Before the accident I was a comfortable 145 - not too thin, not too plump. The ten days in the hospital left me ten pounds lighter.
I had a tiny appetite and the food that was served was ever rarely what I ordered. I would consider myself a picky eater, but on the healthy side. Chicken dripping in gravy makes me think of clogged arteries, steak and potatoes is a heart attack - and the taste is dry and chewy. All I wanted was juicy fruit and vegetables. I ate up all the greens I could they hadn't wilted before they arrived to me. A friend brought me raspberries and I was in heaven!
But eating with the halo was not easy... or pretty to watch. With the halo on I could not tilt my head to accommodate a large bite and would often leave most of the fork contents down my front. Sometimes they went down the inside of the vest! Lots of cookie crumbs ended up there... Eating something with my hands took a little getting used to as well. I had a broken right wrist in a brace for the first two weeks so watching me eat was even more of a joke. Just like everything else I had to do with the halo I got used to it and made less a fool of myself than before.
Ten weeks, three days since the accident and I am now fifteen pounds lighter. Leaving the hospital did not mean gaining my weight back. The pain and nerve medicines have altered my taste buds and appetite. I eat half the portion I used to, and those portions were typically smaller than most. I am hyper vigilant about what I and other people put on their plates. Not really what, but more like how much.
I also think that how little I am eating is directly related to how little I am moving. Because of my broken ankle and leg I am still quite immobile. I can only walk short distances without searing pain. But does that mean that a banana for breakfast, a small tortilla with cheese for lunch and two cups of pasta are sufficient?
Probably not.
I had a tiny appetite and the food that was served was ever rarely what I ordered. I would consider myself a picky eater, but on the healthy side. Chicken dripping in gravy makes me think of clogged arteries, steak and potatoes is a heart attack - and the taste is dry and chewy. All I wanted was juicy fruit and vegetables. I ate up all the greens I could they hadn't wilted before they arrived to me. A friend brought me raspberries and I was in heaven!
But eating with the halo was not easy... or pretty to watch. With the halo on I could not tilt my head to accommodate a large bite and would often leave most of the fork contents down my front. Sometimes they went down the inside of the vest! Lots of cookie crumbs ended up there... Eating something with my hands took a little getting used to as well. I had a broken right wrist in a brace for the first two weeks so watching me eat was even more of a joke. Just like everything else I had to do with the halo I got used to it and made less a fool of myself than before.
Ten weeks, three days since the accident and I am now fifteen pounds lighter. Leaving the hospital did not mean gaining my weight back. The pain and nerve medicines have altered my taste buds and appetite. I eat half the portion I used to, and those portions were typically smaller than most. I am hyper vigilant about what I and other people put on their plates. Not really what, but more like how much.
I also think that how little I am eating is directly related to how little I am moving. Because of my broken ankle and leg I am still quite immobile. I can only walk short distances without searing pain. But does that mean that a banana for breakfast, a small tortilla with cheese for lunch and two cups of pasta are sufficient?
Probably not.
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