I've been sick. I mean really sick - eight prescriptions, no work, emergency room kind of sick. The "official" diagnosis? Some kind of insidious respiratory virus resulting in "haze" on one of my lungs. Not pneumonia, not bronchitis. (Also not a heart attack. How I know that is a story for another blog...) Just lots of coughing, sore throat, chest pain, and fatigue. With the help of friends, family, and my patient, long-suffering husband, I've been able to rest and am finally starting to feel better.
It has also rained quite a bit, and my foot has tried to fight for attention. But it's been fighting a losing battle for the most part. With the exception of one fascinating discovery I've made.
As part of his nursing duties, my patient, long-suffering husband has been making me soup. In most homes, when you are sick, you get chicken noodle soup. But as you know, my home is different, and in my home when you are sick, you get Thai hot and sour shrimp soup. It is spicy, delicious, and great for opening your sinuses. Guess what else it does? Causes an RSD flare up. Seriously.
I've had the soup three times in the last two weeks and had a flare up each time. The first time, I attributed it to standing up for too long helping prepare dinner. The second time, I attributed it to the incoming storms. Tonight, I had to admit it was the soup. I don't know if it is a specific ingredient in the soup, or the general heat of the soup, but my foot immediately turned red, shiny, and swollen, and the pain level ratcheted up multiple levels. The good news? It didn't last long. Within an hour, it had calmed down quite a bit.
I've read quite a few articles about how diet affects RSD and it usually boils down to eating an anti-inflammatory diet. I'm not aware of any inflammatory ingredient in the soup - in fact, it should be just what the doctor ordered. But experience tells me otherwise. This doesn't mean I will stop eating it. I guess I am just stubborn that way. It is delicious and the flare up never lasts long. And did I mention it is helping with my virus? The flare up is a small price to pay.
