I made a call to my gastro Dr. yesterday to see how my motility is. I see a specialist in Memphis, Tn named Dr.Slose. My current rate is 49%. That means as of right now I have a mild case. The nurse, whom I forgot to mention is so kind, was happy to answer the seemingly trivial questions. For right now I will officially change my eating habits. I try to eat bites here and there, but I get tired easy. This morning I'm cramping so I hope I can get unclogged soon!
I've been symptomatic for months. I've learned how to order at a restaurant off the a la cart menu over the past few months. In April I got the sinus crud that is very common around here that time of year. I was coming off percocet too. I had a bit of an appetite but still was ordering like I wasn't puny. I was spending money that I shouldn't have on the "extra's". Those being; a salad with an entree, 3 vegetables with my meat and three special, and saying load up the tater. I was bringing home more leftovers than I would eat before the food went bad. My family liked the leftovers so it didn't go to waste. We don't eat out much for budgetary reasons. I cook at home most nights but I do take myself out to lunch occasionally. I was on the road to learning how to order through trial and error.
I think the first place I really started ordering just what I want at a sit down place was my local Mexican restaurants. It's very easy to order just a burrito or just a taco. You don't get "the look". You know the look I'm talking about, that almost judging glare. I think one of my more embarrassing times, at least to me, was when I ordered an all you can eat salad bar. I got my bowl of soup and sat down. It took me 10 minutes to eat just that one smallish bowl. The waitress came by to refill my tea and asked was there anything else I needed. I looked up and kinda whispered, "Yes, you can. I know I ordered the whole salad bar, but I can't psychically eat any more." I got so embarrassed for some reason. I told her I wasn't feeling well, so could I just pay for my soup and tea. She was so very sweet and told me she'd take care of it. A few minutes later I got my bill. It was $ 2.50. I'm not sure how she rigged it, but she was so sweet and told me she hoped I felt better. I left her a $5.00 tip. I'm not sure just why I was so embarrassed. I don't look sick. I was 220 pounds at the time, so it's implied that this fat chick can eat my entire weight in soup and salad.
I recently had lunch at Macaroni Grill. I tend to eat lunch vs dinner out because it's cheaper on top of being able to order smaller portions. I love pasta! I love pasta and Italian food as good as any New Jersey Italian American. {For the record I'm a true American mutt with Irish being the last ones to get off the ship,so it's the thickest in my blood} I ordered my lunch size lasagna and was asked if I wanted the lunch special with a salad. No thank you. I kinda got a weird look from the sweet server, but not an unkind look. I was alone, but there were these two ladies sitting at the table beside me and I actually had a ball chit chatting with strangers. I ate barely half of my lunch size portion. The server even asked was everything alright, making sure I liked my food. I said yes, but that I don't eat much at one time these days. She smiled and said she's on a diet too. I just nodded and smiled. I didn't want to go into detail about how I just CAN'T eat much.
Last night I hit the McDonald's drive through. I had a coke,so all I ordered was just a regular {small} cheeseburger. I get around to the window to pay and the kid who took my money told me that the double burger was the better deal. I said that I was sure it was but it would be all I could do to choke down just the single. For some reason I told that kid that I couldn't probably eat the whole thing due to gastro issues. He told me his sister had the Lap Band done and she was the same way. I just nodded.
Maybe it's just my own perception that I'm being looked at strange because as big as I am you'd think I could eat more! Over the past few months I've learned to just order what I think I can eat at one time. That's a true first for me. I don't look like I should order off the kids menu or just one taco at La Casa. No, not all the servers give me the look, but others do. I'm sure I get "profiled" for being a big girl. It can't be a bad thing only ordering what I want on the money front. Mentally it's a struggle because I've never been this way before. I had to eat small briefly after hiatal hernia surgery but that was only a few weeks. This GP condition is for life. That seems so final to me.
I'm still tore up because, yes, I need to loose weight, but being put on limits against my will is my struggle. I know that even with meds this condition will worsen. I was still optimistic yesterday when I talked to the nurse. I said something like, "Great! I'll go on and take the meds and get back to 100%.". She told me that she didn't want to give me false hope because it won't get me back to 100%. That yes, this will probably worsen as time goes on. On the bright side, I'll forever more be saving money on groceries here at home and out to eat.
In summation: Order and eat what you want! No explaining at all, savor every small bite,and enjoy it.
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