Getting healthy

Now that we know what is wrong with me and how it affects my health, weight and fertility, we can tackle the major issues.  Because everything is connected, an improvement in one area will impact many of the other conditions in a positive way.

None of these problems require medication or surgery, so there was no need to see a doctor.  Apart from a few vital natural remedies, the treatment consists of sound nutrition and good lifestyle habits.  We are letting the body heal itself, something it is designed to do when given the right tools.

I was very pleased to hear that nutritionally I was on the right track.  I should indeed be eating a predominantly plant-based, dairy-free, whole-food, high-raw diet.  The reason why improvement has been slow in the past is because of my poor absorption of nutrients – I need the nutrients to get everything working perfectly again.  I need the enzymes from plenty of raw food and vegetables and I need plenty of essential fatty acids in the form of nuts, seeds, avocados, olives and flax oil.  This is no time to cut calories – I should be feeding my body well so that it can get better.  Then the weight will come off, because my appetite, metabolism, blood sugar, liver, etc. will be working properly.

Of course, having been eating this way for a while is an enormous bonus.  I would have continued to improve on my own, albeit very slowly.  The problem with that is that I used to get frustrated and flame out from time to time, which of course slowed down my progress even more.

Remember that I mentioned flaccid arteries?  Well, that is because I have been slack with regards to cardio.  If you want your arteries to be toned, you have to raise your heart rate for at least 20 minutes most days.  Exercise will also greatly improve the functioning of the lymphatic system.  And did you know that cardiovascular exercise stimulates 18 different hormones in the body?  It is especially beneficial to the thyroid gland.  So, I’m back in the saddle as far as exercise is concerned.  I’m not going to kill myself  – it’s all about sustainability for me.  And having fun of course!  Thanks for the music recommendations – I’m loving my iPod and it will go a long way towards keeping me active.

She was very pleased that I was taking barley grass powder.  I think I’ll do a post about the benefits of green juice powders in the near future, but for now just now that it’s probably the healthiest thing you can put into your body and it goes a long way towards helping maintain the acid/alkaline balance in the body and preserving the bones.  She made me double up my dosage.

For the low progesterone I had been using a natural progesterone cream.  She kept me on it.

For both the pituitary and the liver she prescribed specific herb and enzyme preparations, available from select pharmacies.  They are designed to restore their normal function, so I won’t have to take them for a very long time.  My friend T also had very poor pituitary function, but showed significant improvement after one month.  In fact, she fell pregnant in the second month she was using the product.  I think in my case it may take longer, since I’ve had these problems for many years.

The parasite infestation is probably the easiest to treat.  Did you know that an estimated 90% of people have intestinal parasites?  We get them from poorly washed produce (even if it’s organic!), meat, our pets, soil (when gardening), inadequately treated water, etc.  A diet consisting of lots of animal products, refined sugars and flours and processed foods will cause them to multiply out of control and affect your health in numerous ways.  For instance, they steal your nutrients, which is why I hadn’t been benefiting as I should have from my nutrient-dense diet.  I wrote a post about parasites and the implications for our health and weight two years ago.  I did a parasite cleanse in January and I’m curious to see how effective the product she recommended was when I visit her again.  I am now soaking all produce in an organic fruit and vegetable wash before using them.

As for the infections, I was not going to opt for antibiotics under any circumstances and she agreed with me.  Instead we are working towards strengthening my immune system with nutrition and a herbal and enzyme preparation that acts as a natural antibiotic.

There are a number of smaller issues which we will address in time.  To start with we concentrated on the major problems – parasites, liver and pituitary.  Sorting these out should go a long way towards clearing up the others (everything is connected, remember), but I’m sure she will have solutions if they are persistent.

I am seeing her again on Monday morning, so stay tuned for a progress report and an account of my experiences and observations over the eight weeks since starting the treatment.

Have a great weekend!

 

It’s all connected

Yesterday I listed all the things that are not functioning properly in my body (and you should read that post first before reading this one, to get the context).  At first glance it may seem like a daunting list, but the human body is an amazing, highly sophisticated organism and the good news is that most of those problems are connected.  You just have to know which ones to address first (and how to address them, of course) and the others will resolve themselves in due time.

This is of course the basis of holistic health – it’s all connected.  When we realize that, the notion that we need a different doctor for every part and system of our bodies seems ludicrous, especially when these doctors don’t work as a team!  It’s like having a different conductor for every section of an orchestra.

In my case, the first significant problem is my hormonal (endocrine) system.  Along with the central nervous system, the hormonal system control every process in our bodies and therefore a problem could impact our health profoundly.

The hypothalamus sits at the base of the brain and is in charge of hormone production (mine is rather wonky).  It produces regulating hormones which all act on the pituitary and it also controls:

  • body temperature
  • hunger and thirst
  • body weight
  • fluid balance
  • sexual function

The pituitary dangles from the hypothalamus by a little stalk.  The pituitary can be described as the Managing Director of the the endocrine system and as such regulates all the other glands – the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the pineal gland, the thymus, the adrenals, the pancreas and the reproductive glands.

