Was up at 12, 2, and 5 to pee. Maisie heard me a five and wouldn't leave me alone until I came down, so I went downstairs and slept on the couch until 6:30 when Mike came down for his walk. Went upstairs and fell asleep right way until 7:30 until the kids came in, fully ready to start the day! Had a splitting headache and was soooo tired...went back to sleep in Collin's bed (best mattress and darkest room in the house) until 9:30. Took my meds with 8oz. water. Needless to say, my morning was a little "off," and I'm just now getting around to eating my first meal of the day at 10:30. Still have a headache. :(
Brunch - sauteed zucchini, squash, onions, and mushrooms in coconut oil with chicken breast. Handful of red grapes on the side. 16 oz. water.
We took Olivia on her first bike ride to Dinosaur Park, which is a good 1.5 mile ride/walk one way. She made it to the park but didn't want to ride home. It was hot, and she was tired. She walked most of the way back while we carried her bike (tried to convince her that riding was faster, but her stubborn almost-3-year-old brain wasn't listening). Got home at 1:30 and made the kids some English muffin pizzas with mushrooms and ham...man, it was hard not to eat those! They are one of my faves. I settled for a couple of small pieces of ham with mustard, and now I need to figure out what to make for me...
Lunch at 2:15 - large bowl of bone broth and a break from eating to take supps with 8oz. water and put Olivia down.
Lunch cont. at 3:00 - can of tuna with dill relish and homemade mayo on a bed of bibb lettuce and sliced vine tomato with sunflower seeds sprinkled on top. Apple for "dessert."
Mint tea with fresh mint from the garden at 5:30.
Dinner at 7:00 - grilled plain salmon, one sliced tomato, and one sliced cucumber with 16oz. water.
9:00 - Pretty boring day as far as food is concerned. Didn't make any recipes...too tired and sick of cooking. Mike tried to make mixed veggies that I could eat for dinner, bless him, but peas and corn are out for the Whole30, and carrots and green beans are out because they're high oxalate. That's how I ended up with the tomato and cucumber. Would love something sweet right now! Will four red grapes satisfy my sweet tooth? We'll see...
10:00 - Ugh, headache before bed. Great. Taking some Tylenol and heading up. Wish I could just sleep, but the peeing is out of control (25-minute bladder, that's what I have right now). And I haven't had anything to drink since 7:00!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
Day4
The thing that is hardest to get used to is being famished in the morning when I wake up but having to wait an hour for breakfast to be ready. By the time I feed the kids and cook my meal, that's how long it takes. Why not feed the kids the same thing? Besides that Collin can't eat eggs, and that is always a staple in these breakfasts, they are not going to wait 45 minutes to eat. They are little kids, and they are starving in the morning too, and they don't have the control to wait patiently. I can barely do it!
Meds at 8:30 with 8oz. water.
Breakfast 9:30 - scrambled eggs with ground beef, onion, and garlic with a side of sauteed zucchini, squash, onions, and mushrooms in coconut oil. 12oz. water.
Another thing - How am I supposed to eat slowly and enjoy my meals when the kids are whining "Mommy! Mommy! Mom! Mommy! Moooommmmmmmy!" in my ear every five seconds? This part of the Whole30 program sounds great in theory but is clearly a just a suggestion for those who don't have children.
Took the whole morning to clean Collin's room, but it looks fantastic! Just need to vacuum it. Now, how long will the floor stay Lego free? Hmmm.
Lunch at 12:30 - can of tuna with homemade mayo and relish. Supps at 1:15 with 8oz. water.
Clipped all of Maisie's nails while she was sleeping. No fuss at all with that cat! Love her. Now to clean Olivia's room before Kim and the girls come over.
After all that cleaning, I need a snack. An apple would be perfect! And a couple ham rollups with mustard. 8oz. water
Dinner at 7:00 - chicken breast and steamed cauliflower and 8oz. water. I'm feelin' the ulcer discomfort again... :( Good thing Mike just brought the mail in, and the book Good Food for Bad Stomachs is in the pile waiting to be cracked open. It is written by gastroenterologist Henry D. Janowitz, M.D., formally Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. I will digest some of this tonight (no pun intended).
8:45 - still hungry...this is the kind of hungry that I would normally grab some ice cream or a big bowl of fruit or both. Instead, I am having a leftover mini mushroom burger and 4oz. water.
Meds at 8:30 with 8oz. water.
Breakfast 9:30 - scrambled eggs with ground beef, onion, and garlic with a side of sauteed zucchini, squash, onions, and mushrooms in coconut oil. 12oz. water.
Another thing - How am I supposed to eat slowly and enjoy my meals when the kids are whining "Mommy! Mommy! Mom! Mommy! Moooommmmmmmy!" in my ear every five seconds? This part of the Whole30 program sounds great in theory but is clearly a just a suggestion for those who don't have children.
Took the whole morning to clean Collin's room, but it looks fantastic! Just need to vacuum it. Now, how long will the floor stay Lego free? Hmmm.
