Thursday, May 21, 2009

PLEASE.....Someone tell me this is just a cruel joke or a bad dream!

Ok, well as it turns out, it's not a joke or a bad dream, like I had hoped! This past few weeks have been rough for me because of a horrible diet my doctor put me on. I mean it's bad enough, that I have been pretty ill for almost 4 months, but don't be messin' with a girl's food!!! Especially, since I have my appetite back now! I usually don't get too personal on my blog, but this is so unfair, that I just have to tell all.

Here's how it all started...

Almost 4 months ago I got bronchitis and after 2 rounds of antibiotics, I was still having a lot of trouble breathing, so I went back to the doctor. He said I wasn't getting enough oxygen.....duh, that's why I was there! (do you detect a little attitude in my voice?) He gave me a nebulizer treatment, plus sent a nebulizer home with me, along with many other drugs. (I really hate taking medications, but I had no choice, I mean come on, I have to breathe!) After a chest x-ray, pulmonary function testing, allergy testing, plus 3 visits to my family doc and 4 or 5 to the Allergy Specialist, I still couldn't hardly breathe. BTW, the pulmonary function test was not fun. It wasn't too bad breathing into the machine, until he switched it to oxygen. He forewarned me that people new to scuba diving, have trouble breathing with the oxygen tanks and they sometimes panic. He said this test would be like that and that I would probably feel like I wasn't getting enough air.......HELLO.......I'm already NOT getting enough air! Oh and FYI......I'm not a scuba diver either! Needless to say, I almost panicked and ripped that thing out of my mouth, but he said if we didn't get a proper reading, we would have to redo it. I had to redo it 3 times because the first two times I was hyperventilating through the whole test. Anyway, the results revealed that my lungs are functioning properly, so he thought the obstruction must be caused by inflammation.

So far, I have had two really bad asthma attacks and both times, I ended up having panic attacks because I literally couldn't breathe and thought I wasn't going to make it! Let me tell you.....that will freak a person out! I made a real spectacle out of myself, when it happened at church in the middle of the service, recently. Fortunately, I went out into the foyer, but as my air became more constricted and the terror set in, I became more panicked. I thought I was going to drive myself home to use my nebulizer and was trying to convince myself and the ushers that I was going to be fine. Ok, at this point I was not thinking clearly! Apparently, I just got louder and louder the more panicked I became and the next thing I new, my husband busted through the door......he could hear the panic in my voice over his preaching and knew exactly what was happening. He didn't even get to finish the sermon.....we left and the rest of the church stayed and prayed for me. Isn't that so sweet? Some of them even met at the church the next night to pray for me, also. I am so thankful for all of them!

Anyway, It wasn't until the next day that I realized, after talking with Andy that everyone in the auditorium could hear me panicking and freaking out in the foyer. Oh my goodness, I was so humiliated that all I could do, was laugh at myself! Thank goodness our church members are all my friends!

I went back to my doctor and he thinks I am having acid reflux ,that is backing up and spilling into my lungs, which is causing my lungs to constrict and making it hard to breathe.

SO......this brings me to the unfairness I mentioned in the beginning of this post...

I am now on a very bland diet for a month to see if part of the problem really is acid reflux. I've been on this awful diet, for a few weeks and let me just share with you, how rough it really is....

Here are some of my favorite things that I can't have. What? Does he seriously think I can live without my spicy foods? I can't even eat soup without cayenne pepper and literally dumping two kinds of hot sauce in it. Plus, how will I eat scrambled eggs without my Cholula sauce? No acidic fruits or vegetables, so that rules out anything with tomato........NO PIZZA, SPAGHETTI, OR LASAGNA! I was going to buy some tomato plants to make homemade salsa with.....hmmm, guess that won't be happening! I can't even have oranges or pineapple in my smoothies.......this is getting rediculous!
Ok, so this is where I'm hoping I'll wake up and find out this is just a bad dream! I can't even have my favorite mexican food from Plaza Jalisco! Oh my goodness, I can almost taste those luscious enchiladas ranchera and that awesome salsa, right now. I sometimes just eat the salsa with a spoon.....seriously, it is the best salsa I have ever had! I better move on to the next picture before I start to weep.
Alright, this is the last straw! This really has to be a cruel joke! I can't even have my favorite tea? Come on! These are just 3 of my favorites, but they all contain something I can't have. My other favorites are Stash decaf Chai Tea and Stash Lemon Ginger. I can't have caffeine, chocolate, or any kind of mint or spices, so all of my favorites are out! Do you know how hard it is to find tea without caffeine, mint, lemon or ginger?

