My health… my life… in recent months… has been in chaos.
I’ve tried to maintain the appearance of normalcy. I think for the most part, I’ve succeeded. Superficially.
If you know me, or have been following me for a while, you are aware that I’ve been dealing with a crazy immune system for several years now. Even allergy therapy a couple of years back failed and even made my condition worse. Another doctor decided to give me a steroid/antihistamine injection that was supposed to help me… but instead made me depressed and gave me suicidal thoughts. A lot of suicidal thoughts.
Conventional medicine stopped trying to help me find answers. It gave up on me. So, I gave up on conventional medicine. Frustrated.
In the midst of my own chaos, my wife was having her own health troubles. Doctors and specialists kept offering her pills and surgery without ever really telling her what the problem was and worse–not assuring us the problem would go away.
During her ordeal, I had to be the strong one. I had to stay positive. So I maintained the facade that I was okay. But I wasn’t.
In October of last year, my wife found a new doctor–an integrative health physician. We learned that my wife had fibromyalgia. With his background in neurology, chiropractic, and alternative medicine, he was able to give her hope and start her healing process.
In late November, my wife convinced me to see her doctor. To say I was reluctant would be an understatement. She was convinced that her doctor could help me with my crazy allergies. I finally went in to appease her.
So after some questionnaires and tests I learn that I’m much worse off than I though I was. My condition, on some levels, is worse than my wife’s. My hypertension, pre-diabetes, depression, and constant random allergic reactions were indicators of several of my organs and glands not functioning properly. They may even have been degrading. My brain (and brain functions), pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, liver, and gut were apparently in terrible shape. And we’re getting worse.
So did this doctor offer me medicine or surgery?
No. He told me to change my diet.
But I already ate healthy… right? I’ve been a vegetarian for three years.
He suspected that most of my health problems are rooted in my gut. I thought I might have a parasite or leaky gut. So I had to change my diet. He advised me to go on an elimination diet… this was the week before Thanksgiving!
So in November, I eliminated gluten and soy. In December, I eliminated corn, eggs and dairy. In January, when my whole body flared up in hives that lasted for several weeks, I eliminated coffee and capsaicin (peppers).
These changes were difficult. I enjoy food… look at my Instagram feed! But I was invested. This was my last hope.
With an exception of those several weeks with constant hives, I’m actually feeling better overall. I had some test done recently and found some improvement. No parasites but I definitely have a gluten allergy and my gut is in need of repair. I was been given the nod to start experimenting with reintroducing some foods back into my diet. I started with soy and corn.
My autoimmune condition still hasn’t gone away. I still get allergic reactions to my environment–especially to chemicals and fragrances.
After about 2 weeks of experimenting with the reintroduction of soy and corn, I think I need to cut them out again. My digestive system has not been happy with me during the last week or so. So, the chaos continues.
Please tell me things will get better.
