Cuttings

It's such a gloomy, rainy day.  I'm really tired of this, but I guess the adage That summer doesn't begin until July 4th is proving to be right this year.

My friend, Cynthia, grows amazing flowers and sells stems to the florists in Bellingham on Mondays.  What she has left over, she brings to me.  This first photo is the latest that I re-arranged today.

Just a sweet little one to tuck in corners.

I really like this one.  Cape fuchsia and other unusual fuchsias.

 This one is special only that it is in a cream bottle that my late husband found in 1975 while fishing near Silvana, Wa.

 And my last.  My sweet peas are just getting started.  I have them growing everywhere, so I will have a constant supply in the house.  I love the fragrant scent.

So, on the health end of things, I am still struggling along.  The biggest change I had to face was giving up coffee.  I love my coffee.  It's a morning ritual.  It's like a candy bar for me since I like it with cream and sweetener.  So, the medical consultants on HHA have recommended Dark Roasted Dandelion Root tea.

I can't say it fits the bill, but it works psychologically.  No cream, that is coconut milk.

Other than that, I'm doing quite well on the protocol.  This week I am on a 6 hour eating window which means I can only eat between 11am and 5pm.  It's not bad.  I find I can only eat two meals, and then I have to fit in my bone broth.  Next week I am on a 4 hour window, and that is followed with a 5 day partial fast.  They say the big results are shown with that fast.  I would really like to get some energy and stop the pain, but that will come.

ONE POT, TWO POT, ORANGE POT, BLACK POT

It's been a busy week for me, despite the lousy weather and lack of energy on my part.

I got creative and started dying more of the alpaca fleeces I have accumulated in my garage.

I am totally out of white, so I need to be  creative in choosing colors to dye over the browns and grays.

I also had some yarn that was too white for me, so I used my designated electric fry pan to dye that a luscious raspberry.

My first attempt in the orange pot was for a peach color.  It looked like sewage, so I changed it to turquoise.

I can't dye too much at a time because I only have 4 drying racks, and with this cold weather, it takes several days to dry.

Once these are dry, I will add them to the boxes and boxes of clean/dyed fiber I have waiting to card.  I love blending the colors.

Meanwhile, I am busy experimenting with new foods on the HHA program.  I made chicken bone broth in my instapot yesterday.  I have to drink at least one cup a day.  I made beef bone broth last week, but I don't like the flavor as well.

Last night I made FAT BOMBS.  Oh, my gosh, what a wonderful treat.

But, you can't eat just one.

I've been organizing and cleaning out my garage.  That seems to be a never ending chore, but I am making progress.  The local thrift store has opened, so I took a car load to them today and I feel such relief.  Now I have room in my car for more donations.  

Oh, WHAT A WEEK

11 days ago, I joined HASHIMOTO'S HEALTH ACCELERATOR program.  I'm really excited about this because it offers real healing.

It seems like I spend all of my time shopping, cooking, and eating.  Last week was a 10 hour eating window with 3 meals and 3 snacks.  It seemed as if I was constantly eating.  As soon as I finished one meal and cleaned up, I was beeped to have a snack.

I'm adjusting.  The hard part is getting products I need since I don't have the energy to go out shopping.  Thank goodness for Instacart and Amazon.

So on Friday, I had the not so delightful surprise of developing a yeast infection all over my body.  This is apparently my body detoxing.  It was miserable.  Fortunately, I have my own personal Health Concierge, and she was quick to tell me to bathe in Sea Salt and Apple Cider Vinegar, a cup of each.  What a relief.  I have found that it also relieves the anxiety and agitation I wake up with every morning.

I received this delightful photo of my grandson wearing my Dad's flight helmet on Saturday.  They were watching The Right Stuff, and my son remembered he had it.  

And here is my Dad.  It thrills me to have these two pictures.  I'm so happy that my son and grandson  are also interested in the other flying paraphernalia I have of my Dad's.  I've been told that he could fly any plane that was presented to him.  He was a dive bomber pilot in WWII and flew SBDs.  During the Korean War, he was in Japan and flew helicopters.  Time to dig it all out since they will coming for a visit soon.

