A Remicade Kinda Day

Yesterday was my first infusion.....this morning...I feel a marked improvement!!!!

 

I felt really tired as it was infusing and then spiked a fever...the nurse called it a 'Rogue fever'  ((to my Rogues- haha, I just had to laugh- even my fevers are Rogue- just proves that Rogue stays with you forever!))   The infusion center I went to was amazing!  It was such a good experience.  I go back in 2  weeks for another dose, then 4 weeks after that.  This could be it :)

 

Big day tomorrow

I get my first Remicade infusion.....wish me luck and send a few prayers up for me :)

On the road to Remicade

Still working on the insurance pre-authorizations.....but I should start my first dose in about two weeks.   I also started a strict 30 day Paleo challenge through my Crossfit gym.....strict Paleo seems to work best for me, if only pizza and cheese would just up and die so I wouldn't be so tempted!
Onward!!!!

The Day the Tube Came Out

The tube and all of it's evilness is GONE!
My doctor heartily agreed that this was not working as we had hoped and with a firm pull, that thing was out!  It certainly was easier coming out than going in :)
So, where do I go from here?  It is on to Remicade Infusions.
I start in a couple of weeks (insurance needs to get squared away, first) and after a couple of 'loading' doses, I should get infusions every 6-8 weeks.
My doctor is hopeful that I will see marked improvement after only a couple of weeks and stay that way.
I am a bit leery, as I have heard that one before.

Paleo continues to be a big part of our lives.  I truly believe I would be worse off right now if I hadn't gone Paleo in March. 

I am trying to be optimistic, friends, optimistic indeed.

If you threaten to pull a feeding tube out...

Things get done, FAST!!!!

Now, I am not normally prone to dramatic fits to get things done, but these last two days certainly brought out a little drama queen in me.

I have been going back and forth with my Dr.'s office, the medical supply company, and my insurance company. No one was submitting the correct paperwork to get my formula authorized.  The medical supply company had already sent me two cases with no proof it would even be paid for and I couldn't keep expecting this.  So, when I was down to the wire...meaning- if they didn't send the authorization by lunchtime I would miss the cut-off for the formula to be sent next-day air.  Once I ran out....well, nothing else can be forced down the tube and actually using my mouth and throat for actual eating is out of the question (oh!!! the gagging!)

So, I brought out the big guns.....  it went a little like this.

Me:"So,  I was just calling to get some instructions"
Nurse: "Instructions for what?"
Me: "Well, your office has failed to send the authorization that was needed for the medical supply company to send me more formula.  I have called and talked to three people, who have all assured me it would be done yesterday, and it still has not, so I am going to run out on Sunday.  So when I run out....I'll be pulling this tube out and I need to know...  Is it kinda a yank, or a pulling type motion.  Is there danger of aspirating it into my lungs????  I really need detailed instructions, since this is what I will be forced to do on Sunday.  Any tips you can give me???"
Nurse: "Uh, Uh, hold on....... "

Well, wouldn't you know my doctor comes on!!!  The paperwork was completed within 15 minutes and my formula is on it's way.

P.S.  I was secretly hoping she would tell me how, so I could just go ahead and do it....she never did:(

6 days in

Well, I've made it six days.  Six looooong agonizing days....
Here's a sneak peak into what goes through my mind throughout this whole thing

"Hey...you have a tube in your throat. Get it out."
(2 seconds go by)
"Hey...you have a tube in your throat. Get it out."
(2 seconds go by)
"Hey..."

Sprinkle in some violent gagging fits and there you have it.

I still haven't seen an improvement with my Crohn's.  This makes me wonder how I am supposed to reach remission with this.  I see my doc one week from today, which is about half way, and I hope I have a big turn around by then- or this thing is outta here!!!

What goes in the tube?

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and Dessert.........blech :)

Is that a tube up your nose?!?!?!?!?!?

