Gingerly
Photo by Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash
I like the term, gingerly. It goes right along with something else I sometimes say. “Try a little tenderness.”
Can you imagine suffering for years with a common ailment, only to discover (after yet another violent episode of food-borne illness) that the cure was something so simple, so readily available, that you almost want to kick yourself for not having done the research that would have led to this “miracle cure!” You don’t have to imagine anything. Read on.
Getting this out of the way early… I no longer suffer from acid reflux, also known as GERD. NO LONGER SUFFER! In case you missed it, it’s over for me now. I’m free to sleep laying in any position I like from now on. No more trying to find the angle in a recliner that won’t lead to that disgusting, vile, and nauseating experience of stomach acid in my throat. Apologies to those of you who may have just eaten and who may have weak stomachs. But, WOO-HOO and tears of joy. I’m having fun just saying it now, “I no longer suffer from acid reflux.” Man, that feels SO good.
While I was sitting in the waiting area of the emergency room in Port Orange, Florida, I reflected on how good my life has been and how my having recently made the choice to be happy allowed me to be at peace while waiting for medical attention. Experience of many years and many episodes of food poisoning had led to this and I was thinking what I usually think about the medical industry’s inability to help me with this chronic problem.
But I had resigned myself to letting them run some tests — let’s see what they find. An elevated enzyme in my pancreas (Are you a heavy drinker?) was the report. No, I’m not a heavy drinker, but I did recently have a little too much wine. Sweet stuff, too, that Moscato is just not for me. But, I don’t think that is what shut down my digestive system. And, my esophagus had been ripped raw by the purge. Another swing and a miss for the doctors and nurses who I really do appreciate. Self-reliance has always been my saving grace.
But, here’s the thing. All of that drama led my sister, Linda, to do the research to find the best remedy for healing a damaged esophagus - ginger! So, I started in earnest making tea and playing around with recipes to make that strong taste tolerable. I’ve got it now, I brew it with Bigelow’s Sweet Dreams herbal tea. And, I’ve got another drink I’m toying with that includes turmeric.
This story is over. If sharing this information helps anyone out there to avoid suffering, I’ll be proud. Thank you, again, my dear sister, for your tender loving care.
