Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Dermatologist
I have been waiting since October to see a skin specialist about my facial rash .. rosacea and/or lupus rash .. my immunologist wants to know .. my suspicion is rosacea .. all the classic signs but in the shape of a butterfly rash which is classic lupus .. I am going for the lesser of two evils. I've had rosacea for many years but can't control it anymore with diet. Now I've got whooping cough, I am infectious until 5 days of antibiotics and my appointment is in two days. So will need to reschedule. Mmmm this is not good I am feeling feverish as it is.
Whooping Cough!
I thought I was going to avoid this .. my partner and I went to the same function .. he got it I didn't .. but now nearly 4 weeks later I am showing the first signs of this bacterial infection. Unfortunately my partner was not diagnosed until the third doctor and the later stages of the cough. I am trying not to panic as I know this doesn't help the spasms and not being able to breath. Early stage for me at the moment with woozy feeling, tight chest and slight cough. Unfortunately taking antibiotics E-Mycin which reduces the period of time you are infectious but not necessarily the symptoms... so I have read. I can't take garlic, or honey or any herbs to help me through this so it is just me, antibiotics and pariet.
Garin (wormtherapy.com) tells me the worms will be okay but it might be a case of two steps backward for a few weeks while the antibiotics and their aftermath pass.
On a positive note I have got gold stars from both my doctor and Garin on my latest blood results. Iron levels are up hashimotos antibodies down. I doubled my dose of thyroxin last August. Started hookworms in September so which did what in these latests blood results is anyone's guess so I have a question .. does thyroxin reduce thyroid antibodies or is it the hookworm?
My ThyroidAAb (antibodies) test 18/1/11 24/8/10
Thyroglobulin Ab 5 11
Thyroid Peroxidase A 164 H 227 H
Throid Function test 18/1/11 3/12/10 24/8/10
TSH level 0.54 0.27 4.69 H
Free T4 15 17 13
Neuronal Antibodies (ANA) remains the same at 1:160 Speckled pattern.
Garin (wormtherapy.com) tells me the worms will be okay but it might be a case of two steps backward for a few weeks while the antibiotics and their aftermath pass.
On a positive note I have got gold stars from both my doctor and Garin on my latest blood results. Iron levels are up hashimotos antibodies down. I doubled my dose of thyroxin last August. Started hookworms in September so which did what in these latests blood results is anyone's guess so I have a question .. does thyroxin reduce thyroid antibodies or is it the hookworm?
My ThyroidAAb (antibodies) test 18/1/11 24/8/10
Thyroglobulin Ab 5 11
Thyroid Peroxidase A 164 H 227 H
Throid Function test 18/1/11 3/12/10 24/8/10
TSH level 0.54 0.27 4.69 H
Free T4 15 17 13
Neuronal Antibodies (ANA) remains the same at 1:160 Speckled pattern.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Vitamin D3 and preservatives
Finding a suitable Vitamin D3 is tricky. The closest I have come to getting something that doesn't contain nasty preservatives is the one below (Australian, of course). The vegetable capsules .. it doesn't state what they are made of .. presumably salicylate based vegies. .. a better compromise that sulphur dioxide (in gelatin) or sodium benzoate as a preservative in other brands I have looked at. Asthma, stomach upsets, depression/behaviour disorders .. some of the delightful side effects for responders according to the Failsafe website (Sue Dengate)... and from my own experience I really don't want to go there. Even small quantities can have an effect.
"Hippocrates Natural Vitamin D3 capsules consist of 1000 IUs of natural Vitamin D3 and pure olive oil ONLY in each all-vegetable capsule. NOTHING ELSE. Custom-manufactured in Australia to our strict specifications.
Does NOT contain: Gluten - Soy – Corn – Lactose – Glucose – Gelatin - Fructose – Maltose – Dextrose – Levulose – Maltodextrin – Xylitol – Molasses – Artificial Sweeteners - Nuts - Milk - Egg - Wheat – Rice – Sugars – Yeast – Casein – GMO – Preservatives – Excipients – Enteric Coating – Shellac – Wax – Plastic – Talc – Artificial Colours or Flavours."
