Reintroductions post-AIP, revisited

[clevermanka]

After getting my blood test results back from Dr. Burt's office (finally), I'm reconsidering my earlier decision to stay on the AIP for another month. Here are the numbers.

Free T4: .8 (range .8 to 1.8)
Free T3: 2.3 (range 2.3 to 4.2)
TSH: 6.14 (range .4 to 4.5)
TPO: 381 (should be less than 35)

So my T4 and T3 are barely in range, but at least they're in range. Take a gander at those Thyroid Stimulating Hormones and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies, though. Whoa. I am off the fucking charts, especially in regards to the antibodies. This means my autoimmune issues are not even close to being managed well. So the even-stricter-than-Whole30-strict eating for autoimmune issues isn't doing squat. For reference, back when I got this tested in 2011, my number was 323. The slightly higher current number might be due to lack of thyroid hormones (when I got the test, it had been a week since my last dose), but I don't know that the lack of levothyroxine in my system necessarily correlates to increased antibodies.

In any case, the number is sure as hell not better, and that was the goal of the AIP. So I'm bidding adieu to it. It was a good experiment, and I gained some fantastic stuff (learning to cook differently, transitioned to all-organic food, more conscious eating in general, proof that I can eat Whole30-compliant all the time, I will be a really cheap date for a while), but as far as a way to manage my autoimmune issues, it wasn't successful.

I'll be purchasing some sweet potatoes at the grocery store tomorrow. When my parents visit next week maybe I'll have a glass of wine with my mom. OH THE INDULGENCE.

The possible inclusion of sweet potatoes makes me happy for another reason besides just the fact that I like and miss sweet potatoes. The daily banana/date habit has become problematic. I'm starting to get sweet cravings and I've been eating far too much fruit. If I get my glucose requirements from a sweet potato instead of fruit, I can kiss those issues goodbye (again), and that will be a big relief. Also, I think the bananas were causing me some GI problems.

Lastly, briefly, the cortisol report: I'm not sure how to read this one, since I'm not as familiar with the science. My morning cortisol count was 13.0 (range 4.0 to 22.0). My evening count was 5.2 (range 3.0 to 17.0). So I'm in range, but I don't know what that means. Since the blood test uses a different measure than the saliva test I took in 2011, I don't have a clue how my current numbers compare. I'll ask Dr. Khosh about it Friday.

Next major experiment: Reintroducing (moderately) vigorous exercise! That will start as soon as I have the money (for real this time) to hire Andrew for a training session or two. Did I mention I had to cancel that appointment because it turned out that after paying my bills I had $45 left in my account the day after payday? Yeah. I'm looking at next month for that, now. Possibly as early as April 6 if my reimbursement from the Flexible Spending Account comes through by then.

Comments

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Interesting about the banana thing. Huh. Here's an even stranger thing about my banana reaction--it only happens with the organic bananas. On two occasions I ate mckitterick's commercially-grown (and cheap) bananas 'cos mine weren't ripe yet.

NO TUMMY TROUBLES. Weird, huh?

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Yes, definitely weird (I hate spelling that word-it flies opposite to every "ie" rule).

I have a weird theory that sometimes organic foods may allow some bugs to grow that we really don't want, like fungi of various types, which in a commercial field, would have been treated via spray-on fungicide.
One thing I'm not comfortable at all with is Organic milk. There are some seriously deadly diseases that are carried in cows milk (tuberculosis, anyone?), and if that cow's not vaccinated, well....
In organic milk's defense, I have never researched to see if organic herds are required to be vaccinated, etc., so this may be a bugaboo of my own mind.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Organically raised cows are allowed to be vaccinated for disease, it just means they are raised on pesticide-free grass. Most organic farms will not use growth hormone or the widespread practice of adding antibiotics *whether they need them or not* which is a huge consideration in our problems now with superbugs.

But there are other considerations with organic milk, like ultra-pasteurization (kills everything good in the milk, so what's the point?) and additives that are allowed, but not what I want in MY cream, like carrageenan and various gums to make it "thicker". ICK.

In Germany, my friends used to take a jug and buy the milk right from the farmer, un-pasteurized raw. They were some strapping healthy folk, but then we're not talking about US style factory farming, either.

I'm much more worried about my water than my produce, but I try to find a happy medium where I can live and still afford food. :)

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. I always see the "antibiotic free" thing, and wonder just what they do-let the poor things get sick and die, or what (silly, huh)? Shows how much I know about it!

I knew it meant not giving unnecessary ABs, though. And I detest the growth hormone thing; that's just-ugh. Same with chicken; I WILL one of these days get to where I'm out in the country and can grow a few of my own birds again. Butchering is a messy job, but the taste is well worth it!

I didn't realize they put ANYTHING in fresh cream. I knew they did in sour cream, though.

There are several farmers in our area that sell milk exactly that way. They can do so, they just can't ADVERTISE IT. Go figure.

Do you prefer well water as opposed to town water, or do you get RO purified water?

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I get RO water. Our town water is so chlorinated that we have to wait for it to dissipate before the chem test kit shows that it's safe to get into it in the hot tub, let alone drink!

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

Yuck. I understand the need for a BIT of chlorination, but the less, the better!
We filter ours with an in-line filter and a small drinking faucet at the kitchen sink, then keep a pitcher in the fridge at all times.
If I wanted to go to the trouble, I could get well water from Mom's house; her water tastes SO GOOD. But I'd have to probably get a new refrigerator just to hold the water; the two of us go through nearly 3 gallons a day!
For that matter, if we'd get our well tested, I could sneak a gallon or twenty for drinking water from that. It's an old hand-dug well (it's about 4 feet in diameter, with limestone rock walls) that the former owner/builder of our house went to the trouble of laying his garage floor over/around, then pouring a concrete cover and setting a jet pump on it. We've since installed a submersible pump and a pressure tank, and then we installed underground sprinklers in the front lawn and three outlets that we can hook hoses to in the back.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

That's really handy!

We lug a 5 gallon jug to the Merc (local co-op) and fill it. I'd use a simple house filtering system if only our water didn't also have fluoride in it. RO systems are pricey!

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they are. On the other hand, you've got your water right there, don't have to drive, don't have to purchase the bottled water....
They pay for themselves in fairly short order, as long as you can do the plumbing yourself; that can get equally pricey!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

True, although I go to the Merc regularly anyway, and fill my own jug for less than .50 a gallon, so I don't mind it so much.
This year, the major house expense is going to be a new aircon system. :(

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Now I'm going to have to try that out, too, I'm curious. The last time I ate bananas I was miserable .. and surprised.

I have to say that I'm kind of relieved that you can introduce some foods now,
ESPECIALLY WINE SOON LOL

[carmy-w.livejournal.com]

YES, HAPPY CR WILL BE HAPPY!