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Damian Lillard - 5.2.14 - vs. Houston Rockets

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A new haircut for the birthday boy!

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Bliss.

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THROW. BACK.

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Sometimes you read something, and your heart feels just a little more full afterwards.

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Let's talk about the gut. TMI ahead. But also solutions to your constant irregularity, bloating, gas and...other things.

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Growing up, I always just assumed everyone felt awful after eating. Having to run to the bathroom, bloating, gas...on the reg. It wasn't until my mid twenties, when I was put on daily medication for acid reflux and told I had an esophagus of a 70 year old, that I realized that what I was experiencing was not in fact normal. But these days, you can't find someone who isn't restricting their diet in some way (gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar free, fun-free), so I feel like I should at least share my experience in hopes of helping someone through the awful gut game...because this last year has been life changing.

So after I got engaged, I was determined to get my shit (literally) sorted out. Between bachelorette parties, bridal showers and the wedding itself, I was not prepared to feel like death after meals, and deal with my constant bloat. I decided to meet with a naturopath first, since I was pretty exhausted from hearing "just deal with it" from multiple, multiple, conventional doctors. The naturopath specialized in intestinal issues, and I was confident she could at least provide me some direction. After meeting with her, and crying desperate tears, she told me that I suffered from SIBO. I had never heard of SIBO before, but it stands for Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth. If you talk  to a conventional doctor, they will most likely just call this IBS. I had been told I had IBS for years, but to hear a new name for it...and perhaps a new solution...I was hopeful. She gave me a couple of options, which included an elimination diet, a course of probiotics, or go straight to the antibiotics. Because my health insurance didn't cover my visits with her, I decided to take a chance and go back to my doctor with her diagnosis to see what could be done.

Long story long, I was able to convince my doctor to put me on antibiotics. I was prescribed Rifaximin, which is a 10 day course of the antibiotic, with the hope that it would basically eliminate the bad bacteria, but preserve the good (such doctor-y talk.) And guys, it worked. I made sure to begin taking probiotics (the naturopath suggested these) as soon as I was done with the meds, and I can confidently say my food aversions were gone, I didn't look like I was five months pregnant after a meal, and I felt...free.

I'm writing this now because studies show that results can only last about six months in some patients, and I just started another round  today. Because this particular antibiotic stays mainly in the gut, it is pretty easy on the rest of your body, and I was assured by both my doctor and the pharmacist that twice a year shouldn't be a problem. But this time around, I plan on being very serious about my after-care, and I'm hoping I can eradicate my "bad bacteria" for good.

I'm sorry this is long, and rambly, but I know there are more people out there that have decided to just live with stomach issues...and I know how frustrating they can be. I am NOT a doctor, this is NOT for everyone, I know almost nothing. But if you have been dealing with these types of issues, it might worth taking it up with your doctor.

Here are a few links that helped me through the process.

SIBO Info, Digestive Health Institute, Web MD

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Yoga Inspiration on FB and IG

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Training week four!

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Right now, I'm sitting in front of our computer drinking a cup of coffee, eating some buttered toast, about to go get ready for our bike ride downtown with my parents. Alex is walking the dog, he's already eaten and he'll come home and we'll do some stretches together. We'll turn on the Bob Dylan Spotify station, and we'll coo at Bodie a bit.

This life of mine is truly spectacular. Not because of the big moments, the big ticket items. No, it's truly spectacular because I have a partner to experience this life with, all the way down to buttered toast.

Today we have been married for six months. 

Today, forever doesn't seem long enough.

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Sellwood ‘library house,’ Portland, OR. The Works.

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This is, just...yes,

there’s nothing more helpless than a woman who just painted her nails

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