Traveling this summer and other

[jlbattin]

I apologize for my absence in the board over the last month or so. I bit the bullet in July and traveled with my husband to Meridian, Mississippi, to see my in-laws. I did ok. We were gone 8 days. We flew into Jackson, MS, which, incidentally has the ONLY Whole Foods in the whole state of Mississippi. What does that tell you about the state of health in MS? Everything is fried and has butter in it! LOL!

Anyway, I was able to pick up some things there and the rest we got at their local Winn Dixie (mostly meat). I managed just fine while I was there. My mother-in-law is a retired nurse and my father-in-law, a retired pharmacist, so I did get the comment, "I'm surprised that your cholesterol isn't sky high with all the meat you eat." They really don't understand my illness at all. I just smiled and said, "I just had bloodwork done and my numbers were great. I require a lot of protein to heal and to function."

We got back late on a Wed. night and I had only Thurs. to do laundry, repack, and regroup to head to my 40th class year reunion on Friday. So much fun but really late hours, and when I got home on Monday, I literally collapsed! And from that time on, I've struggled to get my bearings again. I haven't had any real stomach problems, per se. I spend a lot of time in the bathroom early in the morning but I'm usually good the rest of the day. But, I can't seem to get my stamina back and have just been so tired.

I return to school tomorrow morning (thank goodness I'm semi-retired and only work half days), but I am excited because I seem to do a whole lot better with a routine and that will return tomorrow!

I have learned a few things from my travels:

Don't plan back to back trips. I am no spring chicken and it was just too much for me!
Keep to your regular eating schedule. (I managed that most of the time but I did have a few times that my eating was off and that seemed to kind of throw me off kilter).
I have not yet had to show my doctor's letter about my food sensitivities to TSA. I've breezed through TSA at 4 different points and not had any difficulties with the ice and food I was carrying.

I'm pondering now.............did my travels cause me to use more magnesium and vitamin D and maybe I need to up my dosage for awhile to get back on track? I just can't seem to keep up now like I did before I traveled.

One thing in particular I did want to share with you. On our trip home, we had a few hours layover in DFW airport. We weren't scheduled to get home until after 9 and I knew that not only did I not have anything to eat at home, that there wouldn't be anything open to get my safe foods either, so we scoured the list of restaurants and found a Chili's. I had looked at their allergen menu before (it's not very user friendly because they don't cross reference......each allergen is listed on a page by itself), so we went in and sat down and I asked the waiter for an allergen menu. He brought me the manager who went out of his way to prepare me something safe I could eat. I ordered a plain hamburger with a side of guacamole (and I had my own safe chips). They really went above and beyond the call of duty to take care of me. I was really impressed. So, I got to eat before I got on the plane and keep on schedule.

But, for all you newbies who are wondering when you will get your life back, that was me last summer. It is possible! Stay the course and eat only your safe foods. It's so worth it in the end...............

[Lilja]

Hi Jari,

I see myself as being in "remission", but I have experienced this summer that traveling is stressful and drains me. Even if I have brought my magnesium (ReMag) and all my supplements with me on my travels, I still have had a more trips to the bathroom, especially in the morning. I think stress depletes especially our magnesium store faster than when life is routine and predictable.

Lilja

[Erica P-G]

Hi Jari,

I'm so happy you had good results this Summer...even if they drained you ;-) Yes I suspect you are low in the VitD and Mag, and I know you know how to remedy that ;-) It will take some time, maybe not as long as you suspect.

What good experiences you have had with all sorts of situations.

I agree, routine seems to be my best option too at any given time, body settles down, stress level tones way down. I have decided if I really want to adventure I need to be in a little bit better place mind and body wise. I have better energy this year, but am still battling unknown reasons for D that have hit when Spring came upon us, otherwise I would say I had been doing pretty good.

I'm making slight changes at the moment..so will see if one of them becomes a winner ;-)
Hugs
Erica

[jlbattin]

Erica,

I have also had worse allergy issues this summer than ever before. I'm taking a benadryl at night and some days an Allegra during the day (plus my quercetin that I've been taking for awhile). Don't know if the MC agitated the allergies this summer or not, but they have been worse than I've experienced in quite a long while. There's just always so much to figure out! And it's never really simple! :) Hang in there......I'll bet that you'll travel better than you think you might!

[tex]

Jari,

Great travel article. It's good to read that the trips went smoothly.

I think stress depletes especially our magnesium store faster than when life is routine and predictable.

I believe that you are right on target. Stress definitely depletes magnesium, especially chronic stress.

