I got a little cocky!
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Mar 22 2008, 04:03 PM
Well, after my success with the spinach I got a little too cocky and bought some orange juice the other day - YIKES! - bad idea. I've not had O.J. in nearly ten years since I completed my elimination diet and found that oranges were one of my trigger foods. But, I figured I'd done so well with the spinach that the O.J. just wouldn't hurt me - wrong-o, my friends. One small glass of O.J. = 6 bathroom calls ending in some slight D. The neighbors are now the proud owners of half a gallon of pulp-free O.J. and I'm oh, so glad to have it out of the house.
I've learned my lesson and a, stickin' to what I know I can eat!
Hope ya'll are well!
Toodles,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
www.ibdandibs.com
I feel like Popeye!
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Mar 19 2008, 06:32 PM
It has been a l o n g time since I've eaten anything green and leafy, until the last two weeks. Seriously, for at least ten years now if I even look at lettuce or the like I get D so bad I can't stand it. But a couple of weeks ago as I was perusing the vegetables in the grocery store my eyes settled on the most beautifully fresh looking spinach - I seriously think I got that cartoony bug-eyed look, you know 
or soemthing like that.
Well, against my better judgement I bought a bunch took it home and cleaned it. My husband nearly fainted when he saw spinach - green and leafy - in our home. Bless that man's heart he's really taken to eating my crazy diet and even though he slips a salad into his diet every few nights a week he's not eaten a leaf of spinach for the same tens years as me. Well, we diced up some garlic, threw it and some olive oil in a pan and then threw in the spinach leaves. I cooked them for probably 6 or 7 minutes so they were good and wilted but still vibrantly green and then ate them - the first night I had a small portion, and last night had a larger portion. I was a tiny bit bloated afterwards BUT had no BM issues at all this a.m. which is HUGE for me.
I don't think I'll go spinach amuck but do have to say this makes me so excited. Up to now the only green veggies I've been able to eat without issue have been asparagus, green beans, brocolli, and zucchini - so to add one more to that list is quite exciting for me.
Hope you all are well and happy!
Toodles,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
www.ibdandibs.com
Where's Your Stress?
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Mar 8 2008, 04:00 PM
So, where do you keep your stress? For me, it depends on what kind of stress we're talking about. I have both IBD (colitis) and IBS and while I don't think stress contributes too much to my colitis it does affect my IBS especially when I'm feeling nervous. Other stress, like from being physically cold (which I always am), or a hard work day, or an argument with a friend or family member I always seem to carry that type of stress in my neck, my shoulders, and my lower back. I can feel my muscles in those areas tightening and getting more and more painful. Sometimes I don't really realize that it's 'stress' making my shoulders hurt until the stressor is gone and my muscles losen and the pain goes away.
But, my IBS stress, that stress that comes from my nerves, goes straight to my gut - other people only get butterflies in their stomach, well I get those flutters, but I also get that urge to go usually preceded by a nauseous feeling and clammy hands. There's no getting around it when I feel this way, I'm stressed and my gut knows it.
Thankfully, though, I've learned that the whole concept of the mind/body connection isn't just a bunch of woo-woo stuff. I am now able to control a certain amount of my stress and/or the gut reaction I have associated with stress by using breathing techniques, and mind techniques to reprogam my thinking.
Here's an example: Every year I have a brain MRI to follow-up on a tumor I had treated 4 years ago. I found out early on when the tumor was initially detected that MRI machines make me feel claustrophic, so I typically take a Valium before having an MRI done. Last week was my yearly scan and I just couldn't afford feeling wigged out and tired from a Valium for a whole day so I took the chance of doing the MRI without sedation. I felt a bit nervous, but nothing that made me feel fearful, until they moved me into the MRI tube - they got me in, I freaked out - my gut jumped, my body temperature sky-rocketed, my hands got clammy - and they got me back out within seconds. The tech was pretty convinced we'd have to reschedule for a time when I could take the Valium. "No," I said, "I have to get this done today. Give me two minutes and I'll be ready to go." She looked at me a little oddly but left me alone for a few minutes. I sat there, not looking at the machine but out the window at the Rocky Mountains towering the foreground (I live in Colorado), and I took a few deep, rhythmic breaths, repeated silently to myself that I was in control, I could do, and I had to do this. When the tech came back in I laid down, closed my eyes (they remained closed for the next 35 minutes of the scan), and gave her the a-okay to put me back in. I kept my eyes closed and focused on my breathing - In, Out, In, Out, In, Out - then came the tech's voice over the earphones she put on my head. She asked how I was doing, and I told her fine. The first scan would take 2 1/2 minutes she said. As the machine began to whir and pulse around me I kept breathing -In, Out, In, Out, In, Out - and I counted down the seconds in my head - 1 minute, kept counting, 2 minutes, kept counting and breathing, and at 2 1/2 minutes the machine stopped. I kept this pattern up through the rest of the scans - 45 minutes all told. When we were done the tech said she was amazed I got control and was able to do it. She said usually about 98% of people who initially freak out have to reschedule and come back sedated.