Well.....my Crohn's journey continues.  I have had a feeding tube placed and will be 'eating' this way for a month.  As shocking as it may be to some, I feel it is the lesser of two evils. 
Let me back up a bit and go over the last couple of months.
Once Paleo put me in remission, I stopped taking the steroids.  Things started to decline a bit and so, in trying to halt any progression, I went back on the steroids.  The steroids work as usual and a month later I could go off of them.  Well, again, symptoms start to peek through and I was back on the steroids.  Well.....this time, the steroids stop working.  My arthritis was intense, I started having eye issues (look up extra intestinal manifestations of Crohn's) , along with appetite loss and nausea.  My doc wanted to try Prednisone. (Uh, NO THANKS!!!)  The side effects of Pred are gnarly, I wanted to avoid it altogether.  There has been a lot of research lately showing that Enteral Nutrition (tube feeding) is nearly as effective as Pred!  It allows the guts to rest while returning the gut bacteria to where it needs to be. So here I am.
They inserted it yesterday, and I start the feeding today. It is a bit more than I expected and I must admit that I have had some doubts about this decision.
I'm still a bit gaggy and sore but that should let up in a day or two.
I'll keep my blog updated......thanks for coming over and checking up on me!

my old friend, steroids

Yep, I am back on the 'roids....
My guts are actually doing pretty well, right now.  It is the extra-intestinal manifestations that are giving me a hard time.  Namely, arthritis.
So, I am back on them and now really considering the Remicade.
Waking up every morning feeling like an 80 year old is getting old :)

Making Progress...

I have been promising pictures from the beginning but have yet to post some.  Well, even though I am not at my goal, I wanted to show that I have made progress.  It seems like I am losing and gaining the SAME 3-4 LBS!!!  Those evil pounds!
So here is what 21lbs lost, more energy, and feeling good looks like.
Thanks to all those that continue to read my story, I appreciate each every one of you!

All Quiet on the Gut Front

I am three days off the steroids and so far so good!!!!!  No issues, no pain, no nothing.  I am cautiously optimistic :)

Here we go again

We are back from vacation and getting back into the swing of things.  I maintained paleo while I was away and didn't have any major issues.  YAY!!  So tomorrow I go OFF the steroid again.  Second times a charm, right?!?!?
So....here we go again!

Vacation!!!

Two weeks away....I'm excited and nervous.  It will be great to see friends and family after so many years away.  I'm worried about the whole Paleo thing, though.  I have no doubt that I will not attack a fast food place, I just don't feel like messing up my guts, but I worry about how to handle the food thing when it is not in my control- as it is here at home.  And always, in the back of my mind, will my Crohn's act up???   Deep breath....one meal at a time :)

Keep it up!

So I haven't blogged in awhile....sorry! 
I am feeling pretty good.  I was on a double dose of steroids for a week and felt like a CRAZY woman!  I am glad that is over with!  I am now on a low dose and everything is much as it was before.  I'll go off the steroids the first week of July....I admit, I am nervous.
I have hit 20lbs GONE!!!!!
Between Paleo and Cossfit, that fat didn't stand a chance :)
I Crossfit 3 times a week and am noticing all these muscles showing up, some I didn't even know where there before.
All in all, the set back was discouraging, but it made me come to the realization this is a life long illness.  Remission may not be what I thought it was..for me, anyways.  So I need to get to a place where I feel good and am on the least amount of drugs to keep me feeling good.
We are off to Idaho for a couple of weeks and when I return and go off the 'roids I'll let you all know how it goes :)

Set Back

Shortly after I went off the steroids I felt a little gurgle here, a small blip there.  I thought it was just something I ate, or that I was coming off the medicine...it wasn't.  Two and a half weeks after I stopped taking the steroids, the Crohn's flared again.  I am now back on the steroids, at a high dose, and am beyond upset about it.  My diet did not change, my blood showed such improvement, my symptoms were gone.  WHY?!?!?!?!?!??!
I really thought I had 'won the race', seems, though, that I am just beginning.....

