Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Stopping Cold Turkey
If you’ve read my most recent post, you know that I have a still-undiagnosed medical condition, which is not life-threatening but painful. And I’m discouraged by the delays of the medical system to move things along. So I’ve decided to take my health into my own hands.
I’m stopping cold turkey. Favorite food and drink, that is.
If the diagnosis comes out as I suspect it will, @kayofmt has had the same condition. And she has kept it in remission, even though they say it is incurable. Her remedy: cutting out coffee, chocolate, alcohol, tomatoes and citrus fruits, and drinking organic raspberry juice. That’s all. The Mayo Clinic confirms most of her choices.
I am addicted to my morning coffee. I won’t lie. Okay, I probably have a little too much, but I’m going to switch to green tea (which has very little caffeine). And then there’s the chocolate chunk cookie that I have every evening—just one—that I will sacrifice. I rarely have citrus (even though I live in FL). And I don’t eat much in the way of fresh tomatoes, although I cook a lot with diced tomatoes. I’m going to skip it all for a while. And let’s not forget pizza.
I’m not drinking alcohol right now because I am taking a medication for another condition that combined with alcohol will make me deathly ill. I’ve been surprised that I haven’t much missed my glass of wine with dinner for the past week. But I know I will miss Friday margaritas (@she, you can have mine).
All that said, it may be harder than I think. We all probably feel to some degree that we are already making sacrifices with the virus restrictions. It’s the little joys, at least to some degree from our food and drink, that provide comfort. Celery doesn’t quite cut it.
You might ask if I’m acting rashly, since I haven’t received a diagnosis, but that may not happen until late May. But I’m in pain, and removing this food and drink from my diet won’t kill me. At least I hope it won’t. Maybe the little bit of caffeine in the green tea will keep me from getting caffeine-deprivation headaches.
I can hope.
Wish me luck.
P.S. On a related note, I’d be open to your success stories of quitting certain foods and drinks.
Published in Healthcare
Some people I know have had success with diet adjustments for chronic conditions. Some have worked on it incrementally – by eliminating the biggest trigger and working down the tree. Another – maybe more motivated by stronger symptoms – tried the blanket approach. I’d suggest you take whatever approach seems manageable and helps with your symptoms enough for your comfort. As to whether it’s rash – heck, it’s something entirely within your control, you’ve been living with your body longer than the labs and you can quit it whenever you want. If it helps uncomfortable symptoms you’ll keep at it and there won’t be any prescription to pick up.
I drink way too much black tea but enjoy every cup but also quite enjoy Tazo Zen green tea at night. EODDad drinks tea infrequently, no coffee but really enjoys Tazo Ginger green tea. Maybe the flavours will help offset the lack of zip. It is not entirely caffeine free so you’ll get some. Not all green tea is created equal – some taste like grass so try a couple so you like the flavour.
I hope it helps whichever way you manage. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?
Thank you for your sweet and comforting comments, @eodmom, and offering a balanced perspective. I have a Chinese Jasmine green tea that I’ve been drinking for years from Upton Tea. They are a great company and I love the product. I understand that the length of brew time is also key, and this only calls for three minutes and to brew at a lower temp than black tea. I’m going to hope the caffeine level is low for now!
Awwwwww . . . I wish I could do something to make you feel better, but I’m afraid it will be the same thing my wife says (Go away!) . . .
You just did say something to make me feel better, @stad–and made me smile.
Best of luck with your lifestyle adjustments. As a type II diabetic I can tell you that while they can be challenging and sometimes depressing, dietary adjustments do work. Identify some things that are safe for your requirements that you really enjoy and stock up. Something to take the edge off the cravings for other things. For me it was Filet Mignon. When I feel like I can’t live another minute without popcorn or donuts, a nice chunk of Beef Tenderloin takes the edge off!
My prayers are with you that you feel better very soon. Stay strong!
Oh thank you, @phenry! Oooh, filet mignon on our barbecuel. That sounds good to me! Thank you for your prayers.
I had to give up caffeinated coffee and salty foods (including sausage) last summer due to hypertension issued. (Initially I inadvertently made it worse by switching to a caffeine-free herb tea that contained licorice root.) The BP is under control, but man I miss sausage, ham, chips, and bread. Worst part is most canned foods are loaded with salt, so during fast periods I cannot open up a can of beans and heat it up. (And forget canned soup.)
But I made the adjustment fairly easily, even though I drank a pot of coffee a day previous to that.
Wow, that’s awesome, @seawriter. Out of your list, I would desperately miss the bread, too. I love bread. So it could be worse. I’m glad you’re taking good care of yourself.
Bread has been hard for me as well. I have two bread machines, and before my diagnosis I made 4 loaves of homemade breads a week. Banana bread, wheat bread, bagels, you name it I made and ate it all!
Now bread is a big no no, it has too many carbs and not enough nutritional value. Alas. . .
If the bread is home-made I can eat it. We can limit the sodium by making yeast breads and avoiding baking powder. But my baking abilities are poor.
This is the 21st century, @seawriter! There must be breads that would qualify that even baking-compromised people like us can make! @she, where are you??
Bread machines are great, just put in the ingredients and let it go. One of mine even has a timer so I could set it in the morning before leaving for work and come home to a house smelling of fresh baked bread and a hot loaf ready to slice! My only advice is be careful about the temperature of the ingredients, too hot or cold can affect yeast.
