November 25. So many slips

I perhaps should have anticipated difficulties beyond just eliminating foods, in a holiday season, with a house guest! And so it came to pass. First, I stopped the total elimination at three weeks instead of four. Then I had margaritas with my friend. Then Thanksgiving. I could have made that work but instead I indulged, and continued to indulge in the days after. 

I think, even so, that I learned things. That I am not sensitive to potatoes or wheat or onions or corn, for example. It is good to know that when I eat that English muffin it will not increase my arthritic pain.

Having gone crazy in too many directions I need to start cutting back so I can test various foods again. 

On the plus side, I completed a one-mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. The rest of my family (those who were in town) completed a 5K but I knew the one-mile would be enough of a challenge. It was for sure because I added at least another mile getting from car to shuttle, from shuttle to start, from finish back to shuttle. There is a lot of walking just to get started in this particular race. Finishing it without having back pain or serious knee pain was informative and tells me I can start up morning milers again. Oh, I used a cane. It helps me walk straighter, which I believe helps avoid back pain.

Finished!

I was able to stand for longer periods than used to be the case, also. The hip operation did its job.

Because of my overindulgence I did not weigh myself. Tomorrow?

BP: 146/79

Golly Miss Molly November 20

 Well, if I stay with corn maybe I get some cornmeal, make cornbread. Or corn tortillas. Or just some kind of bean and corn thing.

Yesterday I did a lot of walking. Getting ready for a visit by Mary's family at my new house. Picking up things at a thrift shop and Dollar Tree. Making it look welcoming even without being furnished. 

BP: 139/75

Weight: 

Beginning Corn

 November 19. I'm starting two days of corn today. I have had no ill effects from potatoes, onions, or wheat.

------

I didn't have any corn at all today. Went to Tacotarian and had a sandwich. No tortillas, no corn of any kind. Thinking should I continue with corn or do something else, or start tomorrow with a different food?

BP: 157/82

Weight: 198.4

Wheat again

 No ill effects yet. This morning I had a ciabatta bun, toasted. So good.

I ate four ciabatta buns today. I know my weight will go up tomorrow.

BP: 152/75

Weight: 197.4

Wheat

 November 17. A good day to start eating wheat again. I'm thinking pasta to start, cooked in veg broth.

BP: 141/80

Weight:  199.2

Second Day of Onions

 November 16: I can imagine a book with that title: Second Day of Onions.

I need to come up with many ways to eat them today. The air fryer awaits, as does the instant pot. Oh, and the stove.

While I had severe arm pain last night, it went away. I don't know what causes this. Must be arthritis. Seems so random, though. 

--------

I've eaten quite a bit of onion today. Had mashed potatoes with onions tonight. Tasty!

BP: 153/77

Weight: 198

Next food to try

 November 15/ What will I be eating for two days this time? Onions? 

------

Yes. Onions. I need to eat more of them tomorrow. So far no ill effects. However, my right arm hurt like crazy for quite a while.

BP: 133/71

Weight: 198.6

Potatoes day 2

 November 14: I'll be eating lots of potatoes today.  So far I have not noticed an increase in pain.

---------

I had airfried potatoes and steamed potatoes, along with some sweet potatoes. Not noticing any effect. What to try tomorrow? I am thinking of onions.

BP: 128/74

WEight: 198

Start of adding back in

 November 13: Obviously, I have not followed the plan exactly. But I think I can still get some results. 

Today I started eating potatoes.

BP: 137/74

Weight: 199

Is it Day 22?

 I still haven't decided for sure to stop at three weeks.

-------

Later...

I made margaritas tonight. So I did stop at three weeks. I'm deciding whether to make citrus the item I eat a lot of in the next few days, because of the orange and lime in the margarita. Or instead, potatoes.

BP: 133/81

Weight: 197.2

Day 21: End of Third Week

Veterans' Day.

I have been doing a lot. Meeting people, sending packages and letters, waiting out people doing work on my new house, living through an unnecessary sales pitch...

I am considering ending this challenge at three weeks instead of four.  If only so I can enjoy some things with my visitor, Laurie, and my daughter Elaine.

BP: 139/76

Weight: 196.4 

Day 20

November 10: Closing in on the end of the four weeks. I went off the plan a bit yesterday when I had an energy drink, sugarless, from Dutch Bros. The sugar-free chemicals can cause inflammation.

I am feeling, again, mildly optimistic. I think my knee pain is less today.

BP: 157/86

Weight: 195.8

The Nineteenth Day

 November 9: Yesterday I closed on a house! 