Regarding the benefits of routine — when I was younger I used to think that variety was the spice of life. Silly me.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

Jari
you did really well!!

agree, stress coupled with lots of extra toxins would definately deplete magnesium and Vit D and B12 etc

I normally suggest to people to have some safe food options in the freezer for when you return home from trips, as once you are home and you dont have the protection of adrenalin etc that is when fatigue and subtle symptoms will start.

Since having MC coupled with living alone, I always try to have more than a weeks worth of staples in my freezer so if i am poorly I have minimal cooking and dont have to go and hunt and gather etc.

rest up, increase the magnesium a bit for a few weeks

[Marcia K]

Hi, Jari. Glad you had a successful trip. I agree with not doing two trips back to back. It just takes too much out of us. I love having a a routine. I function so much better. My son always had naps at the same time and even as a 21 year-old he likes having a routine, too. I go to the beach in two weeks so I'm already planning my eating strategy.

[jessica329]

Stress definitely depletes magnesium, especially chronic stress.

Wow, I didn't realize this. It's a miracle that I am even functioning, having chronic stress. I've been lollygagging on buying the magnesium.

Jari- I try to always have something safe and already made in the freezer.

[Gabes-Apg]

Jessica

Wow, I didn't realize this. It's a miracle that I am even functioning, having chronic stress. I've been lollygagging on buying the magnesium.

From what i have learnt in the past 12 months or so, the diet changes and lifestyle changes have limited scope to help us, unless we have good levels of Vit D3 and Magnesium

[Vanessa]

Magnesium deficiency until proven otherwise!

[tex]

Gabes and Vanessa,

I agree that a combination of magnesium and vitamin D sufficiency is probably the main reason why some people respond well to the diet changes, while others respond more slowly, or not at all. The mainstream medical community pretty much ignores the critical role of magnesium and vitamin D in overall health and immune system functionality. And then they wonder why their drugs don't work the way they're supposed to work.

Tex

[twirlitgirl]

Jari
you did really well!!

agree, stress coupled with lots of extra toxins would definately deplete magnesium and Vit D and B12 etc

I normally suggest to people to have some safe food options in the freezer for when you return home from trips, as once you are home and you dont have the protection of adrenalin etc that is when fatigue and subtle symptoms will start.

Since having MC coupled with living alone, I always try to have more than a weeks worth of staples in my freezer so if i am poorly I have minimal cooking and dont have to go and hunt and gather etc.

rest up, increase the magnesium a bit for a few weeks

Great advice Gabes. I too came home from a vacation and couldn't understand why I was so tired, I had bundles of energy and slept well while away, my plans were always made ahead for my meals and activities and when I felt a little stress coming on, I would talk myself out of it , by saying to me, myself and I," it can wait until I get home to think about,I'm in vacation mode now... once I return home , the bills will come in and reality of my day to day coping will start all over again".
yes it is good to have" made ahead frozen meals" so I could get my strength back again to make some more safe go to meals, when wasn't so tired. It makes sense to me now. Always learning and coping to try to control my symptoms as best I can with diet and lifestyle changes, it can be done, having supportive people around you, makes all the difference. I am accepted for who I am and what my life is now, and I try to educate non MC ers that I am okay, might be a bit thinner than them, but I am healthy and have energy more than I had when I was sick and that sure puts things in perspective for me that I am on the right path. As you say Gabes, it is about progress not perfection and who wants perfection anyway, it really isn't achieveable unless you are a computer and even then, they screw up too.. Ha! My Mom always said to me " it isn't how you fall, it is how you get back up after you fall and dust yourself off to continue on the journey. May your days be full of whatever keeps you smiling , so grateful for your continuing support to all us brothers sisters in MC world. cheers and hugs to everyone.

[jlbattin]

Gabes and Jessica,

I have food in the freezer. I always have safe food in the freezer. My problem was that it would be 10:00 or after when we got home and I didn't want to eat that late, and I didn't have anything of substance with me (leaving from Mississippi). I had some jerky and some other snacky stuff. I just didn't want to have to eat that late so I was hoping to find something safe in the airport and it all worked out!

[Erica P-G]

Yes Jari, it seems the histamine builds too....I can imagine you had to take some to calm things down a bit....rest will help alot in that dept I'm learning

I had to be at a meeting for work an hour earlier than my usual routine....well that threw me off for this whole day...I'm still groggy...didn't take my binder med my whole schedule has went to crap today....and I'm feeling it tonight

Gonna be a benedryl night for me!
Hugs
E

[crervin]

Jari,
You have came a long way! Glad you got to travel and were comfortable. I've noticed lack of sleep and too much in one day can really affect me too. Sadly if I run errands, I can't do too many in one day. It wears me out. I've just accepted that. Years ago, I'd get done in one day what takes me a week now. I just figure I'm like my husband now . Hope you get the rest you need!!