Last week my new chaise lounge arrived.  I haven't had something like this for years.  Seems I never had the time to just chill and relax.  Well, I seem to have plenty of time for that now and I will take great advantage of this.

I'M HOPING FOR A NEW BEGINNING

This is a hard one for me, because now I have to admit and be truthful about how sick I have been these past 10 years.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 6 years ago.  At that time, the doctors told me to see a Naturopath to "fine tune" my disease.  Well, I have been run around the block many, many times.  I even had one Thyroid "expert" tell me she just didn't know what to do with me.  With Hashimoto's came high blood pressure, high sugar levels, Fibromyalgia and a myriad of other problems I have almost forgotten about. So, I've been on a roller coaster ride ever since.  I'm at a severe low now, with barely enough energy to get me through the day.  I know some of this is related to the withdrawal I am going through, and hopefully those symptoms will end soon.  My body feels as if it is full of cement, and even walking is a challenge.

SO.

The other day a friend sent me a link to a webinar given by a Functional Medical Doctor.  I cried when I watched it.  This doctor tells his story, how his symptoms began and how they progressed.  It was my life, step by step.  I immediately arranged for a consultation with him and took two tests.

Only 20% of the people who contact him are accepted into his program.  It is based on need, which the tests showed I was in critical need of and the willingness of the patient to commit to following the program.  Well, why wouldn't I?  I have no where else to go.

I started the program on Thursday.  Tomorrow I will have a blood draw that will test lots and lots of factors, not usually tested by our traditional doctors.  The results of this test will enable him to produce supplements that are for me alone.

This is a 5 month program.  The diet is the Gut Autoimmune Protocol.  No coffee, no booze, no dairy, grains, etc. etc. etc.

Only 4 days and I have lost 10.5 pounds.

I will not be writing about this on a daily basis, but when I have something to share, I will.

WITHDRAWAL BLUES

I am on day 20 of withdrawal from an awful prescription drug, CYMBALTA.  I've done it before, so I know I will be okay, but this really is not fun.  Aside from feeling very poorly, my mood swings are pretty severe; crying at any little thing, agitated, and anxious.  Thank goodness I don't have to be socializing right now.  No one would want to be near me.

Cymbalta was prescribed for the treatment of fibromyalgia to relieve the pain.  I have found the side effects of the drug to be worse than the pain.  So, the countdown continues.

I've been working on a spinning project for a friend who gave me a huge supply of alpaca fleeces in exchange for spinning her some yarn.

This is a cria (baby) fleece and it is the hardest fiber I have had to work with.  There are many breaks and shorts in it, but oh, the buttery feel of the finished yarn is to die for.  Exactly what we are looking for in an Alpaca yarn.  I can binge watch my favorite series on Hulu, such as JUSTIFIED, and still be productive.

Meanwhile, I have so many projects I want to work on.  The other day a guy told me I need a hobby.  I almost fell out of my chair from laughing.  I should have opened my garage door while he was here.

Tomorrow I have a consultation with a Thyroid/Hashimotos specialist and will hopefully get some help in all the other health issues I have been dealing with.  My fingers, toes, and eyes are crossed.

KARMA KISSES

Yesterday, I was browsing through the local Buy/Sell/Trade sites and found these:

Oh, my, the things I could do with these!  So,I contacted the seller and headed out on a trip to Ferndale.  I haven't been over that way since I moved back here, so the memories were coming fast and furious.  I had so many Alpaca friends in this area, and visited them all for various alpaca activities, often.  They, like myself, have moved on.  

Then I thought of my friend Lori who used to have the most wonderful, crafty shop in Ferndale where I sold many of my items.  The City of Ferndale, in upgrading their streets, cut off her place of business and left no parking on the street, thus no access to the store. 

So, reminiscing about so many things, I found the home of the seller.  She was working at organizing her garage, and when she turned around to greet me, we both started screaming hugs.  It was my friend Lori.  So hard not to reach out and hug.  I remained in my car and we talked for some time.  

This lifted my spirits more than anything I could have imagined.

Then, when I returned home, this was waiting for me.

