This week I am pushing through the headaches and bloat and nothing fits around my waist. I've got lots to do - some fun and some not so much. I'm feeling lately like I've wasted too much time being sick and I want that to change.
So I'll be busy straight through the weekend, whether my guts like it or not.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
That Time
Sorry guys, but I am having some serious IBDPMS.
I don't know if it's the Crohn's or a hormonal imbalance or just me but this is just unbearable. Each month I temporarily gain about five million pounds. It's all around the middle. I don't know what it is, where it comes from or where it eventually goes but I'm over it.
So I measured and I gain about four inches around my waist the week before my period. It's awful, painful, uncomfortable and I don't know what it is. Water weight? Bloat? Gas? Whatever it is, I don't know how to get rid of it and I don't know how to live with it. My clothes are too tight, I feel like I'm going to pop and apparently people think I'm pregnant. I also have trouble dealing with people looking at me or talking to me. I wish I could put on a muumuu and lock myself in a room for a week and come out when it's over.
Once the cramps start, look out. It's hard to tell the difference between menstrual cramps and Crohn's cramps so it's basically three or four days of constant paranoia. Do I need a bathroom or a hot water bottle? Curses.
Ok, I'm finished whining...until next month.
I don't know if it's the Crohn's or a hormonal imbalance or just me but this is just unbearable. Each month I temporarily gain about five million pounds. It's all around the middle. I don't know what it is, where it comes from or where it eventually goes but I'm over it.
So I measured and I gain about four inches around my waist the week before my period. It's awful, painful, uncomfortable and I don't know what it is. Water weight? Bloat? Gas? Whatever it is, I don't know how to get rid of it and I don't know how to live with it. My clothes are too tight, I feel like I'm going to pop and apparently people think I'm pregnant. I also have trouble dealing with people looking at me or talking to me. I wish I could put on a muumuu and lock myself in a room for a week and come out when it's over.
Once the cramps start, look out. It's hard to tell the difference between menstrual cramps and Crohn's cramps so it's basically three or four days of constant paranoia. Do I need a bathroom or a hot water bottle? Curses.
Ok, I'm finished whining...until next month.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
How Humiliating
Someone asked me today if I'm expecting. Ouch.
First of all - never, EVER ask a woman if she is expecting. If you are not 100% sure - DO NOT MENTION IT!
Secondly - the fact that I was wearing about three layers which included a huge cardigan and an equally huge scarf that was sticking out of the cardigan at my stomach does not make it any better.
And three - I couldn't say it's just a Crohn's Belly. This was the first time I ever spoke to this person!
In my defense, I had just eaten my lunch-snack and my Crohn's Belly was in full effect. I know she didn't do it on purpose because her face turned bright red after she said it and she clearly regretted saying anything at all. But c'mon. Nothing will ruin a girl's day faster.
First of all - never, EVER ask a woman if she is expecting. If you are not 100% sure - DO NOT MENTION IT!
Secondly - the fact that I was wearing about three layers which included a huge cardigan and an equally huge scarf that was sticking out of the cardigan at my stomach does not make it any better.
And three - I couldn't say it's just a Crohn's Belly. This was the first time I ever spoke to this person!
In my defense, I had just eaten my lunch-snack and my Crohn's Belly was in full effect. I know she didn't do it on purpose because her face turned bright red after she said it and she clearly regretted saying anything at all. But c'mon. Nothing will ruin a girl's day faster.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Health Care Reform
I will be honest, I haven't found the time to read the details of the health care reform bill that will likely be passed or shot down by Congress this weekend. I know generally what it's about but I also know there are a lot of rumors flying around the web. I don't know exactly how this bill will affect me but I doubt anyone really knows. I do not know if this bill is the right move or if it's a step back. This is what I know.
I have health insurance through my employer. A portion of my pay is taken from my paycheck each month and is put toward my insurance coverage. I drag my butt to work every day through all of the symptoms listed on the Pepto-Bismol commercials as well as some bonus symptoms. I pay 20%, and sometimes more, of all my medical bills in a timely manner. Yet my insurance company continues to fail me time and time again.
I spent several hours each day this week on the phone with my insurance company, the caseworker who was assigned to me by my insurance company and a new pharmacy. Each time I spoke with someone I got a different story. I was told that my medicine would be cheaper if I used a pharmacy that was in network. I was then given the number of an "in network" pharmacy by someone at the insurance company. I then called said number only to hear back from the pharmacy that my insurance company told them they were not in my network. The next person I spoke to then told me they were in my network. And on and on and on. "Call the pharmacist." "Have the pharmacist call us." "We don't deal with pharmacists." I was then informed that PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES DOES NOT HAVE A PHONE! They can give me a fax number and an email address but they don't have a phone. I am not able to speak with someone at my insurance company's pharmaceutical services department.
I had to call the most helpful pharmacy employee on earth about a hundred times to apologize profusely for wasting his time and ask him to call another 800 number just so someone could tell him that they couldn't help him.
