Wow! Love those enzymes!!! I had another setback and by last Friday I was totally out of commission. Pain, fatigue, spasms, and the rest. You who go thru this know the drill. MDH said "OK, what have you changed?" So the sluthing was on. All supplements were the same, lifestyle was the same, hadn't had any sugar, what was different? We finally realized that I had had 10 meals in 6 days that were made with tomatoes. That's way, way more than I would normally eat. Well, recovery mode went into high gear. I'm so glad that I started listening to my body a few years ago. Now I know what to do when this happens. I started taking extra digestive enzymes and drinking more water and I haven't had any tomatoes of any kind since! By Sunday, I was much better, and today I'm even better. Yippee!! Those enzymes act like little "Pac Mans" in my body. I tell them to "gobble up" all the bad stuff my body doesn't like and they do!!!
So, the moral of this story is, "moderation in all things", even food that is normally considered healthy. I'm being very creative in my menu selection this week. MDH likes the variety!
Love the Fall colors and weather.
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Busy, Busy Day...
At least for me. Lately, I’ve been so tired . No particular reason, just this body. Today however, there were a few things that just called out to be done. I know that for most of you, this list would be just a light afternoon . For me, it’s almost overwhelming.
This morning, MDH (My Dear Husband) said “What are you going to do with these tomatoes?” They are “His”, why doesn’t he figure out what to do with them. So, He’s eating the cherry tomatoes and the larger ones, apparently, are my responsibility. I decided to make soup out of them. He doesn’t like tomato soup. Why do we have to grow them? So, I got the skins off before lunch and cut them up, too.
Then lunch and I started to boil the tomatoes and cut up the other veggies that I was going to put in the soup. By 1:30 I had the soup almost done. Then it was time for the granddaughters to arrive. I had promised my daughter that I would baby sit this afternoon. Always love to do that, just should have taken more time to rest before they arrived. As usual, they were in fine form! I had saved most of the fall decorations just for them to put out. They were both very happy to have a project. I just let them “have at it.” They did a pretty good job. The younger one may be little, but her determination is mighty. She knew where she wanted her flowers and there was no changing her mind!! Almost 3 years old and 5 years old are such delightful ages! Their mom came back and off they went. Time for my first nap.
Then I had put the last of the cookies out for my husband, so more had to be made. I make sugar free cookies, sweetened with stevia. I try to put all sorts of healthy ingredients in them, yet give him something sweet to eat. He hasn’t complained so I guess they are OK.
Time for another nap after they were baked. Then dinner and another nap. That’s what this body has been doing lately, zonk!, as soon as I sit down. Well, I’ve napped another time since then and talked on the phone and decided that I would post something, just so I could stay awake! Somewhere in there I cleaned the kitchen and washed the cookie sheets.
Tomorrow is another day and more projects to be done. That is a good thing!
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
This morning, MDH (My Dear Husband) said “What are you going to do with these tomatoes?” They are “His”, why doesn’t he figure out what to do with them. So, He’s eating the cherry tomatoes and the larger ones, apparently, are my responsibility. I decided to make soup out of them. He doesn’t like tomato soup. Why do we have to grow them? So, I got the skins off before lunch and cut them up, too.
Then lunch and I started to boil the tomatoes and cut up the other veggies that I was going to put in the soup. By 1:30 I had the soup almost done. Then it was time for the granddaughters to arrive. I had promised my daughter that I would baby sit this afternoon. Always love to do that, just should have taken more time to rest before they arrived. As usual, they were in fine form! I had saved most of the fall decorations just for them to put out. They were both very happy to have a project. I just let them “have at it.” They did a pretty good job. The younger one may be little, but her determination is mighty. She knew where she wanted her flowers and there was no changing her mind!! Almost 3 years old and 5 years old are such delightful ages! Their mom came back and off they went. Time for my first nap.
Then I had put the last of the cookies out for my husband, so more had to be made. I make sugar free cookies, sweetened with stevia. I try to put all sorts of healthy ingredients in them, yet give him something sweet to eat. He hasn’t complained so I guess they are OK.
Time for another nap after they were baked. Then dinner and another nap. That’s what this body has been doing lately, zonk!, as soon as I sit down. Well, I’ve napped another time since then and talked on the phone and decided that I would post something, just so I could stay awake! Somewhere in there I cleaned the kitchen and washed the cookie sheets.
Tomorrow is another day and more projects to be done. That is a good thing!
