Category Archives: Health Journey

In Search of Doctors April 2014

Health Journey, , , ,

Disappointingly, I found out the clinic would not refer me so I called the Mayo myself. After several questions, they said they could not offer me an appointment because they could not do anything else for me then what has already been done. Lots of tears shed!

I informed my OB/GYN so he gave me a list of doctors to call for internal medicine.   After 10 doctors called (all from referrals of other clinics), the doctors were either not accepting new patients, were retired or did not accept insurance. More tears!

My sister then suggested (thanks Shelly) I call the U of M. I took her advice and managed to find a doctor to take my case. My first appointment is May 23, 2014.

 

 

 

Endometriosis -May 2014

Health Journey, , ,

At this point, my naturopath, chiropractor and acupuncturist all indicated my immune system is extremely weak and cannot handle the daily activities I do. Well that’s frustrating! Especially when no one can seem to tell me what’s really the matter.

I finally decided to go back to my OB/GYN to ask who I can go to to help me with my continuous health issues. He said he would refer me to the Mayo. Excellent! I have hope again. Maybe a team of doctors can look at everything and tell me what’s going on inside my body!

Swelling of feet, ankles and legs – April 2014

Health Journey, , , , ,

Nevertheless, when we were on spring break in Florida, I was eating healthy 85% of the day and then would treat myself at night. After a few days, my legs, ankles and feet began to swell. It was very noticeable – to the point I could hardly put my flip-flops on. My ankles were the size of my thighs!

I suspected it was because I had eaten too much sodium so I brushed it off.

The end of April I went on a work trip. Again I ate healthy 85% of the day, but then treated myself to southern food at night. To my dismay, the last two days, after walking around and eventually eating fried foods, my legs, ankles and feet swelled yet again. Christian was shocked. I was shocked. Here’s yet another symptom of something…. but what!

I came back and messaged my Naturopath. She said if it continues after a certain number of weeks, I should be tested for kidney disease.

Ok, so I haven’t officially given up, but I’m thinking now about throwing in the towel! I cannot understand how more issues can present themselves when I’m eating healthy; I’m trying to reduce my exercise routine (adding more rest days) and trying to get 7-8 hours of sleep at night.

I started to realize, after I returned from Nashville (second trip in April), that if I did any amount of exercise over three days a week or didn’t get 8 hours of sleep or ventured out of my now traditional diet, I would become sick with the cold or flu, I would be extremely fatigued and now my body was showing other signs of illness (swelling, bloating).

Low Stomach Acid April 2014

Health Journey, ,

Oh but wait, there’s more….

My chiropractor, after mentioning to him about bloating after eating and drinking foods other than fish, chicken and vegetables, he said I may have low stomach acid or what’s called Achlorhydria. He tested a couple digestive enzymes and HCI and the hydrochloric acid (HCI) won! I started taking HCI with every meal and noticed the bloating was going down but not ultimately gone.

After researching low stomach acid, I found 80% of kids with asthma (I have it) also tend to have low stomach acid. In addition, the causes could also be attributed to hypothyroid, autoimmune diseases, alcohol and stress. Hummmm….maybe this is what’s causing all my problems! I was hopefully, yet again!

Intestines & Kidneys – April 2014

Health Journey, , , , , ,

Back to the acupuncturist! I was anxious to talk to her since I was starting to experience weird symptoms of bloating, gas, weak/peeling fingernails, asthma acting up, food allergies (couldn’t eat dairy, egg yolks or gluten) without feeling sick or bloated. Oh my!

Here I thought I was making a right turn with the liver cleanse, eating right, and limiting my exercise! She did help elevate some frustration by giving me the absolute list of foods I should avoid and suggested adding in teas, honey, spinach to strengthen my body. However, the bad news was she suggested the heat (infection) had moved into my intestines and/or kidneys.

