I'm a mess - need to detox and de-stress

[spicegirl]

Hi Shelley,

I spent years detoxing and eating healthy. I guess I started detoxing with a big, seven-day fast in 2001. It did wonders for me. I stopped having menstrual cramps, my asthma disappeared and has never returned, I had tons more energy, etc. I followed up with liver cleansing, kidney cleansing, etc.

My life was pretty stressful for a long time though. It isn't like crisis-to-crisis or anything, just stress like neighbor issues years ago, then company got acquired, then moved to new neighborhood and changed jobs at the same time, now I work for a narcissistic boss...just always something I guess

My diet is certainly pretty decent compared to the SAD, but I don't do much to support digestion. You looked at my tongue years ago and gave me a lot of input (said I was vit. B, protein and fat deficient). You gave me some tips, but I didn't follow everything.

I'm not used to your VHM because I was so strict for so long that I'm afraid to eat rice or combine foods (i.e. protein and carbs), etc. I'm just massively confused and I'm very right-brained and need things to be simple to follow or I get lost in the details. Honestly, I come to your website with every intention of following what you say and I get overwhelmed and confused and just go away.

I feel desperate at this point though. Last night my period started about 1:30 am. I was in so much pain for about an hour and a half I was rolling on the floor moaning, shaking, sweating, and finally I vomited several times. I actually felt a bit better after vomiting and was able to keep down some ibuprofen and raspberry leaf tea and eventually go back to sleep.

A similar scenario happened to me about two years ago (it happened two times w/in a few months) and I'm going nuts that it could happen again. It is unbearable.

I absolutely have to detox. I just don't know where to begin. I don't want to fast because the last time I did (about 1 1/2 years ago) I could feel my metabolism get messed up (felt like I had immediate belly fat build up by the end of the fast).

I had a tiny yeast infection that started about two weeks ago (I'm really not prone to them), but didn't get bad at all (lasted about a day, but still just a little itchy spot). I'm 41 and have noticed my periods getting a lot heavier lately.

I eat, but really I'm afraid of food. I just feel bloated when I eat, especially any type of grain (even gluten free like millet, quinoa, buckwheat). I don't feel good after I eat Kichadi. I'm not sure if I tend to eat too much of these foods, but I just prefer to eat only veggies, meat like chicken or fish (sometimes liver) and veggies and fruit. Basically, I do best on the Body Ecology Diet stage 1, but then I become hungry and feel deprived and binge out on cheese or grains.

I really don't take any supplements at this point. Again, I just feel confused by all of the conflicting info that I have read. Ugh.

I don't think I'm lactose intolerant, but I don't do well on dairy at all (I'd been drinking some kefir recently for the yeast infection and wonder if that contributed to my horrible cramp episode). I think it causes mucus for me big time.

Do you have any tips for a detox that is simple? I still have your document you sent me after looking at my tongue, but you suggested so many things that I just didn't do well on like kichadi, etc. I got so confused

I also have a thyroid issue (hypo) and take 30 mcg 2x/day of T3 for that.

Should I just stick with BED diet? I can't tolerate coconut, so I don't make the coconut kefir she recommends, but I have started to make kombucha off and on recently.

Oh, also, we're building a house, so every weekend we work at our property and I need energy and simple things to eat when I'm there. It is always a stress to figure out what to take that will be nutritious and easy.

Ok, thanks for listening and for any input you can provide.

spicegirl

[beachbuminthecountry]

Hi.

I just wanted to say you are not alone. I am in the same place you are with the different foods to eat and simple carbs don't to well with me either. I can't wait to see what Shelley writes. I am totally the same with what order to eat the foods if that makes sense. We are very similar. Thank you for posting this...saved me the time to type...hehe

[spicegirl]

Thanks. I don't feel so lonely in this boat. I think there are a few of us out there.

I went through Shelley's tips this morning and made a brief document of the cleansing and protein drinks and instructions to post in my kitchen. So, I'm feeling much less overwhelmed

I'm still a little confused about what exactly to eat. I might try eating what I usually do, but adding some digestive enzymes.

I'm interested to hear more about your story.

Also, I'm intrigued by your screen name. Are you a former beach bum who moved to the country? I'm a city girl moving to the country. We're in-between right now, as we're in the process of building a house on a farm. It is a lot of work, but a lot of fun in its own way.

