I-Spire Series Lumbar Cushion - $25.28 at Walmart

Checklist Zone 1: Seating and Posture

• Chair Height - Keep your feet on the floor or on a foot support.
• Seat Pan Depth - The back of your knees should not touch the seat.
• Back Position - Your back should be in contact with as much of the chair as possible.
• Neutral Posture - Work in a position that requires the smallest amount of muscle activity.

Get this: Yesterday, my husband and I went to get tested for food sensitivity at Redpaw Data Services. My sister-in-law had recommended this test since she has been avoiding the foods her body cannot tolerate and she feels so much better now. It turns out that my body cannot tolerate several amounts of food, mainly those high in sugar, including fruit such as banana and strawberry, as well as honey, syrup, etc. and carbs (white potato, white rice). I also found out I should avoid red meat, pork, corn, and cow's milk products. Yowsers! That's a lot of food!

Anyway, I also mentioned to the homeopath that I recently had my gallbladder removed, a surgery which left me longing for some T.M.C.,  and he just nods his head and begins this very interesting hypothesis of his. He believes my body is lacking enzymes, which is really important in the digestive process. So he does this extra test only to discover that his hypothesis is correct. Of the 17 enzymes that the human body should have, my body has but one! ONE! That would explain the pains and discomfort I get from eating/drinking foods that are (a) hard to digest and (b) my body cannot tolerate at present. Then he tells me, contrary to what doctors have been telling me, that the gallbladder is a vital part of the body, that it isn't as useless as is commonly believed. Well thank you very much! Had I visited this clinic before surgery, I can certainly tell you I would have serously re-evaluated my decision. Not only would I have avoided the awful ordeal of being cut open and losing an organ, I also could avoid feeling the way I do right now. There is this constant dull pain in my lower right abdomen, I still can't eat the foods I thought I could eat and I just don't feel 100%. I know it takes a good while to recover from a surgery but I tell you, I just don't feel "right".

About twenty-five years ago, the homeopath predicted that the gallstone pain his then future daughter-in-law was experiencing was due to enzyme deficiency, particularly Lipase. Twenty years later, after she had undergone surgery, she still felt the pain. Only after she had been taking digestive enzymes for a month did she finally begin to feel "normal". I find that very interesting but at the same time it makes me sick to think that I agreed to lose a part of my insides in order to feel "better" when a much simpler solution has been available for decades. And when you think about it, if the gallbladder wasn't important, then why were we born with it? Do you think there might be any chance of them giving me back my gallbladder?

Now that all is said and done, I'm going to do my best to avoid the 100+ foods that my body cannot tolerate. In addition, I'm going to try and implement the regime recommended to women by this homeopath. It includes daily intake of the following three items: 1. cranberry juice 2. omega 3, 6, 9 and 3. probiotics (especially useful in the prevention of yeast infection) which occurs in yogourt but which I cannot eat therefore I will be taking them in capsule form. Now, for me, that's a tall order. But I don't anticipate changing my diet and lifestyle overnight. It is a goal which I will set for myself and I think one month to make the proper adjustments will provide sufficient time. Wish me luck!

And if anyone ever tells you to get your gallbladder removed under the guise of providing you relief from digestive pain, you may want to think it over. Very carefully.

Yesterday's surgery went well. Thankfully. It was my first surgery ever and I was somewhat excited to get the whole ordeal over and done with. And to be free from the pain. It turns out that I was more nervous after the operation than before. I woke up shivering so badly that the nurse had to cover my body with three hot blankets and my head with a warm towel. I was afraid to move and more afraid to look at my belly. My throat was sore from the breathing tube and my bottom was oddly numb. When they brought me to my room, I was hoping my husband would be there, but alas, no one bothered to call his cellphone. I remember dozing off several times but only for short periods. I'm guessing it was due to my nervousness or maybe it was because the nurses outside my room would constantly yap loudly about all the patients. They were even discussing concerns over my heart rate. Just the reassurance I needed! Instead of the Tylenol III I was told they were going to give me, they prescribed Percocet, which is apparently 10 times as strong. Soon after the first dose, I had to go to the bathroom, only to return green with nausea. The two incisions in the centre of my belly began to ooze and that nearly sent me hurling. But I resisted. I can't stand the thought of throwing up. Breathing deeply seemed to help, although it was hard to breathe abdominally. They kept me in the hospital for a couple of hours longer than expected to ensure that the primary effects of the anesthetic had worn off. If I had to lay down any longer in that uncomfortable bed, I would have most definitely hurled!

All the while, my mother-in-law was taking care of my daughter. I am very grateful she was able to take care of her. She also came over bright and early today to help out, seeing as I'm not supposed to do any heavy lifting for a few days. This afternoon, my mother came down from Hamilton to stay for a couple of days. She cancelled her jobs for the rest of the week (she's a cleaning lady) and brought plenty of food, including her delicious chicken soup. Having her here has been very therapeutic already. I've missed her so much. And there's nothing like some Tender Mothering Care...