This was made by my "old" college friend, Chayo.  Her business is Chayo's Ceramics in Portland, Oregon.  We lived in neighboring dorm rooms our Freshman year at Pacific Lutheran University.  Neither of us were happy with the opportunities offered there, so both of us transferred to Washington State University where she graduated in Art and I in Clothing and Textiles.  I have not seen her since my wedding in 1972!!!!  I'm so glad I persisted in my search for her.  At least she does not have a common name and Facebook did the job for me.  I love her work, and have wanted something for some time.  Then I thought to myself, why not?  What are you waiting for?  So this little tumbler is perfect for my morning cuppa Joe.

So, it is Thursday.  Be thankful for what you have.  Keep thinking and growing.  Tell all your friends and family how much you love them.  And keep on Trukin'.

TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY

I know, I know it is Wednesday.  And how do I know that?  Because, thank goodness, it tells me so on the upper corner of my computer.  Otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

So, Treasure Hunt Tuesday was coined by a former neighbor of mine from Nooksack.  The local thrift store, Second Chance, opens it's doors on Tuesdays after decorating the store on Mondays.

Well, they used to.  Many of us have made Tuesday mornings a social event.  I'm always looking for this and that and doo dahs, but the best is seeing friends and getting hugs.  Hugs need to last for 20 seconds to be effective in love, relieving stress, and well-being.  I always came away refreshed and feeling loved.

Here are a few of the doo dahs I have acquired there and am awaiting the inspiration to incorporate them into something awesome.  Sometimes I have these things around for years before the spirit moves me.

So, here I sit, eating my favorite breakfast:  2 poached duck eggs on a bed of sautéed vegetables.

And, of course, coffee in my Cougar Cup.

Planning my busy day ahead, ahem.

Yesterday I went to my friend's place to see her garden.  It is so gorgeous.  I like to joke about visiting my garden there, because I gave her so many of my perennials when I left the farm.  She also has about a 1/2 acre garden for flowers and veges.  She gave me this flat of starts that she didn't need.  My Sweet Peas are doing well, but I don't have as many as I would like and it is too late to start them by seed.

So, today I will plant these.  Yesterday I planted zucchini and spaghetti squash and will train them to climb on my bed springs.  I'm only allowed pot gardens since I rent.  My back deck is prime territory, and I will share more of it later.

Listening to Dixie Chicks on Pandora this morning.

Keep singing and dancing.  Good for the soul.

FELTING SNAFUS

This is my favorite coffee cup these days.  Things just go better with a good cuppa.  I'm drinking a lot, but mostly decaf, so I don't feel too guilty.

I bought this piece of felt at an estate sale and thought I could use it for some projects, as long as I touched up the felting.  So here it is, in the well, ready to start felting.  Sadly, it is not made of 100% protein fiber, and all my work was to no avail.  It will become a very big needle felting project.

Not to be dismayed, I made three 12x12" pieces and will probably make more today.  I have a great project in mind for these.

Bah!

It has rained, and rained, and rained.  My spirits have been lifted by the recent warm, sunny weather, and down they slid with the rain.

I really like this.  I have a large piece of felt that I need to work on, and I think I will use this as inspiration.  This will be a long project.

I have been reading that men don't like to wear masks because it makes them appear weak.  Hmmm, that is probably why the 45th doesn't wear one.  So any hoo, this is my son, Michael, ready to head to the grocery store.  He is the only one in his family that goes shopping.  My friend made the mask and he really likes it.  He is not weak, nor does he worry about appearing so.

This is my new wind chime that I made from doo dahs and this and thats.  I like to string beads and hang them in my tree.  I was inspired by the spirit garden in A LITTLE CHAOS.  If you haven't seen that movie, do.  It's wonderful.

So, what shall I do today?  I am withdrawing from a drug I have taken for 8 years, and it is not a pleasant experience.  The fatigue is overpowering, and the pain intense.  And, I don't get much sleep, accompanied by anxiety.  Research has shown me that this could go on for another two weeks or months.  It's hard enough to keep a positive attitude during these COVID times, but if I can keep busy, I will survive!!

THERE'S A SMELL IN THE AIR

I was a bit groggy when I woke up this morning.  So groggy that I placed my coffee cup upside down on the Keurig.  This is how I get my house cleaned.  Accidents lead to work.

