And so the yeast free journey begins! The first week!

Day 1:  Very ready to get this started!  I have gone to the store and gotten everything I need.  Being prepared is vital to this!

Day 4:

oh- 5 pounds lighter today than Friday!  spit test still steaking down and very cloudy.....day 4 is off and running!  I will tell you that I have NEVER made it past day 3 on the other diet- the cravings were so horrible I couldn't stand it.....now I know why!

Day 5:

7/27/10

ok- so tonight we had our first grass feed beef- cooked in in Amy's marinara sauce....tried to do the squash noodles but failed miserably!  I think I definitely needed bigger squash- but seeing how this was my first time EVER buying squash...what did I know?  I cooked noodles for the boys to eat with it( and Jeff ate that since the squash was a flop).  I mixed up a bowl of the beef/sauce and put snow peas in it with a little bit of mozzarella cheese on it.  not bad....never thought I would eat such a meal!

Jeff bought some almond meal at Trader Joes- so I am googling things to do with that.

I also bought some grass feed tenderloin steaks for me and Jeff.  

day 5 is almost over!!!  had several cravings today- but was able to push them away.  it's interesting- with the other diet( that I have tried off an on , oh, about 20 times, in the past 2 years) I was always soo concerned about the scale and my day would be dictated by what the number said.  if I didn't loose, it would through me into the opposite mood- I would want to just give up and I would eat more.  With the yeast free- I am so much more focused on my health, not my weight.  the weight loss will happen as a byproduct of eating this way- but I don't have the urge to weigh myself all the time.  My marker is not the scale but the spit test!

Jeff's ph was blue this morning... stinker!  Mine is still green( dark) but my spit test this morning still was streaking down and cloudy....but it did take about 4-5 seconds to move!  big improvement over the first 2-3 days in which there was no millisecond wasted before it started going down!  

Day 6:

Day 6 may just be the day I hurt someone!!!  Oh, my I am cranky!!! No patience with the kids, irritable,headache, hungry,  feel panicky.....think I will go lay down for a while to see if it will resolve...

"This too shall pass".........

You are so NOT alone! 

Here is an oldie -- but goodie!  Crank it up ---and "let it rise" within you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVq_GKukA8I&feature=related

HUGS!

Deborah

Made it through day 6!  whew!  

Thanks for the song- I love that one.  made me think of yeast, though...."Let it rise"!!  Just where my mind was today!  

But Jeff made a "fried" chicken with the olive oil and  almond meal/egg batter- the kids loved it!  he cut it up like chicken nuggets.  

almond meal fried chicken

Wow- I can't believe tomorrow is day 7- I never would have thought I would have made it this far!  

So- what can I eat on a yeast free diet?

Here is a list of the foods that I can eat.

EGGS

FRUIT:   berries, grapefruit, lemon, lime, green apples, avocado, fresh coconut

MEATS:  virtually all meat including fish, poultry and grass-fed beef

VEGETABLES:  Most fresh vegetables and _freshly_ made vegetable juice (no bottled or canned juices!)

BEVERAGES:  Bottled or filtered water, non-fruity herbal teas, stevia sweetened fresh lemonade or limeade, freshly squeezed carrot juice (SPARINGLY!)

VINEGAR:  apple cider vinegar

OILS:   olive, grape, flax seed, cold pressed virgin coconut oil

NUTS:  raw nuts, including pecans, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pumpkin seeds. Stored nuts tend to gather mold, so be careful!

SWEETENERS:   Stevia, Stevia Plus, birch tree extracted Xylitol

DAIRY:  Organic Butter, Organic unsweetened Yogurt

             (use the following very sparingly: cream cheese, unsweetened whipping cream, real sour cream)

Fungus 101

That's right.

Fungus

Yeast

It had overtaken my body.  It was causing my body great pain.  

It was the root of all my illness.

So what was I going to do about it?  That's where Deborah Kirby came in.  She taught me all about mycology- the study of fungus.  

It's not even taught in medical schools anymore.  It's not something doctors even know to look for.

