Couch 221: Definitely Spam!

Then maybe for reducing soda, you could also try flavored seltzer or flavored sparkling water. That helped me, as the fizziness was part of the appeal for me. But if the Crystal Light is working, stick with that!

How quickly would you see an md/urgent care box health place for intestinal distress?
1. after a week or two if it hadn't cleared up
2. A few months
3. 4 years
4. Wait more than 4 years to see if it seems serious rather than merely annoying.

I know the pollster’s lot is not an easy one, but 4 is not exclusive of the others.

I’m a 1 if it’s constant. A 2 if it’s intermittent GI distress.

I clarified 4.
Hm - so 4 years or so would not be in your top choices if it was mostly constant but seeming to get a little worse?
I figure after 4 years if I wasn't dead it must not be that big of a deal - but it is more completely constant over the last couple of months. I don't like to rush into assuming it is serious.

Depends on which kind of distress it is and how much it's impacting my daily life. Probably 1, but maybe 2 because I tend to avoid going to the doctor unless it's necessary. I doubt I'd wait 4 years though.

The therapists got to me with the “listen to your body” stuff.

My parents’ attitude was always wait and see, but not wait and see for years. Couple months, tops.

I stress ate leftover halloween candy last night. Thank goodness it's almost gone now. Actually it's probably all gone I'm sure h got into it while I was doing my class! One good thing about having class 2 nights a week is that it takes all of my attention so I'm safe from stress eating those 2 nights. I don't stay up long after class ends at 9:30 pm. I am tonight cuz I'm off work tomorrow woohoo!

They could say 9 out of 10 pokemon endorse this product and it would be more meaningful.

I would tell everyone one but for myself it would most likely be two unless I was in a lot of pain.

2. A few months. If it is just a chronic issue, they'll let you know and offer suggestions to deal with it. 4 years is way too long. I have chronic intestinal issues but it has been confirmed they are just my lot in life post gallbladder removal. BUT, I also have two immediate relatives who had colon cancer, so I follow the instructions of my GI doc and do my colonoscopy every couple of years. My mother went from mild distress to dead from colon cancer in 3 months. Not something to let go blindly.

If it's nearly constant, I'd get it checked out. Could be something like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. Or you may have just become lactose intolerant intolerant of something else in your diet. Or could be stress. Or possibly the c-word, if that's what you're referencing in terms of "serious." Or maybe you just need probiotics or different probiotics.

I hate that it’s so hard for me to fill my days. It makes me feel pathetic.

I'm with you, Chihiro. I'm trying to talk myself out of buying a Nintendo Switch Lite to play Animal Crossing.

What kind of stuff do you like doing in general?

Puzzles, knitting, painting maybe learning photography. I think having a schedule would help structure your day.

You're also allowed to have days where you just watch movies.

Maybe it would be worth it if it would help distract you? I bought the SIMS 4 and spent more than 28 hours playing.

H and I play a computer game to distract ourselves. I also play Toon Blast on my phone. And when I injured my knee, he got me hooked on Oblivion. Loved that game.

Here are pics from out in the desert yesterday. I didn't take as many as usual because I was just really enjoying the relaxation effect!

I love the tree in the first one, Artie.
And there's so much space! (I know it's kind of in the concept, but I'm not sure what I think about when I think desert.)

Nice pics, Artie!

DOOOOO IT! It's very relaxing! And what other video game has an art museum?! (Okay, I can think of one or two other ones, but STILL!)

I have played for 380 hours, and I have zero regrets.

I went to Target last night to get some cards, a birthday card and a sympathy card. Of course I checked out their holiday section. I ended up getting some wrapping paper. One with llamas on it. And another one with cat mermaids! I think I'm in love! Cat mermaids! LOL! So cute!

My real life cat Esther has a vet appointment today at 11:30 AM to get her blood sugar checked. My Dad is taking her as I am working. I'm not super nervous because she seems to be doing so much better than last week. I just hope it goes well and my Dad is able to get her into the carrier and everything okay. I got the carrier out this morning and put a towel in it for her so it would be room temperature when he goes to put her in it.

That's only 15, almost 16 days.

But the real question is, have you spent more or less time in therapy than that?

I'm getting a migraine. I turned off the lights in my office, except (don't judge) the lights on the small Christmas tree I put up in my office. Those lights look beautiful. I shut the blinds too so it's pretty dark in here.

I'm presenting a case for my fellowship tonight and I'm weirdly a little nervous. I'm usually comfortable with public speaking (especially over Zoom where you're not even in the same room as your audience), but since I'm the one weirdo non-psych-person doing the fellowship and have never presented a case in this way I'm afraid I'm going to do something wrong.

The good news is that both of the instructors for the class were kind enough to look over my work earlier in the week and were really excited about it, which made me feel loads better. They are both so nice and supportive. One of them even said that I was a "gift" to the class, and brought a lot to class discussions which made me all warm and fuzzy.