A new year is here, and I have decided that it's time to make some changes in my life. More important than what these changes are, is what led me to these decisions.
2013 was, in many ways, a very frustrating year for me. Dealing with the same old reoccurring lung issues, requiring multiple rounds of IV antibiotics. Being diagnosed with Osteopenia in my spine, caused from over use of steroids that have been needed to deal with the lung issues, and extreme malabsorption caused from terrible digestion. I was diagnosed with CF related diabetes years ago, which I have been able to keep under control up until the steroids were added in. In order to combat one medications side effects, we add in another. Two years ago, I made some changes and worked as hard as I could to improve my health so we could start a family. And it worked. My doctors are 100% on board with me getting pregnant. Who knew we would also battle infertility for two years (and counting). Issue after issue. Disappointment after disappointment. But hey! That's CF right??
I hope not.
For some time now, I have been a big believer in natural medicine and foods to help heal the body, sometimes even RATHER than the standard medications. Over the past couple years I have had amazing results using different vitamins and herbs to get rid of infections and improve my overall health, even in cases where prescription medication had no effect. This has recently made me think that if what I put in my body can heal it, it can also be harming it (obviously). This must be stopped. I have been paying extra attention to any little funny things that might be going on in there, and trying to avoid them at all costs. But the things that I have noticed to be harming it, I would have never thought.
Its no surprise that sugar is bad for us. Its highly inflammatory and wrecks havoc through our bodies! For someone that is in a vicious cycle of infection-inflammation, it only makes sense to give sugar the boot! Am I going to miss that can of coke, or the candy bar? Sure. But I definitely wont miss waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air, because my lungs have so much inflammation that my airways are literally the size of a pin hole.
Next - I have known for a while now that my body does not like cows dairy. The amount of milk that goes in, I will cough that amount of blood back out! Hmm... I dont think that is supposed to happen. So, dairy is out. A huge part of me will miss cheese (Ive kind of been an addict my whole life), but I will NOT miss hemoptsis, and will do what I can to avoid it from happening.
I have always had poor digestion, but the last little while it seems to be getting worse. After eating, I get such bad pressure in my stomach, bloating like crazy. I have watched out for what seems to cause this more than others, and I have to say its wheat. Now I dont know if I can say that I am a full blown `celiac`, but there definitely is some sort of terrible reaction going on there. Goodbye wheat. I have never been a big bread person anyway.
Then I kind of started to freak out a bit. In order for me to maintain my weight as it is, I need to consume between 5000 and 6000 calories a day. Without all this extra stuff, how will I do it? I have worked really hard to get my weight to a stable place (in order to carry a baby, if it ever does happen), and I dont want to lose that! So I went back to the basics. Meat, fish, eggs, veggies, fruits, nuts, and healthy oils. Thats it. That is all I have consumed for the last 8 days, and all I plan to consume for at least the next 90 days. If I feel great, maybe thats all I will ever consume. I have to say grocery shopping has gotten alot easier, and I am having lots of fun trying to come up with new recipes!
So the reasons WHY all seem to make sense, but the proof is always in the results.
Since making these changes just 8 days ago, my blood sugars have completely stabilized and returned to normal, and my O2 levels have stabilized and returned to normal. I have had NO stomach pains, NO bloating, and have actually have been able to lower the amount of digestive enzymes I need. My weight has not changed at all (which was one of the major concerns I had). I wake up feeling like I have actually slept, and have more engery than I know what to do with. I have been able to start exercising again, reduce the amount of steroids I need by half, and my lung function has improved 12%. In 8 days. I might be on to something..
I am not doing this alone. Jeff is 100% on board, hoping to fix some health issues as well. If I have had these results in just over a week, we are hoping that our fertility luck will also change, and we will finally be able to start our family. At this point, anything is possible!
Happy 2014 everyone!
