Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[mftnchn]

Susie, the book does talk about what is easier to digest. The www.pecanbread.com site has a chart of stages...which is even more broken out than in the book. The harder to digest are in later stages.

April, how exciting to hear you are improving too!!! How striking to see the improvement in your son since Gluten-free Casein-free!

Yes, you can move ahead quicker on the diet if you are not that sick from what I have read, and some people jump right in to the full diet. However, most of what I have read says you get better results by doing intro and then gradually adding foods.

Sherry

[mftnchn]

The mold site is quite interesting. The intestinal detox is emphasized--so I think in order to deal with mold toxicity I have to make sure things are working well in the intestine. Hopefully I'm now on the right track and detox will improve. I hardly sweat...so am afraid my skin doesn't excrete that well.

Paula, the 3 x a week BM would have been good for me prior to gluten-free. After GFSF, plus lots of magnesium and Vit C, I was able to improve to once a day. Now on SCD I'm still once a day but don't need mag or vit C, quality and volume improving too. Sure hope eventually it will be 2 x a day--as I think it will really help my detoxing.

Also pretty amazing--it wasn't needing fiber. That was not the problem at all, maybe the opposite.

Sherry

[CarlaB]

Interesting info on mold, Lyme, cytokines, etc.

Open Original Shared Link

[nora-n]

Kinda off topic, there is a colour test here: Open Original Shared Link

I scored 44 wrong, mostly in the greenest colour.

nora

[CarlaB]

I scored 25 on the color test.

[AndreaB]

This morning he mentioned how well I was sleeping. He said it was the first time in a few years that he's "heard" me sleep, that normally if he's awake, I am because I'd wake up so easily. I have not awakened in the middle of the night since getting rid of that mattress. Time to start weaning off the sleep meds. I'm sleeping 7-8 hours straight.

Family in Houston is okay .... lost a lot of trees, but everyone is safe. Don't know about the beach house, of course.

Yay on being able to wean off the sleep meds! It's so good to hear how well you are sleeping now.

Glad the family is ok in Houston. I was thinking about them.

Carla, I'm hoping for days to weeks NOT years!!!!!!!!!

Glad there is some improvement and hope it will now get steadily better.

Ditto.

[CarlaB]

Yay on being able to wean off the sleep meds! It's so good to hear how well you are sleeping now.

Glad the family is ok in Houston. I was thinking about them.

Ditto.

Well, haven't started weaning yet.

Appears that the beach house is probably gone. There's a was a "first row" house on Crystal Beach. Crystal Beach is the one you are seeing pics of with the most damage. They can't even get in there except by helicopter.

[AndreaB]

I got 30 on the color test. I think it was the greens and blues that I scored worst.

[AndreaB]

Off topic.....

Went to Seattle yesterday to see an old friend. Haven't seen her for 5 years. Long drive....3 hours one way. She took us out to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Anyway, we're working on me going up in 3 weeks to visit with her by myself. Her hubby will be gone, her daughter at her Dad's. So it will just be the two of us for the weekend so we can catch up.

[CarlaB]

In case you're curious, this is/was the beach house. Open Original Shared Link

I never actually stayed there ... we stayed at a house behind it, we were cutting through this one's yard to get to the beach .... it was for sale, and they bought it.

The hurricane is already here in Ohio, winds are picking up, storms will come through today (might have tornadoes).

I feel horrible today. Tried to take some herbs yesterday, and feel worse today. I tried to go to Mass, but had to have Adam drive me home after 10 min. there. I didn't even try to play flute. I haven't missed Mass in a long time, if that gives you any indication how bad I feel.

[CarlaB]

Off topic.....

Went to Seattle yesterday to see an old friend. Haven't seen her for 5 years. Long drive....3 hours one way. She took us out to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Anyway, we're working on me going up in 3 weeks to visit with her by myself. Her hubby will be gone, her daughter at her Dad's. So it will just be the two of us for the weekend so we can catch up.

Sounds nice.

[Rachel--24]

I'm catching up.

My little 4 year old started pre-k this week. He had a complete meltdown on day 3.

I really hope he adjusts because I need this to work AND I think it will be good for him to learn some independence.

April, how is it going with the pre-k now? Is he getting used to it?

rachel,

No life is busier with them in school cause you have to play taxi lol. Then some go to diffferent schools, and some go at different times lol. Then they have after school activities.

Yeah, I'm noticing that my friends who have kids are busier now that school's back in!

April, we'll be moving the mattress out tonight. If you go to the website, you will see photos of exactly what my bed looks like. Even looks like the same model. The top unzips.

I checked out my mattress last weekend and its not that type...it doesnt have a top that unzips.

I was pretty relieved to see that but I paid extra attention to how I was feeling before bed and then in the morning....and there was no difference. I guess if mold were an issue I'd feel kind of bad in the morning....but I'm ok waking up.

