Double Baggin it

This last week I joined the double baggers.
4 years come January I had a urostomy done. Since then I have been taking in as much as possible, only simple unprocessed food. I have used, as far as possible only herbal remedies, and by that I mean stuff I can find mostly in my kitchen.
Turmeric tea, and Jamaican dogwood have been my principle pain relief for my spinal injury: MAGIC.
In those 4 years I have only had one urinary tract infection, and that was in the first couple of months.

Just Woke Up

In the summer the surgeon agreed all other avenues had been explored, the time had come for another diversion: this time the bowel.
On the morning of the operation the surgeon had trouble getting a working vein, so I was put to sleep via gas. 2 1/2hrs later I woke up feeling like a decorated Christmas tree. Instead of the usual white gauge patches on the failed needle sites I had 7 bright green ones. There was a blue cannula looking like baubles hanging off one arm and red allergy bands, and white identity bands on both wrists, looked like the tinsel. I even had stockings under the tree lol. I don't do Christmas someone was having a laugh.
As you can see my lifestyle paid off, concentrated doses of super foods in the run up to this had me bounce out of it within hours. I was fortunate in that it could be done by keyhole surgery. Little scarring on that side so no need for a gaping hole that would form another zip line down the front, Just a couple of extra punctures closed with the dreaded staples.
Again there was little pain relief after the first few hours, aside from paracetamol and my turmeric tea.
Stoma number 2 was named by the following morning. She had a cavernous mouth and knows how to blow, so it had to be Jonah the whale (I know it's a boys name; but I don't care).

Jonah

I had to stay in an extra day as the doctor came round so early I hadn't had chance to prove I could care for my new appendage. I got out in 3 days instead of 5: result!! Not bad going for an old bird who hits 60 next year.
Jonah is so cavernous the nurse had to bring some convex bags out to me today, as yesterday I couldn't get a seal. 3 bags in as many hours. I'll give them emptyable bags, emptied between the skin and the glue I was well fed up, and skin sore. The bloating can get uncomfortable, It makes you look and feel 6 months pregnant.
Now I just have to wait for the stomach wall to heal so I can fully get on with life again.
Anyone else out there double baggin it?

Dec2021 Not 1 infection since end stoma placed: just a little emergency surgery 1 year on. I healed to well and virtually closed the stoma, making it un useable. I was reopened in short order; but skin sensitivity on the left side meant using copious amounts of glue remover until the last 12 months when it has finally calmed down. I have a small but noticeable hernia from having to move just three weeks after the surgery.  The hernia can cause some explosive leaks, because it peels the back off at times. Drinking at ;east 4 litres a day has played a large part in keeping me infection free. Double bagging it has given me back a lot of independence; although I cannot claim to have a fine body shape any more. How can you have a flat tum when you have 2 holes straight through yours stomach wall. Life carries on today and I can still wear a smile

So, It Can Change Your Entire Life

As I start writing this I am in total amazement. I personally know the benefits of turmeric. I use it instead of Ibuprofen (I am allergic to NSAI's), for a chronic spinal problem. I have been telling everyone I meet with a pain issue to try it; but few have.

I'm going to tell you about 1 young woman, whom having tried everything thing else, was at her wits end, and did try it.

Her periods had never been regular, and always so painful, it meant she rarely worked at least the 1st day of any menstrual cycle. She had tried every feminine pain product on the market, even seen the doctor a few times. Nothing worked for her. I had suggested a warming turmeric and ginger tea as pain relief a few times and nothing much came of it, as life and scepticism got in the way of her following it up. She has been with her current partner for over 13yrs and married him 2 1/2yrs ago. Immediately, they started positively trying for a family; but nothing happened. She had never taken contraception, as her partner used condoms. Only once in all those years had she taken a morning after pill, after a known accident, and in full knowledge that a baby would not be good at that time. There had been a few other accidents but none ever bore fruit.
In the winter months of 2015 she called me from a supermarket in agony. "What was that stuff you said I should try? Right now I'll give anything a go." I could hear the sobs she was trying to suppress. I told her "Ginger for the warming effect, and turmeric for the pain. Just add honey if you want to sweeten it to make the tea more palatable."

