One Year Anniversary! I survived!

              One Year Anniversary!   I Survived! 

        Looking back at the first post I made on this blog a year ago a few things strike me. First, I was clearly out of my element.  Forced from a lifestyle I had experienced my entire life and thrust into a new one without warning.  Second, I was completely and utterly terrified about what it meant for me.  Could I really survive without soda or chocolate For The Rest Of My Life?  Third, the complete relief I felt when they finally discovered what was causing my pain and that the symptoms could at least be controlled, for the most part.  

            I get emotional just thinking about those first few days a year ago.  Before the official diagnosis I had become a person, I quite frankly, hated.  A person who had been pulled into a bottomless pit of pain, misery and depression.  

             Who was that crazy person?

             Couldn't really be me?

             My heart physically aches for that person who suffered for almost two years with no knowledge of what the problem was and how it could ever be fixed.  I will never be able to explain in words what a relief it was, and also terrifying, to find out that I had IC.  

             Basically I'm glad that person is no longer around and that I can type this blog to you, a year later, with a new attitude, a new appreciation for life and a new lifestyle that makes me a little healthier and honestly happier than I was before.  

             So Alison, you ask, what have you learned during your year long journey?  

             Do you have the wisdom of ages?

             Have you cracked the IC code for living without pain?

             Honestly, I do not feel I have mastered my condition, yet I am dealing with it as best as I can on a day to day basis.  No, I have not cracked a secret code to making living with IC hardly a concern.  But for our condition there is no code as each one of us is effected differently...sad but true.  

             Now on the other hand I do feel I have learned a lot about my condition, the human body in general and also myself during this year.  Here is a few things I have learned: 

• A positive attitude goes a long long way.  During the first few weeks of my diagnosis I had to keep a positive attitude, more so than usual, as I face was a lot of circumstances I was not prepared for and never knew I would get into.  As corny as it sounds being positive helped a lot and I was able to tackle things easier with the attitude of I can do this. 
• Planning is key to success, especially with a condition like mine where food plays a factor.  Planning out meals is a great way to get a head during the week and relives some of the stress that comes with flare ups and unknown situations. 
• Flare ups will occur.  Our condition is chronic and there is no cure.  No matter how great of a day I have sooner or later a bad one will raise its ugly head.  I have learnt that being afraid of a 'bad' day can ruin my good and great days, so now I refuse to let fear hold me back. 
• It's nothing to be embarrassed or shy about.  It took some time but I have reached the point in my diagnosis that I am not afraid, embarrassed or shy about asking questions about how the food is prepared when we go to a restaurant.   For me this one is huge as I do not like 'inconveniencing people with 'special' requests, but since my condition came to light I really have no choice.  Its either face the prospect of pain or speak up and have them prepare the food as I need to be.  
• Having a support system is important, but ultimately it comes down to me.  Its great having support, especially in the early days of my diagnosis and during any particularly bad flare up.  However I have come to realize that life goes on whether I'm having a great day or a terrible one.  Ultimately it really comes down to me.  If I am able to work through the pain and deal with it, then the day goes on.  If it turns out to be a really bad day, I am so thankful for an understanding husband and children who help take care of me.  
• All the previous blog posts.  Not in the slightest a way to get everyone to read all the posts I have made in the last year, but everything I have written down has taught me something during this journey.  From my first post to this one I really have grown as person through this experience and I am sure I will continue to do so as my journey continues.  

         So in a nutshell I made it.  My one year mark.  Its so crazy to think that that soda loving, chocolate addict I once was is now the still addicted to sugar but living a better life person I am today.  I never thought in a million years that I would be able to give up chocolate or soda.  In fact I remember saying to my husband at one time I would only be able to do so if I had some kind of medical condition that would force me too...well, how is that for eating my own words.  :)   

        Part one of my journey has ended but there should be a lot more to come.  

      

        #Oneyear  

        #Alwayskeepfighting

        #Youarenotalone

        #Wegotthis   

Candy Sweet Holidays: Valentines Day and Easter Sunday

             Valentine's Day - A day when hopeless romantics, like myself, relish in the idea that they will be given a special gift from that someone special.  

              Easter Sunday - A day when we are praising Jesus Christ for rising from the dead, while the little kids are finding chocolate covered bunnies and eggs in an open space.  