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
Thursday, September 18, 2008
More MS Story
This is a sort of an “edit” to the previous post. Did I say “brain drain”? Must have been foggy and drained and whatever lack of brain function you can think of. I forgot one of the most important things that I have done for my overall health, recently.
In my readings, the topic of candida overgrowth was always being talked about. The claim was that a great percentage of MS patients have this going on. I just couldn’t see it for myself. Didn’t want to see it, is the real reason. I couldn’t consistently flunk the “spit” test (Type in candida spit test in google ) and my symptoms didn’t consistently fit the list. Then I read a report that if you awake in the middle of the night with a blast furnace in your solar plexus, this is an indication that you have a candida overgrowth. This “furnace” happens in both men and women, so it is not hormonal. Also, if a person has chronic sinusitis, needing a tissue at the ready all day long, this could be another indication. Those two things made me take a closer look. So yes, I started reading some more. I read that the “nasties” need to be killed and the colon needs to be repopulated with good bacteria. And no I didn’t go to a Dr. This is my choice. Most people would go to a Dr, but I didn’t. I am, however, fairly pleased with my results. I started by taking probiotics for a month, then, along with the probiotics, I started taking some oil of oregano. (Herbal bug killer) To say that my sinusitis got worse would be a great understatement. I persisted and in 3 months time my sinusitis was greatly improved. The “furnace” was gone around 4 month’s time and I am no longer awakened by it. I continue to take probiotics and probably will for the rest of my life. You can refer to my “ Probiotics blog” written in August of this year. This too is not a cure, but it has greatly enhanced my quality of life.
I also did not write about the extra vitamins and herbs that I take and the B vitamin gene glitch that I have. Too much effort for me to think about all of them and how they have acted in this body or not acted. Just know that I strongly believe in optimal cellular nutrition as a way of staying healthy and supporting all of my body’s functions and immune system. Remember, your immune system is your personal, 24-7, on call physician.
There is more that I could do, but for right now, I don’t have the will to disrupt my family’s life anymore than it has been. This disease didn’t happen to just me. My husband and my family have been so very supportive and loving. I feel very blessed. I wish the same for you.
As Always, Healthy Days to You, Your Maven
In my readings, the topic of candida overgrowth was always being talked about. The claim was that a great percentage of MS patients have this going on. I just couldn’t see it for myself. Didn’t want to see it, is the real reason. I couldn’t consistently flunk the “spit” test (Type in candida spit test in google ) and my symptoms didn’t consistently fit the list. Then I read a report that if you awake in the middle of the night with a blast furnace in your solar plexus, this is an indication that you have a candida overgrowth. This “furnace” happens in both men and women, so it is not hormonal. Also, if a person has chronic sinusitis, needing a tissue at the ready all day long, this could be another indication. Those two things made me take a closer look. So yes, I started reading some more. I read that the “nasties” need to be killed and the colon needs to be repopulated with good bacteria. And no I didn’t go to a Dr. This is my choice. Most people would go to a Dr, but I didn’t. I am, however, fairly pleased with my results. I started by taking probiotics for a month, then, along with the probiotics, I started taking some oil of oregano. (Herbal bug killer) To say that my sinusitis got worse would be a great understatement. I persisted and in 3 months time my sinusitis was greatly improved. The “furnace” was gone around 4 month’s time and I am no longer awakened by it. I continue to take probiotics and probably will for the rest of my life. You can refer to my “ Probiotics blog” written in August of this year. This too is not a cure, but it has greatly enhanced my quality of life.
I also did not write about the extra vitamins and herbs that I take and the B vitamin gene glitch that I have. Too much effort for me to think about all of them and how they have acted in this body or not acted. Just know that I strongly believe in optimal cellular nutrition as a way of staying healthy and supporting all of my body’s functions and immune system. Remember, your immune system is your personal, 24-7, on call physician.
There is more that I could do, but for right now, I don’t have the will to disrupt my family’s life anymore than it has been. This disease didn’t happen to just me. My husband and my family have been so very supportive and loving. I feel very blessed. I wish the same for you.
As Always, Healthy Days to You, Your Maven
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
My Multiple Sclerosis Story
Recently, I’ve had five people ask me ”What have you done? You seem so healthy. What’s the story? Will you tell my friend?” OK, so I would be happy to share, with the understanding that what I have done has worked for me and may not do anything for others. Everybody is different. I am not a doctor and I am not telling you what to do. This is what I have done and still do.
