Diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss
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Sat, 06/13/2009 - 08:32
Unusual Food Cravings!
Hi Everyone... 
I have been wanting to post this for quite some time, but due to my CRS syndrome... I keep forgetting. (CRS = Can't Remember Squat).
Do any of you experience out of the ordinary food cravings since your surgeries, or perhaps it is due to the medications we take? I have looked up the side effects on my meds. (The Ambien appears to have this effect on some people).
After my surgery, I first craved Cream of Wheat. I could not get enough of it. Since Cream of Wheat is loaded full of vitamins, I figured my body was running low on the vitamins and calcium.
After Cream of Wheat, it was Cheerios. Both are healthy, so I didn't find it those that unusual.
Well after I had my fill of the cereals, my cravings turned to Krispy Kreme donuts. I craved only the regular glazed kind or the jelly filled. My hubby was getting these every evening for me, for approximately 4 weeks.
Since the Easter Bunny visited, I have been going strong with miniature Reese's Peanut Butter cups. I'm talking... morning, noon and night!
I can't be pregnant, as I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago. And, I haven't gained any extra weight from these cravings... thank God! Maybe because they are the miniature version? 
Just have been wondering if anyone else experiences this?
Tammy
_____________
11/08: Fell 8 feet from daughter's playhouse. Suffered multiple compression fractures, T2 through T10. Unstable dislocation fractures to T11-T12. Surgeon performed posterior thoracolumbar wire fixation with hardware fusion (pedicle screws, rods and harvested bone grafting). Confined to TLSO brace for 3 1/2 months. No BLT or above the head reaching until spinal re-evaluation in 2010.
Prescribed: Oxycontin, Percocet and Lyrica and a host of other medications. Self-help measures: Daily heating treatments with Platinum Infrared heating pad, lots of stretching, daily walks, low impact dance exercises and I have created my own anti-inflammatory diet.
I am 42 years old and married to my "hunka hunka burnin' love" hubby Mike (51). We have three awesome kids... Nikki (9), Zach (15) and Michael (21).
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My surgery last week. All I wanted afterwards was rhubarb. Weird, I know!
Cervical stenosis and myelopathy (most symptoms permanant), DDD, OA, 16 surgeries to date (including 3 level cervical laminectomy, bilateral knee replacements, A-C joint resections in both shoulders), 19 MRI's, and many many many cortisone shots and ESI's
The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
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I go through the same thing and have really no idea why. Maybe it's related to the anesthesia drugs or the hormone shifts or even our systems restarting the endorphin engine. If you come up with a good answer, let me know. Until then, eat whatever it is you crave.
"C"
"Do or do not. There is not 'try'"
-Yoda
After my first surgery I could not get enough Kool-aid. Kool-aid was like crack for me. I would seriously go crazy if I didn't have it. I probably made like 2 gallons of it a day and drank it all! That could possibly be one of the reasons I gained so much weight. LOL
25 year old from Illinois
Repeated/Multiple disc herniations and sciatica starting at age 19
2005-2007 Multiple Cortisone injections and Physical Therapy
April 2008 L4/L5 L5/S1 Microdiscectomy
June 2008 Surgical repair of Pseudomeningocele (spinal fluid fistula) as a result of post-op complications from prior surgery
July 2009- Pain is returning
http://www.myspace.com/ashley4515
1 Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
1 Scoop Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Butterscotch Syrup
Tons of Walnuts/Pecans
Slight spray of Whipped Cream
Along with
French Vanilla Coffee mixed with some Expresso,
1 tsp Kahula, 1tsp Baileys
Put it together and Yummmmmmy
Problem is that is my craving, but IF I did go out an buy all that I would be eating it morning, afternoon and night... So instead, I can just dream about it
Ron DiLauro (aka PapaRon)
Ron's Story
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The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
Ohhhhh my...
Mmmmm!!!!
These two delightful treats certainly compliment each other!
Okay guys... it shall be Sundae time tonight at my house, so come on over!
I can't be prudent on this one, Papa Ron.
Tammy
P.S. I'll pick up some rhubarb for you Paul, we've got plenty of Kool-Aid for you Ashley and "C"... we can raid the frige and freezer for whatever looks yummy for you.
11/08: Fell 8 feet from daughter's playhouse. Suffered multiple compression fractures, T2 through T10. Unstable dislocation fractures to T11-T12. Surgeon performed posterior thoracolumbar wire fixation with hardware fusion (pedicle screws, rods and harvested bone grafting). Confined to TLSO brace for 3 1/2 months. No BLT or above the head reaching until spinal re-evaluation in 2010.
Prescribed: Oxycontin, Percocet and Lyrica and a host of other medications. Self-help measures: Daily heating treatments with Platinum Infrared heating pad, lots of stretching, daily walks, low impact dance exercises and I have created my own anti-inflammatory diet.