Ok, take care and I hope this post helps you too!

spicegirl

[shelley]

Hi Spicegirl! So sorry you're not feeling better. First thing is you absolutely must stop drinking raspberry tea! It's an estrogenic herb and will give you very painful periods, weight gain around your middle, hot flashes, moodiness, etc.

Have you gotten any lab work done lately? You really should check your iron levels, thyroid, all the basics. Did you ever get tested for mercury?

People who cannot handle Kichadi easily and other grains yet don't have celiac disease are usually:
1. vegetarians who ate a really deficient diet for too long
2. candida people with the added complication of mercury toxicity and/or Sulphur sensitivity, which causes extreme deficiencies in stomach acids, digestive enzymes and/or bile.

Very often they're low in a little-discussed but very important mineral, Manganese, and folic acid, and zinc. Women are usually low in iron.

Until you do all the necessary research (lab tests, hair analysis, lifestyle analysis, symptoms analysis) you'll have to do the same shotgun approach you've been doing which doesn't seem to work with your nature...

[beachbuminthecountry]

Bummer I was waiting for more info...Spicegirl hurry up and get those test done.... just kidding...

I haven't been doing to good with regimen but not bad. I have had a lot happen to me in the past months since just before Thanksgiving. Well I have been getting other things straight in my life now so I can focus on me. As for the beachbum. Well just love the beach. I moved from NJ to PA (the poconos--in the middle of the boondocks) and dislike it a lot. Too cold for me and no jobs or hard to find jobs. So when I came up with the name I though well I am stuck here in the country and wishing to be by the beach. Soon I will be when I sell the house and stay with my sister who lives 10 mins from the beach. woohoo . That must be exciting to build you own home...wow...

Back to Shelley...I think she so right about the minerals. I just started taking a product called natural calm (this one is only magnesium only) but I bought the other one that has a multivitamin. It is powder and fizzes when mixed with water. Sorry Shelley I don't like the cal/mag fizz ones they make me feel weird. I have a sensitive system anyways so don't go my me. I started to take liquid iodine (undo's sp?). I was having the hardest time finding a probiotic because I would react bad to a lot of them, then this girl from another site that I am on a lot (PM me if you want to know it) suggest Natren. Well that is working great. I also used the one for down yanda and no more problems. Can't remember if anything else I do but I am trying to get my regimen together between Shelley's site and the other one. They both have a lot to offer. I'll be back later...brain is fading. If ya know what I mean.. just thinking about what to take first thing in the morning hurts my head.

[spicegirl]

Shelley!

Thank you thank you thank you so much for your response. I'm sorry I was all whiny in my first post. I think I'm feeling very overwhelmed b/c I've been at this a while, but can't seem to pull it all together.

Although, I can't imagine where I'd be if I never started on this path, so amen to that

Regarding the raspberry leaf tea, I will stop immediately. I only drank it when I had cramps, which it seemed to help, but I won't do that anymore?

What you said makes total sense! In my late 20s I spent time being vegan, and probably didn't get the right balance nor enough nutrients!

I did have all my mercury replaced and did a follow up protocol of lots of greens, juicing, etc. but didn't do any specific protocol (DMPS always made me very nervous).

I don't seem to have an issue with sulphur. I've taken MSM before with no problems as far as I could tell and I eat eggs a lot and feel pretty good when I do.

I had blood work done in July of last year. I can pull out those results, but nothing seemed to alarm my doctor. My thyroid tests are tough to read b/c I take T3. I thought my iron would be low, but it wasn't, but I'd have to look at the results again for the numbers. I've not had a mercury test done. What kind should I do, hair analysis?

Please just tell me what tests and I will do it. I don't want to do a shotgun approach. I need to get very specific and resolve these issues. I really need your help.

Shelley, thank you. Whatever you suggest as far as tests I will do immediately. I can pull out my results from July. My health insurance won't cover another round until July of this year, but I can go to one of those anytest.com places and have it done. I don't have one of those here in the boonies, but I will be close to one next week when I'm traveling.

How should I do the lifestyle and symptoms analysis?

Look forward to what you recommend as far as tests.

spicegirl

[spicegirl]

Hi beachbuminthecountry,

I don't feel so great either when I take cal/mag fizz. I've tried it once or twice. I do take natural calm and like it a lot. Seems to help me sleep through the night.

Thanks for sharing the background behind your name. I hope things work out and that you're back near the beach again soon.

spicegirl