Sick and Tired of being sick and tired, Part 1

I started this blog with every intention of posting as often as possible. The past few months have been an adventure...so just want to catch you up on what's been going on...

For the past several years, I haven't felt well. I have days that are better than others, but I can't say that I've had a day where I felt good, let alone felt great. I've gone to multiple doctors and specialists who have not been able to find anything wrong with me. My symptoms were so varied and so unrelated, that there was no definitive answer saying what I had, let alone knowing what to look for. I was tired, bloated, joints and muscles aches, bad headaches, severe heartburn, nausea and vomiting, inability to concentrate, and the list goes on and on. After many months of tests and appointments, I was finally told I had fibromyalgia, and I was anxious, stressed, and depressed. I was given pills to help, and was sent on my way. Over the next few months, I thought I was getting better, but that could be that the pills I was given made me sleep all the time. I also gained weight rapidly as soon as I went on these pills. I eventually stopped taking the pills and suffered horrible withdrawals. I was still sick. Then a new doctor ran a bunch of tests (which were all negative), and said that all my problems were probably just caused because of my weight. I was so frustrated with this answer becuase I was having the problems before I gained all the weight, and had only gained all the weight recently on the last medication that was supposed to cure me. She said that still, the only cure was to lose weight.

So for the next few years I started really watching what I ate. I did weight watchers and it was a fabulous program. I learned about portion sizes, drinking lots of water, getting healthy fats in my diet every day, eating my fruits and veggies. I did everything I was supposed to. Breakfasts of egg white omelets with fat free cheese and chopped up veggies and high fiber toast. High fiber bread with fat free condiments, lean lunch-meat, lots of crisp veggies with fat free ranch, and baked chips on the side. Snacks of a piece of fruit, a 100 calorie pack, sugar free yogurt, or string cheese. Dinner of a lean protein, veggies, a small portion of brown rice. I counted every point that went in my mouth. I found Hungry Girl and cooked her yummy weight watchers friendly recipes. I would lose 5 lbs and then plateau. I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill and nothing. Worked out with a trainer. Still no weight loss. I would get frustrated after a few weeks and give up. Then I would start over again. And the cycle kept repeating.

In 2010, my cousin suggested that I try a gluten free diet. She had tried it, and she felt better and noticed that whenever she ate bread, she went back to feeling bad. I gave it a try, and I started to feel a little better. My stomach stopped hurting all the time, my heartburn wasn't as severe, and I could actually keep food down. I went back to my doctor and asked to be tested for celiacs. I got the blood test done and it was a low positive, but my C-reactive (general inflammation in the body) protein test was off the charts. I got a referral to a GI, who confirmed that I had a minor wheat intolerance. I had many tests done, including an upper GI, and they all came back normal. Once again was told, "Avoid wheat if it makes you feel better, but it's only a mild intolerance, so you're fine." FINE? Um, no, not fine. I still have all these problems.

Over the next few months, I kept wheat out of my diet about 95% of the time. I could definitely tell a difference in my health when I cheated and ate a cupcake or a piece of french bread. But even on the days and weeks I didn't cheat, I still was feeling bad.

A few years ago, my friend's mom had talked to me and said she thought I had candida and that I should go get checked out by a natural doctor. At the time, I didn't have the extra money since natural doctors aren't covered by my medical insurance. Now I was ready. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time. Not being able to lose weight. Feeling like my life was slipping away and I was going to be sick for the rest of it and never be able to enjoy all the wonderful experiences out there. So Dave and I agreed that I should try out this natural doctor and see what they said and if they could help. It was going to be an investment because my medical insurance doesn't cover this at all.