Over the weekend I had the rare opportunity to sample some Lavender Mead. Actually, the tenant renting my house, now about to move out, laid out a spread of three different Meads for me to try when I arrived. All made by him, and all very delectable. Lavender, Orange Blossom, and one other I can't remember. So I sipped, then licked the glass and quietly slipped the rest of the full bottle behind my back and tried to leave. But they saw me, darn them!
Funny how simple it was to drink. No, I didn't feel any kind of reaction, like my liver failing. I felt great. Pure and simple.
The problem is, he gave me a 1/2 bottle of the lavender mead, so now I have this scrumptious stuff in my house...I walk around salivating all evening trying to keep my bulging eyes in place.
I figure I'll give myself another week and then try another glass.
The Histamine diet. I think I may be ready to add back in a few things. My left hand still feels quite achy and the pinky and ring fingers are sore. While the anti-histamine diet may have saved me some seasonal allergies, I don't think it was the be all, end all for the arthritis. The hunt continues for that.
I have been suffering from some headaches lately. I'm not sure if they are allergy related or INH related. They come on kind of like an ice cream headache, and last about as long. Trouble is, I haven't had ice cream when I get them. They've been happening for about 4 days, so I'm going to keep an eye on them, or at least a brain.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
IbuActin - Sweet Sleep and Pain Free (Month 2, Day 46)
This will be my third day taking IbuActin. I gotta tell ya...I LOVE THIS STUFF! If I take it right before bed (after my INH pill) I sleep through the night so well, wake up rested and my hands are mostly pain-free! My little pinkies are still crampy/achey, but I'm pretty happy with the results. 'Course, I don't want to be taking this for the entire time I'm on INH. Sigh...I probably wouldn't mind except it costs like 20 bucks a bottle.
The Cycle: For Ladies Only
This month was pretty horrible for me on my cycle. For my diet being as clean as it is, my breasts were incredibly sore, and I had some of the worst cramps I've had in years. I actually went home 3 hours early the other day because I couldn't sit down...could only pace and was incredibly nauseous from the pain. I did take some Ibruprofin, about 400 mg (2 200's) and it helped some. I put a super duper hot heating pad on my belly and veged in front of the TV. Later that night I took IbuActin and the next day felt back to 100%. I think that it must have only men publishing the symptoms list for INH because I bet I'm not the only one realizing that menstruation and INH don't really mix!
The histamine diet - still on it.
Today:
B-Manna bread with cashew butter. 32 oz water. 2 IbuActin
S- 3 carrots and goddess dressing
L-Black Beans, Artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, sweet potatoes with a brown rice tortilla
S-Goji Berries and lots of tea, chips and apples salsa
D-Mashed Sweet potatoes and Salad with homemade goddess dressing
Shave and an INH, white pill
2 IbuActin
The Cycle: For Ladies Only
This month was pretty horrible for me on my cycle. For my diet being as clean as it is, my breasts were incredibly sore, and I had some of the worst cramps I've had in years. I actually went home 3 hours early the other day because I couldn't sit down...could only pace and was incredibly nauseous from the pain. I did take some Ibruprofin, about 400 mg (2 200's) and it helped some. I put a super duper hot heating pad on my belly and veged in front of the TV. Later that night I took IbuActin and the next day felt back to 100%. I think that it must have only men publishing the symptoms list for INH because I bet I'm not the only one realizing that menstruation and INH don't really mix!
The histamine diet - still on it.
Today:
B-Manna bread with cashew butter. 32 oz water. 2 IbuActin
S- 3 carrots and goddess dressing
L-Black Beans, Artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, sweet potatoes with a brown rice tortilla
S-Goji Berries and lots of tea, chips and apples salsa
D-Mashed Sweet potatoes and Salad with homemade goddess dressing
Shave and an INH, white pill
2 IbuActin
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
No Vitamins but Tingling Fingers (Month 2, Day 42)
I have decided to drop my dear six-a-day vitamin for a week or so. In fact, I've decided to drop practically everything I'm taking and start from scratch. My last day taking vitamins was Friday (albeit not consciously)...today's Monday. And can I tell you something - I think my hands might be feeling a tad better! I figure, I started with my multi around the same time as INH - eliminate the possibilities. Who knows, maybe something in my multi is adversely affecting me, or interacting with INH, OR creating a massive amount of histamines, OR just plain funky.
I am getting some tingling of the fingers...but I know how to solve that - just add back in the B6. It's not really an intense tingling. What really happens is a kind of electric shock that occurs right on the end of my soft pad on maybe one or two fingers. It lasts less than a minute and while it doesn't hurt, it is uncomfortable, and a new sensation. Imagine sticking your tongue on the end of a 9Volt battery - now transfer that feeling to your finger...
I'm not sure when I want to start back on them or on the B6. I think for now I want to just see what happens then slowly start adding things back in.
Course, last night I also took a pain reliever for cramps (started my cycle) so I could try to sleep through the night. Seemed to work marvelously and it's possible that what I'm experiencing is a remnant of that. I took a sample of something I got from Sunflower Market -IbuActin by Solaray. Ingredients include: White Willow (Similar to Aspirin but doesn't irritate the stomach lining) and turmeric.
