The West had Beltaine at the Pitt Ranch in Arbuckle this weekend. It was very windy, and hot. And it IS a ranch, so that meant flying dung and dried grass, allergies, etc. All in all, the topography of the site was good. Parking was far enough away and close enough both. Because of the WEATHER, I think a lot of people are judging the site harshly. Personally, I'd rather keep this site and toss the sheep ranch site with the rattlesnakes and the "No Dogs" rule. We didn't camp, because there really wasn't any reason to and we need to save our impositions on the neighbors (to feed and lock up our animals) for those times when we really must camp.
It was a relatively unpleasant, hot and windy day followed by a very pleasant, temperate and calm evening.
Court was highly entertaining.
I think I'm getting to the point in my relationship with the SCA community where much of the magic has worn thin. I don't like to sew, my garb always seems lacking and I truly have no desire to spend any amount of time on it, and yet I know that people judge me on that and it gives me less credibility. I'm tired of being a Chirurgeon, even though it isn't difficult. My arthritis prevents me from walking great distances over uneven ground without a lot of pain, sometimes for days, so again I don't have the credibility that the former Principality Chirurgeon had, and currently has as Kingdom Chirurgeon. I admire her a great deal, the fighters are all very familiar with her and trust her because she is always out there, and at events at which I am the CiC I tend to stay at Point. There are things I love, such as brewing and bread-making and fermenting vegetables. There are things I truly WANT to learn, such as harping and tablet-weaving beyond my basic skill set. But it seems to me that a basic part of the SCA is trying to maintain an acceptable appearance, which is too expensive to do unless you do it yourself, and I truly do not like machine sewing and don't have the time to hand sew all our garb unless I spend every spare moment doing that and nothing else.
This has lately become an issue with me because I'm shrinking and I don't know what to do to cover all the stages between old body and new body. Miach's fighting this year has been really good. He came very close to winning a Coronet two or three years ago, and I think he's feeling that he has to try to win it this year because he's not getting any younger. So I'm worrying much more than I usually do about garb. I also worry that I'm not presenting the best in reflection of him, and I know that the Knights are looking at him and he has enough hurdles to cross already without my garb being one of them. One of our friends was recently asked to join the Chivalry, and I truly believe that a large part of that invitation was that his Lady maintains a very nice period encampment and she dresses the both of them in attractive garb.
I'm also grouchy today because the Shire, which I once loved, has become fractured and nearly dysfunctional. Perhaps we need to take a lesson from the people that are currently thorns in our side, but again: I don't have the energy or ability to host events due largely to my arthritis, which I am beginning to acknowledge is much more of a disability than I have been willing to admit prior to this. I used to be able to take a pill twice a day and move fairly comfortably, but due to my surgery, I can't take those pills any longer. And I absolutely do not want to use narcotic pain meds, even if my doc would prescribe them. I've seen first-hand what they do to people over time, and it's not pretty and it's not healthy.
And this is where my head is at currently.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
GB: I've got this covered
I've done just about everything now that I could do: several restaurant meals, a trip to Florida, wedding reception, birthdays and ethnic foods.
I've tolerated very small amounts of cakes of all kinds, pasta and rice. But I've taken to heart the warning to put good stuff in my pouch first, and foremost.
The protein drink saga continues, but since I can tolerate slightly more food, I'm hoping that two drinks a day will suffice. Cause really: that's all I can get in.
The directive to not drink for 30 mins before/after meals is just not realistic for me. That's 3 hours. I need those hours to get the liquids in, which is kind of important. I'm not an office worker, who can sip constantly. My drinks are kept in a lunch cooler in a hot car, and they need to stay relatively cool for my whole day. I'm already limited by having to see clients for one or two hours at a time, and trying to eat/drink between visits.
I've learned why you need to take your time: if you eat too quickly, it WILL come back up. It's not horrible, it's kind of like having something stuck in your throat or swallowing air and belching. It's not exactly socially acceptable behavior, though, and it should be avoided, which you can do if you eat slowly and chew thoroughly and STOP when your pouch says to.
