wacko hormones~!

I went back to my doctor on June 13th , and she switched my antifungal again to the strongest Ketoconazole that I haven't had since last spring. She also upped my thyroid to 120mg. I had a lot of fatigue the few few weeks which I could attribute to detox, but eh, who knows at this point. My hair started falling out with abandon about a week ago *sigh* so it's either the increase in thyroid making my hormones go wacko or maybe it's just all part of being 45 and in perimenopause.

I am the strongest I've been, probably ever, mostly from the pilates and or holding yoga poses longer during the BodyFlow classes I take at the Y (http://www.lesmills.com/westcoast/en/members/bodybalance/bodybalance-group-fitness-program.aspx). The pilates take brute strength, some of them, and I can see how I've grown with the program as most of the classes have done just two routines the last 5 months because the instructors are new to teaching BodyFlow. There are now 2 instructors that have been teaching BodyFlow longer, and they mix it up with older routines, which makes it more challenging to use different muscles on those days. But, doing the same routines really allows you to watch your body progress. As a Christian, I'm opposed to what the yoga poses mean, but I haven't found a better exercise program that gives me the stretching and increased flexibility. The Y also waters the classes down to be just that, a stretching class. I've noticed that the instructors don't say "namaste" anymore either. Perhaps it was due to my comment to the Y that they are based on Judeo-Christian values, and yet, saying "namaste" can be translated into "I will follow you", not something God wants for us to follow anyone but Him.

I still T-Tapp when I can motivate myself to workout at home, but that happens maybe once a week. When I go to BodyFlow, I do warm-up with T-Tapp's primary back stretch to unkink my spine and get the neurokenetics going so my nerve to muscle is more optimal. I also put my spine back into alignment with some T-Tapp twist (both moves on this dvd: https://store.t-tapp.com/products/Basic-Workout-Plus.html ). With just these two moves before class, I open up my nervous system more so yes, I'm sweating by the end of the warm-up. T-Tapp's also given me fabulous body awareness to make minute body alignment adjustments that pay off big. I push my knee to little toe that others in the class probably cannot see. Also a tucked tush, ribs up and really pushing the muscles in all these moves while in alignment really makes you sweat~! If you let your body go to the point of least resistance, of course it will be a much easier workout, and most people just don't even realize they are letting their bodies do just that.

For the BodyFlow floor work, I always do T-Tapp's Organs-in-place (http://www.t-tapp.com/articles/flatstomach/ ). It's a really quick move that keeps you from developing a rounded tummy. I also always take my Pyruvyl Glycine spray with me to give myself more endurance (https://store.t-tapp.com/products/Pyruvyl-Glycine.html ) I noticed a huge difference in endurance when I started taking it 5 years ago during workouts, and it's helpful in burning fat as well--another reason I sweat more too~!

For moving and sweating as much as I do it's really frustrating that I'm not at my goal size like I was last year. So, I'm praying for hormonal balance and a working thyroid~!

Dieting Tips and etc from Mary Shomon

I thought Mary's recent teleconference call was worthy of referencing. She's now a T-Tapper too~! I prefer T-Tapp's alfalfa for the all-in-one pill worthy for diruetics, fiber, hormone balance for hot flashes and anti-cancer properties vs. a host of thing Mary mentioned. You just have to be sure to take the alfalfa 4-6 hours after thyroid because the iron content in it will interfere with thyroid med absorbtion.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/conference/may192008.htm

B-12 deficiency

I had a regular 3-month update with my thyroid doctor. I'm feeling so much better than a year ago, yet still not perfect. I can't get away with cheating on eating dairy, which I have gotten used to not eating, but sometimes....a party, event, or ya, I just gotta, lol. She told me to triple my digestive enzymes when I cheat to help my stomach to break down the cheese before it hits my intestines.

But, I mentioned how much my joints hurt, which was new in the last week or so in my hips and feet. I thought my shoulder hurt the last 6 weeks from injury. My doctor diagnosed me with bursitis due to vitamin b-12 deficiency. I have been extremely busy the last month so it makes sense that the stress could have depleted my b-12 reserves beyond what I could replenish with my usual sublingual. My doc gave me my first b-12 shot. The results were pretty well amazing. The pain in my hips and shoulder pretty well subsided within 6 hours of the shot.

I guess b-12 deficiency has been pretty well documented with thyroid disorders: http://www.naturopathydigest.com/archives/2008/oct/schor.php

My doctor told me to be more consistent with the sublingual. I love T-Tapp's b-12 https://store.t-tapp.com/products/B%252d12-Plus.html especially when traveling by car. It's way better than caffeine for a boost in energy. It doesn't have the time-costing side-effect of having to empty my bladder due to the diruetic effect of caffeine laced drinks as well.

