as many of you who frequent chat already know, i'm facing some pretty big health challenges. With my genetic disorder life is uphill in many ways much of the time, but this recent issue has really taken the cake. i'm facing surgery (again) and they aren't even sure right now if surgery is safe for me. The genetic condition often comes with heart and vascular issues and so, they are doing a lot of tests first to be sure. After last summer's ER episode for blood loss due to an artery breaking, i don't think their caution is unwarranted.

The pain gets me down. The fatigue gets me down. Not being able to buy the supplements or have adequate nutrition for my needs gets me down.

bottom line is that i am down a lot these days

i scrape the barrell really. It just never ends... chronic pain is my most constant companion, followed closely by fatigue. My health is one thing after another, something is almost always wrong.

right now i am trying to make the most of what little food i can buy... protein and such are vital to maintaining strength for me, but they are so expensive. Veggies are almost worse cost-wise.

i need some help/advice for making the best of it. i need some ideas for getting the most nutrition in the cheapest forms possible... recipes, etc. i really can't afford much and soon i will be relying on the foodbank as my only supply. What can i do to stay as well as possible before surgery?