So much of how I eat & what I eat changed 5 years ago when I contracted gastroparesis (chronic nausea & vomiting- mine was caused by a stomach flu bug that damaged the nerves to my stomach). Its so frustrating- what I can eat is so limited- no raw vegetables (and I don't like most of them cooked
), not too spicy, should be low fat & low fiber (though I seem to be doing okay with grain based fiber that is cooked); plus I have food allergies that limit things even more so many prepared foods are out of the question. Its so hard to get a balanced diet without just eating protein bars & drinks.
I have to eat very, very small amounts at a time & some days it seems like I'm eating all day long. Its hard to think about eating healthy when I'm just struggling just to eat. I didn't have to think about food much for a couple years, as I was completely dependent on a feeding tube to get my nutrition. I'm pretty much transitioning off the feeding tube, but still rely on it when I get days I can't eat at all (it actually bypasses my stomach completely so I also use it to take most of medications). On bad days, even with the feeding tube, its hard to get enough nutrition & water in without being so nauseous & miserable all the time. I know the ups & downs in my daily calorie amount is not healthy; I know technically what is needed, but I just can't get it mentally/emotionally/whatever...
I feel like my relationship with food is sooooo screwed up- it wasn't great before all this started...but now...I don't know. I am just at a loss at this point...
I love to cook & bake- too many times I will make something wonderful, but when I sit down to eat the nausea gets so bad that I can't think of eating it. Other days, I can eat okay and have to watch I don't eat so much. I think its the switching my mentality from day to day that is tripping me up- one day I need every calorie I can get and another day I have to go into 'diet' mode. HELP!
Edit- forgot to spell check