Physical Check-In #2

Yes, I've the same diagnosis. IBS-D. I now take probiotics 30 billion CFUs as well as a diet overhaul. Like I said, you could still be gluten intolerant even without celiac. So my diet is ideally supposed to be no gluten, no dairy, no sugar (some fruit is Ok, but no orange), no heavily oiled foods, and for some reason, no peanuts. Part of this is the stomach issues, part is for preventing or limiting inflammation. I think the combination has helped a lot. Although I'm not supposed to eat yogurt (unless it's....blah blah. I could never remember or ever find the right kind anyway), but yogurt used to be my cure for diarrhea. But like you, I've not experienced much diarrhea since the diet and probiotics and aspirin I take to decrease inflammation...except for this past January's visit to the ER for terrible vomitting/diarrhea. I ate some thawing and uncooked Indian cheese, but really, it seems like it was a weird thing to have given me so much trouble. I dunno. Anyway...yeah, maybe consider trying such a diet anyway and/or probiotics.

I also hope smaller more frequent meals might help. Maybe your body is just stressed right now and needs to reset. Hmm, I was going to suggest the BRAT diet (without the bread of course or a gluten free type), but if you're eating spicy foods and veggies with no trouble, then that might not be necessary. Yeah, meds can really screw with your stomach too. That just sucks! I'm sure you've already considered med alternatives if that's the case though, right?

Awe! My heart just goes out to you! Stomach/digestive issues just plain suck! I'm part of the No Fun Club (lol it's just thing thing this musician I love came up with for these types of issues that he also struggles with. :P)
Best

Hey!

I just want to add:

Some people have a hiatal hernia, which should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
I have known of 2 people who have a hiatal hernias. They avoid eating late. They eat 1/2cup to 1 cup of yogurt after dinner.

I do not eat late into the evening. I eat by 6pm at the latest, or I might have reflux.

Please do see a qualified doctor for treatment. My stepdad had chronic reflux. He failed to see a doctor to help him. He'd suffered immensely once he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He died of this. Take reflux seriously.

Thanks everyone

Maybe I should start a keto or otherwise lo-carb diet to see if carbs have been exacerbating my reflux. I am a super picky eater, though, so I don't know how I'm going to cut out most of my carbs. I live for carbs apparently.

I tried looking up keto recipes, and a lot of them use cauliflower. I have never tried cauliflower before, but I suppose it could be a good start. You can apparently use it to make breads, pizza crusts, "mac & cheese," "mashed potatoes," etc..

The goal is not to lose weight, but to stop the puking in my mouth, which happened again this morning (at work). Though, I didn't eat anything when I puked, and hadn't eaten anything since 3pm yesterday, so I don't know what gives. Maybe keto or lo-carb wouldn't 100% solve the puking, but I think carbs aren't helping (based on what you guys have been saying and what I have been reading).

I'd like to try this diet change first before considering going back on a PPI like protonix. I definitely don't want esophageal cancer, though.

I know you like pasta, so I wanted to mention Barilla makes pasta made from red lentils and another kind made from chick peas. When you pair it with sauce it tastes like regular pasta. My kids are supwr picky and they like it. That may be worth a try. It is with the regular past in my store and it comes in a tan box.

I've use cauliflower for mashed potatoes before. It is pretty good. I actually like it better when I do half potato half cauliflower.

I hope this new approach can work for you

You mean barilla's protein plus pasta? Yeah, I like that kind. I have some already in my pantry and have been eating it for years.

I don't think I can ever go back to regular pasta. The protein plus one is just so much healthier for you. It was actually recommended to me by a nutritionist I saw when I was having cholesterol problems caused by Latuda.

Anyway, I can try half potato, half cauliflower mashed potatoes. That's a great idea. I definitely want to try the cauliflower pizza, though. Have you ever tried it?

I really like cauliflower mash or just steamed cauliflower alone. It's especially yummy with a cheese sauce. I hope you can find a good cauliflower crust pizza. I never have. I'd rather just have very thin regular crust. Or an alternative that I like better than cauliflower crust is to make mini pizzas on fried polenta. You can buy premade polenta and fry it, or make it yourself, which requires a bit of effort.

What's wrong with cauliflower pizza crust? Does it have a weird flavor or something? Genuine question.

I have never tried polenta before, but I can put that on my list. Thanks for the idea.

No, its different. Check out this link. There's no wheat in it at all and there is 11g proterin per serving in the chickpea kind and 13 in the red lentil kind.

Legume Pasta | Barilla

No, I have never tried the cauliflower pizza crust before. I'm sure I would be ok with it. I'll eat pretty much anything... Back in the day my mom used to use slices of tofu for pizza crust. You have to press the water out and cook it before you top it, but it isn't terrible.

Hi bluebicycle. If I dislike something, of course it doesn't mean that everyone would. I just found the flavor and texture of the cauliflower crusts I've had undesirable (some slightly sour and/or just didn't mesh well with the sauce and/or toppings). I've tried four different brands. Maybe there would be some other brand that was better. I do really like cauliflower. I find it an excellent substitute for potatoes, especially boiled potatoes. I have also had the mashed cauliflower and found that nice. Again, as a sub for potatoes.

Making homemade polenta can be a bit of work. The "quick cook" is easier. When you make polenta for the sake of frying, it is initially like a corn meal mush (but the polenta corn meal is different than regular corn meal). It can be plain, or have some flavorings added (i.e. herbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic). Then I usually put it in a loaf pan and let it harden (some hours) and chill in the fridge. Then I slice it and fry it until it's crisp. It could also be hardened in a pizza shape in a round cake or frying pan. Typical pizza toppings can be added on top and melted/heated in an oven or toaster oven. It is different than flour crusts, but if you like polenta it's nice. Some grocery stores sell pre-made polenta usually in the shape of a tube. In those cases, it is ready to slice and fry. I guess frying isn't mandatory, but the crispness is very appealing, in my view. Here's a picture of a pre-made polenta in a tube.

