Updates

I don't know where to begin.

Let's see the Candida... I decided to see a nutritionist. I made an appointment with our local People's Pharmacy who are reknown for helping people with this very thing... and all with stuff that does the body good. Well, before I had the appointment, a small miracle happened! Keith was talking with a friend from church and asked her how pharmacy school was going. She said it's not... I've become a nutritionist. WOW! And she added she was able to keep her dad off of dialysis for a year. Well you can figure it out... I cancelled my appointment and made one with sweet Nikki.

She did this test on me to see how well I absorb nutrients. It's called the biomarkers of health. She placed little metal plates on my hand and foot (kind of like when you get an EKG). It tested my Phase Angle... which reflects cell membane integrity and over-all cellular health and function. For my age my marker should have been >6.6 and mine was 5.7... Not bad, eh? And then it tested my Intracellular water... this increases cell health. For my age it should be >54.2 and mine was 51.7.

Also, she took me off all grains and sugar! Actually its not been that hard. I did, one day, decide to eat one of the Christmas goodies I got... a little peanut butter cake with a chocolate drop. Well, I got tell ya, I've not been that high since... oh well, let's not go there! I was dizzy, sick to my stomach, shaking. YUK! I have eaten very little pieces of candy (like my mom's wonderful Christmas fudge) with out effect. But I guess I have to lay off anything that's bigger than my thumbnail!

I'm taking Whey Powder, a probiotic that had 4 billion live enzymes (but now I'm down to only about 250 million because the 4 billion are too expensive), IgG2000DF, a hemoglobin... I make this into a shake with Almond milk every morning. It really is quite tasty. This is all to get my gut back into shape and eliminate the Candida.

I think I feel better... but right now I can't tell because I've got an awful cold. And of course, I had to take more antibiotics for it. I can't win! But at the end of the day, God is still good!

Applying for Disability

My father-in-law kept telling my husband that I could take early retirement from the State if I was disabled. What this would mean for me is that my health insurance will be paid for for the rest of my life! So we checked into it and it's true. So I'm applying for early retirement. Target retirement date is 2/28/07. And I'm also applying for Social Security Disability. The catch is I can't be making more than $900/month in order to be approved for SSD. So Keith and I are biting the bullet and as soon as I get approved for my state retirement, I'm quitting work.

Since after Thanksgiving, I've been trying to work 40 hours a week. And this is my 3rd infection since then. And this cold I have now is a doozy and here it is the night before Christmas eve and I feel pretty lousy.

When I went to see my dr. for this infection we were talking about me ... well I was talking about me working 30 hours a week and he said I should be working NO hours a week. He said he couldn't believe I had worked this long. But, with a bone marrow transplant being talked about and having to pay for all my cancer treatment, I had no idea I had any other choice. And frankly I'm just plain worn out. So pray that God will let me find favor with the state retirement and especially with SSD. We have an appointment on Dec. 29th.

Merry Christmas to you all. May the Lord bless all you put your hand to in 2007! I can't express enough the support you all have been to me!

Candida... My acupuncturist finally was right

I stopped the Amoxcillian yesterday and did not wake up last night in a frenzy of wild itching. However, when I called the good docs at MD Anderson, Dr. Vu told me I had Candida in my throat. And I bet I've got it all over my body. Here is some information about Candida.

Ok, let's skip to the chase... here is one guy's list:
The Third Stage of Candida Symptoms may involve MENTAL and BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES: Inability to concentrate, not being able to read or follow a television program or carry on a hobby, serious forgetfulness, memory loss, mental confusion, not being able to think of the words to say something, switching around of words and letters when trying to speak and/or write something,

Uh, I think that might apply to me.

Oh my read this... I've been on a sweet tooth rage now for weeks:

Yeast may overgrow when antibiotics, medications, drugs, birth control and hormone pills, and steroids (such as Prednisone and Cortisone) are taken. These medications tend to kill the good bacteria in addition to the bad bacteria that caused the present illness. This allows the yeast to reign freely until our Immune System beats it back once again. (note from me: What immune system?)

The typical modern diet facilitates the problem. Refined sugars and high starch/carbohydrate foods give the yeast exactly what it needs to flourish. (This is why we add sugar or honey to the yeast when we make bread! This is also why so many people CRAVE sweets and breads just as badly as an alcoholic craves alcohol--the yeast is screaming for fuel to keep ever growing!)

Another factor allowing yeast overgrowth is STRESS. Stress depresses or even shuts down the Immune System. It is noted that following a great stress (such as the loss of a mate) a person is more than likely to become seriously ill within the next year, as a result of that stress on the body.

I do believe I'm under a little stress. And since I've been on anti-biotics now for 18 months... well my body is probably a ripe ground for Candida.

To be continued...

Amoxicillian

I think I'm allergic to amoxicillian now. Since starting it on Monday for some odd infection, I've awaken at 3am, 4am and 5am each day this week (week of 11/27) itching horribly!