fair-well dear beloved....

Sydney's Birthday cake.  

Made by her friends.  Brandon, Libby, and Hunter.

frosting made by me....  

Oh, how I do love thee chocolate cake.

but................

Since november 10th (i presume) i have been dealing with a mountain of health problems.  one rolling into another - combining with another - bouncing into another - forming into another...... 

After going to one doc - 3 times

then another doc

then another....

then asking Mike if he was slowly attempting to do me in

(which is when I told him that I don't like the slow painful death plan... quick is much better)

I made a many...

phone calls and texts to my sister nurse in between

(thanks Annie!)

who told me she had a gut feeling that I was suffering from Candida Overgrowth

& then my other sister Nellie telling me she thought... "yeast.  overgrowth.  cut it out of your diet, Joanie!"

& getting health advice from my health conscious friends.....

I finally bit the bullet and called my dear friend Brook for advice.

Advice on being healthier.

Attempting to make baby step changes in my diet.

Because.....

I'm not sure what I'll do when my meds leave my body

and everything comes back in full swing. 

She emailed me this link:  The Unconventional Kitchen

(she's darling by the way - Brook and the lady on this blog)

and then sent me the following information

which I gladly hi-lighted for my sister, 

mostly because:

1.  I have most of the hi-lighted

2.  because she might be right

3.  because they are funny.... in an "oh --- SERIOUSLY! --- that can't be because I'm old???" sort of way.

4.  BECAUSE.  

5.  ugh.  I might have to SERIOUSLY think SERIOUSLY about this... and joking around helps sometimes.

(feeling a mix between anxious to find out & glad to have a friend to help me along)

and... although it's entitled:    BIRTHOLOGY..... it's about Candida.  and is full of information.

STAGES OF YEAST OVERGROWTH

Stage 1

In the First Stage of Candida, the mucous membrane areas of the body may be infected.  These include the mouth, vagina, nose, and Respiratory System.

Symptoms of First Stage Candida

• Infant Colic, childhood rages, adult unexplained unprovoked anger                       I.    DO.   NOT.....     HAVE......    ANGER..............    ISSUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  JUST DON'T ASK MY KIDS.
• Cradle Cap, dandruff, greasy hair
• vaginal yeast infections                        ---------------------WHY DO WOMEN GET ALL THE FUN?/?????
• severe P.M.S.                       -----------------NOW I CAN TELL MY FAMILY.   "IT'S NOT PMS.  IT'S AN OVERGROWTH OF YEAST!!!!!!!
• urinary tract infections
• body rashes (including diaper rash
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep             ---------------------- AH YES.  THE SIGN OF OLD AGE.  OR THE SIGN OF YEAST...?????  OLD AGE?  YEAST?  OLD YEAST?
• Eczema
• Acne
• oral thrush
• allergies to foods, dust, molds, fungus, yeast, inhalants, and chemicals
• Repeated bouts of bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and strep or staph infections                  ------------------------WHY ME?...  boo hoo  personal pitty party over here!!!!                    YUCKY!
• RSV
• Mononucleosis
• Pneumonia
• Gas (infant or adult)     HAHAHAHAHAHA   ---- wait a sec.    ISN'T THAT A FAMILY TRAIT?. 
• Unexplained tooth decay
• Bad breath and body odor
• Mastitis/core, cracked, and bleeding nipples during breastfeeding
• Bladder weakness
• Spotty skin discoloration  (white or brown) also know as liver or sun spots       ----------------------------WAIT.  I THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING I GOT FROM MOM?  NO?
• Cravings for alcohol
• Cravings for sugar                              -----------------YES!!!!  I HAVE A REASON!
• Rectal itching                                       ----------------------SHOULD I BE ADMITTING THIS?  
• Persistent cough                               -------------------------TAKEN CARE OF THANKS TO DOC MEDS.
• Belching
• heartburn                      ---------------------- HELLO!  SPEAK OF THE DEVIL!  I'M READY TO YANK OUT MY ESOPHAGUS AS WE SPEAK.  OR THE ROCK THAT IS SCRAPING IT.  

Stage 2

The Second Stage of Candida may involve more generalized and chronic reactions.

Symptoms of Second Stage Candida:

• Unexplained weight gain or inability to keep weight on    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  NOW i HAVE SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON WHEN I DON'T EAT THAT COOKIE AND STILL HAVE MY BOOTY.
• Ear infections, unexplained ear discharge, tinitis (ringing of the ears      ---------------- REMEMBER WHEN MY EARS WOULD GO FUZZY?  QUIET?  NUMB?  CRAZINESS!)
• Chronic pain
• headaches (including Migraine)                        -------------------ALL THE TIME.  DOING BETTER SINCE I TOOK THE MEDS YOU FORCED UPON ME.... WHICH MIGHT HAVE WORKED.  
• Extreme fatigue
• Psoriasis
• Nail infections
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain                    THE WORST!            
• Arthritis
• fibromyalgia
• Ulcers
• Infant or adult reflux    -------------------------FOOD THE 2ND TIME AROUND.  WOWZUH!  NOT AS TASTEY.  
• Casein or gluten intolerance/celiac
• ulcers
• Endometriosis
• Jock itch
• Dizziness/vertigo     OR......................JUST JOAN.
• Bladder infections/UTI

Stage 3

The Third Stage of Candida may involve MENTAL and BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES:

Symptoms of Third Stage Candida:

