Just say no to Raisinets!

3 weeks ago, I was in the ER with excruciating pain in my lower abdomen, fever and chills.  6 hours later I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis disease.  Diverticulitis is quite common here in the United States, with many people unaware that they even have the disease.  Diverticula is a small pouch that develops anywhere in the intestines, but more typically in the colon. Although not completely known why they develop, doctors speculate that a diet low in fiber, constipation, and eating processed foods could be one of the causes. When the small pouch becomes inflamed and infected and/or ruptures, it is called diverticulitis.  I suffered for several days before going to the ER because I thought I was just getting the flu because of the fever, aches and chills.  When the cramping became so severe that I could hardly stand, I knew there was something seriously wrong.  After a CT scan and ultrasound, IV fluids and antibiotics, I was sent home with a set of instructions on what to eat and food to avoid.  I was also put on a liquid diet and bed rest for 48 hours to give my colon time to heal.  By the third day, with the help of vicodin, I was able to go on photo shoot, although I certainly didn’t feel 100%.

So a week passed, and I thought I was on the mend.  I had no problem avoiding foods on the DO NOT EAT UNLESS YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE PAIN AGAIN list.  Some of the foods include seeds (so strawberries, blueberries, raspberries are no good), nuts, corn, grapes with seeds, whole cranberries, and raisins.  I tried increasing the fiber in my diet by eating more salads and even made sure I seeded my grape tomatoes.  I thought I was doing a good job at avoiding the no-no foods.  So, when I was at the grocery store the other day, and the kids asked if they could pick out some candy, I thought, sure… I’ve been good, I’ll have some, too.

I picked out my favorite candy, not even thinking about the word raisin in the name!  How dumb is that?  I ate the whole box of raisinets and the next day I was back in the ER with the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life! It started out as mild cramping in the morning.  I even took the kids to their community day and was talking with one of the teachers (and a client) about my last episode, all the while feeling the cramping.  By 3pm the attack was brutal.  I was in tears, screaming and shaking violently due to the chills.  I finally ended up going back to the ER around 7pm.  This was 2 nights ago.  I’m home again, once again on bed rest and liquid diet, hoping to be well enough for another shoot tomorrow!  I just love my families! When I called my client, she completely understood what I was going thru because her husband suffers from the same disease.

So, there you have it.  I will never eat another box of Raisinets for as long as I live, if I want to live!  I’m on the mend, and have set a goal for good health so that I hopefully never experience that kind of flare up again.  I need to start exercising more (I’ve always known this) and I need to stay away from processed foods (d’uh).  I’ve known this all along, but now I seriously have to make some changes in my life if I want to have a good quality of life.  I posted this on facebook, but I’ll say it again here.. I appreciate everyone’s prayers and well wishes during the past several weeks.  Also, thanks for your patience while I get caught up on my orders.  If you placed an order with me in the past several weeks, I will be fulfilling them soon, I promise!  I just got a little backed up…..

pun so not intended!

Much love and good health to you all!