Wednesday, March 4, 2009

a dose of reality.

I don't talk about it very much, but I have Crohn's Disease. I don't not talk about it because I'm ashamed of it. Not at all. I'll answer any questions anyone has. And I can talk about just about any bodily function because of my experience with this disease. I don't talk about it much because I don't want it to be what identifies me. Crohn's showed me how very blessed I am. My husband nursed me (and kept my toenails painted), my family cared for me and my kiddos, my friends supported me, my church cared for me...really...I'm one RICHLY blessed lady. So I don't see much reason to whine about it.

My daughter was a newborn when I was diagnosed. Then I got better for a short period, had my son and then got worse. I ended up being fed intraveneously for a few months because my body just really couldn't handle much food nor did it absorb the nutritional benefits of food. So I got to have this lovely contraption attached to me 12 hours a day (sorry it's the only pictures from those days I can find right now that I'm willing to post) it fed nutrients right into my heart and made me feel so good! Seriously isn't that the coolest bruise you've ever seen?? If only zebra/animal prints were popular back a few years ago I could have been super trendy!
Anyway, I don't like to dwell on my disease. My kids have a 1 in 4 chance of being diagnosed themselves and IF that day comes I want their reaction to be "oh no big deal, Mom has lived a full and happy life with the same diagnosis" Hey I even played a big round of tug of war while I had the PICC line pictured above!

I attempt to not let it limit me too terribly much. A few years ago I had a large chunk of my intestine removed and that has allowed me to live pretty much normal other than some limitations to my diet. Most people when they hear my dietary restrictions say "how do you eat?" but I've had much stricter limits so not eating fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, popcorn, etc...really hasn't been all that big of a deal.

But surgery for a Crohn's patient is only a temporary fix. There are recurring effects. And lately I've had to buckle down on my diet even more.

funny, I miss salads, pecan pie, strawberries, grapes, etc but it doesn't frustrate me terribly, never felt a real need to whine....but since having to buckle down even more I've discovered one food that I'm emotionally attached to apparently. OATMEAL....

oh yummy delicious oatmeal how I love thee! not the flavored packet junk, or 'quick oats'- the real thing!
When cold weather moves in oatmeal you are my favorite b'fast (or lunch or late night snack) with a little cinnamon and brown sugar...and even some pumpkin perhaps if i have it. oh there's something about feeling it go down my throat...I really love it...
mixed and cooked into a homemade granola bar...in a cold cereal, in a cereal bar in a storebought granola bar, etc etc...yes I love oatmeal. So it is with great sadness that I am forced to bid farewell to my lovely warm and gooey treat.

Bye bye oatmeal I already miss you dearly!!

(picture take from google images)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well boo. There is nothing like oatmeal in the morning. I wonder why it's never really disgusting things that have to be given up?

PS Best bruise I've ever seen.

The Unlikely Homeschooler said...

oooh...thanks for the appreciation of the bruise. My kids thought I was so cool with that :-)

Glad you don't fault me for my whining over the loss of oatmeal...I find it worthy of a brief whine. I rarely allow such, but OATMEAL!? yeah it's worthy...

EmileeHope said...

Oh wow-do I ever feel for you girl! I think I would cry if I had to give up oatmeal!! Is there any other warm cereal you can have to take it's place? (Up north the eat cream of wheat-I don't really remember if is is any good or not?) BTW I still want to get together sometime. I am flying to TX tonight to visit one of my sisters, but will be back on Sunday night so we can try to do something next week if you have some free time one evening.

The Unlikely Homeschooler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Unlikely Homeschooler said...

sadly it's the fiber content that I have to move away from and all the warm cereals like that I know of are high fiber...strange how something so healthy can be so bad for me...
I am so wanting to get together! Just let me know when you are back in town and what type of yarn to get....and crochet night is on! Although now I'll have to work around baseball so let me look at his schedule and I'll email you what days I might have. I really want to do a baby blanket for a friend...so I NEED your help :-)