Yesterday, my beloved sweetie muffin pants was torn to pieces by who is considered to be the best oral surgeon on the face of the planet ? Dr. William Arnett in Santa Barbara, CA.
My girlfriend suffered from what Arnett referred to, in complex medical terminology, as a ?banana head. “Your asymetries are out of this world” he said right before surgery. Wow. Thanks for the confidence doc! She slowly developed a severe crossbite, which the docs hypothesize MUST have stemmed from a childhood injury to the jaw, as one side of her jaw grew after childhood
and the other didn’t ? causing her jaw to become super tweaked to the point where only 1 upper tooth made contact with the lower teeth. Made it a little tough to chew.
Today she looks kind of like Howard the Duck. I’m just glad this Howard the Duck is not in Cleve Land. Santa Barbara in May is well? I’m not complaining. I mean come on. I’m Caucasian ? so Caucasian that I drive a Mini Cooper and wear flip flops. Santa Barbara is heaven for Caucasians, where we can sit up on a large hill looking out across the ocean feeling morally elite for recycling bottles of San Pelligrino (shipped all the way from Italy) and using reusable grocery bags. Yes we can!
Although it remains to be seen what her tastes will be, it looks like post surgery she will be joining me in consuming copious quantities of raw milk. But we did bring both a juicer and a pimped out blender with us, so she has other options. For the first 8-10 weeks, though ? liquids only. Hence the timing on the beginning of my raw milk diet.
What I found to be quite validating was what happened to Aurora physically between the time she was first examined prior to surgery (about a year ago) and how she was doing in the days leading up to surgery.
For starters, her body temperature is much higher. Not only that, but when she went to the hospital and her temperature was taken as part of her pre-surgery physical exam, the nurse actually said, ?Wow, 98.6! We don’t see this very often. The sad thing is that this reading was from an ear thermometer, which is supposed to run nearly a half degree higher than the oral temperature, meaning that the nurse sees very few people that hit what would otherwise be an oral temperature of just 98.1-98.2 ? in the middle of the day, much less first thing upon waking up in the morning. This speaketh volumes.
Aurora’s axillary temp. has been running as high as 98.4 lately (2nd half of cycle), up quite a bit from her chronically low temperatures in her teens and her undereating/overexercising phase.
More fascinating is that her jaw joint, once thought to be too fragile to even perform the surgery, has been totally remineralized over the course of the last year. You can see in the photo that the lower bone has a little indentation in the middle, forming a little bit of a Y-shape. That filled in over the last year.
Arnett mentioned that the joint originally looked to be weak and potentially even arthritic. The change that took place was something that he had never seen before. No signs of any arthritis or deteriorating joints now. 180 to the bone.
Also, during her physical, she reported that she had had a bout with autoimmune iritis about 2 years ago. The doc was stunned. ?That kind of thing doesn’t just go away,? he said. Um, yes it does. She hasn’t had a flare up since we re-united in December of 2008, and her eyes are crystal clear and free of an autoimmune eye disease or any scarring.
Other health changes over the last year of note include a return of her menstrual period, cessation of herpes breakouts, and an overall improvement in her general sense of well-being. The next test will be to see if she can totally overcome her deadly shellfish allergies, which began after eating a low-calorie, uber low-carb diet and running marathons in 2006-2007. There’s no doubt in my mind that she will overcome these. In fact, I believe she already has, as we rubbed some raw shrimp on her wrists and lips a couple months ago without causing irritation.
What caused these amazing changes? Well, it would be hard to pin it on any one single thing, but I feel like the most positive contributors to her improvement in health came from:
1) Sleeping 9+ hours per night, going to be around 8-9pm, for nearly an entire year before her sleep requirement started to decrease.
2) Getting off of oral contraceptives. No one thinking about jaw surgery should be on those.
3) Quitting caffeine.
4) Eating more carbohydrates ? mostly homemade popcorn, vegetables, and fried potatoes as well as overall calories. She eats twice the amount of food that she did during her pre-health problem phase with a third of the exercise. She gained about 15 pounds in the last 17 months, but got to a ceiling weight of about 135. Gaining weight isn’t always a health negative like it is portrayed to be by those with poor comprehension of the whole health picture. A substantial portion of this weight was lean mass as well, and at 5?5?, 135 pounds, she’s still quite thin. More attractive now than before actually.
