Last night in my Instagram Stories, I put up a request, “I will write one blog post either tomorrow or Saturday, based on one question asked by 7am CST Friday the 8th.” I was asked a few different things around Low Dose Naltrexone. That combined with this recent Instagram post, and it became very clear that I would answer the question today, “What is Low Dose Naltrexone?”
Favorite AIP Approved Foods
Today I’m sharing another favorite AIP approved foods list with y’all.
Listen, living with strict diets is not easy nor is it desirable, but for those of you out there who don’t really have any other options but to follow an AIP protocol, you’ll do what you need to do.
National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month
My friend Marci told me last week that March is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month.
So let’s chat.
National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month
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“Taken together, autoimmune diseases strike women three times more than men.” (source) And HERE is a list of Autoimmune and Autoimmune-Related Diseases.
I have Ulcerative Colitis (although rarely do I feel it), and I am most passionate about helping women change their lifestyles when diagnosed with an autoimmune and autoimmune-related disease.
I wasn’t sure what angle I wanted to take when writing this post for National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month, until these past several days when my own struggles on the wagon have been all-too-real.
I haven’t done a health update in quite some time (my SIBO Status Update in August was the last time), so I figured now would be an appropriate time to share how I’m feeling, what I’m doing and other miscellaneous thoughts on living with an autoimmune disease.
- If you read my post yesterday, Week 5 Bigness Project, I mentioned the misery that has been since late last week. Just like the last time I took the SIBO re-test, my SIBO was triggered when I did the test this past week. Unreal! I have literally been able to eat almost anything, and rarely felt anything off in my gut for months, and months, and months. But after a few bouts of a mouth flare, we decided it might be good to check the SIBO status. I took the test on Friday, and since then, it has been horrible. Saturday and Monday I had horrible upper stomach burning. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom. Just awful. Sunday night was the last time I ate like a normal human being (which is why I think it took a good 24 hours to get out of my system). Yesterday, Tuesday, I finally started feeling good. But there’s always a price to pay…..
- SIBO is not an autoimmune disease. We need to get that out of the way, so you don’t think it is. But once you have one autoimmune disease, you are much more likely to have other complications. I believe SIBO is just one of them, and in fact, the one that has hurt me physically and emotionally more than anything else.
- Colitis status. I don’t even know what mine is. I have Proctitis, but rarely do I ever think about it because I have almost zero of its symptoms (the beautiful part about managing autoimmune with diet and lifestyle). Around this past October (October of 2016), I obtained all test results and doctor’s notes from when I saw a Gastroenterologist (the one who did my colonoscopy and endoscopy) in 2008. At that time, while Colitis was present, it was a very mild case of it. During this past year, I’ve had various doctors tell me that I really should consider having another colonoscopy done (an endoscopy wouldn’t show anything relating to Proctitis, but if I’m getting scoped, I’d probably do it all again). I have yet to do it mostly because I’m not really sure who to have do it, but also because I don’t know how to find the time to do it. I am still trying to figure out how to make this happen.
- Fun fact: In Mommy Spoonie, I told you about how I went to Florida to sit on a Colitis Board. While there, I learned one statistic that just blew my mind. 55% of those with Ulcerative Colitis have Proctitis. The reason that was so fascinating to me is because while over half of those with UC have the same form I do, there is rarely any information on the Internet around stories from those who live with it, what it is, etc.
- Workouts. I don’t pretend in any way, shape, or form that my workouts and all this running are helping me heal. But I just can’t seem to give it up. I know that, despite not wanting to give into fear, I should probably just give it all up again for a year to allow my body full rest, but the thought of it makes me want to cry. It’s a battle I deal with daily.
- I started working with another doctor at the Institute where my current doctor is at. She and I are working in detail on all things hormones. Again, a low-functioning thyroid is not an autoimmune disease (unless they find out I have Hashimotos), but it’s all interrelated.
- Diet. Ah. The old “diet controversy.” I believe in the power of diet as it relates to living with an autoimmune disease and/or any other life-changing condition. Food is medicine or poison. This I am absolutely, 100% positive about. I could tell you about multiple experiments I’ve done to test this theory, and every single time, the point is clearly proven. I listen on as people talk about diets they’ll go on to “lose weight,” or New Year’s plans they’ll make for a healthier, fitter life. I applaud it. But do you know how many times I mention something about my diet and get an eye roll for this “craziness of not being able to eat an apple?” I only diet these days so I feel well. I started Paleoishmama to share this journey, but the truth is that any time a flare is happening, I’m eating 100% strict based on what I know is right for me.
