New Journey at 50!

It has been a long time since I have posted.  My last post was in 2014.  I still have all those symptoms and more.  Since 2014 I have had a pacemaker put in, had several hospital stays and surgery on my intestines in 2016.  My feeding tube was removed in June 2016.  Yeah!

I started a new way of life on November 21, 2017, that has changed my life.  I gained almost 30 pounds after my feeding tube was removed.  I didn't feel well.  I follow an eating plan called Bright Line Eating.  No flours and sugar, eat three times a day, and no snacks.  I walk my dogs every morning for a mile and two to three times a week I walk with girlfriends 3.1 miles.  I want to do more. 

I want to share my journey with people so that I may encourage them to take control of their life and do better.  I turned 50 in October and have set out to do 50 things this year that I have never done.

So far I have done:
1.  Went to a concert of one of my favorite music groups - Mercy Me with my sister, 2 cousins, and a girlfriend.
2.  Traveled to Abilene, TX to see Danielle and Stephen.
3.  Went to the Abilene Zoo on a very cold day
4.  Saw a 2 movies at a drive in movie
5.  Saw the Storybook land in Abilene.
6.  Had our Grandson's First Christmas - precious
7.  Attended the Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Gala - fancy!
8.  Started Bright Line Eating and losing weight for the first time in my life.
9.  Went to the Brevard County Zoo with my grandson.
10.  Started using MONAT for my hair and taking care of my body better.
11.  I read the Bible every day and have finished the New Testament and am half way through the Old Testament already.  Goal is to this twice before 51.
12.  Went to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
13.  Went to Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom with my cousin's and their family.  Best time!


Some of my goals over the next several months:

1.  Complete the Virtual Running Shorts by Disney.  Three 5K runs from June, July, and August - in the end you get four cool medals.  https://www.rundisney.com/virtual-running-shorts/
2.  Complete a 10K Walk before I turn 51.

I will add more as I do things.  I  want to do things different this year.  This is my journey.  Follow me through this journey of life.

A day in my life

Update on my life, I mean my Gastroparesis:

Since my last post - Charles and I go to the gym 3 times a week.  I am building my strength in my arms and legs.  I continue to ride the stationary bike and have now added the elliptical to my routine. This is going good.

In January I started with my fainting spells on a regular basis.  I went to the primary care, cardiologist, electrologist, and back to the primary care.  I am an interesting case to them.  I also believe that they think that I am lying about symptoms.  Not sure why because I hardly ever complain and if I feel that I am sick enough to go to the Dr. then something is wrong.

The good news is my heart and the plumbing to my heart are in perfect condition.  I can exercise and that will do the body good.

I have been diagnosed with syncope episodes that means my heart rate drops to low and I pass out.  In the beginning it was only happening in the morning getting ready for work.  Now it happens all day long and their is no trigger to it.  The cardo wanted a pacemaker put in, the electrologist said no - doesn't sound like anything that a pacemaker would help with.  So they put in a Loop Heart recorder on March 25, 2014.  I have had one episode since and when the Dr read the results - he was scared and now wants a pacemaker put in.  Really?  Did you think that I was lying to you?

He sent me back to the primary care to take care of the rest of the symptoms.  It is now thought that I have Autonomic neuropathy due to the surgery.  Basically what this is my nerves are damaged or paralyzed and do not send the signals to my brain to tell them to function correctly.

My symptoms are:
Autonomic neuropathy - nerves don't work and bodily functions are affected.  Autonomic neuropahty
Sjogren's Syndrome - dry eyes and no saliva.  Read about Sjogren's 

Other symptoms including dizziness and fainting, digesting food, sweating abnormalities, exercise intolerance.  Since I cannot regulate my body temperature I have to be careful where I am and what I am doing.  I am either hot or cold but very seldom am just right.

There is no cure for this but you learn to live with the symptoms and control your environment.  They will be putting in a pacemaker soon to control the heart (because you have to have your heart to live) but the other stuff -- I will have to adjust to the symptoms.

Other things in my life:

My husband's health has improved greatly.  He no longer requires the insulin pump -- he takes Victosa once a day and his sugar stays between 60 to 120.  He has lost 76 pounds since November 2013.  Like I said earlier we go to the gym 3 times a week together and he goes an additional 2-3 times.  We have switched to a paleo  free diet (basically a lot of veggies and white meat and no processed foods.)

Charles' brother, Tim, had an overdose of heroin on March 7, 2014, and Charles removed the life support on March 10, 2014.  Tim passed away 10 minutes later.  Charles' family has been recovering from this -- it has not been easy on any of them.

Eli has moved into his own place closer to his two jobs in Melbourne, Florida.  Eli is working at Sears and Home Depot and finding living on his own different.  Keep him in your prayers.

