Sunday 30 November 2014

Its not what you eat its how you eat it

Well ok thats not strictly true, however, I read this statement (ironically on the backing of some Rock Tape which Im currently using to assist with my ankle injury) anyway it started me thinking.

First some helpful facts:
Your intestines are 6.5 metres long. That's nearly as long as a double decker bus!

Your intestines are made up of the small intestine and large intestine.

After food is churned up in your stomach, a muscle at the end of your stomach squirts small amounts of food into the top of your small intestine.

As food is squeezed along the small intestine, it is broken down into even smaller parts. Most of the nutrients in your food pass through the lining of your small intestine into your blood.

Anything that can't be absorbed into the blood goes into the large intestine. Water is reabsorbed in the large intestine.

This is alsos is why hydration issues plague Ostomists. We dont effectively absorb water from our foods. But thats for a different blog ;)

As an ileOstomist I have no large intestine. Meaning the time for food to 'digest' is reduced.

Anyway back to my original point. This reduced digestive system means food passes semi undigested.  Often an ileo output is of a porridge consistancy, sorry if that puts you of your porridge (especially if your reading this on a winters morning)

As an Ostomist you definatley become more intune with your body and what you are eating! What I have also noticed is my "output" is masively affected by what I eat. Im not talking about corn or other normal hard to digest foods. Although tbh often no point me even wasting my money to eat these!

I mean if I eat fast foods, takeaways or fry ups etc. my output reflects the contents of these "unhealthy" often greasy food types.

They process through my digestive system quickly, very quickly!! One shocking side effect is you also become VERY aware of all the preservatives and colouring that are used in these foods.

Healthier foods are harder to break down (side effect is they make you feel fuller for longer) In my reduced digestive system I question "do I really get the benefit from these foods?" Sorry to be crude but some digest well....undigested! ;)

This can be compounded by not chewing properly. Think I recall somewhere you are supposed to chew each moutful 20times.....who has time to do that!

Interestingly I also have a thought regarding why fastfoods can make you easily gain weight. They digest very differently. Im no nutritionlist but they fats etc seem to be absorbed in our digestive system far easier.

which brings me full circle to my original thought.  I'm not saying I'm a saint but it really does make you think about what we put into our bodies. ;)

Wednesday 12 November 2014

A sad day.



Recently we have had to lose one of our family pets.  The experience was obviously very sad but strangely it triggered some old memories.

Over the last 11 years Ill obviously have many fond memories, however, thinking of Missy reminded  one of the biggest days of my life…..returning home from hospital.
I have not really written a blog about my hospital experience.  I have only been writing for about a year and the op was 8 years ago and a distant memory.

As I am sure I have hinted my experience after my diagnosis was a bit of a blur!  I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitus (an IBD) and then a few weeks later told I also had bowel cancer and needed a major operation.

I actually remember the day well.  It was February and in true to British weather it hadn’t snowed in Dec or Jan but start Feb we had a fair amount of snow.  Looking back I should’ve known something was up.  I received a letter from the NHS informing me I had an appointment for the following day.  Up until this stage I had had little experience with the NHS so thought nothing of this short notice reply.

My appointment was for early the next day.  I was so naïve that myself and Carley drove in separate cars.  I expected the appointment to be quick and then id be off to work.  I was suited and booted ready for a day in the office.  The next clue was due to the adverse weather the consultant was running late.  The nurses were personally coming over to me and apologising for the dealy and giving me regular updates on his progress.  After 8 years of appointments I  know this is not normal!  On reflection they weren’t updating anyone else in the waiting room, ignorance is bliss huh!

I remember very little about the appointment.  I remember laughing hysterically between the tears once I was told I had Cancer.  I recall a brief drawing explain where the tumour was and what type of operation I would need.  I remember being taken by the Colorectal Nurses to a room allowing me to absorb the details of what we had just been told.  I remember calling my boss at the time and explaining that I wouldn’t be in, random right!