From http://www.knowthecause.com: Doug Kaufmann
Fungi can parasitize man. A parasite is an organism that


 lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the 


host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment. Some 


parasites form symbiotic relationships with other species 


wherein both species live comfortably with the other. In 


human-fungal symbiotic relationships, according to


 researchers, fungi are always the dominant partners. Soon,


 a person infected with fungus begins craving foods that 


satisfy the fungus more than the person. Fungus must have


 sugar in order to thrive. Grains supply not only sugar, but 


additionally since many grains we Americans eat are


 impregnated with fungus, grain becomes a double-edged


 sword. Just as some foods we eat perpetuate fungal growth


 and proliferation, other foods actually contain potent 


antifungal properties


From http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/candida.aspx:


When Candida proliferates, it changes form, morphing from a simple, relatively harmless one into one that is capable of penetrating the intestinal lining. This elicits low-grade inflammation in the gut and causes breakdown of the boundary between the intestinal tract and the circulatory system. Known as leaky gut, increased intestinal permeability allows incompletely digested food particles and yeast cells to pass through and enter the blood stream. The immune system soon identifies these large particles as foreign, and ramps itself up to deal with them.

Uncomfortable digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, and bubbling in the gut arise because an overgrowth of yeast leads to the fermentation of foods instead of the digestion of foods. Along with these unpleasant symptoms, yeasts ferment sugars into alcohol, which destabilizes blood sugar and leads to intense cravings for more sugar. 


I find it fascinating that these tiny organisms can get us to do exactly what they want us to do — eat more carbs and sugar!

Common symptoms associated with systemic yeast:

Generalized: Fatigue, lethargy, migraine headaches, weakness, dizziness, sensory disturbances, hypoglycemia, muscle pain, respiratory problems, chemical sensitivities.

Gastrointestinal: Oral thrush, diarrhea, constipation, rectal itching, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), flatulence, food sensitivities.

Genitourinary: Yeast vaginitis, menstrual irregularities, PMS, bladder inflammation, chronic urinary tract infections (UTI’s), cystitis.

Dermatological: Eczema, acne, hives. People with yeast overgrowth can also be prone to fungal nail infections, as well as skin infections such as athelete’s foot, Tinea rash, ringworm, “jock itch” and dandruff.

Psychological and emotional: Confusion, irritability, memory loss, inability to concentrate, depression, insomnia, learning disability, short attention span.

Yeast thrives on sugar- from ANY source.  This includes most natural sugars as well like fruit/fruit juice.  This also includes ANY starchy foods-even “ starchy vegetables”, carbohydrates, breads, cereals, pizza, sweets, dairy foods, soda.. a small amount of sugar(1tsp) can produce millions of colonies of yeast/fungus!


Yeast actually attach to your neurons and rewire them to suite THEIR needs, not yours.  So all the carb and sugar cravings are coming from the yeast demanding to be fed.  They can also mimic things in our body.  They are parasites that will take over and cause more illness than I can write down!


Fermented products such as soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, beer…add to the yeast growth
  

Here me on this one....it's crucial, important and it's something you have never heard before:

Corn has been genetically modified over the years so that it is impossible to ever kill the fungus from it.  


Avoid all corn products- always- even if it is organic.  This includes: popcorn, corn oil, corn syrup, corn starch…….ouch...I know, this one hurts!

Peanuts and soy- same as corn- they have been genetically modified to the point in which the seeds contain thousands of different fungi which cannot be killed off even by autoclaving. 


Peanuts are known to produce Aflatoxins- another poison not intended for your body. So- that includes peanut butter, peanut oil…another big ouch!

Eating corn, peanuts and soy products are the same as just putting fungus right into your body. And because they have been "universally" modified...there are no new seeds that can be harvested to create a "non-fungi" product. 

Amazing!  

Depressing!  

But something we all need to know- but the food industry does NOT want us to know.

Enter..... Deborah Kirby

Desperate for change, I emailed my friend Deborah Kirby.  She had been teaching classes on health issues for a while and invited me several times to come.  I wanted to- but you see, I was always too tired!  I could never muster up the energy to go.  I didn't even really know what her "talks" were about.  But on July 22, 2010, she came to my house and sat with me for 2 hours.  It was an amazing life changing 2 hours.  God sent her to me at just the right time.  I was finally ready to listen to what she had to say.  

 I was ready to take all that information and do something with it. God brought me to this place.  His heart had been aching watching me "perish" with illness right there before His eyes.  He has the answers.  He has the cure.  He used Deborah to feed me His truth and redirect my path to a life of "living" instead of a life of "dying".   I was to the point in which my health was going down hill so quickly...it was scary.  

I was dying. 

The Lord brought me to a place where I knew I had to do something. 

For a while, I thought it was other diet plans.  I bought into them- but failed at them every time I tried it.

 They didn't get to the root of the problem.... they just tried to fix the branch. 

 I had to get to the root- that is the part that was killing me.  

 Little did I know that the ROOT of my illness was fungus.

Ready to talk....