And I've seen all kinds of verboten behavior by other people who've had GB. The scariest is alcohol overconsumption, and I don't mean just one drink. I mean entire bottles of wine, or several beers or mixed drinks. I haven't tried coffee again yet, and that's another of those dubious liquids. The only way I can rationalize it is to mix it with protein powder and put it over ice. I'm not sure I could tolerate it. And it's not good for hydration, or for your pouch. OTOH, it does help with constipation. As vices go, the coffee vice isn't near as bad IMHO as the alcohol one, or the return to over-eating carbs one.
In general, be mindful of the size of your new stomach and take it slow, but live a social and active life and don't think you can't enjoy hanging out and eating (in a controlled, slow, savoring fashion).
I thought about posting weights, but I kind of go back to an earlier post about it: I had an operation. If I DON'T lose weight, that's remarkable. The expectation is that I will lose a lot of weight, and so far, I have. I am down 2 pants sizes, and I'm visibly smaller. And my advice on that is shop at thrift stores! And only get 2 pairs of pants at a time. Tops last even longer, but try not to look like you're wearing a tent before you get some new ones.
I've tolerated very small amounts of cakes of all kinds, pasta and rice. But I've taken to heart the warning to put good stuff in my pouch first, and foremost.
The protein drink saga continues, but since I can tolerate slightly more food, I'm hoping that two drinks a day will suffice. Cause really: that's all I can get in.
The directive to not drink for 30 mins before/after meals is just not realistic for me. That's 3 hours. I need those hours to get the liquids in, which is kind of important. I'm not an office worker, who can sip constantly. My drinks are kept in a lunch cooler in a hot car, and they need to stay relatively cool for my whole day. I'm already limited by having to see clients for one or two hours at a time, and trying to eat/drink between visits.
I've learned why you need to take your time: if you eat too quickly, it WILL come back up. It's not horrible, it's kind of like having something stuck in your throat or swallowing air and belching. It's not exactly socially acceptable behavior, though, and it should be avoided, which you can do if you eat slowly and chew thoroughly and STOP when your pouch says to.
And I've seen all kinds of verboten behavior by other people who've had GB. The scariest is alcohol overconsumption, and I don't mean just one drink. I mean entire bottles of wine, or several beers or mixed drinks. I haven't tried coffee again yet, and that's another of those dubious liquids. The only way I can rationalize it is to mix it with protein powder and put it over ice. I'm not sure I could tolerate it. And it's not good for hydration, or for your pouch. OTOH, it does help with constipation. As vices go, the coffee vice isn't near as bad IMHO as the alcohol one, or the return to over-eating carbs one.
In general, be mindful of the size of your new stomach and take it slow, but live a social and active life and don't think you can't enjoy hanging out and eating (in a controlled, slow, savoring fashion).
I thought about posting weights, but I kind of go back to an earlier post about it: I had an operation. If I DON'T lose weight, that's remarkable. The expectation is that I will lose a lot of weight, and so far, I have. I am down 2 pants sizes, and I'm visibly smaller. And my advice on that is shop at thrift stores! And only get 2 pairs of pants at a time. Tops last even longer, but try not to look like you're wearing a tent before you get some new ones.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
About my trip to see Roz
For some reason, I thought I posted this already. But I didn't.
I drove down to Seal Beach near LA to see Roz a week ago, and stayed for 3 days. It was very nice. We watched "Lincoln" and "Big Love" and visited on Easter with Morgan and Siobhann. During my stay, Roz convinced me to try egg white protein mix, and I tolerated that much better. With half a banana, it was delicious. We went out shopping on Saturday to a cute little Japanese store that was like a 99cent store, then to the Japanese market next door, where I found rice bran for pickling!
I talked in detail to Roz about all sorts of yucky stuff, and it was very wonderful to be able to do that and not feel like a whiner or like I was being disgusting. Roz talked to me about some of HER yucky stuff, too, and that was actually pleasant. I think it made us feel like we were both on the same team of "people whose insides are now modified".