The journey home was a blur.  My next recollection was telling my mum.  I couldn’t tell her this over the phone and I couldn’t find the stegnth to speak to her and tell her that she had to some home urgently.  I had to contact my step dad and ask him to contact her so they could come home early.  Telling her was one of the toughest moments of my life.  I can still see her face now as she digested the news.  I think we all knew that something was wrong when I had asked them to come home, but, hearing the words makes it real.
Ironic really as only a few months after my operation my mum had to have the same conversation with me.   

She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and required an op and some radiotherapy.  Mum and I were always close but an unusual silver lining of our respective brushes with Cancer it actually brought us closer.  I find that speaking to fellow survivors or Ostomist often you don’t need to explain there is almost an unspoken understanding of what you have been or are going through.

Anyway I digress.  My date for my operation came and I tried to continue with work.  Unsuccessfully I may add as concentrating was almost impossible.  The week before I took some time off, again I do not remember much, expect going to the cinema on my own to see the first Ghost Rider (Nicolas Cage) film.  Good job I was distracted as man it was a bad film!

My operation came some minor complications (which will prob be another blog post) and ahead of scheduled within 4 days after my stubbornness paid off I was discharged and sent home.  Bringing us full circle to my original point.  The journey home was painful, I had some painkillers but I was still very bruised and swollen and every bump in the road was painful.  I finally arrived home.  I had been strong up to this point and tried to keep my emotions in check.

It was at this point as I walked through the door I saw Missy, sat on the top of our brown leather sofa.  She casually looked over her shoulder with sleepy eyes and meowed.  I knew I was home!
Even as I write this I can feel a lump welling in my throat.  At that time I couldn’t hold it in and burst into tears.  Im not sure why?  Was it the sight of our house, Missy?  I think it was a combination of everything that washed over me causing an overload of emotions…..silly really.

Anyway, when we had to make the decision about missy as she had been unwell for some time all I could think about was this snapshot of my journey.  She was a companion during the following weeks were I adapted to my new life with a stoma.  While I overcame and processed what had happened to me.  I had underestimated what an important part of my life she had been over recent months.  But at that moment in the vets I was reminded.

Missy was my first pet so for that alone she will be special.  Something I am sure any pet owners appreciate. .  If you don’t have pets or never have you’ll probably be reading this thinking…WHAT???
But more than that Missy was a very important part of my recovery, more than I had realised until she was no longer in our family.   

She will be missed but importantly I will always be grateful for the companionship she showed me during some of the most challenging months of my life.


Saturday 1 November 2014

A momentary lack of concentration

Tommorrow is Nuclear races biggest event of the year...FALLOUT. Its my home teams race, and I am going to miss it!


For no reason other than my own stupidity and bad luck.
Last Sunday half of the Nuclear team (yes I am part of a team, I did write a blog to post today but its become corrupted. So ill write again ASAP)

We took a team trip to Norwich and Mucky races Steeplechase. More of a cross country race rather than an obstacle heavy race. I had only entered to 5km with my fellow Nuker Tracey.


oh and tge team "van" is really impressive!!

The course had some challenges with some unfortunate bottle necks. So we decided to help and boost people over and encourage obvious 1st timers. After all its what us Nukers do :)

After about 3km I will be honest the bottle necks became frustrating. So as we came to the next obstacle I jumped in ready to step up my pace...not my best idea!




The water was far shallower and the terrain far more uneven than I had anticipated!
I landed badly :( immedately I felt a ping and pain.

I hobbled on for about another 1/2 km but when we reached the next marshall I listened to the signals my body was giving me. I stopped took off my shoe and POW! Immediate swelling.

No way I was going to hobble back to start so a 4x4 ambulance was required.  A tad embarrising but the medics were great checking that I hadnt done any serious injury
Fortunately my ego had taken more of a bettering than my ankle. Although I think youll agree the swelling was impressive!


By Wednesday I gave in and went to Minor injuries to get it properly looked at.  Good news no breaks or apparent ligament damage. I was sent hone with a smile and prescription for "man up" pills.


Good news..but bad news a bad sprain has put me out of Fallout. Gutted is an understatement! The event is lining up to be monumental.
So to support the team Im going to hobble around the events village and be there in spirit if  not running.


#LOVEMUD