I have a whole book of bread machine recipes, I’m sure some are available in low sodium.
There is no wilier foe
Than the ache within my toe
Nor more perverse an enemy
Than the stone inside my kidney
And do not start me thinking
About the uncontrollable blinking
And the stutter that abounds
When my mouth would make some sounds
Or the knee of mine that clicks
Rubbing raw as if two sticks
Are cracking like my back
In another sciatica attack
Why must my body be
So terrible to me?
Twas once lithe as a Spring leaf
But now only gives me grief
Bravo! Did you write it, @rodin?
The nutritionists have lost some credibility with me over the years. Their lists of dos and don’ts are seemingly the same for everything. I know that can’t be true of every ailment, so I tend ignore them. Give me something specific to work with. What am I trying to do? Lower or raise what specific biochemical?
I know some things are true. For example, refined sugar–not, surprisingly, honey or maple syrup but the high-fructose corn syrup and refined sugars, and the artificial sweeteners are highly concentrated versions of the high-fructose corn syrup molecule–definitely makes inflammation worse. I know that from personal experience.
Before I stopped eating and drinking in the way that has kept me healthy for the last sixty years, I would at least try a simple elimination diet. If the doctors have described this problem as one of inflammation, then I’d try to cut out just the refined sugars for a week or so and see if that helps. Unless these other food elements actually come in contact with the affected body part, I don’t think I’d cut them out wholesale just yet. Caffeine, for example, would not, I don’t think, affect the problem in any way. Nor would wine, unless it’s acidic like tomatoes or blueberries. That might be a problem. Or if the wine turns into a sugar compound when it breaks down–certainly possible, given that it is largely a carbohydrate. Not knowing what the diet is trying to accomplish, I don’t know what I would cut out exactly. But the listed foods you’ve given are quite varied in their biochemistry. I have a feeling some of the things on it are okay.
When you get in to see a specialist eventually, you may be in for a pleasant surprise. The knowledge in the medical specialties has grown spectacularly over the last ten years. Very few primary care doctors can keep up with the new ways of treating problems.
Maybe just take out one or two things and see how you feel. It shouldn’t more than three or four days for you to know if the elimination helped.
The first two lines came to mind as I read your post. At that point I had to persist.
A man of so many talents–and a poet, too! Thanks!
Thanks for reaching out, @marcin. The foods I mentioned are listed as inflammations for the condition that I believe I may have. Once I see the doc and get his feedback, I’ll figure out what to do. I eat pretty healthy most of the time anyway, so the struggle is giving up on my few indulgences. But since I may not see the doc for a month, I have to feel I’m doing something! And it won’t do any harm. I plan to do plenty of homework to come up with a plan.
Susan . . . I’ve missed so much here in the last months. Your piece about health issues . . I’m so sorry. All my good wishes and a sanitized {{Hug}} for comfort and healing. Always . . Cathy
I just sent you a PM before I saw this comment. It is always wonderful to see you on the site. Thanks for the wishes.
Couple of things Susan, all acidic foods should be avoided at this time, including red hot peppers, etc. I had named a couple of them, but that hot stuff goes through your bladder. I get around the coffee deprivation by pouring a mug of milk, heat it in the microwave for a couple of mins, tossing in a spoon of instant coffee.
And it’s Cranberry juice, not raspberry.
Have no idea why they claim the condition is incurable, as it has not returned with me in at least 20 or 30 years or more. And after a time (a year or so) I did go back to eating spicy foods. Just made sure to stick with my cranberry juice and empty my bladder promptly.
I have a friend who has a sort of auto-immune disorder. It’s taken him years to get on top of it, and it’s a balancing act that requires constant adjustment. His diet is extraordinarily strict. But he knows how to live with it, and he does live. Whatever limitations you end up with, keep living.
Absolutely, @belt! Life is too precious to not live as fully as we are able. Thanks!
Oh, good. If you hadn’t offered, I was going to ask. They don’t drink themselves, you know, and I can’t stand waste. 🍸
Luck.
Speaking of dietary risks, the lockdown has left me at home with the Cake Goddess who now has lots free time and restless energy to pursue her craft. I expect to gain beaucoup pounds. On the positive side, my checkups are now done by phone so I can lie and not be chided by my GP.
Below are recent samples of confections she made for family & friends who requested a theme so you see what I am up against:
Stop the caffiene completely. I’ve not had any since March of 1989. It takes a week or two, but then you’re free. Life is much simpler without managing when you’re on a stupid caffiene high.
As one with Crohn’s disease, I discovered a long time ago that things are fine as long as I don’t eat food.
However, I don’t like coffee or booze, but the caffeine in Dr Pepper doesn’t bother me at all, so I am safe in at least one basic food group.
I do wish you luck. Are you sure Kay didn’t say organic unsweetened cranberry juice? Your next post should be about will power, because you just named all the fun things to eat and drink……….
After reading this shocking story, I may just give up pork products anyway:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferwang/2020/04/16/the-chinese-billionaire-whose-company-owns-troubled-pork-processor-smithfield-foods/#6595b4a82c55
I never realized how rich we were making the communists by just allowing them to buy up everything that used to be American.
Yes, unsweetened organic cranberry juice, and it is bitter. I use organic apple cider to sweeten it, to half and half. I cannot drink the cranberry juice straight.