We renovated our kitchen last year, so that area is pretty good, but the basement still has a bunch of unused stuff from moving everything down there - ugh! We also have a king size bed in the basement that older ds and his girlfriend use when they're here but, since younger ds is off to university and probably not moving back home, I made an executive decision to do some re-arranging of the bedrooms upstairs.... Younger ds' room will become older ds' room and I'm going to buy a queen size bed for that room. Older ds and his gf can sleep there when they're here. I will use older ds' bedroom as my office and that will keep my computer/coaching clutter out of our family room (hopefully). I'd like to get rid of the kingsize bed in the basement, but when younger ds comes home, he could sleep down there..... I did ask dh if he'd like to try to make a murphy bed in my new office, but he's not so sure of that. Maybe he'd do that in the basement..... Decisions, decisions... But, the room re-arranging is currently on hold because dh decided to order a closet organizing system for his walk-in closet, so all of his clothes are in younger ds' room, meaning the room switch has to wait a couple of weeks, but at least we have a plan to deal with it!

It might have been, but I'm not sure. I think I would have recognized and remembered his voice.... Trying to find something outside of the Overdrive system adds another layer of difficulty, doesn't it?

When we listened to Inkheart but it was narrated by a man, but I can't figure out who! Regardless, it is a great book (horrible movie though)!

Ugh. I thought that Jim Dale's narration ruined the HP books. We first heard him narrate the 'Peter and the Starcatchers' series, so all we could think was, 'No, that is Molly's/Peter's/xyz's voice!' It was very strange. Now, we all love the HP books as well as the Peter and the StarCatchers books, but Jim Dale's voice just grates on me (and my entire family!) My kids really enjoyed the Gregor the Overlander books by Suzanne Collins as well as Nancy Farmer series, The Sea of Trolls

What thyroid levels did he check? My dd needed extra T3 for her hair loss to stop, but she has Hashimoto's. If your dr is only checking your TSH then you won't get a true reading. I take the Nordic Natural gummies for Vit D. They are yummy!

Thank you. I will look into both of the treatments. Thank you, and I am happy to hear there are drs out there who don't just put a bandaid on these issues.

Thank you so much. Dd is not thin; I would say she is overweight at 5'4" and around 160lbs (maybe a bit more?) She had lost a lot of weight in late 2017/early 2018, she was down to 125lb. I am really not sure what happened/changed other than she is no longer exercising. Dd is an extremely picky eater and she followed the AIP elimination food plan for her Hashi's - gluten, grain, dairy, sugar free for a long time, but because she is so picky, it was incredibly hard for her. She has unresolved GI issues that the AIP was supposed to help as well but did not. She is now only gluten free and I really hope that the change doesn't mess up her thyroid meds. She is, unfortunately, eating crappy foods again - milkshakes, fries, chocolate, GF mac n cheese. I really hope it is a short lived phase (just started on Sunday, so less than a week). I think that if she actually felt better eating the super healthy foods then she would do so happily, but really, she followed it for a long time with no improvement in her GI issues, so she has thrown in the towel. Would you mind giving me the recipe for your morning smoothie - she used to drink them, and I think she'd take in leafy greens that way. Did you mix the SUJA with more spinach or kale as well as the berries, coconut milk and powdered bone broth? Is any particular SUJA less 'green tasting' than another? I have not noticed any facial hair. Her only PCOS symptoms are weight gain, elevated testosterone, irregular/no periods Thank you. I will look into the B6.

We were just about to start opening presents when older ds tossed his weighted blanket to dh. Unfortunately, in knocked dh's cup of coffee onto the carpet, so we ended up doing a 'pre-present opening' carpet cleaning. It didn't take very long, thankfully. Everyone rushed around being helpful - moving furniture, grabbing paper towels from the kitchen, running to the basement to get the steam cleaner, finding the cleaning solution. It was cleaned up in a jiffy, and presents were opened without further mishap. We ended up having to clean the carpet again today as the spot was still there 😉

Thank you. Dd has never been checked for cysts, so perhaps that would be a start. Yes, it makes sense that having a period after months of not having one they would be very heavy - she is not looking forward to that. I wonder if there is a natural form of progesterone (or something?) that she can be given to induce a period. Dd already sees an acupuncturist, so she can ask about it. Her acupuncturist does know about her period issues, so she may already be working on it.

What do you and your dd/sisters do for the PCOS? Is there a treatment for it? Is there a natural way to decrease one's testosterone? Is that the STTM group? That's where I went after the first appointment with dd's endo - what an eye opener!

I agree that PCOS is a real possibility. Dd did see a endocrinologist for the Hashi's at first, but she would only test T3 and T4, and didn't believe that dd's GI issues could be related to the Hashi's, so we went to an Integrative Med. doctor. Unfortunately, the IM dr. suggested BCP, which really surprised me. The IM Dr. was great for the Hashi's though, and dd's thyroid levels are pretty optimal right now.

So true, and I am so frustrated by it. Thank you. There is one of those centers not too far from here.