Wound and UTIs– March 2014

Health Journey, , ,

To make matters worse, while exercising (at Crossfit), I fell and scraped my shin on a box. I didn’t go to the doctor, but after two weeks of the wound becoming more red (infected) and not healing I went to Urgent Care. They informed me I should have had stitches (too late now) and I had a staff infection. I was given an antibiotics cream to put on the wound and an oral antibiotic if it was not better within a week.

After another couple of weeks, I decided to start taking the oral antibiotic. I certainly felt better but the wound was hardly healing as expected. In about the 2nd week of May (I hurt my leg in March)– it’s finally starting to look normal again.

Of course, the liver, the bladder, the thyroid, the autoimmune diseases, weren’t enough, between February and March I contracted two UTI’s within about 3 weeks of each other. More antibiotics!!

Naturopath – March 2014

Health Journey, ,

My diet went from limited to bare minimum. After completing the liver cleanse, my Dr. gave me a list of liver foods to eat and those to avoid in order to help aid my liver function.   For example, I was to eat brown rice everyday which helps soak up the toxins and remove them from my body (since my liver couldn’t), eat steamed cruciferous vegetables and avoid chocolate, coffee and carbonate beverages as they irritate the bladder. The bad went to worse when she gave me a list of about 35 foods (from kale, spinach, tomato to apples and berries) that I should avoid due to my bladder. Now, I’m thinking I can drink water and that was about it!

Let’s not forget the supplements! She added in Quercertin to help reduce my Flonase intake and DIM Detox to reduce/eliminate the estrogen levels in my system. All in the name of health!

If you haven’t noticed, my food selection was dwindling fast!! So, now I’m getting overwhelmed again. What should I eat or what shouldn’t I eat! Help!

Qi and Blood Deficiency– Feb 2014

Health Journey, ,

My OB/Gyn recommended (a few months prior) I try acupuncture. Being I was feeling good about my health I decided to try something new. After the acupuncturist’s review, she indicated I had Qi (pronounced ‘chi’) and blood deficiency, dampness and heat (infection) in my bladder and kidneys and also phlegm.

Acupuncture would help remove the heat and dampness from my abdominal area and eating the right foods could also help heighten my Qi. An additional item would be to remove citrus food, coffee, and alcohol, all irritants of the bladder.

After my first procedure, I felt I could have run a marathon! I had so much energy and felt so much better. Didn’t feel heavy, sore or tired! However, one item I was not thrilled about was eliminating yet another food from my already small selection. But if this helped, I’m willing to give it a try!

Liver Dysfunction – January 2014

Health Journey, , , , , ,

Within a few minutes of talking with the Naturopath, she said it was my liver! Alleluia! An answer to all my problems. She said it sounds like my liver is not processing my food which causes brain fog, depression, allergies, bloating, weight gain, puffy eyes, acne and gas. I had all of those things, so maybe this is what needs to be treated!

Again, I did as I was instructed…. removed all chemicals from home, replace plastic with glass, completed a 21 day liver cleanse (remove dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, some fruits, some vegetables, beef, sugar, alcohol, and a bunch of other things), do not exercise, started cold therapy (last few minutes of shower turn to cold water) and dry skin brushing.   I also took her recommended supplements such as Bladder Ease, DHEA, Bio cleanse all to aid in my aliments. All of these things would help aid my liver to function properly since it wasn’t doing so on its own.

After completing the 21-day cleanse (I actually did 40 days), I felt better. Hip Hip Hurray!! I felt better, I lost weight, and I had energy.   There may be hope after all!

Nutritionist Nov 2013

Health Journey, , ,

After hearing I had IC (bladder inflammation) and all the things I was supposed to do for that (along with the stuff I was doing for the endometriosis), I decided to take a more natural path. I didn’t want to take medicine for the endometriosis, anti-depressants to counter the medicine for the endometriosis, medicine for my bladder along with bladder installations and vaginal velum suppositories.   I contacted a Nutritionist.

After meeting with her, she said I was eating healthy so she couldn’t help, but recommended I see a Naturopathic doctor since it could be my adrenals.