Am I still Paleo??????

Haha!!  You must be wondering....
YES!!!!  I don't think I can ever really go back to the way I ate before.  It just doesn't seem worth it to risk falling back down into the black hole called Crohn's. 
Brayden continues to amaze me with his transformation and my Crossfit skills are slowly improving.  I am realizing that I am stronger than I thought.  That is a good feeling :)
Remission feels good!

The Details

I was so excited to post my news yesterday that I forgot to include the details.  The changes in my blood are truly spectacular and must be shared! 

My CRP's (c-reactive proteins- an indicator of inflammation) are with in normal range!!  This is HUGE!  If you look back at my first post, I noted that my CRP's have been continuously elevated since 2008.  This elevation eventually helped steer me towards a Crohn's diagnosis, but shows that I have been dealing with inflammation for YEARS!!!
In eight weeks, I was able to undo what was occurring for nearly 4 years!!!!!!

Next, my iron levels are normal!!!  This last December I had iron infusions.  My iron was so low that simply taking an iron supplement was not an option.  I had to have it intravenously given to me.  This did bring my iron up, but I was told to expect to have iron infusions 2 or 3 times a year for the rest of my life.  Because I had active inflammation in my guts, I was losing small amounts of blood everyday and that just builds to create an iron deficiency and keep the iron below normal, leading to anemia.  It would have been a never ending cycle.  BUT, it has been broken!  I was anemic for 3 years, but NO MORE!!!

My Vitamin B12 is within normal range, as well.  I have Crohn's in my terminal ileum.  This particular part of your small intestine is where we all absorb this important vitamin.  It plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system and for the formation of blood. I was on monthly Vit B12 injections but I no longer need them.  I am absorbing the vitamin normally!

Lastly,  My gut doc has taken me OFF the oral steroid!!!!!!!!  Extended use of steroids is hard on your body.  I have been on them, in a wide range of doses, for nearly a year. I can't tell you how happy I am about this.

Need more evidence that this Paleo thing works???????  Try it for 30 days and tell me what happens!!! 

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!! Cohn's Remission!!

That's right!!!  I'm in remission!!!
My blood work came back completely normal, my immune system is completely normal and my Crohn's symptoms are completely GONE!!!!!
Sweet, sweet remission!!!
Thank you for your prayers, concerns and thoughts! 

New Goals!!

This whole Crossfit thing is really challenging me.

I CAN'T do a pull-up
I CAN'T climb the rope
I waddle for days after I do any sort of squats
The weights I use on my bar are itty, bitty and really quite embarrassing

This is a pretty impressive list of can'ts, which I will turn into CANS!!!!  I'll be sure and post when they come to pass :)

8 weeks in!!

Time flies when you are eating healthy!!!  I am 8 weeks in and doing great!  My weight has stayed the same for the past two weeks, I have changed my workouts so I hope I can push through this plateau.  My Crohn's still has not been an issue.  I see my Dr. on Tues and I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say....hopefully it includes coming off some of the medicines :)
Brayden continues to ROCK! this Paleo thing and I am so proud of him.  I can not only see changes in his body, but in his attitude and energy levels as well.  He will be the first to tell you that he is glad he went Paleo.
Thanks to all that continue to read this blog....it has been such a great experience to tell you about this transformation and I look forward to keep this blog going!

Crossfit??....MORE, please!

I did it!!!! Oh yeah!!!!
I took a HUGE step last night and went to a Crossfit gym for a workout.
I was NERVOUS!!!  What if I couldn't do it?  Would I get laughed out of there? 
Well....NOOOO!  They were LOVELY!  I never felt inferior for not being able to lift the ginormous weights some of them could.  Everyone was helpful and high fives abounded! 
I LOVED IT!
I never thought feeling strong could feel SO good.
I completely understand why people get into this and it is such a 'community' feel.
Now to convince C to pay the monthly membership.....

