Tuesday, December 11, 2012

December 11, 2012

Day 8
weight: 126.2
workout: none
Currently taking: NKStim, glucosamine (for arthritis & joints), Vit D3, and Vit b6.
one year ago

I'm totally kicking this elimination diet's butt.  I have been gluten / dairy / sugar free for 8 days now and its totally fine.  I caved to some wine on Friday and Saturday night and caved to caffeine on Saturday.

Friday morning I suddenly got terribly nauseous around 9:30, I took another sip of my tea and threw up.  My stomach didn't calm down for a while after that.  Saturday morning I felt the same way, although I fended off the vomiting.  By that point, too, I was so incredibly tired by 7:30 at night for the previous 2 nights I could have gone to bed and slept until the morning.  Detox was kicking my butt.

I gave in because I figured I'm not giving up coffee and wine for the rest of my life - if I have a sensitivity to those things then I've got a bigger problem.

I made it through the Edward Jones party on Saturday night without having gluten, dairy or sugar, which was actually not terribly hard - most of the appetizers (thats all we had) were just vegetables & meat.  There was some cheese but I didn't have those.  I also made it through cookie decorating with the Kooistra's without having anything.  I think its easier for me to be all or nothing.  I have a difficult time with moderation, I think.  

Still waiting to figure out if this is going to help with any inflammation issues.  So far my carpal tunnel is pretty much the same.  My neck feels better, my back is the same, ankles & knees are better.  I am wondering, though, how to know whether it is the acupuncture, the diet, or the supplements that is making the difference.

Also - decided to not workout for a few weeks so I don't confuse my body and make it sore when I'm trying to determine if food is causing trouble.


Monday, December 3, 2012

December 3, 2012

Day 1
weight: 128.4
Workout: p90x yoga
A year ago

Starting an elimination diet today to try to find out if I have a food sensitivity that is causing inflammation all over my body.  I am committing to 2 weeks and if I don't feel better I'm going to have the blood test done.

Background:

This year I've really tried to figure out my body/health issues.  Talked to my primary care physician this spring about carpal tunnel and what I considered to be a high heart rate while I was exercising.  He sent me off to get an EMG for carpal tunnel and to the cardiologist for the heart.  EMG came back as mild CTS in my right arm and the hand surgeon told me he wanted to wait 10 years to do surgery - which I think blows.  Cardiologist had me do a stress test and said all was normal.  My cholesterol at that point was 280, but I swear it was because I ate a bunch of bacon the weekend before at the regional.  Anyway, at that point I decided I wasn't going back to my pcp for anything because now I just feel like its in my head.


I read online that chiropractors can help with CTS... takes me several months to finally go in to see one - and this time I like him (2 previous chiros that I saw for my back a few years ago made me uncomfortable with the way they were blatantly manipulating the insurance company).  I told him that I feel like I have tendinitis everywhere - ankle, knee, elbow.  I have CTS.  I have herniated L4/L5 and my lower back gets stiff when I stand up from sitting.  My neck has begun to hurt like my lower back.  And I've tweaked something in my inner elbow that hurts quite often throughout the day.  I feel like a mess.  Everything hurts at some point - wrists, hips, back, neck, knees, ankles.

He started giving me adjustments for my neck and back and doing acupuncture for neck/back/CTS/inside elbow.  He also ordered xrays of my neck - shows slight arthritis - and he's sure I have it in my lower back, too.  Orders a blood test, which comes back showing that I have slightly low blood sugar and indications that I have a low-level infection, and low Vitamin D (cholesterol is now 231!)  Gives me some herbal supplements for the infection, which end up clearing up a recurring blister I'd been having on the roof of my mouth since July 4th, as well as recent continual sores in my nose.  Tells me I seem to be an inflammatory person - perhaps I have a food sensitivity and tells me about a blood test that is rather expensive and not covered by insurance.  I asked if I could do an elimination diet instead.

So that is where I'm at.  Today is Day 1 - eliminating gluten, dairy (except eggs), sugar, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods.  


It is 4:55 and I'm feeling decent - haven't had a cup of coffee and have been fine (although now beginning to feel a slight headache, but I've been at the computer for several hours). I had steel-cut oats for breakfast (pretty sure those are gluten free, if not then I'm out of the whole thing), and a green smoothie & some almonds for lunch.  Getting ready to have a hard-boiled egg and some figs or dates.  Will be making lentil stew for dinner.  I hope I feel different after these 2 weeks - I really want to figure out whats going on... I'm also having sleeping issues.  I feel fine otherwise, just always kind of tired and achy/sore.