July 21, 2010 at 4:48pm

Re: Ok- ready to talk....and listen to diet advice

Bring The Rain

The mini-strokes begin

The view from my 11 year old

Jackson was so scared but he took pictures 

Hey all Karen's friends. She is at Wake Med North ER right now after experiencing stroke-like symptoms. We'll keep you posted, but she has improved some already. Doctors do not think it is a stroke at this point since both sides of her body were equally affected. They will continue to run tests on her this afternoon. Keep her in your prayers.

June 6 at 3:24pm ·

update on Karen - she is back to "normal" but still at the hospital. CT scan and X-rays have come back OK. We're still waiting to see if blood work shows anything, but she's improving each hour and is currently enjoying a Bojangles dinner in her room. We may go home tonight and see the doctor in the morning. She can smile again now, so she's definitely feeling better.

June 6 at 6:43pm ·

this is Jeff posting for Karen. She had a 2nd "event" about 8:30 tonight, so instead of heading home she's off to Wake Med. She's feeling OK now, but we don't know what's going on. We do know that it's not a stroke or seizures even though it shows signs of both. Hopefully we'll have more answers tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers. (PS the kids are fine with Grandma and Grandpa!)

June 6 at 11:24pm

Jeff for Karen again. She's had several tests run this morning, but we still don't know for sure what's going on. She hasn't had another episode since last night and is still acting herself. Now we just need wisdom from the doctors. Pray they're looking at the big picture.

June 7 at 12:56pm

We're still at Wake Med tonight. No new news. Karen's still not had another episode and the doctors still haven't come to any conclusions. We think the ball is in the neurologist's court. They think they have ruled out a stroke, but that's about as far as we've gotten.

June 7 at 8:23pm

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 11:20am

Hi everyone- actually from Karen this time! I just want to thank everyone for all their prayers and responses. Jeff read many of them to my in the hospital while I was dosing in and out. I feels good to be home- but there is a sense of anxiousness in that I have no idea why these 2 stoke/seizure "like" episodes happened and if they will return as fast as they came on. I am thankful that all the tests(CAT scan, x-rays, MRI, EKG,EEG, heart echo,bubble test, artery ultrasounds, not to mention the 100 times they took my blood!) were normal. I may never know what happened but I just now have to have faith that God will protect me and give me the peace I need to move forward and not worry too much about them returning. For now- I am enjoying clean hair, my own pjs, no needles in my arms, and no shots in my stomach! And the ability to smile- something I could not do when my face was paralyzed during the episodes- never knew smiling was such a blessing! The ability to walk and talk- something that was also taken away during the episodes. I just have to say that the Durham firestation on Norwood are THE BEST! they were at our house before Jeff even got off the phone with 911 on Sunday. The Six Forks Rescue was awesome as well. And a special thanks to my husband who kept me calm during all this and stood by my side through everything. I can only imagine his thoughts while watching me go through these episodes- but he stayed calm for me. and of course, my parent's who followed the ambulance into the neighborhood and have taken care of my kids all this time.

Please continue to pray as I try to "go back to normal". I am taking it easy today- the boys are here with me - since Jeff went back to work I didn't want to be alone but didn't feel I was up to taking care of Karianne yet. Please pray for peace for me and that I won't be consumed with why this happened and if it would happen again. thank so much- what a great group of people God had put in my life!

Too tired

Wow- the house is quiet with no kiddos....hummm...I could either get some stuff done or go to bed.

 yup- going to bed- 

I am tirrreeeddd.

June 1 at 8:17pm  

Missing the bike ride

Jeff and Karianne went bike riding today on the parkway- my little 4 year old road all by herself( on her very cute new pink bike) 6 miles! Guess I'd better get moving......pretty sad when a 4 year old can out bike you!

May 31 at 9:59pm  

I hate being this way

I HATE being this way- I miss being and feeling STRONG like I did when we were working out with Step.

 I could hardly carry in the groceries tonight- it's pitiful.

 A gallon of milk just about does me in trying to pick it up.

 It's hard to see how far backwards I have gone from where I was when working out.

If only....

I have tested several times for celiac- but I know I have to have a problem with it- that, yeast, and lactose....I might as well just become a rabbit- by the time I take out all the foods that cause me problems vegetables are about the only thing left. yuck- sorry, but I actually do not like veggies unless it's Veggie Tales. uggggg- I hate having to change everything....but I don't have a choice.

( I am in the grieving stages now! denial, anger, denial, anger....)

May 29 at 11:12pm

I am just at the beginning stage to where I can turn it back around.

 Gee- now, if I could only get my joints and muscles to cooperate with me so I can exercise.......

