Happy sarameg day!

Felt like this needed to be a separate post. There’s a garbage strike over by Stockton that some of our local collectors are supporting in a way that is disrupting the usual collection schedule a little bit. I find this exciting - don’t see much in the way of collective action in these parts! And my garbage was picked up just fine on Monday so I’m not directly affected and wouldn’t be greatly inconvenienced if I am, really, so it’s easy for me to benevolently observe

Happy birthday to Sarameg if she's lurking. If I counted up how much time I spent proving Permanent Condition is Permanent, I would probably get really sad. Especially, since after sometime close to three decades, it's probably enough for the Australian vacation I can't go on for the same reason. Sigh.

Happy Birthday to sarameg! May you receive the feeling of good wishes coming through the interwebs even if you don't see these specific pixels.

Happy Birthday sarameg!

Dad is doing good at the hospital. They have kept him for observation. He has moved up from a clear liquid diet to just a liquid diet so tonight he got chocolate pudding with is apple juice and bouillon.

I have the official diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus, which is damage to the esophagus from acid. The silent reflux did some damage. All I was told to do until my appointment was to keep taking the medicine but of course I went to see what I should do and not eat.

And it's a lot-- fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods, onion and garlic (I already knew they were an issue with the gas /bloating and stomach spasms), dairy , caffeine , mint, carbonated beverages, acidic foods, chocolate

In addition from the Low FODMAP elimination I've discovered that cruciferous veggies, grapes, sweet pott, white potatoes, and beans (including green beans) are triggers. I haven't experimented with too many fruits. Apples in small amounts seem to be ok.

So I've been struggling with what to eat. It's going to take a lot more planning . I've done the super low acid diet before but I didn't have to avoid fried or fatty foods or dairy which made it easier.

Plus I have to figure out what to do for dinner so M doesn't have to eat the same things I do. I'm hoping this will only be for a short term and not forever.

And when I went looking online for advice I kept finding people cheerfully saying drinking cabbage juice is really healing and it's something people should drink every day. I don't want to drink cabbage juice ever. It sounds so unappealing.

So I've been struggling with what to eat.

Trader Joe has sou vide chicken thighs that are not fried nor fatty, and are pretty tasty as a quick protein. Can you eat noodles or rice or bread? I'm trying to think what vegetables you could eat. Peas? Lettuce? Spinach?

Today we celebrate the birthday of hippocampus! I hope it is a wonderful day for you, and that you have a year filled with delight.

My cousin has been following the low FODMAP diet, and it's a real challenge. She is one of the healthiest people I know. She and her husband are in biking groups that travel frequently, undertaking extremely long bike trips. She has a large garden, bakes her bread, and has been a vegetarian as long as I can remember. Well into her 70s, she looks fantastic. However, she has a minimal list of foods she can eat. She tried adding a tiny quarter of a garlic clove with her allowed veggies, and was in horrific pain as a result. She is doing what she has to do because the pain is awful, but as someone who loves to grow her food and create in the kitchen, it is sad.

I’m sorry, askye, that sounds really frustrating

That’s a pretty tough list of restrictions, askye. I hope you are able to figure some satisfying easy meals to keep in your back pocket. For being something we all have to do constantly, keeping ourselves fed could be easier

Happy hippocampus day!