The pituitary gland is directly responsible for:

  • helping the body utilize fats for energy (this affects weight and energy levels)
  • proper function of the liver and kidneys (remember, my liver is sluggish)
  • the production of growth hormone (which promotes healthy weight balance)
  • the formation of bone and cartilage
  • and plays a big role in ovulation  in women and in men the production of sperm and testosterone production .

If this gland doesn’t work properly (as is the case with me), not only will these functions be compromised, but all the other glands in the system will be affected to some degree.  A good example is the thyroid gland – the hormones that regulate this important gland (both stimulating and inhibiting) are manufactured in the pituitary.

So what does the thyroid do?  It is responsible for:

  • mental composure and alertness
  • strong and steady heart function, blood circulation, blood lipid levels
  • balancing the appetite (another thing that affects our weight)
  • bowel function (affects the liver if not working properly)
  • metabolism (affects body weight)
  • fluid balance (hello water retention!)
  • muscle strength
  • the ability to fight infection (remember those immune system issues I have?)
  • and for controlling calcium levels in the blood.

The pineal gland’s main function is to produce serotonin and melatonin, two neurotransmitters that make you feel good and sleep well (another problem for me).

The thymus gland produces the white blood cells needed for a healthy immune system (once again a problem for me).  Good quality sleep releases growth hormone from the pituitary and this hormone stimulates the the thymus to renew, repair and rejuvenate cells (but I’m not getting good quality sleep and my pituitary is not working properly).

When we talk about the adrenal glands, most people think about the fight-or-flight response, but these two glands have many other important functions.  They are responsible for:

  • helping to control sodium and potassium levels (which affect fluid balance)
  • regulating blood pressure
  • helping to control blood sugar levels (affects appetite and weight)
  • helping to mobilize fats for energy (as opposed to fat storage, which once again affects weight)
  • controlling inflammation and immune responses (back to the infections I have)

The chronic fatigue I have been experiencing can be attributed to the fact that my adrenals are probably not working very well.

The main job of the pancreas (both a gland and an organ) is to control blood sugar levels through the production of insulin.  It works together with the adrenal glands to prevent either low blood sugar or diabetes.   When you are insulin resistant (as I am), this part of the endocrine system is not working properly.  The pancreas has a powerful effect on appetite and therefore weight.  Another important function is the production of digestive enzymes.

So, the fact that my hypothalamus and pituitary glands aren’t working properly already explains a lot about my struggle to lose weight, my low progesterone levels (progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation, but if ovulation is not taking place…), my poor liver function, my tendency to retain water, my insulin resistance, the various infections in my body, my depressive episodes and my chronic fatigue.

Speaking of the liver, it too has many functions.  It:

  • synthesizes proteins to help maintain the volume of blood
  • synthesizes, stores and processes fats, including the essential fatty acids without which our bodies cannot function, and cholesterol (which is needed in the body to synthesize vitamin D)
  • metabolizes and stores carbohydrates, which are essential for the functioning of red blood cells and the brain
  • forms and secretes bile that aid in the intestinal absorption of fats and the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K (remember, I have an absorption problem)
  • eliminates by metabolizing and/or secreting waste from the many processes in the body, for instance the bilirubin from the breakdown of old red blood cells
  • detoxifies the body by metabolizing and/or secreting drugs (legal and illegal), alcohol, environmental toxins and food additives

When the liver is not functioning properly (as is the case with me) toxins are left circulating in the body, and they have a negative impact on the glands of the endocrine system, with the result that the body’s processes are affected, including the ones that control our weight.

This is just a simple overview of the significance of two of my health problems and how they cause so many of the others.  As you can see, everything is indeed connected.

Tomorrow I will fill you in on some of the other problems and their significance.

 

Sources:

-  Perfect Weight: The Natural Way by Mary-Ann Shearer

- Natural Solutions to Infertility by Marilyn Glenville

- The Truth about Hormones by Vivienne Parry

- MedicineNet.com

 

 

A helping hand on the road to health

Shortly after I got married in 2006 I joined a local (South African) fertility message board.  I learned so much there, but more importantly, I “met” so many interesting people.  One such person was T, who like me was holistically minded.  Although we live in the same city, we never met, but had several long and interesting phone conversations.  After trying for a number of years, T eventually got pregnant and had a baby boy.  We sort of lost contact.

Then, early in December I got a text message from T, announcing that Baby #2 was on its way.  I congratulated her by return text and she replied that she had to speak to me.  What she told me on the phone has changed my life.

Last year her sister, who had had recurrent miscarriages, was referred to a holistically minded biochemist, who diagnosed her problem and treated her with enzymes and sound nutrition.  She conceived within two months and must now be close to term.

T herself had been worried that she might take years to conceive her second baby too.  She had also been struggling to lose her baby weight from the first pregnancy.  Off she went to see this woman.  As she suspected there were some serious hormonal and other problems that had not only been affecting her ability to lose weight, but would have hindered conception.  In her second month on the enzyme therapy she conceived.

