It has been over a year since I posted a new blog. Most of the reason was due to declining health and the challenges that goes along with that. For those new to the blog, refer to the first 3 posts for more info on my journey living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS. A more in depth blog on current research and treatments will follow shortly.
CFS is a very delicate balancing act. Running yourself down, eating foods sensitive to your body and coming into contact with various environmental toxins can wreak havoc on an already overtaxed system, causing a 'relapse' of CFS symptoms. As a result of being careless, I experienced a relapse last year bringing with it some new disturbing symptoms. After extensive testing, I went from having a UTI, to hydronephrosis of the kidneys to kidney stones and ovarian cysts, peripheral neuropathy and eventually chronic cystitis where the Urologist washed his hands of me and said I was the 3rd patient he's seen that week with these symptoms and basically just deal with it and here's some pills. I was in constant SEVERE kidney and bladder pain made worse by almost every food except bland lean meats and vegetables. I lost 12 pounds in two months becoming frail and underweight. My legs, feet, arms and hands tingled and burned so bad from the neuropathy, it was difficult to sleep. I'd go into bouts of uncontrollable shaking from the anxiety of it all. My husband thought he might lose me. It was a nightmare.
Fortunately after a few months, I recovered mostly and tried to move on with my life. But after 9 years of successfully managing this illness, it felt like I had entered a new stage of downward health. The Candida overgrowth that I had experienced and overcome when I first discovered Acupuncture, was back with a vengeance. More foods are becoming intolerable to my digestive system and must be eliminated. The neuropathy is a constant nuisance with some days better than others.
I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. The time for change is now. I have a renewed drive and ferocity to overcome illness 'labels' and finally heal. This blog was originally started to chronicle my running and pet sitting experiences. I will continue to do so with more of a focus on my journey of returning to health through super foods and supplements. Providing recipes and my experiences cooking/preparing/trying new meals, food, herbs and spices with pics of course! Looking at current research on the healing components of supplementation and certain foods in aiding body healing as well as which ones I'm using and any significant effects they have on me. I hope to chronicle not just the successes, but the failures, and boy have there been a few foibles in just the 4 short weeks into this journey!
I used to keep quiet about CFS since there has always been a stigma around it.
'But you look perfectly fine!'
As I open up to more and more people, they share their struggles with similar autoimmune illnesses such as Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Adrenal Fatigue, IBS, Lyme Disease, Shingles, Thyroid Disorder, etc. In fact, millions of people around the world suffer from these 'mystery illnesses' but so far there is no cure, only management.
My hope is that through my own trial and error, this blog will not only motivate others to develop a better relationship with healing foods, but take back their well-being and vitality. Consider joining me along the way, ask questions and share your experiences as we work towards a common goal: optimal health.