First a little background. As a child I had a “good” diet. It was full of home grown food. It was after WWII, so we had all the new, modern, and convenient foods, also. New was good, right? It was also full of sugar, hydrogenated oils, and refined grains. I don’t think that I had a whole grain until I was in my 20’s. I thought soup and spaghetti came from a can and I don’t think a person could even buy a whole grain pasta or brown rice in our corner of the world at that time. The Doctor still made house calls and TV was at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Penicillin was given as the standard care and mustard plasters were still slapped on a chest for a cold. I got both quite often. All my vegetables were boiled, unless I pulled a carrot out of the garden. Every meal had sugar, a lot of it. However, at the time this was a good diet. We ate three meals a day, plus snacks, and my Mom and Dad thought that they were giving their children the best that the world had to offer. Looking back there was a distinct lack of fiber, vitamins, omega 3’s, and enzymes, but that’s the way it was.
So, fast forward to my 20’s. I had my 1st child at 26 years. Within 4 weeks of his birth I had an extreme headache and I was losing my vision. Off to the ophthalmologist I went. I was almost totally blind in one eye by then. “Oh, this is very common after the birth of a child” he says. Hmmm, I had never heard of such a thing, but Dr. says, so we believe him. After a shot in the eye, we went home. I remember dragging myself through the days, but I’m a fairly cheerful person, so I assumed “that’s the way it is.”
Another child and more headaches, but no vision problems that I detected. Still dragging but “Oh Well”, that’s life. After some other medical issues, I was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 38. I was told just go home and live your life, there is nothing that can be done for you. This was before the internet, I had almost no resources, so I continued to live as always.
Enter a good friend who said “You need to be taking these vitamins.” I thought I might as well get some good nutrition, so I did as told. I had started to read a little bit by then and there was some talk of diet and vitamins. I felt a little better. I had relapsing-remitting MS and life went along with not too much difficulty until about age 45. Wow!! Life as I had known it came to an abrupt end!!! This time all the “nasties” didn’t go away. Still no internet, so I was still in the dark. I could still work and I did change my diet, a bit. Lessened the sugar, except for Holidays, and trying to eat more vegetables. I continued to take my vitamin, which is Double X, by Nutrilite. Then Bang!!, I was hit again at age 52. This time it was serious. I still haven’t totally recovered but I can pass for healthy, if I’m sitting. In fact I am the picture of health.
So, OK, this time there is the internet and I started reading. I was learning for the 1st time in my life that the way my body worked was not normal, but it had been all that I had known, so it was normal to me. Looking back, this body has had some form of MS since I was a teenager. I finally figured out that the nausea and pain that I was feeling after a meal was my body was not digesting meat properly. So, I became a vegetarian. Also, milk products started to give me digestive problems, so I cut them out too. I have had a much calmer digestive existence since then.
I went to a naturopath for some hormone counseling. As we were talking she told me to just add some Magnesium to my diet and it should help with elimination. I had asked one Dr. after another and they had all just shrugged and said “Eat more fiber and drink more water”. I was doing more than the recommended amount, so I knew that wasn’t the answer.
More reading, I knew that I could do better. Just reading about other MSers’ challenges and discoveries and victories was very helpful. I have to read and think about something for a long time. After about a year and a half, I took the plunge to try digestive enzymes. They were everything that I had hoped. At the time that I started taking them I was having new symptoms show up every 2 to 3 months. My symptoms slowed immediately and when I started taking them on an empty stomach (like the message boards suggested) the slow slide to more disability stopped. I was finally stable. No new symptoms! Wahoo!! Life wasn’t great but at least it wasn’t frightening anymore. I still have all the fatigue, neuropathy, pain and numbness, and all the fun stuff that goes along with this condition. I really don’t want to think of all the stuff that is wrong with this body and I certainly don’t feel like typing it either. I have to “walk a type rope” to stay this way, but compared to the way I was, it is worth it.
You have probably heard the expression “Listen to your Body”. It took a long time for me to really be able to do this. It’s an important tool for all of us to be able to do, IMHO, but especially for someone with a chronic medical condition. Now I know when I have done something that my body doesn’t like or eaten something that I shouldn’t. One thing that I have discovered is that sugar is a poison to me. Looking back, I have discovered that most of my major exacerbations have been brought on by too much sugar. Holidays and stress and a diet that is out of control, not a good combination.