This biochemist works closely with a lot of doctors (general and specialist), who refer their patients to her for diagnosis and therapy.  When a health problem needs medical attention, she’d send a client to a doctor or specialist.  T’s husband, for instance wasn’t reacting well to his statin drug, and she picked it up and sent him back to his doctor.

T had referred a number of friends, with a wide range of health issues, some severe, to this lady and they had all made huge progress with their healing.  So, here she was telling me all that.

Of course I was intrigued. I made an appointment.

Before we got to the diagnostic part, we chatted about my health history, what medication, potions, lotions, supplements, etc. I was taking and what my diet and lifestyle was like.  She said that she strongly suspects that I have problems with my pituitary gland, given the way I carry my weight.  I wondered what that meant…

She also scolded me about neglecting to go to the dermatologist for regular mole checks, given my history.  I had to let her know when I’d made an appointment.

The test itself was conducted with a BEST machine, although she also refers people for lab tests if needed.  I want to say here that anyone out there can buy a BEST machine.  That doesn’t mean that they know what they’re doing.  I’ve since heard stories of laughable therapies and practices by some practitioners.  This woman’s best tool is her years of experience in biochemistry, especially in the field of fertility, and her knowledge of both allopathic and natural medicine, nutrition and lifestyle factors.  In other words, she’s a professional, who knows how to interpret, and prioritize in terms of treatment, the results from the machine.

So, after all these years, I found out what was wrong with me.  The list was alarmingly long:

- Very poor pituitary function

- Poor liver function

- Massive parasite infestation, predominantly giardia, but also others

- Low progesterone

- Rather flaccid arteries

- Water retention

- Chronic bacterial infection, probably from my botched appendix operation in 2004

- A rheumatoid infection

- Insulin resistance

- Severe dairy intolerance

- Slight fish intolerance

- Poor absorption of nutrients

- Poor functioning of the hypothalamus

- Sluggish lymphatic system

- Poor quality sleep (not deep enough)

I also happen to carry all the markers for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  That explains a lot!

I was amazed about the things the machine could pick up.  For instance, she could tell that I’d  had measles in the last decade (it was in 2003).

The good news was that my Follicle Stimulating Hormone levels indicate that I still have plenty of eggs available.  In fact, with weight loss and improved progesterone levels, I should be able to conceive in the not-too-distant future.  Of course I’m going to send my hubby to her, along with an updated sperm analysis.

In tomorrow’s post I will go into detail about what all of the above means, what the implications are for my health, weight and fertility and what we are doing to get me better.

As you can imagine, the emotional impact of finally knowing what is going on in my body is huge.  I came away from this appointment with a sense of total relief.  And a lot of …

 

 

Thank you for the music

Our Christmas presents arrived this weekend.  No, that’s not due to “Africa Time”, but rather due to some unforeseen circumstances.

I’ve wanted an iPod for years, but they’re so expensive over here.  When I learned that one of my cousins in America was coming to South Africa for Christmas, it felt like a great solution. We bought it from Amazon.com, had it delivered to my uncle along with a range finder (whatever that may be) for Craig – his Christmas present – and started compiling a list of all the songs I would like to download on my iPod.

And then her trip got postponed to May.

Fortunately, my friend Charlotte had to go to Salt Lake City for three weeks in January and my uncle sent her the stuff and she brought it back for us.   Yay!

So, now I am consumed by music. I even feel like taking my iPod for a walk around the neighborhood.

Apart from the iPod and the range finder, there was  a book I’d won on The Tippy Toe Diet, MegaYoga.  If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you will know that I’ve always been interested in yoga, but have never had the courage or the opportunity to try it.  Mainly because I’m fat, unbalanced and unwieldy and knew that I’d need some specific help.  The idea of floundering around among a room full of lithe, bendy, serene women just didn’t appeal.  But this book… is awesome!  It tells you how to move your excess flesh out of the way (including breasts), advises on ways to support yourself and provides modifications.  I can’t wait to start doing yoga.  Thanks Cammy!

In other news, I’m making headway in the garden.  I spent a Christmas voucher on some gardening tools yesterday.  I am surprised to find that watering the garden can be a zen experience.  I have a feeling that we’ll grow together, my garden and I.  It reminds me of Avatar – I feel so connected.

I have really great news to tell you with regards to my health and my journey.  I’ve been sitting on this news for almost two months (no, it’s not that), because I wanted to make sure that it was going to work out. It’s working beautifully! I’ll start blogging about it tomorrow, so watch this space.

What I would like you to do for me today is to recommend three songs for my iPod.  Your three favorite workout/walking/running/foot-tapping/dancing-with-joy/filled-with-wonder songs.

Have a great Monday!

PS.  I am still working my way through my blog reader.  I haven’t abandoned you!

 

Taking risks

I saw this yesterday (am I the last person in the known Universe to see this?) and absolutely adored it.

 

To get what you want, you have to take risks.  And when you’re down, get up again!