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Paleo Cinnamon Roll Cake
Paleo Cinnamon rolls aren’t the easiest thing going … if you’ve ever tried to make them.
{I’ve had a few fails myself!}
They’re dense. Hard to roll. Easy to fall apart.
I still make them though, because they TASTE great… and that’s what matters, right? Not how things LOOK?
But then I saw this recipe for a regular version of cinnamon roll cake. I though… hmmm… I bet I could make that Paleo?
And I did!
It was way easier than paleo cinnamon rolls and family loved it. I think you would even SKIP the glaze sauce… and obviously this is a special treat, because it’s pretty sugar loaded. BUT, considering what a regular cinnamon roll would be – this is a much better option.
PALEO CINNAMON ROLL CAKE
Cake:
1 cup coconut palm sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups canned coconut milk
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup of coconut butter
1 cup of almond flour
1 cup of arrowroot flour
1/2 cup of coconut flour
Topping:
1/2 cup of coconut oil or coconut butter
1/2 cup of coconut sugar
2 T. coconut flour
1 T. cinnamon
Optional:
Top with 1/4 cup diced pecans after you swirl cake and topping.
Mix everything for the cake. Pour into 9×13 baking dish. Drop topping evenly over batter and swirl with knife. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. When cooled, (if desired) top with glaze before serving.
Glaze:
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of coconut butter
5 T canned coconut milk
1 tsp. vanilla
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:10-11
Paleo Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
In the season of all things pumpkin, I’ve been on a roll. I often print out lots of recipes and pull from them later on what I might fix. Unfortunately, I’m also known to print out things that I assume are paleo, and they are not.
I’m getting better at understanding which flours work for substitutes and how to work my way around even a regular recipe to make it work for Paleo. So when the Pumpkin Snickerdoodle recipe graced my pile, I knew it had to be transformed “Paleo”. My kids and husband said these were like pumpkin cake, so I’d say that is a success!
PALEO PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLES
1 cup of coconut oil
1 cup of coconut sugar
2 large eggs
tsp cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
1 can of organic pumpkin
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 cup arrow-root flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
COATING (in small bowl to roll balls into before smashing):
3/4 cup of coconut sugar or date sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
*****
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients for cookies, and coating – separately.
Take small amount of dough with cookie scoop, and drop it into the coating bowl. Roll in bowl to coat and drop on lined cookie sheet. Flatten all cookies with a small square of parchment paper before baking.
Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown, and cool before eating.
I thought I’d share something positive with you today, but I’m feeling really horrible. I’m pretty sure it’s some pastured pork that I tried again – yep, I’m pretty positive it’s grain finished. It’s days like these, that I just hurt all over, I can’t barely bend my fingers to hold something and my head throbs… that I think – UGH, Lord, really?? Praying to enjoy this moment and being grateful for the struggle! My go-to verse for my less than ideal days, when there is no time for pity-parties?
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Cor. 12:9
The Power Of Words
When the song WORN came out… it immediately spoke to me.
Life wouldn’t let up, and I didn’t know where to turn. Medical doctors didn’t have answers – and I just kept getting sicker and sicker.
I had a good bawling session, {pretty much every time I heard it.}
I WAS worn.
The work it took to breathe sometimes – it was crushing. Feeling crushed by the weight of the world – and the struggle of that crying out to feel like no one is hearing you. It’s a nightmare.
If you knew you could get beyond where you are, it would make the fight seem doable. Unfortunately, when you don’t know IF or when the situation is going to end on earth… it’s normal to feel weak with defeat.
I’m one who always said to just have a positive attitude, and put a smile on – even if you were literally dying inside. Mind over matter always worked when it came to exercise… but for me – this health nightmare was different, my struggle was beyond that. I couldn’t fake the fear I had of knowing something was wrong, but no one could tell me what.
But there are times, when God lets us struggle… and it can be SUCH an empty, helpless, and alone feeling when you don’t know where the other side is. I compared it to a coma of sorts. You hear what is going on around you – but no one knows you’re “in there” – but are trapped, and you need out.
If only someone would listen.
Now that I’m on the upside of the worst year of my life – I realize how much continuing to fake it and stay after it – is what allowed me to stay alive, and fight. Staying in God’s word, continuing to move my body and having a good attitude is key.
My lowest point was in Nov. when my endocrinologist specialist was out of ideas, and told me I’d have to wait 2 more months for yet… another specialists to run more tests.
It was my God’s grace that He kept putting info and people in my path to help me, and I kept searching to keep the HOPE alive! When we give up hope… it’s detrimental to our health.
My Hope led me to a nautropath – who was able to turn this train around… and it was exactly what I needed at a time I was ready to throw in the towel because I was tired. I was worn.
Physical stress on our bodies makes us sick – but holding negative, emotional stress in, is also TOXIC to our immune system.