- More healing. Today I’m headed to Expo West 2017, and I couldn’t be more excited (totally looking for all the things AIP, Paleo + FODMAP-related for you + me!). There is nothing more challenging than traveling with an autoimmune condition. It is almost impossible to be on my A-game at all times because rarely am I in full control over food choices (yes, I always have a choice, but if I’m hungry, I’ll always choose something over nothing). Once I’m back, I’ll continue digging deeper.
For all the times I’ve cried and asked “why” with Colitis and SIBO, low thyroid and more, there have been many more times when I’ve said, “I am lucky that this is all it is.”
I fully believe that because of my advanced health and healing knowledge combined with crazy desire to live well and be well, I am, on the whole, extremely well.
I continue on the journey because it’s my journey, and I continue collecting knowledge and investigating everything I quite possibly can so that I am able to help not only myself but thousands just like me.
When gravel roads are all you’ve ever known, you learn to find beauty in the dust.
Xox,
SKH
GAPS vs AIP vs SCD
GAPS vs AIP vs SCD. How do you know which gut healing protocol to follow?
Mommy Spoonie
I am a mommy spoonie, and I thought I’d share a little about it with you today, now that we are becoming such great friends.
The Rules of Running
I hate running. I love running. I loathe running. I adore running. I won’t run. I can’t run. I don’t like to run. I shouldn’t run. The rules of running, rules that both society places and I placed upon myself, are rules I’m throwing out the window.
(Then again, I’m learning to throw many rules out the window, but that’s a topic for another day.)
Are you catching my drift? I have a very manic relationship with running, plain and simple.
During my first real run in several months last weekend I realized why I have this manic relationship with running. The answer, like the fact that it’s manic, is plain and simple.
I have listened to far too many people for far too long about their thoughts, ideas, and opinions about running.
The Rules of Running
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- Running makes you lose your monthly cycle.
- Running made me infertile.
- Running is horrible for adrenal fatigue.
- Running makes you lose muscle.
- Running takes up too much time.
- Running is bad for your joints.
- Running gave me horrific cramps.
- Running is horrible for autoimmune conditions.
- Running makes SIBO relapse.
What I have learned is that all of that is true, and none of that is true, but the truth that dominates both is when I look at the big picture. Running (over the past several years) has brought more to my life than has taken away. And all the “problems” that came along with it (either physically or theoretically) I had full control over.
- Running didn’t make me lose my cycle. Running while under fueled (aka starving) did.
- Running didn’t make me infertile. A series of life events, bad choices and even perfect plans did.
- Running is horrible for adrenal fatigue when you don’t listen to the bodies signals which say, “I’m tired. No running today. I’m tired. Sleep.“
- I do believe running can make you lose muscle. But is that the only (and best) measure of fitness success in life? Where I could once run for miles and miles and barely feel tired, I am now running for 3 minutes and feel it in my lungs. I’m willing to sacrifice a little muscle for overall health and fitness and being in the kind of shape where I can easily run around with my children.
- Running only takes as much time as we dedicate to it. I enjoy working out, period. If that means running, swimming or lifting for that allotted time, then the activity doesn’t really matter.
- Lifting also proved to be hard on my joints.
- Running on certain days of the month gives me horrible cramps, and because I have been tracking it for so long now, I know exactly how to workout with vs. against my cycle. (Also, for the record, running is not the only thing that produces those cramps. It is anything super intense, so for me, lifting created the same problems.)
- A lot of things are horrible for autoimmune conditions, and if you want the truth…..I’m tired of living my life afraid of doing and eating everything “I shouldn’t be” in the name of a one-way path towards healing.
- I used to believe running would make my SIBO relapse, but then I relapsed after barely working out at all for several months. I am learning my triggers, and I am confident my workouts are not a major factor. In fact, I argue that I need more running for the motility issues and to help with keeping stress at bay (two of my main SIBO contributors).
So back to the rules of running.
As I already mentioned: I hate running. I love running. I loathe running. I adore running. I won’t run. I can’t run. I don’t like to run. I shouldn’t run.
But with all of these manic thoughts and relationships about/with running, there is one thing I know for absolute certainty….running makes me feel alive, inspired and allows me to live a more creative life during all other 22-23.75 hours of the day.
There is something about running that I return to time-and-time again.
And even with all the rules of running, I can’t let go.
Xox,
SKH