Most b-12 treatments require more than one shot. Because I don't go in to the doctor's every month, I'm considering a stronger b-12 supplement. http://www.b12patch.com/ The patch from this site looks like a shot-strength b-12 in a patch. It's hard not to have as much energy as I used to, and I can't imagine it's all due to aging when I see what others my age bracket seem to accomplish.

I haven't exercised as much as normal the last month either. I have lost weight since April, but I still feel chubby over last summer's results. I'm probably 5-10lbs over where I was (I'm not one to use the scale) I'm hoping the extra b-12 could help me in that arena as well. I see these women my age and older at the gym take 2 classes in a row and seem to be there no matter which time I go. I guess I used to do 90 minutes of T-Tapp with no problem...I'd like to get back to that~!

It's been a whole year~!

I started my anti-yeast regimen a whole year ago last week. My doctor took some blood for tests and I got to see where my levels are. Good news is that I do, in general, feel better, but the bad news is that I'm far from healed. My yeast levels are still high and some of my food allergy levels that were low went up. Some had improved so it's not all bad, but still not what I was hoping for after a year's worth of treatment. My doctor switched my enzymes to Ortho Molecular Products Ortho Digestzyme. They have some stomach acid helpers and liver bile extracts. She said one of the biggest problems is my food is not digesting far enough along in my stomach. My age certainly plays a role in the length of time for healing, and that I did not get into this situation in a short time either. Life would not be so challenging if the American diet was more um, ethnic, lol. Chinese and Mexican foods have been staples since I can eat corn and rice. Some things I truly don't miss, but there are times I do want those forbidden foods, which for other people don't pose a problem - namely dairy, wheat and eggs~!

I've also been fighting illness the last several weeks. My oldest had the flu for 2 weeks, and although I never got the flu as he had, I sure did feel the fight. My immune system seemed to hold on as I fed it oil of oregano, vitamin c and elderberry. I also took as many FIR saunas as I could squeeze in. This past week, I've had terrible sinus pressure, which I have since found others with the same symptoms. It's another virus going around I suppose. My middle son has that one as well. I put ASAP silver drops into my eyes which seemed to brighten them up overnight. I'm still congested, but hopefully it will pass and not turn into any kind of infection. My doctor put me on a stronger anti-fungal for a month hoping that would help me boost my immune system as well.

The weather will turn warm again next week into the 80s. That will do my body good as I do LOVE the heat~!

Pills~!

These are my boxes of night-time supplements. I have 2 boxes because we've gone on 2-week trips, so now I just have to organize my supplements once every two weeks. My doctor wants me to take cod liver oil everyday, so I take 4,000mg each night. I also take two calcium/magnesium tabs, a vit. e/selenium pill, vitamin D pill and a vitamin c tablet. I love that I don't have to think each night about what I need to take from all the bottles. And, it's easy when I travel to know that I have enough of everything for each day. I used to just lay my thyroid pill on the side table but it has it's own mini glass bowl. It looks like something an Aisan diner would use for condiments. I bought it at IKEA. It just makes it easier to find in the morning without opening my eyes, hehe, since taking my thyroid pill is the first thing I do every morning. Having to wait an hour before eating is a pain at times when I need to eat something before an early workout class, so if I awaken at all in the early morning hours before needing to get up. I go ahead and take my pill.

This is my box of daytime pills. I have to take a probiotic, enzymes x 3, an anti-fungal x 3, and an intestional rebuilder x 2, each day. I also take Better Body Basics alfalfa, 1000mg of vit C, a hair growth supplement, calcium/magnesium and a CQ10. The buttons represent the powdered intestional rebuilder which is a powder. Having them in each day allows me to keep track better of what I have taken for that day. I also don't have to go through all the bottles each day, but just once a week, which is the best no-brainer part of taking pills this way.

how to take thyroid meds

who knew??

6. Be careful about taking calcium and calcium-fortified orange juice at the same time as thyroid hormone. Allow at least 2-3 hours apart, so absorption is not affected.

I started taking a cal/mag pill in the morning about an hour after my thyroid pill. I take a whole passel of pills in the morning when I eat breakfast. I usually take my cal/mag at night, but decided to up the dosage to the recommended amount of 3 with one taken in the morning. I saw my energy dip, which could have been due to a number of other things too, but the last two days I have felt better throughout the day while taking my cal/mag pill at lunch. And, my alfalfa, I can't take that either with the iron levels of it being high. I should check the new hair growth supplement my doctor ok'ed as well. Maybe I'll just opt to take most of my passel at lunch. Lesson learned~!

Here's more insight from a fave newsletter on thyroid health: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/thyroiddrugs/ht/takemeds.htm

Flu the coop~!

Lots of people around here a sucumbing to the flu, strep or other nasty viruses. My son in fact had a virus about a month ago and I managed to skid past it. I had a headache for 2 days this week, but it did not turn into anything else by taking my arsenal of health supplements.