I'm not exactly a "morning person" but its been that way my whole life.

There is a mold/ yeast article in The Lancet about candida mimicking gluten and triggering celiac, anyone have it?

I dont have the Lancet article but I posted alot about this in the past. Personally, I do believe that candida may be the biggest trigger for Celiac based on that info.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/695/1/Does-...ease/Page1.html

Open Original Shared Link

Do you use the yogurt starter they sell on the pecanbread website? I have heard of making it from probiotics, but not quite sure how that works. I guess I need to get a yogurt maker!

I was using a yogurt maker a long time ago (when I first started posting at YC). I loved making my own yogurt....it was really easy with the machine too. It had little jars so one batch would make several little yogurt servings.

I quickly found out I didnt tolerate it though.

I cant have anything fermented because I'm sensitive to the "amines".

I used probiotics and also some brand (cant remember which) of organic yogurt for the starter.

I didnt make yogurt on the SCD. I actually didnt get past the introduction stage of carrot and chicken soup. I got really sick....too much salicylates and amines for me.

I did the Biotoxin test on www.biotoxin.info .... I have a 99.99860% chance of being toxic! ROFL

Imagine that!!

[CarlaB]

Rachel, you would know if you had a sleep number bed .... you would have put it together ... the center would be air mattresses .... you would have an air pump under your bed to inflate/deflate as much as you want.

Funny you mention feeling bad in the morning .... remember how I always felt better at night?? I always felt the worst in the morning? That's why back in Jan. the LLMD was mostly treating me for toxins and adrenal issues?

[AndreaB]

I feel horrible today. Tried to take some herbs yesterday, and feel worse today. I tried to go to Mass, but had to have Adam drive me home after 10 min. there. I didn't even try to play flute. I haven't missed Mass in a long time, if that gives you any indication how bad I feel.

I'm hoping you feel better by next Sunday. Sorry you feel worse today.

That home looks real nice. What a hassle, even with insurance to clean up and rebuild. Hope the storms your way are not that bad. I don't like the idea of tornado's or hurricanes.....but I'm not at all used to them.....if you even can get used to them.

[Rachel--24]

April, here's how I survive with a big family, if there's someone else who CAN do it, I delegate. I ONLY do the chores someone else can't do. So, when something needs to be done, I say, "Kids, empty the dishwasher."

The thing is, the kids need to be taught how to do the chores. Start at a young age and have them work up. When they get to the point they want to vacuum, teach them!

Don't expect them to find the responsibility on their own, you need to become more talented at delegating.

I guess I wasnt the typical kid. There was never a time that I wanted to vacuum!

Do some kids really ASK for chores??

My mom delegated chores to me....I just didnt do them. If I did them they werent done as good as she would do them herself (like I'd be done cleaning the entire bathroom in less than 5 minutes). I didnt make my bed, put my clothes away, do dishes, etc. If I did any of it she would just redo it anyway....because I never spent alot of time doing it to her standards. Basically it wasnt good enough.

I wasnt interested in learning how to cook or anything like that.

There was consequences to not doing the chores (like I'd have to stay home instead of seeing my friends). Alot of times I'd take the consequences because I just didnt want to do the chores.

When I moved out on my own I just instinctively knew how to do everything. I was really responsible and CLEAN. I definately didnt learn it from practicing at home...I must have just learned from seeing my mom do it all those years. The only thing I didnt do alot of once I was on my own was the cooking. I still had no interest in that and there were other options available...like McDonalds.

I make my bed everyday.

yep rachel took it and passed it. So she dont count lol

LOL....thanks Paula!

I am now 23 weeks pregnant and our little girl is due on Jan 7th

Congrats Susie!! Thats great news!

Thanks for popping by to give us an update.

I wonder if one day I'll be posting something similar?

I hope so!! I been thinking about that alot lately.

For instance, he doesn't *believe* in making beds and I am trying to teach the kids to make their own beds EVERYDAY!

Yeah...I didnt believe in making beds either (so long as I had someone there to do it for me everyday).

I didnt become a believer of bed making until I noticed it wasnt getting done on its own.

How could Rachel pass the test? She's supposed to be pretty toxic!

Yup....I'm toxic....its just not from biotoxins. Thats why I passed.

I'm toxic from food chemicals, environmental chemicals, heavy metals and those types of things. So far Lyme, molds, etc. arent the main things I'm dealing with.

Its the living organisms which produce biotoxins.

[Rachel--24]

April,

rachel passed cause mold is not an major issue with her. Lyme and mold are the ones that cause the biotxins that make us fail that test lol. SInce her problems are more sulfite/oxalates/mercury etc, then she was able to pass the test.

Yeah....what she said!

Paula, you have a good memory.