I got to know Roz's dog, Flori, who is just adorable and recovering well from her own leg surgery.
A very helpful and healing little mini-vacation, for once NOT SCA-related except in a peripheral way.
I drove down to Seal Beach near LA to see Roz a week ago, and stayed for 3 days. It was very nice. We watched "Lincoln" and "Big Love" and visited on Easter with Morgan and Siobhann. During my stay, Roz convinced me to try egg white protein mix, and I tolerated that much better. With half a banana, it was delicious. We went out shopping on Saturday to a cute little Japanese store that was like a 99cent store, then to the Japanese market next door, where I found rice bran for pickling!
I talked in detail to Roz about all sorts of yucky stuff, and it was very wonderful to be able to do that and not feel like a whiner or like I was being disgusting. Roz talked to me about some of HER yucky stuff, too, and that was actually pleasant. I think it made us feel like we were both on the same team of "people whose insides are now modified".
I got to know Roz's dog, Flori, who is just adorable and recovering well from her own leg surgery.
A very helpful and healing little mini-vacation, for once NOT SCA-related except in a peripheral way.
Gastric Bypass Part Three
This might be my last gastric bypass post for awhile. I'm due to go back to work on Tuesday, two days from now. I feel pretty good. I still get tired if I'm doing a lot, and have to rest frequently, but I am able to carry on a fairly normal life.
At my surgeon visit this past week, she was pleased with my weight loss of around 16 pounds in 4 weeks. I was moved to the "Phase 3" diet, which is pretty much everything but take it slow, chew really well, and keep it to 4 tablespoons -- and no raw veggies yet. For the past 2 days, I've been eating normal food in very small amounts. I went to Marie Callendar's with my daughter and we split an entree, and I only ate about 1/8th of my half, if that. I became FULL on that amount. Later in the day, I made a chicken enchilada casserole for Mike and another one for our neighbors (she broke her leg). I had 4 tablespoons of it, and it was tasty and good. This morning I had 1/4th of a banger sausage and 1 egg, and at lunch I had 4 tablespoons of hamburger slow-cooked in fresh marinara sauce, with a dollop of ricotta.
I'm still having trouble with the protein shakes. The egg white protein gets too fluffy in my blender, which adds both volume and air and makes it harder to drink in an hour. The unjury blends well into V8 juice, so that's a winner, at least. I can get two shakes down a day, and I'm hoping the mini meals will provide the additional protein.
The pulling sensation in my epigastric region, which was never truly bothersome, has disappeared.
I'm making an effort to keep low carb, but I seem to tolerate butter and yogurt and cheese and I am not avoiding those, in small amounts. I've never avoided them in the past when keeping low carb, as I follow an Atkins-type regimen and have found it to work best and be very tolerable.
I WILL find a tolerable chewable Iron formula, but I'm not going to force myself to gag down Geritol. I may try the children's chewables again, now that my stomach isn't so touchy and my mouth isn't so dry. I also started B12 sublingual tabs at the direction of my surgeon, and those are not at all unpleasant.
My surgeon is satisfied that I am on track and if I continue to lose even 3 pounds a week, I'll be healthier and hopefully my joints will be less painful. If I hit any rough patches, or develop any complications, I'll be sure to update this. But at this point, everything seems to have worked out and it's just a matter of eating much, much less -- which seems normal to me now. I can't believe how much I used to eat, and the sizes of restaurant meals now.
At my surgeon visit this past week, she was pleased with my weight loss of around 16 pounds in 4 weeks. I was moved to the "Phase 3" diet, which is pretty much everything but take it slow, chew really well, and keep it to 4 tablespoons -- and no raw veggies yet. For the past 2 days, I've been eating normal food in very small amounts. I went to Marie Callendar's with my daughter and we split an entree, and I only ate about 1/8th of my half, if that. I became FULL on that amount. Later in the day, I made a chicken enchilada casserole for Mike and another one for our neighbors (she broke her leg). I had 4 tablespoons of it, and it was tasty and good. This morning I had 1/4th of a banger sausage and 1 egg, and at lunch I had 4 tablespoons of hamburger slow-cooked in fresh marinara sauce, with a dollop of ricotta.