I've got to break this cycle somehow- the more tired and in pain I am, the less likely I am to even try to get my body moving.

 I am just going to have to bite the bullet and make myself start.....tomorrow that is.....

May 29 at 11:33pm 

Big slam from the doc today

Big slam from the doc yesterday. To add to my fibromyalgia, arthritis(type disorder) fatigue....I can now add "diabetic" to my list. NOT happy....but, hey- on the bright side my liver/abdominal ultrasound was normal and my vitamin D came up a few points! Now-to get my A1C down(for all you non-diabetic/non-medical folks that is the test that tells the average of your blood sugars in the last 3-6 months) ARRGG

May 29 at 10:42pm  

The pain....

Rain=hurting joints=want to stay in bed= will have to drink lots of coffee instead!

May 17 at 9:41am   ·

In bed since Friday- not able to move much...whole body hurts from fibromyalgia/arthritis....this morning went to church( very slowly and well, with an "I don't want to be here" mood. A huge thanks to my dear friend Kristy Dengler for the 5 minute hug in the hallway- what a blessing that was.....

May 23 at 11:39am  

Slow moving today...but at least I am up. I had a bunch of blood work done yesterday and a liver/abdomen ultrasound to rule out any problems that could be contributing to my muscle and joint pain. 

God sent me a verse....

I sat down last night at the dinner for men's bible study leaders/wives and the place mat was a beautiful picture with this scripture around it:

 God is able to deliver me from impossible circumstances, But if He doesn't, I will still serve Him. Daniel 3:17-18 

Wow- can God just put what you need in front of you or what?!

April 27 at 10:09am

Getting worse......

whooo- where did the truck come from that ran over me this morning...good grief I can hardly move.....I just finally dragged myself out of bed.....good thing my kids are old enough to take care of themselves. What is it about Monday mornings? argggg......Flee Satan, Flee!!!

March 22 at 11:20am  

so- several docs( not the kind that can actually diagnose and test) think I have fibromyalgia, also possible chronic fatigue and/or RA. It does kinda put some of the pieces of the puzzle together for me. Anyone know of any good doctors to go to for this?

March 24 at 3:15pm  

What a great day. I was diagnosed with: fibromyalgia, polymyalgia rheumatica, TMJ, elevated liver enzymes, and Vitamin D deficiency. Guess I need to take a tropical vacation so I can sit in the sun, soak in a hot tub, slurp smoothies through a straw and get a message......:)

April 6 at 8:15pm  

arrrggg- I do not like this fibromyalgia thing- can't get out of bed today.......

April 13 at 2:29pm   ·

I know God has a plan for allowing all this health stuff to jump on me all at once...fibromyalgia, polymyalgia rheuatica, tmj, chronic fatigue.......just can't wait to see what it is! I will probably be napping when He shows it to me.....

April 25 at 4:36pm  

Tonia- it's very hard to get of bed in the morning- I am very stiff and muscles are sore- you know how you work out for the first time and you over do it- the next day you can hardly move? That's the way it is for me all the time. most morning my hands hurt so bad I can't hold the hair dryer- good thing I let my hair grow out!

April 27 at 10:05am 

How it all got started...... a few face book posts

3 hours in the urgent care today- horrible upper respiratory virus- I begged for something- anything to make me feel better- don't think I have felt this bad since having a baby.....I like the old days when they would give you an antibiotic whether you needed it or not...at least you feel like you didn't waste all that time and money in there.....

January 27 at 7:19pm

3 hours in the Northern Wake ER...my fever spiked tonight to 105- so off to the hospital we went. I was so faint,dizzy,weak they had to wheelchair me in. But after another round of IV's-laced with Zofran and Toradol and Morphine ( aaahhhhhh- finally some real relief)I am feeling better.

January 29 at 1:23am  

aahhh...a day with no IV's or visits to the ER.....I am feeling better- but still have a ways to go before I am able to be out and about....enjoyed the snow from the bed today- got to listen to the kids through the window...I'll take that over nothing!

January 30 at 8:12pm  

It's days like today when..although I am feeling better- but not well enough to tackle school, the kids, the house...- that I am thankful that my 11 year old son likes to cook- hamburgers for his brother and peanut butter/honey sandwich for his sister...now, if I could just train him to clean up...but thankful I didn't have to get out of bed to fix lunch!

February 2 at 1:41pm  

is tired and ready to go to bed! I have done a little too much the last 2 days since having meningitis...I think it just caught up with me! nothing wrong with the kids having cereal for breakfast and supper, right??!!

February 12 at 5:58pm   ·