5) Stopping running. She exercised, but not to excess. She hopes to resume running someday while eating and sleeping better instead of eating mostly eggs, salad, and peanut butter like she did in the past.
6) Ditching peanut butter. She used to eat a couple jars per week.
7) Living with me. Dude, I’m like Jesus. I just touched her and ?poof! All healed.
For anyone thinking of getting jaw surgery, I highly recommend eating a calorically-abundant whole foods diet without severe macronutrient restriction of any kind, lots of sleep, not too much exercise, and cutting out as much refined sugar, white flour, alcohol, caffeine, and medications including oral contraceptives as possible. Of course, this is the basic template for optimizing health for most things. Certainly would make a good pre-conception/pre and postnatal routine.
wow,
im so interested to learn that she has overcome shellfish allergies. that's fantastic!
just found your blog, and really love it. I have just realised the 'truth' about optimal eating after developing so many allergies. seeing blogs like yours is a nice surprise amongst all those high raw vegan foodie blogs *rolls eyes* lol :)
Thanks Nat. She hasn't officially overcome the shellfish allergies, but I believe she unofficially has, and if not, is on her way. Totally clearing that up will be a fun project for me next year when she can start eating normally again. She's looking forward to eating crab and shrimp again like we did together in the summer of 2007 when we first dated.
I would love to hear more about arthritis and autoimmune diseases as my 6 yo son may have rheumatoid arthritis. It's time to get serious now.
matt, did aurora ever have braces? i had a severe crossbite and overbite and if i recall correctly, the ortho wanted to break my jaw and wire it shut when i was like 13, but my parents making all of my decisions back then opted for jaw widener spacer retainer thing–the kind where you use a key to crank it wider–and braces. it was nightmarish. oh and the pulling out of quite a few teeth that apparently didn't fit in my mouth properly.
anyway, good info and i hope her recovery goes well! that's pretty nice you get to spend some time in santa barbara. we are actually considering a move to the los angeles area since my husband just got a job offer. i would love to be able to go to santa barbara for a weekend by just driving a bit north. :)
Just had to mention something in regards to braces and etc. – I got braces last June, and it was projected that I'd need them for 20 months at least. I started eating in a 180 fashion in August, and now my Orthodontist is blown away, telling me that my teeth are moving so much faster than expected! (I'm convinced it has to do with how well I eat :] ) He says we'll probably be taking them off in September. Ahhh, I love being abundantly nourished!
Katerina that's great news:)
Matt hope Aurora's healing is muy rapido :) great to hear the progress she has made this past year.
I have spent the past 4 weeks applying your strategy to fat loss from your new book. I had gained about as much as your girlfriend during my 6 months on HED. I did 6 days with your macro ideas which worked out at around 1300 cals per day (which is typically what i would need to lose) and 1 day per week refeed on around 1800-2000 cals. Net change ZERO, not lost a thing but temperatures havn't changed at all either. I am now doing a refeed week as i will be working on an organic farm for a week. Will see what that brings. Maybe i needed to cut out the refeed day?
Hey Matt, sorry to hear about Aurora's surgery–hopefully, she'll fly through the recovery and feel better long-term for having chosen to go through it. Also, sounds like she's in great hands with all your helpful support. Best, Calvin
Wow!! So, I assume you thought this was a good idea, since you let her do it.
Just curious, had she tried palate expansion with an ALF or something? What about NCR? You know, the things that were mentioned on Ryan Koch's blog? (http://ryan-koch.blogspot.com/2010/03/adult-palate-expansion.html)
Nevertheless, I am interested in whatever surgery your girlfriend is having. I myself have had an ALF lightwire for about a year now. It just spread my upper teeth, and didn't do much with my facial bones, as they said it would. So I really think I need more. NCR (www.drdeanhowell.com) was invented by someone who's also into some really cooky BS (www.bodiebox.com). And unless a cranio-osteopath will work on a "payment upon healing" deal, I don't believe in it.
So what type of surgery is she having???
Also, Matt, (while I'm high on the comments list),
I thought you weren't against white flour anymore. You recommending whole grains and "plenty of vegetables" is leading people to fill themselves up on bran from Ezekiel bread and fiber from asparagus, and then wondering why they can't eat enough calories for your HED. Besides, isn't the vitamin E in whole grain flour most likely oxidized?
(Regarding the vegetables, I've found juicy stuff like iceberg lettuce and cucumbers seem to be the most appetizing– perhaps the true value of vegetables are the mineral ions in the juice?)