Was slightly worried because I hadn't read anything about Aspirin, just Tylenol and Ibuprofin. After scouring the web for at least 15 minutes, I finally found this: "Salicylate has previously been shown to reduce the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to several drugs in vitro. In this study, aspirin, a salicylate anti-inflammatory, antagonized isoniazid treatment of murine pulmonary tuberculosis, whereas the nonsalicylate ibuprofen did not."
Of course, I didn't actually take aspirin, I took the natural form of Willow Bark. Since there is a distinct lack of evidence on this, I see no reason to NOT take it...Not like I'll be taking it every day for 9 months or something...
Diet:
Water
1 slice manna, bowl of granola with almond milk
Apple
Rice and Cauliflower Dal (leftovers)
Gojiberries snack
Chips and apples salsa
Cabbage Salad (Toasted hazelnuts, shredded cabbage, dressing)
Figs
INH pill
1 ibuprofin
Picture: Aspirin
I am getting some tingling of the fingers...but I know how to solve that - just add back in the B6. It's not really an intense tingling. What really happens is a kind of electric shock that occurs right on the end of my soft pad on maybe one or two fingers. It lasts less than a minute and while it doesn't hurt, it is uncomfortable, and a new sensation. Imagine sticking your tongue on the end of a 9Volt battery - now transfer that feeling to your finger...
I'm not sure when I want to start back on them or on the B6. I think for now I want to just see what happens then slowly start adding things back in.
Course, last night I also took a pain reliever for cramps (started my cycle) so I could try to sleep through the night. Seemed to work marvelously and it's possible that what I'm experiencing is a remnant of that. I took a sample of something I got from Sunflower Market -IbuActin by Solaray. Ingredients include: White Willow (Similar to Aspirin but doesn't irritate the stomach lining) and turmeric.
Was slightly worried because I hadn't read anything about Aspirin, just Tylenol and Ibuprofin. After scouring the web for at least 15 minutes, I finally found this: "Salicylate has previously been shown to reduce the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to several drugs in vitro. In this study, aspirin, a salicylate anti-inflammatory, antagonized isoniazid treatment of murine pulmonary tuberculosis, whereas the nonsalicylate ibuprofen did not."
Of course, I didn't actually take aspirin, I took the natural form of Willow Bark. Since there is a distinct lack of evidence on this, I see no reason to NOT take it...Not like I'll be taking it every day for 9 months or something...
Diet:
Water
1 slice manna, bowl of granola with almond milk
Apple
Rice and Cauliflower Dal (leftovers)
Gojiberries snack
Chips and apples salsa
Cabbage Salad (Toasted hazelnuts, shredded cabbage, dressing)
Figs
INH pill
1 ibuprofin
Picture: Aspirin
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Insomnisoniazid (Month 2, Day 41)
Why insomnia with Isoniazid? I don't really have too many problems with this but every once in a while will simply NOT be able to sleep. I don't think it's the anxiety of actually taking INH, thank you very much. With me, it could simply be that I've had a particularly stressful day, I'm listening to my son snore, or possibly that I need to change the sheets. Nevertheless, one of the real side effects of INH is, in fact, insomnia.
I couldn't find much info on why INH would cause insomnia. I can make a very hazy guess though...INH causes Niacin deficiency which can cause insomnia, loss of appetite, weight and strength loss, soreness of the tongue and mouth, indigestion, abdominal pain, burning sensations in various parts of the body, vertigo, headaches, numbness, nervousness, poor concentration, apprehension, confusion and forgetfulness. Of course, not necessarily in that order...
All in all, it doesn't look like this has been an area with great studies done.
Cheated on my Histamine diet today:
1. Made almond milk and added cocoa powder...yum.
Ate papusas with both cheese and some tomatoes in them from our local Tune-up cafe (YUM).
2. Made cashew butter in the vitamix and decided to make a chocolate peanut butter shake with the remnants left in the bottom. It was delicious.
For dinner: Leftovers of various sorts...some hash browns, some sweet potatoes, asparagus, salad. Some broken almond meal cookies for dessert.
Plus, I haven't taken a single vitamin except Vitamin Sun (D) in 2 days. Not sure if my hands are feeling better or worse, although I have experienced some tingling sensations in addition to the aches. Could be that I need to start up the B6 again. I'm worried that somehow, my multivitamins are not helping me, but may be hurting me somehow in combination with INH.
Will be interesting to see tomorrow:
- How the cheat with histamine foods/triggers affects me.
- How the massive bike ride and gardening I did today affects me. It always seems like I get super musclesore even with slight activity - Today I jammed, baby.
My Diet Yesterday:
Took my pill that I forgot last night...woops!
No Water! Woops!
1/2 cup smoothie (cherries, soy yogurt, banana, goji berries, date sugar)
Manna bread (2 slices with earth balance)
Wild Oats for lunch: Cabbage with toasted almonds, superfood salad (kale, blueberries, gojis, purple cabbage...yum) and carrot/sweet potato salad.
4 spears asparagus
Roasted red pepper soup (vitamix of course) - 4 roasted red peppers, 1/2 cup coconut creamer, spike.
Made apple salsa, goddess dressing and tahini in the morning...my god I love food!
Image from Positive Provocations
I couldn't find much info on why INH would cause insomnia. I can make a very hazy guess though...INH causes Niacin deficiency which can cause insomnia, loss of appetite, weight and strength loss, soreness of the tongue and mouth, indigestion, abdominal pain, burning sensations in various parts of the body, vertigo, headaches, numbness, nervousness, poor concentration, apprehension, confusion and forgetfulness. Of course, not necessarily in that order...
