Finally! A Diagnosis!

After many tests -- process of elimination -- my doctors believe I probably have a bad and unusual case of pleurisy, which is a severe inflammation of the lining of the lungs. That has what has caused the stabbing pain when taking deep breaths and moving around. And why I've been so tired. The lower lobes of my lungs have collapsed as well, but will come back to normal when I can breath without pain and move around more.

This illness is directly a result of my double bronchitis from a few weeks ago year and not "taking it easy" long enough through the recovery. I have prescription antiflamatories to take for the next few weeks and have been told to rest and recoup -- that should be all it takes to recover fully. This time I'll try to be a better patient!

It's Fat Tuesday! Time for Pancakes!



 Today is Fat Tuesday -- also known as Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. It is the day preceeding Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, when many rich foods are given up by Christians around the world. Pancakes are associated with this day because they are a way to use up rich foodstuffs such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent.

While pancakes can be rich, they can also be packed packed with nutrition and taste great, too! I worked on this recipe for months, getting it just right. The combination of wheat flour and cornmeal is the secret!


¾ cup unbleached flour
¼ cup cornmeal
½ tablespoon ground flax seed
2 teaspoons non-aluminum baking powder
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup soymilk
1 tablespoon expeller-pressed canola oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, flax seed, baking powder and sea salt.

2. Add soymilk, canola oil and maple syrup. Mix until just combined.

3. Lightly spray a large skillet with cooking oil and warm over medium-high heat.

4. Measure about 1/3 cup of batter onto the hot skillet. Flip pancake when bubbles appear and burst on the upper surface, about 2 minutes. Cook for another 2 minutes or until set.

5. Serve immediately with warm maple syrup and butter.

I Can't Catch a Break

After my prolonged bout with bronchitis, I woke up with an aching stomach. Soon it morphed into real abdominal pain. I pushed through it last week but finally caved in and went to the doctor yesterday.

Turns out that the medicines I took to recover from bronchitis may have damaged my stomach, kidneys and/or live. Or I may have an overgrowth of "bad" bacteria in my gut, after the good guys were probably killed off by the massive antibiotics. Three giant vials of blood were drawn and now we wait to hear the results.

Meanwhile, I've been told to "take it easy" and eat a bland diet -- which is basically all I feel like doing right now anyway. I'm not hungry and I can't even walk a mile without doubling over in pain. How will I ever be ready for the half-marathon in two months?!

Still Not Dead

I got wholloped by this illness. Two rounds of bronchitis and then a stomach bug. Ugh!

Blogging will resume tomorrow with some fun updates and news.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

I'm Not Dead Yet

Turns out that recovering from bronchitis is no easy thing. I had finished all my antibiotics and steroids and was still coughing. Then my energy waned. And then I felt really bad -- again. So I went back to the doctor last Wednesday and was diagnosed with a bronchitis relapse. I got a vitamin B12 shot to boost my immunity and prescriptions for 10 more days of antibiotics and 12 more days of steroids.

I have to admit, I left the doctor's office feeling defeated. I started to wonder if I would ever be able to get back to the gym. I considered was lost days meant to my half-marathon training plan. But most of all, I realized that I needed to make some big changes. I'm not willing to be sick so often, to have fatty liver disease and high-blood pressure and a host of other ailments.

Change is coming -- and I think better health will follow.

Knowing When Enough is Enough

I have a hard time knowing when enough is enough when it comes to food. I often eat past the point of being full, which is no surprise since I'm morbidly obese. But recently I've been thinking about why this happens and how to curb it.

I've wondered if I couldn't stop eating because of genes, a troubled childhood or cultural influences. (Certainly there is something to blame besides myself!) Maybe the "off-switch" in my brain is broken?

After meditating on this issue (and a good discussion with my friend M.B.), I've decided that the issue really is about trust -- or my lack of it. I don't trust my stomach and brain to know when I am full. And, I don't trust that God gave my body the tools to make that decision. Instead, I've learned to trust external sources (i.e. diets) to provide that information. Despite the fact that diets don't work, I still trust them -- and am constantly seeking the perfect one that will relieve me from having to learn to trust myself and my perfectly designed body.

Whoa. It's been a major revelation for me. And I'm excited, too, to try to listen to my body and see where it takes me. I'll let you know how the journey goes!

Coming Back Slowly

I'm still recovering from my prolonged illness with bronchitis. I haven't been this sick in a long time. Mostly, I stayed in bed (literally!), slept and ate toast with tea. Not a very fun way to pass a week.

Last night, after a nap, I went to the gym for my first work out with my trainer since I got sick. It was frustrating to have to work out so slowly in between coughing fits. It was disheartening to discover how weak I still was.

But Tracy the Trainer spelled it out for me: this is a lifestyle. You will get sick. You will get injured. The important thing is to stay focused and return to exercise in a way that is sustainable. There is no end goal. Exercise itself -- no matter how easy or hard -- is the goal.

What perspective! And a valuable lesson I desperately needed to hear.

Super Simple

Sometimes simple really is best.

I haven't felt like eating or drinking much of anything for days. And now I'm on big meds to wipe out the bronchitis, which are doing a number on my digestive system. Food isn't a priority right now, but I know I need to eat to heal.

Time for a smoothie. A super simple smoothie that tastes great. My go-to recipe is 1 cup of Silk dark chocolate almond milk and one frozen banana pureed in a blender. It tastes like a thick milk shake, is packed with nutrition, slides down a sore throat perfectly -- all for about 200 calories.

Try it. I know you'll love it.

Bronchitis

Last Friday I started coughing. Today I learned I have full-blown bronchitis. So it's a week of antibiotics and steroids and a little less blogging. But I'll be back soon, I promise!

Friday Funny