Inflammation is what causes cancer, and we all have cancer cells within our body. It’s no surprise then that feeling “hopeless” and sick CAN in fact make you more susceptible to cancer taking over in your body, and letting your auto immune disease or sickness rule your body and life.
My mom always said when she had cancer, she received her chemo as a miracle – as an opportunity at life. Three shots she would get weekly – in her arm, in her stomach, and in her leg. These burning shots left welts the size of a baseball under her skin… With every statistic against her, she survived her cancer, and a stem cell transplant 3 years ago. God is good – and it’s another example of why staying positive is so important!
My Gerson Therapy book had some GREAT positive talk ideas if you are struggling. It would be good to write these out to yourself – in the present tense – creating positive affirmation towards health! Don’t be fake about it – but be positive!
– Every day in every way I am getting better, better, and better.
– I am healthy and beautiful/handsome.
– I am whole and complete in the Lord.
– I give thanks To God for my life of health and happiness.
– I am happy to be alive, and anticipate what the future brings!
– I love and appreciate myself just as God created me.
– I am conquering illness because the treatment is working.
If you are struggling with auto immune disease, or chronic illness – I highly recommend trying a revised Paleo diet for at least a month to see if it helps you. At a minimum get gluten and dairy out of your diet. You’d be amazed at what a SMALL amount of gluten can do to people with the HLA-genotype. From GI issues to joint issues, to major neurologic issues. If left untreated – it will continue to worsen and break your body down. Don’t wait for that to happen. Be proactive and do what you CAN do. Eat to LIVE.
You are worth it. God says so.
“He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25
Under The Influence…
Stocked up with all of our new favorites from Trader Joes. Love the tea tree tingle shower wash and my new favorite is the stir-fry frozen veggie mix!
My husband made it home last week, with a slight deviation from where he should have landed. Regardless, he was happy to be home! We picked up his vehicle (2 hours away) a few days later.
An excuse to go to “the city” and refill our food stock was in the plan… as was a trip to Chick-fil-a for the kids.
I know, fast food isn’t good for us. It doesn’t matter if it’s salad, and fruit… and the waffle fries… wow. They’re really good. Chick-fil-a is usually really great about not cross contaminating our food.
I usually order a salad, but because I can’t have dairy – they custom make it, from scratch.
Well, my salad was brought to me and it was the wrong salad. No big deal, they would get the right one.
Then they brought me the right salad type, but with cheese… again I reminded the server (who appeared to be management on duty, though I had never seen him at this one before), and he said, “No problem”.
What my sons heard him say, and what I missed him saying was…”We’ll just take that cheese off of there.”
BIG mistake.
I’m not sure who made this salad, or who took the cheese off – but I got glutenated in a big way.
Unfortunately I also had to drive home as the increasingly debilitating effects kicked in.
First we had to drive to the airport – and I fell asleep on the way there. It’s never a good sign you fall asleep immediately after a meal…
I took some tumeric when we got to the airport – this usually helps me, but the “slight dusting” seemed to have the head shaking qualities of a major effect… I was ready to drive.
Things went from bad to worse pretty rapidly, and I focused on staying awake, and being able to see.
Haloing of the headlights coming towards me, headache and eye swelling were among the first effects. I was just. so sleepy.
I turned my AC down… and then again… and then again. I was holding steady at 63 degrees in the car, and lots of talking to my kids to keep me on task.
I shook my head a lot in desperate attempt to refocus and stay awake.
After 2 hours we arrived at home and I just hurt everywhere.
The joint pain, brain fog and eye swelling pain continues 4 days later, although I know it’s getting better. My digestive system completely stopped working as if someone poured cement into my stomach.
I countered this with fresh juices, warm Braggs and lemon water, spinach smoothies and Kombucha. I needed this out of my system – as I could tell it wasn’t moving on its own!
How soon do you think I’ll be eating at Chick-fil-a again? This is why eating out can be so dangerous.
This server’s “quick fix” made my body drop down a few notches.
I know. I shouldn’t have been driving in that condition.
I knew we needed our vehicle home – and I had 2 children with me. My husband, in our big van, had the other 6. Options were nonexistent and I knew freaking anyone out wasn’t going to get us home faster.
I was more than upset when we returned home, and emotionally exhausted. Everything hurt.
Frustrated with the server, with people who “forget” that this is a major issue… not a fad. For my body – which is at this point, can have reactions like that, which last like they do.
In my quiet time with God that night … He spoke to me with a reminder that MY inadequacy presents me with a continual choice – to depend on Him, or live in despair.
I choose to depend on Him.
A grateful heart is what protects us from negative thinking. I need to be thankful for this opportunity for constant dependence on God, and His plans in all things.
I have to keep doing all I can to share with others, who are willing to listen, why gluten is so dangerous and why protecting the health for your gut is essential!
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2
Just Say No!