These are the flowers that I collected for Mother's day,  including the carnation brought to me by the Instacart delivery woman.  Below are the remaining Alliums from my back deck.  The honey bees love them.

It is the time to battle the Yellow Jacket.  I have discovered from a friend that they are terrified of wasps, and will avoid them.  So, I have knitted a fake wasp nest and will hang it beneath my eaves on the back deck.  It's not really the right color, so I consider it the sampler.  I will be receiving a mushroom colored yarn to make more.  Can you believe that?  I had to order yarn.

We have gone from several days of warm (HOT) weather, to dark grey rainy days.  You would think I have lived here long enough, but I always have to remind myself that I am in farm country when I go around trying to find where "that smell" is coming from.  It's pretty ripe today as the farmers have been spreading the manure the last few days.  I call it "Dairy Air".

So many of you know that I am on dating sites in my constant endeavor to find my last love.

It is very interesting, entertaining, and frustrating.  You must be on your toes to detect the scammers.  I don't take any chances, and it is almost impossible to meet up with someone in person these days. 

Today I read a profile and I want to share what he said about love at our age:

Mature love is not an emotion, but rather an act of will, upon which the emotion of Joy grows.

I  was touched, and wrote to him immediately.

My order is in with Costco and they will be delivering later this afternoon.  Really, my house is so stocked up.  I made a commitment to a plant based diet two weeks ago and I depend on fresh vegetables.

My egg lady will be delivering me two dozen duck eggs today.  Life is good.

I started my day with MSNBC , but quickly changed to Mozart on Pandora.  Now it is B.B. King to add some energy.

Blessings to ALL.

Keep your chins up.

Find something positive to celebrate.

WELLNESS DURING THE CORONA VIRUS.

On March 18, 2020, I started a journal, keeping track of my emotions and needs during home lockdown.  I reviewed it today, and it is so depressing.  So, I have decided to re-activate my blog and keep track of my "happenings" here.

I began my self imposed "lock down" on March 2, earlier than most.  I can still see the expression on a friend's face when I told her she could not come in my house.  It was a sad day, and remains so.

She will drop by occasionally and we will converse through my kitchen window.  With the nicer weather, we have found that visiting outdoors, practicing social distancing, is a great solution to the "lonelies".

 

This is my favorite magazine.  It is the work of an organic farmer from the Moscow, Idaho area.  Since I recently embraced a plant based diet, this magazine is very helpful withe wonderful recipes and gardening ideas.  This issue, under the Health and Wellness News, contains an article on how social connections enhance physical health.  To quote:  "Social relationships are adaptive and crucial for survival".  We must find ways to interact, whether it be in person, a cow's length away from  one another, phone calls to loved ones, and facetime on the phone.  That reminds me I must facetime my Grandson and his dog.

Have a wonderful day and be possitive.

Flower

This is Flower, a rescue dog belonging to my oldest and bestest friend, Kris.

She got Flower at the Shelton City Dog Shelter, where she had to enter her name in a drawing to get her.  Kris visited Flower every day, and by the time of the drawing, it seems they were destined to be together.

To me, Flower seemed to be the perfect dog for Kris.  Please forgive me, Kris, but she even resembled you in some ways.  You know they say that people get dogs that look like them.

This picture was taken on a day that Flower was running around and around a big fir tree in order to get that dang squirrel.  She appeared at the front door looking like a Thanksgiving Day centerpiece, all decked out with fir branches and cones.

Flower's special gift was the ability to detect breast cancer.  Kris has a friend that Flower had gotten very personal with.  Every time she saw her, she would nuzzle both of her boobs.  Turns out this friend had cancer in both breasts.

Several years later, she started nuzzling Kris' left breast.  Kris remembered what had happened when Flower did that to her friend, so she made a doctor's appointment.  Sure enough, Kris had a small tumor.  After surgery, radiation, acupuncture and all the other things they recommend for those healing, Kris is in great health with a very small percentage for it re-occurring.

Thanks to Flower.

Sadly, Flower died shortly after Kris's surgery.

I always loved that dog, but especially because she was instrumental in saving my friends' life.

