Tag Archives: nutrition

Is My Tummy Ever Going to Be Normal Again?

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by  

I started this blog to keep track of everything that was going on with what turned out to be a diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy and Parkinson’s Disease. Once the PD diagnosis was made, the Neurologist seemed to basically ignore the PN diagnosis. Since I can’t really tell that I’m not feeling things as well on my right side, that’s OK with me, as long as I can walk normally. And I can say, that as long as I’m faithful to take my PD meds, I am walking normally enough to appear to be symptom free to the uneducated eye.

So, what’s the problem? It has been, and continues to be, my digestive system. As I sit here writing this, my stomach feels like I have some kind of heavy weight in it, and there’s the feeling of a lump all the way up to my throat. I’ve had good days, usually several in a row, but I’ve had more bad days than good since I started taking the PD meds. Since I do have good days, I keep trying to find a pattern, something I’m doing right, or wrong, that will give me some clues as to how to avoid this bloated uncomfortable feeling. But I can’t find a pattern at all. It’s very frustrating to go to the doctor, and they start asking all of their neat little questions, and you can’t give them any neat little answers!

OK, I’ve whined long enough. This is turning into a major problem for me, as I’m losing weight rather rapidly, simply because I don’t feel like eating. I have a Gastroenterologist appointment on the 20th, and hopefully by then I’ll have something to tell him besides it feels like a weight and a lump!

Continuing to Feel Good

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 2

I felt better for a Sunday than I have in some time. All the exercise is beginning to pay off, I think. Usually, by the time I’ve cleaned up after Daddy and fixed his cooked Sunday morning breakfast, I’m already tired. Then the long sit through Sunday School and Church just leaves me drained for the day. That didn’t happen yesterday. I had plenty of energy. My body still cramped some in church, but not as bad as usual. I’ve stopped carrying the cane to church, too, so I’m feeling much more normal. Everyone’s still good to ask about me and let me know that they are praying for me, which I really appreciate.

I didn’t do so good a job of staying off the computer yesterday, even though I really did mean to. This is going to be a hard habit to change, and the difficulty of it just convinces me that it has reached the compulsive point. I’ve gone through all my usual daily computer tasks already this morning, and I’ve taken a set of pictures for an eBay listing already, so at least I’m being a little more efficient.

We’re taking Daddy to the Podiatrist today, so that will get me away from the computer for awhile. I’m going to see the Podiatrist, too, this time. I made the appointment several months ago, thinking I would keep it if the diagnosis was Parkinson’s and cancel it if it weren’t. What with the Peripheral Neuropathy, and some very deformed toenails already, it just seemed like a good idea to touch base with him. Daddy sees him every three months, as he’s a diabetic, but I don’t expect to see him but maybe once a year, unless he tells me otherwise.

I’m noticing a gradual weight loss, which suits me just fine. I’ve just about cut out all sweets, and my portion sizes are much smaller than they used to be. I really don’t feel like eating very much at one time any more. I’ve cut out the in between snacks, too, for the most part. And the meal at night is usually very small – sometimes only a banana. I just don’t get hungry at night any more. We eat our big meal at lunch now, and my dear sweet hubby, who does the cooking, makes sure it’s a very nutritious meal. I’m overweight, anyway, which puts extra strain on my legs and balance, so I hope to continue to lose weight gradually for some time.

Information on Swallowing Problems with PD

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 4

One of my dear blogging friends, Marion, asked me in her comment today for help planning a menu for an Advanced Parkinson’s guest she was expecting, who has trouble swallowing. After Googling on the subject, this seems to be the best general information I could find.

This is an excerpt from a very well written pdf article titled, Parkinson’s and Swallowing.

It is important that you continue eating your regular food until you are no longer able to do so safely. A regular diet with a wide range of tastes and textures is important to keep all of your muscles working, and encourage proper nutrition and hydration. Only if you begin experiencing significant difficulty, you may need to adapt your diet. While each individual will have different problems and therefore different solutions, the following suggestions may help.

SUGGESTED FOOD

• Food that is soft and moist, with a good flavour and smell, tends to be easier to swallow: custards, jelly, pureed fruit, sauces, spices and herbs.

• Avoid foods which are hard, dry, crumbly or stringy.

• Avoid mixed consistencies (e.g. solid plus liquid).