These techniques don't ALWAYS work perfectly, but they usually do and even when they dont' they usually take away some of my stress/nervousness/anxiousness. But the first part for me is to discern what kind of stress am I experiencing and where am I putting it. I have to know what it is and where it is before I can get some control over it.
So, where do you put your stress? And, how do you work through it?
Cheers,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
www.ibdandibs.com
Silly Girl . . .
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Mar 2 2008, 03:16 PM
Well, I've been done with the antibiotics for nearly a week now and never had even a small problem with my gut - YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW AMAZING THAT IS FOR ME because this is the first time in my adult life that I've not reacted badly to them. Hmmmmmm.
Instead, I did something really dumb yesterday - each Saturday I dole out my week's pills and vitamins into a pill container - you know, marked S M T W T F S - I take on two presciption drugs but take several vitamins, supplements, etc. and this make it easier for me. Anyway, while I was doing this yesterday I was multi-tasking which I know I am not good at and do only in the rarest of instances - and yesterday proved why. I mixed up my Calcium pills with my Multivitamins and ended up taking 2 Multivitamins yesterday about 10 hours apart. OMG - talk about up all night peeing. I couldn't figure it out until at about 2:00 a.m. I wondered if I'd taken a second dose of the multivitamin - I went downstairs, looked in my pill box for the next days and there they were. 2 multis in each day's receptable. I was up every hour all night peeing as my body purged the extra vitamins from my body. My gut has fared okay - it's not 100% thrilled, but no where near as ticked off as it could be.
So, lesson learned . . . don't multitask when provisioning your meds and vitamins - pay attention, thankfully this wasn't a 'serious' mistake just a nuisance one.
Cheers,
Elizabeth
www.ibdandibs.com
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
So far, Amazingly Good!
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Feb 20 2008, 02:10 PM
Well, five days on antibiotics and other than some fleeting stomach cramps each a.m. I've not had one problem (knock wood) - no D, which is VERY unusual for me on antibiotics. What I've done differently than other times I've take an Antib. is before I take it I eat 1 cup of yogurt (I make my own), one acidophilus pill, then, about half an hour later I have another cup of yogurt and about an hour later another acidophilus pill. I'm really thinking the key here is keeping that good bacteria in my gut at regular levels (antibiotics really kill-off good gut bacteria like crazy so you have to replace it).
And, thankfully the ear infection and sinus infection do seem to be improving too.
That's all for now,
Elizabeth
www.ibdandibs.com
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
Yikes! Antibiotics!
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Feb 15 2008, 08:42 PM
For three weeks I've been battling a horrible cold - not to be gross but if you could sell mucus I'd be a millionaire by now. Well, in the past few days my right ear has been aching like crazy so I broke down and went to the doctor today - I have an ear infection and a sinus infection so Augmentin was prescribed. I know I need the antibiotic but I really do hate taking them 'cause I know it will throw off my IBD & IBS - I've loaded up the fridge with tons of yogurt, have enough probiotics, and am thinking positively that my gut will not retaliate.
All I can say is, stay healthy, the last three weeks have been a pain. And if you're sick with a cold or flu stay home and get better and to everyone: WASH YOUR HANDS, it's a really important thing to not pass along germs.
Stay healthy, All.
Elizabeth
www.ibdandibs.com
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
"You don't look like a man"
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Feb 11 2008, 03:06 PM
I was at a popular restaurant yesterday for brunch with my husband and friends. My gut was fine but too many cups of tea and I had to p*e. Now, this is one of those problems that pretty much only women can understand, sorry guys - but, here is a restaurant that seats at least 100 people and it has 1 women's restroom and 1 men's room. The line for the women's room was five people deep and I was #5, no room for the men's room. I really had to p*e, and learned a long time ago when my D was raging that the men's room is just as good so I asked the ladies in front of me if any of them wanted to use the men's room - "It's the men's room one woman told me," "I know, but it's empty and nobody's waiting," I replied. I turned the door handle and entered as she said, "Well, you don't look like man."
Well, I did my business, washed my hands, fluffed my hair and emerged from the men's room - still no men waiting to use it - to find the same four women still waiting in line. The woman who scolded me stood firm waiting for the women's room to become available, but the next woman in line marched off to the men's room. I had to giggle as I went back to my table.
