a hint of what's to come

Over a week into being 90% Diet Coke free. Trust me, this is NOT by choice. I am no longer 'allowed' to drink dark colored colas, at all. And, diet sodas are apparently horrific for you in general. 😒

Or, perhaps it is the inability of a chronically sick person to more around as much as a healthy person that causes kidney disease, and blaming the victim for getting sick is just 'sick'.

Diet Sodas
Are the Dangers in the Chemicals or the Headlines?

In order to get through the days of fasting and liquid diets before my last test and out patient surgery, I needed to go on completely clear liquids. That is when I discovered Hint water. It is completely clear, slightly, and I do mean slightly, flavored, thus the name Hint, and it has Caffeine! 

Caffeine, YES!!!!!

I swear 20 seconds after I found this on a google search, it was already showing up in my facebook ads, but still, CAFFEINE! I may even refrigerate it sometime and try it cold.

I have to give up Diet Coke, tea, can you believe that? And avocados. I know you don't drink those, but still, the gods are cruel. All so I can eat white bread, which I am not supposed to eat, white rice and cauliflower.

No nuts. All the time I spent learning recipes for almond flour and sunflower seed butter. Now, they are on the no, no, no, no NO! list! Thank goodness, I have gotten better at learning what I really can and cannot get away with getting in these past few years.

Last night, we had the most delicious salmon grilled on the barbecue.  Once I get the marinade tweaked, I will post the recipe up here. Thank goodness for sushi, as well. Plus, I need get get really creative, because chili is one of my favorite meals, so I need to find or create a way to still have some form of chili in my life. Nom, nom, nom. 

Way back in the beginning of time, I began this blog as a food blog due to my allergies. Now that I have been diagnosed with Chronic kidney Disease, trying navigate that roller coaster of of foods cross sectioned with foods my allergy list makes me want to pull my hair out.

Additionally, I have had anemia for so long, I can't remember ever NOT having it. It has just always been a part of my blood work. All the way back to when I was pregnant. No one ever made a big deal about it, just that wasn't allowed to give blood.

Now, reading about it in connection with CKD, it list some of the exact same symptoms I have been struggling with for years.  

Dizziness, loss of concentration

Pale skin

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Fatigue or weakness

Cold intolerence

https://www.kidneyfund.org/anemia/#symptoms_of_anemia

I pretty much hate doctors. Going to them, talking to them. Trying to get any kind of help at all. It just never seems to make any difference. Back in 2015 or 16 or so, I went in with pain in my side and back. I told the doctor that I thought it was my kidneys.

He said that wasn't possible. He did a bunch of tests. Refilled my prescriptions, and I never heard back from him. When I changed doctors due to insurance changing, I got the paperwork for that previous doctor. It said right on it, 'kidney disease.'

Again, the new doctor did nothing at all except refill prescriptions.

Now, years later, and three doctors in, someone says, "Now that your kidneys are failing, we need to do something."

It is not like I have been in a completely, "until the doctor says something, I am just going to ignore it," mindset. I have lost 60 pounds. My bad cholesterol has been good for years, though the doctor says I need to raise my good cholesterol up more. I don't have diabetes. Nor do I have HIV or any STDs, shockingly😏 

We have been reorganizing our cabinets and refrigerator. Figuring out what goes and what stays. An interesting process inside our little mobile home. We have already baked up a couple of loafs of banana pancake bread, so that recipe will be posted up soon. 

There sill be lots of grilling, some insta-potting and baking, as well. Life in our home sweet rolling home never getting boring, that for sure.