Here's an example of a fancy recipe for polenta pizza, but you could simply put your own toppings on it. This NY Times recipe opens only once per day, unless you have a subscription: Polenta ‘Pizza’ With Pancetta and Spinach Recipe - NYT Cooking

I'm not exactly a picky eater, but I can be a harsh food critic.

The red lentil one sounds good. Thanks for the link. I'll have to go looking for it in the grocery store the next time I go. Sounds like a decent option.

I have never heard of tofu being used for pizza crust before. That is very interesting. I have only had tofu a handful of times, though. I made a tofu Parmesan dish (as opposed to chicken Parmesan) and it tasted pretty good. Most of the flavor comes from the breading anyways.

I see. I don't particularly like sour foods, so I hope if I make cauliflower pizza that it doesn't taste sour. I am sure I can add tons of stuff to the "dough" to make it fine, though. But if you're buying it premade from a store, I guess there isn't much you can do about it.

Thanks for the recipe and links. I don't know if I'd want to fry the polenta though, only because I think fried foods exacerbate my reflux problem (hence I typically stay away from fast food). I guess I could just bake it instead.

I am a huge pizza addict, so anything that could reduce the acidity would be great... although I know that tomatoes themselves are acidic.

I like cauliflower crust pizza. We have a place here who make pizzas with it so I've never tried to make it myself. I don't like their sauce much but I do like their pizza. We have bought a prepared frozen cauliflower crust but haven't used it yet.

That's cool you have a local place that makes cauliflower pizza. I don't know of any around here who do that. We mostly just have Domino's, Papa Johns, etc., and those places give me BAD heartburn!!

I hope you enjoy your frozen cauliflower crust.

So I added weight training to my wprkouts and i lost 3lbs over 2 weeks. then I didn't lift and ate cookies for a week. I'm back up those 3lbs. Weight loss is hard man!

Truth. The cookies are always a challenge. What kind of long term weight loss goal do you have for yourself? I did my best when I followed circuit training and paired it with a 1400/day calorie limit.

I'm in maintenance mode at the moment and have a range of about 10 lbs I stay within. I kick things back into high gear when I'm at the high end and relax a bit when on the lower side.

I've done well with my physical goals this week so far. I've been able to exercise every day and my eating has been on track for then most part.

I am planning to make some cookies today with my kids to surprise my husband with when he comes home. He has been working hard this week and I want him to feel appreciated. Luckily his favorite flavor isn't mine, so I won't be eating a bunch of them

I know this seems like doomsday prepping, but I will go to the grocery store and buy tons of canned goods, pasta, rice, etc. before coronavirus strikes... because it will. The infected man in California probably infected tons of other people because he waited until the last minute to seek help. I know you can spread it without being symptomatic, but I am sure if he sought help earlier that less people would be infected. But besides that, Italy is overrun with coronavirus and there are flights to/from Italy.

Probably not good to eat all these carbs, but I don't want to be the last one to the grocery store when coronavirus hits. People will be spreading it when it hits, so I want to stay AWAY from the grocery store. Plus, the grocery store will be bare because everyone will have bought everything in doomsday prepping. And who knows what businesses will be open. My workplace has already cancelled a bunch of conferences in California and telling people not to go into the office!!

Hey Blue! Maybe not a bad idea? It's most likely going to spread. Due to our rapid modes of transportation, it can spread fast.

Wasn't SARS a coronavirus which was rampant overseas. yet no so much here in the U.S.
We've made it through yet another coronavirus; I forget its name, but we'll all recognize it.

Is this corona virus more virulent?

I've had 2 doctors voice disappointment in the CDC for not yet having developed a vaccine for coronavirus .

I've gained weight since the separation. Rheumy says most of it is from combining prednisone and Enbrel together. We have started to taper the prednisone.
I don't feel so bad knowing H has gained weight, too. Lol! I have not seen him since asking him to leave last May. We do talk and we both have input on projects. For instance, we have been renovating a property. I will pick out the flooring and he will pick it up and install it. We will have to see each other soon. I need for him to pick up the rest of his belongings here, etc.

I need to buckle down and lose weight! Exercise is a bit of a problem. I have at least one hip with severe arthritis, needing a replacement. I have an injured knee on the same side. Doctor failed to order enough x-rays of the other side. I do have a recumbent bike in the den. One doctor told me that will put too much stress on my hip and knee. Ortho appt still a month away.

Congrats to all losing weight and to those improving their health in any way.

This coronavirus is very different. Even the n95 respirator masks (which medical personnel are using in hospitals etc.) aren't perfect protectors against the virus. Supposedly the virus particles are between 0.05 and 0.20 microns in size, while the most "advanced" respirator masks only filter out particles that are 0.30 microns and larger. Still, I am sure it is better than nothing. Like if someone were to spit on your face, for example, I would assume the droplets are larger than 0.30 microns. But if someone coughs in the air and the virus particles separate from the saliva, then you're at high risk for breathing it in if the virus particles are smaller than 0.30 microns. The virus particles can cling to air particles and thus "float" in the air for a while.

Another thing... If someone coughs in the air, it can infect you through your eyes. That's why a lot of medical professionals are recommending people to wear goggles as well. I mean, even if the respirator did a perfect job of filtering out the virus particles, there is still nothing protecting your eyes. Supposedly lots of people have been infected through the eyes alone.

Me personally? I am just going to stay home and not leave the apartment!! I will have stocked up on all the goods anyways, so I will be fine when it hits.