New Diet - Wish Me Luck!

[BookNut]

Sorry to have been away so very long. Busy summer. Fun travels in the beginning. Bad health in the middle to end. Just can not get away from prednisone and am now very much in the pre-diabetic category, with my numbers and weight climbing at every lab test. My PCP has a medical degree and a degree in integrated medicine. Before becoming a doctor, she worked for drug companies on research. As a result, although she definitely prescribes standard meds, she is careful and likes to try diet and other natural cures. She has advised me to start a 10 day detox and then gradually add back foods in an effort to id an inflammatory food or food group. I am also hoping to be accepted into a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program. I have to do something. I am in a constant vicious cycle. Get sick (asthma and extreme shortness of breath) --- get on high dose of steroids (60 mg) --- Taper off or down to 10mg --- feel good for 1-2 weeks --- Rinse and repeat.

I plan to start the detox on Monday. I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself, concentrating on what I can't eat and feeling down about it. However- after studying the plan and the recipes, I can do this!

I will let you know how it goes. Might be REALLY crabby, because I can't have any coffee or tea - not even decaf. Bummer! After the detox, I then can start adding in other foods, one at a time, to see if there might be a culprit we can identify. Here is a link to the 10 day detox.


Mark Hyman's 10 Day Detox Diet to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast! - Dr. Mark Hyman

[mishb]

Good luck Jacquie, I hope it gives you some answers so that you can start your road to feeling better.

Looking forward to hearing how you are getting on - Crabbiness and all

[BookNut]

Thanks Michelle! Hopefully the crabbiness won't be TOO bad!

[Alysia]

Good luck Jacquie. I hope it will do the trick.
As for respiratory exercises, from my own experience and from Phil's, the best is just simply walking. Not fast. Just as much as you can. But maybe couple of times a day. Even inside the house, back and forth. The gentle way is the best. Honestly, after seeing with my sweetie couple of respiratory exercises I dont trust any intervention "from outside". Only what you can do on your own.
P.s. I must say that your being on high pred makes your posts on fb more funny. I hope your nights are getting better. Hang in there.

[Alysia]

2015-08-28 19.36.32.jpg

I already posted this one for you on fb...
Just to feel dr. Phil's love here too ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

[BookNut]

This is so special. It was a blessed day when I found this forum with so many brave and welcoming people. Phil was always there for everyone!

[Pete]

Hi Jacquie!

Hope the new plan goes well. Keep us posted!!

[Debbie C]

Good Luck.. Hope the 10 days fly by for you ! Why do they keep putting you back up on such high doses of pred ? That will make you gain weight and be crappy without detoxing also.

[BookNut]

Thanks Deb. Prednisone seems to be the only thing that gets me out of these funks. If I resist and go too far downhill, I end up in an ambulance and have to put up with even higher doses in the hospital. I used to do ok on a 40 mg taper. Lately, those tapers are not working as well. So this time they put me on 60. My reaction to anything higher than 40 is sleeplessness and a terrible temper. I am normally very easy going - but when on 60 or above...watch out. Last time I was in the hospital, my meds got mixed up. I screamed at the morning nurse, that if she didn't get it straightened out NOW, i was going to call a taxi and go home where at least I could use my nebulizer when I needed it. Another time, a social worker came in to interview me about something. She was a meek little thing. I think I scared the %^&* out of her. She introduced herself, and I said - "Great! You are probably the 67th person with yet another theory on what is wrong with me!" She hightailed it out of there immediately.

We just cannot solve the problem. My allergist and GP are great. My ENT and pulmonologist not so much. The latter just does not get it - or want to get it. The last time I showed up in his office, my breathing was so bad, my husband had to get me there via wheel chair. At the end of the appt, he said, "Well - I don't think I need to see you so often. Once a years should be enough". This after I had been on a pred taper at least every 6 -8 weeks for the past year.

My CTs and X-rays do not look terrible. What my plumy refers to as "mild" bronciectasis. There are some treatments specific to that which have been helpful. I found them by myself and got permission to try them from my allergist. All of this started 4 years ago out of the blue. The time before this we had decided to taper me off 40 mg and stay put when I got to 10. I was ok for a week or so - and bam! Starts all over again. So- I just keep trying things and hoping...

[Alysia]

you are cute when on high pred, and we love you anyway....
maybe its time for second opinion ? it sounds like something is going on and the docs are not focused enough on what is it and how to treat it. do you have infections ? how do you know that those are allergies and not something else ? what are you allergic to ? maybe the pred isnt enough ? I remember reading about bronchiactesis when my sweet Phil got that dx. and it was written that sometimes you need to be on antibiotics for long time.... maybe you can post here on a new thread all about what is going on now and ask the friends to make some thinking together.... maybe someone will come with good ideas...
hang in there. I ask dr. Phil to help you from his good place in heaven. if dr. Phil is in charge we can count on him.