Here is my mid-morning and mid-afternoon line up of supplements. These don’t include my daily or before bed vitamins. Are they hard to take? No. I feel like I’m giving my body a treat. “Rebuild body! Go!” About 15 minutes after I take them, I feel this calm come over my body.
You remember that unforgettable slogan from the 80s that Mrs. Reagan birthed?
It was simple, to the point…
Unfortunately, statistically experts showed that it didn’t work. Drugs and alcohol consumption continued to increase – and prescription drug abuse became mainstream in many schools.
Apparently just saying NO wasn’t as easy of a reply when drugs were being offered.
Currently, we live in a society that there seems to be a magic pills for every ailment, and every disease has its drug of choice to make your body “work” again.
The cure?
Often times these medications can help people, in some areas, for some time. The downside to these pills is they often also have lasting effects that are equally as harmful. While, often patients are simply following what their doctors orders are, assuming that their doctor is looking out for their best interest – in a sense – they’re letting go of responsibility when being under-educated in the matter.
Honestly it seems that unless you have a debilitating illness with no cure, or something like cancer – most people don’t take their diagnosis serious enough to make the necessary dietary changes to be well. We often blame our genes for our biological predisposition to things, instead of owning how WE contribute to the demise of our health.
{Gluten-light, or cutting out “most” gluten – doesn’t cut it. It just doesn’t. The issues it causes are systemic. You may never feel them in your gut.}
Take for instance, if your doctor tells you that you have high blood pressure – and that by changing your diet 100% of the time, you could avoid medication… and reverse the effects… You might laugh, and call him a quack. Insurance doesn’t cover you to eat mainly live foods, and it’s not easy to watch your sodium intake. Maybe you don’t want to change the type of stress you hold in – because you have the attitude that something is going to kill us all, being so aware of our foods and toxins is a waste of time?
Essentially – you’d rather hand over your responsibility of your health care – to someone else and call it good.
That’s totally your call.
But for me, my wake up call this year was this:
The most important decision maker … was ME.
I had the right to refuse whatever it was they were selling. I had the right to refuse to see a specialist, or test.
I needed to JUST. SAY. NO.
I didn’t need to allow them to make me feel like I was wrong – when no one knew my body and what was going on – more than me.
So as my appointments drug on, and I began to think about what my END to my means really was, I realized that most of the books and studies I read said they would start me on a steroid or another prescription called Plaquenil.
As I prayed one night just crying out to God… WHAT should I do? Did I really want to be on a drug to function for the rest of my life? Was THAT going to get to the root of my problems? Would it be ignorant to NOT take the prescriptions offered?
The answer for me… was NO!
I had looked through the drug options. I knew my symptoms None of them seemed like a great road. Several auto immune disease drugs induce lupus because they were enzyme inhibitors. (Ironically, I’m already having those issues – thanks to my leaky gut issues – lacking enzymes and essential amino acids leads to lack of proper function and auto immune diseases) They told me I didn’t have lupus (at this point), why on earth would I want to risk that?
I didn’t.
I wouldn’t.
I was done!
Suddenly, I didn’t really care WHAT I had was called. I didn’t need a name for my “connective tissue disorder” – as I felt I already knew where my body was heading, blood test proof or not. My ANA titre knew, I could feel it – and I decided to make the LEAP to take my life back before they slapped me on the back with telling me what my life was going to be like for the next 40-50 years, if that.
Since then, I have read countless of encouraging stories of others with multiple auto immune diseases also… stepping out in faith, and trying a GAPS diet, or a Paleo diet, or an Auto-Immune Protocol diet… and feeling their way though what foods made them sick – and saying NO to drugs. Many have been on multiple scripts for years and now feel better than ever!
Personally, for me, the naturopath was the easiest and quickest way to get me turned around – but depending on where you are in your body’s destruction from food and toxins – maybe the elimination process works for you. You know pretty quickly when foods don’t like you. The problems can occur when it takes several days for the effects to build up or take hold – and by then you may have added in another new food. It’s much trickier than I imagined.
Just this past week I learned another valuable lesson. I started a new organic vitamin from Rainbow Light. It’s a vegan vitamin, in all other ways it was safe for me to take. In all other ways, means – within a few days of starting it – all of my chronic fatigue symptoms started back in. I felt like I was going crazy with brain fog and confusion.
It was my mid-cycle and I was tired, and grouchy and unmotivated. By day 4 my eye was swelling again and it hurt. I didn’t know if it was a combination of my hormonal shift and the vitamins, or what was going on… things were back sliding quickly and I began feeling frustrated after feeling unstoppable for several weeks.
I immediately removed the new vitamin from my daily intake, and went back to my safe, tried-and-true Juice Plus. Chronic fatigue again disappeared. I called Dr. K and had a great chat about what was going on. We added in a herb (Vitex) to help me mid-cycle and she talked to me about taking turmeric incase I get in an uncomfortable inflammatory state again.