I do hope this torture is over soon, but if it solves some of my problem with my lungs, then I guess it will be worth it. I mean, I would really love to feel good again and most importantly, be able to breathe easily again! Now, those of you who love spicy foods, don't you feel sorry for me? You can all come to my pity party if you wanna......the door is open!

13 comments:

  1. Oh you poor thing! No Mexican Food? That's just cruel. I guess breathing is more important. Hope you are back to your normal self soon!

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  2. omg, I am so sorry! but if it is just for a short time and finds out your problems....then it will be worth it! I will certainly be praying for you!!! From one girl who loves her spicy food to another...you can do it!!!

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  3. Girl, I am so sorry to hear this! I know dietary changes/restrictions are hard... really hard.

    Have you ever heard of 'digestive enzymes'? The brand I use is 'transformation'. They work to help break down your food... natural & gentle. A friend of mine has really bad reflux and I always hand him a couple when we eat out with them... his wife usually thanks me later.

    (((((hugs)))))

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  4. Hope everything turns out okay! I had horrible acid reflux and ended up having the fundo surgery for it almost two years ago. It was the best thing I ever did!! I can eat what I want when I want and not have to sleep in a recliner anymore....and the best part...since I had the surgery I haven't had bronchitis or pneumonia..I have had them two to three times a year for the past twelve to fifteen years..

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  5. ahh, DJ, I do feel bad for you :( But if it makes you healthy and happy again then it will all be worth it. I know it doesn't seem that fun right now, but think of it as an adventure to try new foods and cook in different ways. I love you so much, and seeing you so sick has really made me sad. I can't wait until you are finally healed and back to your old (young) self again. :) love you!

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  6. Aww woman...I feel your pain. At least you can still have a laugh about it. I guess the good part oabout a bland diet is...weight loss!

    I'd feel terrible to be on a bland diet...unless it was mashed potato all the time.

    Praying for your and your health!

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  7. Ohh, Drs can be so aggrivating, when their not the one's having to do without. I have been suffering with the same thing for the last 6 weeks, it started out as Pneumonia, then it went to Broncitis, streph throat and now sinus enduced amthsa, I also have sever reflux and it's never caused my athmas attacks. It does get so bad that I have coughing spells. They put me on pills 3 times aday and the reflux supsided.
    I sure hope he finds out what's causing your problems.
    Molly

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  8. Don't feel humiliated!! As bad as it may sound, I was RELIEVED to find out it was your breathing causing the panic! When I heard you, I was so afraid something really bad had happened to Kasey, Michael, or Jaymie!! You darted out of the auditorium so quickly and for some reason I thought your inhaler(I think that's what you had) was your phone or something and you must have just gotten a horrific text! Still, I'm very sorry about the bland diet! I love you and hope this solves the problem- or do I? If the diet is the problem, do you have to stay off of spices forever?

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  9. Michelle H, I don't know the answer to your question, but I sure hope I don't have to stay off spices forever. The next step will be to put a scope down my throat to check everything out and if it turns out that the problem isn't acid reflux, I will be sent to a pulmonary specialist. BTW, I love you too....you are so sweet!

    Michelle F, Don't be sad and don't be worried, I'll get through this and be back to my old (young) self again. I love you too!

    Thank you all, for your encouraging words and prayers! I will try to respond to each of you on your blogs sometime tonight.

    Sara G. I am curious about your surgery and H-Mama, I'm curious about your enzymes.

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  10. Debra,

    I'm so sorry you have to go through all this! I hope the doctors can figure out what's going on with you soon...so you can have some rest! Take care of yourself. I'll keep you in my prayers!

    Brittany

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  11. You poor thing...I hope you get better soon!

    Your husband and your church sound soooo sweet. That is so nice that they prayed for you.

    Keep us posted. I hope things improve quickly.

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  12. i am so sorry to hear about your troubles!
    and, your trouble at church - that SO sounds like something i would do!! i'm glad you were okay, though.

    keeping you in my prayers!

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  13. the transformation brand of enzymes came recommended by a naturalpathic dr in my area. after mexican food, our friend (that i was referring to) would have to sleep in a recliner. with 2-3 of those enzymes he didn't have the same discomfort. they are more expensive, but effective.

    i added your email to my contact list. i'll send you an email as soon as i'm sitting long enough to put our story in a nutshell for you. ;) i'm glad to see your church really came together for you!

    praying for you...

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