6 months gluten and 17 months dairy free

posted summer 2008

Making great progress, but still have some issues. Most of which are related to Candida, but some absorption issues.

Improvements:
1. don't react to bug bites other than little bumps (in the past I got huge bumps then bruises followed for several days).
2. sense of smell is returning
3. aches and pains are 90% reduced
4. No longer get rashes or itchy breakouts after taking a warm shower.
5. Reduced sleep apnea (from moderate to mild)
6. Only one calf and no foot cramps since December.

Being retested to establish if there are improvements in nutrient absorption.

Still showing signs of candida overgrowth....hives, reaction to sulfates, and stomach issues such as nasty gas.

Overall, improvement is 100% better quality of life!

Improved health

posted April 2008

Despite a challenging workout routine I'm feeling great....better than ever.

The gluten/dairy free diet is a challenge but the results are outstanding. My sense of smell and taste is amazing. There's a lack of soreness that's I've not experienced. My body on Sunday is completely recovered from a week of exercise. This is unprecedented for me in recent years.

There's no cold plunge in Texas and I haven't needed it!

My sleep patterns are better. I'm getting about 7 1/4 hours of sleep per night. Most nights my data A is between 20 and 31. Sometimes I wake with apnea, but that's rare. I have no numbness or tingling of arms. No excess dry mouth in the morning. Several nights no trips to the toilet at 3 am....

My tail bone itches in the middle of the night....that's my biggest complaint! In May I visit with a holistic Doctor to discuss the results of my dietary changes. Maybe we can get at the itching!

I'm suspicious that my diet may be high in acid foods....tomatoes seem to cause water retention/inflammation. Cutting out tomatoes has reduced bloating.

So put on the big smiley face!

Some knee tightness

posted December 2007

After running the hills of Austin for several weeks with no knee issues I suddenly developed "soreness" in both knees back in Michigan. I believe it's from walking the dog in 2-4 inches of frozen snow over the last week. This on top of my fitness routine (Phase II offseason) was enough to flair up the knees. Quads around the knees are sore.

After spending 5 weeks in Texas I didn't gain a pound...same weight and bodyfat.

Sinuses are decent with the infection finally gone (ie no green stuff with flush). Been sleeping great with DATA A over 20 all nights except 3 and those were all over 18. Sinuses and sleep apnea are related for sure.

Burning about 4000 calories per week but not seeing any strength gains. Feeling great other than the knees.

Update 12/15/07: Knees fine...did 4 miles easy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday reload days. Next week phase 3.

Less of the Gut from Hell...

posted summer 2008

12 Days have passed since starting the supplement regimen and the difference is apparent.

My sinus situation suffered a slight set-back on day 6 with what appeared to be polyps returning. I felt worried that some serious swelling was taking place. Didn't affect my sleep pattern as Data A was above 20.

I changed the timing of the supplements. The Candida killers and Caprio (acid to raise acid levels in gut to kill bad bacteria) are taken with breakfast and afternoon snack. The probiotics taken with my post workout shake and dinner. The reason is that the breakfast group is to kill off the bad stuff and the next group is to reintroduce the good bacteria. Seems counter productive to have them at the same time.

The results are really encouraging. My ............... are looking normal for the first time in forever...with the same diet. Inflammation is MOSTLY down except below. Sinuses are great...only slight amounts of mucus!

I'm sore today from sleeping oddly and from a hard workout two days ago. My body probably needs a little more rest. The issue is my right neck and the pain to the right shoulder blade. Yesterday was worse with some spasms in the right back neck area. Was able to play 9 holes of golf with some restriction of movement. NO Motrin...

Health Update

posted November 2008

Sleep apnea is a serious condition. Risks of heart attacks and strokes at elevated in people with this problem.

2 years ago my Sleep doctor described my Apnea as Moderate. I couldn't use a mask because of chronic sinus problems. Recent tests show my apnea to be "mild." I monitor my sleep weekly with a watch called "sleep tracker" which my Doctor endorses.

The improvement from moderate to mild occurred after I've discovered that I am sensitive to dairy. Earlier this year I was found to be intolerant of gluten protein....and have celiac disease. Eliminating dairy resulted in improved sinuses which improved my breathing at night. My sleep Doc gave me a device to prevent me from sleeping on my back...(the worst position when suffering from Apnea).

I'm very much a believer of exercise and healthy eating as a way to overcome my issues. I'm seeing a pHD who runs a "Metabolic Clinic." She is helping me understand and holistically treat a "leaky gut."

GI tract issues, food sensitivities, unhealthy eating, and lack of exercise all contribute to issues such as sleep apnea. I'm still working on getting my "system" balanced, but I can say that I feel better WITHOUT MEDS than I have in many years.

The Gut from HELL!

posted Fall 2008

Wow, my gut has been messed up for so long! But I'm getting it back under control....

After years of taking anti-biotics and eating way too much sugar my gut has been severely damaged. I have Celiac disease which means that my body cannot tolerate gluten protein. Gluten and dairy intolerance led to lower intestinal damage which reduces the bodies ability to absorb nutrients. This explains why I eat so much and gain no weight.

The anti-biotics and sugar diet created a GI environment that resulted in High levels of candida fungus near Pathogen and Pathogen levels of bacteria in the GI tract. Pathogen levels are common in people with disease! These bugs are eating many of the nutrients coming from the food I eat! They are depriving me of valuable nutrition. It's no wonder that massive amounts of vitamins helped me feel better!

The bad bacteria such as citrobacter freundii and enterobacter cloacae are overwhelming the good bacteria required for good GI health. The result is nasty bloating and gas not to mention the malnutrition. Calf muscle cramps indicate a shortage of magnesium.