It felt good – figuring out what was going on… recognizing it and making the changes to change my body’s response.
I suppose that’s why I speak out so strongly about gluten. It’s the reason that toxins take hold of me so quickly – and I’m thankful I can FEEL it. But for everyone like ME out there? There are countless people who AREN’T feeling a thing, but the damage is just the same – and they’ve treated their “symptoms” for years because no one told them their gut health was a mess.
It’s why my body has psycho auto immune responses to foods and drinks. I don’t want other people to live this tight rope. If I could have done it all over again – of course I would have made the necessary changes years ago before my body got to this point!
There is truth in the statement that you can have everything in the world, but without your health? You have nothing. Invest wisely.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18
Just One Little…K.I.S.S.
Dig out the root of the problem!
Oh the things we retain from college! My public relations professor was unforgettable in so many ways. His personality, his quirks… this sayings!
He was always encouraging us to write with the K.I.S.S. method – keep it simple stupid! Which essentially made it easy to really keep the MOST important news at the forefront of any standout press release. (although, we don’t say the “s” word at this house!)
I’ve used this method when home schooling my children. Some times, as adults – we just make things VERY complicated.
I’m totally guilty.
Obviously when you’ve learned something well, and it makes complete sense to you – you expect it to be easy for others also. But most often, it’s not.
We all learn so differently – and our 8 children, from the two same parents, are a great testimony of God’s diverse plan in originality.
Because of all of the change our diets, we do spend a quite a bit of time reviewing just what is going on in our bodies – and why what is happening to mommy, we DON’T want to happen to them. We want our children to have a solid understanding of just what food is and what it’s for, and what CAN happen!
Early on my children were teaching ME just how easy it was to go without food and goodies that we once thought were necessary, earned or expected!
After recently watching this fabulous video on how gluten effects EVERYONE, and how it triggers auto immune disease in HLA-genotypes specifically – my girls were discussing a few points and then drew the above picture.
“Why do people keep cutting off the top of the plant and covering up their symptoms with drugs?” they asked. “Don’t they realize you have to dig out the WHOLE root to remove the problem at the source?”
Great question.
I told them I think most people don’t realize that all disease begins in the gut – because most doctors don’t understand nutrition themselves. Many don’t focus on natural ways to keep toxins out of your body. They treat symptoms – with drugs – that have other side effects, many unknown.
However my kids cut to the chase and said they think it’s more about money and treating symptoms vs. truly making someone well. They said it seems like the drug companies want people to keep treating symptoms, and worsening their health for job security – vs. the easier change of diet. I would hate to assume that. My assumption is easier for me to accept and retain hope for our healthcare system.
My husband’s toe and psoriasis skin issues are a fabulous example of what is going on IN your body that you often can’t see. Most people keep treating the rashes, or unsightly fungus with topical treatments, or in the case of his toe nail issues – a high power drug that could have damaged his liver or kidneys. (after a one month round several years ago – he no longer took it, and of course it came right back – thankfully that drug was pulled off the market relatively quickly. Some people aren’t so blessed – and have lasting consequences from these drugs, including death!)
My husband has been gluten-free and mostly dairy-free for 10 months, and his toe has grown out almost perfectly within that time! His body no longer is fighting this chronic poison of gluten damaging his gut and slowly breaking down his body until something major finally shows up. Once we eliminated the main problem – it’s amazing that the goes back to healing itself – as it was intended.
Please. If you have issues with thyroid, depression, cancer, auto immune disease, asthma, chronic inflammation, sinusitus, allergies – do you struggle with fatigue or migraine headaches? Have trouble with brain fog? Do you not absorb vitamins? Are you iron, potassium or magnesium deficient? Do you have a hormone imbalance, rashes or light sensitivity? Trouble losing weight or getting pregnant? The list goes on and on and on – but you have signs in your genetics that gluten IS a problem and it’s possibly destroying your body. There is no reason to have a celiac diagnosis to remove it from diet. There are so many foods God made that you can enjoy – and regain your health and your life before it’s too late!
Rip out the problem at the ROOT system!
Personally – my favorite part of the video above, is the fact that our bodies should be viewed as a bagel. The inside “hole” of the bagel is still the outside. Our digestive system IS the outside of our body – and the food and drinks we put in should NOT pass to the inside of our body’s system. When they do – that is what creates havoc! Spend the 20 minutes watching it – you’ll be glad you did. The last 5 minutes is the best!
“For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13
What Do They Want?
Preparing for my vitamin IV on Wednesday. They call it the “pick me up”… I’d say so! I felt fabulous for the past 4 days.
