It’s been a while since I last gave an update on my diet. As a reminder, I’ve been doing an anti-candida diet (I’m in my seventh week) following the protocols and recipes from this book:
After two weeks on the diet, I had about a 50% improvement in my symptoms (which were… sorry… TMI coming up… chronic diarrhea). I was feeling pretty great… and then I got sick. In retrospect, I’m pretty sure it was Covid. I had cold-like symptoms, pink eye, and lingering fatigue and headaches for about two weeks. And- my digestion went, literally, into the toilet.
This has happened to me before- Covid just seems to find your weak spot and wreak havoc there. While I was happily following the diet for the first two weeks, the last four weeks I’ve been angrily following it. It doesn’t make sense to go off the diet now- “Oh, my digestion sucks, I guess I should start eating bagels and potato chips again!”- but as I’ve mentioned, this diet is very restrictive, and it’s not fun to follow it and not see improvements.
So that’s the (sad) update. Now let’s talk about my trip! I’m SO EXCITED. On Saturday I fly to Texas. My son is playing in an orchestra at a summer music festival, and I’ll get to hear his last concert. On Sunday we’ll start driving his car to Chicago. We’ll drive Sunday and Monday, and arrive at my sister and BIL’s place Monday evening. We’ll spend two days with them, and then Paul and I will fly back to Florida on Thursday (leaving his car there, to be picked up in September when he goes back to start Northwestern).
This trip has ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS. I’m flying on an airplane by myself! (Lots of reading time). I get to hear my son play, and then we’ll have a road trip together. THEN, I get to see my sister. Best of all, at the end of it, Paul will be coming home with me.
The looming question is… what about my diet? Am I going to stay on it while traveling? Will that even be possible?
GREAT questions. It would be possible to stay on the diet completely, but very, very hard and inconvenient. Last time I talked to my son, he was full of plans- we can stop at our favorite taco place in Austin and get tacos for lunch! And when we drive through Waco we can go to that coffee place where you got the Earl Grey you loved so much!
I could say no to these things, and find a place to get a plain salad. And I could tell my sister to go to Whole Foods and get a bunch of specialty items for me, which I would eat instead of whatever they plan to make for us. BUT I DON’T WANT TO BE THAT PERSON. I don’t want to make the trip all about me and my limited food choices. And… I want to enjoy myself. Obviously.
So I’m going to do my best. I’ll stay on the diet when possible, and other than that I’ll have some planned cheats. I’ll bring food along with me, and make the best possible choices while we’re on the road. My sister and I have already been talking (she knows me well after all these years) and she has some things planned that I can eat, and some dinner ideas where we can all eat pretty much the same thing (with slight modifications for me).
It won’t be perfect, but I’ll enjoy myself (and the cups of Earl Grey that are one of my planned cheats!) and then when I get home, I’ll get back on the diet.
So that’s my life updates! It could all be summed up by saying on Saturday I’m starting a really fun trip- with a packet of Imodium (JUST IN CASE).
How’s your summer going? Any trips planned? Any poop stories? (JUST KIDDING on that last one- I mean, I’m not Kyria.)
Top photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
30 Responses
So excited for your trip, Jenny!
You’re very considerate in trying “not to be that person.” But you’re on this diet for your wellbeing–you’re not doing it to be a jackass. I’m sure the people who love you will get that.
I hope you have the very best time!
Thank you Maya! Very true, and my sister is being VERY accommodating. No matter what, I’ll have fun.
Sounds like a good plan! sticking to a restrictive diet while traveling is hard and causes stress to everyone around you. few days going off script will be fine. I often do the same while traveling. if I can’t find vegan options, I’ll eat whatever it’s there and not stress about it.
have fun!!!
Thank you Coco! Yes, I don’t want to cause stress for myself or anyone else. It is a vacation after all- it should be fun.
I’m so excited for your trip! And as for the food thing, I think you just need to do the best that you can do. You’ll have been on it for a good chunk of time and if you can’t be on it for 100% of the time, so be it. Life is for living, and yes, you want to feel your best but…it would really suck to just get a plain salad at a special taco place with your son. Just do your best!
But ugh, chronic diarrhea. That sounds honestly terrible – what has your doctor said about this? I guess I didn’t realize it was so bad until last month you mentioned having to get up in the night. Also I think you’re right about Covid and how it pinpoints your weak spot. It seems to me that it hits everyone really different depending on their health.
But back to the trip! I am excited for you! I also love flying by myself, it’s such a free feeling, not worrying about others or their needs.
Life is for Living- yes it is!!! I’ll remind myself of that during this trip. And- I’m actually seeing my doctor today. Just to go over bloodwork results, or at least that what SHE thinks. We’re actually going to have a talk about my digestion. I’m not expecting much, honestly- I’ve been through this before and doctors haven’t been a lot of help.
