Alright, so last I wrote I was in the midst of the worst PMS I’d ever had and felt terrible. Thankfully that calmed down fairly quickly. The day I wrote the entry I called my doctor in the states and he said to up the dose of one of the vitamins I am taking that is suppose to help calm you down. It’s a supplement to support neurotransmitters and contains Vitamin C, vitamin B6, Folate, vitamin B12, Magnesium, zinc, selenium, and a select amino combination of Taurine, 5-hydroxtyptophan and suntheanine. So, I upped my dose of that and pretty much each day after doing that got a little bit better and calmer. After three days I was feeling normal again and then about four more days after that I started my period and things really started to calm down. I also started taking one more neurotransmitter supplement this week thus starting the phase two of the program that the NeuroScience, Inc. tests had recommended. So, far I’m feeling really good so we’ll see how this phase goes.
As for other reactions like stuffy nose, hives, headaches, dizziness, gas, etc….well, things there have been really good too. I’ve continued to eat the more varied diet that my doctor had recommended – though I did cut back on fruits and really high salicylate things the week before my period and the last few days I’ve been on my period since I was having such bad PMS and since I know that I can be more sensitive during that time. Really, I’ve been surprised with how much better I have felt since starting to take this vitamin regime and since adding in more varied nutritious foods. I didn’t expect to feel better really, or at least not so quickly. But, I really have felt more than 90% better than I did before making these changes. I particularly think that the probiotics have been very helpful as well as the things I’m taking to balance my pH level and the things I’m taking to help support my liver and its ability to process toxins/phenols. But, even with all the massive improvement there has been one symptom that hasn’t gone away…ironically it’s also the symptom that first led me to investigate salicylates and chemical intolerances…HIVES. They aren’t really worse than they were before but they aren’t any better either. At the moment I feel like the improvement I’ve seen in my overall health is worth even not seeing an improvement in the hives and the restored functionality I have had in regards to other symptoms is worth a little itching. I mean before starting this new program and working with this doctor I felt miserable all over AND I had hives…now I feel really good all over and have hives. I definitely prefer the second option to the first so at least for now I don’t think I’m going to change anything I’m doing. But, it is a little frustrating to still have the hives. I’m beginning to think that they are just entirely environmental and I maybe I’ll never be able to control them. I’m still hopeful that the things I am doing to balance my body internally (like taking probiotics, going off birth control, taking these neurotransmitter supplements, etc) will eventually help to get rid of the hives. Maybe my body just needs time before it can start working properly enough to get rid of the hives. I don’t know. I guess we’ll see, right. So, that’s the update on this end. I hope you all are doing well.
Health to you and yours -
Beth
An Update on Health and Travel Plans
Alright, so nothing’s really changed since I last wrote. I’m still taking all my vitamins and minerals and neurotransmitters and I’m still feeling really remarkably well over all…but, my hives have been as bad as ever. Oh, actually there has been one other post-“health” problem…I’ve had NO sex drive at all…maybe that’s too personal to be writing on here but it has been a frustrating change in my health and obviously having an effect on my husband and my relationship. It’s been a problem ever since I went off birth control and only seemed to get worse when I started taking the neurotransmitters. So, I’m guessing that my hormones are just out of whack and trying to balance themselves out and that’s why…hopefully once they balance out some things will improve…right? At least that’s my hope. But, sometimes I wonder if something else could be causing it and if I should be doing something to fix it.
In slightly other news (but still related to my health, I guess) my husband and I leave tomorrow morning for the states! We are going to be in AZ for a little while and I will be able to see my doctor there so I’m hopeful that he will maybe be able to help more with the hives and such. I felt so much better after seeing him last time I’m really hoping that the same happens again this time, but we’ll see. After that we are going to spend a few days up in Seattle with my husband’s family for Thanksgiving. It will be good to celebrate the holidays with family and be around friends and familiar things. I am really looking forward to the brake. But, because we will be busy seeing people and visiting I probably won’t be on the forum much and probably won’t write on the blog for a while either (unless my Dr. really makes a big break through and I want to tell you all about it…wishful thinking or hope…not sure which).
Anyway, I hope everyone has a Thanksgiving filled with health, thankfulness, and joy(and for those of you outside of the US, a wonderful last few weeks of November filled with relaxation and health before the holiday rush).
Health to you and yours –
Beth