Primal Journal (Suz38487) page

[suz38487]

Hey!


I'm Suzi. Over the last year, I have been becoming more in tune with my health, and a few months ago I embraced primal living. Last night, I finished reading The Primal Blueprint aloud to my husband, and I feel even more positive about the choices I am making. Mark has helped me change my life!


At the age of twelve, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and immediately my doctors and psychiatrists thought drugs would be the best option. I went through dozens of medicines, some good, some bad, some really bad. My diagnosis these days is bipolar disorder, and I was on Lithium for several years. I've been in and out of psych hospitals, and the only thing I've found that truly helps me after all these years, all these therapies, all these doctors, is ME.


I started making small changes at first. I quit smoking cigarettes (a 3 pack/day habit for many years). Side effects from meds led me to having to deal with Restless Legs Syndrome, acid-reflux, and hypothyroidism (oh and rapid weight gain, on and off). So I started taking less meds. I found that with regular exercise, light yoga, and a primal diet, I don't need the RLS med or stomach med any more. Also, the amount of thyroid hormone I have to take each day is down to half of what I was taking before going primal. I still take an anticonvulsant medication for a seizure disorder (which I am planning to have reevaluated in the coming months), and I am also on an antipsychotic med (at half the dose I was on 3 months ago, and hoping to decrease/eliminate it soon). I have an appointment for a complete physical this Friday, and I am looking forward to discussing with him the results of some bloodwork I had done recently. I will update when I have more info.


As far as having a mood disorder and living without/with less meds goes, I am working harder than ever to maintain mood homeostasis, through constant evaluation of myself and my thoughts. Without the sugar roller coaster going on in my body, it has become a lot easier to recognize and control the mood roller coaster. The thoughts in my head are just as dark/crazy/whatever as they have ever been, but by living in accordance with the 10 laws, I am able to be in charge of my mind like never before.


My weakness is chocolate.

[maba]

Welcome Suz! I am so happy to meet a fellow primal who's interested in crochet also. And congratulations on your wedding, you guys look so sweet in your VFFs.

[suz38487]

Thank you!


I was starting to think I wouldn't find any primal yarn crafters...glad to know I'm not alone!

[SassaFrass88]

Love it!


I would say that many people whom are shoved meds, like you, could have gone a better route with diet and exercise.


I'm so happy to see you take charge of your life instead of allowing these doctors and other portray you as the 'victim'.


You are in control and I can't wait to see the new results of your new physical!

[suz38487]

Thanks! I am looking forward to hearing what my doctor has to say Friday. He really is a good guy, listens like no other doc I've had before. Mentioned my lifestyle changes to him last time I was in; he seemed interested. Of course, he immediately wanted to check my cholesterol when I told him I eat eggs. CW...


I am very sick and tired of being treated like a victim, and they all seem to think that I have no say in the way my body works. I'm living proof that that isn't the case!

[suz38487]

I was at the doctor's office from 1:15 til 3 this afternoon, and everything went great. First of all, I just want to say that Dr. Mark Carroll in Colorado Springs is the best and most thorough doctor I have ever dealt with, hands down. He takes his time, he listens, and he truly cares about my welfare. He's out for my best interests. I really value that in him because I have had so many doctors fail in even hearing what I'm saying. Dr. Carroll will sit down and talk to me for an hour about how I feel and why and what we can/could do to make things better. He's supportive of my decision to try to get off of my antipsychotic med, so that makes me feel good. He said today that I am in great health, which he repeated many times. That also made me feel good. I had a full physical exam today. My combined vision is 20/13. My hearing is great. Weighed in at 110 (I'm about 5'4"). I talked to him about changing my thyroid medication, which is right now 50mcg levothyroxine, and we decided that since my T4 and T3 are in a good range, and I am so determined to get rid of the other med, that we should really only make one change at a time. He also said as soon as I feel comfortable after that change, I can come back in and discuss more natural thyroid options, which he was not at all averse to. My cholesterol was "borderline high" - my total number being 200, triglycerides at 114, HDL at 50, VLDL at 23, and LDL 127. He wasn't concerned, with me being 25 and in such good shape. I also had a pap, and everything appeared normal, so we'll know for sure when those results come back. He is the first doctor who has ever taken the time to teach me the right (and most modern) way to perform a self breast exam. I can't say enough good things about this guy. Oh, and the people in his office are young, friendly, happy folk, who loved my FiveFingers. Everything about Dr. Carroll and his office just makes me feel good and well cared for. My favorite thing he said today, when telling his student about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices, was "a pound of prevention beats a pound of cure."

[Diana Renata]

You're so lucky that you got such a great doctor! So cool!


Welcome to the wonderful new lifestyle, and it sounds like you're doing very well so far.


Do you wear your Vibrams everywhere? What do people generally think, or do they not necessarily notice?

[suz38487]

Thanks, Diana!


I do wear my Vibrams everywhere, and yes they are almost always noticed by anyone who passes by. Most people comment. No one has told me they were ugly or stupid to my face, other than some family members who are into negativity. A few times I've seen people whispering as I walk by, with a sly pointed finger, or whatever, but it's all good. Most people want to know where I got them, what I paid, and more importantly, how I can stand for my toes to be spread apart like that. It makes me talk to people all day long, which I guess is a good thing, because I am naturally more shy. So I guess, if you want to be left alone, don't wear Vibrams. If you can stand the people, wear them and inform the public how wonderful they are! I do Vibram PSAs all the time!

[Diana Renata]

I'm sorta weird and outgoing, so I wouldn't mind so much I think. I just wasn't sure if it would be weird to wear them all the time, rather than just working out. I need a summer pair and a winter pair though. NY winters are awful.


Too bad they don't make them in knee-high boots for us folks that live in the snow.

[suz38487]

Oh then you should get a pair! I can't recommend them highly enough. Really, the best (and only) "shoes" I wear. I'm looking forward to trying on a pair of the new model they have coming out this fall called the Trek - looks like they'll keep my toes a lot warmer in the snow. I'm hoping one day I can learn to crochet toe socks...then I can make some knee high ones. Can't really find toe socks locally, except the freakin' $12-16/pair Injinji socks which to me, is way too much to pay for socks (unless it's spent on yarn for me to make some myself, of course, hahaha).