Politics and Cheese Sandwiches

A little while ago I was browsing the political blogs (I’m addicted to politics) and thinking about cheese-on-toast. We’ve got some great sliced sourdough French bread and it tastes like heaven toasted and topped with melted mozzarella. But I’ve had breakfast — so where would the cheese-on-toast fit? I’m pretty sure it would be both eating between meals AND taking seconds . . .

Then I remembered that I hadn’t taken the fiber supplement yet, so I got up and had a heaping teaspoon of fiber in a glass of water instead. **

Everyday for several months I’ve mentioned that I’m taking a fiber supplement. But I’ve never really explained it. And it’s only recently that I’ve talked about it to even family and friends. It’s not the easiest thing to talk about. But I’m committed to talking about the effects of obesity on my life. And I’m equally committed to sharing information about the changes I’ve made that are critical to my health and well-being.

But I promised you the Way Out of the Bathroom

Here’s the thing: in common with many obese people, I’ve got hemorrhoids.

Early this last summer, I went to a colorectal surgeon to ask about hemorrhoid surgery. It’s mortifying to report that my life was so diminished by the horror of bleeding hemorrhoids that I didn’t think I had any other choice but surgery. And after an examination, the doctor agreed. [MORE]

Also, I told him I’d had chronic diarrhea for about a year which I thought was due to the Metformin I take for diabetes. And he said that chronic diarrhea was totally unacceptable and very likely the cause of the escalation of my hemorrhoid miseries. I’d been thinking the opposite, that things would be worse if it wasn’t for the diarrhea, but I was totally wrong!

To manage the diarrhea and as preparation for the surgery, he advised me to take this fiber supplement, Konsyl. He said that it solidifies loose stool and softens hard stool. “Well, OK,” I thought. And I’ve been taking it twice a day ever since.

The diarrhea stopped immediately and as you’d expect from all the ads for fiber supplements, I’m totally ‘regular.’ But that’s not the exciting news, I wouldn’t be writing about just that.

The thing is, after a month or so, the bleeding totally stopped. It took me months, really — months — to acknowledge it. And it’s only very recently that I’ve started living my life like I’m counting on normalcy. And I will go back to the doctor and ask, “Can I just not have the surgery?”

Surgery? Who needs surgery?

Because I really think (remember, I’m not a doctor) the fiber supplement made hemorrhoid surgery unnecessary. So that’s the best thing. I’ve never heard anything good about that procedure and I’m thrilled to think I won’t have to go through it. I’ll be going to the doctor to confirm my improvement. But, I’m pretty sure of the decision.

I don’t know if this is a subject anyone else wants to discuss in an open forum. But (especially if this is something you’ve gone through yourself) I’d be interested to hear what you think.

** You might think I’d feel a little resentment about the tradeoff. But if I really want cheese-on-toast, I can have it later for lunch or tomorrow for breakfast. And if I really, really wanted it — I could have had it for breakfast today. But I didn’t — and that says it all.

[Coming soon: The Way Out of the Bathroom, part II. The cosmetic improvements]