Friday, December 17, 2010

Why I have been absent from the blogworld, and giving thanks

It's snowing outside, and I am freezing my teeth off with frozen blueberries. Go figure.

Life's been pretty crazy lately. Normally I love the holidays, and love baking during this festive time of year. I've been overwhelmed by all the fantastic recipes I've seen on everyone's blogs! I would love to share with you all the delicious treats I've been working on, but alas, I have yet to make anything worth sharing. Or really, anything at all.

For the last month and a half I've been dealing with some pretty severe pain. A few weeks ago, I finally decided to go see someone about it. I got in to see a sports medicine doctor. She took some x-rays, looked at things, put my body through the ringer, and sent me home with a bunch of prescriptions and a rigorous home therapy schedule.

I've spent the last 2 weeks in a heavily medicated fog of steroids, muscle relaxers and pain meds. Seriously, I've been a mess. I've hardly been eating, I think I may have made it through one of the last 15 days without crying, I've had daily headaches, and my stomach has been so upset. Not to mention the loopiness and nausea/dizziness I get from the pain meds. Such fun!

Finished up the 'roids 2 days ago, and had my follow up appointment yesterday. The drugs didn't fix the problem. They helped, reduced *some* of my pain, but it's still there, and still pretty constant.

So, tomorrow I get to have an MRI done. Yay! Lucky (extremely claustrophobic) me.

But, if it means answers, I'll suffer through it. Most likely I'm looking at lots of physical therapy, possible nerve block injections, and if all else fails, surgery. Hopefully not though. REALLY hopefully not :)

I finally got my Christmas shopping done last night, after 5 emotional hours at the mall (thanks to a painful visit to the doc, and mounting frustration at the looming deadline - it was the one time I was really glad to go shopping with my husband, who kept me going when I just wanted to go home and cry). Everything's been mailed off to the family, and I got our cards sent out today as well. Whew. Just gotta grab a couple more things for my hubby, and I'm set. Thank goodness.

Let's just say I haven't really gotten the Christmas spirit yet. I know, tis the season and all, and I've wanted to. I LOVE Christmas! But with this pain, as well as a busy month at work, and trying to keep the rest of my life together, I've been pretty beat.

I've been living off of almond flour waffles - based on this recipe, as well as this amazing and easy salad, and this delicious tomato soup. Not to mention, lots of Chex cereal in almond milk, as well as anything else I feel like I can stomach.

Like whatever is in the fridge. For example, tonight I had some toasted focaccia bread (w/ oil and garlic salt), a whole package of korean kim (seaweed), and some edamame with salt and lemon. Oh, and a handful of glutino chocolate covered pretzels. It's pretty much been fend for yourself around here. My poor hubby.

Anyway, now that I'm off the steroids, I'm hoping I will start to feel a little better (as far as side effects go). I really want to get in the kitchen and whip up something fabulous. But I have to dig through all the dirty dishes to find the counters first...

I must say, this whole ordeal has made me very thankful for my life. I didn't really do an official thanksgiving post, mostly because I didn't have anything overwhelming to share, other than this totally awesome cranberry sauce. But I will say now, I have a good life. My husband has been incredible over the last few weeks, so patient, caring, and loving. I'm so very thankful for the wonderful man that he is, and that he's put up with all the things I have thrown at him over the last 8 years.

I am also grateful for having a relatively healthy life so far. Nothing I can't control with my diet, a thyroid pill here and there, good food and exercise. I really appreciate a body that has been able to withstand so much, and let me do so much. Like climb to the top of the most beautiful mountain in Utah Valley!

I know, super dorky primal picture of me, but I was so excited to be on top of the world! That was one of the best days of this last year!

I'm thankful for a beautiful, warm home, enough food to eat, cars that get us safely where we need to go daily, a steady job where I am valued, the greatest cat ever, and wonderful friends and family around me. That includes all of you! I am so glad to be a part of this food blogging community, to be able to share with you my successes and learning experiences, and hear about all of yours!

I hope you all are doing well, and enjoying the holiday season! I will (hopefully) be back here soon, with something tasty to share!

7 comments:

Naina said...

Stephanie,

I am so sorry to hear of your misery.

Here are a couple sites that have helped me with my stomach issues.
msgmyth.com & DoctorJ.com

I hope you find some help there too.

It turns out for me I was consuming MSG, and didn't even realize it. I thought I was staying clear of that stuff. Anyway, MSG causes a myriad of symptoms in individuals. IBS being one of them. Pain in another.
DoctorJ.com offers excellent advice
for those suffering IBS too.
I pray you find your answer soon.

Also, wanted to offer this site
U.S.WellnessMeats.com Here you can buy grass fed organic beef. I don't know if you are aware. I wasn't. Many of us who are sensitive to grains, also react to grain fed meat. I do.

Let me know how it is going. I will pray for you. I have suffered for so long. I finally can control my symptoms. Unfortunately, all the foods I need cost soooo much more! :(

Be Well!

I also have to watch FODMAPS.

trishtator said...

Oh Stephanie, I can't believe how much pain you've been in. I am so sorry.

I wish there was something I could do for you - all I pretty much have is a big smile, though. I hope things start looking up, and that you feel better soon.

Love, Trish

hellaD said...

Hey Stephanie, that sounds awful, I was wondering where is your pain? I know you are probably gonna get a lot of recommendations here, but I do biodynamic craniosacral therapy, and I would highly recommend getting a few treatments before an operation--also a thing to look into is Earthing especially if the pain is an inflammation thing.

My mother has had various operations for pain and they have only caused more problems. Earthing is quite simple.

I am currently on the GAPS diet which has been the only thing to help heal my serious gut damage after getting typhoid in Burma. I bet you would enjoy looking into that as well?!

I really hope you don't have to get an operation! Sending lots of healing empathy vibes your way, hope you feel better soon.

gfe--gluten free easily said...

Coming over from Aubree's blog. Sorry I haven't visited in a while. And, I'm especially sorry to hear what you are going through. I'm going to offer an idea up and I hope you won't take offense and will check it out. Look VERY carefully at whatever you are eating. You may be one of the folks like myself who reacts to the gf products that are on the market that are less than 20 ppm gluten, but not less than 10 ppm gluten like the GFCO-certified products are. And, your reaction may not be the same as your typical reaction because it's a much smaller amount of gluten compared to accidental gluten ingestions. Some of us are super sensitive. I, and others, cannot eat the "gluten-free" Chex or any of General Mills gluten-free grain products like their mixes. And, I have issues when I eat other "gf" products, too. Joint pain/discomfort is certainly one of my reactions. Food for thought ... some have taken these products out of their diet and just stuck with real food and seen the symptoms go away. Another thought is the recent discovery that so many of the "naturally gf" grains/flours, like millet and buckwheat, have been shown to have high amounts of gluten in them--levels like 300 ppm ... well above the safe levels. I doesn't seem like you are eating much along those lines, but did want to share that.

Sending you healing hugs and hope,
Shirley

Lauren Denneson said...

Oh man... hope your finding your answers. Seems like all of us with gluten issues end up with other health struggles :( Take care of yourself!

Iris said...

I hope you're doing better! Have you been able to figure anything out since you wrote this?

Also, can you e-mail me your address so I can send along the stevia? Thanks and congrats!

Heather @ Life, Gluten Free said...

Gosh I hope you are doing better..... sending you lots of loving thoughts!