What's on your Thursday menu,RNYers?

Sounds like you have some negative pressure in your ears. It can be caused by sinusy problems or an ear infection. The eustachian tube gets blocked and that causes the ear drum to be pulled in. Makes you feel like you are in a drum or something. I get that all the time. Try pinching your nose and then kinda of a swallow that pushes air back up your throat or just yawning and moving your jaw. That will sometimes work. Hope the doc calls soon. Icky ears aren't fun!

Hi everyone,

QOTD: No special plans but I'm hoping for some great weather so I can fire up my smokers a lot!

B: 4 oz grilled turkey sausage

L: 3oz turkey breast, 1/2 orange

S: 3oz turkey breast

D: 4 1/2 oz grilled sirloin steak, 1/2C broccoli rabe

S: ostrim meat stick

Cals:624, Carbs:16, Protein:100

Enjoy the rest of your night everybody!

Today and really this week has been kinda crappy. I have a bad disc in my back and so when it started to hurt, I got the epidural shot in my back this past Friday before it got really bad. The shot really, really helped but this time, my pain got worse instead of better. So it has been a painful week. To top it off, my linzess for IBS with constipation has gone from $30 to $300 dollars so my doctor wrote a prescription for amitiza which was a $100. Still, no action (sorry, tmi) and that is painful and makes my back pain worse and bearing down makes my back hurt worse.

Accountability: I've actually done pretty well. I was jog/walking but have just walked this week. It hurts but I'm afraid if I wait for my back to get better, I'll end up not exercising like I need to and I don't want that to happen. I have gotten in 12,000 to 17,000 steps a day but it is so painful and I so don't want to but I'm scared not to at least walk. Today, it was bad enough, people were worried about me who they call the energizer bunny. Eating is on plan.

B: Cup of Coffee with collagen supplement, Dannon's light and fit yogurt and 1 oz. of mixed nuts.

MS: Iced Protein Coffee (Decaf today)

L: Turkey meatloaf, Southwest Protein Blend, Zucchini

AS 1: Panino's Prosciutto meat roll (can't remember what it's called for sure but mozzarella cheese wrapped in prosciutto), Weigh****cher Mac & Cheese Potato Sticks

AS 2: Detour Simple Protein Bar

S: 1 egg scrambled, 1/4 cup refried beans, 1 to 2 oz green beans (eyeballed it today but it wasn't much)

ES: Great Value Tuna Pouch in Water, sliced tomato, Coffee (with collagen and a squirt of reddiwhip)

I also had 1 cup of coffee caffeinated and another cup with decaf coffee.

Total Calories: 1,458, Pro - 143g, Carbs - 105g (that was a bit high but fiber off set it), Fat - 53g, Fiber 37g, Sugar 23g Macro breakdown: Carbs 29%, Fat 32%, Pro 39%

I try to get a slow walk in (average 2.4 mph on treadmill for an hour) each day for mobilities sake. My balance is not the best and my energy is low but it helps my fibromyalgia a bit and gives me time to sort out thoughts and a chance to watch some vlogs while getting steps in and getting my heart stronger. My surgeon has cleared me for this. I have hopes of getting fitter in time. I would like to add some gentle chair yoga and bought some dvds for that but it is just a matter of getting it in with kids, the dog, ...everything.

I spent quite a bit of time on the phone yesterday with the infusion therapy dietician again trying to trouble shoot the issues I am having with my feeding tube. I am having leaking of bile, formula, water...skin breakdown issues, etc. despite the best efforts. I am losing more weight despite trialing oral during the day and pump at night as of my last appointment with my center. I am doing very nutrient dense whole foods during the day (a lot of it is blended to where I can tolerate it in my blendtec but I add things like avocado, a bit of frozen banana, protein powder, various frozen berries, whole raw nuts of all kinds, greens...very nutrient dense), despite that and whole greek yogurt etc. and running the pump at night I have lost weight since my last appointment due to the leaking I am having from my stoma. My next appointment is May 6. The woman I spoke with yesterday is calling back in a week to see how the things we tried are either helping or not and to check in about my weight. I also plan to follow up again with my center. My surgeon is out this week but I did speak to his assistant when the issues began right after my last appointment but the symptoms are getting more noticeable and are impacting not only my quality of life but my weight and nutrition. I am trying to stay out of the depression and focus on what I can do. I am starting to have foggy thinking again so limiting my driving and just mainly home-bound. My daughter had an art piece featured and I did go with her to that as it meant so much to her. I am grateful she had that experience. She was BEAMING and she wanted me there so badly I couldn't let her down especially with how the last year has been health wise for me feeling like I am letting everyone down.

QOTD - My summer plans ...well, I don't know. I would like to get some simple things in the raised bed built last summer. I do NOT have a green thumb but I feel so at peace when I am tending to a little patch of something. Greens, peas, and squash seem hard (for me) to screw up so I may do that just to see life coming forth and get my hands dirty, get some sun, and have a chance to do something good for the family. I found some books at the second hand school that had some summer activity ideas and I would like to make a list of things I can do locally to create some good memories with them. I have quite an age range - 4 of my 8 have July birthdays, the youngest is high functioning on the spectrum so certain things are just not good for her; however, there is still a lot we can do. I also have some in grade school, middle school, high school...the adults drop by now and then but likely would not be interested in anything we are doing, lol. The past 2 summers have been so medical I want this summer to be focused on the children and making memories so badly. The fruit trees and berry bushes we planted last year wintered over well so I am hoping that will be fun. I am also dreaming of the weekly Farmer's market and can't wait to go and walk around with them. I can't eat many of the things now but the kids can and it is such a fun experience. No more super early wake ups for the kids at least and days full of making memories. That is what I am aiming for. I am looking forward to summer break in a bad way.

Eating wise - could do better on water but I am making an effort. My memory is not good right now due to the surgery recovery, etc. I am trying to figure out a system for water and vitamins. Food wise, I do get a 30 gram protein in every morning but some days end up so busy I don't always get the nutrient dense smoothie. I always get the greek yogurt in though and usually some soaked nuts I stir in. It depends on what my stomach will tolerate. Nights are on the pump - Vital HP and water in the other bag to help avoid dehydration but a lot of that is leaking out. I am hoping we can figure it out soon but I am really worried about the potential for another procedure or surgery based on what happened last time.

Reading the stories here gives me hope and perspective. Thank you all OH friends

I hope they are able to help you soon. I'm not a professional and I don't know much about feeding tubes but it seems like a month would be too long to wait for them to address the leaking and skin break down at your stoma site. Could an urgent care or other doctor at least look at the physical part of that?

My surgeon witnessed it during an appointment and examined me and I was told it's normal. A different person told me it can be common but not normal especially if I'm losing feeds. We are working on trouble shooting but ot hasn't been sorted out yet. At least my skin isn't blewding and just red now. Home health sent extra gauze in the meantime and I'm stocked up on the barrier cream that works best and lots of layers in the meantime.