One Full Year Health Update

Today is the one year anniversary of being floxed. It feels appropriate to record a quick update on my health. The pain still effects me every day on some level and I’m still on a ridiculously restricted diet (seriously, I don’t know how I’m even alive) and all this plays a HUGE roll in how we are currently living. Yesterday I could barely walk the pain was so bad and the limited list of foods I can eat brings me to tears quite often. The other day I was yelling at my brussels sprouts for even existing. I AM SO DONE.

Currently:

I'm still working to kill the candida. After a second stool test and a breath test in March, we discovered I also have SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) which is painful and causes bloating. I’m told it’s common for people to develop SIBO while fighting candida. And both things are extremely hard to get rid of. Aren’t I lucky?

(Above: The SIBO breath test. You fast for 24 hours. Then drink a sugary mixture. 20 minutes later and in increments of 20 minutes breathe into a bag while inserting a needle with collection tube for one second. Do this ten times. The bacteria in your gut eat the sugar and emit gases. Those gasses are expelled in your breath so they can be identified and measured. I personally believe a stool test is more accurate and can identify the EXACT bacteria but it’s 7x’s more expensive.)

Earlier, I mentioned my stomach was hurting too. After an endoscopy to look at my stomach and throat,  I have been diagnosed with chronic gastritis. By the time we discovered this, my chest was so sore from reflux that wearing a bra was not an option. (Later, I had heartburn for the first time. It was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack and ended up going to the ER. Now there’s an embarrassing visit.) I absolutely HAVE to believe this will clear up when my intestinal problems do. 

The gastroenterologist who did the endoscopy was skeptical when I told him “I am going to heal from this." I think it’s tied to stress because that’s what I AM, a big ball of it. AND my tummy also flares up when my guts do. So it makes sense to me if the stress and gut get better, so will the stomach.

I still have hope ALL of this will go away, if only we can get my body back into balance. 

One bit of good news:

The candida in my mouth is almost gone. So that’s a sign my body chemistry is changing for the better. 

Doctors:

I’m growing extremely frustrated with MAJOR communication delays and the roller coaster ride of “on again, off again" medication from the doctors in Georgia. They keep taking me off treatment to see how I feel. And then because things haven’t cleared up, like we hoped, I crash again. It’s physically painful and emotionally heartbreaking EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I’ve just started my 5th treatment of Nystatin for the candida.

We’ve found a new doctor in Plano who might be able to help. We’re hoping to get a second opinion and maybe switch my care to him. I am both hopeful and doubtful at the same time. 

Husband:

Adam has been a comfort through all of this. He let’s me cry, he holds me, he helps where he can. He’s been picking up the slack I leave behind. I can’t imagine going through this alone. 

We’ve started an “Epic Vacation Jar” that we're filling with extra cash. When all this is over (including COVID)—we’re so OUT OF HERE! We’re leaving town and I’m going to eat all the food!

I thought this would all be behind me by now. And in many ways it is and I’m glad. But there’s still more ahead. ONWARD!

Fresh Sourdough Bread from San Francisco

This happened last year but it’s totally worth mentioning—Raymond’s naturally fermented, handmade sourdough is seriously WONDERFUL. It’s soft and chewy with just the right bite from the sourdough. Num num. When I can eat bread again THIS IS HAPPENING.

The bakery is close to the San Francisco international airport so it’s easy for Adam to grab some bread before he flies home. We just gotta figure out how to get him to carry it on instead of getting nervous and shoving it into his luggage.

If you visit in person, they take cash only. The bakery also told Adam they do ship, so click here for the contact information and back story. (Ack! I wish I could do their website and social media for them!)

Learning and Marching

Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers, the United States and other parts of the world screamed in outrage. The Black Lives Matter movement has gained such momentum, people are talking about it everywhere. They're posting opinions and images, calling for change, sharing their personal stories, changing business practices, shopping habits, and marching in protest to name a few.

I’m glad people are outraged and spreading the message seemingly further that it has gotten in the past. Things are too far from where they should be and we MUST make corrections and do better.

Image Credit: The female Lead on Instagram, it is a repost of a post.

I simply can’t disagree with the words written here.

I’m still listening, and learning, and discovering ways I can make a difference and carry on a dialogue about it. But this I know:

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS WRONG, and must stop. The Lord said, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” We are ALL God’s children, therefore we must stand up next to our brothers and sisters who are hurting, tired, afraid, and overlooked, add our voices to theirs and call for change, and then do what’s necessary to help those changes come to fruition. A rising tide lifts all boats. Dismantling systemic racism benefits everyone.

Mo took Zuki and Malaika (who wanted to go despite the risks) to a protest and wrote:
“June 4th, my mother turned 70. She grew up and struggled under Apartheid in South Africa. And here we are 70 years later.... Her grand babies on the other side of the world, still fighting for their humanity. Let that sink in.”

Natalie found some time to go on her own too! Protesting together as a family with a toddler is hard.

I wanted to to add my voice to the outcry too, but because I’m still compromised, I felt going into the city wasn’t a smart option for me. However, my friend found a local, family friendly protest and invited me! We made posters and went together.

“Have hope and optimism for the future! May we continue to listen, learn and act—change is happening. Black lives matter!"

Hayden wrote, “Stan, Michael, and I, plus close to 300 other people went to a GREAT peaceful protest today in Cameron Park. They had excellent speakers, voting registration, free snacks and water, and links for petitions. We will help bring change. BLACK LIVES MATTER!”

Dad wrote, “We were honored to be led in protest by Stevante Clark, brother to Stephon Clark, shot by Sacramento police in March 2018 at age 22."

And later said, “I wore this armband today to represent my beautiful granddaughters.”

Plants of Yesteryear

Last summer I excitedly planned a “look" and bought a few plants to put into two giant planters Nick gave me. For now, they live on both corners of the back patio.

I’m really into purples, whites, and greens in a garden so for a “Thriller” I chose Purple Fountain Grass. For a “filler” Spanish Lavender, and for a “spiller” Potato Vines both green and a black.

The spilling nature of potato vines is quite lovely. I’ve used them before and they look wonderful in containers but they do have to be watered every single day in the heat of the summer. Gah! But look how pretty.
By the end of summer the Purple Fountain Grass had grown far bigger than I expected. (It choked out the Spanish Lavender, so I removed those and put them into pots.)

The Blackie Sweet Potato Vine didn’t flourish like I’d hoped. In my experience it has never grown as well as the green. But it could also be that I had amended the soil for the lavender and the Blackie didn’t like it.

In all, I learned a lot (which is always the case with plants) and was happy to have these to look out at last year. Ok, to STARE at quite often.

This year, due to the stay-at-home policies, I haven't planned or planted anything yet. (I long to wander the isles of lovely, growing things.) I did notice however, that the planters stopped draining and one smelled like manure. So I had to tip them over and do some investigating.

 I was VERY surprised to find this!

The roots had grown down through the drain hole and spread out like a carpet! There was NO pulling them out by hand. They were crowded in tight!

A long skewer ended up being just the right tool to push in, break up the roots, and then the open loop was useful to hook and pull the roots out. It was actually a lot of work.

And voila! This year I plan to put mesh...or some kind of loose fabric over the hole before filling the planter with dirt. Hopefully that will work to inhibit the clogging.

Oh! and let’s not forget what last year’s back porch looked like! I have pictures of all my little potted porch gardens since we got married. They are fun to look back at from time to time. Truly, gardening is one of my favorite things to do.