Lunch at 12:30 - can of tuna with homemade mayo and relish. Supps at 1:15 with 8oz. water.
Clipped all of Maisie's nails while she was sleeping. No fuss at all with that cat! Love her. Now to clean Olivia's room before Kim and the girls come over.
After all that cleaning, I need a snack. An apple would be perfect! And a couple ham rollups with mustard. 8oz. water
Dinner at 7:00 - chicken breast and steamed cauliflower and 8oz. water. I'm feelin' the ulcer discomfort again... :( Good thing Mike just brought the mail in, and the book Good Food for Bad Stomachs is in the pile waiting to be cracked open. It is written by gastroenterologist Henry D. Janowitz, M.D., formally Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. I will digest some of this tonight (no pun intended).
8:45 - still hungry...this is the kind of hungry that I would normally grab some ice cream or a big bowl of fruit or both. Instead, I am having a leftover mini mushroom burger and 4oz. water.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Day3
Note to self (and I knew this already): Do not drink anything past 7:00pm if I want to get up to pee no more than twice during the night. That 8pm tea had me up three times between the hours of 12-6:30am. Couldn't go back to sleep for another hour before the kids woke up because I had to run over to a gyno appointment to have my IUD placement checked (all is well).
Meds at 8:30am, breakfast at 9:15am - ground turkey with garlic, onions, and coconut oil and Granny Smith apple sauteed in coconut oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg then added to the turkey mixture. I like it! I also had the last vegan, grain free, sugar free muffin from yesterday's batch (the kids ate the rest). 24oz. of water between 8:30-9:45am.
More water (8oz.) with supps at 10:30am before heading out to the thrift store. Boy, was it a good day for that! I got 21 pieces of clothing (18 for Collin), three books, a set of hair bow clips, a bracelet, a toy electric guitar, an electronic dragon toy, and a little toy R2D2 robot for just $53!!! It was our lucky day.
Late lunch at 2:00 - remainder of the Bussels sprouts from yesterday and some chicken salad with the leftover chicken from last night and homemade mayo, which was super easy to make. Tasted okay, but I had to improv with the ingredients, so maybe lemon would taste better than lime, coconut oil instead of olive, etc.
Homemade Mayonnaise from Primal Blueprint:
2 egg yolks
1 tsp. mustard (I used spicy brown)
1+ tbsp. lemon juice (I used lime)
1 cup oil (I used olive oil)
salt to taste
Whisk together egg yolks, mustard, and lemon juice. Add oil slowly, continually whisking as you drizzle it in. Whisk until mayo has a thick consistency. Season with salt. Put in a jar (I used a leftover coconut oil jar) and store in the fridge for a few days.
The bone broth has been stewing since 10:00pm last night, so by lunchtime, it was headed into the 17th hour. I wanted to try some, but somehow the time got away from me, and before I knew it, we had to leave to meet our friends at the Leesburg Animal Park for a wagon ride around the animals, bouncy house, playground, sandbox, and more.
STARVING when we got home. I whipped up some burgers with spices and mushrooms on a bed of lettuce and half an avocado. I also had a heaping cup of broccoli and 16oz. of water.
7:15 - Time to try that bone broth! I'll sub this for my usual 10oz. mint tea for today. Honestly, it doesn't taste like much. I'll have to use more veggies and seasonings next time. It's tough because things like carrots, celery, and peppers (besides red bell) are high oxalate, so I opted not to use them...but they provide the flavor! It's not bad, though, and I know it's really nutritious, so I'm going to slurp the stuff up. :)
Okay, so three days into this program, and I feel pretty tired, run down, and hungry, but I know my body is just adjusting. Frankly, it's not much different than how I feel normally anyway. I forget what feeling well feels like. It's sad that feeling sick and tired has become my normal. Speaking of, I just got a book called Sick and Tired: Empathy, Encouragement, and Practical Help for Those Suffering from Chronic Health Problems. I'm looking forward to reading it during a relaxing epsom salt bath tonight.
Meds at 8:30am, breakfast at 9:15am - ground turkey with garlic, onions, and coconut oil and Granny Smith apple sauteed in coconut oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg then added to the turkey mixture. I like it! I also had the last vegan, grain free, sugar free muffin from yesterday's batch (the kids ate the rest). 24oz. of water between 8:30-9:45am.
More water (8oz.) with supps at 10:30am before heading out to the thrift store. Boy, was it a good day for that! I got 21 pieces of clothing (18 for Collin), three books, a set of hair bow clips, a bracelet, a toy electric guitar, an electronic dragon toy, and a little toy R2D2 robot for just $53!!! It was our lucky day.
Late lunch at 2:00 - remainder of the Bussels sprouts from yesterday and some chicken salad with the leftover chicken from last night and homemade mayo, which was super easy to make. Tasted okay, but I had to improv with the ingredients, so maybe lemon would taste better than lime, coconut oil instead of olive, etc.