First off - She is 100% NOT pregnant. This is just one of the weird things dd is dealing with 😞 .... Dd (20) went off the BCP back in May and she still hasn't had a period. She went on the pill around age 16 to deal with super heavy and irregular periods. She has Hashimoto's, so there can be a hormonal aspect to that which is one of the reasons she went off of it. On the pill, her periods became regular and quite light, to the point of nearly disappearing (which was concerning). At that point, using tampons became painful and even now she has some sort of vulvodynia that may or may not have to do with being on the BCP. Her gyn. changed her prescription to a lower dose and her periods came back, but then dd decided to go off them to see if it would improve the discomfort (it hasn't, she doesn't think, but the vulvodynia was worse when she was having her period). Today, I saw my gyn and asked what she thought dd should do. She said go back on the pill, but neither I nor DD want that. Gyn said that dd's brain and ovaries are no longer speaking so putting her back on the pill would kickstart her ovaries, but I don't think that solves the problem. Gyn also said that when dd does have a period, it is going to be very heavy 😞 Dd also has slightly elevated testosterone levels (sex hormones tested in Sept) that her regular dr. said can indicate PCOS. Any thoughts on dealing with this? Alternatives to the BCP? What kind of specialist to talk to? Natural ways to deal with this?

Congratulations! That's awesome!

Completely understand - been there, done that... actually still there and dealing with the mental aspect of chronic illness with 0 answers So true, and so frustrating. That's great! Hopefully you'll get answers as opposed to just crossing another thing off the list of possibilities. I think the meditation/mindfulness, gentle physical activity, and time with friends & family are so important. Do everything you can to keep your dd engaged in life activities so that she doesn't feel isolated. Yes, she doesn't feel well, but going for a walk or bowling doesn't make it worse (hopefully) and it may help her forget about it for awhile. You have to help her make her mind over-rule her body. I know it is hard, but it will be beneficial to her. Stress reduction is key and has longterm benefits in many situations.

That is true, but you also don't want the dd to be in agony for another 2-3 weeks. Personally, I would take the relief over a definite diagnosis and then do a reintroduction to see if the symptoms returned. Honestly, there is no right answer - the OP should do whatever she thinks is best for her dd. She'll look back and have a million 'what ifs' regardless of her decision.

My dd has dealt with undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed, stomach pain for years - I think we have started year #5 or#6 😞 One thing that has helped (but has not healed her) is to follow the AutoImmune Protocol - eliminate all dairy, grains, sugars. Try it for awhile and see if it helps. If it does, follow the reintroduction phases. We made the mistake of following the elimination phase for too long, but dd has now reintroduced a lot of foods and it has made her life better, but not her GI issues (but the reintroductions haven't made it worse either, which is a win in our book) Was this preceded by a stomach bug or antibiotics? Her gut bacteria may be out of whack. And yes, to the mindfulness activities - I wish my dd would use them more, but she refuses. But, she did ask (finally) to see a psychologist to deal with the emotional aspect of all of this. It has been helpful, but difficult for her. The emotional toll of a chronic illness is heavy. I also recommend a colonoscopy and an endoscopy - just to have a visual of things. Possibly even the little camera pill so the dr can get a look at the GI areas neither scope can reach. I know the feeling of hopelessness you are having; I have cried myself to sleep many nights, wanting to help her get better. Hugs to you and your daughter - I hope you figure it out and she can get relief.

It is totally normally to gain muscle when working out and since muscle weighs more than fat you might lose inches around your waist, for example, but your weight will increase due to increased muscle mass.

That's a great way to talk to him. I really wish I had been able to that with my DD. Good luck to you and him. I hope he is able to recognize, ask for, and accept the help he needs to get healthy.

Please don't stop asking questions because he clams up. Find a way to get him to talk to you. Be honest with what you are seeing and your concerns, even if it is difficult to say/hear. My DD has had eating issues for years that she never told us about,. I could sense there was something wrong, but when I asked she either refused to answer or she laughed it off. I didn't want to make a big deal about it (lots of advice not to point out food issues/weight with teenage girls), but in hindsight... Wow, do I wish I had had the difficult conversations years ago. It doesn't mean our path would be any easier, but it would have been different (and, I like to think, better as well) I don't know how to get him to talk to you, but I believe that even if he doesn't answer, him knowing that you know something is wrong with him, makes you so much more approachable and hopefully he'll be able to tell you what is going on sooner and then he can get the help he needs. Hugs to you. It is so hard to watch our adult children struggle

I agree with this. My dd had her ears done at a tattoo place and was told the same thing. Saline to clean around the piercing, but no turning them of taking them out for 4 months or so.

Exactly!!!

I showed my kids the NFB shorts and they thought I was a total nut for liking them. I still sing the Log Driver's Waltz!!!!

My kids hated prune juice, but loved actual prunes. Whenever they had trouble pooping (but none of them had serious issues), I would always give them a couple 'poop treats' and a big glass of water or two.

Nevermind....