It's been a few days since I visited due to work pressure, and hey it's Christmas time. It's an interesting journey I am on. Thursday wasn't too bad, at times I'd feel as if the reflux was much better, then I'd notice it back again. One change I noted as the afternoon drew on was my mouth became increasingly dry, as if I wasn't making enough saliva. Great I thought! Lose one problem and gain another. I suffer from dry eye, yes girls everything starts to dry up with age, something to really look forward to I tell you. All I now needed was a dry mouth as well, or a medication that will make my dry eye worse. I sucked on sugar free lollies, and sipped water, and the problem decreased thank goodness. I could now get back to focusing on good old reflux.
I was still in a state of confusion as to what herbal or natural remedies to use while doing the medication. My daughter thought I should stop them all to see if the medication works. Made sense - I think.... I've taken a bit of slippery elm, as that is an excellent herb to aid the digestive system. I'm also chewing some natural digestive enzymes, (like the fruity version of mylanta) and they help a bit. Herbal teas have been helpful, such as lemon and honey, and now I'm trying ginger as its also good for the digestive system. I try and alternate so as not to overdo a particular one, esp ginger,
I am starting to make changes to my diet, and thinking more about food and what, how and when I eat. I've virtually cut sugar out of my diet, and been surprised at how well I've coped. Of course it's addictive, so cutting back must help eventually. I've also been eating a lot more fruit, which luckily I love, and that seems to fill the 'sweet' gap. I cut sugar out of my diet 10 years ago as much as possible, but it has been creeping back in slowly, and while I try not to eat too much, I've also been aware that lately I've almost been feeling a need for my daily sugar fix. Could be something as small as a couple of lollies, or a little biscuit, and I've been trying to restrict to it only one thing per day. That hasn't always been the case.
I'm making sure I don't eat too late at night, and also chewing my food more slowly. Trying to eat half my meal, then wait a while before finishing it. Not having water or a drink with my food, rather but before or after. Trying to eat fruit as a snack, and not directly after a meal. I've been thinking more about acidic and alkaline foods, and filling my diet with far more from the latter category. You'll be surprised what foods are alkaline, such as rhubarb.
I've not been a big dairy eater, and am certainly continuing down that route. I did get some good acidopholus yoghurt, as one thing I've found is I really can't eat a salad without dressing. Now that's not entirely true as I can eat it fine, but don't enjoy it one little bit. I've been googling healthy options, and yoghurt makes a good dressing.
I did a honey mustard one yesterday - 1/4 cup low fat yoghurt, 1 tbs organic dijon mustard, 1 tbs manuka honey and 1/2 tbs lemon juice. It was a pretty good replacement, but I did have to add a dash more mustard to get it just right for our taste buds. All small steps towards a better and hopefully longer life. Boy will I be one upset little puppy, if I manage to change my diet, lose weight, get rid of reflux, then get run over by a bus!
On the diet front, or what I prefer to call new eating plan, things are looking good. I rarely tell anyone my weight, but 10 years ago I was 110 kilos and steadily moving upwards. I hated it, but it was the spiral I seemed to be in. At that time I had a breakdown, due to incredible stress and pressure in my life, and the feeling I have to be all things to all people. Sometimes I think I'm a loose version of Mother Teresa and have to care for everyone, and it so is my downfall. The emotional collapse set me off on a new journey, just as the reflux has. Sometimes in life you have to thank God for sending you a crisis to shake your system up and for you to make some changes. You either sink or swim, rather than sink I put on 'life floaties'. These 'floaties' came in the form of an amazing good friend who always listened regardless, a new doctor who took me under her wing and told me I was wonderful, a counsellor who gave me coping mechanisms, and a clinical herbalist. Right now I'm thinking of acid reflux as my 'shake up,' and it's certainly for me refocused on life and diet.
I got on the scales yesterday morning, and I was 89 kilos, a drop of just over 3 kilos, and that has to be good for me. With Christmas and holidays approaching I need to stay focused and try and keep the prize in sight. It's so easy to fall off a wagon, so I need to be strapped tightly into my 'focus harness'.
Funny how this story is about so much more than silent reflux, and for the first time I am putting my thoughts down on paper. Is there a book in here do you think to help others? My journey back to emotional strength has been a tiring one, and I'll leave it for another time here, as I know it'll rear it's head again.
Judi
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