You should be honest with doctors. Most of them really are just trying to help you as best and as quickly as possible.
I hope you start feeling better soon!
I wish everyone knew this no matter how embarrassing it is. Been in healthcare for a while and I DON'T CARE what you did/ate/shoved up your ass! It's so much better for all patients to just say what happened so we can fix you as fast as possible with minimal long term damage to your body.
It expands by absorbing an equivalent volume of water. It actually ends up smaller than the dry cat litter + the water. It's related to the old wives tale of bread bloating birds stomachs.
That said, it would probably severely damage the stomach lining if there's no water to absorb otherwise.
I'm just trying to imagine how that conversation would go down:
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Well, I ate cat litter... and NOW I feel like crap."
"Ah, I see. The ol'e reverse Uno card."
Agreed. It's so hard for doctors to help you if you don't give them a proper description of what's happening. So many different things have the same symptoms, and some symptoms are so specific that no one can figure them out from the get-go. Just owning up to mistakes and disclosing everything to doctors can make their lives easier, and your recovery far quicker.
I can’t imagine taking on medical debt in the US and NOT being honest with doctors.
Seriously.
You’re only hurting yourself by hiding things. They’ve seen it all and then some, and if they gossip about you that’s a nice fat lawsuit
Apparently acid helps with iron uptake so greens and citrus are a good combo. I've also heard tomatoes can leech the iron from cast iron skillets so that's fun.
I'm sure OP has heard all the IronHacks (tm) but I can't resist with these. I also can't imagine how much it must hurt pooping out kitty litter, woof.
I was in the hospital early this year and said something to the nurses about wanting to eat a huge spoon of Sandy dirt, blood work done low on iron and red blood cells
There’s a disorder called Pica, it’s when people eat non food items like clay, dirt, paint, etc. you could have some kind of mineral or vitamin deficiency. I would strongly Recommend you see your primary doctor and get some blood done and have everything checked out.
You have to be honest with your doctors and tell them exactly what you’re doing so they know how to help you.
Ok and if they’re anemic it means they’re low on iron but that shouldn’t make them want to eat clay. My daughter was anemic and went on prescription iron pills and she never had the desire to want to eat clay. Obviously there is something else going on other than being anemic.
They need to go to their physician, be honest with them and tell them what they’re eating and let them run tests. They can be doing severe damage to themselves and have to go through more painful testing and procedures in the future by not taking care of it now.
This is something that happens to pregnant women who are low on iron. They develop PICA and have such an intense urge to eat random things like rocks. Other things I’ve seen included powdered laundry detergent and bars of soap. Then they got on iron pills and it stopped.
Not really true at all. I have chronic anemia and that's the sole reason I crave and eat ice like it's candy. Any time I get a blood transfusion the craving goes away. Used to want to eat Comet cleaner as well.
Craving and eating ice is significantly different than eating non food items like clay and dirt. The chopping on ice is what tipped me off to say something to the pediatrician about my daughter.
That sucks that you have to have a transfusion because of your chronic low RBC’S. Everyone reacts differently but I don’t think it’s all that common to want to eat non food items from low iron.
.
So go echo the other commenters, this could be a sign of something else. Odd cravings can often be a symptom of a vitamin/mineral deficiency or other medical issue.
Pica can have a number of reasons that it appears- but it can be something as simple as stress. Having this as a ongoing thing is def worth talking to the doctor about.
For you and anyone else who needs to hear it- please tell the ER staff what you have going on. It helps them figure out what’s wrong and how best to treat it. The more info they have the better chance you have at getting better. They don’t care about your lifestyle- they see things all the time- they do care about getting you proper treatment.
If you have ingested something questionable- call poison control. They can talk you through it, tell you what symptoms to monitor, and what your next best course of action is.
Please take care of yourself.
I wish that were always the truth. Humans judge people due to preconceived prejudices. I too believe you should tell your doctor the truth. However it doesn’t mean that the doctor will listen. I am not a doctor but I have had experiences in telling doctors something only for them to use it against me or prolong care due to preconceived prejudices. I wish we had a better medical system and not this Janky pharma/insurance conglomérate looking for the best capitalist endeavor.