Hip Replacement and Weight Loss

I recently found out that I have to have a total hip replacement.  I'm really looking forward to it because I want to be mobile again.  I saw my surgeon on Tuesday, and let me tell you, he is drop dead gorgeous.  Young, of course, since everyone is young these days.  He looks a lot like Sheldon Cooper, but without the pinched look.  

Anyhow, he says I have to lose 30 pounds before the surgery.  I've already lost 30 pounds this year, but I want to do this quickly since I want to get this done soon.

I researched crash diets for surgery and found the Grapefruit Diet.  A bunch of us at work, back in my previous life, went on this many years ago.  I lost 20 pounds in two weeks!!!

I am hoping for the same success this time.

To help me along and to keep me on program, I am using a tool I used on my kids when they were young and it was December.

Oh, my gosh, on December 1st, they turned into little monsters.  My husband and I would look at each other and say "Where did our boys go?"

For several years, I would have them make a paper chain in green and red paper.  It consisted of 25 links.  Each boy was assigned a color, and each day, one link would be removed by the respective child.  This was amazingly effective.  It allowed them to see how long they had to wait.

Yesterday I made a chain for me consisting of 29 links, since I have already lost one pound.  I didn't have any nice paper on hand so I had to use tablet papers.

So, I am hoping to complete this by Christmas.  It would be the best of presents for me and my family.

Anyone want to join me?

They're BAAAAAACK!!!

My next topic was going to be:  How do you know when you have killed all of the parasites?

I don't know.

I know I was feeling so much better there for awhile, and then the pain in my hips and legs became so bad, I knew they were back.

I don't sleep at night, I cry all the time.  This is so miserable, why can't someone help me?

As I said before, the hardest part is finding someone to guide you and support you.

I discovered that  The Tahoma Clinic has a fellow who deals with parasites.  It's just down the street from me.  I have made an appointment to see him but that won't be until August 29th.

I have an appointment with my regular doc tomorrow, which will be wasted time.  I thought maybe, just maybe, I should see if I actually had something else going on in my hip.  Then this morning I googled Joint pain and parasites.  And this article appeared!!!  http://www.angelaburleson.com/parasites.html
Validation, my friends.

TREMORS, PART II

Oy vey.

I was just reading that if you are elderly or have autoimmune issues, you probably shouldn't do a cleanse since it can make conditions worse.  Since I was so sick with them, I feel I made the best decision in doing a cleanse.  Since killing the worms, I am very toxic and I need to get those toxins out of my body.  Methods I have used:

cupping

Lymphatic massage,

reflexology massage

Infrared light wraps.

Daily epsom salt baths

Now it is time that I build up my system and repair the damage that has been done.

Last week, after having a reflexology massage, I was so sick and in so much pain.  It's hard work to expel the toxins.

Over the course of the last 6 months, I have had many, many massages.  I am finding that the massage therapists, for the most part, share my belief that the worms live in the soft tissue and only go to the stomach or intestines to feed.  I can tell you, or point out, every part of my body where I believe the worms were in residence.  Yes, I could feel them moving around.  Under my ribs, my left foot, my right thigh and hip. 

It could be a major cause of arthritis.

That brings up the point.  What kind of worm do I have?  I don't know.  I took in pictures, actual worms and many, many fecal samples for evaluation, but the lab always came back negative for human parasite.  From my research, this is very common.  And, the doctors will not medicate you unless they know exactly what worm you have.

So back to the detoxing.  I have developed skin issues, a result I assume of the toxins trying to leave the body through the pores.  Now I itch.  Rashes are common.  I don't see a rash but I sure have the itches.

Oh, and hair loss.  I put my order in for Keranique.  Hope to see results.

You would think that after getting rid of them, the symptoms would go away, but they linger on.  I want to emphasize this, since it has been a long haul for me.  I was hoping for a "cure" in 15 days.

Back to my nutritionist.  I came to Suzie with a suitcase of problems.  I was in the middle of my first cleanse, and I had just been diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis.  Suzie and I worked on nutrition, digestion, and the importance of healthy fats.