All in all, it doesn't look like this has been an area with great studies done.
Cheated on my Histamine diet today:
1. Made almond milk and added cocoa powder...yum.
Ate papusas with both cheese and some tomatoes in them from our local Tune-up cafe (YUM).
2. Made cashew butter in the vitamix and decided to make a chocolate peanut butter shake with the remnants left in the bottom. It was delicious.
For dinner: Leftovers of various sorts...some hash browns, some sweet potatoes, asparagus, salad. Some broken almond meal cookies for dessert.
Plus, I haven't taken a single vitamin except Vitamin Sun (D) in 2 days. Not sure if my hands are feeling better or worse, although I have experienced some tingling sensations in addition to the aches. Could be that I need to start up the B6 again. I'm worried that somehow, my multivitamins are not helping me, but may be hurting me somehow in combination with INH.
Will be interesting to see tomorrow:
- How the cheat with histamine foods/triggers affects me.
- How the massive bike ride and gardening I did today affects me. It always seems like I get super musclesore even with slight activity - Today I jammed, baby.
My Diet Yesterday:
Took my pill that I forgot last night...woops!
No Water! Woops!
1/2 cup smoothie (cherries, soy yogurt, banana, goji berries, date sugar)
Manna bread (2 slices with earth balance)
Wild Oats for lunch: Cabbage with toasted almonds, superfood salad (kale, blueberries, gojis, purple cabbage...yum) and carrot/sweet potato salad.
4 spears asparagus
Roasted red pepper soup (vitamix of course) - 4 roasted red peppers, 1/2 cup coconut creamer, spike.
Made apple salsa, goddess dressing and tahini in the morning...my god I love food!
Image from Positive Provocations
Friday, April 9, 2010
So Long, Cocoa, My Old Friend (Month 2, Day 39)
Have you seen the movie Labyrinth? The part where the girl realizes that the Goblin King (David Bowie) can't actually control her anymore and she says "You have no power over me!" and the whole world collapses.
I can now look squarely at a bar of chocolate and say "you have no power over me." What a great feeling! Of course it doesn't mean that I don't get the occasional twinge for a hit of chocolate truffle. But it's not overwhelming...it doesn't interfere with my reality - not a support beam.
Why isn't chocolate in my diet? Well, I looked on my handy-dandy foods with histamine list and it was on there, by golly! With a little digging I found this cryptic blurb:
So, chocolate basically can stimulate a histamine release, but it's questionable as to the extent of that release. So, still not on my diet. Sigh...
Of course, many times people are allergic to all the OTHER stuff that goes into those delectable dark bars, but I'm talking really basic, good cocoa here. See one of my first posts on my fave, really super duper quick and healthy chocolate recipe. Unfortunately, there are many benefits to chocolate too. I don't want to talk about those.
Today's Diet:
Water
1/4 c Smoothie/Manna with Earth Balance
Mint Tea
Rice with Cauliflower Dal, apple with cashew butter
Corn Nuts and 1/2 c leftover smoothie
Out to dinner: Garden salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and french fries...
Totally forgot my pill!
Image: Slice of MIT
I can now look squarely at a bar of chocolate and say "you have no power over me." What a great feeling! Of course it doesn't mean that I don't get the occasional twinge for a hit of chocolate truffle. But it's not overwhelming...it doesn't interfere with my reality - not a support beam.
Why isn't chocolate in my diet? Well, I looked on my handy-dandy foods with histamine list and it was on there, by golly! With a little digging I found this cryptic blurb:
Food allergy to cocoa appears to be rare although occupational allergy in workers exposed to cocoa dust has been reported (Zuskin et al. 1998 [806]; Perfetti et al. 1997 [808]). However, self-reported allergy to cocoa appears to be common (Brugman et al. 1998 [809]). Because of this cocoa has been included in studies of the prevalence of food allergy (Young et al. 1994 [810]) and DBPCFC has been used.
It has been suggested that intolerance to cocao involves biogenic amines. However, Jansen et al. (2003) [805] found no evidence for this. Moller et al. (1984) [575] in a study of of penicillin allergy in occupationally exposed individuals showed cocoa to produce non-allergic histamine release in basophil mediator release test. Becker et al. (1981) [21] extracted a species of 20 -40 kDa (centred on 26 kDa) which activates the factor XII-dependent pathways. However, the inflamatory activity may involve polyphenols binding to complement and does not necessarily involve IgE.
So, chocolate basically can stimulate a histamine release, but it's questionable as to the extent of that release. So, still not on my diet. Sigh...
Of course, many times people are allergic to all the OTHER stuff that goes into those delectable dark bars, but I'm talking really basic, good cocoa here. See one of my first posts on my fave, really super duper quick and healthy chocolate recipe. Unfortunately, there are many benefits to chocolate too. I don't want to talk about those.
Today's Diet:
Water
1/4 c Smoothie/Manna with Earth Balance
Mint Tea
Rice with Cauliflower Dal, apple with cashew butter
Corn Nuts and 1/2 c leftover smoothie
Out to dinner: Garden salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and french fries...
Totally forgot my pill!
Image: Slice of MIT
Thursday, April 8, 2010
99 Bottles of Beer and INH (Month 2, Day 39)
Here - I altered the song so it's even more cheesy...