Your trip sounds so fun! I’m glad you’ll be finding ways to enjoy some treats along the way while still trying to stick to the diet and hopefully see some symptom improvements. It would be hard for me to stick to something if I wasn’t seeing many changes but you are doing so well on your diet!
I have my solo birthday trip to Sedona coming up at the end of this month which I’m very excited about! It’s only three nights but I can’t wait to explore some new trails and hopefully get some good vegan food!
Ashley- your trip sounds so, so amazing. Solo. Sedona. Trails. Vegan food. Can we switch places??? Ha ha…
Oh no! I’m so sorry that you’ve been having such terrible digestive issues and that Covid/your illness made things worse. How frustrating to be doing all the things necessary to feel well, and to have some outside factor throw a wrench in your plans. Boo. The trip sounds great though! How fun that you get time with Paul AND with your sister! Immodium sounds like a great option to keep in your pocket. Hopefully it will be like an umbrella; you know, if you have one, you definitely won’t need it.
Ha, I always have weird conversations with my colon (doesn’t everyone?) Better shape up, or I’m popping one of these pills! We’ll see what happens.
Ugh. Jenny! This is just so unfair. All that hard work and being thwarted by a bug.
I am really glad to hear you will enjoy some Earl Grey and hope that you continue to notice improvements in gut function over time. It sounds exhausting to be on this diet, but you are such a dedicated person to stick with it.
And your time with Paul sounds fabulous. All of it! The time to read, chat, see him play, road trip, visit with your sister. My heart is so full for you, my friend <3
Thank you Elisabeth! It’s going to be amazing. The diet thing is frustrating, but I’m going to put it aside as much as possible (I mean- put aside worrying or thinking about it). When I get home I’ll hit it hard, or try to figure something else out.
Gah I commented but I don’t think it went through! I think it would make sense to talk to your doctor. I think Stephany is having similar issues so that prompted her to get a colonoscopy and an endoscope scheduled. You shouldn’t live with those kind of GI issues!
Summer is going well for us. June was busy with fun stuff. July is busy with work travel. August will be busy with 2 work trips + our week vacation to my parents. Sept is going to arrive fast which I am ok with as that is when Will starts PK at Paul’s school. He will have more consistency as the same teachers have been with the program for years. He’s had so many teachers at his daycare which he handles fine but it’s annoying to get to know new people all the dang time.
Have the best time on your trip with Paul!!
Thank you Lisa! And, I have a doctor appointment today where I will definitely be talking about this issue. We’ll see what she says- maybe I’ll get some new ideas. My last colonoscopy was perfect, and I’ve been tested for parasites, Celiac, and food allergies. GRR. Just tell me what’s wrong and I’ll fi it! Sigh.
Sounds like you have a fun and busy summer- and while I don’t want to wish the time away, I’ll be happy when September arrives as well because it will be football and pumpkin season.
I also think checking in with your doctor is a good idea. I would probably stay on the diet, but that’s just because I am a don’t break the chain kind of gal.
My doctor is going to get an earful today! Ha, and she thinks we’re just going to wuickly go through my bloodwork. Think again!
I have TWO TRIPS planned. Like real trips and not visits to family (which do not count as trips to me). I’m going to Seattle with my best friend NEXT WEEK and to California for a wedding at the end of the month. So busy! I am excited.
I have recently been doing the rounds of doctor appointments for a nagging health thing and I have found it to be the most frustrating experience. There’s clearly something wrong, but no one can figure it out. Hopefully you will have better luck with your medical professionals!
Yes, that’s the most frustrating thing in the world- when you know something is wrong but no one can figure out what it is. But- on the bright side, both your trips sound amazing! Seattle and CA- two places I would love to go.
My only question has already been asked and answered – your doc is being looped in. I’ve had a few health annoyances that have no answer, so I hesitate to bring things up since I feel like I’m just going to hear the same things over and over again. But there have been some exceptions to the rule, and I mean, if you have to suffer with it then your doctor should be hearing about it.
I think that being on the trip is going to be a joy, and I have a feeling your symptoms will get a lot better on the trip. And then you’ll make decisions about what to do long term when you get back home.
I haven’t done any travel in July so far, but I will make up for it in August! I’m headed out to see our friend Nicole and to spend some time hanging out in Vancouver/Victoria Island. I can’t wait!
Omg a trip to see Nicole… that is going to be amazing. I can’t wait to hear ALL ABOUT IT. Not only is that a beautiful location, but… Nicole! REX! You’ll get to see REX! I’m so envious.
Oh man. The trip sounds like a great time. I hope you have a wonderful time. What an amazing line up of all of your fav things.