I'm still having trouble with the protein shakes. The egg white protein gets too fluffy in my blender, which adds both volume and air and makes it harder to drink in an hour. The unjury blends well into V8 juice, so that's a winner, at least. I can get two shakes down a day, and I'm hoping the mini meals will provide the additional protein.
The pulling sensation in my epigastric region, which was never truly bothersome, has disappeared.
I'm making an effort to keep low carb, but I seem to tolerate butter and yogurt and cheese and I am not avoiding those, in small amounts. I've never avoided them in the past when keeping low carb, as I follow an Atkins-type regimen and have found it to work best and be very tolerable.
I WILL find a tolerable chewable Iron formula, but I'm not going to force myself to gag down Geritol. I may try the children's chewables again, now that my stomach isn't so touchy and my mouth isn't so dry. I also started B12 sublingual tabs at the direction of my surgeon, and those are not at all unpleasant.
My surgeon is satisfied that I am on track and if I continue to lose even 3 pounds a week, I'll be healthier and hopefully my joints will be less painful. If I hit any rough patches, or develop any complications, I'll be sure to update this. But at this point, everything seems to have worked out and it's just a matter of eating much, much less -- which seems normal to me now. I can't believe how much I used to eat, and the sizes of restaurant meals now.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Gastric Bypass Part 2 Week 3
I'm only going to do GB posts by the week now, because things don't really change that much!
Still really, really tired of protein drink mixes and find that they don't sit well on my stomach -- especially the vanilla one. The plain Unjury is still well-tolerated, but running out of it and trying to hoard it until my delivery from Unjury on Monday and my MD appt. on Weds next week when I can pick up whatever flavors from the sample pack delivered on Monday that I like, in addition to the plain.
I'll be making a road trip tomorrow to go to Caid and visit with Miriam for 3 days. I emailed her a list of my food choices, and I'm hoping for a miracle of creativity from her.
My thumbs really hurt, especially the left one. My right hip hurts, and causes me to walk funny. These problems are probably because I'm no longer taking my arthritis med, nor my glucosamine/chondroitin.
My b/p is staying in the 130s/70's range with half my usual dose of b/p med, though.
Bowels continue to be a problem, but I don't think there's much more I can do about it. I'm drinking as much liquid as I can get in, what with the need to drink protein as well. I'm not taking narcotics.
After trying a couple times to drink my kombucha, I've had to face facts: it does not sit well on my tummy.
In case you're wondering:
"does not sit well" = makes me feel queasy, but not really nauseated.
"sick"= makes me feel full-blown nausea, and or causes gagging/retching.
Coffee makes me sick. Kombucha doesn't sit well.
As far as appetite goes, I'm finding certain commercials about Friday's Jack Daniels burgers and appetizers very appealing, as well as friend's reports on Facebook on chicken pot pies, bacon, and other savory type foods. Sweets and desserts are not at all appealing.
As far as hunger goes, I don't have it, and I've begun to differentiate between "appetite" and "hunger". I really suspect that even if I could tolerate a Jack Daniels burger, or a pot pie, that I would not be able to eat more than two or three bites, even though my desire for them might still be present. I actually was unable to finish two little meals during the past week, because I was full. I'm sitting here right now, full from my protein drink that it's taken me 2 hours to finish. I'm supposed to eat lunch, but nothing really sounds good to me, because I'm full. The day begins to creep up on me, even when I start at 8am. It's difficult to get everything that's supposed to be going into my mouth in there within any given 24 hour period.