I am 42 years old and married to my "hunka hunka burnin' love" hubby Mike (51). We have three awesome kids... Nikki (9), Zach (15) and Michael (21).
I can't seem to get enough milk or milk products. I crave some form of it every day. I've been eating cereal every morning, but the kind I crave isn't that healthy - Corn Pops.
Then, in the afternoons I often treat myself to a Reese's Peanutbutter Cup blizzard from Dairy Queen. And like you, Tammy, I haven't gained any weight.
I figure I'm craving calcium because of my neck fusion, but who knows?
Cath
October 21, 2008 - ACDF, 3-level (C4/5, 5/6 6/7), with hardware and eight screws. C4/5 and 5/6 fused, still movement at C6/7.
February 2009 - Lower back pain and sciatic pain. MRI shows diffuse disc bulge and bad facet joints at L4/5. ESI and Facet Joint injections done in June, wore off five weeks later. Scheduled for diagnostic medial branch nerve block October 15, with Radiofrequency Ablation to come.
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How long has it been since someone touched part of you other than your body? ~Laurel Hoodwrit
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I am in no way affiliated with the medical profession. Any recommendations I make are based on my personal experiences only. So do not take my comments as medical rules.
Corn pops! hahaha ... I love those things. That and puffed wheat with honey and milk. Oh man I can't allow myself to buy either of those. I even remember the days when I would crave something like Captain Crunch.
Seriously though, do you take any kind of calcium supplement or vitamin D? One of my neurologists started me on Calcium with vit D many many moons ago when it became apparent that I would be on anti-seizure meds for the duration. Somehow they interfere with calcium absorption, which of course isn't good for the bones.
Today's craving is for chocolate cake with fudge frosting and an ice cold glass of milk.
"Do or do not. There is not 'try'"
-Yoda
Yeah, I know about the Corn Pops but I simply can't resist. I've tried Raisin Bran, but it just leaves me wanting my Corn Pops. LOL
I do take Calcium with Vit. D. I also take a multivitamin, fish oil capsules, vit. E, pomegranite pills, and LiverCare. It's quite the after-lunch snack!
October 21, 2008 - ACDF, 3-level (C4/5, 5/6 6/7), with hardware and eight screws. C4/5 and 5/6 fused, still movement at C6/7.
February 2009 - Lower back pain and sciatic pain. MRI shows diffuse disc bulge and bad facet joints at L4/5. ESI and Facet Joint injections done in June, wore off five weeks later. Scheduled for diagnostic medial branch nerve block October 15, with Radiofrequency Ablation to come.
----------------------------
How long has it been since someone touched part of you other than your body? ~Laurel Hoodwrit
----------------------------
I am in no way affiliated with the medical profession. Any recommendations I make are based on my personal experiences only. So do not take my comments as medical rules.
I haven't had back surgery but have had other surgeries for my shoulder and nose x2 and didn't really have too many cravings CRS lol. I know when I injured my back and becoming immobile I craved any kind of icecream though and gained 50 lbs! I've lost 17 pounds after decreasing lyrica though and only eat fruit and yogurt everyday for dessert. No more icecream for me. I'll eat a square or 2 of dark 85% choclate almost everyday for it's health antioxident properties. It's nice to have lost the 17 lbs I can see my toes now! Cream of wheat is full of iron and maybe your body was craving that. I also take centrum performance multivit & mineral with ginseng for energy and since I started cymbalta I don't get cravings at all. I love peanut butter cups and cadbury or laura secord cream egg at Easter time though just one. My husband makes coconut bread and that with a glass of milk is divine. I love DQ blizzards but I had one only last month. Gotta watch it with my weight I wish I had a fast metabolism...TC Charry
PS I love rhubarb and rhubarb-strawberry pie!
My 2nd MRI showed no herniated disc and no stenosis. Mild loss of signal intensity in intervertebral discs L1-S1 and mild loss of height from L1-L4. Mild DDD throughout the lumber spine. Still have back pain and some leg tingling, numbness though. 3rd opinion Neurosurgeon Oct. 6, 2009.
1st report last year Feb. 2008.
L5-S1 herniated disc with annular tear with disc material in contact with L5 exiting nerve, arthropy facet joints L4-L5. 5 Epidurals. Facet joint injections and 64 trigger point injections. Off work 21 months due to back and leg pain. Not a surgical candidate x 2 Ortho opinions. (history C5-7 osteoarthritis and DDD)
Infrared Platinum heating pad 4x/day and while sitting.
MS Contin 120mg, Cymbalta 60mg, lasix 20mg, Diovan for B/P . oxazepam 30mg for sleep. Excercise ball, recumbent stationary bicycle 30 mins. day, posture-pump for lower back. Tried PT, accupuncture, traction. Pool therapy Oct. 27/2009
http://www.livestrong.com/article/14700-self-affirmations/
Charry