Wish I could get 9+ hours of sleep but like many others I suffer from trouble sleeping. I will routinely wake up at 2-4AM with heart pounding and mind racing and the only way I can get back to sleep is to have a few spoons of yoghurt or something else small to eat…..
Do you see this problem healing as my adrenals get healthier?
Congrats to Aurora for making some great strides in improving her health. That's what it's all about!
Chris: That issue can definitely be overcome. I used to have to fight like hell to get more than 6 broken hours of sleep every night, even though I was so exhausted. It was a slow recovery, but nowadays I can get 8 hours easily, and sometimes without even waking once. I also had to take a daily nap for several months, but not anymore. So while at the time these issues seem to last forever, they do eventually go away when you're on a healing program.
I'm really blown away about the jaw remineralization. That is amazing. Good job, Matt. It almost makes up for you telling the whole world about Aurora's embarrassing health problems.
It's scary to think that our body steals from our organs and bones when we do caloric restriction diets. It's very reassuring to see that it can be reversed.
Jesus in flip flops sure, but a Mini Cooper I don't know.
That is awesome to hear that Aurora had so many health improvements.
It really makes me just shake my head when doctors are amazed at the ability of the body to heal itself, its like it's some kind of "miracle" or something.
That is why 7 seems the most plausible.
"Today she looks kind of like Howard the Duck. I’m just glad this Howard the Duck is not in Cleve Land. Santa Barbara in May is well? I’m not complaining. I mean come on. I’m Caucasian ? so Caucasian that I drive a Mini Cooper and wear flip flops. Santa Barbara is heaven for Caucasians, where we can sit up on a large hill looking out across the ocean feeling morally elite for recycling bottles of San Pelligrino (shipped all the way from Italy) and using reusable grocery bags. Yes we can!"
It's paragraphs like this that insure that I will always read this blog.
I was thinking the same Jenny.
Oh and Matt, during the last year did Aurora choose to restrict EFA, and/or PUFA similar to what you have been doing?
Just curious.
@Chris…not to get off subject here, but I responded to your post about Brewer's Yeast 2 posts back (2 of Matt's blog posts that is). I tried posting my whole Brewer's Yeast story but it was way too long for a comment, LOL! If you want the scoop, you can send me an email (or anyone else for that matter) at wlorkovic AT yahoo DOT com.
Aurora cut out peanut butter, and eats no vegetable oil, but other than that no PUFA restriction. That did wonders for preventing herpetic breakouts. Her good PB-loving friend did the same and had the exact same results. Some believe this is due to the high concentration of arginine in peanut butter, but I have my doubts about that.
Jared-
Not saying everyone should choke down lots of Ezekiel bread, but white flour is really not the best habitual food. Refined carbs are always a bit of gamble as a dietary staple, rice being the safest. It's not just a matter calories. I've eaten 4,000 per day over the last 3 weeks, gained 5 pounds, and had my body temp. drop by .5 degrees. I was eating mostly white flour, fruit, white sugar, juices, restaurant food, etc. The lower the ratio of nutrients to calories, the more likely a person is to slow down metabolism due to nutrient starvation and cause other health problems. That's my feeling about it.
Also, her jaw issue is not something palate expanders or any other method could've adressed. The right side of her jaw is literally an inch or two longer than the left side of her jaw. Her palate was all tilted and twisted and… Arnett said in 35 years of practice hers was one of 5 cases at that level of complexity.
Hey Matt, what is the scoop on Ezekial bread? Since it is made completely from sprouted grains, I thought that it would not pose the same health problems as something made from flour.
Hey Matt,
Thanks for the link on the article, I appreciate it. I am going to dig into it shortly. This was a great post. Really puts things into perspective. Just eat as nutritious as one can while avoiding refined sugar, white flour, alcohol, caffeine, and medications. This leaves meat, veggies, some nuts, fruit, potatoes, and dairy.
But of course I have a question. For starches, I would guess that an order of preference would be: sweet potato/yam, white potato, brown rice, white rice because of the nutrient density? If this is the correct way of thinking of things, I think that's really easy to apply to any food.
Thanks Matt
Will-
I have no major problems with Ezekiel bread and buns. I do eat them on occasion, but it's not a daily thing. Sprouted grains seem to have even more anti-nutrients/digestive irritants than unsprouted grains. With the number of people that truly do have sensitivities to wheat, it has always seemed a better option to steer folks towards root vegetables, corn, and brown rice over wheat/barley/etc. and legumes for carbohydrate staples.