            Before my diagnosis both of these holidays were unmissable.  Being a hopeless romantic and getting proposed to on Valentines Day I can not help but love a holiday, all about love.  And of course the mass amounts of cheap chocolate that go on sale the next day.  Easter is the one time of the year, in the USA, when Cadburys mini eggs and Cadburys Creme Eggs are available for purchase.  Each year I would 'stock' up during the month and then bing eat them for the next few weeks.  

            This year things were incredibly different from the chocolate-holic, candy loving, all teeth are sweet teeth type person I once was.  I could not partake of the usual activities and even went as far as not having an Easter egg hunt in our backyard.   But honestly I found something, much more worth while. 
            As cheesy as it sounds, its true.  
            For Valentines day I still made the kids their little baskets of goodies, but I was able to appreciate the holiday in a more romantic way instead of focusing on the things I really wanted yet could not have.  
            For Easter Sunday I watched my children play with and eat their goodies, we went out for a meal as a family to celebrate the day and I was taken back by the happiness I felt just focusing on their joy at the days events.  
            Now do not get me wrong it was rough, on a personal level for me, as I am such a sugar addict.  Easter especially was a severe test of my resolve.  Anyone who knows me, knows how much mini eggs and creme eggs mean to me.  Of all the chocolate I had to give up those are the top of the list.  I was kinda of lucky last year, I did not find out about my condition until after Easter last year so I was still able to partake at that time.  
            I even admit that I came ridiculously close to buying some and eating them in the car on the way home.  (And I mean really really really close).
            But I am proud to say that I am still chocolate free.  (Almost a year now).  Here is how I was able to withstand the onslaught of my favorite chocolate time of year:

• Focus on what the holiday really means, not how the candy/chocolate fits into it. 
• Treated myself to things I could have and be thankful I have other options. 
• Realized that some people have it worse than me, way worse, and that giving up something like chocolate is not a big sacrifice compared to others. 
• Be proud of myself for making it without as long as I have.  (Many people did not think I would make it a day, let alone almost a year - including myself.)
• Focused on other people during the holidays.  After all giving is always better than receiving.  

        I still do not claim to be an expert on facing down each demon, we each have.  And I know I am still a long way for being perfect in dealing with my condition, however I can say that though this year of treat filled holidays was rough, I made it through.  

        I made it through. 

        I can not tell you how good that feels to say that.  I survived.  And no matter if you did better or worse than me, we are still here fighting the good fight.  We got this!

        #Alwayskeepfighting

        #Youarenotalone

        #ICliving  

        #Wegotthis

Adjustment and Acceptance!

      The Definition of the word Adjustment is as follows:

• the process of adapting or becoming used to a new situation.

           The definition of the word Acceptance is as follows: 

• willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation.

         The reason I started this post with the definitions of the words in the subject title is that I wanted to make it clear that these two words are different, even though sometimes we confuse them.  

         A few weeks ago my husband and I were talking about something, I cannot remember specifics, I only remember that at some point during our conversation I got upset.  Very upset and extremely emotional.  After I was calm enough to think clearly it occurred to me that my condition, not our conversation, had been the cause of my outburst.  

        Over the course of the last 11 months I had adjusted very well to my condition.  I still have flare ups but then I will for the rest of my life, yet I am able to understand them better and be more prepared for when they do occur.  

        That being said it was not until that moment a few weeks ago that I realized that in all my planning and ways to deal with my condition I had not yet accepted it.  I was caught up in the idea that adjustment and acceptance were the same thing.  

       They are not. 

       I realized that our conversation touched lightly on the fact that due to the nature of my condition and how much pain I can be, it limits my ability to do some tasks that would have been ridiculously easy in the past and quite honestly I was not prepared for the way I reacted. 

      Having it pointed out to me that my condition forced limits on me, that everyone else could see, was like someone rammed a giant wrecking ball through the side of our house.  

      I had adjusted and tried to make my condition as hidden as possible while I dealt with it, yet it was still clear to those around me and due to my so-so attitude about it, I could not handle the information I was presented with.  

      I had not yet accepted that my condition will never change.  That I never will be back to the person I was before.  That never again will I be able to look at food or drink without having that annoying thought that pain would come if it simply touched my lips.  I had not accepted that for the rest of my life my condition is a part of me. 

      I had to understand that accepting my condition does not mean in anyway that I surrender to it.  It does not mean that I allow the days of pain to bring down my spirit.  Accepting it simply means that I'm all in.  