Week 6

My stats are pretty much the same...
My BIG news this week is..... Brayden (my 12yr old son) asked if he could go Paleo!!!!   We sat down with him and went over what it means, the difficulties of it, and how his eating would change.  He started on Sat and has been doing great!  I will not limit his fruit too much and he will have more dairy than me.  I can't wait to see how he does.

I started this blog to focus on my Crohn's and if Paleo would improve it.  Well....I feel like I never pay attention to the Crohn's part of it, but I have to admit.....I really don't have ANY Crohn's issues now.  Here, I am going to rewrite that (because it felt AWESOME!)  I really don't have ANY CROHN'S ISSUES!!!!
The results I hoped for are actually better than I could have ever expected.  I'll get my blood work done this week and will see if the blood confirms it.  I'll be sure to post the numbers for you all!

Pizzahhhhhhhh!!

I <3 pizza!!!! 
We use to do pizza night almost every week.  We could all choose our toppings and viola! Perfection!  I was really into putting that herbed cheese spread on there instead of pizza sauce...yummo!
Anyways, enough! I'm drooling.

I was out stalking the Paleo blogs...again, and came across a cauliflower pizza crust recipe.  We tried it tonight.  I REALLY wanted to take a picture of it, so you wouldn't assume it was horrendously ugly or something....but....we scarfed it down lightening fast.

So, I'll just share the recipe and hope you try it and like it as much as we did.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust
1 head cauliflower
1 cup organic mozzarella
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic
1/2 tsp. salt

rice the cauliflower (basically grate the whole thing on a cheese grater- or food processor- just the florets)  microwave the riced cauliflower for 7-8 min. (no water needed)
Oven at 450, spray down a cookie sheet
Mix all the ingredients once the cauliflower is cook, spread over cookie sheet
Cook for 15 min.  Edges will be slightly browned.
Add your sauce and toppings, broil for about 3-4 min to melt cheese.
It is important to use already cooked toppings for this

Week 5

Wow, how time flies!!!
I am 5 weeks in and doing great!

down 16lbs.
4 inches off my waist
5 inches off my hips
I know I promised before and after pics, but the before is pretty horrendous and I am still getting up the nerve.

Bring on week 6!

So Saucy!!!!

I have a confession..... I'm kinda bored of meat.  Meat in the morning, meat in the day time, and meat in the evening.  Meat, Meat MEAT!!
Well, this is a 'for life' change for me, so I HAD to figure this out.

A friend of mine sent me a blog site recently. (Thanks, Shar!) It was like a Paleo lottery for me. 
* the site is  http://paleoonmain.blogspot.com/
The answer to my boredom was actually very simple

****Throw some sauce on that meat!!!!****

here are a couple that I cannot live without!

Mexi-Spiced Salad Dressing1/2 Mashed Avocado
1/4 C Avocado Mayonnaise
1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 Tbsp Cumin
1 tsp Dried Cilantro Leaves
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
the book "Everyday Paleo" has a good section on sauces as well.
My new fave is

Chimichurri Sauce
½ red onion
4 garlic cloves
1 ½ cups chopped cilantro
1 cup chopped parsley
juice from 1 lime
¾ cup olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in a food processor and process on low until the mixture is almost smooth but still a bit chunky. Serve on everything!!

And lastly....
I am always in the mood to whip up some guacamole and eat it with anything and everything....it just takes so darn long for those avocados to ripen!!!


So my rut is fixed and I am happily chowing down on meat again!

So What's What??

All along this journey I have turned to blogs and sites for guidance, ideas, motivation, recipes etc.  They have made such a positive impact on MANY days!  But, while I am trolling around I keep hearing different names for this "Paleo" thing.....and can't help but wondering- What's WHat????
Well, as a good citizen, I feel it is my duty to decipher this puzzle for you.  :)
Here is the FOUNDATION of going "Paleo"
If you can hunt it or gather it... you can eat it.
Meats- including beef jerky,
Vegetables (except corn, and very limited starchy ones),
Fruits (for weight loss- only a limited amount)
Healthy Fats- Oils,(except vegetable oil, Canola oil, seed oils)animal fat, nuts, avocados,
No legumes, no grains, no sugar
Avoid ALL processed foods
BASICALLY- if you can't pronounce it...don't put it in your mouth.

