Friday, June 22, 2012

My digestive soapbox...


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*Disclaimer #1: This is a tad clinical. And whiny.
*Disclaimer #2: I work in the medical field. I have learned the hard way that when you don't know what a diagnosis is, you just guess. You do not, I repeat do not, google search it. It's scary. There will be no scary pictures here, I promise.
*Disclaimer #3 - last one - If you have a queasy stomach, this may be a little TMI.

You've been warned.

So I had my gall bladder removed about a year ago. That was supposed to be the end to all stomach pain. And it helped, a lot. But when you haven't eaten well for about 2 years (I'm a slow mover) it takes a while to get everything back to normal.

I've been reading an awesome book that talks about a lot of really severe digestive diseases. When you don't have proper nutrition or are sick constantly, you actually skim layers off of your intestines. These layers are where all the good little bacteriums live that help with digestion. Once they've been evicted, they aren't too keen for the reunion tour just because they've been invited back.

So I've been working really hard at learning to eat again, for oh the last six months. And it was working! Lots of probiotics, to get those bacteria critters back in there, lots of coconut products (which help to restore cell linings), and lots of natural foods.

And then Paul and I both got the flu during the hottest, muggiest week of the year. No one feels good when it's so hot, and having the stomach flu doesn't help! And now, after being repeatedly sick again, I can't seem to bounce back. It's as if all the progress I've made, all the cells I've grown back, have been stripped off.

I haven't eaten a full meal in about three weeks. And when I eat, all my digestive organs hurt. I've been using my heating pad at work to relax those muscles - and it's been 95 degrees outside!

And I'm not sure why I've just spilled all of this to the world, except, I'm really tired of this. I worked so hard...and now I'm back at square one. Except nothing seems to be working!

I don't know if I should find a support group, go back to the doctor, start eating only soup? I'm just tired and confused and hungry.

Tomorrow morning I'll get off my soapbox, back on my band wagon, and start, one slow step at a time, to get back to normal. It's just hard to see progress lost - to not be able to eat, even healthy things, and have to struggle back to the top. Do you know how ingrained food is in our culture?

But share with me - anyone else struggle with stuff like this? What do you do to over come it?


2 comments:

  1. (This is Athena)
    I am with you! My motivation to eat well is mostly due to mental health (which makes me sound crazy, but I think that most depression can be linked to our nasty diets and SUGAR especially). It has taken me a couple of years to find answers (and then to weed out the stupid answers, finding out how often people make crap up), being angry at leading food brands (monsanto behind it all, approving whatever they want and owning half the gov't), and then of course just being willing to change my daily habits and say no to myself AND other people who are trying to be polite and nourish me when giving me delicious food that THANKFULLY is starting to taste less delicious because my body is finding again what GOOD food tastes like and no longer craving it. *sigh* Sorry I went off.
    I like to read the book Real Food by Nina Planck.

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  2. I'll have to look that book up! It's good to know that I'm not alone in this struggle - but I totally hear you! I feel better mentally when I eat better too. I notice it most at work, when I get busy, and grab a candy bar, instead of taking the time to cut an apple or something. It's just a long, hairy, process isn't it?

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