• Be careful with foods which stick to the roof of the mouth or get caught around the mouth: dry mashed potatoes, tomato with skin on, biscuits, bran flakes, hard-boiled eggs.

• Thicker fluids (e.g. nectars, milk shakes) may be easier to control and swallow than thin clear liquids, as they move more slowly.

• Keep food presentation appetising: flavour, smell and appearance of food.

• Relax and enjoy your food. It is good to have a break between mouthfuls and take sips of water during the meal. This will not only help you relax, but also allow you to clear your throat and mouth. You may need to swallow twice to clear each mouthful.

• Eat smaller portions more frequently, especially if time for meals is limited.

POSSIBLE PROBLEM FOODS

• mixed textures, like liquid with bits in (e.g. minestrone soup or watery mince);

• flakey biscuits;

• hard toast or nuts, chocolate, grains, seeds;

• stringy, fibrous vegetables


FOODS THAT MAY BE EASIER TO SWALLOW

• milk

• mousse, custard, yogurt, ice cream

• souffle, omelette

• casseroles

• soup (Creamed would be my suggestion, based on other articles I’ve read.)

• fruit juice, pureed fruit

• pancakes (with syrup etc.)

• soft boiled rice

• well cooked vegetables

• banana.

Hopefully this information will be of some help to Marion as she plans her menu, and possibly to others as well.

Nutrition Suggestions for GERD plus Sinemet

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 2

After spending this weekend nauseated, it is obvious that I’m going to have to be very careful not only with when I take my medicine, but also with what I eat. After doing a lot of research on my own, and getting a general idea of what I need to have, I was at a loss as to how I was going to decide on a diet, taking my GERD into account.

So I wrote to Jackie, a fellow BLOG VILLAGER at The Vegan Diet, who was kind enough to put together some information for me. She’s done such a wonderful job of pulling together just what I needed that I thought it might help someone else, so here are her suggestions.

I see with GERD you must steer away from :

* fatty or fried foods * peppermint and spearmint * whole milk
* oils *onions * chocolate *high sugar content * creamed foods or soups
* most fast foods * citrus fruits and juices (grapefruit, orange, pineapple, tomato)
* coffee (regular and decaffeinated) * caffeinated soft drinks * tea
* other caffeinated beverages *Spicy or acidic foods

You can have :

apples, berries, melons, bananas, peaches, pears
chicken (no skin), fish, turkey (no skin)
fat-free milk and yogurt
milk free breads
a miniscule amount of fat or butter

Basically my advice is lots of small meals a day, not three meals a day. I eat 5 meals a day, like many people do now for many medical conditions and to keep weight average (not under or overweight), as it keeps my IBS and my sugar levels on track. A few ideas below, not totally vegan, plus useful links at the bottom.

Breakfast

Fruit is good. Papaya is the best I find when I am acidic. Herbal tea (not mint)

Mid morning

Fruit Apples, melon, bananas and nuts like almonds and walnuts (most nutritious).
or Bean dip (chick peas or beans blended with a tiny amount of oil just to make it cream cheese consistency and a fresh herb like cilantro) on a slice of white or brown bread (not seed bread or wholewheat)

Lunch

Tofu dip (no oil with it) with raw vegetables like carrot sticks or
Veggie Soup with tofu cubes

or this Fish Dish recommended by a GERD sufferer:

This recipe is for one serving. Increase the ingredients for additional servings as needed.

One 4oz filet of white fish (orange roughly, sole, turbot, flounder, etc)
One med. Potato. Steamed green vegetable such as broccoli, spinach, peas or asparagus
Parsley or chives for garnish. ¼ tbsp unsalted butter, olive oil or Pam

We will start with the potatoes, because they take the longest to cook, and they tend to retain their heat the longest. The fish and vegetable take only minutes to cook.
Peel and cube potato. Place in cold water to cover. Bring to the boil, and then simmer until fork tender. Drain, leaving just enough cooking liquid for mashing or whipping. You may also use the vegetable broth (recipe below) instead. Add salt to taste. Hold in a warm place. Season fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place non-stick sauté pan over med high heat. Add butter, oil or spray with Pam. When not quite smoking, add fish. Cook two minutes, turn and cook other side for two minutes, or until the filet is light brown and cooked through. If the filet is very thin, one minute on each side may be enough. (You can broil or bake the fish if desired). Serve fish on top of mashed potatoes, surrounded by the steamed vegetables. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

or Savory Lentils with Texmati Brown Rice

1/2 lb of organic green lentils (2 ½ cups), rinsed 4 cups water or stock
1/2 onion, chopped 1 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped 1 bay leaf 2 sprigs of thyme, or ½ tsp dried
Organic Texmati brown rice (follow instructions on package)

