Vision

I tried daily contacts and unfortunately wore them from 9AM to 2AM.  I had issues pealing them off my eye because the material was much thinner and my eyes were so dry.  It felt like I was trying to remove a piece of my eye with my fingers.  When I finally got it out, it felt like a scratch.  Oh fuck, I thought to myself, I must have scratched my cornea.  I looked up the heal time on line - 3 days, cool - I'll wait it out.

It felt like a piece of sand was trapped in my eye.  As the day went on I was very light sensitive.  I heard my mom's voice echo in my mind, "don't mess with your vision...." So I visited the optometrist across the street whom I found on Yelp.  Thanks Yelp!

As it turns out I actually had an eye infection...  a corneal ulcer - a divot on the top layer of my eye.  How terrifying, but only 4 drops of Tobramycin a day and it should clear up and I can wear contacts again and feel more confident in my looks in a week.

Wearing glasses to me is like wearing PJs - You wear them in the house or when ever you're lazy, but if you want to look your best you put on a pair of jeans.

Anyway, I returned to the optometrist to find that my eye has not completely healed after a week.  Which indicates a deeper scar. To prove this, my tech savvy optometrist took a picture of what he was seeing with his iPhone to share with me.

here's looking at you kid

That spot near the center of the black part of my eye is the scar that needs to heal before I can wear contacts again otherwise I'll get another inflammation.  Glasses for a a month.  UGH.

This what happened:

I have naturally dry eyes and my monthly Biofinity contacts were so moist and thick that I didn't have any issues; I've slept with them on until 3AM where I'm forced to remove in order to have a good nights sleep.  The dailys were cheaper and thinner and DRYER so my eye couldn't clear out the bacteria and particles when blinking.  The dry contact created a 9AM to 2AM environment for the infection to fester.... or it was all coincidence and I was bound to get this infection due to my terrible contact lens habits.

Point of the story:  Don't fuck with your vision and check out that cool picture of my eyeball.

Am I Vegan Now? And Eating Out June

Above is my animal rights coworker's necklace.  I was really amused so I took a picture.  But she has the last laugh now as my gastro problems keep increasing with age.  Can I not be a self proclaimed foodie and enjoy a healthy life?

I went to the doctor yesterday because the cramps were killer.  My frequent visits to the restroom come with terrible pain and the release wasn't satisfying.  What is wrong with me?  My doctor confirmed that the Taco Bell adventure immediately after my return from Indonesia was not a good idea and that I should stay on liquids for 24 hours and then ease myself back into American processed food using the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast.)

I knew I was not myself when I was looking at vegan options of gelato.  OMG.

Not fun - when I finally was able to eat today, I had Vegetarian Japanese Curry... arguing that it was on a bed of rice.  I'm always cheating.   Thankfully I'm still okay!

I do feel skinnier, but man I need my intestines to strengthen, NOT weaken.  But I have my lactaid pills from Costco ready!

In the mean time this is what I ate in June:

Manila Sunset - This is the Filipino bibingka - cheesey, coconutty dessert.  It was better the first time, but definitely try it out!  I really crave Filipino food except maybe adobo and tocino.... drool
Chaya Downtown LA - This pheasant was a part of their Summer Happy Hour and it was good but so $$$$.  And no one was here!  This joint is definitely for the weekday business person
Good Girl Dinette - Amazing Chicken pot pie.  Not Vietnamese food!
Coco Laurent DTLA - Terrible, dont go here
Starling Diner in Long Beach - Very saucy... i love saucy
Beverly Chicken - Excited for Mediterranean Chicken, but it just didn't meet expectations!  Others disagree, but I would make the treck to Zankou for something better!
Starling Diner in Long Beach - Met up with my family here, this place is so cute
Ktown City Center Food Court - There's a hidden food court that's pretty good and cheap!   I ordered from Terikiss, but I recommend the bimbinbap from its neighbor
Korean Hotdog - Dealth, but no worries - the place is closed down.  That sweet roll tho
Office - I used left over condiments from our burger bar to make guac.  Success!!
Korean Hotdog - So this place is closed down, but this was a bulgogi dog!  YUM!
BCD Tofu - Fried Dumpling was pretty good!  Especially when you're buzzed
Beer Belly - Grilled Cheese.  This was amazing!!!  The best white food in Ktown!

Liquid Diet

TMI POST

I have to drink one gallon of laxatives to clear my system before my colonoscopy today.  This liquid diet isn't for vanity ... it's for health.

Looks like Jimmy and I are becoming old men really fast.  The waiting room was full of old people.  Apparently pooping problems is an old person issue.

Have you ever heard a girl go pee?  They make... SHHHHHH sounds.  My guess is instead of a smooth stream it's like someone set the hose nozzle to mist.  Anyway, I was experiencing that after my first 2 pints of liquid hell.  I was also starving.  I don't know why I was reading food blogs when I wasn't allowed to eat anything by chicken broth for 24+ hours.  Complete self inflicted torture.  Things that I normally find revolting like pastries in the morning or Cheesecake Factory was making my mouth water.