"INH bottles and beer on the wall
INH bottles and beer,
Take the INH down
Pass it around
Leave the bottles of beer on the wall"
OK, not a great do, what can I say...
Staff meeting at work today and beer. The cart was piled high with some of my faves and I practically had to slam the door in my face to stop from pulling out a bottle of Fat Tire, stroking the label, running my fingers over the sensual curves and popping the lid.
Not that I feel like I "need" a drink. I think on some level it's the pure taste. Yum... And on some sick, demented level, it's the sheer denial of it all. It's kind of like dieting for weight loss. I must deny myself that chocolate so when I get home at night, I'll eat an entire bag of Hershey's kisses.
Not to mention the social qualities... Who wants to hang with a bunch of people who all are eating bratwursts, sauerkraut and beer? And who are all having FUN?? Well, I have to leave early to pick up my boy from school, so problem solved!
Besides, I remain firm in my commitment to abstain for alcohol as I can. (See my post on Alcohol and INH) That doesn't mean that every once in a while I won't partake in a drink. But unless I feel that it would be extremely rude to abstain in a situation (The President invites me to the White House to share a rare bottle of Pinot), the desire gets the best of me (Dying of thirst in the desert and all that I can find is a cold, frosty beer), or I'm taking a medicine with alcohol (Suddenly feel a cough coming on), I think I'll keep my hands to myself!
My Diet Today:
Breakfast: Breakfast Burritos (Blue potatoes, fennel, cilantro and apple salsa in a brown rice tortilla) and Smoothie (Canteloupe, goji berries, frozen peaches, orange juice, apricots)
Lunch: Rice with Cauliflower Dal
Vitamins
Snack: Gojis and Tea
Dinner: Quinoa, peppers, cilantro, ginger, apple salsa and blacberries
99 bottles of beer and a pill
"INH bottles and beer on the wall
INH bottles and beer,
Take the INH down
Pass it around
Leave the bottles of beer on the wall"
OK, not a great do, what can I say...
Staff meeting at work today and beer. The cart was piled high with some of my faves and I practically had to slam the door in my face to stop from pulling out a bottle of Fat Tire, stroking the label, running my fingers over the sensual curves and popping the lid.
Not that I feel like I "need" a drink. I think on some level it's the pure taste. Yum... And on some sick, demented level, it's the sheer denial of it all. It's kind of like dieting for weight loss. I must deny myself that chocolate so when I get home at night, I'll eat an entire bag of Hershey's kisses.
Not to mention the social qualities... Who wants to hang with a bunch of people who all are eating bratwursts, sauerkraut and beer? And who are all having FUN?? Well, I have to leave early to pick up my boy from school, so problem solved!
Besides, I remain firm in my commitment to abstain for alcohol as I can. (See my post on Alcohol and INH) That doesn't mean that every once in a while I won't partake in a drink. But unless I feel that it would be extremely rude to abstain in a situation (The President invites me to the White House to share a rare bottle of Pinot), the desire gets the best of me (Dying of thirst in the desert and all that I can find is a cold, frosty beer), or I'm taking a medicine with alcohol (Suddenly feel a cough coming on), I think I'll keep my hands to myself!
My Diet Today:
Breakfast: Breakfast Burritos (Blue potatoes, fennel, cilantro and apple salsa in a brown rice tortilla) and Smoothie (Canteloupe, goji berries, frozen peaches, orange juice, apricots)
Lunch: Rice with Cauliflower Dal
Vitamins
Snack: Gojis and Tea
Dinner: Quinoa, peppers, cilantro, ginger, apple salsa and blacberries
99 bottles of beer and a pill
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Corn Nut Addiction (Month 2, Day 38)
Today I woke up and reminded myself that getting up is a privilege. I worked my hands for a bit, clenching and opening to get the blood flowing. My two pinky fingers, spreading into my ring fingers on both hands are stiff and achey. As I understand it, this is typical of Rheumatoid Arthritis, although I've had no diagnosis.
I'm concerned that these symptoms are progressing, not getting better. Typical of INH-induced Rheumatoid Arthritis, the 2 month marker seems to be about when most symptoms appear. Since I seem to have an early onset of symptoms, does that mean symptoms will continue to grow? What if INH has just spurred an already latent disease in me and even when I stop INH, I'll still have the arthritis?
Hmmm...Not fun thoughts.
I'm also giving some thoughts to how my symptoms might play into INH-induced Lupus. Some of these symptoms include joint pain. However, my symptoms seem to mimic the Rheumatoid side more, I think - Symmetrical pain in both hands, stiff and sore more in the morning. No swelling or redness, though, thank goodness.
In a later post I'll explore Lupus so I can better understand it and the INH relationship.
My Diet today:
32 oz Water
Breakfast: Hash Browns (carrots, potatoes and oregano) and canteloupe (I used the Vitamix to "shred" the potatoes and carrots in about 3 seconds and then set it to cook - so easy! I'd just come back every so often to stir it and by the time I was ready, so was it! And I'd never had carrots in hash browns before, but I wanted some color so thought I'd try - delicious! See my picture even though it doesn't look that good!)
Lunch: Broccoli Soup, Brown Rice, Corn nuts (Broccoli Soup from last night)
Vitamins
Dinner: Cauliflower Dal (Recipe here) without tomatoes
Pre-bed: An arthritis inducing white thing
Possible histamine triggers:
I suppose I should double check corn, my new, crunchy snack friend. I love CORN NUTS!!!
