Spring Cleaning
Posted on May 12, 2008 17 Comments
I haven’t been feeling much like myself lately. I’ve been in a funk and stressed out for some reason – probably due to increased stress at work and some small health issues (which seem to go hand-in-hand). I’ve been meaning to post, but haven’t had the heart to write what’s on my mind. I tried to work out a bit, but don’t have the energy. I’ve been spending weekends in, mostly sleeping or just lounging, rather than going out with my girls. And you know what? I’m sort of sick of myself.
I realized today that I’ve been spending more time talking about my health and nutrition issues lately than, well, anything else. And I think it’s driving my family and friends crazy. I need to get back to my normal, energetic and engaging self. But how?
Well, as most of you know, I’m not an unhealthy person. I usually eat plenty of veggies and fruits, try to eat “clean,” or organic/unprocessed whenever I can, avoid sodas and too much sugar and work out regularly. This isn’t the cheapest or easiest, but it’s how I feel my best and has worked well for me. Despite my healthy ways, about two weeks ago, my digestive system staged a protest and I ended up at the doctor’s office to get some advice.
Digestive issues are nothing new for me. I’ve had a sensitive stomach my whole life and regularly carry around a purse full of everything from antacids to Pepto to Immodium to chamomile tea to fiber to gas tablets (sorry for the TMI!). I’ve tried digestive enzymes, tried going vegan, tried avoiding dairy. How I’m processing foods really just depends on the mood of my tummy on any given day.
This time around, my doc advised me to be really restrictive about what’s going in, and suggested I limit my fiber, uncooked vegetables and raw fruits until I get back on track. So I’ve been doing that for two weeks now and I hate it. Though my body seems to be back in order, I don’t have the spring in my step that I usually do. So today I’ve gone back on veggies, fruit and fiber. Screw the brown-rice bread, bring on the whole grains! I’m scrapping the “sensitive stomach” diet and getting myself back into shape.
Here’s how I’m going to get back to normal…
1) To start, I made an appointment with a GI doc. I like my doc just fine, but she’s never tested me for what starts my issues in the first place. She recommends a high-fiber diet one day, and a low-fiber diet the next.
I have no idea what the GI doc will cost, but he’s in my network so it should be reasonable. For those of you wondering, I don’t want to delve to much into symptoms or history. We’ll leave all that to the health and nutrition bloggers out there.
2) As I noted, I’m going back to my pre-protest diet… high-fiber, good fats, yummy fruits and veggies. If I weren’t going out of town all week, I’d be at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s right now, buying $80 bags of groceries.
3) I’m going to keep taking the probiotics I started last week. The kind I’m using now is about $30/month.
4) I’m going to try to take a multivitamin every day.
Hopefully this strategy will keep me running right, with the energy levels and nutrients I need, until I see the GI doc at the end of the month. Until my appointment, I’m not going to complain or wallow one minute longer. I’m going to get off the couch and start exercising and cleaning my house.
Speaking of cleaning my house (how’s that for a transition?)… My vacuum cleaner has also staged a protest this week, and has decided it is no longer cleaning up cat hairs. Unfortunately for the vacuum cleaner, this means we have reached an impasse and will no longer be working together.
That said, I now need to buy a vacuum cleaner. And not just any vacuum cleaner; one that will actually clean my floor. My 5-year-old $40 Hoover probably “lost suction” about a year ago; we’ve been fiddling with bags and cleaning brushes, but it’s progressively getting worse. So in the name of spring cleaning, I’m going to splurge and actually buy an adult vacuum [read: expensive] this time. (My family had a top-of-the-line Rainbow growing up… I still remember when the sales lady came to my family’s house in the mid-80′s for a demonstration and all six of my family members sat in my living room in awe as she picked up a bowling ball with only one small attachment!)
So given how I’m partial to expensive vacuum cleaners because they actually, you know, work, I have narrowed down my search to two models: the Kenmore Progressive Model 35922, rated number one for pet owners by consumer reports and retailing for about $300, and the Dyson Animal, which retails for about $550 and is rated number one by my brother, who works with inventory for Best Buy. I have read glowing reviews for both. I’m guessing the Kenmore will be the winner based on price… after all, I am still the Budgeting Babe.
OK, so I think we’ve covered it all today: digestive ailments, probiotics and vacuuming. I have officially become the most boring blogger ever. Oh well. If it makes me sound any more glamorous, I also bought a plane ticket to visit a friend in Elko, Nevada. They have a cowboy museum there! Don’t think I was going to let the opportunity to visit a cowboy-lovin’, gold-mining western town pass me by. Spring cleaning season might suck, but I’m feeling an adventurous summer just around the corner.
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17 Responses to “Spring Cleaning”
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May 12th, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
You’re in a funk, you’ll get out of it. When it comes to your health, I believe so much of health is mental–if you convince yourself you aren’t sick, your body gets over it. I like your blog by the way, very informative and inspirational.