=

For years upon years, I've had hemorrhoid issues.  They come and go and I go on with my life.  My lack of fiber could be to blame, but it's come to a point where I really really hurts to shat.  Like, dude, something is wrong.  Maybe it was how I was sitting instead of squatting.



I've put it off, but thankfully my coworker has his checked without any shame sending a mass email to everyone.

"I'll be out of office today for a Colonoscopy.  Let me know of any projects beforehand."  This email elicited some hilarious feedback such as:

"Can't you just take this during your lunch?"

With that, I sat down with him, asked him about his experience and went to his recommended doctor.  Lucky for me I was able to get in appointments by stating the emergency: Rectal Bleeding.  Apparently you can get to see the doctor the next day if you're having a period through your butt.  And the next weekend, I'm scheduled to have a camera go up my butt.

"What if I have booty hole cancer?" I asked Jimmy.
 He responded, "you don't have cancer.  One of the main symptoms is weight loss... you DEFINITELY don't have that."  #rude.  His response made me feel fat... but better about the situation.  Especially since WebMD was telling me that I had 6 months to live.

It all has been a joke at 321 - Jimmy taking pictures of me drinking laxatives.  Telling me, "don't worry baby, I'll turn the music on really loud so we don't hear you."  Yeah. Hilarious.

Everyone having a good time

==

Another coworker pulled me to the side and asked me, "could you tell me why you're going to the doctor... if you don't mind?  I'm curious."  In a whisper tone in her cube, I told her what was up and she was thankful because she was experiencing the same things.  Her biggest question, "so what made you decide to go to the doctor?  At what point did you say that this needed to be checked."

And to be honest, it was because of the first coworker who spoke so candidly about it made me feel like this needed to get done so that I know that everything is okay with my body.  That I wasn't the only one with a hemmy problem that needed to be checked out.

==

I guess that's the problem with feeling "alone" so to speak.  It prevents you from taking the necessary steps to resolving it with your body, your mind, your spirit.. whatever.  But the fact is.. there are billions of people in the world and you're not the only one a "problem."  This can be applied to anything I guess.

In a couple of hours, I will have this checked off my to-do list and I can concentrate on other life things with out struggling with this one hurdle which is costing me $450 btw.  Thank you insurance (ugh).  That's how much my flight to Asia was (with years of rewards points.)

I'll tell you how it goes. ... and after this, I have to figure out how to file my own taxes.  #firstworldproblems

Starting 2012 with Acid

Last night I experienced excruciating abdominal pain that left me calling nurses and driving around to get a prescription from an on call doctor who had a hawaii area code.

Insurance issues prevented me from getting medication so I tossed and turned in bed while a gremlin inside of my stomach was clawing at the walls.  Holding on to Jimmy was the only source of relief.

What causes acid reflex?  heartburn?  Everything I love:

Learn about foods that cause acid reflux

Here's the story on some common acid reflux triggers that may—or may not—affect you. Of course, it's best to avoid the foods that bother you.

High-fat foods tend to relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle, which usually stays tight to keep acid in the stomach and out of the esophagus.

Spicy foods can irritate the lining of the esophagus leading to heartburn in some people.

Tomatoes, citrus fruits, and onions are acidic and trigger heartburn in some people.

Mint, long thought to aid in digestion, tends to stimulate reflux in people with acid reflux disease.

Alcoholic drinks can damage the lining of the esophagus and the stomach. And fermented beverages, like wine and beer, can also increase the production of stomach acid.

Caffeinated drinks—including coffees, teas, sodas, and even hot chocolate—are a problem for some people with acid reflux disease. Even decaffeinated coffee, although better than regular coffee, is still acidic and can aggravate heartburn.

Sodas, even if they're caffeine-free, can trigger heartburn because they are carbonated.

Definitely had spicy foods.  Inhaled at least a half a slightly cooked onion eating Mediterranean.  Tomatoes for New Years.  Mint in my Pho yesterday morning. Tangerines because they were on sale. Cheese daily = high-fats.  Copious amounts of alcohol during the break.  Hot teas with Jimmy and last night I had a can of Canada Dry thinking it would help.

SO basically, I had everything on this list triggering what I believe is an ulcer.

WHY MUST I LOVE EVERYTHING LISTED!?!?

Nothing worked - Tums, milk, Mylanta.  All of which were supposed to provide immediate relief.  I was over loaded with magnesium and calcium, yet I was still aching.  Finally, after Jimmy left at 4:30AM for work, things calmed down, but I hope this isn't an indication of the new year:  painful, bed ridden, discomfort.

Does this mean I have to become one of those obnoxious people with "Dietary Restrictions?"    I have to make sure my spicy food and cheese is cage less, organic and free range before I can eat it. I hate myself already.