"Hippocrates Natural Vitamin D3 capsules consist of 1000 IUs of natural Vitamin D3 and pure olive oil ONLY in each all-vegetable capsule. NOTHING ELSE. Custom-manufactured in Australia to our strict specifications.
Does NOT contain: Gluten - Soy – Corn – Lactose – Glucose – Gelatin - Fructose – Maltose – Dextrose – Levulose – Maltodextrin – Xylitol – Molasses – Artificial Sweeteners - Nuts - Milk - Egg - Wheat – Rice – Sugars – Yeast – Casein – GMO – Preservatives – Excipients – Enteric Coating – Shellac – Wax – Plastic – Talc – Artificial Colours or Flavours."
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Depression and disappointment!
I tried some yogurt .. amines .. too strong for me .. couldn't sleep so took bicarb soda capsules which, for some reason work. (Sue Dengate's remedy for food intolerance symptoms). I also had a banana with the yoghurt and another delicious peach .. I have no self control .. these things followed by about 12 cashews and it was enough to bring on the fatigue, nausea and uncomfortable sensations in the upper middle adbdomen that afternoon and the next day. Seriously back on my diet as another few cashews or yoghurt would have made me physically sick I am sure.
My mood and sense of wellbeing and contentment with my lot in life is also thrown off balance.. my strict diet does improve my mood .. there is literature to support the link between food and mood .. if I was eating McDonalds and fatty rich foods .. I could understand it better .. but I am not!
Today back to the puffed rice which goes soggy when you add soy milk and the psyllium. Will follow this up with a pear .. ho hum. .. having had the taste of variety this is depressing.
Iron tablets aren't helping the bowel and the salicylates and amines add to the constipation .. yes the diet is looking pretty good! I will feel better all round in a few days, and it will be interesting to see if my feet stop throbbing. When I am back in balance Vitamin D3 might get a look in. It has been suggested that I take this .. it is summer here in Australia .. I spent the last two weeks on the coast exposing myself to the sun .. this should really be plenty... 20 minutes a day outside with limbs exposed provides enough Vit D.
Breath deeply and wait .. my doctor said I am her least likely patient to have gout .. possibly related to worm activity, plus my dietary experiementation (the oysters and soy nuts - purine rich food associated with gout), hormonal and hereditary factors... it is almost gone now. Waiting on blood tests to see what is happening with iron levels, hashimotos, ANA test (autoimmune disorders), urine test for same.
Garin tells me that it is early yet for improvements and that six months is a better indicator .. it is coming up to 4 months.
My mood and sense of wellbeing and contentment with my lot in life is also thrown off balance.. my strict diet does improve my mood .. there is literature to support the link between food and mood .. if I was eating McDonalds and fatty rich foods .. I could understand it better .. but I am not!
Today back to the puffed rice which goes soggy when you add soy milk and the psyllium. Will follow this up with a pear .. ho hum. .. having had the taste of variety this is depressing.
Iron tablets aren't helping the bowel and the salicylates and amines add to the constipation .. yes the diet is looking pretty good! I will feel better all round in a few days, and it will be interesting to see if my feet stop throbbing. When I am back in balance Vitamin D3 might get a look in. It has been suggested that I take this .. it is summer here in Australia .. I spent the last two weeks on the coast exposing myself to the sun .. this should really be plenty... 20 minutes a day outside with limbs exposed provides enough Vit D.
Breath deeply and wait .. my doctor said I am her least likely patient to have gout .. possibly related to worm activity, plus my dietary experiementation (the oysters and soy nuts - purine rich food associated with gout), hormonal and hereditary factors... it is almost gone now. Waiting on blood tests to see what is happening with iron levels, hashimotos, ANA test (autoimmune disorders), urine test for same.
Garin tells me that it is early yet for improvements and that six months is a better indicator .. it is coming up to 4 months.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Gout!
I haven't had a gout attack before. .. that I recognised as one .. 3 oysters, a few handfuls of soy nuts at camp. then on the way home I had a slice of carrot cake .. just wanted to be normal. Have been suffering from gout .. very bad yesterday, getting better today but still sharp pains and hobbling around. Apparently gout is not very common in women .. can be the result of hormonal changes, purine rich foods (legumes, shellfish etc) and dehydration. So lots of water, no more oysters, soy nuts or bad carbs/sugar. Rice, fruit, chicken, lettuce and celery seems to have helped.
