I ate a pie.

Okay so a bad habit of mine (well, it's really two bad habits) is that I don't eat too much when I'm working a lot, and then once work subsides, I pig out. Now, "pigging out" for me would probably look like eating normal meals to a normal person. When the stress of a big work project is over, I "indulge" in "riskier" foods for me such as salad, fruit, and yes...pie.

I'm not a huge fan of cake. Cookies can be good. Pie is always OUTSTANDING. Yesterday I came home from a big work project craving pie like no other. I couldn't remember the last time I ate pie (a couple years ago?). I needed pie. Now.

Since a pie bought at a bakery or grocery store would likely send me into the bathroom for a week, I decided to be "responsible" and bake a pie that was more IBS-friendly. I do subscribe to the theory that IBS symptoms can be somewhat controlled through diet, so I have learned to make friendlier versions of many dishes and treats. I found a recipe that looked good, spent too much money on organic blueberries, and made myself a pie.

It was very good. The best part is that even though I've eaten almost the whole pie in less than 24 hours, I've had minimal GI distress. I can't tell you what a treat this is for me! For every 50 holiday dinners, special occasions, etc., I eat maybe 5 desserts, and 3 of those will make me sick.

Admittedly, conditions were perfect (at least helpful)...not too much work stress, a stable tummy to begin with, and I had already eaten relatively "safe" foods prior to the pie. But whatever, I ate a lot of pie! Point for GI Jane!

Writing this post has made me even hungrier for pie. I will post the recipe tomorrow as part of Foodie Friday!

Bathroom beautiful?

I've been toying with the idea recently of making my bathroom a nicer place to be. If I'm going to spend more time in there than the average person, I could at least suffer in a spa-like sanctuary. Candles? Fluffy towels? Mood lighting?!

(Yes, this is a bathroom. Image from homes-interior.com.)

I have always loved hotels. Cheap hotels are useful, moderate hotels can be nice, and upscale hotels have the BEST bathrooms! The few I've seen have been very large, and the toilet is positioned as far away from the bedroom as possible. Some have good ventilation systems that employ a rather loud fan, which is always a plus. I've always thought that there should be music in bathrooms to camouflage any embarrassing noises, but until that day, noisy fans can be very helpful!

 Check out this picture of a bathroom in the Hazleton Hotel in Toronto:

(Image from blog.mrandmrssmith.com.)

I love how sleek and modern it is, and you can see that the toilet is at the end of the bathroom, almost in its own little closet. Check me in!

However, money doesn't always buy you the best bathroom. I once saw a picture of a hotel that was SO fancy, the bathroom "doors" were slightly frosted glass! You could SEE inside the bathroom with the door shut!

But I digress. I have no eye for interior design, and my bathroom is small. I guess a candle and nice towels would be a start.

IBS and workplace performance

As we all know, IBS takes a toll on workplace productivity, no matter what kind of work you do. Anyone with a chronic illness is constantly wondering if it will interrupt their ability to work.

Do these thoughts resonate with you?

-What if I have an attack today?
-Will they notice if I go to the bathroom again?
-Ugh, I am really regretting what I had for dinner last night.
-How do I explain this to my boss?
-How will I get through this lunch/dinner meeting?
-I'll just not eat until after I give that presentation.
-I wish the bathrooms were more private.

It can be especially difficult for people whose careers have an element of "performance". Besides the obvious careers in entertainment/music/the arts, consider:

-teachers who must lecture and/or remain with students in a classroom for long periods of time
-healthcare professionals involved with important procedures (don't leave that operating room!)
-daycare workers who are responsible for supervising small children
-anyone in a business that requires presentations and meetings
-attorneys (not just trial lawyers)
-psychologists or any kind of therapist
-event planners who must be present at large functions
-pilots (I believe there are strict health requirements; I wonder if they are tested for IBS!)

...and the list goes on!

I bet when you were little and wanted to be a ballerina/firefighter/astronaut, you didn't factor IBS into your plans.

The debilitating nature of IBS can, at the least, cause anxiety in the workplace and, at the most, cause people to switch careers or take a leave of absence. My own thoughts about my career regularly range from "I just can't do this anymore" to "Screw IBS! I won't let this ruin my work!"

Today is a "Screw IBS!" kind of day.

Telling your significant other about IBS

Hello! I'm back after a lengthy hiatus. It's great to be back, y'all!

Telling my significant other about my IBS was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and believe me, that is saying a lot.

It was difficult mostly because I have always wanted to appear polished, accomplished, and in control. I especially wanted to appear that way to the most important people in my life, because I didn't want to scare them away. I didn't want to say, "Hey, you thought I was a pretty, smart girl but really I have an incredibly embarrassing disease that wreaks havoc on my body despite every effort I make to control it! I bet you find that very alluring!" Sound familiar?

And, let's face it, we are still living in an age where women are expected (or at least encouraged) to be beautiful, noiseless beings who magically emerge from the shower effortlessly gorgeous (but natural!) and whose bodies must never emit anything offensive whatsoever. Fans of the show "Sex and the City" may remember this episode:

at a yoga class
Carrie: I farted.
Samantha: Then move your mat away.
Carrie: Not now, I did it in front of Big [her boyfriend].
Samantha: Big mistake.
Carrie: You think? It wasn't a choice. I'm human. It happened.
Samantha: No, honey, you're a woman, and men don't like women to be human.

That's not some retro-chauvinist idea, folks; this episode is from 1998.

Fortunately, my significant other is a very caring, supportive person. He just listened. He asked for a little information. He always took care of me when I was sick, but now there is another dimension to his concern when I am ill.

At first, I regretted telling him. Dammit, I had let out my secret! There was no going back! Six years of elaborate smoke and mirrors down the drain!

But a few days later, and every day since, I have been relieved by my decision. As he and I got closer, the intricate web of excuses and explanations I crafted became harder and harder to design. And because he reacted so well to my IBS, I traded in tremendous anxiety for understanding and acceptance.

My hope is that each of you has someone in your life who knows about your IBS and supports and comforts you. Whether this person is a fellow IBS sufferer or someone with guts of steel, he/she has the potential to offer much-needed relief.