She then started me on the SPECIFIC CARBOHYDRATE DIET.  I'm not going to explain that since you can research it.  This diet, in addition to taking daily CBD drops (cannabis) has enabled me to reverse my condition.  I will still carry Kaopectate in my car just in case, but have not had a need for about 3 months.

This is very scattered today.  I'm not in a great writing mood.  But here is the thing.  I see so many people at the grocery stores in their motorized carts.  The are mostly obese.  And I think to myself, Wow, do they realize they can cure themselves with the proper diet?  They must be in so much pain.  I know, because I have the pain, too.  I am doing my best to conquer this with diet.  That does not mean 1200 calories a day.  It means avoiding the foods I am sensitive to, avoiding most carbohydrates, using healthy fats and buying organic whenever I can.  Thank goodness for Costco.

As I said, this has been pretty scattered.  I may or may not have a part III.  Now or later.  Sometimes I get really tired of talking about and dealing with this.  If I think of anything else constructive, I will write again.

Oh.  My tongue.  Well, that is where the worms came out, right?  And when I do a cleanse, my tongue turns brown and is very swollen.  So my doctor thought maybe I had cancer of the tongue, and I had a biopsy done.  That was not explained to me at the time.  The Doc who did the biopsy felt we might be able to determine the type of worm.  No one said cancer until after the fact.  Of course it wasn't.  My tongue hurt so bad for two weeks.  Can you imagine?

So, the last advice I got from my Western Doctor was to get mental health counseling, because she, like so many, think I am nuts and it is all in my head.

But I have pictures!!!!

TREMORS

Remember the movie TREMORS with Kevin Bacon?  Those giant worms wreaked havoc on the countryside.  Worms in humans can also be devastating.  My friend thinks that I should share my experience so that others can learn from it.  Since my biggest challenge has been in getting good advice, this is a good idea.  The only help and support I have gotten is from the internet.  Thank goodness for GOOGLE.  This is a long story, so I will be writing it in parts.

Parasites in Humans

PART I

5 years ago I started getting sick.  Weird things happening that sent me to the ER on several occasions.  Severe pain under and around my ribs.  Difficulty breathing.

Total lack of energy.

No help from the doctors.

Meanwhile I developed high blood pressure, High cholesterol and low thyroid.  Seems like every time I turned around I was getting another medication.

And the anxiety and depression joined the crowd.  It's natural when you feel so terrible and don't know what is wrong.

In 2014, after another trip to the ER, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease which attacks your thyroid, preventing it from doing it's job.

At my Doctor's advice, I started working with a Naturopathic doctor who specializes in thyroid disease.  I had her stumped.  We could not come up with a treatment that helped me.

All this time, I was fighting edema in my legs and rib area.

In late 2015 I suddenly gained 40 pounds in the course of 6 weeks.  I googled "sudden wight gain".  One of the topics was "Are parasites making you fat?"  Obviously, I did not give this article enough attention.  I kept going to my doctor, a new one now since I was on Medicare and was able to get decent insurance through the ACA.  I'm really trying to keep this short, believe me.  I was tested for every disease or condition you can imagine.  My legs looked like tree trunks and I was suffering from a lot of pain in my hips and legs.  Finally, the internist I had been referred to told me to cut out the salt.

Okay,

In June of 2016 I went to another Naturopathic doctor.  She did a ton of blood tests and the results showed numerous food sensitivities, candida, Immunity levels in the basement, Vit D and 

B12 deficiencies, and an inability to absorb nutrients.  She put me on a number of supplements and a diet avoiding the foods I was sensitive to.  I will not give you the entire list.  The big ones are dairy, eggs, beef, lamb and beans.

Three months later I developed diarrhea and had it for 6 weeks.  I finally got a referral to a Gastroenterologist.  I was due for a colonoscopy, so we decided to start there.  He did a biopsy and discovered I have lymphocytic colitis.  The drugs to treat this cost over $1000 a month, and they are steroids, so I opted out and decided to work with diet.

At this point, I decided to start working with a Licensed Nutritional Therapist, Suzie Bauer of The Tasty Remedy.

