The Joy of Food I'll Miss

The Medical Update

I saw my functional medicine doctor Tuesday for my blood results - the basic stuff like iron, vitamins, minerals, blood cell count, etc., along with food allergy tests and tests for food sensitivities.

We'll start with the vitamins. Iron is stupid low and my iron stores are practically non-existent. Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 -- all very low. So there are supplements for all this PLUS a shake I finally made myself drink today. It's a cleanse with lots of vitamins and 26g of protein. I'm supposed to drink it once a day either as a snack or meal replacement. Oscar tasted it first and we made it warm - and it was not disgusting.

Still taking cod liver oil, apple cider vinegar and pro/prebiotic.

I'll get some enzymes after the doctor gets the results of some blood work I had done Wednesday.

Now here's the good news, bad news:

I don't have leaky gut. Yay! That means those supplements should start working very soon and I should start feeling better very soon.

The not so awesome news is that I have 34 food sensitivities. I have to avoid these 34 items for at least 3 months and possibly for life.  Ok, you say, if it makes you feel better, stop whining. Gluten and wheat were two of them - no problem - I stopped eating those already as have millions of other people also have. No big deal.

Now for the rest (a reminder I don't eat meat, only fish, eggs, cheese and milk - lactose free even - not anymore!). Foods in addition to gluten and wheat that must be avoided for at least three months: crab; almonds; all dairy including eggs, cheese, milk (lactose free or not); malt; brewers yeast (that includes wine. This is worth repeating - THAT MEANS WINE); honey (my only sweetener for the past year plus); bell peppers; asparagus; ginger; fig; pineapple; mango; banana; green beans; black-eyed peas; navy beans; kidney beans; and a few others I can't quite recall but have a little card to carry in my purse.

It certainly is going to make it hard to go out to eat - I'm basically a fish eater who is otherwise vegan and gluten free.

It's even hard to eat in a grocery store. B and I went to Whole Foods Wednesday night to eat at the food buffet and then shop. I ate basmati rice with green onions and a tablespoon of lentil and quinoa salad. Good thing I'm sick and have had very little appetite. When I say sick, I mean I have barely pulled my head off the pillow for days. It started with asthma - I suspect caused by a run outside during which planes dropped mosquito killing poison on me and the island.

 I told Jess that I'm reluctantly enthusiastic about the new food plan. An oxymoron I'm sure, but I'm all in, following the "Wellness Plan" - that doesn't mean I like it or that I don't already miss cheese and wine and bell peppers and eating out. I do. And I'll likely keep whining about it but I'll keep following the plan.

Keep you posted - and there's a heart and home update in the works.

You Just Have To Laugh Or You'll Cry

Embarrassing Happenings of This Grownup

My water was turned off today. For Nonpayment.

That's right - I'm 45 years old, have a very good full-time job and now a part-time job - and my water was turned off.

These are the continuing remnants of the past year and a half of what was the right decision at the time - taking care of my then little family. I fell behind months ago on everything and am trying desperately to catch up while keeping a sense of humor about it all.

And while I'm being honest about these embarrassing days - I mean heck, I have already shown you my sinkless kitchen - last week my cable/Internet were turned off. My Internet - necessary  for me to do said well-paid full-time job - was restored the same day after I panicked trying to figure out how to scrounge up the back payment and my friend (who asked she not be named) plopped a credit card on me and said pay it and pay me back when you can.

The water - well, I received a notice the same day the Internet was turned off. I called and e-mailed the city right after the cable company, pleading my pathetic case and asking for more time - just until Oct. 31. I was told, just make a small payment to show you are making an effort and we'll work with you. I did just that that very day and thought I had until the end of this week. But wham! today, a red notice was tucked in my front door and the water was shut off. I called the city and said - but I thought we had a deal. They remembered me but said you didn't try hard enough, too bad. It will be restored when you pay the back amount of $300.


When it rains it pours I guess. I mean let's see how it could be worse - I could be alone, broke, exhausted and sick with the worst of awful non-fatal illnesses - the UTI. Oh wait! I actually have all those things going on! 

Yes, things could still be worse. I'm really really hoping I'm at the bottom of my worst though.

So let's laugh about all this and let it go - as the song says. (You're welcome for the ear worm).

It's going to be fine - I'm just going to have to keep crawling and climbing out of the muck.

I have amazing friends and family - near and far. I live in paradise. I have a great job that works my mind and challenges me and a really fun and interesting part-time job that also is a challenge and keeps me surrounded by great people all day. I will get over the UTI soon with the help of antibiotics. I will run and go to yoga and play hockey and work on my condo a little bit at a time and eventually get to my boat.

And I will eat Ramen like I'm back in college.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX50U0duMJw
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears "I'm Broke"