Also, one thing about histamines - leftovers grow 'em...I haven't been counting my leftovers, but suppose I should...sigh...
I'm concerned that these symptoms are progressing, not getting better. Typical of INH-induced Rheumatoid Arthritis, the 2 month marker seems to be about when most symptoms appear. Since I seem to have an early onset of symptoms, does that mean symptoms will continue to grow? What if INH has just spurred an already latent disease in me and even when I stop INH, I'll still have the arthritis?
Hmmm...Not fun thoughts.
I'm also giving some thoughts to how my symptoms might play into INH-induced Lupus. Some of these symptoms include joint pain. However, my symptoms seem to mimic the Rheumatoid side more, I think - Symmetrical pain in both hands, stiff and sore more in the morning. No swelling or redness, though, thank goodness.
In a later post I'll explore Lupus so I can better understand it and the INH relationship.
My Diet today:
32 oz Water
Breakfast: Hash Browns (carrots, potatoes and oregano) and canteloupe (I used the Vitamix to "shred" the potatoes and carrots in about 3 seconds and then set it to cook - so easy! I'd just come back every so often to stir it and by the time I was ready, so was it! And I'd never had carrots in hash browns before, but I wanted some color so thought I'd try - delicious! See my picture even though it doesn't look that good!)
Lunch: Broccoli Soup, Brown Rice, Corn nuts (Broccoli Soup from last night)
Vitamins
Dinner: Cauliflower Dal (Recipe here) without tomatoes
Pre-bed: An arthritis inducing white thing
Possible histamine triggers:
I suppose I should double check corn, my new, crunchy snack friend. I love CORN NUTS!!!
Also, one thing about histamines - leftovers grow 'em...I haven't been counting my leftovers, but suppose I should...sigh...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Business as Usual (Month 2, Day 36)
Nothing much to report today - business as usual.
Diet:
32 oz water
Breakfast: 2 slices manna bread with cashew butter
Vitamins
Snack: Tea and corn (roasted and salted)
Lunch: Salad with goddess dressing
Snack: Rice cakes
Vitamins
Dinner: Broccoli soup and Mochi
Pre-bed: My magic pill
Possible histamine triggers:
Goddess dressing
Diet:
32 oz water
Breakfast: 2 slices manna bread with cashew butter
Vitamins
Snack: Tea and corn (roasted and salted)
Lunch: Salad with goddess dressing
Snack: Rice cakes
Vitamins
Dinner: Broccoli soup and Mochi
Pre-bed: My magic pill
Possible histamine triggers:
Goddess dressing
Monday, April 5, 2010
Allergy Season! (Month 2, Day 36)
It's that time again - springtime in New Mexico, when the pinion trees sweat pollen and the rabbitbrush throws the stuff out like a sneeze. Any building you go into, you'll see signs of the season - runny noses, red eyes, coughing, headaches.
But not me -aside from a slight runny nose, I have no allergy symptoms, which is actually really surprising! The only thing that I can really say is different from this year and last is diet and supplementation. Obviously, the INH is a new ingredient.
The diet is the big one though - the histamine-free diet. I can control the exposure coming in through my mouth, which means a lower dose of histamines in the body. Granted, I can't eliminate all histamines, but my diet is pretty darn clean. (See the Histamine Page for more info on Histamines)
I'm on the first week still of my Histamine-free diet. Unfortunately, my hands are just as bad as ever, even if my allergies are mild. Does that mean that the arthritic symptoms in my hands are no relation to histamines? Possibly, although everything I've read says it takes at least 2-3 weeks to lower histamine levels in the body.
Again, no idea how it all works. All I know is that I feel relatively good for all the yellow stuff in the air, and I plan on staying on the diet for another 2 weeks. It's not as bad as it sounds!
Today's Diet:
32oz water
Breakfast: 2 slices Manna bread with homemade cashew butter
3 vitamins
Chai tea with Stevia and coconut cream
Lunch: Pea soup and vitamins
Snack: 3 rice cakes
Home snack: Corn chips and apple salsa
Dinner: Steamed cauliflower, romaine salad with rice cheese shred, sunflower sprouts, hemp seed and goddess dressing
Dessert: Applesauce
Pre-bed: Pollen and the Pill
Picture source
But not me -aside from a slight runny nose, I have no allergy symptoms, which is actually really surprising! The only thing that I can really say is different from this year and last is diet and supplementation. Obviously, the INH is a new ingredient.
The diet is the big one though - the histamine-free diet. I can control the exposure coming in through my mouth, which means a lower dose of histamines in the body. Granted, I can't eliminate all histamines, but my diet is pretty darn clean. (See the Histamine Page for more info on Histamines)
I'm on the first week still of my Histamine-free diet. Unfortunately, my hands are just as bad as ever, even if my allergies are mild. Does that mean that the arthritic symptoms in my hands are no relation to histamines? Possibly, although everything I've read says it takes at least 2-3 weeks to lower histamine levels in the body.
Again, no idea how it all works. All I know is that I feel relatively good for all the yellow stuff in the air, and I plan on staying on the diet for another 2 weeks. It's not as bad as it sounds!