Also at this time I was drinking bone broth.  To treat the candida, I found a great recipe for healing broth that was very spicy.  A day after taking it for the first time, I found white worms coming out of my tongue.  OMG!!!!  This was terrible.  I picked up a parasite cleanse from my local vitamin shoppe and started a cleanse.  One night, I had worms come out of my neck, my chest and my feet.  The cleanse creates an environment that the worms do not like, and they were trying to get the hell out of there.  So begins the frustrating journey of trying to clean my body of these invaders. Everyone asks me where I could have gotten the worms from.  Well, 50% of Americans have them!  Most of the time, you do not show any symptoms.  But, as the worms multiply and the load grows, the symptoms appear.  I was also an alpaca breeder, which put me in contact with alpaca poop on a daily basis.  And,there was that trip to Peru.  I could just as well have gotten them from a grocery cart or door handle.

Here were my symptoms:

fatigue

gas and bloating

constipation

pain in joints, muscles and bones

changes in my vision

brain fog

balance problems

swelling

weight gain. 

Inability to lose weight

Okay, so these could be symptoms of so many things, but remember, I had been tested.  

I am going to end this for today.  I'll be back tomorrow or the next day for Part II.

PACKING ON THE POUNDS

It’s a rare day when a woman wants to talk about her weight, unless she is bragging about her weight loss.  Well, I am here  to tell you about all of the weight I have gained over the years, how miserable I am, and the probable cause.

I started gaining weight when I was 40, averaging about 10 pounda a year.  By the time I weighed 268 pounds, I decided to get Lap Band Surgery.  It was wonderful at first.  I lost a total of 50 pounds, which isn’t very much for a person having bariatric surgery.  That loss caused me to Lose my gall bladder, having emergency surgery in 2007.  Then I started gaining weight again.

Keep in mind, with a lap band, you can usually only eat a cup of food at a sitting.  So why was I gaining weight.  Of course, the death of my husband caused a lot of stress, but really?

I went to my doctor and told her I had gained 10 pounds in a month, and that it hurt.  She ran some blood tests and said I had a slightly low thyroid.  Getting thyroid medication did not help me, and the pain persisted. In the next two years I made three trips to the ER with severe pain and difficulty breathing.

And the beat goes on.  Still no answer.  My legs were swollen like tree trunks, and my abdomen was so swollen, it was difficult to bend over.  The doctor I was seeing here in Tukwila told me to go home and drink herbal tea and calm down.

Last year I qualified for Medicare and joined Group Health.  The doctor I was set up with was okay, but pretty much the same old thing.  Then she retired and I was placed with a Physician’s Assistant.  I went to see her about getting off my blood pressure medication since it was making me cough.  She looked at my records and said “You take Mirapex?  It’s notorious for causing edema.”  A year and a half ago I had gone to a neurologist for that reason, since the medication is for restless legs.  I have been taking it since I was 40.  The neurologist I saw who was not with Group Health, said there was no connection.

So.  Here I am now, I weigh more than I did when I had my lap band and I am miserable.  It could take quite some time for the edema to subside, but I am hopeful.  I want change over night.  I’m transitioning to a new medication and that has made the condition worse.

I need your good vibes and prayers to give me the strength and optimism to get through this.  It has been a long haul.

The Tukwila Trailers

I am so lucky to have the Tukwila Community Center just down the street from us.

They have some amazing activities there, but I will only concentrate on the Tukwila Trailers for now.

This is a group for senior women.  We meet every Monday, regardless of the weather, and head out for a vigorous walk or hike.  I am so lucky.  Ever since I joined them, we've only had two days of inclement weather.  You just dress for it, and carry on.

On the way to Thompson Falls

There are usually 14 of us, a full van load.  Sometimes we have more and have to take a second van.  At 8:45 we load up and ride to the location chosen for that day.  We have gone as far as Cle Elum to the East, Olympia to the south, Bellingham to the north, and Kingston to the west.

Denny Creek

We hike for 2 hours.  I am the baby of the group at 65 years.  Our oldest member is 87.  These women inspire me.  I'm pretty bummed out right now since I'm having a lot of hip pain and can't join in until I do some physical therapy and feel better.  I have moderate arthritis and bone spurs in my right hip.  How the heck do we get bone spurs?  Guess I need to Google that.

