IBS-C

Hello, @livefully This is such a beautiful story about your journey with Mayo Clinic and the specialist who gave you the greatest gift of hope with that rock…to believe. I have tears and goosebumps. I share your overwhelming sense that everything will be ok when I’m in the hands of the incredible medical teams at Mayo Clinic. I never lost one moment of sleep once I was delivered safely into their hands. The collaboration between doctors and departments, achieved with a sense of camaraderie instead of chest thumping, is truly special. It gives us the best of the best all working together to find solutions for a positive outcome.

As for giving all the credit to your amazing family, doctors and therapist, you do yourself a disservice because as much as they lifted, supported, and carried you, your own sprit of endurance kept you going through years of adversity. You’re very strong and resilient and need to realize how capable you are. And as for the books…I hope you give that some consideration. You’re a powerful writer.

I’m sorry that I can’t help much with personal experience with Jacksonville, My campus is Rochester. But feel the same way you do about it being a mini vacation. I had to relocate there with my husband for 4 months with my transplant. So we got very familiar with the campus and the beautiful city and visit now, every 3 months. I’ll be heading there this Monday for a full day appointments and tests to celebrate my 2nd re-birthday. ☺️

This is a link to our Connect discussion group about Jacksonville.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lodging-in-jacksonville-fl/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida
When is your next visit to Mayo?

Ok..first don't laugh at this because it DOES sound funny. Also this is NOT a commerical. This is my own personal experience.

I was just in the bathroom and a light bulb went on. I should tell you all about...wait for it (and don't laugh)...the Squatty Potty. Oh gosh even I'm sitting here laughing. Why the heck did they name it that. Here's the story. I was in a having a LOT of problems with IBS with constipation. I had had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy and the doctor was touting fiber with a little advice about diet. Ok...so there I was trying to get myself so I could go to the bathroom without straining really hard and causing other problems. I discovered fiber was not for me but MiraLAX/ClearLAX worked well but still there was quite a bit of straining.

One night my husband and I were channel surfing looking for something to watch when we saw this crazy product on a program called "Shark Tank". These people had come up with a foot stool that wraps around the base of your toilet so it's not in the way. When you want to have a bowel movement you just pull it out and put your feet up on it. I hope I use the write terms to describe this correctly.They showed a diagram of how there's a bend in the lower end of your colon that your stool (note the foot stool...the poop stool) has to maneuver before evacuating. They said by putting your feet up you straighten that bend out so your stool can more easily just slide out. I watched and thought it was hype but they started giving some medical info and my husband said I should do a little research and check it out. By the way...the blonde chick on that show became partners with them and they're making a killing now on those foot stools.

First I went to Amazon to see if they were sold there and they were. I started reading reviews written by recent verified purchasers ONLY. The numerous reviews were very positive. It was being sold as an Amazon Prime item so I knew I had nothing to lose. If I didn't like it I could return it free of charge. After a little more research I decided to try it. OMG....IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!! It was amazing. At the time I first tried it, I was having bowel movements. It's just it was kind of hard to get them out. I put my feet up on that stool as directed and within a minute or so I was done without straining. I yelled to my husband..."honey, you won't believe it. I just pooped and it didn't hurt"....lol. I've been using it ever since and wouldn't be without it. Now this stool does NOT keep you from getting constipated. That's diet and the things your doctor tells you to do. This just makes it SO much easier to go. I don't strain any more. I HIGHLY recommend anyone with bowel issues tries one of these things. It's so worth every penny.