Now here is the tricky, grey area....
The early authors and gurus allowed some dairy, and they even allowed Diet Pepsi or artificially sweetened drinks (GASP!)
Then came along the reformation of Paleo and out went the dairy and all the artificial sugar.
But, some didn't like this strictness.
So here is a breakdown for you
Paleo-  100% compliance of the above- NO dairy, NO sugar at all
Primal- 80% compliance of the above- allows some full fat dairy,
PaNu or Archevore Diet- allows more starchy veg, some aged cheese, and leans more towards a range from 5-35% carbohydrate, from 10-30% protein and from 50 to 80% fat (mostly from animals)

In my opinion, what it boils down to is how strict you want to take it and what foods your body has a hard time with.  Some people shouldn't eat dairy, while others can tolerate it just fine.
Check out the Paleo Food pyramid....it is quite a bit different from the one we are use to seeing!!!

Community Supported Agriculture

I recently gave a speech in my Public Speaking class on Grass fed vs Grain fed beef.  It was eye opening to say the least!  During my research I stumbled upon something very interesting.  CSA's, or Community Supported Agriculture, are an interesting option for those wanting to eat fresh and organic.  The idea is that you pay a share for a season of fresh, varied vegetables and fruit- straight from the farm.  Pick up is usually once a week and you can even opt for 1/2 and 1/4 shares to fit your budget.  Take a look at the website and the options in your area....
http://www.localharvest.org/store/local-csa.jsp

I also happened upon this gem of a site.... http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm#states
I am a HUGE fan of pick-you-own!   You can bet on me and the kiddos will be out there soon picking raspberries and strawberries. 

30 days of Paleo

I did it!!!!  Oh yeah!  30 days, strict Paleo!!!!  Down another 2 lbs. for a total of 15.  In all I had 2 bad Crohn's days.  2 out of 30.....this is a HUGE improvement as I could count on 1 or 2 Crohn's days a week before all of this. 
I will post more stats tomorrow and pics (I am getting my hair did today, and I don't want you all to see my roots and greys!)

Goodbye week 3, hello Easter!

He is Risen!!!!

Week 3 is complete and and I am into the 4th.  I am down another 2 lbs. for a total of 13.  My stomach is doing REALLY good, and my arthritis issues are slowly fading.  I think the last bit there is the most encouraging in this :)

My goals for week 4 are- combat some of the food boredom with new recipes, and incorporate some weights with my exercising.  As the flab is disappearing, the muscles underneath are a bit wiggly, if you know what I mean!

Chuggin' Along...

I'm still here, everyone!!!  It has just been a hectic week.  P was sick and then got an ear infection, my mom came to visit for a couple of days, spring break started, and I had to write and give my first speech in my Public Speaking class (Yuck!). 
So tomorrow is the last day of the third week.
Besides feeling better, having more energy (I, seriously, use to take a nap almost every afternoon), clearer skin, Lbs. lost...(my list is awesome!)  I am so proud to announce that I have not had a Diet Pepsi the whole time!!!!  This is a big deal, people! 
I look forward to posting my third week stats, I wonder what they will be?

oh, doctor....