Today's Diet:
32oz water
Breakfast: 2 slices Manna bread with homemade cashew butter
3 vitamins
Chai tea with Stevia and coconut cream
Lunch: Pea soup and vitamins
Snack: 3 rice cakes
Home snack: Corn chips and apple salsa
Dinner: Steamed cauliflower, romaine salad with rice cheese shred, sunflower sprouts, hemp seed and goddess dressing
Dessert: Applesauce
Pre-bed: Pollen and the Pill
Picture source
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter! (Month 2, Day 35)
It's Easter! AND SUNNY!
Perfect day for hiding 44 eggs in the front and back yard (and to find them all!). My boy, although he got at least 5 pounds of candy is so good - he asks before shoving into his mouth. So he's only had maybe 6 small chocolates.
Yesterday's diet was horrendous! Well, not so much in that I went off and ate a bunch of stuff that might trigger histamines, but more in that I just wanted to eat everything in site!
Add to that a brand, spankin' new Vitamix! We made Cashew Butter, Strawberry Ice, Applesauce, Apple Salsa and Pea Soup for dinner. I'm incredibly excited about the Apple Salsa because I usually live on salsa and it's extremely hard for me without it. While this isn't quite the same, it at least satisfies a craving.
Crunchy Apple Salsa:
1/4 cup white wine (I used 1/4 cup white wine vinegar)
1 small onion
1/2 line, half with peel
2 Granny Smith apples, quartered (I used Braeburns that were covered in small bruises)
1/2 jalapeno pepper seeds and membranes removed (I used green chiles, about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1. Place all ingredients into Vitamix in order listed
2. Select Variable 1
Turn machine on and increase speed to 4
Blend for 15 to 20 seconds using the tamper.
***I think you could do this just fine in a food processor or even by hand!
My Diet today:
Pre Breakfast - 32 oz water and an egg hunt
Forgot acidophilis
Breakfast: Honeydew melon, sliced, fried potatoes with apple salsa.
Forgot vitamins - will take with lunch
Got Vitamin Sun for 15 minutes
Lunch: Homemade mac and cheese. (Brown rice pasta, soy cheese with just a touch of real).
Snack - some chips and apple salsa
Dinner: Grilled Artichokes, Rice with Goddess Dressing, Boiled Beet Greens, Salad.
Dessert: 1 Dark chocolate (no milk)
Some applesauce
Easter egg in the form of an INH pill.
Potential Trigger:
Cheese (milk and soy)
Beet greens...?
Chocolate
Perfect day for hiding 44 eggs in the front and back yard (and to find them all!). My boy, although he got at least 5 pounds of candy is so good - he asks before shoving into his mouth. So he's only had maybe 6 small chocolates.
Yesterday's diet was horrendous! Well, not so much in that I went off and ate a bunch of stuff that might trigger histamines, but more in that I just wanted to eat everything in site!
Add to that a brand, spankin' new Vitamix! We made Cashew Butter, Strawberry Ice, Applesauce, Apple Salsa and Pea Soup for dinner. I'm incredibly excited about the Apple Salsa because I usually live on salsa and it's extremely hard for me without it. While this isn't quite the same, it at least satisfies a craving.
Crunchy Apple Salsa:
1/4 cup white wine (I used 1/4 cup white wine vinegar)
1 small onion
1/2 line, half with peel
2 Granny Smith apples, quartered (I used Braeburns that were covered in small bruises)
1/2 jalapeno pepper seeds and membranes removed (I used green chiles, about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1. Place all ingredients into Vitamix in order listed
2. Select Variable 1
Turn machine on and increase speed to 4
Blend for 15 to 20 seconds using the tamper.
***I think you could do this just fine in a food processor or even by hand!
My Diet today:
Pre Breakfast - 32 oz water and an egg hunt
Forgot acidophilis
Breakfast: Honeydew melon, sliced, fried potatoes with apple salsa.
Forgot vitamins - will take with lunch
Got Vitamin Sun for 15 minutes
Lunch: Homemade mac and cheese. (Brown rice pasta, soy cheese with just a touch of real).
Snack - some chips and apple salsa
Dinner: Grilled Artichokes, Rice with Goddess Dressing, Boiled Beet Greens, Salad.
Dessert: 1 Dark chocolate (no milk)
Some applesauce
Easter egg in the form of an INH pill.
Potential Trigger:
Cheese (milk and soy)
Beet greens...?
Chocolate
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Tingle in my Fingle? (Month 2, Day 33)
Why the fingers, I ask? What exactly does INH do that makes the fingers tingly, hurt and otherwise feel painful?
Good question...I don't really know. I just know that often B6 is prescribed to combat it. But what's really going on?
INH creates peripheral neuropathy in some people. If you have tingling or numbness in your hands, you could be having an adverse reaction to INH (duh). Why? Could be for a couple of reasons, but my research suggests that the top two are these:
Course, I tried taking B6 separately on advice of my nurse and it didn't seem to work for my aching, arthritic hands. BUT, truth be told, I only gave it 5 days. Just looked at the amount she gave me: 50 mg. I just checked my multivitamin and it says it has 200 mg in it! Um...Could my multi be giving me too much B6?
Hmmm...well, as a practice, here is a good paragraph on taking B6:
Our practice is to give B6 with each dose of INH, whether it is daily or twice weekly. B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is not stored, but INH is likewise a short-acting compound so this approach is most practical.
