Friday, September 4, 2009

Oh coffee....


"Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin!"

One thing that I absolutely miss right now is coffee!! It doesn't matter how I drink it, coffee is just not my friend. So, I have to settle for smelling it when Bill is making it here at home or I'm grabbing a Green Tea Frapp at Starbucks.

I am doing so much better since my last surgery. Take down/ileostomy reversal surgery was July 9th, 7 1/2 weeks ago. The first couple of weeks after the surgery were tough. I was in the bathroom around 15 - 18 times a day. I was taking close to 8 hot baths a day. I was using creams and Tuck's pads for the "butt burn." I had major, major cramping from everything trying to wake up and start moving again. I will also add, for those of you approaching this surgery, I did have problems holding it at night. So, I would wear a pad to bed. I won't lie, that is the most...I'm looking for the word, depressing, irritating, sad thing. I really had a hard time dealing with that.

Week 3 was a good week and I needed it! I started taking 2 Lomotil at night and that got me through the night. My cramping stopped finally. I still have gas pains, but the bad cramping wasn't there.

That brings me to my next subject, food. For the first 4 weeks, I introduced foods slowly and I think that really helped me. I didn't eat anything too bulky. I had white rice, mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup and oatmeal. That is pretty much what my diet was. Then, slowly, I started adding other foods. At 7 weeks, I still am not eating very much red meat. I eat a lot of chicken and tuna. I just started adding fruits and vegetables, but I make sure I'm going to be home when I eat them. Fruits and veggies will make you go to the restroom more. I should also add, that any time I add a new food, I make sure I'm going to be home. Also, if you try a food once and it doesn't work, try it again at a later time. It could just be the day.

I'm 100% lactose intolerant. I have switched to soy, lactose free and rice milk. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy dairy better that way. I wish I would of done it years ago! You can find just about anything at Whole Foods. The kids are even eating and drinking those things because they like it.

About week 5, my hair started falling out in handfuls! It scared me because it was so much. I did find out that was because of the stress of the surgeries on my body, the fact that I'm anemic and the "lack of" my diet and the foods I'm eating right now. I started a daily vitamin (double the dose for now) and that has improved how much hair loss I have and has increased how well I feel. I could see a huge difference 3 days after I started the vitamin. My doctor said she would give me all these different meds and pills for the issues I was having, but I really want to do it naturally because I will face these issues the rest of my life. Potassium is something else that I always have problems with. Not easy for me because I don't like bananas, but I did find out that grapes are a great source of potassium as well. So, I'm working on that.

Something else that can be a pain is carbonation. Carbonation causes gas and for several months, you won't be able to pass gas unless you are on the toilet. Some people will always have to sit on the toilet to pass gas because they can't tell the difference. The gas can also be painful, so I watch my intake of anything carbonated. Gum has the same effect, but not as bad. So, I usually just suck on hard candy. Using a straw can cause the same problem.

I have found that marshmallows and eating ice help thicken things up. Strange, huh? It works though. Tucks pads and hot baths are the best things for your sore bottom and until your control is better at night, try the Lomotil or Immodium before you go to bed. I don't eat after 7:00 at night either. You will learn in time how long it takes your body to pass food through and that is a huge help! It may not be the same for everyone either. Accidents will happen, so don't get discouraged. Just remember your pouch is growing right now and it will learn to hold more and you will learn to hold it better.

Emotionally, I have good days and bad. A normal day for me consists of using the restroom 6 to 8 times. However, on the days that I go more then that, I get frustrated. So, when you have a really good day, enjoy it and remember that there will be another!!!

For more information about Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=familialadenomatouspolyposis



New Beginnings


"All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten."

I can't believe that all my babies are now in school. They grow up way too fast! How many times have we said that, but don't they grow so fast? Diapers and bottles and baby food....they all seem like yesterday.

If you would of asked me a year ago, I would of said that I really wanted one more. Bill would of agreed. Then, July 4th I guess it was, I remember suddenly realizing how nice and special this phase of life is. My children are independent and are so much fun to have conversations with. I can leave home without making sure that I have everything I need in the diaper bag. I can actually carry a fancy purse, if I wish. No more lugging the stroller around or bulky car seats. It's amazing how we suddenly realize that we are enjoying this new place that we find ourselves at. Not that I don't have baby fever moments, but that's just it, they've become moments and not days or months! We are having so much fun.

I was so nervous the first week that school started. In all honesty, I wasn't worried about how Emma would do, I knew she would be fine. I was worried about me! I think Bill was too because he must of called me a dozen times the first day of school. I've only been without Emma a handful of times since she was born, so it felt like I lost a limb....or two.

Her first day was wonderful! She had so much fun. I don't even think she was really ready to come home when it was time. She has a very sweet teacher, so we are happy about that. Believe it or not, I survived the first day too. The first week seemed to go by so slow. The days seemed to last forever. This week has been a different story though. You would not believe how much I get done! Even on the days when I have the day care kids, I can get things knocked out. I've even found time to read and decorate. Amazing, huh?

We have been super busy this school year though. All the kids are doing different sports and activities, so I feel like I live in the car, but we are loving it! Wouldn't trade this time for anything.

Information about Familial Adenomatous Polyposis at: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=familialadenomatouspolyposis