To a large pot bring water and lentils to a boil. Add other ingredients. Reduce to the simmer, partially covered. Cook until tender (about 20 to 30 minutes), stirring occasionally and adding more liquid as needed.. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve over organic Texmati brown rice. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with a light green salad, dressed with the lemon chive dressing above.

Mid Afternoon

Herbal tea (not mint) or glass of strawberry soy milk or flavored fat-free yogurt

Early evening (best for supper)

Grilled or dry stirfried turkey or chicken without skin and steamed or stir fried veggies and mashed potatoes/baked potato or pasta

or Broiled Burgers with Mushrooms and Rice

1 lb lean (10% or less fat) ground beef
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 tsp dried rosemary (crushed)
2 tsp dried parsley, divided
1 egg white
Nonstick vegetable cooking spray
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups mushrooms
1 cup fat free skim milk
1 tbsp flour
1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup long-grain brown rice, cooked according to directions

In a bowl combine ground beef, bread crumbs, rosemary, 1 tsp parsley, and egg white.
Mix well and make into four 3/4″ thick patties. Spray a broiler pan rack with nonstick vegetable cooking spray. Place patties on rack and broil 3 to 4 inches from heat for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. Put olive oil and mushrooms in a skillet sprayed with nonstick vegetable cooking spray over medium-high heat. Cook 3 to 4 minutes until mushrooms are soft. Combine milk and flour together in a bowl. Add mixture to skillet. Add Worcestershire sauce, the remaining 1 tsp parsley, and salt. Stirring constantly with wire whisk, cook sauce 3 to 4 minutes until thickened. Serve mushroom sauce over broiled burgers with hot cooked brown rice. Makes 4 servings.

3 hours before bed

Another snack like a banana or a cup of clear soup

***************************
Gerd friendly recipes – Vegan and meat eaters (index in right column)

Fat Free Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes

Non Vegetarian Dairy-Free (lots of ideas and substitutes)

VegWeb Fat-Free Recipes plus tons of other recipes that should be suitable

Free Vegan Cookbooks (fabulous ideas) to download

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:
Parkinson articles

I had asked Jackie to help me find foods that would be suitable for a GERD diet and take into account the fact that Sinemet cannot be taken with large amounts of protein. I’d say she went out of her way to be helpful, wouldn’t you? But I shouldn’t be surprised. Every post she has on her blogs is just this thorough.

I can’t thank her enough for all this information, but I can ask you to visit her blog, so please stop by


The Vegan Diet

Developing Our Plan of Attack

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by  

In order to understand my approach to having a chronic illness, you need to know a little about me and my side of the family. My grandmother had and my Daddy has Macular Degeneration. My Daddy has been legally blind now for over 30 years, gradually losing more and more of his sight, but never doing anything to prepare himself for being blind.

I’ve said for years that if I were ever diagnosed with the beginnings of MD, I’d immediately start learning Braille and take classes on how to take care of myself from a low vision standpoint.

My approach to any illness is to search the Internet for every bit of information I can find. I have a Chemistry major, with a strong background in Biology and Biochemistry, so the technical papers usually make at least some sense to me.

With that said, it shouldn’t be so surprising that I’ve spent almost all this week researching everything I can find about Parkinson’s Disease. I’ve found bits and pieces of information on various sites that I’ve bookmarked for myself, but the links that have the most information, presented clearly, I’ll be listing in the right hand column.

DH and I are working together, bouncing ideas around as we try to understand how to balance the medicine with the foods that interfere with the medicine, but are necessary for good health. I did my first set of the PD exercises today, and DH bought a different cereal for me, based on the nutrition information I found.

By the time I see the Neurologist again, I should have a good idea what I need to ask him about. Of course I’m still assuming the DX is going to be PD, but at least I feel like I’m doing something besides waiting for the next appointment.