Good Gut Health
Jean Criss
Good Gut Health. If I learned anything over the past ten+ years as a Breast Cancer Survivor, it’s more than living with a healthy mind body and soul healthy eating is the center to good gut health and your universe to getting well and staying well.
I never truly focused on self-care prior to diagnosis with breast cancer. Well sure, I always scheduled regular mani/pedi’s, hair color and cut, exercised regularly but I mean really focused on the healthy foods “going in” and the implications they have on “good gut health”, and what this can do for your overall health and wellness.
Today’s blog touches on the reasons why I decided to take on a challenge with improved foods for a cleaner gut, how this has improved my overall mind, body and spirit as a result. It did not start with the latter and here’s why.
Before pre-BC (Breast Cancer), I may have had a dozen or so traditional allergies. You know the typical allergens such as asthma, pollens, minimal food and drugs, or other irritants. Now that list tops about 70 and it grows year over year.
It’s off the charts!
I believe my immune system was greatly compromised post-Tamoxifen, a hormone treatment often used with breast cancer patients. I took this drug daily for five years after diagnosis and treatment for bilateral BC followed by double mastectomy with reconstructive surgeries and had the option to continue on this therapy for another five years and opted out. My numbers were looking good and the overall research did not show that it would make a difference if I stayed on Tamoxifen for ten years. Along with my Oncologist’s medical review and consult, we agreed I could stop the med and give it a go without taking further drug therapy. I see my Oncologist every 6 months now for post-cancer checkups and YTD have been breast healthy. However, other health ailments popped up after I stopped this drug and over several years has affected my body in other areas.
What I did not expect was that I would become drastically allergic to so many food groups and drugs. I have been diagnosed with autoimmune, celiac, IBD (inflammatory bowel) disorders and then the onset and misdiagnosis of C-Diff (also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile which is a bacterial infection of the colon) also very difficult to treat. After visiting numerous top GI Docs about my stomach situation for over two years, I finally got cured with the proper anti-biotics and diet after visiting my Infectious Disease Docs also known as my BFFs - best friends forever -- no kiddin’! These Specialists saved my life several times from MRSA, Breast Cellulitis and most recently, this severe case of C-Diff. I am so grateful to these Specialists and want to share my story. I know others may suffer from undiagnosed or misdiagnosed medical issues, and it is often difficult to get the proper treatment when symptoms have blurred lines.
My treatments included a series of in- and out-patient corrective surgeries over several years and were not limited to the following procedures noted below. Many of the treatments had their own set of complications. The primary goal was to remove this growing sack of stomach fluid building up and expanding in my abdomen much like MRSA did in both breasts years ago. Many of these procedures were performed to remove fluid similar to removing fat however, I had the reverse effect and just grew larger and larger to feel almost 5 months pregnant. Ultimately, needle aspiration was administered for 5 consecutive days unsuccessfully. Other out-patient procedures were scheduled including abdominal catheters several times, eventually left in for about 45 days in total, until over 4 liters of fluid was finally removed. It was a debilitating experience whereby I could not walk, sit, stand or drive as fluid affected all parts of my abdomen and then traveled throughout my body for months on end. Once most of the fluids were depleted, I was left with Seromas - clumps or sacks of scar tissue formed filled with fluid and leaving painful pockets around my stomach. It has taken additional procedures to remove them and alleviate this pain although they are not all gone. The other complications noted below occurred during many of these surgical procedures and I actually lost count how many times I went under anesthesia, how many times I was admitted to the hospital, and how long it took to recover. All in all, it was a few years of hell, true hell, yet I pushed thru with determination and perseverance the way in which I handled all my numerous breast complications and surgeries. The list of surgical procedures went on, and on. . . You name it, it seemed I had it. All these complications caused a major impact on my overall health especially to my abdomen and internal gut, let alone to my fit mind, body and spirit.
§ Paracentesis, a minimally invasive procedure using a needle to remove fluid from the abdomen.
§ Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia, PAH a rare complication of Cool sculpting whereby the stomach retains fluid and spreads to other parts of your body vs depletes the fluid naturally.
§ Seromas, pockets of fluid caused post-surgery, in my case from numerous stomach catheters used to drain all that fluid.
§ The onset of Umbilical Hernia, part of the intestine displaced or protruding through the stomach, not allowing the digestive system and intestines to function properly.
§ Dermatitis, skin allergies caused from glycerin soaps, tape and glycerin ointments.
§ Vaginal contusion and inflamed bladder, caused by anti-biotic reaction to drug allergy, skin irritants used post-surgically, wrong post-surgical undergarments and other complications related to anesthesia.
So, for the past several months, I have had to focus on what I call “clean living”. Healthy eating and cooking for improved mind body and soul and to primarily maintain a strong healthy gut. You can find me in the grocery store aisles now reading each ingredient to the “nth degree” on food and drug labels to ensure I am not buying anything I should not have. I have to be extremely cautious with whatever I ingest and wherever I go. While this may be cumbersome, I seem to manage with my new lifestyle. I get by and deal with my allergies. While many Top Docs were not accountable for their medical mishaps, and yes there were many, which caused me numerous medical complications, I focus on positivity and staying healthy!
I’ve always been a healthy and fit, energetic person, and a foodie and fan of dishes that look and taste delicious. Culinary presentation is enjoyable to me just like my passion for fashion. Below is my gallery of healthy foods I recently made and enjoy.
Eat well and stay healthy!
I cook and eat Gluten, wheat, sodium, soy and fat free meals that serve me well. From lo-carbs, low sugar or no sugar, no red meats, selective fish, poultry, limited organic fruits and vegetables, salads, soups, and cheeses based on allergens to beverages, mostly black coffee with raw sugar, water, seltzers, white wines or zero-cal vodka cocktails. Lots of vitamins, cucumbers, lemons and limes too! These are many of my favorites! Email back for any recipes or dishes of interest seen above.
[And, in case you are wondering, based on my recent post-surgical experiences, I’ve added a new line of compression undergarments to CRISSCROSS Intimates that will enhance a patient’s post-surgical experience to improve fit and fashion after abdominal surgeries. I simply wore too many undergarments that did not fit the bill, caused contusions among other issues due to improper fitting or they were just not fashionable or functional. Wearing these improper undergarments was yet another unnecessary experience that patients should not have to experience beyond the surgery itself. You can learn more about my future designs being added to our award-winning, utility-patented line on the CRISSCROSSIntimates.com/blog, at a later date.]
I share this experience to help others find that silver lining and comfort knowing a happy mind, body and soul comes from within and starts with your gut. Stay positive no matter what your experience. Try to push yourself to limits to become fit and energetic to feel confident and look beautiful. That’s been my motto behind my collection innovation. I encourage you to eat healthy and be well, and to share your experiences. Write back to jean@crisscrossintimates.com.
Wishing you all the breast,
Jean Criss is an author, blogger, columnist, breast cancer survivor, expert in media and technology, and most recently works as a post-surgical fashion designer and writer. She blogs for NYWIFT and other prestigious organizations to discuss advancements in women’s health and wellness. Preview her collection here at LOOKBOOK and shop the line here at CRISSCROSS. We are seeking funding for new design projects and Jean is always interested in speaking, writing engagements and business consultations. Give her a call. Thanks for your continued interest in our story.