All posts tagged: Health

A long time coming

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SO, that was probably my longest hiatus from WordPress thus far. In the four months I’ve been AWOL, I: suffered a wisdom tooth extraction — and consequently, lost five pounds. started contributing articles to a local website, Kristn.com (check out my latest article about my trip to Siem Reap) got a part-time gig editing — guess what? — thesis and dissertation abstracts (I. KNOW.) traveled to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore — where I managed to watch The Killers perform at the SG Grand Prix (for cheap!) underwent testing for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — which turned out to be negative (thank God!!!) joined and won NaNoWriMo 2013, continuing with the same plot I used last year (and still haven’t finished -_-) was beset by freaking GERD again — and still am, at this moment :(( finished the first draft and initial edit of my first manuscript. FINALLY! I won’t go into those in detail, even though my multiple trips to medical practitioners could fill an entire post. Suffice it to say that I pray 2014 will be …

Achievements and Rewards: SBC Sea Salt Caramel Javakula

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Achievements Unlocked: Complete Feature Writing Workshop Revised resume Started Zumba-ing again Went to the dentist Yes, I do consider going to the dentist an achievement. I’ve mentioned my fears of hospitals before, but I don’t know if I included dentists there. I do have my reasons to dread dentists, count ’em: two tooth extractions in preparation for my braces, braces for almost four years, one surgery to remove an impacted wisdom tooth, one root canal which led to one apicoectomy (but not before I had one heck of a swollen upper palate–I’ve got pictures but I’ll spare you the sight of ’em). Toss in a gross number of cavities, and you’ll understand my trauma. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of that, it’s that I shouldn’t delay going to the dentist when I feel something aching–though surprise, surprise, I still delayed it this time. I finally sucked it up and went earlier this afternoon. My appointment took two hours, and it involved a dental cleaning, five new pastas–and I don’t mean the delicious Italian kind–and …

25 for 2013

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The one constant resolution I make at the beginning of each year is to shake off my excess padding. I guess it doesn’t say much about my resolve that I have to make the same promise every year. This time, though, I was able to shave off roughly fifteen pounds — FINALLY. It was a combination of exercise (particularly Zumba + our elliptical machine) and my GERD diet. Amazing what replacing white bread with whole wheat and sugary desserts with fresh fruits can do. I confess to slacking off this holiday season, however — my bad. For 2012, I made another promise to myself. I swore that that would be the year when I’d take the leap, go off track and switch career paths. If you’ve read my previous entries and/or know me personally, you’ll know that I checked that item off my list. Now that I’ve decided to say goodbye to interior design, this year will be all about immersing myself in the world of writing. 2013 is a big year for me — …

Back to Zero

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I was excited all week to start my “Pumped Up Wednesdays” series, wherein I’ll be featuring one specific coffee drink/coffee place weekly. I was brainstorming and researching on what new drink to try, all athrill as if it was to be my first ever sip of the ambrosia that is coffee. In preparation for the much-anticipated happy hours and Halloween partying next week, I went back to my doctor yesterday for my two-weeks-late follow-up consultation re my GERD. How sad is it that upon another peek down my throat, she discovered that there was still some swelling in my esophagus? There goes the young, wild and free chilling in Boracay. I asked my doctor if I could possibly sneak in a cup of coffee and a bottle or two of liquor, and she said that it would be up to me. If I do, I should drink my medicine before, but it wouldn’t be able to counteract the acid production. I promised that I’d limit it as much as I could, because I have to …

1/2 Cup and a Sigh

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It’s been nearly a month since I was diagnosed with GERD, better known as acid reflux. For me, the worst part of it was all the restrictions involved — no fried food, no fatty food, no chocolates, no alcohol, NO COFFEE. Basically, take most all the food and drinks that I love, and that’s what was on my “no contact with mouth” list.  According to my doctor, that was to be strictly followed within the two weeks that I was to take my medicated proton-pump inhibitors. That was back in September 19. What’s happened since then, and why did I not run over to the nearest Starbucks at the first stroke of that much-anticipated fifteenth day? I stuck with the doc’s advice to the letter…well, more or less. I may have eaten a handful of potato chips one time, and maybe taken the tiniest bite of choco-cappuccino cake. But I did follow that no coffee rule, which was perhaps the hardest of them all. In fact, I didn’t take my first sip of coffee ’til …