Good job Sara Marie! I love that you posted this! I hope you create a journal for your J-pouch adventure I do the same for my ostomy adventures lol

Thanks!  It's hard to keep track.  I have a regular journal and I should probably have a food/supplement journal too!  I'd have to put something on the calendar to make sure it happened...and even then not so sure. 

@Sara Marie posted:

Thanks!  It's hard to keep track.  I have a regular journal and I should probably have a food/supplement journal too!  I'd have to put something on the calendar to make sure it happened...and even then not so sure.

Do you ever put your J-pouch thoughts/life in your regular journal?

Sometimes I do, depending on what is going on.  I am able to use the journal for reference sometimes, like when I'm trying to figure out a pattern.  Last thing I learned: smoking cigarettes makes my hemorrhoids hurt!

@Sara Marie posted:

Sometimes I do, depending on what is going on.  I am able to use the journal for reference sometimes, like when I'm trying to figure out a pattern.  Last thing I learned: smoking cigarettes makes my hemorrhoids hurt!

Oh that is so cool! Are you on your first journal? Or do you have plenty of them that you filled out?

Did you quit cigarettes? And are the doctors going to leave the hemorrhoids there for now?

I started a journal in earnest during the pandemic to help ground myself. I then started writing with my non-dominant hand and have been doing that for a few years. It's really surprising how different my hand writing is with the left vs. the right. I have several notebooks full of entries. If it were strictly a food/supplement/medicine journal it would make more sense to do it electronically, but I write about whatever and it feels more right to do it with pen and paper. Something about that is much more grounding that typing while looking at a lighted glowing vibrating box.

I used to smoke cigarettes regularly, but now I just do it occasionally. It's really gross and highly toxic, as everyone knows!  It's one of the most carcinogenic things a person can do and the data is unquestionable.

The docs said there was a particularly annoying external hemorrhoid they could remove in office when I talked to them after my pouchoscopy, as my husband and I both understood.  But then when I tried to confirm this, they said they'd only remove the skin tag this way (which would be useless because the hemorrhoid creates the skin tag when it swells up and it would just make another one), and that any hemorrhoid surgery has a long and painful recovery time and no guarantees that they won't come back.  So I think I'm going to check out pelvic floor therapy instead.  They wouldn't give me a reference to a PFT unless I go in, and when I tried to schedule and appointment, they didn't call me back and I keep forgetting to follow up.  Better do that before the incoming administration removes my access to health insurance and employment!

@Sara Marie posted:

I started a journal in earnest during the pandemic to help ground myself. I then started writing with my non-dominant hand and have been doing that for a few years. It's really surprising how different my hand writing is with the left vs. the right. I have several notebooks full of entries. If it were strictly a food/supplement/medicine journal it would make more sense to do it electronically, but I write about whatever and it feels more right to do it with pen and paper. Something about that is much more grounding that typing while looking at a lighted glowing vibrating box.

I used to smoke cigarettes regularly, but now I just do it occasionally. It's really gross and highly toxic, as everyone knows!  It's one of the most carcinogenic things a person can do and the data is unquestionable.

The docs said there was a particularly annoying external hemorrhoid they could remove in office when I talked to them after my pouchoscopy, as my husband and I both understood.  But then when I tried to confirm this, they said they'd only remove the skin tag this way (which would be useless because the hemorrhoid creates the skin tag when it swells up and it would just make another one), and that any hemorrhoid surgery has a long and painful recovery time and no guarantees that they won't come back.  So I think I'm going to check out pelvic floor therapy instead.  They wouldn't give me a reference to a PFT unless I go in, and when I tried to schedule and appointment, they didn't call me back and I keep forgetting to follow up.  Better do that before the incoming administration removes my access to health insurance and employment!

Oh that is pretty smart! I like how you journaled during the pandemic, I bet that helped with depression during that trying time period. And wow look at you being dominant with both hands! That is super cool. I like that you have many notebooks, now you can go back and look at your memories anytime you want, nothing better than that. Where do you keep the journals? Do you decorate your journals and date the entries? And do you title anything with it with a topic?

Do you think you will ever quit cigarettes?

Yeah that makes sense. Sometimes you have to stay on doctors, they are not good at calling back and its unfortunate! Do you think you may call them before Christmas?

I just emailed the doctor this morning and I haven't heard back yet, but I hope I will soon!  This conversation helped me remember to do that, so thank you!

I guess I think of myself as having quit cigarettes since it's not habitual.  I used to have them around all the time and smoke them every day and that's when I thought of myself as a smoker.  Now I don't keep them in the house.  If I smoke, it's strictly OPC (other people's cigarettes).

I date the entries.  I thought that was mandatory with journal writing!  I don't decorate usually-though every once in a while I might do a little stick figure type drawing or smiley or frownie face.  I do it first thing each morning, while drinking my morning tea.  It's a nice habit, unlike smoking, which is definitely a gross habit! 

@Sara Marie posted:

I just emailed the doctor this morning and I haven't heard back yet, but I hope I will soon!  This conversation helped me remember to do that, so thank you!

I guess I think of myself as having quit cigarettes since it's not habitual.  I used to have them around all the time and smoke them every day and that's when I thought of myself as a smoker.  Now I don't keep them in the house.  If I smoke, it's strictly OPC (other people's cigarettes).

I date the entries.  I thought that was mandatory with journal writing!  I don't decorate usually-though every once in a while I might do a little stick figure type drawing or smiley or frownie face.  I do it first thing each morning, while drinking my morning tea.  It's a nice habit, unlike smoking, which is definitely a gross habit!

Oh good! I am happy you emailed the doctor, I hope he gets back in touch with you. Honestly calling may be better, but you know your doctor more than I do.

Oh good, with OPC, how often is that?

Perfect! I am glad your dating entries, I was not sure if everyone dates their entries- I think its important to date them so you can see how far you have come for sure. I am glad you are doing that! Where do you keep your journals? Bookshelf? And it sounds very peaceful to journal while drinking tea first thing in the morning. And yeah, the smoke smells bad too- whenever I smell it, I need to get away haha.