My family is trying to figure out where to go on vacation for thanksgiving. We’re all adults (66M, 57F, 31M, 30F, and 28F). We like beaches and nightlife and would like to stay in the US or US territories. I don’t believe budget is an issue so I’ll take any suggestions. Thank you!
I (28F) was recently diagnosed with MALS and am about to schedule laparoscopic surgery with my doctor.
Background: I have had bouts of nausea and vomiting so severe that I've had to stay in the hospital for days multiple times (twice in the past year alone). I get severely bloated when I eat to the point of feeling like there is an inflated balloon under the bottom of my sternum that causes pretty intense discomfort. Sometimes I can only stomach a few bites of food even when I've barely eaten in a couple of days and other times, I'm completely fine. My base pain/discomfort level on a daily basis without eating is at a consistent 3/10 but sometimes can go up to a 7-9 after food depending on the day. It's not terrible every day, but I still find myself extremely anxious before and during every meal, anticipating the possible pain/discomfort. My parents don't fully understand the hidden pain of this syndrome and aren't sold on surgery since I haven't had an episode that has sent me to the hospital in 5 months. I tried to explain that even though it hasn't been so bad recently, I am still perpetually uncomfortable (and ok at hiding it) and the constant anxiety of wondering how I'm going to feel after a meal and waiting for the other shoe to drop on an episode that will send me back to the hospital is exhausting.
I know this is ultimately a decision I need to make with my doctor, but my parents have made me second-guess whether I should go through with surgery soon or wait until I have another severe episode.
For anyone who has gone through MALS surgery and recovery, I’d really appreciate hearing anything about your personal experience. I know everyone’s experience is different, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.
- How long did recovery take? I know doctors give a general timeline, but in my experience, recovery often takes longer or looks different than expected.
- What was the hardest part about the process for you?
- Did the surgery actually help your symptoms? Did it address a couple of symptoms, but not all?
- Did your symptoms get worse post-surgery before they got better? If so, how long did it take before you noticed improvement?
- How did you prepare for surgery? If you did it over with the knowledge you have now, what would you have done differently?
- How long were you unable to work or do normal social activities?
- Ultimately, was the surgery worth it for you?
Thank you for reading all of this and taking the time to reply if you do. I'm just trying to weigh my options and figure out what would make sense for me right now.
I have quite a few health problems, diagnosed and undiagnosed, and was wondering if anyone could let me know if my birth chart has any health indications in it. It's been difficult and I just want to know any information anyone has to offer. Thank you!
