This is What 6 Eggs Look Like

I’ve never eaten six eggs in one sitting, but I’m taking measures to put some weight back on, so I decided to go heavy on the eggs today at lunch. In the last seven months, I have lost 10-15 pounds without wanting to by implementing the autoimmune protocol of the Paleo Approach which promotes healing from autoimmune issues.

As part of the plan, I eat three sizable meals daily, including pastured or wild caught animal protein (often a sizable portion), healthy fats and loads of veggies and fruit. But evidently I am not eating enough. So I’m gonna change that.

LUNCH today: 6 eggs scrambled in lard with garden cilantro, steamed garden collards and ginger, half sweet potato pan fried in lard

A Tale of Two Rheumatologists

I’ll call them R1 and R2.

After taking my history, doing an exam, completing bloodwork and sending me for xrays and an MRI, R1 diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in August 2014.

R2 examined me and reviewed my labs and history in January 2015 and said: “You might or might not have rheumatoid arthritis.”

R1 told me that the ball-of-foot pain in my right foot indicated onset of RA.

R2 told me that the ball-of-foot pain in my right foot was biomechanical in origin.

R1 told me: “Yours is not a moderate disease.”

R2 told me:  “Your immune system is acting up” . At a subsequent appointment R2 said, “You’re healthy.”

R1 told me to begin taking DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). R1 wanted to prescribe the mildest one.

When I told R2 that R1 wanted me to take a particular DMARD, R2 shook his/her head and said: “Oh, no.”

R1 said that diet doesn’t have any impact on disease outcomes.

R2 ordered food sensitivities testing for me.

R1 is a conventional doctor whose approach is directed toward relief of symptoms and slowing disease progression.

R2 is a functional medicine doctor whose approach is directed toward rooting out disease triggers and supporting individuals’ unique paths for healing and returning to balance.

I align with R2’s approach. Or, more aptly stated, R2’s approach aligns with mine.

Healing with Acupuncture

A few weeks ago I posted a list of potent aids in my healing journey and I am remiss that I failed to include acupuncture.

In mid-November I had my first ever experience of vertigo–a pounding dizziness that made me feel like I was stuck on an out-of-control amusement park ride. The dizziness was accompanied by nausea and it was dreadful. Traces of the vertigo and nausea lingered for several weeks. It was worse in certain positions, particularly lying down. I started to dread going to bed.

I scheduled an acupuncture treatment; and, fortunately, after the first session, the dizziness and nausea disappeared completely and have not returned. I am ecstatic about that!

I have had a few more acupuncture treatments since then for ongoing treatment of my autoimmune condition and the aches in my foot, wrists and hands. I don’t have to understand how acupuncture works–I just know that I like it. I feel better afterwards, and there is science that supports it as an effective modality for autoimmune conditions.

I feel blessed to have an acupuncturist in the family!!

Still Here

Perfection: Lobster tail, scallop and asparagus — It’s been 3 years since I last enjoyed lobster… Let’s not wait so long next time, huh?

I have missed being more consistent with my blog. January was a little rough with a flare that involved achiness and decreased range of motion in my wrists and achiness and decreased function of my hands. Thankfully that is easing off now. I can pick up plates and even the iron skillet again. What a joy!

I have a couple of theories about my flare, which I will explore in a future post. I have made a few shifts and have had some new insights. I look forward to blogging about those soon as well.

I look forward to giving a 6 months update in two weeks. Six months!! I have a hard time getting a handle on the passage of time since I began the Paleo autoimmune protocol.

Healing continues.

Tea and Research

Good Morning. It’s a fire-in-the-wood-stove kind of morning. Cup of ginger, turmeric, garlic, rosemary, black pepper tea with 1/2 tsp of honey while I hit the books and interwebs and find out what I can about oxalates.

I came across the suggestion that high oxalate foods can increase joint pain in those with rheumatoid arthritis (and trigger other issues for other people). Since I have been loaded up on several high oxalate foods lately–sweet potatoes, beets and carrots, to name a few–I want to explore whether oxalates could be contributing to my recent increase in joint pain. Maybe. Maybe not. Something worth exploring.

The Cholesterol Numbers are in

Here I am more than four months into following the paleo autoimmune protocol (AIP) wherein I have consistently eaten more meat and fats* than I have in my life. The numbers are in, and the only cholesterol number that has risen is HDL the “good” cholesterol (and along with it then, my total cholesterol). My LDL “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides are lower.

* “Good”, quality, grassfed and wild caught animal protein and quality fats: coconut, olive and avocado oils, animal fats

Note that cholesterol levels have never been a concern for me. I wanted to post these lab results because the question of cholesterol levels as they relate to an ancestral-type diet arises frequently in conversation. Keep in mind that this is a sample size of 1. Nothing I write on this blog should be considered medical advice.

Before I began the paleo AIP, I considered my diet healthy: I was gluten free yet still eating loads of oatmeal and homemade granola. Except for my daily indulgence of a piece of quality dark chocolate, I didn’t eat sweets. I avoided milk but ate cheese and organic yogurt. I never drank sodas. I enjoyed wine and spirits and organic tortilla chips with homemade salsa.

Harvest before the Big Chill

Yesterday before harvest. With temps expected to dip into the teens last night, I decided I had better harvest these two rows of young lettuce that I planted a month ago

Enough lettuce for a couple of salads for three people

After harvest… I am curious to see if the plants will survive the freeze and provide a few more salads. I hope so

Blessings of Healing and Wellness in the New Year!!

A vial of healing water from Lourdes, France, site of pilgrimage and miraculous healings, given to me on the last day of 2014 by a kind friend and generous student of mine who collected the water while on pilgrimage to Lourdes this past summer

On this first day of the year I am appreciating a generous gift of healing water shared by a kind-hearted friend. I love that in addition to the vial of healing potency collected from the site of miraculous healings unexplained by science and attributed to belief and prayer, that my friend also unknowingly reconnected me with the terroir of one branch of my ancestors who lived in the same Basque region very near to Lourdes–Chelle-Debat.

Since the healing protocol I am following strongly favors following an ancestral-type protocol for living, I think it is super cool to connect with Mouledous, Betbeze, Martin, Carrere and the many unknown ancestors before them via a vial of healing potential from the region of the Pyrenees that they inhabited.

Basque region of Southwestern France, ancestral home (Chelle-Debat) to one branch of my family tree and location of Lourdes, site of pilgrimage and healings

I believe that:

• nutritious and low inflammatory foods heal
• quality sleep and movement heal
• herbs heal
• love heals
• optimism heals
• prayer heals
• yoga and meditation heal
• avoiding toxic exposures promotes healing
• kindness heals
• quality breath heals, and
• water heals

I wish everyone a year filled with blessings and blissings and healing and wellness!

Roasted Beet Dip

Raw diced beets with coconut oil before tossing and placing in 400 degree oven for 40-60 minutes

Roasted beets with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil blended into a dip. I like it. Something different.

Recipe from: Autoimmune Paleo

Healing with Beeswax — Two Approaches

Therapeutic wax treatment… warm and soothing. Usually I place my hands in a large plastic bag and cover with a blanket to retain the heat for 10 minutes or so

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