Week Two begins

October 29: Last night sucked. I had the usual restless leg, then after I got to sleep I woke with my left knee hurting. I'm trying to remember if the pain is the same as it was before surgery. I don't remember. I couldn't get to sleep with the pain. I tried rubbing it and stretching it and trying different positions but it did not ease. I finally took an oxycodone tablet. I had stopped taking the oxy tabs several days ago and didn't relish the experience but ultimately it seemed to be the right move. The pain did let up, although I felt nausea and that icky lightheadedness that comes with narcotics (for me, anyway).  I finally was able to get a little sleep. Not enough. I am still feeling really sleepy and I have been up for about four hours.

Just a little bit ago, my right leg started to cramp up. I'm not sure if "cramp" is the right word but it's close. I have been walking around the apartment, trying to get both my left leg, which has gone restless again, and my right, to feel normal.

Later. . .

The knee pain seems to have gone away for the most part. Restless leg continues to plague me no matter what time of day. 

I bought two large jars of applesauce yesterday. I have almost finished one of them. Along with many rice cakes, a can of garbanzo beans, and several ounces of sweet potato. I have exceeded the macros again. Usually do, in spite of the weirdness of what I'm eating.

BP: 147/80

Weight: 200.6

Seventh Day

October 28: So the first week comes to a close. I am still on the plan. However, the list of triggers is slightly different in different places on the PCRM website and in Barnard's book and I am eating some foods that are listed as triggers on at least one of the lists. I am limiting my consumption of these foods but I haven't cut them out. These are tofu and garbanzo beans.  If I am not sensitive to these foods, no harm done. 

So far I am not noticing a meaningful reduction in pain. Of course I am still recovering from surgery so some improvement is normal. It could take four weeks or even longer to get at the inflammation that is practically built-in over so many years. 

I have been looking for a support group or just a person to answer questions. I looked on Facebook and found one group called anti-inflammatory eating for beginners, or something similar. I joined it and got a booklet created by the group's creator. It doesn't coincide with Barnard's lists. I'm not sure it will be helpful to stay in there. I was unable to find groups specific to the PCRM elimination diet. Maybe I need to use that term in my searches.

I have not found it difficult to get a lot of calories each day. Not as easy as it was with foods on that triggers list, but not difficult. I do get full, too, with all that fiber. I enter my foods in Cronometer so I can see what I am eating and how it shapes up on the nutrients lists. So far I seem to be getting plenty of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. And all just from these unprocessed foods. Or nearly unprocessed. There is some processing in making rice cakes, tofu, and rice noodles, but not much.

BP: 139/77

Weight: 200.2

Day Six

 I slept better last night. Had restless leg going on as usual but I did get to sleep and didn't wake too often.

I'm going to my first appointment with the outpatient physical therapist today. I think it is the same place I went to for a previous PT series. Even the same therapist, I think. 

Turns out I was wrong. It is a different physical therapy office. Very near the other one. I made an entrance today by tripping and falling on my knees as I went up the steps. Several therapists rushed out to help but I was able to get up easily. I don't think I would have been able to before surgery.

The offending steps

This afternoon I made a carrot soup, which I will eat tomorrow, and rice noodles with a pesto sauce made with zucchini. Not bad at all, the pasta. I ate all of the applesauce I made yesterday. I might just start laying in jars of applesauce. 

BP: 156/93

Weight: 200

Day Five

 Bad night. Not the worst but far from the best. It started with restless leg. That went on for a while, as I got up and down and stretched and relaxed and finally fell asleep. Then I woke up with a cramp in my left leg. It took some time to calm that down. I got up, stood on that leg, walked, stood, sat down, stretched, until it finally eased. Not long after, I woke with a cramp in my right leg.  I went through similar efforts, finally getting back to sleep. Sleep never lasts long for me, so it was tossing and turning until early morning, when I fed the cats. After that, I managed to rest a little because my leg wasn't bothering me, until it started to hurt a little again.

I didn't feel the need to take any more Tylenol after the Tylenol PM that I had taken at about seven last night. I'll try going another day without.

I always seem to be digesting food when I take blood pressure readings. I shall remind myself not to do so in the future.

