More Medical Revelations

So in the last post I mentioned that I had MTHFR mutation. With the new appointment I just had we made it to the conclusion that have been given part of the mutation by one of my parents (the clotting factor of the mutation) and the other part (the anxiety part of the mutation) from my other parent. This mutation just means I am more sensitive to medications (something we already knew), I am more susceptible to infections, viruses and other toxins, and my body has a harder time getting rid of these types of pathogens. Also, my body has a hard time metabolizing things I put in my body (being food, medications). She told me it is super important that I am absolutely careful of everything I put in my body (food, medication, vaccines), on my body (lotions, soaps, detergents), and around my body( infections, pesticides, cleaners). It is really important that I eat cleanest food as possible and don't put anything processed or refined into my body (which is really difficult to think about). We talked a little bit about my weight issue, my doctor just saying that my gut has had way too much trauma and therefore will take longer to recover. The main thing to remember is not to do any type of fasting as my body freaks out and goes into starvation mode. I am to eat within 30 minutes of waking, which will be different as I am not use to doing this. Keto wasn't really mentioned but not sure if it's something to be done for the rest of my life. I will continue keto until I see her in 4 months. I really don't like the idea of doing keto for the rest of my life and may look into the anti-inflammation diet as an alternative, as I can eat fruit on that diet, something I miss. I am also going to my hematologist this week. My doctor told me that my blood is thick and sticky and its a clot waiting to happen. She wants me to do something about it before a clot arises. Get ahead of the game, which I am all for. I might go on a blood thinner for now on if the Hematologist agrees. My supplements were also changed. More of them now:

Fish oil 1x day
Vitamin D3 with K2 1x day
Baby asprin (2 now till I see hematologist)
Anti acid 2xday
Coq10 1x day
Probiotic 1x day
Vitamin C 2x day
Digestive enzyme 1x day
Methyl defense 2x day
Zofran as neede
Magnesium 1x day

It's crazy to think I need this many pills to make me 'healthy.'
Hope you all have a blessed week.

Kari

New Year Update

After my carb diet for 3 months I have realized that my gut may be more traumatized then previously thought. With gastroparesis and TPN in the past it has made my metabolism suck, to put it lightly. After the carb diet I had gained most of the weight that I lost back and my insulin skyrockets again. I saw the doctor in January and she suggested I continue the Ketogenic diet. She also told me that I needed to start a diabetic medication called Metaformin. I started and with only taking a half a dose and I had blurred vision, dizziness, and lethargic. I check my blood sugar regularly and while taking the medication it was 50. My normal blood sugar on Keto is around 80. I stopped taking it after a 2 days because I felt like I couldn't drive or work if I was taking it. I told what happened to my doctor and she said to just stick to strict keto and we would talk about the options on the next visit which is in a month.

 I also found out that I have a genetic mutation given to me by one of my parents. It is called MTHFR. People with MTHFR usually have low glutathione which makes them more susceptible to stress and less tolerant to toxic exposures. It is also more difficult to breakdown and eliminate synthetic folic acid and folic acid can't be converted into something useful for the body which can raise homeocystein levels. It makes a lot of sense now that this is known, it could be reason for many of my help issues including my insulin resistance, gastroparesis, seizures/stress induced seizures, and even RSD. I saw a shirt that says "Genetically on bad MTHFR" I thought it was something to lighten the mood.

Not sure what I am to do about this, my doctor said we would discuss it more at the next visit but I am taking a supplement for it called Methyl-Defense. This supplement helps keep homeosystein at a normal level. We also discussed that I may be having trouble with absorption, not absorbing nutrients. I also have been taking a digestive enzyme to help with digestion. I keep up with my vitamin D pills and now taking CoQ10 to help my heart and my skipped beats. Also continuing with my pro-biotic and my fish pill.
The doctor talked about a weight loss IV that she can do in the office. I told her I would only consider it is if she had heparin in the office, because I can not get IVs without heparin, because of my other genetic defect Factor V. (Which is another story for another time.) But if she agrees to have heparin then I will consider it. I just want to be healthy and fit.

I continue to go to the gym when I have time. My work and school schedule has been crazy. And I am also squeezing in volunteering 2 days a week, somehow. Kevin has been quite lonely since I have been gone for most of the day. I was thinking about getting him a companion but realized I am broke and he hates dogs. It's only 16 weeks and then I'm all his.