I saw my gut doctor yesterday.  I so wanted to get on here and tell how wonderful it went and how excited he was about my Paleo decision, and on and on...
Well, all I really got was a Hmph!  from him.  He didn't decrease any of my meds and overall it was pretty much a waste of time.  One good thing came out of it, though.  I am set up to see him again in six weeks and just before that appointment I will get a full blood work up so we can compare my blood from March 1 to May 1.  Since he saw that my health was not declining, he agreed to give me the extra time and begrudgingly stated that he is curious what the blood will tell him.  My next appointment is set for May 18 and I will be using that time to reap all the benefits of Paleo.
While my original timeline was 30 days, I'm going all out for the 7-8 weeks.  I hope you will all stay with me on this journey!

very precarious, indeed

So, my dear husband, C, turned 42 today!  To celebrate, we went to Thai last night.  I was all prepared..I had checked many forums on eating out advice and went in there well equipped to maintain Paleo.  Well, we had a great dinner.  I ordered red curry, no rice, extra veggies...then coconut soup, and finally chicken satay.  No breading, no rice, nothing.  The waitress was really helpful, by the way, I probably sounded like a real mess when I was ordering :)
Well...despite the carefulness, I must have eaten something with gluten in it, or maybe something more processed than I am now use to.  I don't really know exactly, but what I do know is my belly is not happy.  It just shows me that I now walk a fine line and until I am remission from this flare, I cannot deviate.  ONWARD!!!

Paleo Snackin'

Apple Chips
2 large apples, cored (I used Red Delicious)

• 2 T. sugar (optional)
• 1 t. cinnamon
•  spray olive oil, or LIGHTLY brushed on

OR

 

 

Baked Zucchini Chips

• 1 zucchini
• olive oil cooking spray
• seasoned salt, or other seasoning(s) of your choice

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.  2 hours for the apples and 45min-1.5 hours for the zucchini.

*from Vittles and Bits Blog

Half way there!!!!

I am at the halfway point.  It was actually easier than I first thought it would be.
I am down another 3lbs. for a total of 11, at this point.
I see my gut doctor on Tues.  For the 30 days, I had to make an appointment half way through...to make sure I wasn't dying (he can be so dramatic sometimes!)  I can't wait to walk in there and sing the praises of Paleo.  He is sure to shoot it down, but I'll work some magic :) 
I'm off to celebrate the last two weeks with some eggs and bacon!

Take that Crohn's!

I've seen some improvement in my Crohn's issues and it has only been about two weeks!  I wanted to list them for you, because I am a list kinda person...


I had a pain free day yesterday!!!
One week of no sprints...teeheehee- decipher that one :)
I still have joint pain in my hands, but my feet feel great!!
I don't feel so bloated and my stomach is less poochy

I am confident I will be able to add to this list after the 30 days are complete.  Thank you to all that have kept with me this far in the journey.  I have some amazing family and friends and am also meeting new ones through this process.

I think my taste buds fell asleep...

For, like, 30 something years!!!!  They are awake now and the fresher the food the better it tastes.  This is a big deal because I am not a big fan of vegetables (I know shocking, huh? This Paleo thing is half veggies?!?!?).  I am also now drawn to making my plate full of colors...(crazy, rainbow lady here!)

Lots of good changes going on and I am nearing the half way point.  Anyone interested in joining me??

Snack Attack!!

My good friend, Biscuit, shared this snack recipe.  It is ALLL Paleo- in fact, she lovingly renamed it Paleo Crack!  Love that girl!  It is chock full of good fats and flavor.  The flavor part is REALLY important :)

5 cups of nuts and seeds (slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.)
- Be sure to use at least 2-3 cups of slivered almonds; this replaces the oats of a normal granola
1/3 cup of honey or agave nectar
1/3 cup of coconut oil
2 tsp vanilla (preferably natural)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

Mix honey, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Be careful; it will boil quickly! Move off stove and cool. Meanwhile, mix nuts and seeds in a mixing bowl; pour cooled mixture over top and mix til thoroughly coated. Spread on a baking sheet on parchment paper and bake for 20-30 minutes at 300 degrees. Watch closely and don't put it too close to the heating element. The idea is to just "toast" everything. Allow to cool slightly, and then pour it back into the mixing bowl and add your dried fruit and coconut. Spread over wax paper until cooled, then place in airtight container where it will keep until you eat it all, which will be about an hour.

