Year Four, Day 87: My GERD

I am sitting here in the eating area of Fred Meyer's, working on my GERD.

Not my GED. I have a bachelor's degree.

My GERD:  Gastroesophageal reflux disease. I downloaded a few books on my kindle regarding acid reflux, chronic cough and diet.  And I read an article about GERD on the Mayo Clinic Website.

In case you're not familiar with GERD (for some reason, I just keep on typing the word GERD and snickering to myself. People are starting to stare
), here is some pertinent information:

"Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus.  

Common signs and symptoms of GERD include:

• A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), usually after eating, which might be worse at night
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
• Sensation of a lump in your throat

If you have nighttime acid reflux, you might also experience:

• Chronic cough
• Laryngitis
• New or worsening asthma
• Disrupted sleep"

 (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940)

I went through the list of symptoms. Check, check, check and check mate!

I am sure I've visited GERD before. But it has worsened lately.  I spent two days in bed last week.  It might have been the flu. But the intense fatigue, chills and body aches have subsided. I'm just left with the GERD symptoms.

And I take full responsibility.  I have relapsed into very poor eating habits.  While trying to spring my son from the joint, I put myself on a barebones food budget. Tried to eat most of my meals at home and limited my spending to $3 a day while traveling to Portland to teach. $3 a day pretty much gets you a senior tea and a hamburger from McDonald's. I was bringing along rice cakes and tossing the buns, but sometimes I would add fries.

Sigh.

I justified it by springing my son from the joint with the help of some wonderful earth angels. But the stress has lingered. And so has the poor eating habits.

I am just so tired.  So tired of planning what I eat. Packing healthy food. Only to find it doesn't help all that much.

I am coming to terms with the fact that I have a serious eating disorder.  Having lost my sense of smell has helped a bit.  I think my taste buds have been numbed.

But I still love me a cheeseburger, fries, chips and a diet Coke!

Sigh.

But listen to the list of food I need to avoid:

• Chocolate (AACK!)
• Cheese (DOUBLE AACK!)
• Meat and high fat foods
• Mint
• Excessive Salt
• Sodas
• Caffeine
• Acidic drinks like orange juice
• Acidic foods like tomato sauce 
• Alcohol

Good-Bye McDonalds!

I was pleased to find the author of the first book I perused was not a food Nazi.  He did say to avoid the above foods, not cut them out altogether. 

And you know what? I know this. I know not to eat a junk food diet, high in salt, fat and processed food.

I know this.  But I continue to do it.

Well, I don't think I can any longer. At least not in the near future. I feel like I ate shards of glass for breakfast. (True confession: I had a sausage biscuit, tea and a hashbrown. My last meal at McD's!)

But the pain has subsided a bit. So has the cough. Along with healthier eating, I am trying a 14 day course of Prevacid. I picked up the generic "Lansoprazole" at Freddy's for $5.99.  I chuckled when I typed the name. It reminded me of posole. Which I will have to avoid for awhile. Spicy food also irritate GERD!

And that irritates me! Grrr...

Also stress needs to be avoided.  So I am taking deep breaths, in through my nose and out my mouth. Plus I picked up the two seasons of  "Anger Management" with Charlie Sheen to watch tonight. I am limiting my binge watching of  Law and Order SVU to just one episode a night, followed by one episode of something humorous. I only wish there were more than three seasons of "Anger Management" - Most hilarious!

I should feel a bit better in a few days. But the slight, instant relief came from the teaspoon of baking soda I mixed into a bottle of coconut water a few minutes ago.

For my lunch on the road, I had two dolamathes (stuffed grape leaves), 7 green Greek olives, a small chunk of sheep's milk feta and a few capers from the deli. It cost $2.88, well under my daily food budget. Well, the water was $1.00 on sale, so I went a bit over. But well worth it. I ate slowly, savoring each bite. The brine from the capers and olives seemed to settle my stomach.  

I want to say I am going to stick to healthier eating, but I decided to take meds first to see if my symptoms subside.

If not, I may have to take a visit to the doc. 

Sigh.

I do also need to get back to daily exercising. I walk everyday, but it is not enough. 

For now, I am going to focus on rest, water and Prevacid. Oh, and a nice bowl of congee when I get home.

I am not ready to throw in the towel yet!

Talk soon. Hopefully in better health!

Happy Saturday.

Love,

Zita


Oy:  Look at this picture. I look miserable!