I guess my only point here is. . . It's amazing to me sometimes at what a rule following society we live in. If you have to go and a restroom is standing there empty, even if it's for men and you're a woman, where is the rule written that you can't use it? Do you think you'll be carted off to jail? And if there is a guy standing there waiting when you emerge, smile nicely and say something like, "Ooops," and keep on walking.
Lighten up everyone, it's a short life, try to enjoy it!
Cheers,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
www.ibdandibs.com
I've said is before, and I'll say it again. . .
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Feb 3 2008, 03:28 PM
Try drinking green tea. Even though my day-to-day IBD and IBS symptoms are pretty much under control I notice a marked difference in the consistency of my poop, frequency of bathroom trips, and amount of gas I have when I drink green tea.
I've had a terrible cold/virus for the past week - seriously, this thing has just kicked my butt. BUT, in an effort to boost my immune system I've been drinking tons of green tea - anywhere between 2-8 cups per day. Usually I just drink a cup of herbal tea once a day and green tea maybe once a week. But, I've noticed that the few times in the past year that I've increased the amount of green tea I drink per day my IBD and IBS seemsto improve. I have one BM per day, two max., and the poo is firm. Usually I have some level of gas/bloating after eating dinner but with the green tea these two symptoms are minimized greatly.
You don't have to buy anything fancy, Lipton green tea is fine. Or, there are organic varieties, flavored varieties, etc. I like the Mint Green Tea by Celestial Seasonings -just be sure to let it steep for at least 3 minutes!
It may not be a miracle cure but it sure seems to be helpful.
Good luck,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
www.ibdandibs.com
My Dad and His IBD
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Jan 25 2008, 12:38 PM
I had an interesting telephone call from my Dad yesterday about the status of his Ulcerative Colitis. But first, some background - he was dx'd with UC back in 1960 when he had a severe flare-up that landed him in the hospital and ended up with his being discharged from the US Navy for medical reasons. He was hospitalized, put on steroids, etc. As a child what I remember about my Dad was that 1. he never missed a day of work; 2. he spent a lot of time in the bathroom but nothing seemed urgent; 3. he was always taking these small white pills (I later found out they were Lomotil); and 4. He always ate and drank pretty much whatever he wanted.
About eight years ago he said he stopped having any symptoms of UC at all - no flare-ups, no urgent D, nothing - and considered himself cured. Well, being in his early 70s he had a colonoscopy last week to check things out. His doctor called him yesterday to say that the biopsies they took showed "underlying inflammation" and they want him to start taking Asacol (Mesalamine) to reduce the inflammation. When he questioned them on the necessity of this considering he has no outward symptoms they said that it's important to get the inflammation under control because if left untreated it can increase his chances of developing colon cancer - apparently with his history of IBD and his age he already has a 1 in 3 chance of developing it anyway.
So, he knows I've been taking Asacol for nearly 10 years now and called to ask my "opinion" on the whole thing which I found interesting because usually it's me calling him to ask advice.
Anyway, just thought I'd share this for those IBD readers out there - this was something new I'd not heard of before and thought it worth passing along.
Cheers,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
www.ibdandibs.com
It was a good decision
Posted by IBD/IBS Author, Jan 23 2008, 06:04 PM
My decision to not travel with my husband to India was a good one. Even though it makes me sad to think of all the cultural experiences I have missed in these past two weeks hearing about the crazy cities, the food, the toilets, and the cold in Northern India makes me feel confident in my decision not to travel to this country.
I travel quite extensively despite my IBD and IBS and when this business trip to India first came up a few months ago I tried and tried to figure out how I could make the trip despite the poor water quality in the country and the highly spiced foods that I knew would not agree with my gut. I talked to my doctors - they gave me suggestions - I started self-hypnosis - which I highly recommend 'cause it really has helped (trying Healing with Hypnosis, IBS by Dr. Steven Gurgevich) - I started eating out a little more in Indian restaurants to see what foods my gut could and couldn't handle - and I tried to figure out if I could live and work eating nothing more than rice and yogurt.
About a week before our drop-dead date to buy airline tickets I had an IBD flare (dont' ask me how but I can tell the difference between a flare-up of my IBD and the IBS) and spent a whole night napping on my bathroom floor in between bouts of D that happened every 20-30 minutes. It four days before my gut settled and I was able to eat more than rice, yogurt, and chicken. And it reminded me of just how hard and depleting of energy these flare-ups can be for me - there was no way I could subsist on simply rice and yogurt and hoof it around a country to meetings and interviews. It was a hard decision for many reasons but I had to make it and am now glad that I did.
My husband will be home Saturday after 26 hours of flying - which would have been challenging in-and-of itself.
It's just an example of how we all need to accept that there are limitations even for those of us who generally have our IBD and IBS symptoms under pretty good control.
Cheers,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
on I got a little cocky!