Charles, Eli, and Myself (along with my sister and brother-in-law) will be traveling to Springfield, Missouri the week of April 27 to celebrate Stephen's accomplishments of graduating college.  He will be graduating from Evangel University with a Mathematics Degree with a Chemistry concentration.  Stephen will be moving to the Dallas Texas area after graduation to pursue his next college step -- Medical School.  Stephen wants to be a orthopedic surgeon.

Final thoughts:

I have health issues, I work full-time, and take care of my family.  God has His hand on my life and my families lives.  When God takes you through something, He carries you until you can walk on your own.  My faith has not changed.  I know what I am called to do and my health is not going to hold me back from accomplishing these things in my life.

At our church I am ministering in the way of fundraising.  I am involved with helping the various groups at church raise money through a monthly flea market.  The second Saturday of the month a person can purchase a spot on our church parking lot to sell your stuff.  The church has a concession stand as well.  I am working with several other areas of fundraising to bring women together to have a bonding time and learn new things.  I am really excited about this next stage in life.


  

My new mission ...

I have been trying new things, going to the gym, walking, and experimenting with new foods.

Let me tell you -- listen to your body.  It knows when it doesn't like something or you are pushing it to hard.

The gym is good as long as I don't exercise to hard.  I can ride the stationary bike at a low pace for about 30 minutes; do arms lifts and work on my legs.  After about 45/50 minutes my body is done.   Charles drives me home and I sleep for a while so my body can recover.  I am getting to the gym about two times a week.

I am walking around the block with the dog at a slow pace.  It takes me about 1 hour to go 1.5 miles.  It is exercise and it is outside.

Now, food is another challenge for people with Gastroparesis.  Food doesn't empty out of your stomach like normal and you have to be careful what you eat.  I have purchased 8 oz water bottles and my goal every day is to drink 1 bottle a day.  Some days are better than others -- but I keep pushing forward.  The more water I can take in, the sooner they will consider removing my tube.

I tried almond flour pancakes - which were really tasty but my system did not like them at all.  It took 5 days for the fiber to process through my system -- so not doing that one again.  I tried white rice and that didn't do well at all.  I tried sweet potatoes as well.  Again, a no go with this body.

So today I have cooked a gastroparesis friendly "chili."  I love white chicken chili.  I modified the chili to fit what I can eat.

Instead of the beans - I diced up white potatoes and cooked them with all the seasonings of the chili.  I cannot do cornbread, so I will have flour tortilla as the bread.  In the chili I have chicken, seasonings of onions, green peppers, green chili, and garlic.  I have been cooking this mixture all afternoon.

I am determined to find things that I can eat and tolerate.  I meet with a dietitian on Wednesday who said she is willing to try and help me get through this disease.

So for now, keep following my journey.

Troubles with the Tube

God is a great and when you are going through things -- you must look up to Him for guidance.  I have problems with my tube and the I.R. Dr. needs to look at my tube (which can't be done until Monday or Tuesday.)

My week of January 21 started out with my Mic-key G/J coming dislodged and was falling out.  I talked with Shands I.R department and they wanted me to come on Tuesday afternoon to have the tube replaced.  I was really busy at work that week and couldn't do it.  I taped the tube in place and worked all week.  I called my G.I doctor and he set me up with the local I.R. doctor at Parrish Medical Center.

I was scheduled to have the tube replaced by Dr. Flynn on Thursday afternoon on January 30, 2014.  They preped me just like Shands did for the procedure.  Now remember at Shands it is an all day procedure with lots of vomiting and nausea.  Charles and I were in for the long haul.  I was taken back at 9:00 am, Dr. Flynn gave me a shot in the stoma (much like a tooth procedure) and was walking out of the hospital at 9:45 am.  No sickness, no IV's, nothing!  I was so happy!

Unfortunately, I cannot have the short Mic-key tube, I have to have the long tube.  I know that tube works and I am ok with that.

Yeah! 

A gastroparesis diet

Finding foods that I can eat is difficult.  Let me give you a sample of what you can and can't eat.  I do not have any other restrictions but my family does, so I am often cooking two meals for dinner.

Simple meals:
Chicken and turkey
Fish without skin, no shell fish.
Low fiber (no more than 4 grams a meal)
No nuts, seeds, or items with skin.
Many veggies have natural fiber and unless cooked to much cannot consume.
Pineapple
Apple sauce
Certain crackers
No corn items
Nothing fried
No fast foods
No milk products (sits to long in the stomach)
Things with ginger
Can't have a lot of. Liquid (so bowls of soup are out)
No rice (gets caught in the tube)
No caffeine
Small doses of chocolate and not at night.
No pancakes, pork, beef, or egg yolks
No red sauces
White bread
Cannot eat things like cakes or cookies (to heavy on the stomach)

Now , try and make something good to eat...

