On the road with the DS
Contrary to the title of this post, I am home once again -- home with the husband and the who-knows-how-many-cats that are now in our care. And while I had a good time with siblings while I was away (sometimes I max out on family, and I'm sure they max out on me, but it didn't feel that way this time), I am, indeed, glad to be back in my own environment. I am a Creature of Habit, and assuming my routine again feels like putting on comfortable old sweats or a nightgown and sitting by the fire.
Part of the whole comfort factor these days in a return to routine is about more than Being Middle Aged. Part of it is specifically related to the DS -- and I've read enough posts and blogs by other DSers of widely varying ages to know that I'm not alone in this. Travel after the DS is certainly entirely possible and enjoyable, but sometimes the change associated with travel (e.g., in schedule schedule, food) can result in anything from throwing you a little off step to wreaking complete havoc on your digestive system.
When I travel anywhere, I always take, at minimum, a supply of protein bars with me and usually also some other high-protein snacks. It just makes sense. Sometimes I also take carb treats that don't do much damage, in my experience, but which I enjoy (mostly popcorn) -- just in case I feel the urge to nosh on something while those around me are going to town on -- oh, I don't know -- pie. Cake. Whatever. (I'll have bites of those kinds of sweets but full portions aren't that appealing to me anymore.)
On this trip I took my snacks with me, ate pretty moderately and compliantly, and despite that, during the past two or three days I was plagued with Gas and Bloating from Hell. Hell, I tell you. The combination is unusual for me, and I was a real bore on the topic, complaining a lot to my oldest sister. I write down everything I eat each every day (after a lifetime of morbid obesity, I don't trust myself to have an intuitive grasp on my own food consumption, so I need to write it down to see in black and white), and when I looked at my little notebook, I couldn't see what it was that was responsible for the severe discomfort. Two nights ago it was so bad, my stomach was so distended, and my abdominal hernia was so sore that I had to stretch out on a bed and extend the length of my body as far as possible to let out all that gas. Attractive -- not. We could have lit a few neighborhoods with all that natural gas.
In the absence of any obvious source for the problem (which has eased considerably, now that I am home again), I'm thinking that it was probably due to several factors, not just one:
- The fact of change itself - After the DS, our systems are simply more sensitive than they used to be. Change in cabin pressure, altitude, schedule, routine, food, activity, exercise ... they can all have varied individual as well as cumulative effects on our retooled systems, and those effects are not always predictable. Further, because we generally feel so much better than we did X number of pounds ago, it's hard for us to remember that we need to remain aware of this and modify our behavior accordingly (see Tia's recent post on a related topic).
- Hernia - I suspect that my abdominal (incisional) hernia is getting bigger (I'll have it checked by my PCP next week), and I think that may be adding to the problem. Basically, there's a rip in the wall of my abdominal muscles through which a portion of my retooled intestines protrude, allowing it to undulate, gurgle, and generally create a disturbance. If it were better confined, there'd be a narrower area in which it could romp -- figuratively speaking.
Which brings me to the issue of foundation garments -- not to sound like my own grandmother or anything. I've written before about the miracle of Spanx (some products are available at Lane Bryant, and there's a larger range, though perhaps usually in smaller sizes, at Nordstrom) for taming formerly morbidly obese flesh in comfortable fashion. They're expensive, comfortable, and worth it.
Two days ago I decided it was time to buy something that would rein in the hernia because by the end of the day my stomach is sore, and I'm also dealing with some lower back pain which I think is probably also the result of the hernia (and possibly excess flesh). Short of scheduling hernia repair surgery (which, at my last consultation, both my PCP and surgeon said I could delay), an appropriate, comfortable, supportive item with serious spandex seems like it might help. I'm currently awaiting the arrival of the Hide & Sleek Girl Short (pictured left) in pink. I'm hoping that it will provide enough abdominal and lower back support without making me feel as if I'm wearing one of my aforementioned grandmother's girdles, which I'm simply not prepared to do.
(Yes, I see a hernia repair in the next 6-12 months, and possibly muscle tightening as well, but I'm So Not Up for It right now, unless of course it's deemed medically necessary immediately.)
The discomfort of the last few days has let up, as I said, although today of course it's That Time of the Month, and that's definitely worse for me since the DS. Still, I'm in my mid-40s, and maybe it's just about hormonal changes. Whatever. I'm grateful for good over-the-counter drugs and the let-up in the gas and bloatiing.
And I'm down three pounds from before my trip, at 156. Anything at 159 or lower is okay by me.
Life is good.
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