While healing my gut, I have been taking 1000mg of vitamin c every day. I have found a brand that is easy on my stomach. http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=1782 Emergen-c is another brand of vitamin c I love, but it has other vitamins and minerals in it. Personally, I do not take more than 4 a day when i am sick, 2 when I am well. http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=3407&at=0 I prefer the raspberry or lemon lime flavors. Emergen-C also makes an "Immune Defense" variety. http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=302134&id=prod2303786 And, one specifically for kids http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=3406&at=0.

When someone around me is sick, or I hear a virus is going around in our area....I take a couple capsules of elderberry a day. I prefer this brand: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=1483 I heard about elderberry from Dr. David Williams at DrDavidWilliams.com years ago how it builds your immunity to bypass sickness being passed around. You can also use the elderberry syrup liquid, which I give to my pill-hating kiddos. Elderberry can also help curb sickness once you are already ill as well.

The other two things I line up for me or my kids are Oil of oregano and ASAP Silver. We have used oil of oregano for about 10 years. Our middle son had allergies and the Claritin the doctor prescribed was putting him to sleep at school. We started giving him the oil of oregano, and it cleared up the allergies without side effects. Oil of oregano is anti- viral, fungal, bacterial and parasitic. It's pretty effective against many illnesses. I like to take 5 drops twice a day in a bit of juice, with a juice chaser. Just don't sip it~! It will affect your lips. I give the kids 2-3 drops twice a day, depending on their age. We have tried a few different brands, but find the one by North American Spice Company tastes and works the best. http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=7704 Many health food stores sell it but it will cost more, about $30 instead of iherb's best price.

I decided to try the ASAP Solution around 2003. I remember I had a really bad case of food poisoning that year and continued to throw up until it dawned on me that I had this new thing in the cupboard I could try. Twenty minutes later, my gut was completely settled. It kills e. coli among many other bacteria, and it kills only the bad bacteria. It only takes 1/2 teaspoon at most as well. It is also the one thing I can put into my eye to take care of a stye or other eye infection. It works very quickly for me as well. I always make sure I take it when I travel. I took my travel bottle to a friend and put two droppers in each person's mouth who was throwing up from the flu. They didn't hurl again~! It's fabulous I tell ya~! I use this brand only because I'm assured that it's a safe level of silver. http://natrhealth.com/immune.html

This company above also sells a wonderful salve called PAV®. PAV® helps any skin condition including burns, acne, warts, skin tags, infections, athlete's foot, nail fungus, insect bites, stings, cuts, and rashes to name a few. PAV® is made only from the purest ingredients…pure natural Tree Resin, Olive Oil, and Petrolatum. (Petrolatum is a FOOD GRADE thickening agent.) It immediately takes the sting out of any cut or wound for me. I put it on a bee sting one summer, and it never swelled. I just kept reapplying the PAV® and the sting was healed within 24 hours. I love their new Super PAV® oil because it heals skin conditions even faster, being the strongest PAV® available. http://www.natrhealth.com/miraclesalve.html

My kids don't take vitamins but they do take Yummi Bears. http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=5809 They are made up of fruit and vegetable phytonutrients. I can't say how much they help against illness.....All I know is my kids are rarely sick, and they enjoy taking these gummies. I also like their fiber bears. My son got on a bout of constipation during the 12-day power outage of Hurricaine Ike last fall from not eating as well as we usually do. They worked great in no time, and it was easier on my mind to give him something "natural" vs. a medication like the doctor recommended. He has continued to take them a few times a week for maintenance. Even with serving vegetables and fruits, I doubt he gets enough fiber daily. http://www.iherb.com/productdetails.aspx?c=1&pid=5816&utm_source=gb&utm_medium=f2

In addition to my supplements I use for myself and my family....I know moving my body is very important to elimination of toxins as well. I exercise as often as I can manage in my schedule. My favorite exercise program is T-Tapp because it combines strength and cardio in one program. It also doesn't affect my knee because you never do more than 8 reps. It gets harder as you use your own body's isometric contraction to work smarter. http://www.ttapp.com/ I also like stretching classes when I need to get out of the house with other people. I do stretching type classes. I tried a ballet class, which was great for my core, but there were too many pliés for my knee. I just started a weight class using very lightweight weights so I don't bulk up. I want to focus on strengthening my upper body and this class seems to be working.

I also already posted an entry on my Far-Infrared saunas, which I whole heartedly believe helps boost your body's immune system by putting it into a fake sense of reality of a low grade fever. My body spits out white blood cells in response to the body's high temperature.

Of course my mightiest weapon is the power of prayer. I believe my Mighty Creator answers my prayers of healing and good health because His son took on the sins of the world to heal us all once we put our faith in Him. 1 Peter 2:24 (New International Version)
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.