Food

So now that I have hemochromatosis, my relationship with food is completely different. I've always loved food. LOVED. Now -- it scares me. Food is where I get the iron. The iron that won't go away. The iron that makes me sick...
Iron in food comes in two forms, heme and nonheme. Heme is the iron from meat, and that's the kind easily absorbed by the body. The only known substance that can alter heme absorption is calcium.
Nonheme iron is everything else we eat. Fruits, veggies, grains, supplements, fortifications, cookware...and this type of iron has to be changed in the body before it is absorbed. There are substances that can hinder absorption, and substances that help the body absorb more nonheme iron.
My job now is to figure out which foods are good for me to eat so I don't keep raising my iron level while trying to reduce it with phlebotomies. For example, cereal that has been fortified with iron = not for me. Vitamin C helps increase iron absorption, so no orange juice with breakfast. Yet I need Vitamin C, so I can drink orange juice between meals (and there's no iron to absorb).
Tea and coffee have tannins that inhibit iron absorption so those two drinks (tea especially) are my new friends.
No more cast iron skillets. At least until my iron levels are "normal" -- and iron is measured in what's called ferritin. My level when I started treatment was 1725. It should be under 100. I have a ways to go.
Raw oysters are out forever. One of the side effects of this disease is that Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria found in oysters and some other shellfish, can be fatal to me. Even walking on the beach barefoot is risky until my iron level is normal.
It's going to be a learning curve. I can't wait until I love food again!

Hemochromatosis

Just the name HEMOCHROMATOSIS sounds scary. Three weeks ago, after two longs years of not knowing what was wrong with me, I was diagnosed with this...
For the past two weeks, I've had treatments. And...oh my goodness! I feel so much better! But let me back up.
I've felt like crap for two years. Exhausted even after sleeping 12+ hours. Achy joints. Heavy breathing even when I hadn't been exercising. Eyesight diminishing rapidly. I've been to doctor after doctor. Had every test imaginable. Finally, finally, finally -- a diagnosis of hemochromatosis was confirmed. Basically, my body takes too much iron from food. There's no way for a body to get rid of iron, so it stays in the body and gets stored in organs. My liver has been damaged by all this extra iron.
Treatment...the only treatment is phlebotomy. Bloodletting. When I first heard this, I asked if leeches were used, like in medieval times. Nope. Every two weeks I go to a cancer and blood center and see the same staff every time (and I am lucky in this, not everyone is so blessed). I get an IV with fluids to replace the blood that is removed, and then 500ml of blood is taken out. I get dizzy and lightheaded, but that's ok. Because I FEEL BETTER. I'm not so exhausted. My eyesight is still bad. But I feel better.

8 Things

Stolen from Mindy....

8 Things I am Looking Forward To:

1. School being out on June 12 (my USC classes end AND it's the end of the school year)
2. Seeing the Cardinals live and in person (again...)
3. Going to New York City and "the shore" this summer
4. Reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler with Madison tonight
5. Seeing Melissa
6. The 6th grade vs the teachers softball game this afternoon
7. Relaxing with my family this summer
8. Reading what I want to read, all summer long

8 Things I did Yesterday:

1. Worked
2. Cooked dinner
3. Practiced the teacher dance for the talent show next Tuesday
4. Took Madison to tennis
5. Listened to Obama's speech in Egypt
6. Started reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler with Madison; she liked it so much we read two chapters
7. Played Farm Town
8. Threw tennis balls to Madison after her practice

8 Things I Wish I could Do:

1. Go to Paris. Again. And again.
2. Spend the summer at "the shore" in a beach house
3. Speak French
4. Have season tickets to the Cardinals
5. Slow down time, Madison is growing up too quickly for me
6. Have a flat in New York City
7. Teach my same group of kids next year; they are awesome
8. Go to Morocco

8 Shows I Watch:

1. The Office
2. Cardinals baseball
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. USC football
5. Saturday Night Live (on the Internet)
6. The Cardinals post game show
7. SportsCenter
8. Oprah (occasionally)

Weekly Recap

The best part of the week: Has to be, hands down, laughing with friends at work. If we didn't laugh, we'd cry -- the last part of the school year is always stressful and overwhelming...having good friends to share with makes all the difference!