I’ve felt written off and passed around from specialist to specialist with “no answers” worthy to chart – while clearly the answers seem very obvious to me to the whole time…
I almost have felt sorry for doctors, who rely so heavily on these blood tests for answers… and the patients who so desperately want to know what is going on so they can be well. I wonder if they would change how they did things, if they truly knew how much nutrition played into things…
Those videos I mentioned the last week… that doctor said when he went back to his original group practice – eager to help his patients get off of their medicines, and transform their lives, so their bodies could naturally heal – as God intended….
Most didn’t want to hear it.
They didn’t want to change.
They couldn’t afford any test that was out-of-pocket, and not covered by insurance… and often insisted they would rather have their prescription medicine, which WAS paid for by their insurance.
How sad that the things and people who can actually make us well, are NOT paid for by our insurance? What is wrong with our country???
Do you know who pays for many of the studies that are done at hospitals… in the name of “advancing medicine”???
It’s the drug companies.
Do you think they’re looking out for your well-being above all? Or are they concerned with the bottom line, and selling products?
I noted that even the Chicago University Celiac Center was privately funded… and I thought – wow, that’s strange – when 97% of people aren’t diagnosed, you would think there would be money to FUND such an important illness.
But alas, you can’t own the rights to “proper nutrition”… and you can’t sell whole food vitamins in a patented format that would be a money-maker to the drug companies and medical doctors alike.
Food companies have gotten on board to fund some of the “search for a cure”… but still don’t quite understand that – when the cure is – avoiding the foods that make us sick?
I have also read some of the “negatives” about holistic medicine. That they want to sell you “their” supplements… Well for one, that has NOT been my experience. They have been VERY open with what I need – but never pushing me to buy things only “from them.”
Secondly, this low dose Armour I’m on for my thyroid… which most endocrinologists poo-poo. The sheet on the prescription states it has “no” negative side effects. Interesting… I wonder what the list is on Synthyroid?? Why again won’t doctors give it a chance if a patient is wanting it? Oh yes… that’s right – it’s not the money-maker, and perhaps you wouldn’t need it forever like you do Synthyroid?
Now, I realize – not all doctors are like this, and there are just as many out there that have no clue that they are making choices that have really bad consequences for their patients. I still shake my head when I think of my GI doctors telling me he would prescribe me some anti diarrhea medicine, following my endoscopy. Knowing that would have only masked things until I probably ended up with colon cancer, or continued poisoning my system with more auto immune disease issues searching for anything else, since “a professional” told me that wasn’t the problem. While he was a professional, he was professionally wrong in my case.
I look forward to sharing with you our latest decisions we need to make. We got two phone calls last week – one indicating my blood work from the learning hospital showed my ANA is up again. Now it’s 1:320. I was referred to a rheumatolgist… that I can’t decide if I’d like to see. What are they REALLY going to be able to do? Do I really need a diagnosis in my chart?
Another call was from an immunologist specialist my son visited 2 weeks ago… His grand plan of vaccines, medicines and testing made my head hurt… that was before I got his paperwork, where the doctor stated some elements of my son’s health history MAJORLY incorrect. Chicago University did the same thing – I simply don’t think listening nor knowledge on nutrition and health is the strong suit. I’m thankful we live in America and have choices… This boy needs help with his immune system, and has made great strides already, since last May. He does not need more medicine and doctors appointments.
I’ve continued to feel well this week after my vitamin IV, and additional supplements. I had a bit of systemic pain today – in the morning and evening yesterday, with some fatigue…but I was also on my feet most of the day. I fought back and did an hour-long DVD with Bob Harper tonight. Bob always makes me laugh. I needed that. I’ve done one of those a week now… which is a huge progress for me since September. Praise God.
Please. Educate yourself as much as you can about nutrition and the symptoms you have if you are sick with auto immune disease, cancer, asthma or thyroid or other hormone issues… we truly ARE what we eat – and genetically it’s effecting our country in a BIG way.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
That GUT Feeling…
Things that make you go hmmmm?
If you remember my appt with Dr. E in October, and follow-up blood work in November… (that yielded no results, other than an elevated ANA of 1:160 which they felt was just “nothing” despite my symptoms) – then you remember how crushed I was when she recommended that I go to another doctor. An Immunologist.
The soonest appointment? Two months away.
I decided I was grateful she did that, as it pushed me to seek alternative help – I was failing quickly. I knew I couldn’t make it through the holidays. At the rate I was going, I would likely end up in bed on a daily basis, if we didn’t get some help soon. Thankfully, a thoughtful friend who obeyed when God prompted her to contact me… I found a naturopath, Dr. K who has been most helpful in untying this knot.
Well, even though I have made some great progress in only ONE month… I still had that appointment set with the immunologist this week.
Do I cancel it? But the nauturopath suggested I get tested for Lyme… to rule out any chronic type of infection.
Reluctantly – we went with an agenda in mind. Ask questions, get Lyme test.
I didn’t have the normal paperwork ready for this doctor, as I knew she had my files. I really didn’t want to go. My gut told me to just cancel. I should have listened.
