ginger candy saved my Christmas

[JenniferS]

First, I want to share a huge praise. I got to see my dad for Christmas. Which necessitated a 13 hour drive both ways. Honestly, the drive stunk. With my three doses of entercort and 8 Peptos a day, I was able to stay off the D, but I've developed the worse case of chronic nausea--been going on three weeks straight, pretty much all day every day. I've also experienced more cramping. I'm still sticking to a very plain diet--potatoes, a few overcooked veggies, and white fish.

Anyway, the second day in, having not eaten a lot due to the nausea and feeling like ill, we stopped at a health store and I asked the lady if she had anything for nausea. She led me to this bin with ginger cubes. I think they are candied. Anyway, I bought some and ate one cube, and within 10 min, the nausea had greatly subsided. About 20 min later, it was gone completely. It came back maybe an hour later, but I have begun to eat one cube of the ginger at various times throughout the day, and this morning, for the first time in, wow, I don't remember when, I woke up hungry! And with only minor cramping.

So, I thought maybe those of you dealing with nausea might be interested in hearing.

I've also found for me, trying to pinpoint why some days are worse than others...I seem to do better when I cook everything in olive oil. Meaning, instead of a plain baked potato (I never eat the skins), fried potatos. And I know fats are supposed to be bad, but for me, the olive oil seems very soothing on my gut. Or should I say, when I eat foods without olive oil, I get more cramps.

I would also like to add, this trip greatly increased my confidence for traveling. I survived. :) And have learned some things that will help the next trip. I'm a writer and have a conference I'd really like to go to at the end of Feb, if I feel well enough. Surviving this trip gave me hope that maybe I'll be able to.

Merry be-lated Christmas, all! And may God grant you health and energy!

[d'libarian]

The Lindblad/National Geographic cruise ships have baskets of ginger candy strategically placed for relief of sea sickness. It works for mild to moderate cases.

Thank you, JenniferS, for triggering memories of my DH's and my trip of a lifetime to celebrate our 25th!

le

[tex]

With my three doses of entercort and 8 Peptos a day, I was able to stay off the D, but I've developed the worse case of chronic nausea--been going on three weeks straight, pretty much all day every day. I've also experienced more cramping.

When I read that, my first thought was that you may be overdosing on the anti-inflammatories and anti-diarrheals, because that can cause excessively-reduced motility, resulting in nausea and/or cramps (IOW, constipation symptoms).

Or should I say, when I eat foods without olive oil, I get more cramps.

When I read that, it reinforced my original impression, because the lubricating quality of oils tend to increase motility, which would relieve nausea and/or cramps.

While there's nothing wrong with what you are currently doing (olive oil is very healthy), if I were in your shoes, I would probably try reducing the dosage of either the Entocort or the Pepto, or both, by about a third, to see how I responded.

Even if that doesn't work, and you find that you need the full dosages, at least now you know how to handle the situation when it really matters. By the end of February, making the trip to that conference should be almost as easy as a walk in the park.

I'm glad you were able to make the trip to see your dad for Christmas.

Tex

[tlras]

Wow...that's quite a long drive....but you did it!! So sorry about all the nausea. Very interesting about the ginger cubes.

I was thinking the same thing as Tex. I had some nausea with Pepto and now that I've been off of it, I no longer have it. (Had to pop some last night due to heartburn....dang potato salad.) I also cook everything in olive oil if at all possible. I stick with those healthy fats!

So glad you got to spend time with your Dad! Best of luck to you on your future road trips!

Terri

[JenniferS]

That's interesting, D'liberian! Makes sense! And regarding triggering memories, my pleasure. :)

Thanks, Tex,

I am worried about reducing the amount of entercort and pepto I am taking as I am barely solid--well, almost solid (BMs) with those doses and worry I will go back to frequent bathroom trips. :( I do noticef I get cramps whenever the D subsides, even if I don't have C. It's like my intestines just don't like food in them. (I haven't had C in years, like over ten, if then.)

Thanks for the encouragement regarding the trip in Feb!

Thank you, Terri!

[Gabes-Apg]

Jennifer
travelling with MC gets easier...

some oil in our diet is essential, the body needs a certain amount of good oil for digestion to occur.

re the ginger, i know people like Joe and someone else used fresh ginger to help with nausea.

figure out what works for you, it will take time for the gut to heal, keep nurturing it and sticking with the foods that work for you

[JenniferS]

Thanks, Gabes! I hope you (and everyone here) had a wonderful Christmas! And are gearing up for a fab-tabulous New Year!

[maestraz]

Jennifer,
I have never had problems with nausea or motion sickness in my life until after my LC diagnosis. I now keep ginger chewing gum in my purse, and I keep anti-nausea meds (both from CVS) in my medicine cabinet. I have recently had bouts of unexplained nausea and vertigo. In one maddening example, my husband and I set out to a movie, got on the highway, and had to turn around and go home because I was so nauseous.

The vertigo is baffling. For example, riding UP an escalator makes me feel incredibly dizzy and unsteady, like I'm going to topple over backward. But going down isn't bad, even though, in general, I don't like heights.

[Doug]

Ii have been taking Ginger slices for the past six months and it helps me when I get indigestion.