Homemade Mayonnaise from Primal Blueprint:
2 egg yolks
1 tsp. mustard (I used spicy brown)
1+ tbsp. lemon juice (I used lime)
1 cup oil (I used olive oil)
salt to taste
Whisk together egg yolks, mustard, and lemon juice. Add oil slowly, continually whisking as you drizzle it in. Whisk until mayo has a thick consistency. Season with salt. Put in a jar (I used a leftover coconut oil jar) and store in the fridge for a few days.
The bone broth has been stewing since 10:00pm last night, so by lunchtime, it was headed into the 17th hour. I wanted to try some, but somehow the time got away from me, and before I knew it, we had to leave to meet our friends at the Leesburg Animal Park for a wagon ride around the animals, bouncy house, playground, sandbox, and more.
STARVING when we got home. I whipped up some burgers with spices and mushrooms on a bed of lettuce and half an avocado. I also had a heaping cup of broccoli and 16oz. of water.
7:15 - Time to try that bone broth! I'll sub this for my usual 10oz. mint tea for today. Honestly, it doesn't taste like much. I'll have to use more veggies and seasonings next time. It's tough because things like carrots, celery, and peppers (besides red bell) are high oxalate, so I opted not to use them...but they provide the flavor! It's not bad, though, and I know it's really nutritious, so I'm going to slurp the stuff up. :)
Okay, so three days into this program, and I feel pretty tired, run down, and hungry, but I know my body is just adjusting. Frankly, it's not much different than how I feel normally anyway. I forget what feeling well feels like. It's sad that feeling sick and tired has become my normal. Speaking of, I just got a book called Sick and Tired: Empathy, Encouragement, and Practical Help for Those Suffering from Chronic Health Problems. I'm looking forward to reading it during a relaxing epsom salt bath tonight.
Day2
I woke up at 6:30am this morning on my own (after two visits to the bathroom in the night as usual) to get ready for a back pain doctor appointment at 7:30. The epidural nerve block I got three weeks ago didn't do much other than stop the muscle spasms and keep the pain from spreading down my legs, but the high-heel-to-the-right-lower-back pain is still there...or was. This time I got an SI joint injection and another shot further up. My pain diminished immediately! The doctor said the disappearance of pain was a good sign that we are dealing with a sacroiliac joint dysfunction, a mechanical problem. This may be aggravating the herniated disc, but the disc is not the source of the pain; the SI joint is. Yes, finally a diagnosis for my back pain!
Meds and water as usual before I left for my appointment, then breakfast at 9:30. I made a little frittata thing with ground beef, onion, garlic, mushrooms, broccoli, and eggs. I had another 12oz. of water to take the rest of my supps with breakfast. The kids wanted banana muffins, so I made some that are grain-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free (except for the natural sugar occurring in the bananas themselves), just in case I want a snack later. I'm too full to eat one now.
Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Paleo Banana Muffins
- 3-4 ripe bananas
- 3/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
- 1 heaping tbsp. coconut oil
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- cinnamon and nutmeg
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, EXCEPT for the baking soda and vinegar; do these two ingredients last so that they react together to fluff up the batter a little.
Note: These muffins do not rise, so put as much batter in the muffin cup as you want.
This amount makes six large muffins.
Now, what to do today? It's raining on and off. Paint the birdhouses! That lasted about 45 minutes, so pretty good activity. I had one of those muffins at 11:30 - yummy as is...no need for extra sugar.
Lunch at 1:15 - three ham rollups with mustard and three turkey rollups with half an avocado and lettuce; Brussels sprouts on the side. I took a tramadol with 10oz. water for back pain (can't tell if it's just pain from the injection sites or if it's the SI joint again since the anesthetic has/is worn/wearing off).
Snack was Granny Smith apple with cinnamon, nutmeg, and coconut oil and an orange slice with a glass of water.
I'm attempting to make a whole chicken for dinner for the first time. I seasoned it with fresh parsley, salt, juice and peel from an orange, rosemary, and a generic chicken rub blend.
7:15pm - The chicken was a success! Well, almost. I seasoned and cooked it upside down. Ooops, minor detail. Still tasted awesome, and now I'm going to look up a bone broth recipe. I also sauteed some asparagus with garlic, olive oil, and ghee. Mike and the kids had mixed veggies and rice as well, but I skipped those. The veggies were high oxalate, and the rice, is, um, rice (grain). To drink, I had an 8oz. cup of coconut milk.
Missed my mint tea today, so I drank a cup at 8:00pm. This will probably keep me up to pee all night, but I needed something more to fill me up and soothe my tummy. Made some bone broth, which will be ready by tomorrow evening. Hope it's good!
Meds and water as usual before I left for my appointment, then breakfast at 9:30. I made a little frittata thing with ground beef, onion, garlic, mushrooms, broccoli, and eggs. I had another 12oz. of water to take the rest of my supps with breakfast. The kids wanted banana muffins, so I made some that are grain-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free (except for the natural sugar occurring in the bananas themselves), just in case I want a snack later. I'm too full to eat one now.
Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Paleo Banana Muffins
- 3-4 ripe bananas
- 3/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
- 1 heaping tbsp. coconut oil
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- cinnamon and nutmeg
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, EXCEPT for the baking soda and vinegar; do these two ingredients last so that they react together to fluff up the batter a little.
Note: These muffins do not rise, so put as much batter in the muffin cup as you want.
This amount makes six large muffins.
Now, what to do today? It's raining on and off. Paint the birdhouses! That lasted about 45 minutes, so pretty good activity. I had one of those muffins at 11:30 - yummy as is...no need for extra sugar.
Lunch at 1:15 - three ham rollups with mustard and three turkey rollups with half an avocado and lettuce; Brussels sprouts on the side. I took a tramadol with 10oz. water for back pain (can't tell if it's just pain from the injection sites or if it's the SI joint again since the anesthetic has/is worn/wearing off).
Snack was Granny Smith apple with cinnamon, nutmeg, and coconut oil and an orange slice with a glass of water.
I'm attempting to make a whole chicken for dinner for the first time. I seasoned it with fresh parsley, salt, juice and peel from an orange, rosemary, and a generic chicken rub blend.
7:15pm - The chicken was a success! Well, almost. I seasoned and cooked it upside down. Ooops, minor detail. Still tasted awesome, and now I'm going to look up a bone broth recipe. I also sauteed some asparagus with garlic, olive oil, and ghee. Mike and the kids had mixed veggies and rice as well, but I skipped those. The veggies were high oxalate, and the rice, is, um, rice (grain). To drink, I had an 8oz. cup of coconut milk.
Missed my mint tea today, so I drank a cup at 8:00pm. This will probably keep me up to pee all night, but I needed something more to fill me up and soothe my tummy. Made some bone broth, which will be ready by tomorrow evening. Hope it's good!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
23andMe - Is It Worth It?
I saw a bit on the Today Show this morning about the 23andMe test. For $99 you
get a profile of genetic predispositions, health traits, possible drug reactions, ancestors, and more through gene sequencing. Too good to be true? Susan, the guru oxalate researcher, just got the software to analyze test results from an oxalate perspective and is calling for people to submit their reports for research and analysis.
My sister will be receiving her Ph.D. in biochemistry this fall, and this is
what she had to say about the test:
1. There is no such thing as a genotype-to-phenotype conversion; i.e. having one
genetic mutation in one gene does not automatically flag you for a particular
disease. The nature vs. nurture argument comes into play here. Risk is
determined by ancestry as well as epigenetics (stuff that affects gene
expression that isn't the actual DNA itself) in addition to genotype.
2. Risk is relative. Risk is also absolute. You might be less susceptible to
risk for a certain disease compared to an age/gender/ethnicity matched
population, but if you have familial history, your absolute risk is much higher.
3. Since this is a company selling a product to consumers, I am wondering if
they have any regulation as far as HIPPA goes. For example, if you get some
crazy result back indicating that you have a significantly greater risk for
heart disease, would a (life) insurance company or employer somehow be able to
have access to this information? It might seem farfetched, but it never ceases
to amaze me how much information gets leaked out there... Call me paranoid
All in all, this is probably something you should consider as a "fun and
interesting" thing to do rather than a roadmap to your future health. One upside
to these tests is that the more people who use them, the more data can be
acquired for research which might contribute to great scientific advances in the
future. I think in the end, your feelings will remain the same about your
general health, which will be "eat healthy and get plenty of exercise." If
that's worth $99 to you, then go for it!
----------------------
My sis also mentioned that a test like this used to cost over $1000. So now that it
is available for $99, and I have a bunch of unexplained Dx, including
hyperoxaluria, I'm wondering if I should order the test and then have Susan
analyze the results, keeping all of what my sister said in mind.
I guess I'm on the fence about it, but leaning more toward doing it, especially since I have a contact who can read the results in a way that would be pertinent to my specific health conditions, some that are a mystery to the conventional docs. On the one hand, $99 sounds like an unbelievable deal for something that used to cost $1000. I'm desperate for answers about my current health status (hmm, I guess I'm the target market!). Maybe the results would show one little thing that could lead to another that could lead to an answer. On the other hand, I want the source of info to be credible, and then there's the HIPPA thing, which they say on their website that they are compliant and secure...should I trust that? I'll have to ponder this one some more before I spend the $$ on a test that might not get me anywhere but $99 poorer. But it sure sounds interesting.
Another thing to think about that a friend of mine pointed out: Am I prepared to "open up a door that can never be shut?" Knowing too much but not knowing enough (i.e. whether or not something is definitely going to happen) is overwhelming and could add extra stress on my plate. Stress certainly won't help chronic illness; in fact, it would only add to it. Don't want another ulcer!
get a profile of genetic predispositions, health traits, possible drug reactions, ancestors, and more through gene sequencing. Too good to be true? Susan, the guru oxalate researcher, just got the software to analyze test results from an oxalate perspective and is calling for people to submit their reports for research and analysis.