Crock pot meals with chicken and turkey
Tater tots that are baked (my favorite)
Casseroles that are cooked with chicken or turkey
Cucumbers with seeds removed and olives (my new salad)
Turkey burgers grilled or baked but not fried
Noodles - rice or regular but not wheat
White bread turkey sandwiches


This is just a small sample of what I can eat. So I am always looking for good recipes to try.  Please share your thoughts.

Dawn

New year and a new determination 2014

I have a disease called gastroparesis.  I lost 2/3 of my stomach on July 21, 2012. I. Spent many months in the hospital until I was "stabilized" and have since learned how to deal with this disease.  It is very much like dealing with other diseases like fibermyalgia or some other disease that many dr.s don't understand.

I have a g/j feeding tube that has to be changed out every three months by the Interventional radiologist at Shands Medical Center in Gainsville, Fl (a 300 miles round trip).  I have constant dehydration because I cannot process water or liquids.  I do not have hunger sensations nor do I get thirsty.  (Which adds different problems such as remembering to eat during the day).  I have an awesome office who have become my stomachs and remind me when they are hunger that I need to eat.  I have issues related to this such as Sjögren's syndrome (is where my white blood cells are attacking all my moisture producing glades -very dry eyes, dry mouth, etc.) and fainting syncope (which happens shortly after getting up in the morning and getting ready for work) but this can happen anytime during the day.  Some days I am nausea and can't function without my nausea medicine and other days I have more energy to run circles around you.  I cannot exercise like everyone else because strenuous exercise is worse for gastroparesis.  I cannot run due to lack of water and walking is hard on my muscles as well.

I work full time in an office and I take care of my husband who has medical issues as well.  I am learning how to roll with my days and learn how to be very positive towards life.  I have two adult children - one is 23 and lives at home, the other one is away at college in his last semester of college. I can do anything that I set my mind to and I have decided that 2014 is going to be a year of change for me.

Some of my goals for this year include:
1.  Drinking more fluids by mouth so that I can have the g/j tube removed.  Goals by dr is that if I can consume the recommended amount of water during the day she will remove the tube.  I currently need between 70 to 100 ounces of water a day.  Currently I consume no more 12 ounces over the entire day.  I take in 32 ounces through my tube but that gets processed differently and doesn't help  much.

2. I want to find an exercise program that I can do with all of my issues.  I would love to take up  karate.  As well as riding my bike.

3. I have some personal goals that I am going to accomplish such as getting my notary and working as a real estate signing agent; taking and passing the paralegal exam to become a certified paralegal; and starting a business of organization and helping people get their homes organized.

4. My last and final goals for 2014 is to watch Stephen graduate from college and Eli be successful in his life by finding a career that makes him happy.

I will walk through this disease but I refuse to allow it to take what makes me happy!

Dawn

Recipes for GPer's

Raspberry Filled Chocolate Layer Cake
Makes 12 servings
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons reduced calorie tub margarine
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup skim or low fat buttermilk
1/2 cup seedless raspberry preserves
1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 8″ square baking pans with cooking spray.

In a small bowl sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and soda and salt. Set side.

In a medium bowl cream together sugar and margarine. Add egg and vanilla beating until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk until batter is smooth.

Evenly divide batter between prepared pans. Bake 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer pans to a rack to cool. Remove cakes from pans. Transfer one cake to a serving plate flat side up.

Meanwhile heat raspberry preserves in a small saucepan over low heat until melted. Brush half of the preserves on top of cake on the serving plate. Brush remaining preserves on flat side of remaining cake. Arrange cakes with fruit sides touching. Evenly sprinkle top of cake with confectioner’s sugar. Cut into 12 squares.

adapted from http://gastroparesisandgastronomy.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/let-them-eat-cake/

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

 

Ingredients

• about 3 lbs. organic sweet potatoes (2 large or 3 medium)
• olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice + 1/4 cup water*
• 1-1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash sweet potatoes and cut into 6 total pieces (i.e. cut 2 large into 3 sections each; cut 3 medium into 2 sections each).
3. Rub the skins and top and bottom of each piece with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil (for easier clean up).
4. Bake for 45-50 minutes, turning once, or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
5. Allow to cool until they are easy to handle.
6. Scoop the flesh out of each “cup,” leaving a little bit on the bottom and sides. (I used a melon baller, as suggested in the original recipe.)
7. In a food processor or blender, combine the flesh with juice, water, coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. Process until smooth.
8. Spoon filling back into cups. For non-GPers, sprinkle chopped pecans over the top. (Leave your portion plain.)
9. Bake for about 20 minutes, until hot and lightly browned.
10. Serve warm.

LWWGP Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 lbs. organic sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice + 1/4 cup water*
• 1-1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (to make clean-up easier).
2. Place sweet potatoes (whole, unpeeled) on the baking sheet.
3. Bake for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size. They’re done when you can easily poke a fork into the flesh.
4. Allow to sit until cool enough to handle. Slice each yam in half and either peel off the skin or scoop out the inside with a spoon. Discard peels.
5. Add the sweet potato flesh and all ingredients to a blender or food processor (I used my Vitamix) and whip until smooth.

