I'm Alive!

[jmfargo]

I just got home from being in the hospital for four days for relatively excruciating pain where my appendix used to be. Four days in a hospital is a long time. I know folks who have been there longer but considering that for my appendix surgery I wasn't even in for 48 hours, this was a very long time.

Mostly it was the waiting game. "How much pain are you in today? Okay, here's morphine while we figure this out. Oh, and no, the doctor has no clue why you're in pain. Here are our 15 best guesses so far."

"Also, now we have to stick five needles in you."

I could complain about how I wasn't allowed food or water for about 36 hours, or how then I was on a liquid-only diet, or that when I was finally allowed on real food they put me back on a no food/water diet seconds after dinner was delivered. I could. But I won't.

Let's fast-forward to today.

I was released! The doctor, with a little help from his friends, figured out what is wrong with me and sent me home with some drugs. In the end the diagnosis is Diverticulitis, gallstones, and this third thing that causes pain but doesn't need treatment so isn't really "medically relevant."

I'm released. I'm hungry. I've had 3,000 Calories of food over the past 5 days at this point (seriously), and I. Want. To. Eat.

But let me explain the dietary restrictions I appear to be on. This research is strictly what I've found on at least 3 different websites that each appear reputable to me but should not be taken as gospel and could very well be wrong.

Dear Universe, how I hope I'm wrong.

Due to Diverticulitis I can not eat the following if I don't want to become infected and suffer a flair-up:

Fiber
Green vegetables
Seeds
Nuts
Popcorn
Anything that breaks into tiny little pieces (like croutons, for example)

And with gallstones I have to avoid these things or risk triggering a painful episode:

Fats
Sugar
Eggs
Pork
Onions
Poultry
Milk
Coffee
Oranges
Corn
Beans
Nuts

I am fairly certain that I have determined what I am allowed to eat. Let me make a list:

Rice

That looks about right. What do you think?

Comments

[andrewducker]

Ooooh, that sounds really unpleasant.

How long do you have to adjust your diet for?

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately we won't know that for at least another week and a half, so at least that long. Monday I call to set up my follow-up appointment for the following Thursday, and then we determine the full scope of the problems and how quickly we're going to get them fixed.

Also unfortunately, only one of these surgeries can be done at a time due to fear of infections. So, I will be healed from the first and then go right into the second, most likely.

[andrewducker]

Oh - and beef isn't on that list! So lots of stir fried beef with rice for you!

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I should put on there "most red meats" but that's under "fats." Leaner portions, I can have.

Looking a little closer I see that 'poultry,' in this case, does NOT include chicken if I have the boneless skinless breast, which is what I usually have anyway.

I am actually excitedly looking forward to stir fried chicken with rice. That's the hunger speaking.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

The diverticulitis diet sounds correct. Everything you listed is considered difficult to digest, which is the last thing you need when you have diverticulitis.

I had my gallbladder out a couple of years ago, and I never was given a list as long as yours. The only thing they told me to watch out for was my fat intake. They were correct with that, because now I have very unpleasant side effects when I do consume too much of it.

[michelleh324.livejournal.com]

I hope it's at least delicious rice.