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One of the biggest challenges I faced the last couple of years was trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle while I was ill. In late, 2012 I had surgery on my left shoulder and went through a lengthy rehab. The pain never went away and my surgeon wanted to try another operation. Instead, I started weekly kinesiology treatments, which helped a great deal. However, I wasn’t exercising and had gained quite a bit of weight even though I was eating healthfully and walking every day. Then in July, I had emergency brain surgery for a benign meningioma and follow up brain surgery in October for an infection.
Eat healthy when you’re sick
One of the things I made sure to do when I was home recovering after both brain surgeries was to…
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.%20Suggest%20throwing%20in%20some%20probiotics%20or%20your%20favorite%20protein%20powder%20into%20the%20blender,%20too!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20know%20while%20I%20was%20tempted%20to%20indulge%20in%20treats%20when%20I%20was%20recovering,%20I%20stuck%20to%20healthier%20ones%20like%20organic%20dark%20chocolate.%20Funny%20thing%20was%20that%20they%20tasted%20horrible!%20Maybe%20it%20was%20a%20side%20affect%20of%20the%20medication%20or%20the%20tumor%20removal,%20but%20somehow%20my%20palette%20had%20changed.%20Luckily%20fresh%20fruits%20and%20flavored%20seltzer%20water%20tasted%20great,%20so%20they%20were%20my%20new%20%E2%80%9Csweet%20treats.%E2%80%9D%20I%20also%20made%20sure%20that%20I%20had%20plenty%20of%20my%20favorite%20gluten%20free%20breads,%20like%20Udi%E2%80%99s%20Gluten%20Free%20Whole%20Grain%20Bread%20since%20toast%20is%20one%20of%20my%20favorite%20comfort%20foods,%20especially%20when%20my%20tummy%20was%20upset%20from%20the%20meds.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EGet%20good%20advice%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf%20you%E2%80%99re%20taking%20medication,%20discuss%20with%20your%20medical%20professionals%20any%20drug%20and%20supplement%20interactions.%20Luckily,%20my%20neurologist%20was%20on%20top%20of%20things%20and%20suggested%20that%20I%20take%20a%20probiotic%20(since%20I%20had%20taken%20antibiotics)%20and%20a%20multivitamin%20when%20I%20got%20home%20from%20the%20hospital.%20I%20also%20consulted%20with%20a%20friend%20who%20is%20a%20nutritionist,%20who%20gave%20me%20some%20pointers%20on%20what%20I%20should%20be%20doing%20with%20my%20diet%20and%20supplement%20intake.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf%20you%E2%80%99re%20unsure%20about%20any%20medications,%20you%20can%20discuss%20them%20with%20your%20pharmacist.%20Some%20insurance%20plans%20also%20have%20a%20nurse%E2%80%99s%20line%20you%20can%20call%20for%20advice.%20In%20addition,%20your%20local%20health%20food%20store%20may%20have%20a%20nutritionist%20on%20staff%20that%20can%20help%20with%20advice%20on%20supplements,%20gluten%20free%20foods,%20and%20any%20other%20dietary%20needs%20you%20may%20have.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAnd%20don%E2%80%99t%20forget%20to%20see%20your%20other%20doctors%20for%20routine%20health%20care.%20Get%20your%20regular%20checkups%20at%20the%20dentist,%20optometrist,%20gynecologist,%20etc.%20and%20let%20them%20know%20what%E2%80%99s%20going%20on%20with%20your%20health,%20too.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EExercising%20after%20being%20sick%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESince%20my%20brain%20surgeries,%20there%E2%80%99s%20been%20days%20where%20I%20was%20lucky%20to%20have%20the%20energy%20to%20walk%20the%20dog%20up%20the%20street%20for%2015%20minutes.