I do have poop stories, kidding sort of – I just arrived to my folks’ house this afternoon so I can monitor and help my dad prep for his colon surgery. The drinking of stuff starts in a few hours. My back is a mess right now, like worse than it’s ever been and I’m married to a PT, so I barely slept last night because my head hurt SO much. I think it was all stemming from my headache. I head out of town as soon as I know that Dad got thru the surgery, and I’m in a similar boat – packing most of my food. My reason is two fold. It’s cheaper and I’m trying not to eat sugar right now, so it makes sense to pack my stuff. I love watching Curly play b-ball so I’m excited about that – plus I really enjoy the other parents. Last year we had a blast sitting around the fire pit late at night drinking wine. I will feel a little distracted though, worrying and checking in on how Dad is recovering.
I’m having an off day on top of being so tired, the woman whose workout videos I workout to multiple times a week, took all of her videos down from her FB. (she put them up during covid when the health club I workout at was closed, and I was probably the only one that was still using them). Anyway, I thought of you this morning, Can you recommend youtube workouts? I am looking for cardio/strength stuff. Some core maybe? I loved her videos, some were short guns and buns for 26 minutes and others were an hour, or 45 minutes, so I could pick what I wanted to do each day based on how much time I had, etc. I’m sure there are options out there, but I’m feeling unmoored.
I like Caroline Girvan, and she has free series on Youtube. Do you have access to weights? I’m going to be in a challenging situation while I’m traveling because most of the time I won’t have access to a gym or any weights. But… I’ll figure it out. At least I can run.
I’ll be thinking about your dad- my sister had colon cancer about five years ago and also had surgery. It’s not fun, and the recovery is not fun either. I hope he’s okay. Let us know!
Is there any chance it’s IBS? Someone I know has basically exact same thing and she has IBS. Just curious if that has come up in conversations with doctors? Hope you get some answers! I would be also angrily following the diet, especially if I weren’t really seeing results!! Argh.
Yes, IBS has been discussed I had a good conversation with my doctor yesterday!
So does going off of the diet for this short amount of time put you back at square one where you have to start over? If not, I say geez, enjoy yourself, try within moderation so you’re not suffering too much.
I hope you have an amazing time with your son!
Oh, poop story. My worst is the time I had to fly to Anchorage because my mom had been medivacced there after having a heart attack. I had the worst flights (2), the whole time in the bathroom. Then about 3 days of misery, when I asked one of the nurses at the hospital. I told her I was taking Imodium and it wasn’t helping. She asked how often I was taking it, and I said every couple of hours. She said, ‘the directions say to take it again if you have another bout, so do that.’ I said, ‘it’s been 10 minutes, that’s too soon’. NOPE. Once I followed the instructions, I got much better. WHEW.
Very excited to hear about your trip. It sounds like a fun one.
I am not sure what is worse diarrhea or the diet.
Hopefully you can enjoy food and not be sick.
Poop stories!!! Hey you know what, everyone has them, they just don’t all talk about them, but when you camp and sleep and don’t shower with the same people for sometimes a week or so, you get pretty comfortable talking about everything! I’m here for you Jenny!
I hope your trip is going well and that you don’t need the Imodium! I did the FODMAP elimination diet and it was fine when I was at home but man it was hard when I was out. I had to be that person, the one who asks if the burger has garlic salt on it, and please give me lettuce instead of bun etc. and I stopped being a vegetarian 20 years ago because I was sick of being that person! Good luck with your trip!
Heyyyy, chronic diarrhea sisters! I will say that my primary doc wasn’t much help for me so that’s why I scheduled an appointment with a GI doc. Aside from bloodwork and a colonoscopy, I also did a stool sample + an abdominal ultrasound, which might be helpful for you to do, too. I’m astonished that you’re only seeing 50% improvement with all of these diet changes! That seems low?! I think my issues have to do with gluten. I’ve been testing things – had regular pizza one night and was in the bathroom multiple times, had cauliflower pizza another night and no issues! Gah. We’ll see if the colonoscopy pulls up anything troublesome, but right now, all of my tests have been negative so I think I’m going to need to be a gluten-free girly soon, wah.
Hope your trip has gone very well! We had a fun challenge on Monday – met my cousin and his family for a look around a house and gardens quite locally to us, and when we had lunch we had a no-saturated-fat person (me), a diabetic (husband), a coeliac (my cousin) and someone who can’t eat any small grains and a load of other things (his wife, who has various autoimmune conditions). Amazingly we all managed to have a nice lunch but there was lots of asking and Matthew was really tired afterwards as he had a bit too much carbs so his diabetic meds kicked in and made him feel bad!
No trips planned this summer. Well, not entirely true. Just a couple weeks ago I was in Poland to meet Kyria and that was fun.
But nothing with the husband unfortunately.