The upshot is that I have nourished my body for over twenty years with Double X and all that nutrition is now showing results. If you’ve read any of my previous posts you know that I boarder on fanatic about nutrition. This is a whole body and I decided that I should keep the rest of me as healthy as I can. It’s not a cure, but I feel (if I don’t move) and look healthy. We have several diabetics on Double X also. They tell us “Don’t let me run out of this stuff”. Don’t know all the science behind it, but apparently, this all natural nutritional supplements contain what a body needs.
OK Brain drain has set in. Those of you who know who I am are welcome to call. Others can get in touch with me thru www.simplybetter.mychoices.biz. At least now we have a starting point.
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
First a little background. As a child I had a “good” diet. It was full of home grown food. It was after WWII, so we had all the new, modern, and convenient foods, also. New was good, right? It was also full of sugar, hydrogenated oils, and refined grains. I don’t think that I had a whole grain until I was in my 20’s. I thought soup and spaghetti came from a can and I don’t think a person could even buy a whole grain pasta or brown rice in our corner of the world at that time. The Doctor still made house calls and TV was at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Penicillin was given as the standard care and mustard plasters were still slapped on a chest for a cold. I got both quite often. All my vegetables were boiled, unless I pulled a carrot out of the garden. Every meal had sugar, a lot of it. However, at the time this was a good diet. We ate three meals a day, plus snacks, and my Mom and Dad thought that they were giving their children the best that the world had to offer. Looking back there was a distinct lack of fiber, vitamins, omega 3’s, and enzymes, but that’s the way it was.
So, fast forward to my 20’s. I had my 1st child at 26 years. Within 4 weeks of his birth I had an extreme headache and I was losing my vision. Off to the ophthalmologist I went. I was almost totally blind in one eye by then. “Oh, this is very common after the birth of a child” he says. Hmmm, I had never heard of such a thing, but Dr. says, so we believe him. After a shot in the eye, we went home. I remember dragging myself through the days, but I’m a fairly cheerful person, so I assumed “that’s the way it is.”
Another child and more headaches, but no vision problems that I detected. Still dragging but “Oh Well”, that’s life. After some other medical issues, I was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 38. I was told just go home and live your life, there is nothing that can be done for you. This was before the internet, I had almost no resources, so I continued to live as always.
Enter a good friend who said “You need to be taking these vitamins.” I thought I might as well get some good nutrition, so I did as told. I had started to read a little bit by then and there was some talk of diet and vitamins. I felt a little better. I had relapsing-remitting MS and life went along with not too much difficulty until about age 45. Wow!! Life as I had known it came to an abrupt end!!! This time all the “nasties” didn’t go away. Still no internet, so I was still in the dark. I could still work and I did change my diet, a bit. Lessened the sugar, except for Holidays, and trying to eat more vegetables. I continued to take my vitamin, which is Double X, by Nutrilite. Then Bang!!, I was hit again at age 52. This time it was serious. I still haven’t totally recovered but I can pass for healthy, if I’m sitting. In fact I am the picture of health.
So, OK, this time there is the internet and I started reading. I was learning for the 1st time in my life that the way my body worked was not normal, but it had been all that I had known, so it was normal to me. Looking back, this body has had some form of MS since I was a teenager. I finally figured out that the nausea and pain that I was feeling after a meal was my body was not digesting meat properly. So, I became a vegetarian. Also, milk products started to give me digestive problems, so I cut them out too. I have had a much calmer digestive existence since then.
I went to a naturopath for some hormone counseling. As we were talking she told me to just add some Magnesium to my diet and it should help with elimination. I had asked one Dr. after another and they had all just shrugged and said “Eat more fiber and drink more water”. I was doing more than the recommended amount, so I knew that wasn’t the answer.
More reading, I knew that I could do better. Just reading about other MSers’ challenges and discoveries and victories was very helpful. I have to read and think about something for a long time. After about a year and a half, I took the plunge to try digestive enzymes. They were everything that I had hoped. At the time that I started taking them I was having new symptoms show up every 2 to 3 months. My symptoms slowed immediately and when I started taking them on an empty stomach (like the message boards suggested) the slow slide to more disability stopped. I was finally stable. No new symptoms! Wahoo!! Life wasn’t great but at least it wasn’t frightening anymore. I still have all the fatigue, neuropathy, pain and numbness, and all the fun stuff that goes along with this condition. I really don’t want to think of all the stuff that is wrong with this body and I certainly don’t feel like typing it either. I have to “walk a type rope” to stay this way, but compared to the way I was, it is worth it.
