Health Update - Amazing News!

Okay, readers (the few of you who follow my very occasional blog), when last I posted, I left you hanging about the candida diet, acupuncture, and the state of my health. I only managed to stay on the cleanse for five days, but that seems to have been enough. I'm still drinking the "gray sludge," as I fondly refer to the CandiClear5. It's pretty awful, but I think it's working. Besides, given what it costs, I'm determined to drink it several times a week until it's all gone! I no longer have any of the symptoms of candida overgrowth and am feeling really great.

But here's the really amazing news. I'm still seeing the acupuncturist once a week. I get acupuncture and "cupping," where he puts these glass vacuum cups on my back to draw the toxins out of my lungs. Last week, I did my first round (first of three) of Chinese herbs. I'll do a second round next week, and a third two weeks after that. I took the herbs on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and the last dose on Sunday morning. Other than making me constipated (I know, TMI, but some of you are reading this for your own health benefits so I'm telling you everything), I didn't notice anything at all. I thought they might make me sick at my stomach or something, but they didn't. No effect at all.

But then, when I woke up Monday morning, it was absolutely miraculous!!! My lungs were totally CLEAR. No congestion, no wheezing, no coughing, breathing all the way down to the bottoms of my lungs. Honestly, my lungs haven't been this clear since before I was diagnosed with asthma 22 years ago. I simply can't believe it. And because my tissues are finally getting enough oxygen, I have more energy than I've had in years, as well. I wake up in the morning and am practically bouncing. I stay alert throughout the day, instead of feeling sluggish and having trouble staying awake all afternoon. I've rejoined Curves and am doing the Zumba Circuit - without getting winded and feeling like I'm gonna die. My stamina has returned. I feel like I've awakened from a decades-long sleep!

I saw the acupuncturist today and told him I had "news." When I told him about my clear lungs, he was amazed, as well. He said he usually gets that type of result from the Chinese herbs, but usually not until well after the third dose - it's never this quick.

He explained that what the herbs do is sort of retrain your body to heal itself. That's why there's a two-week gap between the herbal treatments, and why the effects were somewhat delayed. The particular herbs he gave me were to remove "heat" from my lungs (which he said were very hot), and help my lungs remember what it feels like to be cool, clear, and unobstructed.

I'm reserving final judgment until I see how long-term these effects are, but for today, I'm singing "I'm A Believer"!!!

Day 9
Someone's coming to dinner - what can we fix that will appeal to a guest, but also give me something to eat that's on my diet? The solution - Craig made his famous Chicken Pepperoni, and kept out some of the grilled chicken for me. He also made a big salad for everyone, so I had salad with chicken on top - perfect. We also had toast from his homemade Cibatta bread. I picked up a piece and had eaten half of it before I even realized what I was doing. It doesn't seem to have hurt me any.

Today will be interesting, as well. We're going out for dinner, so it'll be a challenge to find something on the menu that doesn't have sugar or starches in it.

My first trip to the acupuncturist was very interesting and informative. When he put in the very first needle, I felt 'zings' like little electrical currents running all over my body. By the time he got the last needle in, I was already breathing more easily. When he put the needle in the place on my right wrist he said is associated with my lungs, I felt electric shocks running down my entire hand and all of my fingers, and throughout the 20 minutes the needles remained in, my right thumb and a myscle in my forearm jerked and spasmed. The whole experience was really strange - I could feel movement just everywhere. He said acupuncture realigns your Qi (pronounced "chee"). Mine must really need realigning!

Day 8
I was just crazy for something flavored to drink! I love water, but after a week of it, I simply had to have something different. I had a blueberry herbal tea that I'd picked up somewhere, so I had a cup of that this afternoon. Last night, I had a cup of Constant Comment - I know, black tea's not supposed to be great for candida, but that wasn't much of a cheat. I still haven't had sugar - that's a huge thing for me. And actually, my craving for sugar is way down today from where it was yesterday. (Yesterday, my body was angry that it wasn't getting any sugar!) Last night, Craig made me an omelet with green pepper, green onion, and a little mozarella cheese. (Hard, aged cheeses are the worst for me at this stage. A little mozarella won't kill me.) It was heavenly!

This afternoon will be my first trip to the acupuncturist. Should be interesting. I have a Groupon for an acupuncture treatment and a Reflexology foot massage.

I've also bought some stuff called CandiClear5. Here's how the manufacturer describes it:

The main ingredient in CandiClear 5 is a fossilized freshwater phytoplankton that shreds up any parasites and candida that come in contact with it. It does a super job of killing candida. Plus, its porous structure absorbs toxins and waste debris to help reduce die-off symptoms from the candida die-off. . . . [It also] attracts and absorbs mercury and other heavy metals, helps absorb other toxins, and works to adjust the body's pH to a more alkaline state - all important for eliminating candida.

I started drinking the stuff two nights ago. It tastes strange and feels powdery in your mouth - bleah! But maybe that's why my sugar craving is gone today. Hmmm. I also got some drops, Customized Elixir Y, from the same company. It's "frequency enhanced purified water." It's supposed to be "one of the most important products for helping to deal with a Candida yeast condition." Time will tell, eh? I have enough of the powder and the drops for about a month.

Days 6 & 7
It's feels really good to be eating solid food again! I've had grilled chicken on salad, grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and cauliflower, grilled pork steak with grilled asparagus, and every morning I have two scrambled eggs.

I think I'm in the throes of sugar withdrawal. Boy, am I craving something sweet! Even fruit would be fabulous. I think the serious craving means I need to stay off the sugars!

At least I've finally lost a few pounds. That's the best benefit of the diet so far!

