While this may sound like a new Judy Blume novel, it’s really just my latest batch of experiments.
In August, when I met with my Case Manager, I was a bit weepy about the verdict of my pulmonologist (Obesity is the root cause of everything), trying and getting sick on a ketogenic diet, and the increasing pain in my knee. Depression had trundled out the “Hopeless” cart, and I had climbed in.
My Case Manager is a lovely, up-beat, supportive darling, so when she suggested I see a hospital dietitian I felt instant betrayal. Visions of scales and tape measures goose-stepped through my brain. But, she asked me to think of this dietitian as someone I might add to my small support system—someone I could talk to and have on my side. Framed that way, I agreed to meet with her.
In the meantime, I had been visiting my chiropractor for my knee and recurring TMJ. Over the summer, she heard all about Dr. Obesity, my binge eating disorder, and all my other mental and physical woes. For good measure, I came down with bronchitis a few weeks ago. Along with prescribing additional protein powder to my morning shake while I’m sick, she also wondered if I might not have a Leaky Gut.
Basically, this syndrome is caused by a loosey-goosey gut allowing too much junk to pass into the blood stream, setting off an immune response that never shuts down. Chronic inflammation of the gut follows. Treatment involves getting rid of foods that irritate the gut and adding foods that soothe and heal it. Dr. Ash has a quick take on Leaky Gut here.
Being sick with bronchitis turned out to be the perfect time to implement these changes. Since I’m already lactose intolerant and get a gut ache eating bread, going dairy and gluten free was a no-brainer. I can add bone broth to my gluten-free chicken noodle soup, eat a little kefir as a snack, and alternate my Breathe Easy tea with a variety of kombucha teas. And my gut has stopped aching all the time.
I started to wonder: What if obesity isn’t just a cause, but also a symptom? What if Binge Eating Disorder isn’t just a mental illness, but also has a physical component?
These are the questions I took with me to the dietitian.
Emma is a sweet, young, cheerful professional, but had no answers. She had heard of Leaky Gut, but knew nothing about it. She knew about Binge Eating Disorder, but knew nothing about that either. However, she was absolutely willing to learn. She took all the information I brought with me and made copies for herself. Our weekly sessions focus on what I want and my goals, not weight loss. She is, as my Case Manager predicted, a wonderful addition to my support team.
My bad knee and intermittent TMJ turned out to be arthritis, no big surprise since my dad was a Bionic Man of joint replacements and—you know—that obesity thing making everything worse. Whenever I think of arthritis, Mammie from Gone With The Wind pops into my head.
Arthritis waits in its web, swooping in after an injury. An opportunistic little shithead.
Oh, well I’ll think about that tomorrow. I have sauerkraut and wild salmon to eat now. And tomorrow is another day.