 

Week One!

Week one is done!  I'm feeling decent, I have a little more energy and here is the BIG news...drum roll, please.....
I am down 8 lbs.
My main goal is to get my Crohn's in check, but the fact that weight loss is included?!??!?!?!  I am loving this :)
I'm charging into week 2 like a warrior...ONWARD!!!

Aha! moment

"I know this sounds intense or ‘over the top’… but take a minute and think about it??

With ALL of our advancement in the fields of science and technology why is it that we continuously get fatter, disease rates are always going up, and new diseases are popping up..

It’s simple.. We are not treating food as medicine – instead we dismiss it’s affects and blame everything else.."

I got this from the Caveman Strong Website.....it was my AHA! moment.  It was easy to connect the dots after that.  Taco Bell is NOT medicine, either is Diet Pepsi (my love!).  Just wanted to share...

Exercise and Days 3 & 4

I think Paleo and Crossfit are married.  Most places that reference Paleo talk about Crossfit as well, and vice versa.  I think I'd like to 'date' crossfit.  At least to see if we have a connection.  Don't worry, C, doesn't mind. But, until our first encounter, I am exercising 5 days a week.  About a year ago, I got the Insanity workouts (from a friend).  So, Mon-Wed-Fri I do those.  Then on Tue and Thurs, B has Lacrosse practice.  The field has a HUGE sidewalk/track around the perimeter.  I rock out while I walk and then hang out in my car after and do homework. 

Days 3 & 4 are behind me now and I am doing good.  Yesterday I pretty much drug my behind around all day, counting the minutes until bedtime.  I checked out Trader Joe's and found a couple of things. At this moment I am eating salmon patties, fresh spinach and TJ pico de gallo.  Very tasty!!
My Crohn's issues are pretty much the same, but I do see a difference in my how much better I am sleeping and my face is getting clearer :)  Haha!  Things, they are a changing!!!!!!

Detox, Diet and Day 2

Robb Wolf, the author of 'Paleo Solution,' told me this would happen.  He outlined the why's and how's but I kinda skimmed over that part.... until today.  Holy Moley, Shish kambow!  I have a detox HEADACHE!  I am smiling right now. (Through the pain)  It is working!!  It is working! My body is responding to Paleo.  If I was keeping score, it would be 1 point Paleo- 0 points Crohn's.  (Insert a little end zone boogie here)

What do you eat, you may be thinking.  Well, remember my hot Paleo friend?  She sent me this http://cavemanstrong.com/food/meal-plans/  It is two weeks of easy Paleo meals.  Meat, eggs, veggies, some fruit, nuts and good fats.  My love of avocados if finally allowed!! :)  There are also a TON of Paleo bloggers that post recipes, as well.  I am sticking to the very basics now, I know I will explore and experiment a little later.  I just don't want to get distracted by huge, long lists of ingredients.

Day 2-  P had a spring party in kindergarten today.  Several weeks ago I committed to making no bake cookies for the party.  I, selfishly, chose these particular cookies because I LOVE them.  I was anticipating eating the leftovers.  Well, my big plan worked...very few kiddos ate the dog poo looking cookies (I am an evil genius!)  But wait,  jokes on me!  I can't and won't eat a single one.  Maybe I will use them to sweeten up a neighbor or two?!?!

** On a side note, the outpouring of love and support I have received since sharing this blog has made me feel like a million bucks.  I am beyond blessed with such wonderful people in my life.  Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers!

I'm going PALEO!!!!

