Comparisons

[clevermanka]

Here's some side-by-side images to compare what I look like when I'm not having a inflammatory response to food (bottom images) versus what happens when I do (top images).



And no, I'm not pushing out or slouching in the first one, and no, I'm not flexing or sucking in for the second. I tried my best to retain a neutral posture in all photos so as to get an accurate representation for my medical file.

Notice how I even swell in back. This isn't gas or any sort of standard abdominal bloat caused by indigestion.

Oh! I should mention--these were taken eight days apart. The top pics after eating some restaurant food on March 26 and the bottom ones before having breakfast on April 3.

Good times.

Comments

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's really quite drastic. Do anti-inflamatories reduce it at all?

I keep seeing infommercials (peril of insomnia) about Nopalea, which is some cactus that is supposed to reduce inflammation all over, including in the digestive track. Might be worth looking in to.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Do you mean NSAIDs? I try to take those as little as possible. I certainly don't want to take some every time I eat. Goodbye, stomach lining!

This cactus thing sounds interesting, though. I'll do some research on that. Thank you for the suggestion!

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

I definitely wouldn't suggest taking them every time you eat. I was just curious as to what kind of effect they had re: the bloating.

Good luck. I'd love to see you not have to deal with this anymore.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I was just curious as to what kind of effect they had re: the bloating.

It's a really interesting question. Maybe I'll give restaurant food one more try next week (I'd sworn off it because of the problems) and see what happens. Would you recommend a few ibuprofen right before eating? Or should I take them, like fifteen minutes before eating so they have time to start working before the food hits my system.

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

In the vein of experimenting, I'd try them 15 min before eating and see what happens. At least it gives you something else to talk to your doctor about, when next you go in.

(Am not a doctor, of course, but can't see much harm in trying it once.)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I think I'll try this on Sunday. That way I can give the Aladdin's buffet a goodbye kiss. =/

[stuology.livejournal.com]

Just something that I changed on advice from my doctor. Ibuprofen never did much good for me until I was told to take over the counter in prescription dosage, so instead of taking the bottle recommendation of 400mg every four hours, I take 800mg every eight hours. His claim was that ibuprofen doesn't have much anti-inflammatory effect unless you take it at the higher dosage shot.

Since I changed that, ibuprofen actually *does* something for me.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

My doc told me to take 800mg twice a day to deal with my shoulder issues. Perpetually. After about six months, my stomach (and other soft tissues) was paying for it....

[stuology.livejournal.com]

I could imagine if you were taking it that long. I never used to take it at all because it didn't feel like it did anything. Now that it does, I take it for my really bad leg aches, and 800mg does the trick the first time now.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

Yes. I was told to take over the OTC dose and to keep a steady supply in my bloodstream for the anti-inflammatory effect.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Good advice! Thanks!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Dang. I tried taking the ibuprofen before eating at Aladdin Cafe on Sunday. Still blew up like a balloon. =( It was a good idea! =/

[nataliesee.livejournal.com]

Jeez. I've seen it happen and the photos are still shocking.

You win for fun times.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I see it up close and personal every time and the photos were shocking. I keep looking at them and thinking "holy shit that can't be real."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

Dude, that's creepy.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Seriously creepy. I mean, if I saw this in a magazine, I would totally think the bottom pics were 'shopped.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I totally get that you're not doing the "ooh lookee, before and after supah-fibah weight loss supplements" kind of pics.

If I've cheated and had a sammich, I get about the same results, although I haven't noticed the back. I'll see if I can document mine like that next time. The funny thing is also.. no weight change. It's weird, isn't it?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

you're not doing the "ooh lookee, before and after supah-fibah weight loss supplements" kind of pics.

Ha ha ha ha!!! I know! It totally looks like that, doesn't it? This happens even when I don't "cheat" anymore, though.

Major Suxxor.

[bluetourmaline.livejournal.com]

Eech, that's not fun.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

And I've been dealing with it for nearly three years now. It's awesome.

[shrijani.livejournal.com]

Sweet Jesus, how uncomfortable that must be! No wonder you are fucking off restaurant food. So, that is inflammation of your digestive system/surrounding tissues? :( I hope a remedy emerges!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's inflammation, not gas or water bloat. I am Very Much Ready for remedy, yes.