Day 5
Today I stuck with the alternating detox drink and veggie broth during the day. Then for dinner, Craig made fresh guacamole - yum! Fresh avocados, garlic, onion - all good for me on this diet. I ate it on some veggie chips instead of corn chips.

I'm pretty much finished with the "cleanse" portion and getting into Step 1 now. I'm going to avoid all sugars, yeast, caffeine, wheat and corn, dairy, most condiments, oats, pasta. I can still eat proteins, most veggies, and most nuts and seeds.

I finally broke down and got a prescription for an anti-fungal. The thrush in my mouth and throat just wasn't going away and was driving me crazy. Five days on an anti-fungal, combined with this diet and my upcoming acupuncture treatments, and I should be feeling great in pretty short order!

Day 4
I felt better today than on any other day of the "cleanse" so far. My cough is dramatically better - thankfully! By evening, I'd decided to have a salad. One of the options for the cleanse is just to eat raw or steamed vegetables. I just had to have something solid in my stomach for a change. I'll eat veggies for a couple more days before I start adding in proteins. I'm also eating a handful of rice-and-nut crackers (made by Blue Diamond). They're satisfying my craving to chew something!

Day 3
I started Day 3 feeling weak and shaky, with a very low energy level. Nevertheless, it was time to start painting the kitchen, so that's what I did. I didn't get as much done as I would have if I were drinking coffee and eating 'real food,' but at least I got it started. By mid-day, I was feeling better, and by this evening, I no longer feel weak. I've gotta tell you, though, I don't think I can stand to drink that 'liver flush' drink one more time. I think three is going to be my magic number for that one. I really can't stand it!

One thing is surprising me. After three full days on a liquid diet, I haven't lost an ounce. I felt sure I would lose weight. I feel pretty bloated, though - I drink water all day long. I have to, or I feel totally dried out, almost like when I take a medication that dries me out. One good thing is happening - my cough is improving dramatically. On we go. . . .

Day 2
So there's the good news and the bad news. First, the good news. Last night's "liver flush" drink wasn't anywhere near as bad as I'd anticipated it was going to be. It's made up of a cup of water, a Tbsp of olive oil, a clove of garlic, and a small chunk of ginger, all blended together. It's not something I'd choose to drink under ordinary circumstances, but it's definitely tolerable for six more nights. (Craig actually liked it!) Second, the bad news - there's no way in hell I'm going to drink the bentonite clay. The psyllium (Metamucil) is fine. The clay doesn't even begin to dissolve in water - just makes big, dry clumps that float around. Gag! So my week of 'cleansing' will just have to leave that part out.

More good news, though - the liquid diet isn't really bothering me. The veggie broth tastes wonderful, and my stomach hasn't felt empty. If I could just stop coughing, I'd actually feel pretty good. Onward we go. . . .

The Candida Diet

Okay, my sister pointed out that I haven't blogged in two years (!), and then I mentioned I was going on a candida diet and a friend suggested I blog about it. So that's what brings me here. First, a mini-catch-up of the last two years: people had birthdays, people died, babies were born, the economy's been in the toilet, we took a trip to Germany (photos here), my sister and I took a trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (photos here), and, most recently, Craig and I pulled up stakes and moved 1600 miles west to the Portland, Oregon, area, where we're now only a two-hour drive from our kids and grandkids.

Since we got to Oregon, I've been in the throes of a horrible asthma episode that, despite lots of medications, just won't go away. I've known for years that I need to get off sugar, and that candida is probably at the root of most of my health problems. I've finally reached the point where I'm willing to take drastic measures to get healthy, so here goes! For more information on the candida diet I'm using, you can visit http://www.thecandidadiet.com/

Week 1 - The "Cleanse
The first week is a "colon cleanse" where I'll be on a liquid diet. I'll alternate every couple of hours between a "detox drink" (basically Metamucil with some bentonite thrown in) and a vegetable broth. We made the veggie broth last night - potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, and kale - simmered for 20 minutes and then the broth strained off. It tastes great, so at least that's a plus. The part I'm really dreading is the night-time "liver flush drink." It's made up of water, olive oil, garlic, and ginger! Garlic and ginger both really give me heartburn. However, I only have to drink it seven times, so I'm going to give it a go!

Day 1
Started the day with a glass of hot vegetable broth, and then took my regular vitamins and medications. I was worried the vitamins might make me sick without something solid in my stomach, but thankfully they haven't. Mid-morning was the detox drink, and then lunch time another glass of veggie broth. Whenever I start to feel hungry, I drink a big glass of filtered water. I think the first 48 hours will be the toughest - I find my thoughts drifting to food all the time!

Long Time, No Post

Wow, I haven't posted in ages! It's time to catch up. In September 2008, we visited London and South Africa. Dozens of photos from the South Africa trip can be viewed on my flickr site. Here's one of my favorites - Craig with a friend Rainbow Lorikeet on his shoulder.


We visited the kids in Eugene, Oregon, for Thanksgiving, and then were in Oklahoma for Christmas. At the end of February, we visited my cousins Jim & Karen in Atlanta, and then cousins Jeff & Vicki, two couples from Sioux City, and Craig and I went sailing in the Grenadines for a week with friends who own a beautiful sailboat named "Tatonka."


I got my scuba certification and have fallen in love with diving. The underwater world is spectacularly beautiful, and diving is relaxing and almost effortless (once you get in the water, that is).

On February 22, 2009, we were blessed with a new grandson, Andrew Dylan Cornelius, born to my son Larry and his lovely wife Melody. My next trip is out to Eugene, to meet that sweet baby face-to-face.

Keeping up with Ravelry, Facebook, and Twitter, along with the blogs I follow and 'real life' (as opposed to my virtual one) is keeping me busy and away from Blogger. I'll try to post more often than once every eight months in the future!