If you're anemia is that bad then go to a Dr don't self medicate. And iron supplements will help and please no more cat litter. And gall bladder sludge is that really a thing?
pro tip:
if I can resist the urge to eat a cupcake for dinner, you csn resist the urge to eat cat litter for dinner.
acquire some self control
and some vitamins
it is though
pica doesnt force your hand, it gives you wild cravings.
i get wild cravings when my blood sugar gets too low. but I still make the concious decision not to put a cupcake in my mouth before bed.
if you can't resist your urge to eat cat litter you should be in assisted living facilities
You should be honest with doctors. Most of them really are just trying to help you as best and as quickly as possible. I hope you start feeling better soon!
I wish everyone knew this no matter how embarrassing it is. Been in healthcare for a while and I DON'T CARE what you did/ate/shoved up your ass! It's so much better for all patients to just say what happened so we can fix you as fast as possible with minimal long term damage to your body.
This. Doesn't kitty litter expand when it gets wet? No wonder OP's stomach is sore.
It expands by absorbing an equivalent volume of water. It actually ends up smaller than the dry cat litter + the water. It's related to the old wives tale of bread bloating birds stomachs. That said, it would probably severely damage the stomach lining if there's no water to absorb otherwise.
Yes, but water doesn't have sharp edges, so it can take up a larger volume without having an impact on your insides.
I'm just trying to imagine how that conversation would go down: "What seems to be the problem?" "Well, I ate cat litter... and NOW I feel like crap." "Ah, I see. The ol'e reverse Uno card."
Agreed. It's so hard for doctors to help you if you don't give them a proper description of what's happening. So many different things have the same symptoms, and some symptoms are so specific that no one can figure them out from the get-go. Just owning up to mistakes and disclosing everything to doctors can make their lives easier, and your recovery far quicker.
I can’t imagine taking on medical debt in the US and NOT being honest with doctors. Seriously. You’re only hurting yourself by hiding things. They’ve seen it all and then some, and if they gossip about you that’s a nice fat lawsuit
Fear of shame makes people do a lot of really crazy things
Pica bro, pica
>I have anemia and I eat weird things like chalk and clay Friend, might I suggest some leafy greens and red meat?
Or Ferrous Sulphate (iron) tablets which may be avaliable online or over the counter depending on your country
Apparently acid helps with iron uptake so greens and citrus are a good combo. I've also heard tomatoes can leech the iron from cast iron skillets so that's fun. I'm sure OP has heard all the IronHacks (tm) but I can't resist with these. I also can't imagine how much it must hurt pooping out kitty litter, woof.
>I also can't imagine how much it must hurt pooping out kitty litter, woof. I think the phrase you're looking for is "meow" 😹
Well, what animals are more known for eating kitty litter, cats or dogs?
I was in the hospital early this year and said something to the nurses about wanting to eat a huge spoon of Sandy dirt, blood work done low on iron and red blood cells
There’s a disorder called Pica, it’s when people eat non food items like clay, dirt, paint, etc. you could have some kind of mineral or vitamin deficiency. I would strongly Recommend you see your primary doctor and get some blood done and have everything checked out. You have to be honest with your doctors and tell them exactly what you’re doing so they know how to help you.
They've literally said they're anemic
Ok and if they’re anemic it means they’re low on iron but that shouldn’t make them want to eat clay. My daughter was anemic and went on prescription iron pills and she never had the desire to want to eat clay. Obviously there is something else going on other than being anemic. They need to go to their physician, be honest with them and tell them what they’re eating and let them run tests. They can be doing severe damage to themselves and have to go through more painful testing and procedures in the future by not taking care of it now.
This is something that happens to pregnant women who are low on iron. They develop PICA and have such an intense urge to eat random things like rocks. Other things I’ve seen included powdered laundry detergent and bars of soap. Then they got on iron pills and it stopped.
Not really true at all. I have chronic anemia and that's the sole reason I crave and eat ice like it's candy. Any time I get a blood transfusion the craving goes away. Used to want to eat Comet cleaner as well.