Yesterday's Diet:
Pre-Breakfast: 32 oz water, 2 acidophilus
Breakfast: 2 slices manna bread, fresh cut honeydew
Snack: Pot of Tea with coco cream and stevia, more honeydew
Lunch: Bowl of quinoa with about 4 small red/yellow peppers cut up in it topped with goddess dressing.
Snack: Rice cakes (2) with leftover Haroset (from Monday's Seder - not sure what's in it other than jicama, walnuts, raisins, apple juice, apples...), Pumpkin seeds.
Dinner: 2 microwaved potatoes with Earth Balance, cut up peppers, salad with artichoke hearts and hearts of palm
Dessert: Blackberries with Whipped Cream.
Post-Dinner: 1/2 rice cake with Haroset (I'm HUNGRY lately - must be losing weight and my body is freaking out!)
Pre-bed - Movie and a pill
Possible Histamine Triggers:
-Manna Bread - has raisins
-Haroset - the unknown quantity...but does contain cinnamon, cloves and raisins...
-Tea - I drink bunches still
Good question...I don't really know. I just know that often B6 is prescribed to combat it. But what's really going on?
INH creates peripheral neuropathy in some people. If you have tingling or numbness in your hands, you could be having an adverse reaction to INH (duh). Why? Could be for a couple of reasons, but my research suggests that the top two are these:
- You already have a condition that lends itself to neuropathy such as diabetes, uremia, alcoholism, HIV, malnutrition, cirrhosis, hyperthyroidism or congestive heart failure. I think this covers a wide range of people...I mean, malnutrition? Do people who simply aren't getting the right numbers of vitamins and minerals in their diet fall into this category?
- INH interferes with the metabolism of pyridoxine (B6). (Source) Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is required for the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine and for myelin formation. (Source) Pyridoxine deficiency in adults principally affects the peripheral nerves, skin, mucous membranes, and the blood cell system. In children, in can affect the CNS. Here's a sentence that I found interesting: "In vivo pyridoxine is converted into coenzymes which play an essential role in the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and several other substances, including brain amines, INH apparently competitively inhibits the action of pyridoxine in these metabolic functions." In other words, malnutrition, fatigue and brain fog with INH could also be the result of B6 deficiency...? Here's something even weirder - too much B6 will create neuropathy-type symptoms...go figure.
Course, I tried taking B6 separately on advice of my nurse and it didn't seem to work for my aching, arthritic hands. BUT, truth be told, I only gave it 5 days. Just looked at the amount she gave me: 50 mg. I just checked my multivitamin and it says it has 200 mg in it! Um...Could my multi be giving me too much B6?
Hmmm...well, as a practice, here is a good paragraph on taking B6:
Our practice is to give B6 with each dose of INH, whether it is daily or twice weekly. B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is not stored, but INH is likewise a short-acting compound so this approach is most practical.
Yesterday's Diet:
Pre-Breakfast: 32 oz water, 2 acidophilus
Breakfast: 2 slices manna bread, fresh cut honeydew
Snack: Pot of Tea with coco cream and stevia, more honeydew
Lunch: Bowl of quinoa with about 4 small red/yellow peppers cut up in it topped with goddess dressing.
Snack: Rice cakes (2) with leftover Haroset (from Monday's Seder - not sure what's in it other than jicama, walnuts, raisins, apple juice, apples...), Pumpkin seeds.
Dinner: 2 microwaved potatoes with Earth Balance, cut up peppers, salad with artichoke hearts and hearts of palm
Dessert: Blackberries with Whipped Cream.
Post-Dinner: 1/2 rice cake with Haroset (I'm HUNGRY lately - must be losing weight and my body is freaking out!)
Pre-bed - Movie and a pill
Possible Histamine Triggers:
-Manna Bread - has raisins
-Haroset - the unknown quantity...but does contain cinnamon, cloves and raisins...
-Tea - I drink bunches still
Friday, April 2, 2010
Same-ol'-Same-ol' (Month 2, Day 33)
For some reason, I expected to wake up and be on top of the world today. Of course, this is all because I took a Vitamin D cap last night - go figure. But, this morning, I'm slightly grumpy at the world for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that I fell asleep on the sofa and finally crawled into bed around 1ish. Not enough sleep makes Darcy a very grumpy soul. Sweet, but grumpy - like the cookie you see on the right.
To the hands - well, throughout yesterday my hands were still achy. In particular, the joins on my little fingers. BUT, they do feel stronger
My diet yesterday:
Pre-Breakfast: 32 oz of water with 2 acidophilis caps
Breakfast: A huge bowl (and I do mean HUGE) of granola (toasted oats, honey, vanilla), dried apricots, goji berries and almonds. I could barely walk-so full.
Snack: Chai tea with coconut creamer and stevia (still full)
Lunch: Quinoa/carrots/sprouts with Goddess dressing
Snack - Sesame rice cakes (3) and 16 oz water
Dinner - Roasted fennel (beets, fennel, carrots), mashed butternut squash (like mashed potatoes with coconut oil and spike), Mochi.
Post-dinner: Vitamin D pill
Pre-Bed: My lovely pill
Possible histamine triggers:
-Dried apricots/gojis for breakfast. Dried fruit can build histamines.
-Chai Tea (black tea)
-Goddess Dressing
-Beets? Hmmm...
Picture snagged from Mama Drama.