So I arrive on time to the same “pod” as Dr. E… interested to see just what Dr. G might have to say about my health history, chronic infections and elevated ANA – despite being on a GF diet and having my chronic gut issues on the mend.
Imagine my surprise when a young male entered the room. He introduced him self, but I heard nothing he said… as I was thinking…”you aren’t Dr. G.”
The greek looking resident with thick accent proceeded to say that he was basically fielding for Dr. G… to figure out just “why I was here.”
The puzzled look on my face must have been apparent – as he repeated, “I know what the paper says… but I want to know why YOU think you’re here.”
{At this point, I’m thinking maybe a barrage of cameras is going to pop out to let me know this whole past year was nothing but an awful joke – and I’ve been filmed as a study for some greater purpose… }
But alas… HE was serious, and I was STILL very confused.
I started in speaking… but I don’t know what words were coming out. Something about being referred… and my ANA… and he cuts in again.
“Usually people who have had chronic infections seek out an immunologist… you know, people who have been sick a lot, respiratory issues, breathing issues… people who have low IgA… or immune problems.”
Once again I started speaking… and I found myself calming explaining why I was there.
Wait a minute. WHY am I defending why I’m here?
WHY was HE asking me why I was here????? It wasn’t a referral *I* asked for.
I had a pile of sheets stapled together in my lap that I had been working on since I checked in… a health history of sorts, documenting different symptoms. {After about an hour of him talking – I just put it in my folder.} He never looked anything over… nor asked for those sheets.
I began to explain I *had* chronic infections … for years before I went gluten-free! Pink eye, yeast, sinus, throat, and most recently the UTI that lasted a month. I explained I had gotten the flu the past three years, despite being immunized… he listened, and then told me that my IgA being on the low-end had nothing to do with how sick I had been.
Really?
It was almost as if my voice took on Charlie Brown’s teacher when I spoke. I explained that I had waited 2 months for this appointment and had driven 2 hours to meet with Dr. G regarding what to do next – because clearly the additional symptoms my body had taken on, were NOT normal. Dr. E didn’t know what to do further, and obviously REFERRED ME here…. A blank look came across his face… and after an hour and half of this – he said he would be “right back.”
A few times he came in and out… apparently talking with someone from Rheumotology. Why I wasn’t in THAT department, I have no idea…
FINALLY, Dr. G appeared. A petite woman, around my age… with a delicate face and long red hair. She was kind… and spoke as though she thought I was here to inquire about celiac disease. She began explaining to me that being off gluten was very important… as she continued talking I realized she had no clue about me or my history. When I explained about how my past year went, including my lack of celiac antibodies, and how the GI did my biopsy incorrectly… she began to talk about “non-celiac gluten sensitivity”… again, assuming I didn’t know what that was.
But those people… they don’t have GENES for celiac. “The auto immune genes for celiac are the difference,” I stated. My mother and I are positive for those genes – and I have every symptom in the book.
This is where I wonder why common sense doesn’t trump out these tests.
This is where I wonder why well-educated people, can’t simply look beyond their charts and realize… there are people who don’t fit within their boundaries – whose problems aren’t in their head.
If you’ve ever studied MEANS before… then you understand how everyone being designed differently MIGHT not apply to tests in the same way as majority. It isn’t because they don’t have an issue. It’s because the TEST isn’t able to show it the same way for all people.
Example: if my lower IgA is REALLY low for me, but it’s not for my husband… than he might not have a problem with colds, infections and the like… while I battle things non-stop because clearly, my body is struggling. It’s ABNORMAL for me. It’s not where my body is happy. My body might not be able to perform at that level… compared to someone else. A logical thinker would be able to figure something like this out…. correct?
I don’t say this because I want to be diagnosed with something I don’t have … I say this because it’s clear that all of the other evidence points to an answer, and yet it’s ignored without the two things someone has set as the necessary needs for diagnosis. It’s the same thing with celiac, as it is for Sjorgrens, and I wonder what else.
The bottom line is this – I have auto immune disease genes. I have every symptom of celiac, and of Sjogrens… and I understand that hypothyroid (and chronic fatigue, and fibro) go with those things also. I know what these mean also because I *FEEL* it… and I’ve SEEN the effects.
Not because I read it on the internet, or in some book… or created it in my head.
I’m not “just tired” from having 8 kids….
I don’t need more rest… because I could sleep all the time on the days I couldn’t get out of bed.
The pain definitely has triggers. Cold. Wind. Sunlight.
No. I do not want an antidepressant.
No. I don’t need anti-inflammatories in the form of antidepressants either….
SO when Dr. G suggested she might refer me to an infectious disease specialist…. I declined.
Truly – I’ve had ENOUGH.
Enough not listening to my symptoms… and enough testing to last me a lifetime.