My toxicity seems to be caused by enzyme dysfunction and problems with the methylation cycle/sulfation pathway. Certain defects can lead to increased sucesptibility to infection but I think it would depend on where the defects are. For example I dont think problems with certain enzymes (such as sulfur oxidase or MAO) would make Lyme more of a threat.

I think my weaknesses made me more susceptible to the heavy metals....and eventually if this isnt dealt with my immune system will probably be challenged enough that the oppotunistic bugs will become more of a threat.

As far as susceptibility to certain toxins....I think it mainly comes down to genetics. However, even if you arent genetically susceptible to the Lyme/mold toxins....if your body is burdened enough (by other things) they can defineately become major issues.

I'm taking all kinds of stuff for detox - oral glutathione, parsley, burbur, resveratrol, ALA, NAC, whey protein ...... any one of them or the combination. I've always needed lots of detox.

I think that now that you're away from the exposure your body will start to naturally try to rid itself of the mold (instead of storing the toxins away). This is likely gonna release alot of "stuff" into your system....including heavy metals.

I know the metals dont show up in your tests but in my experience it doesnt mean that they arent an issue. They could have been tied up with the Lyme/mold/etc.....and now some of this may be dumped into your system.

Taking alot of things for detox in the past may not have caused alot of problems for you but now that your body may be dumping ALOT of toxins....some of these supplements might be adding to the burden.

It might be better to stick to binders and things to help move the toxins out....rather than things which also might be pulling more toxins out (like sauna, NAC, ALA, etc). I dont think that any of the natural chelators/mobilizers would be the best thing right now....but probably binders like chlorella and possibly zeolite would be better.

I cant say for sure what is going on but it just seems like if the mold were causing your illness....you will be dumping alot of toxins right now. I dont know if your body is good at getting rid of mold on its own....so you might need alot of help getting it out (like the cholestrymine).

She muscle tested me to find out the percentage of my health problems that are emotionally/feelings related, and she said 30%. That's a lot!!! So that's what I've been up to...lots of emotional breakthroughs. All VERY good stuff!!!! If anyone wants to know more details, feel free to PM me, but I don't want to post for the world wide web to see!!

I read your email. Really good news that you are making some gains and releasing so much of the emotional toxicity that is tied in with your illness. I'm really happy and excited for you and the progress you're making!

Cant wait to hear more....I have a feeling things are going to really start moving in the right direction for you.

I've been going back. It's been so interesting .... hindsight is 20/20 they say, and I can so clearly see the role mold has played in going back.

I do this too sometimes and its helpful that so much info. is here to look back on and make these connections.

I am going to have to shower again ... is this normal for detoxing??? I can't stand myself! LOL

Yeah...I think its normal whenever the body is dealing with a heavy burden of toxins. I know for myself that whenever I eat too many of the highly phenolic foods I become very "odorous" and my body is trying to release the toxins whichever way it can. Usually I'll sweat ALOT until it passes. If I continue to load up my body with the toxins then I only get worse with brainfog, odor, headache, skin irritations, etc.

So, I emailed our friend G and she said it sounded like the mold was losing it's living quarters and that I'd detox all kinds of stuff. I get the idea that it's a domino effect .... I lose the mold, so the metals, fungi, bacteria and viruses no longer have one of their places to hide.

Yeah....I agree that you are releasing alot more than just the mold into your system. Drink lots of water too!

[CarlaB]

Thanks, Rachel. I'm drinking a lot of water. Taking epsom salt baths but not saunas. Taking only binders and magnesium. I tried to take some detox agents yesterday (resveratrol, NAC, andographis) and think that might be why I'm even worse today, so back to chlorella, zeolite and a little cholestyramine. I don't want to aggressively take cholestyramine till I talk with my doctor. PA appt. tomorrow.

VERY windy here!!! Tree is down across the street and took down power lines with it. The rain hasn't even gotten here yet. And this is nothing compared to TX! (yet my mom is worried about us and the possible tornadoes .. and here she doesn't even have her power back on!)

[AndreaB]

Carla,

Are you using your laptop to post then? I'm assuming you're without power.

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, miss mold expert, where are you??

I think Scott would be the most knowledgable about the mold stuff for sure!

I was around all week.....but for the first time EVER I was coming home for my lunch and NOT turning the computer on!

My mom was totally amazed that I was doing alot of things having nothing to do with the computer. I even washed my car! A week later and people are still commenting on that.....my car doesnt even look like the same car! Its the first time I washed it in over 2 years!

OMG...it really does like like a totally different car....and I detailed it and everything. I put the bra on it....so not only is it clean...but its "dressed" too.

I am stopping all my detox stuff that releases toxins. I'm only taking binders. I am also going to buy some liver support. Our good friend from LN recommended that because nausea can be from toxic overload of the liver.

I think it would be dangerous at this point to release any more toxins. I have a headache, am really foggy like I'm drugged, nausea comes and goes, diarrhea comes and goes .... I'm having heart palpitations and air hunger, that's why I think I should not stir anything else up.

