitals in Dumdum offers advanced endoscopic procedures, liver disease treatments, and comprehensive digestive care. Their expert team of gastroenterologists provides personalized treatment plans for patients.

2. Columbia Asia Hospital, Salt Lake

Columbia Asia Hospital is known for its specialized gastroenterology department, offering treatments for GERD, liver diseases, pancreatic disorders, and GI cancers.

3. AMRI Hospital, Salt Lake

AMRI Hospital provides cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services for digestive disorders, including colonoscopy, endoscopy, and liver disease management.

Conclusion

If you're experiencing persistent digestive issues, abdominal pain, acid reflux, or unexplained weight loss, consulting a Gastroenterologist in Dumdum is essential. ILS Hospitals, Columbia Asia Hospital, and AMRI Hospital offer top-notch gastroenterology services, ensuring expert diagnosis and treatment. Early consultation can prevent complications and help maintain optimal digestive health.

[medicaljournal1]

Understanding the Role of a Gastroenterologist in Dubai: Importance of Digestive Health

Dubai, a city known for its modern lifestyle and diverse culinary culture, is home to a growing demand for specialized healthcare services, including gastroenterology. With an increasing number of residents experiencing digestive health concerns due to dietary habits, stress, and lifestyle choices, seeking the expertise of a gastroenterologist Dubai has become essential. Gastroenterologists are medical professionals specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of digestive system disorders, ensuring that patients maintain optimal gut health.

The Importance of Digestive Health

The digestive system plays a crucial role in overall well-being, impacting nutrient absorption, immunity, and metabolic functions. A well-functioning digestive system ensures the body receives essential nutrients while effectively eliminating waste. Poor digestive health, on the other hand, can lead to discomfort, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, and liver disorders.

Many factors contribute to digestive health issues, including:

Dietary choices: High consumption of processed foods, fatty meals, and low-fiber diets.

Stress and lifestyle: Fast-paced urban living can lead to irregular eating habits and stress-induced gastrointestinal disorders.

Hydration levels: Inadequate water intake can result in constipation and bloating.

Underlying medical conditions: Conditions such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease, or gastrointestinal infections can impact digestion.

A gastroenterologist in Dubai can help identify these issues and provide tailored solutions to improve digestive well-being.

Common Digestive Disorders Treated by Gastroenterologists

Gastroenterologists specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of digestive conditions, including:

1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is a common condition characterized by chronic acid reflux, leading to symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and discomfort. Untreated GERD can result in complications such as esophageal ulcers or Barrett’s esophagus.

2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS affects the large intestine, causing symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. A gastroenterologist can recommend dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and medications to manage the condition effectively.

3. Liver Diseases

Hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis are among the liver-related disorders that require specialized medical attention. Dubai’s healthcare infrastructure offers advanced diagnostic and treatment options for liver-related conditions.

4. Peptic Ulcer Disease

Ulcers in the stomach or duodenum can cause severe pain, nausea, and digestive disturbances. Gastroenterologists can diagnose the cause of ulcers and provide treatment plans, including medications and lifestyle adjustments.

5. Colorectal Conditions

From polyps and hemorrhoids to colon cancer screenings, gastroenterologists conduct colonoscopies and other diagnostic tests to ensure early detection and treatment of colorectal issues.

When to See a Gastroenterologist in Dubai

Individuals should consult a gastroenterologist if they experience persistent digestive symptoms, such as:

Chronic abdominal pain or discomfort

Frequent bloating or gas

Sudden or unexplained weight loss

Difficulty swallowing

Blood in stool

Prolonged diarrhea or constipation

Early intervention can prevent minor digestive issues from developing into more severe conditions.

The Advancements in Gastroenterology Care in Dubai

Dubai’s medical sector is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, offering advanced diagnostic and treatment methods in gastroenterology. Some of the latest advancements include:

1. Endoscopy and Colonoscopy

These minimally invasive procedures allow gastroenterologists to examine the digestive tract in detail, aiding in the early detection of abnormalities.

2. Capsule Endoscopy

Patients swallow a small camera capsule that captures images of the gastrointestinal tract, helping diagnose conditions that traditional methods may miss.

3. Liver Fibroscan

This non-invasive diagnostic tool assesses liver fibrosis and helps in the early detection of liver diseases.

4. Advanced Treatment for Acid Reflux

New surgical techniques and medications offer effective, long-term relief for GERD and acid reflux patients.

For more information, you can also read:

10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Digestive Health in Dubai

How to Maintain a Healthy Digestive System

Prevention is always better than cure. Adopting a digestive-friendly lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disorders. Here are some expert-recommended tips:

Eat a Balanced Diet: Incorporate fiber-rich foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats while reducing processed foods and excessive sugar intake.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water aids digestion and prevents constipation.

Exercise Regularly: Physical activity promotes gut motility and overall digestive health.

Manage Stress: Practices such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help reduce stress-related digestive issues.

Regular Check-Ups: Routine screenings and check-ups with a gastroenterologist in Dubai can help detect potential issues early.

Conclusion

Maintaining good digestive health is crucial for overall well-being, and seeking expert medical advice when needed is a proactive step toward a healthier life. Dubai offers world-class healthcare facilities, ensuring that residents have access to top-tier gastroenterology services. Whether you’re experiencing persistent digestive discomfort or looking to optimize your gut health, consulting a skilled gastroenterologist in Dubai can provide the necessary guidance and treatment. Prioritizing digestive wellness today can lead to a healthier, more comfortable future.