• I will no longer apologize for requesting an item on a menu be changed to accommodate my needs.  
• I will no longer fear food and the damage it can cause. 
• I will no longer avoid situations that could cause more fear or pain. 
• I will no longer blame myself for my condition. 
• I will no longer fear the pain that will at some point come anyway.

      Acceptance to me is embracing my condition.  Sure, I have adjusted well so far and that will not change.  My accepting my condition will help me in dealing with my emotions during bad days and realizing that good days will come no matter how bad it gets.  

     Since that night I feel that I have embraced my condition on a much deeper level.  My life will never go back to the way it was and a part of me is in mourning for that person.  But still life goes on and now I will become the new person I was meant to be. 

     #AcceptanceAndAdjustment

     #AlwaysKeepFighting

     #YouAreNotAlone

     #WeGotThis

Pain is Exhausting!

         Anyone who has been in serious pain, like after surgery or an injury that caused them to be laid up for any length of time, can attest that it is exhausting.  You are not just tired you are physically sometimes not able to keep your eyes open and function like a normal person.  
        Having IC and the chronic pain that comes with it causes me to have those days.  Yesterday in fact was one such day.  I worked my part time shift at my new job and for the first 3 hours it was fine.  I was smiling, helping people as best I could and then...
       BAM!!
       The last 3 hours of my shift were terrible.  Now as far as my customers knew there was nothing wrong, as I have become great at dealing with my pain and knowing exactly when to take my medicine to help relieve my symptoms.  But within myself raged a battle of epic proportions.  I drank as much water as I could while talking on the phone, I took my medicine before it got overly bad and then all I had to do was wait.  
       The waiting part is the worst for me because I am still in pain and trying to hold it together long enough for the pills to kick in, and then they take another 20 - 30 minutes to work.  Anyone who has suffered pain this bad knows that during that 20 - 30 minute gap it feels like weeks and sometimes months.  You start thinking to yourself: 
       Is it working?
       Why is it not working?
       Please start feeling better!
       Why is it not feeling better?
       Should I take some more?
       Should I have waited this long before taking it?
       The list really does go on and on as you play the waiting game with your medicine.  And then it happens, you begin to feel better. By this point I was laying propped up in bed with my hubby watching a new TV show he wanted to see.  
       Now every time I have a flare up this is what happens in a breakdown: 

•  Pain starts
• I drink water.  Lots of it.  Very very quickly
• I wait as long as I can before taking any medicine (Just in case the water fixes it)
• Take my medicine
• Wait for it to kick in (Forever)
• Lay in bed, propped up on my back and lay as still as possible.
• Start feeling better so move around more. 
• Pain warns me not to over do it so soon
• Lay back down for a while...

     .....And then the exhaustion hits.
     My body as been dealing with chronic pain.  In my case sharp stabbing pains that feel like I am being attacked by a knife on the right side of my abdomen.  During that time my body has been fighting to correct the problem as well as keep me focused on my job, driving home and then making food before I hit the bed.  
     It's exhausted from all that work so once my meds kick in and I start feeling better I usually have around an hour or two before my body decides it is not playing anymore and just wants to crash. 
     Last night it was around 8.55 PM that this happened.  
     Instead of succumbing to the immediate desire I had to sleep for a week, I did the next best thing.  I curled up with my hubby and watched the TV show he was watching.  I engaged my brain enough that I managed to stay awake and then once I dropped off the kids this morning I came back to bed for a few hours to help my body recover some more. 
     Usually when I have a flare up it takes around two days and maybe a morning to correct itself.  Today I am still feeling it but not as bad as yesterday.  Yesterday when I came home from work I am not ashamed to say that no housework, no homework, no nothing got done while I was resting.  I stayed downstairs long enough to hug my babies, refill my water jug and grabbed some food I knew would not hurt me.  
     Since I am a wife and mother I do not have the luxury of doing this every time so here is my plan for today: 

1. Make our bed. 
2. Drink water.  A lot of it.
3. Update my blog. 
4. Drink more water. 
5. Make some lunch. (with water)
6. Clean up the downstairs. (Still suffering from Christmas explosion)  While drinking lots of water in my water that follows me around everywhere.

    You get the idea.  On a good day these things do not take very long.  On a flare up day..this could be my entire day.  If necessary I will take more medicine, but as I stated before I always think its better to let your body deal with it, even if I know later I will be exhausted like last night.  Drinking lots of water usually helps to the point that I do not need to take medicine every time I have a flare up. Sadly, it does not work for all of them.  