The best suggestion she had was to maybe see someone from their integral medicine department that dealt in holistic medicine, warning me that it was “really expensive.” I just said… “well, it’s cheap if they can truly help you feel well again.” She agreed. I told her I would keep them in mind.
But what I wanted to say was this:
“I clearly have celiac, hypothyroidism and Sjogrens – and you missed it. I have a leaky gut and multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies and THAT is what created all of these other auto immune symptoms – thanks to celiac being undiagnosed for years and you ignoring my genetic make-up. You tell me nothing is wrong… when I’ve told you SOMETHING was wrong because this is NOT normal for me. I am not “just tired” – this is NOT something a power nap will fix. Look beyond your numbers on your chart and realize something is going on.”
After 4 hours in that appointment, I sat in the blood lab to do some standard checks on my CBC, and a recheck of my ANA…(no test for Lyme BTW), but they were finally testing numbers on my liver, and heart thanks to some advice from the rheumatology department – two important organs that could very well show damage related to the symptoms I’m having. I was thankful for this… it was something. I looked around at all of the very SICK people there. Most overweight. Many looked tired, defeated, and worn down.
I prayed for our country, and for the people who don’t have a voice, or access to books and information to learn about what to do to be well again. To the people who eat poorly – to get by… to the people who never make time to take care of their bodies through exercise… PLEASE. Stand up for yourself. Take CARE of that body God gave you.
If your doctor is analyzing numbers like an accountant, but unable to hear/see you as a unique person – designed by God… then GET A NEW DOCTOR. YOU are worth it. Your future is worth it. You are worth being heard… and you have the right to say NO to medicine that might actually make you worse with side effects. Research all you can before you take anything.
In the mean time – my natural thyroid meds have helped a TON, and my vitamins are doing their thing… I’m missing sugar a lot – but I’m doing ok, knowing I can work out again and my metabolism is on the rise again.
*** I do want to say there are a lot of great doctors out there… and for most purposes, their testing and numbers are important in diagnosing some major illness. However, as a whole – they have got to get a handle on understanding the importance of nutrition – how utilizing vitamins and natural options for treatment – and LISTENING to their patients.
Do not discount the effect of every bite, every sip, and every breath you take… healthy for HIM.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1
Homework – Complete!
I finished the last of my homework today.
It was a simple 6 hour urine collection test called the DMSA Challenge test for heavy metal poisoning… They’re looking for mercury obviously. The metals bind to the substance, and it comes out through your urine. We’ll see what they say. I have an appointment with my naturopath in 2 weeks.
Ironically, in the time that I wrote to you about metals, and vaccines – we took our son, who had low IgA, IgM and borderline IgG to the immunologist specialist. It was a super nice facility – clean, and everyone was friendly, as it was child specific. The check in person was the only one who faced the computer… the usual questions with a new normal one this year, “what pharmacy would you like us to use?”
Hmmm….
Of course I’m thinking I’m not going to be leaving with a prescription… so that question throws me, but I answer it accordingly and move on.
The doctor was very informative, and friendly. He interacted greatly with my child. Friendly – kind and warm. He never touched the computer. He did wash his hands VERY well, twice, and I was quite impressed with him.
He could tell I was skeptical, and not the run of the mill parent looking to medicate their child for asthma immediately. After all, we had actually tried him on Singular for about a week – before realizing it turned him into 50 shades of evil. (Honestly, even after dealing with him on steroids for croup – that was nothing compared to this!) Asthma was mentioned several times… and several times, I reminded him of his marketed improvement since May… It’s not as if this child is monthly on an inhaler. This must be their catch-all answer for kids with respiratory issues.
So after my decline on that, his thoughts were, we could draw blood – check and see if his body made antibodies for the vaccines he had as a child… specific ones. He said, if he has antibodies for them – he made just have a weak immune system. {He called this “bad luck” – not realizing I’m not a believer in things like that… but anyway.} (I’m ok with working on that with a naturopath really…) If he doesn’t have any antibodies, that we have something else on our hands. I’m going to assume the first part.
It would make sense that his immune system wasn’t ever that stellar – considering he got croup at 4 months old… and has struggled with breathing issues and sleep up until about May.
When I was pregnant with him I had classic thyroid issues – freezing cold, sleepy, vertigo from low BP, and the worst bout of celiac in between him and my previous son. He probably has some major yeast issues as well – as the boy CRAVES sugar and carbs… and is a little tank.
Oh… one other thing he mentioned? About him having a severe reaction to the H1N1 vaccine? “It was probably his immune system doing it’s job, and we should try it again until doctor supervision.”
Let me tell you this… after you have a severe reaction like that with YOUR child, the LAST thing you want to do – is try that again. Once you put a shot in… there is NO TAKING IT OUT. It was an extremely HELPLESS feeling… to feel like you “did that” to your child. I would much rather prepare and build his immune system… then EVER try that again.