May 12th, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
Have you been tested for a wheat allergy (celiac disease)? My blood test didn’t register that I had it, but as soon as I stopped eating gluten I stopped having to keep a range of 5 pant sizes in my closet and an arsenal of emergency tummy meds/foods in my car. Now I’m eating a modified low-carb diet (I’m a vegetarian and I don’t really try to be low carb, but rice bread is pretty gross and there’s only so much corn a girl can eat) and I’ve never felt better. Just a thought!
May 12th, 2008 @ 8:25 pm
I’m going to leave the food comments to others with more experience. However, I will comment on the vacuum choices!! Choose the Dyson! I have the “Animal” and with my yellow lab I could have stuffed two queen sized mattresses with all the hair I vacuum up day after day! You’ll know as soon as you turn it on that you made the right decision- it purrs like a jet engine and like I said, I pick up the same amount of dog hair today as I did last year!
May 12th, 2008 @ 11:39 pm
I enjoy reading your blog. I am sorry to you’re not feeling well. As I was reading this post I was thinking abot celiac also. I think it’s worth getting tested for. I had issues and now feel much better once I stopped eatiing gluten. Feel better soon!
May 13th, 2008 @ 1:52 am
Hey N– Recently I used your tips to apply for student loan consolidation. I think it will make a big difference. Thanks so much for creating this blog –you helped manage something I was dreading. . .
May 13th, 2008 @ 4:02 am
Ah, someone already beat me to the question …have you been checked for celiac disease? I found out I have it about a year ago …had to leave Elko, NV to get the diagnosis as no one ever connected the dots together with all my symptoms in that elbow of a cowboy town!
Have fun there but think about asking the GI about getting tested.
Good blog!
May 13th, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
I am sorry to hear that you are in a funk. I am in sort of the same boat. I just don’t feel like doing anything ever since my school semester ended last monday. I think mine is more depression though than digestive issues. Yesterday I was visiting with a friend and she told me that feeling tired all of the time and having random aches and pains like I do is a sign of depression. I thought it was just plain laziness or some sort of health condition or lack thereof.
Well I hope that you are feeling better soon. Good luck in your spring cleaning adventures.
May 13th, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
Hey Nicole,
Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. As the gloomy picture suggests, perhaps your lack of wanting to do anything also has to do with the weather in Chicago?? Is it warming up now? Once the sun starts coming out more and the flowers start blooming, I think you will naturally want to get up off the couch and go out and enjoy the natural high that good/warm weather brings.
About the digestive issues, I don’t know anything about celiac’s disease and I also don’t know much about what I’m going to suggest, but if it peaks your interest, I know you have the wherewithal to get the info you need. I have heard that fasting is a way to rest your body’s digestive system. After a few days of fasting, then you slowly introduce liquids and then solids back in. Probiotics might also be used as you start to re-introduce the food as well.
I have never tried this so I can’t speak to the effects, but in theory, it sounds like it might work.
Hope you feel better soon. L
May 14th, 2008 @ 9:11 pm
I know how you feel. I’ve been there. How about a mini break? A change of scene, a little time to yourself, to forget about work or any other kind of stress does wonders for me.
May 14th, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
Nicole – you don’t knowme but I love rading your blog – I am an old 79 yr. gr. grandma and I just wanted to give my opinion. It seems to me that you are so young yet to be so serious in life – me thinks you need to spread your wings and just go a little bit wild and enjoy your youth cause it will get more serious when you marry and have a family – just jump up and down and ENJOY. Hope you don’t mind I wrote on your blog. I enjoy it – you are such an intelligent girl. Gr.S.
May 15th, 2008 @ 3:20 am
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May 15th, 2008 @ 4:38 am
Hello, I love your blog! I was browsing around on the net and found it. It is wonderful and very informative.
As for your funk, you diagnosed yourself – stress – been there, we often don’t realize the toll it takes on our mind and body. Prescription: Get with some good friends who can get you laughing and joking, watch a funny movie and enjoy the company and conversation. Works wonders.
May 15th, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
SORRY!! The comment above was not by me, it was by my spammer…
This person has been posting comments on other blogs, and claiming to be me… for about a week now.
Again, sorry.
May 16th, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
First, I love your site and appreciate the insight you give to the rest of us that are in “similar shoes.” Secondly, going to a GI doc is good. I work at a Gastroenterology practice and we frequently see people that wait way too long to get checked when they have GI related problems. It may be something simple that a regular family practitioner is not aware of. Good luck and hang in there!
May 25th, 2008 @ 6:34 am
I am totally sympathetic with you on the GI issues. Go see the doctor, and definitely get tested for celiac. The GI I went to actually couldn’t do anything for me, and I was a complete mess for awhile, until I found a naturopath/DO who tested me for allergies. Turns out, I’m allergic to everything. If you are worried about allergies, make sure your Dr. tests via actual shots, not just skin pricks.
I hope you get some answers and are feeling better soon! If your GI says, “I can’t do anything,” go find another doctor.
October 3rd, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
I’m sure you’re not in the funk anymore but your candor connects yourself with others who struggle, too. Well, don’t we all? We all wish there was some insurance for confidence or happiness – some magic pill. It doesn’t exist. Acknowledgement leads to change. And, it looks like you did that.
Jerry
http://www.leads4insurance.com
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