The candida overgrowth causes even more harm because of chronic inflammation. It is a major cause of chronic sinus problems and other inflammation diseases. Rashes, hives, psoriasis, and other skin disorders are often caused by candida overgrowth. Achy joints, fibromyalgia, muscle pain, lack of energy are other causes.

In addition, my body doesn't absorb protein because of the lack of acid in my stomach. Certain acids are required for proper absorption of protein. Protein is the building blocks of muscle. This might explain why I have so much trouble building muscle!

I'm lucky that my cardiovascular system has not been affected. My CRP (c-reactive protein a measure of vascular inflammation) is at the bottom of the scale, which is very good. Many Celiacs with Candida have cardiovascular disease.

All of my blood tests indicate outstanding results because of my healthy habits of exercise and eating right. Without these good habits there's no way of knowing how bad I would feel.

A metabolic specialist who is treating me recommended two approaches...medicine (strong antibiotics...which I now hate) or herbal to treat the bugs and excess fungus in my gut. I chose to go herbal for the moment. I'm feeling great, except for the foul odor! (My wife has to sleep down the hall at times). After about 3 months we should see results.

Here's what I'm taking:

For Candida Overgrowth: Metagenics Candibactin AR and Candibactin BR

For Bad Bacteria: Metagenics Celapro

For Digestion: Metagenics Spectrazyme (enzyme)

Good Bacteria: Metagenics LactoViden and Bifoviden

Supplements to help with nutrient malabsorption: Fish oil, B Complex, Mulitmineral, Glucosamine /Chondroitin, Vit E, Multi-Vitamin, Bromolein, Licorice, Sam-e, and MSM.

The combination of bad bacteria and candida cause elevated levels of toxins in the body. Exercise helps remove toxins. Therefore, exercise is an important part of my treatment.

Things are turning for the better after years of suffering with vertigo, chronic sinus disease, loss of sense of taste and smell, rashes, itchy skin, bloating, gas, joint and muscle aches, and slow healing.

Gluten and Dairy Sensitivity

posted January 2008

"It's recommended that you completely remove dairy and gluten from your diet." HOLY COW! No pun intended... I took the lab test and that's what was found. I'm way over the limits on dairy and gluten reaction. I have celiac disease. Wow....

That is what has caused my sinus problems among other things. Better late than never to have found out. It all makes sense now.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.....

Sinus Update

posted October 2007

Around September 4th I developed a sore throat followed by severe sinus drainage...clear liquid almost like water. In the following days the throat cleared up with some chloreseptic help, but the nose drainage persisted. On one afternoon at Jamestown Virginia I used one box of Kleenex. Also, my handkerchief was totally soaked, but NO yellow or green ONLY water like! NON-Stop drip. Need to say had trouble sleeping. Hotel in Williamsburg was old and musty...lost sense of smell....basement meetings were in a cold room. We moved after one night in motel to a Hampton Inn. Felt so rotten that I missed the farewell dinner...sneezing and runny nose. Took only lozenge for throat.

Eventually, the drippy nose turned into a full blown sinus infection including the usual swelling and thick sticky discharge. Sense of smell was gone in a few days and taste has diminished.

A couple of nights I woke at 2-3 in the morning and felt like I was suffocating. So I used a temporary relief nasal spray PLUS resumed Flonase. The spray gave IMMEDIATE relief but shouldn't be used past 2 weeks. I thought if I could get sleep plus open the sinuses and use the saline rinse (sinucleanse) that EVENTUALLY the problem would subside. The 12 hour relief (one spray in each nostril) lasted for about 15 hours. Stepped up the sinucleanse rinse to 3 or 4 times a day.

The culprit may be the Candida fungus triggered by the amount of sugar I had been eating. Couple that with an old hotel and problems happen. I was also eating 2-3 odwella bars per day PLUS a couple of cups of sweet cherries on top of my other fruit (shake and breakfast). BBQ was creeping back into my diet. Also, this is ragweed season (nearing an end now).

Notices some other symptoms, clear bubble sore on my lower lip, and muscle soreness.

In any case, I'm back on the NO sugar diet...UGH which means minimal fruit...not after 1 pm. About 1/4 cup of fresh blueberries and 3/4 cup of frozen strawberries for lunch (shake) is it. I'm going to cut out sweetened soy milk...going to plain start tomorrow. Trying some non-gluten grains/chips and almond/cashew butter.

It's been 2 days without meds and without most sugar...also using 2 drops of grapefruit seed extract in my 8 oz of saline rinse (8 oz. per side now!). The results are no smell, no taste, but reduced congestions (ie can breath with mouth shut). Can smell only during hard exercise.

Continuing my fitness routine. Burning between 4000-5000 calories per week.

October 18th: Been on this diet for a week with some success, but still no sense of smell and little taste. The diet sucks...but not breathing sucks more! Cut out meds except the saline rinse 1-3x's a day. Rattles in the nose, and light yellow mucus, light green in the AM. Resting better some nights.

November 29, 2007 update: Feeling great...can smell and taste since 10-31. Sinu-cleanse in the morning produces a small amount of mucosa. Last several days have been 8 on a scale of 10. Sleeping with mouth open, but during the day breathing through nose.

Sleeping great with average data A around 23 minutes. Only one day in last 23 below 20 minutes.

sinus update fall 2007

posted over 2 years ago

Incredibly busy with new dog and travel. Cut back workouts to 1-2 lifts per week, 1-2 core sessions, 1-2 spinning, 1-2 running, plus the usual 3-4 rounds of golf per week.

Caught some nasty virus OR had a reaction to sour cream added to peanut soup. In any case lots of drainage, worse since starting new diet last February. Unable to smell MOST odors, but NOT totally blocked. Had a sore throat followed by runny nose (1 box of Kleenex in ONE afternoon.)

One more week of serious golf then back to off season routine.