But I smiled… and listened… and thought he was a crazy man.
In 3 weeks we should know if he recommends more testing – but I’m going go with what we’re working on is already benefiting him. He’s not had a major bout or hospitalization since MAY, when we went gluten-free/dairy-free.
Call me crazy… they MIGHT be connected.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
What It Takes To Change
This was our toast to the new year! Cascade Ice is just sparkling water. No calories, no sugar or anything artificial… Just refreshing without the junk. (and only $1 a bottle!) It rates an A- on Fooducate – probably only because there is no nutrition. Definitely worth it.
Happy New Year!!
Did you make any resolutions?
I’m not talking about empty goals… but rather, things you really set out to do – whole heartedly.
Did you write them down or commit them to your heart/mind?
If you spent 2012 in the health gutter, you are highly likely to welcome the new year with open arms. I, for one, could not be more glad to see 2012 come to an end… and the numbers 2-0-1-3 appear on the calendar.
But really, it’s just a different day – right?
What is it about the new year that gives people such high expectations of a fresh start?
I think, like most things – we like the idea of a clean slate, another chance, forgiveness… just in case things didn’t work before.
Well, many of you might have a word of inspiration for your year… mine is HOPE.
The great news is, there is truly HOPE in each new day of eternal value – in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and I’ve thankfully not lacked that… But my hope in the medical world being able to help me feel better is no longer where my hope abounds. I actually am filled with continued HOPE that I will feel well again. I do think I had given up hope in the past few months, and was beginning to settle for “this is now my new life…” and I’m probably going to need medicine for the rest of my life and still never feel well.
I will tell you, I never in a million years could have predicted my last year…and I’m thankful to the ends of the earth at how it’s gone. BUT, I’m also really thankful I went through it. I truly am.
Had I been slapped with an “easier” celiac diagnosis… I doubt I would have dug deeper for my kids, my husband and my extended family. I might have accepted my low thyroid feelings for depression and started on medicine, I didn’t need. I doubt we would have made the drastic health changes in our eating that we needed to. Sure, we were eating healthier before… but really we were only eating healthier, according to the world – and what the world TOLD us was healthier.
That made us feel smug, and comforted… but it obviously didn’t stop the damage that was occurring.
Soda now and then, coffee daily… eating pizza and quick meals out… no longer an option. (Well, technically it’s an option, but the consequence isn’t worth it.)
I walk down the grocery story through aisles of food we’ll never be eating again… and I think… “How is it, this is even considered food in this highly developed country, where science experiments in a box trumps common sense?” And and I wonder how it never occurred to me before? The bakery section of stores… seriously. We don’t even have a clue what we put into our bodies…
At least I didn’t. I was content with that.
I remember thinking people, “like me”… were a bit extremists in their eating and living. Maybe I assumed it was a choice… or a fad.
Let me tell you, given a choice, most people aren’t going to choose to eat how we eat… because the fad would wear off quickly. {more quickly than a half-hearted resolution!} The social aspects alone are not easy, but it’s getting better.
Oh, I know… the excuses abound… it’s expensive, it’s too hard, I don’t like change, I don’t want to change – give me my medicine instead. What if food WAS your medicine? What if you were poisoning yourself everyday, and it could have been avoided? Who would purposefully poison their children as well?
So, my husband and I have this little saying for people who are struggling, but still don’t want to listen, or change…
“I guess they’re not sick enough…”
We don’t say that to be prideful. We say it in the heartache of knowing how their bodies must be struggling, and the continued damage they’re putting on their systems – eating poorly, and taking medicines to mask the continued damage.
Once you know the Truth… it’s true. It sets your free – and you can’t look back. The more I’ve learned about how God designed my body to HEAL itself… and how I can be a part of that healing – the more “ALL IN” I am to looking at natural ways to cleanse, and heal – to give my body a chance, instead of offering more medicine to break it down.
But isn’t that the truth? We don’t change until we HAVE to, most of the time. We’re content until we realize things are as bad as they are… Until reality slaps us in the face!
It’s not about being a certain size, or being a perfect 10. God wants us to feed our bodies the fuel he designed, and He wants us to be able to perform at the level He designed for us to move at. Nothing less than His way.
No tricks, gimmicks, or fast fixes.
Just TRUTH. Healthy for Him.
Happy 2013. May God bless you with a healthy year of service and reflection of Him!
“Commit your way unto the Lord, and He will help you.”
Psalm 37:5
** Just a side note to say, I realize people need certain medicines or surgeries to be well – because their bodies are beyond the point of just eating well to be well. You TOO can make changes, and might be surprised. I’m simply asking you to take a true look at what you’ve done, or are doing to contribute to the problem. I was in shock to know the things that were still making me sick… and I’m sure I’ll find out more of what I was doing wrong!!
Having a teachable spirit is so important to being healthy for Him.