My sister will be receiving her Ph.D. in biochemistry this fall, and this is
what she had to say about the test:
1. There is no such thing as a genotype-to-phenotype conversion; i.e. having one
genetic mutation in one gene does not automatically flag you for a particular
disease. The nature vs. nurture argument comes into play here. Risk is
determined by ancestry as well as epigenetics (stuff that affects gene
expression that isn't the actual DNA itself) in addition to genotype.
2. Risk is relative. Risk is also absolute. You might be less susceptible to
risk for a certain disease compared to an age/gender/ethnicity matched
population, but if you have familial history, your absolute risk is much higher.
3. Since this is a company selling a product to consumers, I am wondering if
they have any regulation as far as HIPPA goes. For example, if you get some
crazy result back indicating that you have a significantly greater risk for
heart disease, would a (life) insurance company or employer somehow be able to
have access to this information? It might seem farfetched, but it never ceases
to amaze me how much information gets leaked out there... Call me paranoid
All in all, this is probably something you should consider as a "fun and
interesting" thing to do rather than a roadmap to your future health. One upside
to these tests is that the more people who use them, the more data can be
acquired for research which might contribute to great scientific advances in the
future. I think in the end, your feelings will remain the same about your
general health, which will be "eat healthy and get plenty of exercise." If
that's worth $99 to you, then go for it!
----------------------
My sis also mentioned that a test like this used to cost over $1000. So now that it
is available for $99, and I have a bunch of unexplained Dx, including
hyperoxaluria, I'm wondering if I should order the test and then have Susan
analyze the results, keeping all of what my sister said in mind.
I guess I'm on the fence about it, but leaning more toward doing it, especially since I have a contact who can read the results in a way that would be pertinent to my specific health conditions, some that are a mystery to the conventional docs. On the one hand, $99 sounds like an unbelievable deal for something that used to cost $1000. I'm desperate for answers about my current health status (hmm, I guess I'm the target market!). Maybe the results would show one little thing that could lead to another that could lead to an answer. On the other hand, I want the source of info to be credible, and then there's the HIPPA thing, which they say on their website that they are compliant and secure...should I trust that? I'll have to ponder this one some more before I spend the $$ on a test that might not get me anywhere but $99 poorer. But it sure sounds interesting.
Another thing to think about that a friend of mine pointed out: Am I prepared to "open up a door that can never be shut?" Knowing too much but not knowing enough (i.e. whether or not something is definitely going to happen) is overwhelming and could add extra stress on my plate. Stress certainly won't help chronic illness; in fact, it would only add to it. Don't want another ulcer!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Day1
It only took an hour to make, but the breakfast skillet scramble from Primal Blueprint was worth the wait!
-1/4lb. ground grass-fed beef with garlic, onion, and salt
-1/2 red pepper in strips
-1/3 small white onion, diced
-1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
-3 egg whites and 2 egg yolks whisked together
-half an avocado, diced
-1Tbsp. salsa
-1 heaping Tbsp. coconut oil
I never knew avocado would pair so well with beef and eggs, but it totally does and made the meal. This seems like a lot of food for one person, and it is, but waiting over an hour to eat (had to feed the kids first and then make this, which required chopping all the veggies then thawing and cooking the meat) made me terribly hungry, and it was easy to eat it all up. Boy, am I full but in a healthy way.
Had a 10oz. cup of water around 9am for meds/probiotic, a cup with my meal, and a cup at 10:30 for supplements. Hope I'm near a bathroom for the next couple of hours since I'll peeing every 20-30 minutes, haha.
Took the kids to the pool from 12-1. Beautiful day for it! Confession: I hate going to the pool. Lakes and oceans are more my thing.
Lunch at 1:45 - can of tuna with mustard on a bed of romaine leaves - not too fancy, I know, but I'm missing some ingredients or can't have some ingredients because of oxalate issues to do anything else in my cookbooks. The low oxalate diet is really messing up my Whole30 already. Oh, well, I'll figure it out.
Snack at 3:45 - cinnamon and nutmeg Granny Smith apple slices mixed with coconut oil and coconut milk then hardened in muffin cups (yeah, cinnamon and other spices that are high oxalate might have to slide for 30 days). Collin even liked this! Didn't have coconut butter (or flakes to make my own) to make this recipe even better, but I have ordered some from Amazon to try for next time. Afternoon 10oz. mint tea at 5:00. :)
Picked up Collin's first soccer uniform at Loudoun Soccer. Now to find some red and black cleats to match...
Dinner at 7:15 - Primal Blueprint's sauteed sauerkraut, sausage, red peppers, and zucchini seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, and fresh parsley. 8oz. water to drink. Note to Mike for next grocery trip: check sausage for soy...this one had some, so technically it does not follow the Whole30 protocol. Better yet, do not buy sausage at all. It will probably take a week or so to figure these things out and get exactly the right foods. "Dessert" was finishing Olivia's half-eaten apple.