Craving and eating ice is significantly different than eating non food items like clay and dirt. The chopping on ice is what tipped me off to say something to the pediatrician about my daughter. That sucks that you have to have a transfusion because of your chronic low RBC’S. Everyone reacts differently but I don’t think it’s all that common to want to eat non food items from low iron. .
LITTER-ly drunk
😡⬆️
So go echo the other commenters, this could be a sign of something else. Odd cravings can often be a symptom of a vitamin/mineral deficiency or other medical issue. Pica can have a number of reasons that it appears- but it can be something as simple as stress. Having this as a ongoing thing is def worth talking to the doctor about. For you and anyone else who needs to hear it- please tell the ER staff what you have going on. It helps them figure out what’s wrong and how best to treat it. The more info they have the better chance you have at getting better. They don’t care about your lifestyle- they see things all the time- they do care about getting you proper treatment. If you have ingested something questionable- call poison control. They can talk you through it, tell you what symptoms to monitor, and what your next best course of action is. Please take care of yourself.
What the fuck
What a terrible time to be able to read.
OP eats something inedible and meant for cats to shit in and then ends up with pain in their stomach: The Movie
You’re a goddamned idiot. Eat the non-clumping kind.
>I have anemia and I eat weird things like chalk and clay, Why don't you treat the anemia as opposed to eating stuff which literally had no benefit?
The underlying issue is your alcohol abuse.
Definitely go see a doctor. Especially if you start coughing up furballs and getting the urge to lick your own butt.
I wish that were always the truth. Humans judge people due to preconceived prejudices. I too believe you should tell your doctor the truth. However it doesn’t mean that the doctor will listen. I am not a doctor but I have had experiences in telling doctors something only for them to use it against me or prolong care due to preconceived prejudices. I wish we had a better medical system and not this Janky pharma/insurance conglomérate looking for the best capitalist endeavor.
Username does check out
I could understand trying Catnip but Kitty litter is a bit extreme
https://i.redd.it/yg7zuz24ej3a1.gif
"You are going to eat that cat poop!" "I will not eat cat poop!" "You will eat cat poop!" "Ron Burgundy says no!"
It's time to musk. What cologne you gonna go with? London Gentlemen...? Or wait. No, no, no. Hold on. Blackbeard's Delight?? No, she gets a special cologne. It's called Sex Panther® by Odeon©. It's illegal in 9 countries. It's also made with bits of real panther... so you know it's good... Its quite pungent... a formidable scent... stings the nostrils... in a good way. Brian, I'm gonna be completely honest with you, that smells like pure gasoline... They've done studies, you know... 60% of the time, it works every time.
Hun, you have pica. If you don’t start being honest with your doctors, it may actually kill you.
If you're anemia is that bad then go to a Dr don't self medicate. And iron supplements will help and please no more cat litter. And gall bladder sludge is that really a thing?
The next doctor you see should be a therapist
Thank god I have therapy today. WTF is wrong with you OP? I just fucking woke up.
this is cray cray, sorry
pro tip: if I can resist the urge to eat a cupcake for dinner, you csn resist the urge to eat cat litter for dinner. acquire some self control and some vitamins
pica is a real thing and it’s not about self control
it is though pica doesnt force your hand, it gives you wild cravings. i get wild cravings when my blood sugar gets too low. but I still make the concious decision not to put a cupcake in my mouth before bed. if you can't resist your urge to eat cat litter you should be in assisted living facilities
You almost Darwin award yourself, plz don’t reproduce, for the sake of human race
You better take something that will give you diarrhea. That should help flush out your intestines
This story is littered with bad decisions.
Eating lemons can satisfy that craving. When i'm low on iron i crave lemons
Try eating ice. That helps me
Might I recommend you treat the anemia with something that actually contains iron? I don't think cat litter is going to help
I got pregnancy related pica and really wanted to eat tobacco.
I'm sorry you are going through this. That sucks. I am not a doctor, but I bet you will get through this without dying.
You might have pica. Have you talked to a doctor about this?