*I like the added flavor and bit of natural sweetness from the orange juice, but you could use 1/2 cup of any liquid. If you have GERD and cannot tolerate citrus, I think apple juice would also work well if you’re not sensitive to FODMAPs. If you’d rather have a more savory dish, try 1/2 cup chicken stock. 
http://livingwithgastroparesis.com/recipe-sweet-potatoestwo-ways/

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1-16 ounce box of organic vanilla cake mix
• 1-15 ounce can of organic sweet potato puree (or organic pumpkin puree)
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Sunspire organic 42% cacao chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, puree, spices and vanilla until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop onto a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray (or use a Silpat, like I did) and bake for about 9 minutes, until set. Let cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

*Let me explain why I chose these ingredients and what makes these cookies so GP-friendly. First, the organic cake mix. For whatever reason, cake mix works much better for cookie recipes without butter/oil than scratch baking. And unlike commercial cake mixes, organic ones don’t have any trans-fat. In fact, this one doesn’t have any fat at all. Or fiber. No corn syrup, either. Good place to start!
The sweet potato puree is lower in fiber than canned pumpkin (about 2 grams instead of 4 grams per half cup). You can’t tell the difference flavor-wise in the cookies, at least in my opinion. You could certainly use pumpkin puree. It would just boost the fiber content a bit.

Now the chocolate chips. Sunspire chocolate chips have half the fat of both Nestle’s and Hershey’s chocolate chips (4 grams in 2 tablespoons instead of 1 tablespoon). With these ingredients, assuming you make 30 cookies, there’s just over one gram of fat and 1/2 gram of fiber in each cookie.
In general, I just feel better using organic stuff and avoiding some of the junky chemicals and artificial ingredients that promote inflammation. Of course these are still a treat. Cookie Monster is right. Cookies are a sometimes food, especially when it comes to a GP-friendly diet. Maximizing nutrition should always be our first priority. That said, I love a good cookie now and then. Okay, let’s be honest. If I had a whole batch of these laying around, it’d be probably be more than now and then. That’s why I…

…make a couple of cookies and freeze the rest of the dough! Then whenever you want to make a few more, just scoop and bake. You can do this with any cookie dough so that you don’t end up eating too many or eating them too many days in a row. Not that I’ve ever done that… ; )

Pumpkin Spice Angel Food Cake

Serves 12
1 1 pound box white angel food cake mix
1 tablespoon flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup cold water

Move oven rack to lowest position; preheat oven to 350 degrees. In an extra-large glass or metal bowl, beat all cake ingredients with and electric mixer on low-speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Pour into an ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan.

Bake 37-47 minutes or until crust is dark golden brown and cracks are dry. Immediately turn pan upside down onto a heatproof funnel or glass bottle. Let hang about 2 hours or until cake is completely cool. Loosen cake from side of pan with a knife or long, metal spatula. Turn cake upside down onto serving plate.

Optional Filling (I did not make this but wanted to include it as an entertaining option)
1 8 ounce container fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Gently fold ground ginger into whipped topping. Cut cake in half horizontally to make two even layers (a serrated bread knife works best). Spread half the filling on the bottom layer. Replace the top layer and spread remaining filing on top of cake. Sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Refrigerate cake.

Super Simple Shrimp Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 lb of frozen shrimp, defrosted, peeled, & deveined
• 6 oz fat free Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ a head of cabbage, thinly sliced (about 5 cups)
• 8 corn tortillas
• 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat tortillas over medium heat in a dry skillet until warm and starting to form small brown spots. Set aside on a plate covered with a clean kitchen towel.
Mix yogurt, cayenne, lime juice, cilantro, & salt in a small bowl, set aside.
Heat two teaspoons of olive oil in a medium non-stick skillet and add cabbage. Cook for about four minutes or until the cabbage is just barely wilted. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Cut shrimp into thirds, so you have little bite size pieces. Sauté in two teaspoons of olive oil and season with salt, pepper and a dash of cayenne pepper over medium heat just until done. They cook up in just a few minutes… so be sure to watch them!
Build your taco! Place a scoop of cabbage on the warmed tortillas taco, then top with shrimp, and cilantro sauce… enjoy!
Serves 4.

Nutritional Analysis

Calories: 264; Total Fat: 5.8g; Saturated Fat: 0.4g; Cholesterol: 850mg; Sodium: 850mg; Carbohydrate: 23g; Dietary Fiber: 4.6; Sugars: 6g; Protein: 30.2g

 

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons white sugar

Procedures

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
   
   
2. 2
   In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
   
   
3. 3
   Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.