Plus, as a vegetarian, I really raped my digestive tract eating mostly grains and legumes. I ate both at almost every single meal for a half decade until my gas and stomach pain became so severe I had to find something else to eat (thank God).
Mark-
No real better or best in there. I find when I'm eating cleanly and at my best, my carbohydrate staples are yams/sweet taters, potatoes, other root vegetables, corn, brown rice, and a little oatmeal.
Thanks Matt…and those carb staples of yours will come in VERY handy too!
This is fascinating and gives me hope. I have a severely herniated disc and degenerative disc disease with ongoing chronic muscle pain. One of my goals in going HED is to be pain free. This post shows the amazing ability of the body to heal if given the right stuff to work with.
Interesting about the shellfish too. My dad became severely allergic to shrimp (other shellfish is still ok) as an adult at a time when he was running marathons and probably eating everything in sight with no concern for food quality.
Best wishes to Aurora.
I don't think there's any question that chronic stress, overexercising in particular, is one of the core causes of allergy and autoimmunity in adulthood.
Hmm, well what about childhood? We have severe peanut allergy and seasonal allergies. I'm sure everyone here has noticed the rise in severe food allergies in children. Some schools are even peanut free.
Re: Chris' sleep troubles,
I was having the same problem a while back and realized it was my adrenal glands, too. However, what was causing the adrenals to bug out in the first place was digestive and blood sugar issues. Not saying this is necessarily the case for you, but you might look into it further. I eliminated wheat/gluten and most cow dairy (temporarily), and am taking/eating lots of anti-inflammatory supplements and foods. I think my problem has been severe intestinal inflammation and probably leaky gut due to poor digestion and malabsorption.
This video with Dr. Michael Borkin helped me figure it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSqyrBgzPY
Yikes! How did Aurora stand it for so long? Good luck, get better quick! We'll think of you when we have smoothies! I juice fasted for three weeks, and that was enough… I've rarely pulled out the juicer since!
By the way, Matt, I really think the first six on the list are moot. Clearly number seven is the real reason Aurora's health changed so dramatically. Face it: you need to start a commune if you really want to change people's health for the better.
#7 is definitely key. Jenny told me I was like MacFadden and he started a commune of health geeks. I say, you, me, and Michael grab some goats, a couple banjos, and head up to the Appalachians and start our commune. Our offspring will have excellent dentition, or, as the locals put it, "real pretty mouths."
I think dental health will be the real clincher when it comes to recruiting new members to the commune. "Hey, your kids can have teeth like these!" (With children on hand to display their chompers Weston Price style, of course.)
Oh I'm sure EVERYONE will wanna send their kids there after seeing me play banjo while wearing overalls and talkin' about "purdy mouths."
Matt,
In the last commentsection you mentioned that your resting pulse is in the low 50's. That suprises me since this is rahter unusual for a person with a high metabolsim. Peat thinks that your pulse's a better indicator for measuring your metabolismn because in a warm climate one doesn't need a lot of energery (i.e. a high metabolsim) in order to keep temperature at a high level.
I'm excited to see how your pulse will do on the milk diet.
@ Gina: Thanks very much for the video, I have been consuming too much yoghurt, and milk recently so maybe that in contributing to the slow recovery.
I have recently discovered slippery elm bark though and cup of that wil some milk and honey will put me right back to sleep.
And also thanks for the encouragement Elizabeth, I look forward to the day I can sleep 8+ hours without interruption :-)
Matt, the no herpes thing could be due to her intake of coconut oil. Supposedly, it prevents outbreaks.
Anonymous-
She consumed lots of popcorn with coconut oil for the last year with lots of herpes outbreaks. It was only when she stopped eating peanut butter that the herpes outbreaks stopped. Same with her peanut butter-obsessed fitness trainer friend.
Jannis-
I agree about the pulse rate. However, I will say, in general, that my body temperature is usually higher in winter than in warmer months, but I haven't kept track of this for long.
My pulse, however, I've always kept track of. Ever since I started doing endurance exercise such as running 4-5 miles at age 14, my pulse rate has been incredibly low. At 18, when I was getting my wisdom teeth removed, the doctor asked me what my normal pulse rate was because he was concerned I was dying or something. In slow motion (loopy on nitrous) I told him, "about 40 or 45." My pulse during surgery was in the low to mid 30's, and my resting pulse was close to 40 during that time.