     Today I will pretend that out there in the world is hundreds of people dealing with this same problem and still living their lives as best they can.  Even if they do not read my blog :)  This helps me push through the small 'leftover' pain from yesterday and hopeful kick butt on my housework/homework today.  Remember even if we do not see each other we are all in this together.  Always Keep Fighting Friends. 

     #AlwaysKeepFighting

     #FlareUpsSucks

     #WeGotThis 

     #AllInThisTogether

Holiday/Christmas Survival!

         If there is one holiday/season that is worse in regards to food it has to be the Christmas/Holiday feasts that happen once a year around this time.  As part of our family tradition we have a huge sleepover at our home and a put out a large buffet type feast with all the things I know the family will love.  
        Similar to my feelings towards Thanksgiving this year, after my diagnosis, I was dreaded this event for the first time since it began.  Although admittedly I had a lot of fun buying the feast for the family and planning small activities for the kids while the adults talked and other grown up type things.  
       Really this year was the first time since my diagnosis that I really wanted to gave in and drink about a million of the soda cans I had purchased, along with all the pies.  It was my first real temptation test as before now I had craved the soda yet the idea of the pain had held me at bay.  My mother in law made a comment that made me think.  
       She said that we say we don't care about the pain while we're eating but then regret it.  And she has a point.  Sure I could drink a can of soda, technically I could drink as much as I wanted, but like life I would not be able to control the circumstances that followed.  Admittedly I ate more ham, more sandwiches, more pie and more everything than I should have yet I was able to pivot along the edge of my pain level instead of falling completely. 
      If you survived like me with little pain, I salute you.  It was definitely one of the most challenging things I have had to do since my diagnosis.  Here is what I did to balance my condition with eating some of what I wanted: 

• Purchased rolls only after checking the ingredient list while waiting in line at the store. 
• The ham I selected was honey baked, not smoked so it was listed on the things I should have been able to eat.  
• The vegetable tray I got was the biggest I could find, since I knew that regardless of the other things those I could eat as much as I wanted. 
• Even though ranch was included in the vegetable tray and I purchased more for the feast I knew that it was off limits and did not even attempt to try any. 
• Though I also purchased ridiculous amounts of canned soda I also made sure to get plenty of bottled water again making sure that my guests and myself were taken care of. 
• Indulging in a little pie is a given with me, since I cannot stay away from sugar for long periods of time so I made sure the ones I got were pumpkin and apple.  Ones that everyone loves to eat and also ones I knew I could eat. 
• When choosing the potato chips I made sure to again, select ones I knew the family would love and then plain ones for me. 

     As I stated above, even with my carefully planning I freely admit that I over did it and played with the borderline of my condition a little too closely.  I do feel that with each passing day, week and month I become more accustomed to my condition and the things I can and cannot partake of, yet I feel a little indulgence is something we all need at one time or another.  

    Like before I drank lots of water and ate a lot of vegetables to make up for the other food and it worked out, for the most part, in my favor.  That being said everyone has their own limit so I do not recommend trying something like this until you have had a few months of working out your limitations.  

     Whatever happened during the Christmas/Holiday break I hope it was a happy time for you and that you were able to spend time with your loved ones.  Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year for 2016. 

      #AlwaysKeepFighting

      #StayStrong

      #ICLiving

      #Survivors 

Thanksgiving Survival!