Physically, I'm feeling good. I get an occasional twinge on my right side, that I obsess about due to the fatty liver diagnosis post surgery. If I lay on my back without elevating my head a bit, my tummy feels stretched. And sometimes if I use my stomach muscles to sit up, I get a mildly tweaky sensation. However, all my little puncture wounds have healed, except for the uppermost one. That one has an internal suture that is poking out just a millimeter, but enough to keep it a little irritated. I no longer feel like I NEED a nap every few hours, and I can do the animal husbandry detail without any problems -- other than, I don't like going into the pasture because I'm afraid Oreo the Goat will butt me. He probably weighs 200 lbs, so that's not a trivial fear.
My skin feels dry all the time, which may have a lot to do with the weather but I suspect it also has to do with me just not being able to keep as hydrated as I have in the past. My feet and hands especially. I'm using a lot of shea butter on them.
My clothes have gotten much looser, and from my weekly weigh-in, I'm guessing I've lost about 20 pounds. I'm beginning to worry a little over when I might have to buy jeans and work slacks, but my tops should be OK for quite some time. And my casual wear/T-shirts will work for even longer. I'll need to figure out what to buy for the wedding trip next month; I'm thinking flowing pants and tunic top in dressier fabric, and some kind of cape-thing in case it gets cooler than I can tolerate, and flats.
Still haven't gotten EDD check, but it could be sitting down at the mailbox island right now for all I know.
And will get final word on jury duty this evening and keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be released to enjoy my last week of recuperation before returning to work next week.
Still really, really tired of protein drink mixes and find that they don't sit well on my stomach -- especially the vanilla one. The plain Unjury is still well-tolerated, but running out of it and trying to hoard it until my delivery from Unjury on Monday and my MD appt. on Weds next week when I can pick up whatever flavors from the sample pack delivered on Monday that I like, in addition to the plain.
I'll be making a road trip tomorrow to go to Caid and visit with Miriam for 3 days. I emailed her a list of my food choices, and I'm hoping for a miracle of creativity from her.
My thumbs really hurt, especially the left one. My right hip hurts, and causes me to walk funny. These problems are probably because I'm no longer taking my arthritis med, nor my glucosamine/chondroitin.
My b/p is staying in the 130s/70's range with half my usual dose of b/p med, though.
Bowels continue to be a problem, but I don't think there's much more I can do about it. I'm drinking as much liquid as I can get in, what with the need to drink protein as well. I'm not taking narcotics.
After trying a couple times to drink my kombucha, I've had to face facts: it does not sit well on my tummy.
In case you're wondering:
"does not sit well" = makes me feel queasy, but not really nauseated.
"sick"= makes me feel full-blown nausea, and or causes gagging/retching.
Coffee makes me sick. Kombucha doesn't sit well.
As far as appetite goes, I'm finding certain commercials about Friday's Jack Daniels burgers and appetizers very appealing, as well as friend's reports on Facebook on chicken pot pies, bacon, and other savory type foods. Sweets and desserts are not at all appealing.
As far as hunger goes, I don't have it, and I've begun to differentiate between "appetite" and "hunger". I really suspect that even if I could tolerate a Jack Daniels burger, or a pot pie, that I would not be able to eat more than two or three bites, even though my desire for them might still be present. I actually was unable to finish two little meals during the past week, because I was full. I'm sitting here right now, full from my protein drink that it's taken me 2 hours to finish. I'm supposed to eat lunch, but nothing really sounds good to me, because I'm full. The day begins to creep up on me, even when I start at 8am. It's difficult to get everything that's supposed to be going into my mouth in there within any given 24 hour period.
Physically, I'm feeling good. I get an occasional twinge on my right side, that I obsess about due to the fatty liver diagnosis post surgery. If I lay on my back without elevating my head a bit, my tummy feels stretched. And sometimes if I use my stomach muscles to sit up, I get a mildly tweaky sensation. However, all my little puncture wounds have healed, except for the uppermost one. That one has an internal suture that is poking out just a millimeter, but enough to keep it a little irritated. I no longer feel like I NEED a nap every few hours, and I can do the animal husbandry detail without any problems -- other than, I don't like going into the pasture because I'm afraid Oreo the Goat will butt me. He probably weighs 200 lbs, so that's not a trivial fear.