This week I literally WASTED at least eight hours of my life just getting a prescription filled. In the end, I paid exactly what I would have paid had I not made one single phone call. I paid the same price I would have paid had I gone to the far more convenient out-of-network pharmacy in my office building. That price? $1700.00. AND I HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE!
You cannot convince me that we do not need health care reform.
I have health insurance through my employer. A portion of my pay is taken from my paycheck each month and is put toward my insurance coverage. I drag my butt to work every day through all of the symptoms listed on the Pepto-Bismol commercials as well as some bonus symptoms. I pay 20%, and sometimes more, of all my medical bills in a timely manner. Yet my insurance company continues to fail me time and time again.
I spent several hours each day this week on the phone with my insurance company, the caseworker who was assigned to me by my insurance company and a new pharmacy. Each time I spoke with someone I got a different story. I was told that my medicine would be cheaper if I used a pharmacy that was in network. I was then given the number of an "in network" pharmacy by someone at the insurance company. I then called said number only to hear back from the pharmacy that my insurance company told them they were not in my network. The next person I spoke to then told me they were in my network. And on and on and on. "Call the pharmacist." "Have the pharmacist call us." "We don't deal with pharmacists." I was then informed that PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES DOES NOT HAVE A PHONE! They can give me a fax number and an email address but they don't have a phone. I am not able to speak with someone at my insurance company's pharmaceutical services department.
I had to call the most helpful pharmacy employee on earth about a hundred times to apologize profusely for wasting his time and ask him to call another 800 number just so someone could tell him that they couldn't help him.
This week I literally WASTED at least eight hours of my life just getting a prescription filled. In the end, I paid exactly what I would have paid had I not made one single phone call. I paid the same price I would have paid had I gone to the far more convenient out-of-network pharmacy in my office building. That price? $1700.00. AND I HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE!
You cannot convince me that we do not need health care reform.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
My Favorite Gluten Free Replacement Foods
There are many, many gluten free products out there. Most of these products are meant to replace glutenous foods. There are gluten free breads, cakes, cookies and pretzels. You can buy gluten free pie crust, gluten free pizza crust and even gluten free bread sticks. Sadly, most of these products suck.
The secret of gluten free eating, for me, is to eat foods which are naturally gluten free. Meat, vegetables, potatoes and rice always taste good. Corn tortillas have become a staple of my diet. There is nothing better than a steaming bowl of grits on a cold day.
There are exceptions to my gluten free rule, however.
-Almost every day I have crackers and hummus for lunch. My cracker of choice: Kame Rice Crackers. I don't love the wasabi or soy flavors but the original and sesame varieties cannot be beat. Kame rice crackers can be found in the cracker aisle of most grocery stores, most grocery stores in New York anyway. www.kame.com
-As far as I'm concerned, the ONLY gluten free bread worth eating is Udi's. The white bread ACTUALLY TASTES LIKE WHITE BREAD! I bought the whole grain variety this week and it is also delicious. A lot of the bread out there is incredibly heavy (think dry fruitcake) or incredibly bland. Udi's is light and bready and, at around five dollars, is relatively inexpensive as far as gluten free breads go. I don't know how they pull it off. I don't eat a lot of bread but when I do it's gotta be Udi's. Unfortunately Udi's is a bit difficult to find. So far I've found it at Whole Foods and I know Fresh Direct sells Udi's. There is a store locator on the website.
-One of my favorite gluten free menus is at Nizza on 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The pasta there is a-mazing. I found out they use Le Veneziane pastas. This is the only gluten free pasta I've eaten that even comes close to the texture of wheat pasta. It is fantastic and, I think, only has two ingredients: corn meal and water. Even gluten gluttons like this pasta. The drawback, again, is that the pasta is difficult to find and can be pricey. You can buy it on Amazon and Quattrobimbi. I found Le Veneziane at a small Italian importer near my neighborhood in Brooklyn for about $2.75 a box. So it is out there, finding it just requires some research.
Lucky for me, I never was a carb lover. I don't care too much for cake or cookies and I never ate a lot of bread. This probably made the gluten free thing easier for me.
The secret of gluten free eating, for me, is to eat foods which are naturally gluten free. Meat, vegetables, potatoes and rice always taste good. Corn tortillas have become a staple of my diet. There is nothing better than a steaming bowl of grits on a cold day.
There are exceptions to my gluten free rule, however.
-Almost every day I have crackers and hummus for lunch. My cracker of choice: Kame Rice Crackers. I don't love the wasabi or soy flavors but the original and sesame varieties cannot be beat. Kame rice crackers can be found in the cracker aisle of most grocery stores, most grocery stores in New York anyway. www.kame.com
-As far as I'm concerned, the ONLY gluten free bread worth eating is Udi's. The white bread ACTUALLY TASTES LIKE WHITE BREAD! I bought the whole grain variety this week and it is also delicious. A lot of the bread out there is incredibly heavy (think dry fruitcake) or incredibly bland. Udi's is light and bready and, at around five dollars, is relatively inexpensive as far as gluten free breads go. I don't know how they pull it off. I don't eat a lot of bread but when I do it's gotta be Udi's. Unfortunately Udi's is a bit difficult to find. So far I've found it at Whole Foods and I know Fresh Direct sells Udi's. There is a store locator on the website.
