Bummer . . .
So since I've been back from Vegas, I still have not felt 100% after my bout with Diverticulitis. I'm probably feeling 95 - 97%. So my doctor referred me to a gasterointerologist (sp?). So this morning I swung by TRA in Tacoma and picked up my films from my CT scan last month and headed to the Tacoma Digestive Disease Center to meet with Doctor Hiroda. After filling out the requisite paperwork, the nurse called me back and took my blood pressure. 128/84. The lowest it's been in I don't know how long. So that was one bit of encouraging news. She left and a few minutes later Dr. Hiroda came in. We talked about my bout with Diverticulitis and set up a time line of when everything had occurred. First symptoms, doctor visit, CT scan, antibiotics, etc. Then Dr. Hiroda checked my breathing, my heart and poked around on my abdomen a bit. Everything seemed fine.Next, he drew me a picture of a colon and explained how diverticulitis came about. Apparently it's just really an American disease (land of the free, home of the brave!) and because we have such a high fat, low fiber diet, we're prone to this. He was concerned that I was so young to have gotten it. He said normally people in their 50's or 60's would have their first bout of it. And if I were in my 80's he'd just say, watch what you eat and take these antibiotics. But with me only being in my 30's, he said the chance of a recurrance is pretty high. Great. So because I have a well documented case of Diverticulitis, with CT scan, etc. he mentioned that the next step would be to perform a colonoscopy. Frickin great. So next Wednesday, I get my first colonoscopy. I'm soooooo looking forward to it (not!).
I guess this is really a (another?) wake up call that I really need to get my $#!t together and change my diet. Need to get some fat out and get some fiber in. I love vegetables, but I guess I just don't eat enough of them. And I doubt the slice of tomato and the leaf of lettuce on a burger counts for much. Man, I'm just so bummed right now I can't even describe it. A month ago, I was working out 3 - 5 days a week. I was eating a healthy breakfast for the first time in I don't know how long. I was losing weight slowly but steadily. I was cutting out drive throughs. Very little soda. Lots of water. Then another "itis" strikes. Just completely derailed me. The week in Vegas was good, but not great. I was watching that I didn't have any nuts or seeds, limited my alcohol intake and was worried all the time that my Diverticulitis wasn't really gone. And now, the next week is going to be less than pleasant too. I've got 2 days of liquid diet coming up. Lots of pills to swallow to make my trunk empty. A tube being shoved up the exit only ramp. Just frickin' great.
Just take me out to the pasture and shoot me now.