She drank the tea 2 -3 times a day while the pain was bad, then just 2-3 times a week for the next few weeks. The "grumbles" as she calls them would start up to a week before her period was due to start, so it was back on twice daily cups of this tea. The period was a lot easier, if not perfect.
She stuck with the tea through the next month, just a few times a week as the previous month. The period came and went as uncomfortable; but not painful.
By the 3rd month her cycle had settled into a regular pattern, Then the periods stopped.

Just after her 2nd wedding anniversary she announced she was pregnant. She is expecting her precious delivery in early spring.
Apart from being delighted for her, as she had waited many years for this, I thought nothing of it until she called for a chat today, and she laid the blame for the expected arrival square at my door. Mystified I asked how I was to blame. Her answer was simple.

I have been with my partner many years and nothing has happened, and I have seriously looked back to see what changed that I got pregnant when I did. My diet has remained the same, as has my lifestyle. the only thing that seemed to change everything was your tea. I settled quickly into regular periods and no sooner had that happened than I was pregnant, so you have to be responsible.

The Recipe
She used
1/2 level teaspoon dried turmeric
A little grated fresh ginger
Boiling water
Small tea cup or espresso cup

Put turmeric and ginger in the cup, and pour on the boiling water. Add honey if required, and stir.
Give close to 10mins soaking. Drink liquid. Leave sediment in the cup

If you have experiences with turmeric tea or turmeric, I would love to hear from you

Pain and Surgery

Well I missed most of autumn and winter. I disappeared into a black hole, having to face various assessments  for my physical safety. I was also facing degrading nerves in my back; which have been inflaming easier than before, and causing my legs to disappear with greater ease. I fall or have to grab something at least five times a day indoors now. The fall risk assessment team have banned me from walking outside the home as there is too much risk of falls causing more severe damage.
Pain has been the main issue to deal with as I am reactive to so many mainstream pain relievers. I have however found a few things that help greatly. Turmeric: just a teaspoon a day aids my body in overcoming inflammation. Now when inflammation challenges me, simple resting for a couple of days sees it off. 
Through the winter nerve pain became unbearable, to a point I was getting ready to take an epileptic drug and become a zombie to give me some kind of relief. Thankfully the universe helped me out as usual. On 1 of my many internet research expeditions I fell upon a page describing the effects of "Jamaican Dogwood". I immediately went in search of this stuff, found a source for the tincture and express ordered it. Its claims were Nervine and sedative.  I started using it somewhere around January 2013. I didn't dare take a full 20 drop dose as advised on the bottle, as sleep is not my problem, nerve pain very much is. The 1st night I took 10 drops, and slept the sleep of the dammed well into the next day, and was not fully with it for most of the rest of it. the next night I took just 5 drops. The following morning I actually woke feeling refreshed: incredible. Now 5 drops a night seemed to be the right dose for me at least for the time being. Within a week my husband noticed my body was not as restless: my arms and legs weren't flailing round all night exhausting me. I was getting to sleep easier because my legs no longer wanted to continue working of there own accord as soon as I relaxed. The Orphan leg syndrome was under control at last, that gave me reason to smile again. In March I had to have a test done under GA and was asked to stop taking my precious Jamaican dogwood 2wks before as no one knew what effect it would have on the anaesthetic. Within 4 days the pain I hadn't noticed go was back. I could barely put my feet on the floor for feeling I was walking on glass, and my back wouldn't move without screaming at me. As soon as the procedure was over I was back to my precious dogwood at 7/8 drops a night and am now taking less mainstrean pain relief. 


In this last month I had to have a small emergency operation after rescuing a stray cat that was so scared it crunched down on the base of my middle finger, immediately infecting it with whatever was in its facial abscess. That was 6pm in the evening, as I was moving it to an animal hospital. By 4am the next morning 21st May 2013 it was obvious there was severe damage. by 7am I was being x-rayed, and by 8.30am I knew my finger had to have surgical work to save the tendon. Within  another 5 minutes the 1st dose of intravenous antibiotics was hurriedly pumped into me. By 1.30pm the operation was over and I was awake. The good news, Jamaican Dogwood doesn't seem to have had any real adverse affects.
I am now close to normal use again although the surgical wounds have yet to finally heal. The hand therapist is very pleased with my rapid progress. just one more appointment to ensure my hand is regaining full strength.