Successful day, I'd say. Coconut everything (oil, flakes, flour, butter, etc.) are must-haves on this and any other paleo/primal plan.
-1/4lb. ground grass-fed beef with garlic, onion, and salt
-1/2 red pepper in strips
-1/3 small white onion, diced
-1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
-3 egg whites and 2 egg yolks whisked together
-half an avocado, diced
-1Tbsp. salsa
-1 heaping Tbsp. coconut oil
I never knew avocado would pair so well with beef and eggs, but it totally does and made the meal. This seems like a lot of food for one person, and it is, but waiting over an hour to eat (had to feed the kids first and then make this, which required chopping all the veggies then thawing and cooking the meat) made me terribly hungry, and it was easy to eat it all up. Boy, am I full but in a healthy way.
Had a 10oz. cup of water around 9am for meds/probiotic, a cup with my meal, and a cup at 10:30 for supplements. Hope I'm near a bathroom for the next couple of hours since I'll peeing every 20-30 minutes, haha.
Took the kids to the pool from 12-1. Beautiful day for it! Confession: I hate going to the pool. Lakes and oceans are more my thing.
Lunch at 1:45 - can of tuna with mustard on a bed of romaine leaves - not too fancy, I know, but I'm missing some ingredients or can't have some ingredients because of oxalate issues to do anything else in my cookbooks. The low oxalate diet is really messing up my Whole30 already. Oh, well, I'll figure it out.
Snack at 3:45 - cinnamon and nutmeg Granny Smith apple slices mixed with coconut oil and coconut milk then hardened in muffin cups (yeah, cinnamon and other spices that are high oxalate might have to slide for 30 days). Collin even liked this! Didn't have coconut butter (or flakes to make my own) to make this recipe even better, but I have ordered some from Amazon to try for next time. Afternoon 10oz. mint tea at 5:00. :)
Picked up Collin's first soccer uniform at Loudoun Soccer. Now to find some red and black cleats to match...
Dinner at 7:15 - Primal Blueprint's sauteed sauerkraut, sausage, red peppers, and zucchini seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, and fresh parsley. 8oz. water to drink. Note to Mike for next grocery trip: check sausage for soy...this one had some, so technically it does not follow the Whole30 protocol. Better yet, do not buy sausage at all. It will probably take a week or so to figure these things out and get exactly the right foods. "Dessert" was finishing Olivia's half-eaten apple.
Successful day, I'd say. Coconut everything (oil, flakes, flour, butter, etc.) are must-haves on this and any other paleo/primal plan.
Meds and Supps
Since I have some diseases/disorders that are not curable, I have to take some medicines and supplements that treat the symptoms and/or prevent the conditions from advancing. The body parts that are affected are my kidneys, stomach, small bowel, bladder, ovaries, uterus, and back.
At lunch, I take:
45 minutes before breakfast, I take:
-
Hydrochlorothiazide
12.5mg tab for kidney stone prevention (keeps excess calcium from being excreted...keeps it in the body tissue instead of free to bind with oxalates)
-
Dexilant DR 60mg
cap for gastric ulcer (proton pump inhibitor that limits stomach acid)
-
CVS brand L.
acidophilus and B. longum 15mg tab (probiotics to encourage good bacteria)
-
CVS brand multi
vitamin for women (to fill in the gaps where my diet is limited)
- CVS brand omega-3 krill oil 300mg (Krill promotes the health of your heart, brain, blood sugar, joints, nervous system, cell membranes, liver, immune system, skin, and more)
- CVS brand MSM 1000mg (detoxifies body, increases blood circulation, and supports joint and cartilage health)
- CVS brand biotin 5000mcg (helps to break down fats, protein, and carbs as well as supports healthy skin, hair, and nails)
- CVS brand vitamin D3 5000iu every other day (helps calcium absorption and maintains strong bones; also allows muscles to function and supports colon and immune health)
- Finest Nutrition zinc 50mg every other day (promotes a healthy immune system)
Other meds and supps, I take:
- Mirena
progestin-only IUD (to ease the symptoms of endometriosis and regulate cycle)
- Epsom salt bath
once a week for 40 minutes (to detox, especially oxalates)
-
Metamucil 1-2 heaping
tablespoons in 8oz. water AS NEEDED (for constipation or diarrhea)
-
Extra strength
Tylenol 500mg or Tylenol with codeine 2-4x/week AS NEEDED (for headache, pelvic pain, and back pain; I cannot do nsaids because they aren't good for the kidney condition and will also aggravate the gastric ulcer)
- Tramadol 50mg 2-4x/week AS NEEDED for pain (an alternative to nsaids and Tylenol)
-
Hyoscyamine ER
0.375mg tab 0-1x/week AS NEEDED (for intestinal spasms)
-
Melatonin
time-released 5mg tabs 0-2x/week at bedtime AS NEEDED (as a sleep aid)
Supps I have taken or will be taking in the future:
-
Calcium Magnesium
Citrate 200mg/100mg 5x/day 20 minutes before meals (citrate form is more absorbable; oxalates bind to calcium and magnesium in the intestines and exit the body so I'm giving them something to attach to rather than leaking through my gut into the rest of my body)