The only time it dipped below 40 was during my Wind River Range adventure.
The only time I've had a normal or above normal pulse and/or blood pressure reading in my life was on zero carb. Pulse rate in the 70's and BP at 140/85-ish. My body temperature was elevated then as well. Of course, amphetamines would do this as well, and I certainly felt like I was on them on a VLC diet.
And reintroducing carbs drove everything even lower than it was prior.
Matt, just a quick thing. First of all, I tried fromager d'affinois a few weeks ago and it really way amazing. Went for a fresh, unripened variety first and can't wait to try out a more mature version of it. But that's not my original question. I remember you talking about another sort of cheese that was supposed to be even "more orgasmic", I think you also referenced cheeseslave somehow. What was that name of that cheese again?
Epoisses
Too strong to eat by itself, but amazing with starch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89poisses_de_Bourgogne
I'm away for 12 hours and you all start planning to create some kind of Weston Price meets Deliverance compound in the wilderness. It's all a bit too much like spring break 1992. (My friend and I found ourselves stranded near where Deliverance was filmed with nothing but a leaky tent and some pot brownies to sustain us.)
So I was right after all. Saw soem Epoisses from raw milk today and decided to buy it, because I kinda had in mind that that was the cheese you talked about, but I wasn't sure about it.
So far I've tasted small bits of it on it's own and with a bit of potatoe. Definitely very strong, but also very complex and really interesting tasting. Cheese is awesome!
I'd like to branch out from potatoes, corn, rice and all that and start baking my own bread this summer – except i don't have the first clue about it. Fresh ground, whole wheat for sure would be my thing, but, well, where do i start? what's the best kind of yeast to use? what are the best alternatives to the sugar and vegetable oil that so many sites say to use?
These are the basic questions I'm running into. Any input is appreciated. Oh yeah, and above all i'd like for it to be delicious, ya know!
thanks 180
Nipper-
At our Deliverance retreat we'll host a special ceremony for the preparation of spoon bread.
Bread buffoon-
Is that you rice lover?
Anyway, good homemade bread only needs 3 ingredients – salt, flour, and water.
I would use rye for homemade bread. It tastes better than home-ground wheat I think. Just grind it, make a paste with water, and let it ferment, adding water and flour every 1-2 days – keeping it covered. This is your sourdough starter.
Then you just mix that with more fresh-ground flour to make a dough, let it sit for about 12 hours, throw it in an oiled glass pyrex, and cook it up foccaccia-style. I was making bread like this for a while. Tasted amazing.
If it wasn't for the farting, I'd still be eating it daily. Insoluble fiber is a bitch.
Matt, you're unbelievable! I feel like everyone else gets off on making the process as complicated as possible.
So a little follow-up: That initial mixture, it'll ferment without any yeast? And you didn't mention anything about refrigeration but I have a feeling you may have meant to, no? Finally, is there salt in the starter or just in the dough?
Ive had a question since reading about Elizabeths experience with the milk diet and basal temps. How do the basal temps and a womans cycle fit together? You mentioned in this article that Auroras basal temp was 98.4 for the second half…I assume that for the first half it was lower. Is there a connection between metabolism and estrogen levels? The hot chicks cant have 99 basal temps all the time.
Amazing and inspiring x rays!
Naomi
Bread buffoon – what Matt said is how to make a natural yeast starter – "they" say it's much healthier. I'd add to keep it in an out-of-the way but warm place at night, where no critters can get into it, maybe cover it. During the day, if it's nice, put it outside so it can capture yeast from the air.
No refrigeration! But once it's going, I keep mine covered with a thin towel, simply because I live in a high mold environment (Hawaii) – or conversely, if it's dry, you don't want it to dry out.
Do a quick web search, there's tons of sites. I like http://wss.nourishingconnections.org/Education/Sourdough%20Bread%20%20April%202006.pdf.
Matt – you told somebody recently that you thought sprouted grains (like Ezekial) were full of anti-nutrients too… did I understand that right? So you think sprouting wheat for flour is a waste? What do you base that on?
So is real sourdough better if you're going to have a "wheat cheat" as we call it at home? Ezekial is so convenient when I can't be bothered to make my own, and I have been sprouting my wheat and rye, but I'd gladly give up an extra step.
