One of the first things you hear once pancreatitis is diagnosed is that you have to give your pancreas a rest. It might just repair itself. In practical terms, first thing that means is no "real" food. Especially no fats, and only low fats for well afterwards. You get clear liquids only, most of which are being fed to you though a vein in your arm. (See "Dancing With Miss Ivy" from last month.) Considering the pain, mess, and inconvenience that led me to this point, I was reasonably OK with not putting into my body anything that might bring any of it back. I was getting all the things my body needed at that point, and had no hunger or thirst waiting to sabotage everybody's good intentions.
Oops, did I say "everybody's"?
My first morning the staff wheeled in a full, standard breakfast tray. I knew perfectly well it wasn't for me. It couldn't be, right? I informed the staff I was restricted and they offered it to Steve, since he'd spent the night, and there were common sense rules against returning it to the cafeteria. He enjoyed most of it, especially since otherwise he'd have to leave to go buy something. There was no cafeteria in the hospital.
He was gone before they brought in another tray, but I had not heard yet that I could eat anything but clear liquids. My initial conversation while still in the ER was "for several days", and I was still hooked up to Miss Ivy.
Cue next morning's breakfast tray.
OK, this one had a small can of lemon/lime soda - I guess that qualifies as clear, but I seemed to remember no carbonated stuff. I set that aside for Steve, since he'd had a similar one the day before. This also had a couple tiny containers of colored jello - no insult to the brand by that name, but to me all gelatin is jello like all tissues are kleenex. These were both flavor free and rubbery. I tried, honest. Then I noticed some actual fruit juice. A purist would claim the bit of pulp clouding them defied the qualification of "clear" but I didn't care. Wet, flavor, I'd take it. The surprise on the tray was some cream of wheat. I suppose Superman could see though that, but I have never claimed that talent. However.....
I decided to hope that the cafeteria staff had some justification for calling it "clear". Right next to it on the tray was a packet of honey to pour over it. No question that was clear, right? Next to the honey was some brown sugar. Now, when that gets wet, as it surely would do inside of me, it became clear. So... justified, right? I made sure every grain of sugar and drop of honey coated my breakfast before I had my first bite... and all the way through to the last. Next were the cut strawberries. Hmmm, clear? Not clear? I knew if I chomped them well, the juice would be clear and very tasty. OK, tasty was slightly overrated. The season was long over, after all. I decided that the fiber in the berries was simply unavoidable, and maybe one of my docs had talked to the cafeteria staff about what was OK, so I wasn't taking my health for the rest of my days in my hands... or stomach, as it were.
Yeah, I know. No lectures!
The next trays that day were more of the same, without the cereal. Jello got set aside for the trash. Two kinds of (now clear) fruit juices were consumed, along with more strawberries, though this time with a dollop of whipped cream. No fat there, amiright? Another can of soda, same brand, different flavor, saved. I did give a stray thought to how much sugar they were putting into this (known) diabetic, but morning pokes didn't seem to give them any concern during my stay, despite continuous IVs dripping in calories along with their electrolytes and meds. Can't go completely without. My numbers hovered around 90, and the only energy I used was with Miss Ivy.
Without any communication or fanfare, and no changes in IVs, the next breakfast was a huge frosted sweet roll among the standard fare. Sitting demurely in the tray corner were two pats of butter to smother it with. I drew the line at the butter. Honest! Just like at supper I drew the line at the sour cream for the pat of potatoes on the tray. Just kidding - that sour cream was delightful! Otherwise the trays were pretty repetitious, jello, juice, soda, and once sliced bananas instead of strawberries. At least the potatoes came with a formed hunk of chicken breast next to it, and its seasoning was great.
On the 4th day I got discharged. Steve and his daughter came up to get me, and we all went to Betty's pies. I needed to buy a pie - but rest assured it's still in the freezer until I get the OK. Takes up way too much space, but I do my best not to notice. Their lunch menu had a lovely salad which I felt I could eat without guilt, or at least part of it. They have to-go boxes, and we were driving straight back. Steve ordered chicken and onion rings. Being the generous love he is, he offered me onion rings. I held the line at a single one-inch section of one. Yummmm.....! I consoled myself with the repeated experience from years past of ordering a full serving and having the flavor vanish by about the 5th ring. That's such a disappointment! So at least I escaped that "misery".
By the way, if you're wondering, all the cans I saved got packed and consumed -not by me - later. When I was ready for beverages other than water, I ordered a bunch of V8, for veggies without the chopping. It's tolerable. That apple pie..... Nope, still in the freezer. It's been clearing its throat lately, getting ready to start singing when I open the door.
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