I am wondering if there is a relationship between worms, hormonal changes and gout? I need to get my thyroid rechecked and then there is the menopause looming somewhere in the future.
I had 3 peaches yesterday (salicylates .. and with minimal side effects so far). A bit more facial flushing (rosacea) .. today, feeling hot, bowels a bit quick but ok. .. three peaches was really overdoing it but they were new seasons local straight from the orchard, juicy and tasty.
The soles of my feet are throbbing as well. This went away for a while and has been back for the last few days. Could be related to hashimotos, suspected autoimmune disease (lupus) or a smorgasboard of other undesirables.
I am wondering if there is a relationship between worms, hormonal changes and gout? I need to get my thyroid rechecked and then there is the menopause looming somewhere in the future.
I had 3 peaches yesterday (salicylates .. and with minimal side effects so far). A bit more facial flushing (rosacea) .. today, feeling hot, bowels a bit quick but ok. .. three peaches was really overdoing it but they were new seasons local straight from the orchard, juicy and tasty.
The soles of my feet are throbbing as well. This went away for a while and has been back for the last few days. Could be related to hashimotos, suspected autoimmune disease (lupus) or a smorgasboard of other undesirables.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Post camping blues
I haven't blogged for a while .. waiting for significant improvements .. but it is slow and obscure.
I am sure I have had improvements. I can manage more foods than before, although need to be careful. I have tried some things like banana and wheat bread, tomato, soy nuts, oysters but all on the same day so the next day's stomach upset and bowel problems are related to?? Fatigue has reduced significantly but this could be attributed to an increase in thyroxin 4 months ago. I feel quite good.
I am able to walk further with better energy. I seem to be able to tolerate more foods. I still suffer from dyspepsia .. nausea, etc and take 40 mg of PPIs daily to keep a lid on this. I don't get as severe reactions as before. Hoping that further improvements will follow. The last weeks I have been camping and trying a few things .. due to stomach and bowel discomfort I am eating the usual diet again .. and perhaps try a banana in a few days when things have settled again. The trick is to not eat anything else to be able to get a clear idea of reactions, or not.
A few cashews on plain rice cereal seem ok, but not today.
Some other observations - I haven't had the usual mouth sore with the food experimentation, or other skin infections that seem to come and go with problem foods and hormones.
Bowels are better, just need to watch problem foods which create bowel pain and constipation, or the opposite.
Energy levels are much better.
Rosacea - don't seem to get as intense flushing .. although camping for a week meant no hot showers. Shall wait and see with this one. I have an appointment with a dermatologist in 3 weeks to see what they offer. In the meantime I am trying some skin products.
Still waiting before I sing hallelujah!
I am sure I have had improvements. I can manage more foods than before, although need to be careful. I have tried some things like banana and wheat bread, tomato, soy nuts, oysters but all on the same day so the next day's stomach upset and bowel problems are related to?? Fatigue has reduced significantly but this could be attributed to an increase in thyroxin 4 months ago. I feel quite good.
I am able to walk further with better energy. I seem to be able to tolerate more foods. I still suffer from dyspepsia .. nausea, etc and take 40 mg of PPIs daily to keep a lid on this. I don't get as severe reactions as before. Hoping that further improvements will follow. The last weeks I have been camping and trying a few things .. due to stomach and bowel discomfort I am eating the usual diet again .. and perhaps try a banana in a few days when things have settled again. The trick is to not eat anything else to be able to get a clear idea of reactions, or not.
A few cashews on plain rice cereal seem ok, but not today.
Some other observations - I haven't had the usual mouth sore with the food experimentation, or other skin infections that seem to come and go with problem foods and hormones.
Bowels are better, just need to watch problem foods which create bowel pain and constipation, or the opposite.
Energy levels are much better.
Rosacea - don't seem to get as intense flushing .. although camping for a week meant no hot showers. Shall wait and see with this one. I have an appointment with a dermatologist in 3 weeks to see what they offer. In the meantime I am trying some skin products.
Still waiting before I sing hallelujah!
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