I have been going mad making appointments, arranging for utilities, getting repairs done, and on and on.

Today I was able to put a sock on my left foot without an aid. This is huge!

BP: 134/82

Weight: 195.6

The Eighteenth Day

 November 8: Ten more days until this challenge changes. I am favoring soups a lot. Thinking I'll make another batch of carrot soup today.

Slept rather well last night. Not bothered by restless legs.They started twitching in the afternoon but it wasn't as strong a twitch and at night, after taking the pills, it went away. 

The scar looks better today. Still some redness around the edges but it's flattening somewhat. 

I had physical therapy today. I think I'm moving better.

BP: 133/78

Weight: 197.8

Day Seventeen

 November 7. Tomorrow is supposed to be the closing day for my house. I am excited about getting in! Not excited for a little tense about making repairs. Mainly how much it will cost.

Last night I slept rather well. I increased the dosage of the ropinerole to 2 mg and I didn't have much bother from restless legs. 

BP: 131/82

Weight: 197.4

Day 16

November 6: I am cautiously optimistic about my knee pain. It seemed a little less yesterday. Maybe a little less today. Maybe it really will stop.

I meet with oncology PA Sara today by zoom. I will bring up the back pain and the knee pain, as well as the cracks on my fingers. They are dry dry dry and cracking at the tips. I have seen this - only worse - in Tagrisso group posts. I do think it is a side effect of Tagrisso rather than simply the dry weather here.

------

Later....

Met with Sara. She is prescribing a higher dose of ropinerole for the restless legs and scheduling an MRI for my back when I go to Mayo on December 18.

I had physical therapy in the afternoon. I told the therapist about my knee pain and my back pain and my restless legs. She modified some exercises for my knee. It does seem like it is a little less painful.

BP: 139/72

Weight: 198.4

Day 15

November 5: I had cramps in my legs again last night. This time they stayed and stayed and it took forever to calm them down. Fortunately, after that long episode they did not return and I was able to sleep.

My back keeps hurting. We went to the market and I was immediately in pain. Didn't stop until I got to the car and could sit down.

BP: 140/79

Weight: 197.8

Wow. End of Week Two

November 4: I'm trudging on. I worry a little about the variations - some raw foods, tofu, garbanzo beans. But overall I am doing the plan and I think I'm doing what needs to be done.

Yesterday friend Laurie came for a visit. To prepare for her, I was tidying up, which meant I had taken a lot of steps by the time she arrived. Then I met her at baggage claim and we walked back to my car - more steps. Later we went to the grocery store and then to Lowe's to meet about kitchen changes. More steps. I took a lot more steps than I usually do these days. I think that is why my legs cramped up last night.

First it was one leg then later the other and then the first leg again. Mostly it was my feet. They would do that weird thing, straightening out and freezing there. I had to stand up and push down on my heel. Fortunately, that did the trick. 

Today Natalie the organizer came. She was here to pack boxes, with her assistant Jesse. She spent four hours in the morning packing stuff. I had woken early and was able to label what could be packed and what not, and I set aside things that I want to use until I actually move.  That took some time but it was worth it. Natalie and Jesse were able to go though several areas quickly. But there are still many things to pack. The next session is tentatively scheduled for next Saturday morning.

BP: 131/79

Weight: 199

The Thirteenth Day

 I managed to sleep last night, until about midnight. Woke and stayed awake quite a while. My knee was hurting and my leg was twitching. arrrgh. 

Twitchy in the afternoon. Knee continues to hurt.

BP: 136/78

Weight: 200.2

Day 12

November 3: Back pain and knee pain continue to rule my activities. My back pain sets in whenever I do any cleaning or food prep or almost anything. When I do sit-to-stand exercises it often comes in too. 

BP: 136/88

Weight: 200

Day 11

I had a struggle with restless legs again last night. It took forever to get to sleep, and then I had to get up earlier than I wanted because my legs wouldn't rest.

My knee continues to hurt. I don't know what happened there. It seemed to be fine and then bam! Knee pain again. Could it be from that fall? It doesn't seem so. 

I'm still working on defining this elimination diet. I haven't found a way to ask the questions I have. At this point I have made these modifications:

I'm eating soy foods.

I'm eating some foods raw.

I'm eating garbanzo beans.

I'm unclear on what seasonings are okay so I'm being cautious and going by the recipes in the back of the book.

Tonight, though, I'm having smashed garbanzos with celery and mustard. All mixed together.

BP: 129/74

Weight: 201.6