The weekly read: I'm reading Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. It's not a bad read, but it's not a book that I rush home to pick up.

Food I'm Totally In Love With: Stopped this morning at Starbucks for a latte. The drive thru line was HUGE so I went in and saw pain de chocolate in the case. OMG! Reminded me of France. So.very.very.good.

Weekly Comment: Yesterday at lunch us 6th grade teachers were talking about the math we're teaching (permutations and combinations). Someone in the lounge said, "Stop talking a foreign language at lunch!"

Recovering...

I have been so.sick. The cough from hell, sneezing, headache -- it's gone on for over a week. Last weekend I slept from Friday morning (because I called in sick to work) until Saturday evening, and then went back to bed Saturday night. I managed to make it to work every day this week, but it was rough. So glad it's Saturday!

In addition to being sick, it's the end of the trimester. That means...report cards. And my USC class ends this week, so my final project had to be completed. Somehow I got it all done this week -- and managed to maintain my sanity. Barely.

To make the week even better, there was some work drama. It took three after school meetings to work it out and I'm still not sure there aren't some hard feelings.

Hopefully this week will be better. My class is testing (a district test) and I'm confident they know the material. My fridge is full of good, nutritious food. The weather is gorgeous. I'm hopeful!

Oh, and earlier this year I chose the word CHERISH as my word of the year. I haven't done a good job of CHERISHING myself. I'm going to work on that this week!

New York City Edition!

WHAT I’M READING: Picked up Sarah's Key at the airport yesterday, for the simple reason that Augusten Burroughs had a blurb on the front saying it was "a shocking, profoundly moving, and morally challenging story...nothing short of miraculous. It will haunt you, it will help to complete you..." With a recommendation like that, I wanted to read it. Just started reading last night, and it's living up to its billing. It alternates between Paris in 1942 and Paris 60 years later.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona on the plane yesterday. Loved it. Saw that Penelope Cruz is nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in it, she was fantastic.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: The sounds of Manhattan from my hotel room (the Hotel Elysee on 54th between Park and Madison). I'm on the 11th floor, so it's a bit muted, but the horns and sirens are still out there! Ahhh, New York City!

WHAT I’M WEARING: It's a bit brisk here! Brought my red coat I bought in London back in November and my black boots, that should keep me warm today as I traipse around Manhattan.

WHAT I’M EATING: John's Pizza today. Love pizza in Manhattan!

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: Being in New York City. I love the vibrancy of this city, the energy and the people.

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: Toasted nuts from a vendor on the street corner. Almonds. Brought some back to the room with me last night. Yum!

Weekend in Review

Changed up a bit, to review the weekend (which was fabulous!):

WHAT I’M READING: Just finished The Outcast by Sadie Jones. I picked it up in England in November. Haunting, deep, very good. Just started Bones by Jonathan Kellerman, I need something not so heavy as a follow-up.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Watched The Secret Life of Bees (amazing) and saw Coraline with my daughter today.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: My iPod plugged into my car -- what a fantastic invention! Kept me occupied on the drive to Heather's house (and back) Saturday.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Clothes that keep me warm in this rain and boots. It's been raining since Thursday, a rarity in Southern California. LOVE IT!

WHAT I’M EATING: Lots of eating out this weekend. Outback, California Pizza Kitchen and a new find -- Cherry on Top frozen yogurt. That will be a regular haunt, I'm sure of it!

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: The rainy weather and a weekend with my girls -- Sandy Friday night, Heather Saturday, and all day Sunday with my daughter.

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: Tuscan chicken cooking and rain....