A while back, I mentioned that I went to see a Functional Medicine Practitioner who I called Dr. Cooper. She has really helped me to figure out what my body needs and has helped me feel better. My migraines have not gone away altogether, but they have decreased in intensity and in duration.
Two days ago, I went in for a check-up. I had not seen her since September and I wanted to see how much I had improved since then.
What I found out:
1. I really do have a wheat allergy. Crazy that I've gone 35 years without realizing it until this year.
2. Other allergies I have: dairy, apple (weird, huh?), oats, pecans, and walnuts. (These aren't intense allergies where I have to have a shot or anything, but these things do cause problems for me.)
3. Dr. Cooper re-iterated that my headaches are caused by stress on my digestive system. (caused by Candida and bad bacteria.)
4. The Candida yeast are almost under control. I will finish out my current Nystatin prescription, then stop.
5. Now that the yeast is much improved, there is a high amount of bad bacteria showing up in my gut. This is what we are addressing now.
6. I have low Progesterone levels.
What I don't know yet:
1. Last time, Dr. Cooper found that I had insanely low levels of vitamin D. A healthy level is in the 80's and no one should ever be below 32 b/c it puts you at high risk for all sorts of things (including cancer). My level in September was 19!! I have been taking crazy high amounts (5000 mg) of vitamin D since then to build up my reserves. Dr. Cooper has ordered a blood test for me to see if I still need to be taking that high dose.
What I will do now:
1. Continue to eat a gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free diet --BUT I will ramp it up a bit and follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (see below) which prohibits all grains and sugars except fruit and honey.
2. Dr. Cooper has changed my diet from the Yeast Connection diet combined with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to just the Specific Carbohydrate Diet ONLY! This means I can eat fruit! HOORAY! (I haven't had fruit in 8 months.....well...except when I cheated...rarely.) FYI - here is a more critical look at the diet. It's good to consider all sides.
3. Take 50 mg of progesterone per day.
4. Continue with all of my supplements which she originally prescribed. (I will list them soon.)
5. Get my vitamin D levels tested.
That's pretty much it. I am going to exercise more. It seems like that's the first thing that goes out the window when I get busy. I will have time to get back on track over the summer.
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you are making forward movement. good for you!
ReplyDeleteFor the vitamin D: does that mean you need to be outside more? Doesn't the sun help the body absorb vit. D?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dot!
ReplyDeleteYes, that's true Kris. However, those of us with vampire-white skin can't stay in the sun long enough to get the vitamin D we need without burning to a crisp. ;-)
Also, milk has vitamin D, but I gave up dairy too.
Thank you so much for blogging about your experinces. I too suffer from what I think is a candida overgrowth. I have been going to all kinds of doctors with little luck because they refuse to recognize candida as an issue. I have had tons of tests done, but everything keeps coming back normal! However my symptoms of chronic fatigue, brain fog amongst others will not relent!!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen significant improvements since you saw a functional medicine practitioner? Do they accept health insurance? I would love any insight on how to beat this beast! Thanks!