- Potassium Citrate 200-400mg divided into three doses a day (still not clear on why this works, but it does have something to do with the kidney disease and preventing more discs from degenerating in my back...need to discuss with nephro and ortho)
- DDAVP nasal spray (minics anti-diuretic hormone produced by the pituitary to regulate water conservation; my kidneys are producing urine 24/7 and need to take a break at night for sleeping, but my brain isn't giving them enough ADH hormone to do so, thus the need for a synthetic version. I'm hoping for a full night's sleep once I start this medication, that is if my kidney impairment doesn't prevent me from taking it...need to discuss with nephro, uro, and endo)
- Vitamins B6 and B12 (linked with zinc deficiency, which I almost have, and low levels of alkaline phosphatase, which I consistently have; all four work together, so if one is low, it does affect the others; B6 plays a large role in metabolism and immune function; B12 keeps the nerves and blood cells healthy as well as contributes to making DNA...need to discuss B12 with gastro because if the PPI is limiting the hydrochloric acid in my stomach, then the B12 might not be absorbed correctly)
Monday, August 26, 2013
Day1/2
Well, I WAS going to start my Whole30 wholeheartedly today, but plans from Friday had to be moved to this afternoon, and those plans include wine and cheese. Whoops! Of course I could choose to not partake, but my friend already bought the stuff last week, and I didn't technically start the program yet. One day postponement is not going to matter. Today will be kind of like a trial run or a practice, if you will, before the big 30-day game. Plus, the book says not to weigh yourself the entire time, and even though weight loss is not my goal here, it would be cool to see if there is any kind of transformation. Needless to say, another rule I broke before I started is that I stepped on the scale one last time and took a "before" picture.
Stats on the day before I start my Whole30:
Height - 5'6"
Size - 10/large pants; 8/medium shirt
Weight - 160lbs.
BMI - 25.8 (which is overweight according to the American Institute for Cancer Research website; 18.5-24.9 is the "normal" range, so I need to weigh no more than 154 to achieve this)
Let's call today DayHalf, then. I am following the diet all day with the exception that one large glass of wine and few of pieces of cheese this afternoon (again, this treat was supposed to be my one-last-hurrah occurring this past Friday, but things came up and the party had to be postponed). For breakfast around 9:00, I made some ground turkey with garlic and onion in coconut oil and added diced Granny Smith apple with cinnamon and nutmeg. Cinnamon is a high oxalate spice, so I took it easy on that one. It was pretty yummy! I also had two 10oz. glasses of water to take my meds/probiotics and wash breakfast down, and at 10:30, I had a glass of unsweetened coconut milk.
Exercise wasn't too much...still taking it easy with the whole herniated disc thing. The kids and I went up to the school, and they rode their bikes while I speed-walked around the track four times.
Lunch was at 1:00. I filled a half of avocado with a tuna and brown mustard mixture with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds on top. I put the remainder of the tuna from the can next to my little avocado presentation. Earlier in the day, I picked a zucchini and a yellow squash from our garden, so I sauteed those up with some coconut oil. I drank another glass of water to go with the rest of my supplements (I should put a post on here regarding those). This lunch was nice and filling, and you can't beat straight-out-of-the-garden veggies! Maisie will be happy that I saved her some tuna juice too. :)
At 3:00, I made myself a large cup of mint tea. Besides water and unsweetened coconut milk, it's the only other drink I can have. Everything else is either off limits or bothers my stomach. My sister introduced me to mint when she gave me a plant to put in the garden. I use it with cucumbers for a snack or crush some leaves in my mint tea. Mint is naturally decaffeinated, relieves gastritis and stomach ulcers, soothes the gut and bladder, and is low in oxalates...perfect for me and my ailments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playdate time! The kids had a blast, and the moms enjoyed each other's company. I ended up drinking two glasses of chardonnay and eating two small rice crackers with homemade guacamole. Stayed for dinner and had a half cup of chicken breast and about one-third cup of plain white rice. So, I cheated with the grains and the wine (no cheese though, so I stuck to no dairy!), but at least the grains I did eat were few and low oxalate.
Official Day1 starts tomorrow for real. I can do this!
Stats on the day before I start my Whole30:
Height - 5'6"
Size - 10/large pants; 8/medium shirt
Weight - 160lbs.