...and see what happens when I get behind here.

Looks like my advice is a couple days too late.

I still have a few more pages to read. I'm not gonna post anymore until I'm done reading.

[CarlaB]

Carla,

Are you using your laptop to post then? I'm assuming you're without power. The neighbors are guarding the street so people won't drive down it.

No, we have power, must be live wires. I'm charging though cause I'm guessing it will be off shortly!

...and see what happens when I get behind here.

Looks like my advice is a couple days too late.

I still have a few more pages to read. I'm not gonna post anymore until I'm done reading.

:lol:

Congrats on the clean car!

[aprilh]

I'm catching up.

April, how is it going with the pre-k now? Is he getting used to it?

He's a little better, but still adjusting. He's not used to such a long structured day. I pulled him out of daycare and hired a nanny (my sister in Feb 2007) to help him reduce the burden on his immune system. And to reduce MY stress, too. It was a great move for his health, maybe not so great for him getting used to school. I couldn't afford to pay her AND do a 2 or 3 day a week preschool.

He's just going to have to get used to it! He has trouble adjusting to changes, but once he does i think this will be really good for him.

[AndreaB]

Rachel,

It's good to hear you're doing more things. I'm too addicted to the computer to not be on it.

[Rachel--24]

I worked hard to gain this weight (might not make sense to you Californians, ROFL).

I work hard to gain my weight too!

...and I'm a Californian.

I wanted to die last night (not suicidal, just didn't want to live because it hurts too bad, you know what I mean?)

I know what you mean....I used to feel that way constantly the first couple years I was sick. I just hurt all over and especially my head and eyes. I used to pray that I wouldnt wake up in the morning.

Now I'm glad my prayers went unanswered!

well my parents landed to their destination just fine, they wont be on the cruise til late tommorow night. But im not worried about the cruise, just about the flight.

Glad they got there safely.

I'm totally scared of flying. Thats the part I'm really dreading about going to Germany. I'll be by myself which makes it even more scary!

Were is rachel, i think she abonded us again. Or she went and got an life and forgot about us.

I would never forget about you guys....even if I actually do get a life.

I havent been going out dancing or traveling or anything....just hanging out. I have alot of fun at work....but I get in trouble almost daily for goofing off too much.

Me and my boss fight alot....but then we get over it. Its a "love/hate" relationship I think.

I wanna go out more but I'm waiting to start my treatments hoping that it will increase my tolerance so that I feel more "free" when I do start getting out more.

I think I'm still scared a little. My friends will say...."Why cant you go....you cant drink but you can still dance!"

This is true but something still holds me back. I think I need to feel like I'm not "on the edge" and that I'm not so impaired that an accidental exposure to some strong perfume (or something else) will ruin my night. It can still happen if I'm in a small confined area and there is some strong chemical bothering me.

It was mentioned by a friends' brother to have T tested for chemical imbalances to see if it's something like that behind her anger and outbursts (like attacking me).

Hmmm....there was a period of time that I was having OCD behaviors as well as sudden bursts of anger. That was when I got dx'd with hyperthyroid and once I was stabalized on the anti-thyroid meds I totally calmed down...no more of those "episodes".

I also had the same problems with anger when I had alot of chemicals in my diet. Not just the synthetic ones but the phenols too. I notice that sometimes I'm more agitated if I eat stuff that is causing me to go in that direction. Its stuff like bananas, avocado, tomato and other foods.

Some of the foods (like the banana and avocado) are high in chemicals that are also neurotransmitters. I'm not able to process/detoxify those chemicals very well right now and I do think they affect my mood and behavior.

I just dont eat those things....and if I do its in very small portions that dont cause me to "flip out". I cant eat that stuff on a regular basis either.....just only on rare occasions.

[Rachel--24]

Hmmm....I'm just thinking "out loud" about what I just posted.

Hyperthyroid causes too much thyroid hormone and also certain neurotransmitters can be elevated as well.

I think the outbursts I had while dealing with the overactive thyroid are probably caused by the same chemicals which are in foods that also trigger the same type of symptoms.

So even if my thyroid is no longer overactive there are still foods which make me feel the exact same way....and cause me to have a "short fuse".

[AndreaB]

Hmmm....there was a period of time that I was having OCD behaviors as well as sudden bursts of anger. That was when I got dx'd with hyperthyroid and once I was stabalized on the anti-thyroid meds I totally calmed down...no more of those "episodes".

I know thyroid came up with T on ASYRA. Both as an auto immunity (the first ASYRA) and thyroid deficiency (the second ASYRA). Don't know what all that means though. M had the same. S also has problems in that area. Mitch does as well. They didn't run that set of testing on me so I don't know about me, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't a problem due to the fact that mercury likes the thyroid......if I'm remembering correctly what's been posted before.