Glimpses of Me

Today our doctor called and let us know that Lee’s stool tests were back.  I am so happy (and relieved) to report that everything was perfect and we are cleared for FMT!

Dr. Taylor-White has been so wonderful during this experience.  I’ve sent her all of the documentation we’ve been reading (studies and protocols) and she’s reviewed it all.  I discussed with her today, over the phone, the Saline vs. Distilled Water controversy.  She said that saline is hydrating (which is why it can cause diarrhea) while distilled water is dehydrating.  She said either would be fine and suggested we try saline first, but if Ashley has difficulty retaining the FMT, switch to distilled water.  She also suggested a medical supply pharmacy for finding saline.

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Our first round of donor tests came back today.  The blood and urine tests ordered by Dr. Taylor-White (which were outlined in the doc attached to the first post).  Happily everything came back perfect!  This next week we’ll be collecting stool samples and sending that in.  We expect the results to take 2-3 weeks.

COSTS TO DATE:

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While there might be a lot of doctors out there who would support the idea of trying a fecal transplant, the reality of today is that most of them work for a corporate entity of some sort, who will not authorize the doctor to support the procedure, let alone do the procedure.  In today’s world of malpractice suits, hospitals and doctors run scared and won’t often stray outside of the lines.  That being said, I should mention that our GI doctor did say that there was absolutely no reason not to try an FMT.  She said the only downside was costs and that the risks were so minimal, they weren’t worth talking about.  Unfortunately, the hospital she works for is not performing the procedure unless the patient has a C. Diff. infection.

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Let’s talk about fecal transplant, also called FMT (Faecal Microbiota Transplantation) and HPI (Human Probiotic Infusion).  It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like.  It’s fun to make your friends squirm when describing it.  I usually just say “Poop, saline, blender, enema bag” and watch their eyes widen and jaws drop.  People cringe at the thought, but if you’ve been suffering most of your life with Ulcerative Colitis or another Irritable Bowel Disease (or love someone who has), your perspective changes.

My daughter, Ashley*, was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at just 10 years old after being subjected to her first colonoscopy.  I’m sorry, but kids shouldn’t have to go through procedures like that!  It didn’t go well on two accounts.  They couldn’t get her IV in so she had little to no sedation and the results showed a final diagnosis of UC.

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These particular posts may not be of any value to anyone but me, but this is a way I can document our successful recipes while playing Chopped at dinner time.

The mystery basket this time around included:

• Pork Loin
• Rosemary
• String cheese
• Pineapple juice

A lot of ideas ran through my head but to me, the pineapple juice and rosemary didn’t sing together (at least not for me).  I prefer my rosemary in a beefy, savory flavor palette.  I decided on a seasoned pork loin in a beefy rosemary reduction and texas toast (to use the cheese).  I figured I’d put a little of the pineapple juice in my reduction and go with it.

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I am not a cook.  Certainly not a chef.  In fact, I hate cooking.  That’s not to say I can’t cook, I can!  I can follow a recipe like it’s nobody’s business but I am not someone who just throws a little of this and a little of that into a pan and whips up an amazing meal.  I’ve actually ruined a few meals trying that, in the past.  Somewhere along the line, though, after 12 years of doing Once a Month Cooking and learning about flavors and recipes, I have evolved…at least a little.

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DisneyWorld is exhausting!  Well, at least it is if you try to do 1 park per day, which *is* possible, I can tell you from experience…if you have the right tools.  I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with small children, however.  And even for those of you who don’t have small children, I wouldn’t recommend it for the faint of heart.  You will be going at a break-neck pace all day and getting your exercise!

I’m often asked which park I like better, Disneyland or DisneyWorld.  I’d probably tell you overall, I like Disneyland better but I think it’s worth a visit to DisneyWorld.  Be sure to try all of the rides at DisneyWorld…even the ones that are the same as Disneyland…they are different!

There are hundreds of tips out there for a Disney vacation, including how to each cheap in the parks, where to stay, etc.  Below are the tips that we’ve either discovered ourselves or tips we’ve gleaned from hours of research and then actual use.

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The beauty of California is how easy it is to access the parks.  You can do Disneyland and California Adventure in 3 days tops, especially if you use Ridemax (see below).  There is no need to rent a car as you can easily access the parks by walking or shuttle.  I have found renting a car has the advantage of getting you out of the Disney District where food is less expensive, but it could be a toss up with the costs of the car.  We like to have a car so we don’t have to rely on shuttles to get us to downtown Disney or Universal and we can go eat outside of the district.

There are hundreds of tips out there for a Disney vacation, including how to each cheap in the parks, where to stay, etc.  Below are the tips that we’ve either discovered ourselves or tips we’ve gleaned from hours of research and then actual use.

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Here are some little known tips and tricks for some of the airports we’ve traveled to.  This will be continually updated as we discover more tips.

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Yes, you can buy boot shapers.  I had a hard time finding them locally and decided I’d rather make my own.  You can make them for about half the price of buying them.

Lucky for me, I have a husband who can engineer just about anything I ask him to.  He enjoys the challenge, which plays to my benefit!  Below are his instructions for creating your own boot shapers, the math is at the bottom.

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