Updates for late January (a lot of things have changed)
Current "Problems"
Moderate hair loss (from strong to moderate)
Strong PMS (from extremely strong)
Mild Acne (from moderate to strong acne)
Heart palpitations and chest cramps
Fatigue
Joint Swelling
Carpal tunnel and inflammatory pains
What has changed?
- Increased heart palpitations and chest pain
Never had this in my life! My husband said it's nothing but I think it is very weird.
- Hair loss decreased a bit
Not on it's own, and that does not mean it will stop, but what lowered the shed count a bit was starting on the herbs (DIM, milk thistle, burdock root, vitex), then it lowered a bit more when I increased Vitamin D (to 5000 IU), and even a tad more when I increased iron to 28mg.
BUT it is still increased shedding, my hair is thinning progressively. As always doctors don't take me seriously when I describe hair loss as one of my problems.
Little do they know that hair loss is a sure sign of something not being right. And I don't think it will just stop one day, I waited months to see if it stops.
I also hate how some doctors will say "you don't look bald yet...", am I supposed to let it get that far before I try to figure out what is wrong??? Fucking idiots.
Skin:
On the bright side, my skin has improved LOTS. I know I 'bragged' about improvements a few months into being fully Paleo, but little did I know it could get better. I guess I had totally forgotten how my skin could be.
I still do have some acne, but I went from big cystic acne and bumps under my skin (like the painful kind) to a few small pimples. And what is better than that is how my skin changed overall. It got sooo freaking soft, I think the last time I had soft skin like that was before I was 14. I have no more dryness whatsoever, it is not oily anymore, and just very even and fine textured compared to before. I would say I really have a nice glow at the moment.
I noticed my skin changing only a few days after starting the herbs. I actually felt blood rushing through my cheeks and a sensation of warms (subsided now). I read that is common with burdock root a milk thistle.
PMS
Ovulation was not bad this time, I felt a few twinges and minor pains, very mild back ache, but much better compared to last time. My period is near and yesterday I had back ache, which was still pretty painful this time, but I was able to continue working and did not have to lay down. Definitely less pain.
Supposedly it takes about 3 months to see the full effects.
Joint sweeling, carpal tunnel:
My joints on my hands (especially left), do get slightly swollen sometimes, especially my middle finger left, which gets painful on and off. I often wake up with stiff hands and it is hard to bend my fingers. I had the same until 6 months after giving birth, then it just went away. My guess is it is mainly hormonal?
Fatigue
Meh...I could take a nap any time of the day. I still feel somewhat rested in the morning, but during the day I get moments when I feel sleepy and at night I get really drowsy, before I can even start my work. I swear I made so many mistakes on a customer's dress, that I am afraid she may not want it any more
, like really stupid little mistakes because I was not alert.
Can't have any caffeine either, because I seem to react to even black tea.
Reactions to foods:
I have watched my diet closely and I don't know why, but eating certain things will cause me to lose more hair the next day and also have other inflammatory reactions! Maybe it is only like that right now, because my body is less balanced due to the hormones (never had this before)...but it is pretty obvious.
For example:
- Trace amounts of Wheat (usually accidental) : Inflammation, nausea, stomach pains, acne, hair loss
- Too much sugar: Hair loss doubles
- More carbs: Might also result in increased hair loss but haven't tested enough
- Less iron: hair loss doubles (I am worried about taking too much iron! I think I would even need more than 28 or 42mg, which is what I take mostly)
- Legumes like Peanuts and soy: increased hair loss
Mostly my hair and skin are guiding me into knowing what is good for me and what isn't.
DIET:
- cut out lunch meats
- reduced honey from 3-4 tbs to 1/2-1 tbs
- Added more variety in veggies
- Eat meat twice a day instead of once
- No more occasional coffee or dairy (used to every 2 weeks or so)
- Found soy and wheat germ oil in my (organic) shampoo and lotion and threw it out. Using lotion and shampoo only now that is Paleo, but I am about to try washing my hair with herbs.
I am consuming roughly 2000 cals a day (while breastfeeding!) atm but am keeping my weight on, which is crazy bc I used to need much more to maintain.
Mostly I eat 50-60g carbs
120 plus g of fat
110 g of protein
Lifestyle
Limited lights at night even more
Going to sleep 2 hours earlier now, still working on shifting it more.
Sungazing
I do cold showers, although I start luke warm and the try to tolerate the cold water. They are not very cold but it is a start.
Thyroid:
Well my TSH is a bit high, 4.2 but tbh, it was way higher before (8.2) and today my doctor, who does not know about my history said "you know this will eventually turn into Hashimoto's". But I already had a worse case of Hashimoto's years ago, so although my levels are not great right now, I am a bit better than in the past.
The doctor I had seen today was not in favor of natural porcine thyroid hormones, but from what I have been reading, the synthetic ones don't work all that well. That was my experience too.
Blood work:
My liver levels were elevated and my doctor now suspects Hep. B (don't think I have it but whatever), maybe it is because of my current herb liver detox? Or just detox in general.
My prolactin is normal, which is great! Got blood taken to check ferritin and folic acid,
Conclusion:
Well, I personally feel better having figured some things out. My family does not like how I research and try to find causes for my problems, but I don't want to just sit here and trust in doctors. Doctors are only of help imo if you guide them and tell them what you want. Otherwise they spend a ton of time searching in the wrong direction. Been there...
I have at least made some progress.
My husband also thinks I am trying to look too much into it, but I need to figure out what is going on to be at peace.
My son:
Has been wanting to eat more, but even though we never offered anything else, he does not like plain raw meat. He will eat some when lightly seasoned only. I had to decide between not giving a 17 month old meat and seasoning it.
He loves fruit above all, especially Apples, bananas and grapes.
He hates veggies for the most part.
My dog:
Only very slight improvements on a all meat diet, now raw meat, lots of organs and fat,
I wash her with diluted vinegar to help her skin problems a bit. Can dogs to cleanses and detoxes?