Sunday, February 5, 2017

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

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

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