To the hands - well, throughout yesterday my hands were still achy. In particular, the joins on my little fingers. BUT, they do feel stronger
My diet yesterday:
Pre-Breakfast: 32 oz of water with 2 acidophilis caps
Breakfast: A huge bowl (and I do mean HUGE) of granola (toasted oats, honey, vanilla), dried apricots, goji berries and almonds. I could barely walk-so full.
Snack: Chai tea with coconut creamer and stevia (still full)
Lunch: Quinoa/carrots/sprouts with Goddess dressing
Snack - Sesame rice cakes (3) and 16 oz water
Dinner - Roasted fennel (beets, fennel, carrots), mashed butternut squash (like mashed potatoes with coconut oil and spike), Mochi.
Post-dinner: Vitamin D pill
Pre-Bed: My lovely pill
Possible histamine triggers:
-Dried apricots/gojis for breakfast. Dried fruit can build histamines.
-Chai Tea (black tea)
-Goddess Dressing
-Beets? Hmmm...
Picture snagged from Mama Drama.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Starting the Histamine-free Diet (Month 2, Day 32)
Welcome to Month 2, I said to myself. In fact, I feel recommitted to making this month experimental. A challenge, so they say. Find out what is causing my arthritis. See what makes me feel good, as opposed to hurting. Other than the obvious...
Wouldn't it be nice if all of the sudden the heavens opened and a loud booming voice said "APRIL FOOLS! You don't really have Latent Tuberculosis!" Yeah, right.
'Course, it could just be that I have arthritis and that's that...but I don't like to think that way. At the very least, I'd like to find what lessens my symptoms. At best, what completely alleviates them.
My commitment for now:
1. Get Vitamin Sun every day (at least 15 minutes)
2. Eliminate all (or most) high histamine foods and histamine triggering foods from my diet to see if it helps my hands. If it does, I'll add them back in here and there to see the limit. (See my post on arthritis)
I just went out and bought Vitamin D, 5000 IU's. 100 caps for 10 buckaroos at Whole Foods. Not bad. I'm going to take one a day to see what happens. 5000 IU's = 125 micrograms. 47% of that is about 58 micrograms. Not bad. Combine with sun exposure I should be good for my Vitamin D intake. By the way, here's an interesting source about Vitamin D toxicity myths (the body uses at least 4000 IU's daily).
As part of this whole diet, I think it will be important to record what I'm eating to see how my hands feel. Hey, I do this with my five year old, why not with myself?
So here is what I ate yesterday. My hands feel about the same this morning. Stiff and weak. The joints are achy. I can function just fine, but it helps if I complain a lot to everyone (smile).
Possible Histamine triggers:
-Goddess Dressing (Tahini, Soy Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar)
-Goji Berries (although some sources say they are an anti-histamine)
-Miso Dressing (Miso, Vinegar)
-Pumpkin seeds
Eliminated my usual tomato, avocado, hummus morning sandwich on Ezekial bread (Yeast). Goodbye my love...sniff...
Wouldn't it be nice if all of the sudden the heavens opened and a loud booming voice said "APRIL FOOLS! You don't really have Latent Tuberculosis!" Yeah, right.
'Course, it could just be that I have arthritis and that's that...but I don't like to think that way. At the very least, I'd like to find what lessens my symptoms. At best, what completely alleviates them.
My commitment for now:
1. Get Vitamin Sun every day (at least 15 minutes)
2. Eliminate all (or most) high histamine foods and histamine triggering foods from my diet to see if it helps my hands. If it does, I'll add them back in here and there to see the limit. (See my post on arthritis)
I just went out and bought Vitamin D, 5000 IU's. 100 caps for 10 buckaroos at Whole Foods. Not bad. I'm going to take one a day to see what happens. 5000 IU's = 125 micrograms. 47% of that is about 58 micrograms. Not bad. Combine with sun exposure I should be good for my Vitamin D intake. By the way, here's an interesting source about Vitamin D toxicity myths (the body uses at least 4000 IU's daily).
As part of this whole diet, I think it will be important to record what I'm eating to see how my hands feel. Hey, I do this with my five year old, why not with myself?
So here is what I ate yesterday. My hands feel about the same this morning. Stiff and weak. The joints are achy. I can function just fine, but it helps if I complain a lot to everyone (smile).
- Pre-Breakfast - 32 oz water with 2 acidophilis caps
- Breakfast - Polenta with almond milk, honey and blackberries (see my picture!) - Really delicious as I was generous with the honey (underneath all of the blackberries). I will not cave to a boring diet!
- 3 food based multivitamins
- Chai Tea with Coconut Cream
- Lunch - Brown rice with cucumbers and goddess dressing (Of course, still hungry so need a snack).
- 3 food based multivitamins
- Snack - Dried Goji berries (about a 1/2 cup) and hot tea with coco cream and stevia
- Dinner - Fried polenta with sauteed vegees, butternut squash, arugula on the side with miso dressing. Pumpkin seeds on top.
- After dinner - Vitamin D, 4000IU's
- Pre-bed - 1 very white, very pasty INH pill
Possible Histamine triggers:
-Goddess Dressing (Tahini, Soy Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar)
-Goji Berries (although some sources say they are an anti-histamine)
-Miso Dressing (Miso, Vinegar)
-Pumpkin seeds
Eliminated my usual tomato, avocado, hummus morning sandwich on Ezekial bread (Yeast). Goodbye my love...sniff...
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