Getting blunt again, so don’t continue if you don’t like descriptions of body functions.
I’ve been struggling with this ongoing and enormously annoying urethral irritation for weeks. Feel as if I have to go pee all the time, and when I do, it burns. This has been going on since I had a urinary tract infection last month that I treated with antibiotics from the doc.
Since then, I’ve tried everything I could think of for this intermittent irritation, including moving over to cotton pajamas, microwaving my undies (go ahead, laugh, but it works if you’re subject to yeast infections–kills the bacteria that are hard to get rid of if you wash your clothes in cold water). All this burning and irriation is a little tough to deal with when you’re working 12 flights in two days. I’m a flight attendant, if you didn’t know.
Anyway, after much experimentation and various remedies, I finally realized that, as long as I got my 64 ounces of fluids a day (the equivalent of eight 8-ounce glasses), I had no problems. It was only on the five- or six-flight days where I had no chance to take a break, and was too tired to make sure I kept drinking fluids that I had real problems. And the less fluid I drank, the more irritating the symptoms became. So, now I’m pushing liquids all the time, and doing fine.
I’m learning more and more to listen to my body–to eat what I choose and when. It’s taken a long time, two and a half years now since the surgery, to be able to trust that I can trust my own food decisions and not second-guess myself. If my body wants sugar, then I can have small amounts without pain. The limit is about 15 grams in a serving… any more than that, and I’m going to be doubled over and rocking to try to alleviate the pain.
If I want meat, then I have it, although I can go for days very happily with little or no meat. Peanut butter on whole wheat bagels is a staple for me, water-packed tuna with light Miracle Whip on a toasted bagel is a joyful thing, as well. Fat-free strawberry cream cheese on a toasted bagel in the mornings is awesome, too. If I seem focused on whole-wheat bagels these days, be aware it’s kind of a phase thing. Last month it was English muffins.
And yes, I eat carbohydrates. I try to make sure the carbohydrate food source is always a significant source of fiber, something I desperately need for the obvious reasons, but yes, I eat bread. Every day, sometimes every meal. But, they’re very specific carbs. Whole wheats, unleavened breads, and no crackers. Discussed it with my husband, and it’s pretty much a theory, but breads that rise, and breads or carbs (like crackers) that absorb liquid and swell all hurt me very, very badly. Thus the toasting whenever possible.
I also eat Kashi bars like they’re going out of style. They are my snack when my energy levels start drooping on the plane. And when I have a 14-hour day ahead of me, I know I’m going to be burning calories, so I eat as many as four during the day, one every three hours or so. Keeps me from being so hungry that I overeat after work, and keeps my energy levels steady.