This picture is at the Tacoma Waterfront.  I thought it was of the bicycle mounted way up on that piling, but I guess I picked the wrong one.  Scenery is the same, though.  I love walking along the waterfront, with the smell of the salt water and the sight of seals and dolphins.

If this weekend is any indication of what our weather is going to be like this year, we will have many wet hikes.  I do have rain gear, so I will be fine.

After the hike, we go to a nice restaurant for lunch.  It's a full day with a wonderful group of women.

Stuk in the Tuk

I had thought about starting a new blog, since my life has changed so drastically in recent years, but it was too much work.  So, I will keep Fiberfabrications with a sub title of Stuk in the Tuk.  Stuck in the Tuk is a phrase young people use to describe life in Tukwila.  And to be honest, that was how I initially felt when I moved in with Terry.  Tukwila?  Really?  But as time has gone by, and I have made friends and gotten involved with volunteer work, I realize this is my calling.  I was meant to be here.  At least for now.  Tukwila is a diverse and multi cultural community, with over 35 languages spoken in the grade schools alone.  What a sight to drive by the Community Center and see a soccer team of young girls all dressed in their black burkas.

Last month, Terry went on a tuna fishing trip out of Westport, and came home with 275 pounds!  Needless to say, we have been very busy since then, freezing and canning.  I am attempting to get 40 jars a day done, but we had a week of sidetrack when both our furnace and water heater broke.  The hot water is back, but we are still waiting for our new furnace, which should arrive tomorrow.  Fortunately, this has been a very mild year, and we are doing fine without heat for now.

We bought a boat last spring and have been so happy with that decision.  Besides fishing and crabbing and filling up the freezer with salmon and crab, we enjoy picnics on the boat while cruising around Mercer Island, admiring the multi million dollar homes.  The other 1%.  But, as Terry likes to say, they are all at work, and we are here, enjoying the beautiful day.

Here is my grandson, Cadel.  We were giving him a safety lesson before he gets to go out in the boat with us.  Our schedules just didn't jive this year, but he is ready to help Granny drive the boat next year.

HASHIMOTOS WOES

It's been difficult to have a positive attitude lately.  We have been having a hard time getting my thyroid kick started.  In November and December, things were going well, and then I had a setback.  The meds weren't working, and I reacted adversely to any new ones we tried.  I had gone down two sizes, but gradually took it all back in.  My worst problem with this disease is the swelling from inflamation.  The edema is so severe, it is painful.  I know when I wake up each morning how I am going to do by how badly my ribs hurt.  My toes feel like I could poke them with a pin and they would squirt water.  I wish it were that easy.

HOWEVER,

I think I sabotaged myself.  I gave up on my diet, truly believing that what I ate did not affect my symptoms.  I continued to be gluten and dairy free, for the most part.  I love tomatoes, and I wanted to not be affected by them.  Dumb, but I finally have to admit that the nightshade vegetables are a big issue for me.

So, I am back on the Paleo Leap again.  I am also drinking 10 ounces of coconut water a day to help with the swelling.  I was whining the other day about how yucky it had gotten to be, when my husband started singing "Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up".  Well, darn, if it doesn't make it more palatable.  I had been adding lemon, but lime is much better.  In addition to the coconut water, I am taking 400mg of Potassium at night.

I had a family event to go to on Saturday, and I could not fit into any of my clothes.  I went in to Nordstroms, where I don't usually shop, but I needed help.  I started crying when I told the clerk what I needed.  She was amazing, and set me up with a beautiful orange skirt, an aqua tank top, and a multi colored floral cardigan.

Three days later, I am down two sizes again.

Yesterday I went on my Monday hike with the Tukwila Trailers, a group of senior women who go out hiking for two hours every Monday, rain, snow, or shine.  I love this group.  I was dismayed to discover I had very little energy, and found myself bringing up the rear.  Fatigue is my second worst symptom.

After we hike, we all go out to lunch.  This is also very difficult, since it is hard to find something on the menu I can eat.  I'm finding a bacon burger without bun, tomato or cheese will be good.  Or, a salad is a good option.  Yesterday the fist bite of my salad told me it was from a bag, and often, those bagged salads have sulfites in them.  I swelled up on the way home in the van.

Sigh.