• Inability to concentrate
• not being able to read or follow a television program or carry on a hobby                 ------------------- OR i JUST DON'T CARE ANYMORE ;)
• serious forgetfulness                   ---------------------------OR i'M JUST GETTING OLD!  AND AM A STUDENT.  AND A MOM
• memory loss                 (SEE ABOVE)
• mental confusion                     -----------------------------MIKE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS ONE.  THAT'S WHY HE WON'T BE SEEING IT.  
• not being able to think of the words to say something              ------   AGAIN. SEE ABOVE.  OR --- IT'S JUST ME.  WHO I AM.  YOU LOVE THIS QUALITY ABOUT ME.  ALL THE TIME.
• switching around of words and letters when trying to speak and/or write
• loss of previous skills (such as how-to-type or how-to-play-the-piano, etc.)
• Irrational thoughts                -----------------THE HUSBAND TELLS ME I AM IRRATIONAL.  SAME THING?
• Unusual fears
• phobias
• Panic/anxiety attacks
• Muscle twitching
• irritability                             -----------------------------OR i'M A MOM.  WHO HAS PMS -- WHO IS ALMOST 40.
• Violence
• depression
• Aggressive behavior                            
• Epileptic seizures
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Infertility
• Crohn’s disease
• IBS
• Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Diabetes
• Hypoglycemia
• Thyroid disorders

Stage 4

A person in the Fourth Stage of Candida (also known as systemic yeast) may experience a virtual SHUTDOWN OF VARIOUS ORGAN SYSTEMS of the body.

Symptoms of Fourth Stage Candida:

• adrenal gland failure
• Endocrine System failure
• Severe vomiting
• severe constipation
• Total muscle weakness
• Hives                 THE STORY OF MY RECENT LIFE.  YAY.
• Boils
• The Circulatory System may be swamped with so much yeast that the capillaries are clogged, causing HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, NUMBNESS OF EXTREMITIES, and EASY BRUISING.
• The person may run a low-grade fever, but the hands and feet will often be very cold.
• tachycardia (palpitations, irregular beats, mitral valve problems or heart murmur).
• In the Respiratory System, the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs may be packed with yeast so that the person cannot get adequate breath aka asthma.
• Alzheimer’s   -- NOT YET.
• ADD/ADHD    HELLO!  CAN I SELF DIAGNOSE HERE?!
• Autism
• AIDS
• Lupus
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Schleroderma                  -------------------------i THOUGHT THIS SAID SCHIZOPHRENIA.  i WAS GOING TO SAY - "ONLY WHEN I NEED TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH IN MY QUIET PLACE!THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON FOR THIS!!!!! - WHICH MIGHT BE TOO OFTEN.                       I'M A MOM!!!!!!!  GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!"   
• THEN I REALIZED IT DIDN'T SAY THAT.  HAHA.
• The complete failure of the Immune System leaves the body defenseless against all enemy bacteria, viruses, and disease conditions–including cancer.

AND THEN THE CURES:  OR SIDE EFFECTS OF THE CURING PROCESS:  IT GIVES YOU EXAMPLES THEN TELLS YOU THE SYMPTOMS YOU CAN HAVE WHEN THE YEAST IS DYING OFF....

EACH PERSON’S DIE-OFF REACTION IS DIFFERENT.

In some, preexisting symptoms are exacerbated; in others, new symptoms appear. Symptoms can last anywhere from several days to two weeks, usually starting on the third day of balancing yeast. Typical die off symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, greasy hair,stomach upset, gas, burping, and vertigo, fatigue, brain fog, low grade fever, headache, sore throat, body itch, muscle and/or joint soreness or pain, feeling as if  coming down with a flu .                          THIS IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR!  YUCKY!  MAYYYYYYYYYYBE I HAD THE YEAST DIE OFF?  LOL.  IN ALL SERIOUSNESS... I DID HAVE ALL OF THESE THAT I HILIGHTED .  JOY OF JOY.  COINCIDENCE?  POSSIBLY.  SHARING WITH MY OLDER SISTER?  WHY -- YES.  I.  AM.  

To reduce or eliminate die off symptoms:

• Take a strong, daily probiotic      DOING.
• Strong, daily greens supplement
• A daily coffee enema gets rid of the yeast as quickly as it is dumping.   OOH... TEMPTING.  BUT.....................................................
• More water should be consumed.  4-6 fluid ounces of warm or hot water every forty-five minutes, throughout the day        THAT EQUALS A LOT OF TRIPS TO THE TOILET!
• Rest                     DONE!
• Peppermint essential oil internally
• Chorophyll drops as needed
• 1/2 C of cooked brown rice daily
• Dry skin brushing before and after a shower stimulates your liver and helps your elimination pathways open.
• Take measures to have more bowel movement.  Senna, Smooth Move Tea, or On The Move from Herbalogie.com
• Grind a small amount of flax seeds in a coffee grinder until fine, light and fluffy, then stir a heaping tablespoon into a glass of lukewarm water, let stand for about ten minutes, stir again and drink on an empty stomach
• Try an epsom salt bath, or a baking soda bath, to help draw out toxins.

If you do not effectively rid the yeast as it is dying off and dumping, it can possibly settle in other areas of your body, such as your joints.  Yeast die off symptoms are a sign that the system’s eliminatory pathways are overburdened or as oftentimes happens, blocked.

Individuals with elevated heavy metal levels may have special problems with yeast die-off reactions.

If you experience yeast die off symptoms and refuse to do an enema, I would recommend backing off of your herbal or essential oil dosage.  This would mean that your road to yeast balancing will take longer and may be more difficult than had you done enemas.

..................................................................................

so. 

here's to new things to try in my life

here's to Mike joining in on my crusade

here's to me attempting not to fail at this

here's to me trying really hard at taking baby steps

(oh pb&j on white bread.  how I love thee!)

here's to me attempting baby steps in my diet.... while taking bigger steps with my education.

(i think I just felt another hive appear... an "I am going to have an anxiety attack" hive.)

------------------------