BMI - 25.8 (which is overweight according to the American Institute for Cancer Research website; 18.5-24.9 is the "normal" range, so I need to weigh no more than 154 to achieve this)
Let's call today DayHalf, then. I am following the diet all day with the exception that one large glass of wine and few of pieces of cheese this afternoon (again, this treat was supposed to be my one-last-hurrah occurring this past Friday, but things came up and the party had to be postponed). For breakfast around 9:00, I made some ground turkey with garlic and onion in coconut oil and added diced Granny Smith apple with cinnamon and nutmeg. Cinnamon is a high oxalate spice, so I took it easy on that one. It was pretty yummy! I also had two 10oz. glasses of water to take my meds/probiotics and wash breakfast down, and at 10:30, I had a glass of unsweetened coconut milk.
Exercise wasn't too much...still taking it easy with the whole herniated disc thing. The kids and I went up to the school, and they rode their bikes while I speed-walked around the track four times.
Lunch was at 1:00. I filled a half of avocado with a tuna and brown mustard mixture with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds on top. I put the remainder of the tuna from the can next to my little avocado presentation. Earlier in the day, I picked a zucchini and a yellow squash from our garden, so I sauteed those up with some coconut oil. I drank another glass of water to go with the rest of my supplements (I should put a post on here regarding those). This lunch was nice and filling, and you can't beat straight-out-of-the-garden veggies! Maisie will be happy that I saved her some tuna juice too. :)
At 3:00, I made myself a large cup of mint tea. Besides water and unsweetened coconut milk, it's the only other drink I can have. Everything else is either off limits or bothers my stomach. My sister introduced me to mint when she gave me a plant to put in the garden. I use it with cucumbers for a snack or crush some leaves in my mint tea. Mint is naturally decaffeinated, relieves gastritis and stomach ulcers, soothes the gut and bladder, and is low in oxalates...perfect for me and my ailments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playdate time! The kids had a blast, and the moms enjoyed each other's company. I ended up drinking two glasses of chardonnay and eating two small rice crackers with homemade guacamole. Stayed for dinner and had a half cup of chicken breast and about one-third cup of plain white rice. So, I cheated with the grains and the wine (no cheese though, so I stuck to no dairy!), but at least the grains I did eat were few and low oxalate.
Official Day1 starts tomorrow for real. I can do this!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Ologists, et. al.
Gastroenterologist
Endocrinologist
Nephrologist
Immunologist
Gynecologist
Urogynecologist
Urologist
Orthopedist
In addition to a PCP who doesn't know what to do with me, I've seen all of the above specialists several times, and in some cases, more than one doctor per category. I've been bounced around like a rubber playground ball from one doctor to another for almost a year. What I've discovered about specialists is that they are just that - extremely knowledgeable in one area of their specific field, so much so, in fact, that they see health problems with blinders on through a very narrow lens. This approach to helping people feel better works for someone with one or two textbook-defined ailments; it does not work with someone like me who has systemic health problems where symptoms overlap and create a domino effect, only it is unknown which dominoes are the causes and which are the effects.
Specialists are very eager to please, willing to prescribe, prescribe, prescribe whatever the popular drug is in their field. Gastroenterolists will give you antacids and fiber; urologists will give you meds for overactive bladder; gynocologists will give you birth control; everybody wants to give you some form of ibuprofen. What they are really prescribing are Band-aids that may or may not make a difference, a washcloth to dry off when you really need a beach towel. And why am I going to take these prescriptions when you can't even tell me what my problem is? How do I know if further symptoms are related to the meds or the original problems?
Treat the symptoms; yes, that is what specialists do best. That's nice, but I need a diagnostician. I need Dr. House, if only he existed in real life. I need a doctor who can see the big picture and connect the dots, THEN come up with a plan for how to treat the problem as a whole, not just the pieces.
Endocrinologist
Nephrologist
Immunologist
Gynecologist
Urogynecologist
Urologist
Orthopedist
In addition to a PCP who doesn't know what to do with me, I've seen all of the above specialists several times, and in some cases, more than one doctor per category. I've been bounced around like a rubber playground ball from one doctor to another for almost a year. What I've discovered about specialists is that they are just that - extremely knowledgeable in one area of their specific field, so much so, in fact, that they see health problems with blinders on through a very narrow lens. This approach to helping people feel better works for someone with one or two textbook-defined ailments; it does not work with someone like me who has systemic health problems where symptoms overlap and create a domino effect, only it is unknown which dominoes are the causes and which are the effects.
Specialists are very eager to please, willing to prescribe, prescribe, prescribe whatever the popular drug is in their field. Gastroenterolists will give you antacids and fiber; urologists will give you meds for overactive bladder; gynocologists will give you birth control; everybody wants to give you some form of ibuprofen. What they are really prescribing are Band-aids that may or may not make a difference, a washcloth to dry off when you really need a beach towel. And why am I going to take these prescriptions when you can't even tell me what my problem is? How do I know if further symptoms are related to the meds or the original problems?
Treat the symptoms; yes, that is what specialists do best. That's nice, but I need a diagnostician. I need Dr. House, if only he existed in real life. I need a doctor who can see the big picture and connect the dots, THEN come up with a plan for how to treat the problem as a whole, not just the pieces.
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