-One of my favorite gluten free menus is at Nizza on 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The pasta there is a-mazing. I found out they use Le Veneziane pastas. This is the only gluten free pasta I've eaten that even comes close to the texture of wheat pasta. It is fantastic and, I think, only has two ingredients: corn meal and water. Even gluten gluttons like this pasta. The drawback, again, is that the pasta is difficult to find and can be pricey. You can buy it on Amazon and Quattrobimbi. I found Le Veneziane at a small Italian importer near my neighborhood in Brooklyn for about $2.75 a box. So it is out there, finding it just requires some research.
Lucky for me, I never was a carb lover. I don't care too much for cake or cookies and I never ate a lot of bread. This probably made the gluten free thing easier for me.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Gluten Free Is For Me
A couple of year ago, when I first got sick the second time around, the doctor decided to test me for Celiac Disease. One portion of the test required that I stop eating gluten for a few weeks. It was painful but gluten and I took a break. In the end I failed the Celiac test but I did feel a bit better at the end of those gluten free weeks.
I went back to eating gluten (it's so hard not to!) and realized what a difference it made. Without gluten my migraines were fewer and farther between. I also found the temporary mental paralysis I usually felt after a meal was missing when I was off the gluten. I decided, after a short fling, it was time to break up with gluten for good.
Giving up gluten is not easy. It's especially difficult with Crohn's as some of us must also give up dairy, fried foods, raw fruits and vegetables, etc. For me though, it's a no-brainer. Giving up gluten is a small price to pay for weekends free of migraines and more productive afternoons at work.
I'm certainly not as vigilant as someone with Celiac Disease must be but I do realize how crucial it is for someone with Celiac to completely eliminate ingestion of wheat. I always order from the gluten free menu if there is one available but I will order gluten free dishes off of a regular menu if there is no other option.
Speaking of gluten free menus, there is an increasing number of restaurants that take their gluten free menus very seriously. Many restaurants flag gluten free plates to make sure there is no accidental contamination. Some send gluten free orders to the table with a manager. There are a lot of gluten free dishes out there that are less than delicious but it's comforting that so many are making such a valiant attempt.
A gluten free diet is commonly believed to improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with Autism. Wikipedia lists Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Seizures, Cognitive problems, Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis among those conditions which may improve with a gluten free diet. Some believe Crohn's related intestinal damage limits one's ability to digest gluten similar to Crohn's related lactose intolerance. I personally saw no improvement in digestion when I stopped eating gluten. I did, however, experience fewer migraines and less brain fog and that's enough for me.
I went back to eating gluten (it's so hard not to!) and realized what a difference it made. Without gluten my migraines were fewer and farther between. I also found the temporary mental paralysis I usually felt after a meal was missing when I was off the gluten. I decided, after a short fling, it was time to break up with gluten for good.
Giving up gluten is not easy. It's especially difficult with Crohn's as some of us must also give up dairy, fried foods, raw fruits and vegetables, etc. For me though, it's a no-brainer. Giving up gluten is a small price to pay for weekends free of migraines and more productive afternoons at work.
I'm certainly not as vigilant as someone with Celiac Disease must be but I do realize how crucial it is for someone with Celiac to completely eliminate ingestion of wheat. I always order from the gluten free menu if there is one available but I will order gluten free dishes off of a regular menu if there is no other option.
Speaking of gluten free menus, there is an increasing number of restaurants that take their gluten free menus very seriously. Many restaurants flag gluten free plates to make sure there is no accidental contamination. Some send gluten free orders to the table with a manager. There are a lot of gluten free dishes out there that are less than delicious but it's comforting that so many are making such a valiant attempt.
A gluten free diet is commonly believed to improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with Autism. Wikipedia lists Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Seizures, Cognitive problems, Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis among those conditions which may improve with a gluten free diet. Some believe Crohn's related intestinal damage limits one's ability to digest gluten similar to Crohn's related lactose intolerance. I personally saw no improvement in digestion when I stopped eating gluten. I did, however, experience fewer migraines and less brain fog and that's enough for me.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Busy
I'm busy but still glad I'm able to keep up. I've been having some digestive issues for the past several days after about three good weeks. I'm trying my best not to get down about it.
I have some free time this week and hope to catch up on my blogging.
Til then.
I have some free time this week and hope to catch up on my blogging.
Til then.
Monday, March 8, 2010
A New Week
I've had an incredibly busy weekend which included strenuous physical activity but no extra sleep. This does not bode well for the coming week and I'm already beginning to feel the effects. I'm sure staying up to watch the Oscars isn't going to help either.
On the bright side, I am feeling better Crohn's-wise which has allowed me to stay so busy and accomplish so much. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and being able to spend some time outside this year.
Hopefully I will find time to catch up here soon.
On the bright side, I am feeling better Crohn's-wise which has allowed me to stay so busy and accomplish so much. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and being able to spend some time outside this year.
Hopefully I will find time to catch up here soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