I'm still working on my applications for SCF and should have it done by the end of the week. If I get into the OTA program I'll know by March. And then be moving by May 2017!! I'm excited to "start over".
Well that's all for now, ttyl

Kari

Another 3 weeks

Well I have decided to stick with this diet for another 3 weeks. According to my dietician I went carb crazy when I started. Ooops! So the plan is to stay under 150g of carbs a day. 90g of protein and no limit on fat. 10g of sugar or less for ever meal. I also have to eat CFP every meal (carb fat protein) with one of those things either being a veggie or a fruit. That is pretty much the basis of the diet. It's a lot different from keto were I am not so restricted. Here is a list of the things I can eat:

Complex Carbs:
Barely
Black beans (which I don't like)
brown rice
corn
garbanzo beans
kidney beans
lentils
milk
oatmeal
pinto beans
quinoa
raw fruit: apples, oranges, grapefruits, grapes, blueberries, kiwi, bananas, starfruit, mango, pears, pinapples
sprouted or ezekial bread
sweet potatoes or yams
wheatberries
whole grain bread, english muffins, or 1/2 bagel
whole grain cerels and cereal bars
whole grain couscous
whole grain tortillas
yogurt (which I hate)

Protein:
greek yogurt (which I hate)
cows milk
nuts and seeds
nut butters
fish
cheese
beans
lean meats
quinoa
eggs
edamame
tofu
whole oats
whole grain cereals

Fats:
avacados
nuts
seeds
nut butters <10g sugar
flax seeds
chia seeds
fatty fish
tofu
extra virgin olive oil
coconut oil
cheese
grass-fed butter

And that's it!
No weight lost or gained. I plan on doing yoga 2x a week. This way of eating makes sense so far to me and it's something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life, unlike keto.

New Changes New Goals

Tomorrow I am officially ending the Ketogenic Diet. I told you that when I decide to stop I will stop. I am going to see if I can loose weight the "normal" way now since my blood work numbers are all correct and in the right areas. Tomorrow I will start a new meal plan all of which is under a dietitian. Yay! I will be adding in carbs. I'm excited and very nervous. This is going to be a trial period. I will try eating this way for 3 weeks, if I can maintain or loose I will continue, if I gain I will go back on Keto. I will continue to blog when I find the time. I am currently working two jobs now and going to school full time so it is difficult to find the time. But I will do my best.

~Kari

Diet struggles

My weight loss has been stalled. I'm not sure what it is. I recently went on a trip with the Brookdale residents to the local Walmart. I pushed this older lady around in a wheelchair around the store. She was looking for this certain type of pastry. As I was helping her I saw all the food I usually stay away from at the store. The bread, pastries, fruit, cookies, and crackers. It has been 7 months since I had that food and it's sad but I wanted it even though I know that my body can't handle it. Anyway, after I finished volunteering I went to the store and bought a ton of junk food that I haven't eaten in a long time. Let's just say I cheated on my diet and it seems like I have been cheating a lot. I feel like I don't have will power like I did in the beginning. I want to continue back on the keto path but I need inspiration, motivation, something and I'm not sure what it is. I plan to do some food prep today so that I can just take my lunch and go to work.

My job is going well. School is also going well.

~Kari 

Amazing Changes

I am so proud of myself! I am really suprise how well I have stuck with this diet, leanred so much about it and now am sharing my experience with it to others. I had my 6 month check-up with my doctor today. I have revered my diabeties. My ANA (which is autoaminue disease marker) was borderline negative/positive. And now it is negative! My CRP (which is a inflamatory marker) went down to 4.9 from 19.1.My cortisol is coming down nicely. My insulin is Amazing, starting at 165 and now is at optimum 8.5. My iodine is a little sluggish (back on supplements). I will also be taking B12 shots to see if that can help me with weight loss. My vitamin D still low but improved. My platelets, C02, and glucose are all normal.

It really is crazy how I changed these number in a little over 6 months. I feel better and energized. Doctor says I can play with the diet to see what I can handle. She said free to go off keto if I feel like it, maybe start a paleo/Mediterranean. But before I do that she wants me to do her metabolic diet for 7 days. I basically shakes up your metabolism and lets your body keep guessing. So I might try it next week.

Wiehgt plateu again...

I have been stuck between 174-178 for about a month now maybe longer. My last weigh in I was 176 but I had lost 5 inches throughout my whole body. I'm not sure if it is muscle. I only did one full session this week and 2 yoga sessions.  plan to go back full hard core this week with 3 full sessions. I start my new jobs soon. Next Monday. My schedule is going to vary (3-4days a week 7am-11am) with the exception of my working one of those days from (2:30am-7am) and being on call as needed but not required. (one day a week probably.)   I am still doing my classes Monday through Thursday from 3pm-6pm. And working at Kindred on the weekends. I'm ready to be mega bissy!

~Kari