My skin feels dry all the time, which may have a lot to do with the weather but I suspect it also has to do with me just not being able to keep as hydrated as I have in the past. My feet and hands especially. I'm using a lot of shea butter on them.
My clothes have gotten much looser, and from my weekly weigh-in, I'm guessing I've lost about 20 pounds. I'm beginning to worry a little over when I might have to buy jeans and work slacks, but my tops should be OK for quite some time. And my casual wear/T-shirts will work for even longer. I'll need to figure out what to buy for the wedding trip next month; I'm thinking flowing pants and tunic top in dressier fabric, and some kind of cape-thing in case it gets cooler than I can tolerate, and flats.
Still haven't gotten EDD check, but it could be sitting down at the mailbox island right now for all I know.
And will get final word on jury duty this evening and keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be released to enjoy my last week of recuperation before returning to work next week.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Gastric Bypass Part 2 Day 12
I'm feeling kind of humbled. Here I thought that I was recovering really well, due to my genius in following advice and finding tolerable protein drink mix.
And now, I really can't stand the protein drink mix. It leaves a horrible aftertaste, and it takes me an hour or more to drink it. I've been trying everything: using the plain Unjury mixed in flavored water (meh), in soy milk (meh, and makes me feel sick). The flavored whey mix from Costco is just so tiresome, and the vanilla makes me sick.
For the first time today, I couldn't finish my breakfast mini meal.
And I feel like I'm constipated, and don't know what I can do about it.
Plus, the instructions for jury duty aren't at all clear. It doesn't confirm that my group must serve; it talks about groups 18 through 22, and I'm group 6. Those groups are supposed to show up at 1:30pm. Doesn't say whether the rest of us report or not. I don't really want to drive to Placerville and try to figure out what's going on, but it looks like I'll have to. Not a happy camper.
And now, I really can't stand the protein drink mix. It leaves a horrible aftertaste, and it takes me an hour or more to drink it. I've been trying everything: using the plain Unjury mixed in flavored water (meh), in soy milk (meh, and makes me feel sick). The flavored whey mix from Costco is just so tiresome, and the vanilla makes me sick.
For the first time today, I couldn't finish my breakfast mini meal.
And I feel like I'm constipated, and don't know what I can do about it.
Plus, the instructions for jury duty aren't at all clear. It doesn't confirm that my group must serve; it talks about groups 18 through 22, and I'm group 6. Those groups are supposed to show up at 1:30pm. Doesn't say whether the rest of us report or not. I don't really want to drive to Placerville and try to figure out what's going on, but it looks like I'll have to. Not a happy camper.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Gastric Bypass Part 2 Day 10
Danni and I met Brit, her boyfriend Ethan, and her friend Rachel, at this place called Quickly in midtown Sac. It's what they call a Boba Shop. Boba is evidently marble-sized tapioca, which they place into tea and flavor the tea with one of a bajillion flavors, add milk, etc. It is really more milkshake, or slushie, than tea.
I had plain green Jasmine tea, hot.
But this counts as "eating out" event #3! And I for sure got my liquids in today. I decided to skip my breakfast mini-meal, because my tummy felt touchy. But I got the protein drink in. And I took my lunch min-meal with me, met Danni at the place she's staying and ate my mini-lunch, and then by the time we arrived at Quickly, the 30 minutes post meal period was up and I had 16 oz of hot tea. I then had an additional 16 oz of hot tea back at Danni's place, where we debated current affairs and listened to stories from her kind-of father-in-law, Jack. Jack is politically diametrically opposed to me, but I really like the guy. He's a hoot.
My post lunch protein shake took me over 2 hours to drink, mostly because I mixed some almond butter into it and I think that just made it too heavy. Once again, trying to mix up the flavors a bit, and not getting good results.
So I have dinner mini-meal and post dinner protein drink to get through still, but I'm confident that I will.
I really enjoyed my baby-food veggies and canned chicken dinner last night, and I know the doggies will appreciate the rest of the canned chicken, too, so that's probably going to be a repeat tonight.
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