You have probably heard the expression “Listen to your Body”. It took a long time for me to really be able to do this. It’s an important tool for all of us to be able to do, IMHO, but especially for someone with a chronic medical condition. Now I know when I have done something that my body doesn’t like or eaten something that I shouldn’t. One thing that I have discovered is that sugar is a poison to me. Looking back, I have discovered that most of my major exacerbations have been brought on by too much sugar. Holidays and stress and a diet that is out of control, not a good combination.
The upshot is that I have nourished my body for over twenty years with Double X and all that nutrition is now showing results. If you’ve read any of my previous posts you know that I boarder on fanatic about nutrition. This is a whole body and I decided that I should keep the rest of me as healthy as I can. It’s not a cure, but I feel (if I don’t move) and look healthy. We have several diabetics on Double X also. They tell us “Don’t let me run out of this stuff”. Don’t know all the science behind it, but apparently, this all natural nutritional supplements contain what a body needs.
OK Brain drain has set in. Those of you who know who I am are welcome to call. Others can get in touch with me thru www.simplybetter.mychoices.biz. At least now we have a starting point.
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Glasses Saga Continues
I recieved my glasses a few weeks ago. Wearing them was a misery right from the start. I thought to myself,"Come on, you can get used to these." So I continued to try to wear them everyday for a little while. Didn't work. I would be dizzy and nauseated and would have to hold onto the counters and furniture within just a few minutes. I had no depth perception and I felt like I was going to fall down all the time. I also noticed that the bifocal part was fuzzier than the old glasses. I assumed that I was stuck with them. You know, they're custom so now thery're yours! I was thinking of throwing them away and just consider it money wasted, but thankfully I talked to my daughter-in-law and she told me to take them back. Thank God for her. So I did. They retested my eyes and said yes the perscription was incorrect. Nice to know that it wasn't just me.
So, one thing I learned, I need a fairly large lense for my bifocals. OK. I've always liked the Sophia Loren look anyway, now called the Sarah Palin look. I just thought that I would go smaller this time. Well, don't you know that this place didn't have any frames even as large as my current frames. So, I'm waiting for them to get in a new shipment or they said go find some frames and they would set them for me. But since I'm not a shopper, I'll probably just wait. It's been this long, a little longer won't hurt.
I've learned something new. That is good!
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
So, one thing I learned, I need a fairly large lense for my bifocals. OK. I've always liked the Sophia Loren look anyway, now called the Sarah Palin look. I just thought that I would go smaller this time. Well, don't you know that this place didn't have any frames even as large as my current frames. So, I'm waiting for them to get in a new shipment or they said go find some frames and they would set them for me. But since I'm not a shopper, I'll probably just wait. It's been this long, a little longer won't hurt.
I've learned something new. That is good!
Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
New Link
I've added a new link today. I've been reading this for a few days and find it very interesting. The post that got me was about an "Army of Sarah's" and Down's Syndrome and then one about 9-11 from a survivor's point of view. All excellently written and very moving. I thought you might like this site, too. Of course, there's quite a bit of politics. I'm assuming other topics will be discussed after November. Enjoy!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
YMCA...More than swimming pool
Wow!!! Ask and you’ll receive. I wanted more education about health and fitness for this country and now one of the most highly regarded institutions (YMCA) in this country is getting into the act. I had heard a little bit about some kind of partnership between Amway Global and the YMCA, well it’s about to start and I got an e-mail today outlining the program which will start this Monday, the 15th. It’s called the “Inspire Wellness” initiative. “This marks the beginning of a major media relations campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the state of wellness in America and how Amway Global and the YMCA have joined forces to help American’s improve their health and well-being.” I understand that Nutrilite spokesperson, Gabrielle Reece, will help spread the word thru various media outlets. There will be 100 YMCA’s that will have a free wellness event on Sept. 20. To find a participating YMCA and to learn more, visit www.inspirewellness.com. I have already and I took the Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment that is there. Very interesting site with lots of info. I’m unclear about what the other Y’s will have who are not one of the 100. Considering my high regard of the Nutrilite brand, I’m sure there will be some very good information relayed to all who take part.
I think this is a year long partnership, and I hope that it will be ongoing. When I know more, I’ll keep you updated.
As always, Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
I think this is a year long partnership, and I hope that it will be ongoing. When I know more, I’ll keep you updated.
As always, Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
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