Preparing for Guest Posts

So, here at Renegade I am going to start focusing on a different point of view. The process of recovery can take years, I'm told. I'm entering year number 3 right now.
It's exhausting. Not only for me but for my family and my treatment providers. If I'm frustrated in recovery and hitting walls, can you imagine how my doctor must feel?

So, I'm going to start guest posts. My personal physician agreed to do a guest post. I just want to see things from her point of view as well. I'm really super excited about her posting!!

Recovery is not just about me. It impacts everyone. I'm hoping the posts by my guests will shed some light on the "other side".

Thanks for reading!

My Beautiful Life: Laying it Bare

Meagan is a great writer and makes so many valid points in what she shares. I love her selfless attitude about it all.

My Beautiful Life: Laying it Bare: "While I was at the Hotel California (intermountain) they are huge advocates of journaling. They gave me a journal and after using it for abo..."

Let's talk poop.

****go back if you're squeamish or easily offended. Consider yourself warned.****

Ok, let's talk about what you've been dying to know about: POOP! As an abuser of laxatives (well...formerly) I am plagued with....can you guess.....chronic constipation. Bad. My dietitian Rhonda said that that's the issue she first wants to tackle. Yep....here's to wishing for luck.

I did them for years. Off and on. There was a period, though, where I was doing 10 a day every day for about a month or so. I started bleeding. So I kept telling Dr Skinner what was going on. I can't remember if I told her about the laxatives. I think I did...anyway. As an introduction to my 30s I was given a colonoscopy. Happy Birthday? Have you ever had one?? I testify to this day I did the prep correctly. I drank that thick, horrendous junk. Gagged on it many times. It's like swallowing a THICK oil. Well, based on every other patient's experience, I should have been cleaned out over night!
Hellllllooooo?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, not me. Nothing happened with the prep and I began to get nervous the morning of the procedure. I will tell you just a few things about my experience:
1. I woke up very wet on my backside. Manual cleaning. Enough said. (yikes!!)
2. I love propofol. I don't remember a darn thing. Some of my friends work in surgery and were there.....they've got stuff on me now.
3. I was 30 years old. That shouldn't have had to happen.

I still can't really poop well. I'm 32 now. I am ingesting 2 tbsp of ground flaxseed in my yogurt every day. That seems to be doing something. I sure hope so. Chronic constipation is just one of the unfortunate consequences of an eating disorder. Laxatives are toxic to the body. Not to mention you start messing with all your electrolytes and body fluids. Dehydration big time baby!! Did I lose weight? Initially, yes, I did.
Did I gain it back? Oh yah. But now I am paying the price. Dr Skinner said it'll take a long time for my bowels to get back into proper working order. It could always be worse though.

I could have had part of my intestine removed and given a colostomy bag. Some days....when I go 1 or 2 weeks without any pooping (that's my norm) I wish I had a bag.
In reality....

I'm lucky. Chronic constipation is a small price to pay for all the damage I did.

Thanks for reading.

Upcoming

Coming soon.....time to dive in to the nittie gritties of recovery. The yuckies and nasties.
Get ready to behold a blog about poop!!!! We often don't think about the consequences..