                    Well, if you are reading this then like me you survived one of the holidays I was honestly dreading this year.  Before my diagnosis Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays and although I would like to say it was because of the family time, games and giving thanks it was really all about the food.  
                  Being from England I did not grow up eating the kind of food you have at a traditional Thanksgiving feast so to me the entire experience was so America from day one.  And I loved it.  Green bean casserole, mash potato, yummy, buttery bread rolls, sweet potatoes/yams, gravy by the boat load, mounds of stuffing and of course we cannot forget about the star of the show, the turkey.   Then comes my favorite part...dessert.  Pies of every kind smothered in spray whipped cream, cool whip, ice cream or a combination of all of them.  
                  I admit that food is a big thing for me and this holiday was the one time of the year I could really embody the glutton within myself and she loved it.  
                  Then came my diagnosis and honestly the thought of this holiday cause my depression to raise its ugly head and laugh at me and my inner self.  No longer could I just eat my weight in turkey, sides and dessert.  No longer could I have second or third helpings later on the day while we played games.  No longer could I devour eggnog by the gallon as I watched the in laws banter about the worlds events.  
                  Honestly I believed that this time of year would be nothing but sweat pants, depression and my new abiding love for my homemade oatmeal cookies.  (Truthfully, it is also why I put off making this post.)  Sure, I could have let my spirit stay in the darkness and wallow but then I realized something. 
                  It is customary when going to someone's home for a get-together, like Thanksgiving, to bring something.  In this case I was charged with bringing candied yams/sweet potatoes.  My husband just loves them and even though I'm still new to making Thanksgiving things I gave it a try.  
                  Well, as I was debating which recipe to use I remembered that with my condition it is not up to every single person I know to change their recipes or make special food just for me.  It is my job and my responsibility to figure out what I can eat or eat everything and deal with the consequences.  I decided on door number one. 
                   While making the candied deliciousness for my hubby and the family I decided to make sweet potato mash, something I know I can eat and do very often.  Also once we reached the table along with the family I was able to pick portions of turkey that had little to no seasoning.  When it came time to dessert I did indulge a little and had two pieces of pumpkin pie, but then I cannot resist its charm.  
                   Sure it was not the usual mass feast I would have normally eaten during the holiday but really it worked out better this way.  I was able to keep my pain at bay, enjoy myself with the family and I did not really feel like I missed out on everything.  (Though I admit watching the green bean casserole be devoured by others was hard to watch.)  Next year I will have to create my own recipe for it so I can have some.
                     Basically I realized that I have control over my condition.  It does not control me.  I could have just eaten what I wanted and suffered the pain that came with it, but instead I chose to embrace my condition.  Thanks to my effort I had one of the best Thanksgivings I have had in a long time and as corny as it sounds I was able to appreciate the true meaning behind it...being thankful. 
                    I am thankful for my condition as it has showed me that I need to take care of myself to be able to take care of others.  It has given me patience with myself.  It is teaching me discipline...okay its not perfect, it is still a work in progress but the point is I am not allowing the negative parts to control me.  
                    Holiday or no holiday we can not allow the negative portions of our condition to get us down.  As I have said before, cry, scream, rant and rave if you must, but do not allow yourself to be pulled under by it.  We are the same people we were before, except now we have to deal with something that not many people understand but its okay.  
                    We got this. 
                     
                    #NeverGiveUp
                    #AlwaysKeepFighting
                    #TogetherWeAreStronger
                      ichelp.org

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball!

       Living with a condition like IC feels, in a way, like playing a game of baseball.  (Bare with me as I know very little about the sport as I am from England)  Curve balls, I am told, are one of the ways the pitcher can throw the ball.  Well, days like today feel as though its a good description.  You never know what the day will bring and if your body will be nice to you or give you ridiculous amounts of pain.  
       I do not mind telling you that today my body opted for the second one.  Though I can not complain.  The days where I need medicine are starting to be fewer and further apart thanks to my life adjustments.  I really feel sorry for those people with this condition who can not go a day without having to take something for it.  
      For them the baseball game is one where they can never get to a base.  Always seemingly stuck at the Home plate and never being able to make contact with the ball.  In many ways people like me, who can adjust it with lifestyle changes have an advantage.  We already start out with the innings in our favor. 
      That being said the pitcher can throw at us whatever they feel like so even though each day is a surprise we have the foreknowledge that with another adjustment or medicine it will go away.  
       Today I deal with the pain as I always do.  I eat things that are high in alkaline (the opposite of acid), such as cucumbers, drink a ton of water, around 92 ounces, and if the pain continues I take some medicine.  I try to remember that this is not the worst my pain has been and even though it will not be the last time I am in pain, it will get better.  
      I try my hardest not to let my emotions/negative feelings take over as its a slippery slope for me.  I listen to music that is upbeat, I try to move around the house/clean as I would normally, except maybe a little slower and I watch TV shows/movies that take me away from the reality and help me focus on something else.  
     I have said it many times before and I will say it again..We can do this.  There is always a choice on how we deal with the situation and I choose to not let it get me down.  
     In every sport, not just baseball, there are winners and losers.  It is up to the losers on how they handle each loss.  Have a few moments to wallow and curse the universe...but then deep breathes and take on the day.  We can not change our condition and it will never leave us, but we can not let it hold us back from life.  Sure today I will not be able to chase the kids and dogs around or move as fast as I usually do, but there are other people out there who have less good days than me.  
     I am not a quitter.  I am a fighter.  Join me in the fight.  You can do it. 
     
     #AlwaysKeepFighting  
      ichelp.org