My back pain has been acting up more lately. I wonder if it is the stress of buying a home, getting ready for the move. Whatever it is, it is really irritating when I want to get something done.

As for my food! I am just eating stuff. No organized meals, just what is available that doesn't take much effort. Right now I am eating a bowl of green peas. Earlier I had rice cakes and then watermelon.

Later....

I made more strawberry applesauce, using six apples, a pound of strawberries, and about a half can of apple juice concentrate. It isn't nearly enough. Need to make more.

BP: 141/98

Weight: 199.8

Day Four

 

I'm still on the plan. However, when I looked at the PCRM website and looked at the pamphlet they provide on the arthritis elimination diet, I see that they included soy and chickpeas in the possible triggers section. These two are not on the list that is on the website itself, however. (Nor are they on the list in my copy of the cook.) I have been debating whether to stop eating these two foods for this four-week period. 

I'm thinking of getting split peas so I can make a simple split pea soup. Very simple. 

Today I have not walked a lot. Went to the dentist for a checkup and ended up having a tooth filled. That is, a part of the filling had broken off so I had it replaced. Then I picked up an order from Target by sitting in my car and having them bring it out. 

I am trying something of a test.  The last time I had any Tylenol was 7:03 pm last night. I decided to forgo it for today, see how it goes.  I will take Tylenol PM later, though. It has been helping me get to sleep in spite of that restless leg and wound pain.  So far I don't notice any more discomfort than usual. 

BP: 142/79

Weight: 200.2

Day Three

 I've made it to day three. I'm relying on rice cakes and tofu and garbanzo beans to survive. Mainly because these are foods I can eat without much prep or no prep. I get so impatient. I want to eat now.

I haven't eaten all foods cooked. Yesterday I had watermelon. Nobody cooks that. I think I understand the reason for cooking everything - eliminate any possible source of inflammation. 

Lately I have noticed that I can get dressed more easily. I think this is because the swelling has gone down quite a bit. It will be quite the day when I don't need that sock helper to put my left sock on.

Later...

I met my physical therapist outside as I was bringing a bag of trash to the dumpster. He followed me to see how I was walking, said I was walking very well. On the way back he said, "now try without the cane" and I did. "Just as good," he said. But I had some back pain. I mentioned it and he said the hip surgery may have caused it and it should go away. I hope so but am not too hopeful because this pain is something I have had for about three years, intermittently, and I have yet to find out what is really causing it. That is a story for another day, though.

Before seeing the PT I went to my post-op appointment with the surgeon. He said I'm "doing awesome". Two more weeks before I can submerse myself in water (but showers are still fine). He will get x-rays at the next appointment, in four weeks, to see how the joint is doing. 

After the PT had me trying walking without my cane I tried it during the day and now I am walking without it as much as with.  I am very happy with how quickly I am recuperating. 

BP: 160/84

Weight: 202.2

To reiterate

 Here is my plan, straight from Dr. Barnard's book:

The pain-safe foods are:

and the triggering foods are:

So today I started my day with rice pudding I had made last night. Simple - cooked brown rice, rice milk (that I had made earlier using more brown rice and a bit of date paste), maple syrup, and vanilla. Moved on to reheated tofu cubes that I had cooked in the air fryer last night (pressed tofu, cut in cubes, salted and air fried).

It occurs to me that it might be helpful to me to record my pain here. Daily if I think of it. 

I have been taking extra-strength Tylenol pm at night lately because of restless legs and pain in general on my hip. It helps me get to sleep. There comes a time when I don't feel any pain while lying in bed. But then that stops. I try to get back to sleep and can't, so I get up to brush my teeth and take a shower and get dressed. Standing helps with restless leg and walking does loosen the joint.  So what I have noticed:

My left leg is uncomfortable much of the time. I am either in pain or feeling that restless leg thing. My right hand is hurting lately. I think because I'm using a cane now and am leaning on my right hand. I am trying to use the cane more to steady myself and not to lean, but this will take time. 

I also have the pain in my lower back that comes along when I am preparing food or something when walking. It seems to happen every day, at least once a day, and I have to sit down to relieve it. 

That's the pain report, best as I can remember.

BP: 154/74

Weight: 203.4