I'm still here

Just wanted to check in and say that I'm doing well. The weather has cooled down so I'm just enjoying life at the moment. I've been working a lot, like 16 hours day for my husband and his business. Things are good though! Sure I feel my heart rates are up, but with it being cooler I'm like 75% better. I don't have the shortness of breath or the "I feel like I'm dying" feeling.

I always forget that fall/winter I am actually somewhat normal feeling. :)

Here's a quick update on what I've been doing though. I started following the McComb's Diet plan about 3-4 weeks ago which is supposed to be for candida. You are probably think...OMG has Birdlady lost her mind!? Yes I am doing a candida diet even though I've made fun of them before haha. You can read about the diet at the doctor's own website, which is much different than most "candida" diets. I realize that I was mostly following the plan any way but had to cut out a few more things (all sugar, all dairy, all nuts).

At first, I really didn't want to do it because I knew I'd have to be on my feet more to cook every meal. You also have to get rid of butter which I've never done before. It's really hard to eat some foods without butter like squash, potatoes, rice etc. In addition to this diet, I've also stopped supping with salt. I lost 4 pounds in a week. I'm so sick of POTS patients being told to use salt like it's even doing a damn thing for us? DUMB!

In addition to the diet, I am also taking THorne Research Formula SF722 which is 10-Undecenoic Acid. I take 5 Gelcaps 3 times a day away from food. I have no idea if it's doing anything, but I'm just going to stick with it.

Overall I've lost 7 pounds now. I am absolutely LOVING it! I am finally back in the 120's which I haven't seen for a long time now. Now if I could get my heart to chill out when I try to do leg exercises, I'd be soo happy.../sigh I still cannot exercise and I have to keep myself cool at all times. If I am going out to a store, I wear tank tops underneath my coat so I can cool down fast if I start to overheat. So far this has been working really well. Some days I just wear shorts around the house to stay as cold as possible.

This post is all over the place, but I just wanted to let everyone know I'm doing well!

Yeast Overgrowth Causing Itchy Rash?

I don't even want to say this out loud, but my rash may be from candida. Oh no...No one that I have known has EVER been successful in treating "candida". Some of these candida websites are out of hand. Every single symptom is from candida! Hang nail? Candida of course! Toe nail fungus? Candida! Okay I'm being a little sarcastic and nutty, but in all seriousness, a lot of documented mercury toxicity symptom is on this so-called candida list. It is a little ridiculous to say the least. Maybe a lot of the people who suffer from candida also have mercury toxicity? That makes more sense to me.

What do you do if you have candida? I have no idea. The things most people say you have to do is totally non-realistic. It would make me even more psychotic when it comes to food. Why make myself even more OCD about my food rituals and habits. I am a recovering anorexic from 8 years ago...Those of you who have suffered from anorexia know you are never completely recovered. It is much like what an alcoholic deals with.

Most websites say you have to eliminate all carbohydrates and sugar. This includes candy (okay easy), fruit, wheat, potatoes, carrots, rice! Basically anything that has carbs in it even if it is good carbs. Some people say this works, others say it doesn't do anything. With a diet like this I don't know what I'd eat and would likely starve to death. What is a person supposed to eat to make themselves feel full? I do not find any enjoyment when eating meat. I basically eat meat because I have to live.

Let me just list what 1 website says are the symptoms of candida. You will understand what I mean when I say total ridiculousness. A lot of these are mercury toxicity symptoms. Sounds like someone whoever reported all of these symptoms has multiple problems going on. Stuff in ( ) I added in.

• Fatigue or lethargy
• Feeling of being drained
• Depression or manic depression
• Numbness, burning, or tingling (b12 deficiency)
  
• Headaches
• Muscle Aches (mineral deficiencies)
  
• Muscle weakness or paralysis (mineral deficiencies)
  
• Pain and/or swelling in joints
• Abdominal Pain
• Constipation and/or diarrhea
• Bloating, belching or intestinal gas
• Troublesome vaginal burning, itching or discharge in women
• Prostatitis in men
• Impotence
• Loss of sexual desire or feeling
• Endometriosis or infertility
• Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities
• Premenstrual tension (can be from copper toxicity, mineral dificiencies)
  
• Attacks of anxiety or crying
• Cold hands or feet, low body temperature (hypothyroid)
  
• Hypothyroidism (I still don't understand why this would be listed...makes no sense)
  
• Shaking or irritable when hungry (hypoglycemia-Adrenal issues)
  
• Cystitis or interstitial cystitis
  
• Drowsiness
• Irritability
• Poor coordination (mineral deficiencies)
  
• Frequent mood swings
• Insomnia (mercury?)
  
• Dizziness/loss of balance (possible B12 deficiency, low bp, dehydration)
  
• Pressure above ears...feeling of head swelling
• Sinus problems...tenderness of cheekbones or forehead
• Tendency to bruise easy
• Eczema, itching eyes
• Psoriasis
• Chronic hives (urticaria) (Food allergies?)
  
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Sensitivity to milk, wheat, corn or other common foods
• Mucous in stools
• Rectal itching
• Dry mouth or throat (diabetes insipidus or regular sugar diabetes)
  
• Mouth rashes including white tongue
• Bad breath
  
• Foot, hair, or body odor not relieved by washing
• Nasal congestion or post nasal drip
• Nasal itching
• Sore throat
• Laryngitis, loss of voice
• Cough or recurrent bronchitis
• Pain or tightness in chest
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Urinary frequency or urgency (possible diabetes insipidus)
  
• Burning on urination
• Spots in front of eyes or erratic vision (mercury?)
  
• Burning or tearing eyes
• Recurrent infections or fluid in ears
• Ear pain or deafness
• Inability to concentrate (mercury?)
  
• Skin problems-hives, athlete's foot, fungus infection of the nails, jock itch, psoriasis-including of the scalp or other chronic skin rashes
• Gastrointestinal symptoms-constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, or bloating
• Symptoms involving the reproductive organs (mercury?)
  
• Muscular and nervous system symptoms-including aching or swelling in your muscles and joints, numbness, burning or tingling, muscle weakness or paralysis.
  
• Recurrent ear problems resulting in antibiotic therapy
• Respiratory symptoms
• Lupus (possible mercury toxicity link)
  
• Hyperactivity/Attention Deficit Disorder (fake disorder used to get children on meds)
  
• Recurrent vaginal yeast infections in women
• High sugar foods drastically increase symptoms
• Inflammation of the hair follicles (candidiasis folliculitis) of various parts of the body (feet, legs, arms)
• Extreme lethargy
• Diarrhea, chronic gas, abdominal cramps alleviated by bowel movements. Perhaps labeled with the term "irritable bowel syndrome"
• Lactose intolerance
• Anxiety
• Allergies and allergy symptoms, chemical sensitivities
• Panic attacks
• Sinus problems
• Eye fatigue
• Muscle weakness and bone pain
• White tongue coating
• Psoriasis/seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff, dry, itchy skin
• Rectal itching
• Swollen lips/face
• Symptoms worse after waking
• Facial rash
• Avoiding food helps to alleviate symptoms
• Hives
• Chronic inflammation and irritation of the eye and conjunctiva
• Feeling of being intoxicated which leads to a "hangover feeling" (due to fermentation and alcohol production by yeast)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Do I have yeast/candida overgrowth? I don't know, but I surely won't use one of these websites to tell me. Everything under the sun is caused by candida...Give me a break!