%20If%20you%E2%80%99re%20an%20avid%20exerciser,%20I%20bet%20it%E2%80%99s%20been%20frustrating%20not%20to%20get%20to%20the%20gym%20or%20track.%20If%20you%E2%80%99ve%20been%20very%20ill,%20maybe%20all%20you%20can%20do%20right%20now%20is%20walk%20up%20the%20stairs%20or%20go%20out%20to%20the%20mailbox.%20%20Be%20patient%20with%20yourself%20and%20take%20it%20a%20day%20at%20a%20time.%20Make%20sure%20you%20get%20plenty%20of%20rest%20and%20don%E2%80%99t%20push%20or%20wear%20yourself%20out.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf%20you%20feel%20ready%20to%20start%20exercising,%20talk%20with%20your%20health%20professional.%20If%20s/he%20has%20given%20you%20the%20OK%20to%20work%20out,%20take%20it%20slowly.%20Maybe%20start%20with%20a%20walking%20plan,%20stationary%20bike,%20and/or%20light%20weights.%20Swimming%20a%20few%20laps%20with%20a%20kick%20board%20or%20a%20beginner%E2%80%99s%20yoga%20class%20could%20be%20right%20for%20you.%20If%20you%20have%20access%20to%20a%20personal%20trainer%20or%20a%20physical%20therapist,%20get%20some%20advice%20on%20a%20routine%20right%20for%20your%20energy%20level.%20Again,%20don%E2%80%99t%20push%20yourself%20as%20it%20may%20lead%20to%20exhaustion%20or%20injury.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFinding%20the%20positive%20in%20being%20ill%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EEven%20though%20the%20last%20five%20months%20have%20been%20very%20scary,%20there%20have%20been%20some%20positive%20outcomes%20from%20the%20brain%20surgery.%20My%20shoulder%20pain%20has%20mysteriously%20disappeared.%20I%E2%80%99m%20pretty%20much%20convinced%20that%20the%20tumor%20was%20pressing%20on%20something%20that%20had%20to%20do%20with%20my%20shoulder.%20(The%20shoulder%20pain%20came%20back%20when%20there%20was%20swelling%20from%20the%20infection.%20After%20the%20second%20surgery%20it%20was%20gone,%20which%20I%20doubt%20was%20a%20coincidence.)%20Talk%20about%20pain%20being%20%E2%80%9Call%20in%20your%20head.%E2%80%9D%20In%20my%20case,%20it%20sort%20of%20was!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20medication%20I%E2%80%99m%20taking%20for%20headaches%20(my%20head%20is%20now%20a%20weather%20barometer%20%E2%80%93%20and%20more)%20has%20the%20side%20affect%20of%20cutting%20one%E2%80%99s%20appetite.%20I%E2%80%99ve%20lost%2035%20pounds%20including%20the%2010%20I%20gained%20from%20the%20steroids%20I%20was%20given%20in%20the%20hospital.%20I%20now%20eat%20like%20a%20normal%20person%20instead%20of%20linebacker%20for%20the%20Denver%20Broncos%20though%20I%20have%20to%20wonder%20if%20my%20large%20appetite%20had%20something%20to%20do%20with%20my%20brain%20tumor,%20too.%20I%20hope%20to%20lose%20another%2010%20pounds%20and%20start%20taking%20Pilates%20Reformer%20and%20yoga%20again%20in%20the%20new%20year.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20other%20positives%20were%20that%20the%20illness%20brought%20me%20closer%20to%20my%20husband%20(we%20appreciate%20each%20other%20more)%20and%20made%20me%20value%20the%20many%20friendships%20I%E2%80%99ve%20made%20through%20my%20blog%20and%20in%20my%20neighborhood.%20I%20hope%20if%20you%20ever%20go%20through%20a%20serious%20illness%20%E2%80%93%20or%20even%20something%20temporary%20like%20a%20sprained%20ankle%20%E2%80%93%20you%20can%20find%20the%20silver%20lining%20in%20your%20health%20crisis.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ELearn%20more%20about%20living%20gluten%20free!%20Visit%20udisglutenfree.com/community%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThis%20is%20a%20sponsored%20conversation%20written%20by%20me%20on%20behalf%20of%20Udi's%20Gluten%20Free.%20The%20opinions%20and%20text%20are%20all%20mine.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}