How's Aurora feeling today?
Not Rice Lover-
Hawaii girl answered your questions. No yeast. No refrigeration. Takes about 2-3 days to get sour and bubbly, but it matures over time.
Hawaii-
I think sprouting is a waste. Fermentation is a much better method to deal with antinutrients. With sprouting, you're trading one set of "dont' eat me" chemicals for another.
Naomi-
Few can maintain 99 degrees all the time. Only women seem capable of hitting that temp during the 2nd half of the cycle, which is why it is a hot "chicks" club and not a hot "chicks and dicks" club. It has to do with progesterone dominance during that phase, not estrogen.
Hey I just posted on the Milk Diet page, I had more thoughts to add that i thought fitted better with this page. I totally feel the same way about sprouting vs: fermenting, just read that comment you posted. i had that same logic about it.
Anyways, I want to mention my experience with a method of birth control that is not supposed to have any effect on hormones… the copper IUD. I got one after i had a baby 2 years ago. i chose it over the other methods because i didnt want anything messing with my hormones. Right away I started getting very small migraines once a month but i reasoned it was 'getting older' and changes after just having a baby. as a girl i've never had any real menstrual discomforts to complain about, no cramps, no heavy bleeding, so when i get a tiny tiny headache and moan about it people think im crazy. also i lost weight but still was about 15 pounds heavier than normal, then started gaining a little, had horrible appetite, got 6 small cavities within months after getting it, i know i had just had a baby but i had never gotten a cavity in my lifetime of horrible eating patterns. also i was having horrible episodes with depression, etx.anyways, i went to my doc and told her to pull the thing out (they gave me a REALLY hard time about it). and most of my festering sensitivities went away. headaches went away. lost about 10 pounds in a month. WAY more horny. etc. etc. just some food for thought. i bet tubes tying and vasectomies will mess up people's bodies in the same way.
Jo-
copper IUD and copper toxicity http://www.drlwilson.com/Articles/copper%20history.htm
lots of very interesting articles on that site about minerals and how they affect you
I had a really bad reaction too to the copper IUD, it basically ruined my life for years and I can't say that I would recommend it to anyone.
They say that it shouldn't have any ill effects, but that is not the case, unfortunately.
Getting back to normal after the removal of the IUD has been great, I was also sure that I was just getting older.
Anonymous:
you were totally fine after you had it removed or did it take a while for you to get 'back to normal'?
Taffy:
i did see that website when i was first skeptical. I can't believe what a hard time they gave me when i wanted it out. my doctor admitted that no method is side effects free, but I HAVE TO choose one. urgh! she seriously almost made me cry, what a bitch. its probably better than the shot or pills, but seriously..
that's awesome about your girlfriend's health improving. how long did she not have her period? and was it from undernutrition and over exercise? i haven't had mine in over 4 years and i never thought i'd say this, but i'd LOVE to get it back!
i'd also love to sleep 9+ hours a night (i really need it), but i have this annoying thing called insomnia. any helpful hints?
She didn't have it for about a year, give or take. It was partly attributed to birth control, but overexercising and undereating is almost ALWAYS a factor in amenorrhea, as is insomnia.
Insomnia is more likely linked to your adrenals going wacko. As always, I find eating to be the best remedy against insomnia, particularly late night starchy food like popcorn a while after a mixed dinner. Help get that trytophan across the blood brain barrier, converting it to melatonin and helping you sleep.
Hyesun, I would definitely also recommend acupuncture. Along with traditional Chinese herbs, it helped me get a period back after many years without due to BCP, undereating, and overexercising.
"you were totally fine after you had it removed or did it take a while for you to get 'back to normal'?"
It did take some time getting back to normal.
Something like 4 months I'd say, but the improvements started right there after it was taken out, I slept like a baby for something like 14 hours after I got home from the doctor that day (I had severe insomnia when it was still inside). I still remember it clearly to this day.
I can't believe that something like an copper IUD destroyed my health (and mental health) the way it did. I am mostly angry at myself, at the doctors etc. when I start thinking about it, but the best thing to do is to make sure that it never, ever happens again.
No birth control for me, except for condoms.
I was considering IUD for a while and then I went on line and started reading horror stories. "My doctor acted like I was crazy. No one believed me," etc. I don't know why the medical community is so Orwellian about these things. I've never heard of anyone having ammenorhea, insomnia, radical mood swings or psychotic episodes from using condoms. I guess it must just be greed, since no one ever got a free trip to Hawaii for handing out condoms.
thanks matt and golden papaya! what is bcp? now i have to find a good chinese doc/acupuncturist. how long did it take after you started the herbs and acupuncture? i wonder if acupressure would work too?
also, matt, did your girlfriend quit peanut butter because of the herpes outbreaks? (arginine?)
It only took a few months after I started acupuncture and herbs. The herbs were key, though, especially a custom formula by a knowledgeable doc. Acupressure is good too, but I think not as effective as acupuncture.
I was also considering an IUD and thank god my doctor refused to put one in, since I've never had kids and there's a significant risk to your uterus, apparently. I'm not wanting kids right now, but I'd never say never. Especially since women are often having kids well into their late 30s and early 40s, now.
Hope she does well!
I agree with you on the weight = health thing. We must stop trying to lose weight and be thin and focus on being healthy instead. I believe each of our bodies have a "dream weight". I know I do, seems like no matter what I eat/do I stay about the same weight, unless I do something drastic that isn't healthy.
Not to mention eating copious amounts of raw pastured butter and being able to maintain weight make people so jealous :)
I agree, and another strong factor is that we all seem to become infatuated with the leanest we've ever been. We forget what we did to achieve that, how horrible it was, how impermanent it was, the aftermath that ensued, etc.
But still, once you've been at 5% bodyfat, it's hard to live at 15% and not be tempted to lose weight with former extreme measures. I'm just as susceptible to this as anyone.
Good point Matt. Martin Berkhan and Johnny at The Lean Saloon appear to be able to maintain their leanness without too much effort. Maybe there is something magical in Intermittent Fasting for 12-16 hours out of the day.
Maybe, however obese people generally don't eat breakfast until 1 in the afternoon. Those that break their fast the earliest with a substantial breakfast usually have by far the best body composition. I'm wary of the practice to say the least, but it certainly can flip the fat burning switches if done correctly.
This post is so great and interesting. Amazing that the nurse seldom sees higher body temperatures. TI says so much…
I have a question:
Did your girlfriend eat dairy products to get this level of bone remineralization? Can it be done without consuming dairy?
She had bone dimineralization eating plenty of dairy and remineralization with plenty of dairy, suggesting that the calcium intake is totally seconday – which I would agree with wholeheartedly.
Still, your practice of eating eggshells can't hurt, but the bigger factor is probably avoiding an excessively low-carb/high-protein diet, which increases mineral excretion, and increasing the metabolism, which I believe increases the number of osteoblasts and decreases the number of osteoclasts (increasing the ratio of bone-building to bone breakdown).
Cool, that's great to know since I'm struggling with the dairy still.
Don't you think there is a risk that eating egg shells might have the same negative effect as supplemented calcium? I'm paranoid after reading this article on how calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack:
http://drurbannaturalhealingtools.blogspot.com/2010/07/calcium-supplements-may-raise-risk-of.html
I think it's probably best just to take in a little extra calcium from the eggs shells with food. Also, one primary issue with calcium supplementation for Americans is that they already eat quite a bit of calcium, and then they go and take in a bunch of phosphorous in soft drinks as well as eat tons of sugar which disrupts the calcium to phosphorous ratio and causes calcium to be stored in arteries, kidneys, gallbladder, etc.
It's not how much calcium you take in, but what your body does with that calcium that determines if calcium is good or bad. But we all need some. Excess is never smart though I don't think.
Interesting story. What is this about basal temp. and how does one affect it?
Anonymous,
You can read a free ebook about it at http://www.180degreehealth.com
I'm going through jaw surgery soon. Do you have any more comments about the diet after the surgery. I really don't want to be stuck eating ensure and other fake foods, but hope I can eat healthy and nourishing foods even while on a liquid diet.
This reminded me of my diet that was prescribed by our family dentist (Atlanta-based) when I had odontectomy (tooth extraction). I wasn't allowed to eat anything crunchy, spicy, or gooey, and I could only eat cold soup for a day and a half. It was especially hard for me because I love spicy food and I hate eating cold stuff! But it was a sacrifice I knew I had to make, all for the sake of proper healing. You can't always do as you please, especially when your health is at stake. That's the best thing that I learned from the city's experts in dentistry (Atlanta, GA).