I have a good friend from Germany that went Paleo about a year or so ago.  She looks uh-MAZ-ing!  I kinda asked about it back then and, well, I thought she was NUTS.  So, here I find myself on Paleo...Who's NUTS now???  Me!  When I got my 30 day stay of execution (it felt like that) I searched for what would get me the results I need.  Lower my inflammation, take some weight off, help with my iron and generally feel better.  When I asked my doctor, he suggested a low fiber and minimal vegetables.  I was stunned.  This just doesn't sound right.  I get the fiber part...fiber and me are just not friends and never will be again.  But cut out the veggies and eat just white bread and rice?  Maybe not.
So, my hot friend came back to mind and I looked into Paleo.  Several stories of people, just like me, popped up and they had a complete turn-around in their disease.  They were medicine free and healthy!!!  I felt like I hit the lottery.  This is it!
I read the "Paleo Solution", got the book "Everyday Paleo" and scoured the Paleo blogs.  I shopped (it took 4 stores to find everything- thank you, Lord, for Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Wegman's) I printed out my first two weeks and now it is time to start.  OK....1....2...just push me now....WAIT!  I can do this  1.....2......3  JUMP!!!

Where do I start...
for the past 8 months it has been easier to say "we're great, all is well, everything is wonderful" instead of telling the truth.  The truth isn't so wonderful or great.  It is also easier to hide behind the other and to an extent start to believe it so you don't have to admit the real deal.  Whoa...the real deal.  Here it is... I have Crohn's.  My immune system is attacking my small intestine, this has some rather unsavory results.  If I don't get a handle on this, I will suffer some pretty scary consequences.  Life altering ones.  Just take some medicine...you might say.  Well, I have, but to fully get the picture....strap in and hold on tight, we are about to reflect on how I got here.  Here we go.
In Oct. 2008 I got the swine flu, then it became pneumonia.  I ended up in a German emergency room and they standard test your white blood count to detect inflammation.  Well, my was very high (no biggie- it was due to the pneumonia) After I recovered my normal American doc redid this test.  Still high, but no alarm yet.  We checked my blood again after a couple of months...still high.  Well, I had no outward signs of inflammation, but my blood said differently.  I had a sinus infection sometime in there so my doc sent me to an ENT doc.  So here we are at June 2009 and my ENT doc says you must have a chronic sinus infection.  I have surgery to fix a deviated septum.  My sinus' clear up but after another test to check my white blood cells, they are still abnormally high.  Thinking it is a lingering result from the surgery we wait a few months.  Back to the lab I go and this time the results show high inflammation and low iron.    Iron supplements are prescribed and off I go, thinking this is the fix.  Not so fast....the iron supplements do nothing.  Yet another blood test with the same results.  Excepts my iron is very low and now my Vitamin B12 is low.  The doctor gives my a Vit B12 injection and refers me to a gastrointerologist.  Uck!  A gut doctor?!?!??!  It took forever to get into him, but in the end, he discovered the real problem.  I had to have a colonoscopy (don't laugh..one day you will find yourself scoped, it could save your life)  Gold mine!!!!  Where my small intestine ends and my large intestine begins (terminal ileum) I have about a 10cm area of diseased area.  After a MRI of my stomach area a second location of inflammation was found at the very beginning of my small intestine (duodenum) about 6cm long.  Now, in between all these test, I experienced the monster that Crohn's is.  It was an ugly, painful nightmare.  My first flare brought me to my knees in more ways than one.  It was a difficult time that I will skim over.
Here starts the medicine part...My GI doc prescribed an oral steroid for me.  It was AMAZING!  I was normal!  I could eat anything I wanted (and I did) without any issues.  I could even forget I had this disease.  Looking back, I took the easy road here.  I relied fully on the drugs and took no responsibility for what I could control, namely food. After a bit, some of my symptoms peeked through, so I just upped the medicine.  Until I was at the max dose.
In Oct 2011 we moved back to America!!!  It was so exciting.  And stressful.  I went crazy....eating out at all the restaurants I wasn't able to go to for three years.  My guts fought back....to a new GI doc I went.  Things start heading downhill here.  He puts me on an immune suppressant.  This is something a person who has had an organ transplant takes to avoid the body rejecting the foreign organ.  It makes it easier for me to get sick, and once sick, I can become VERY ill and unable to fight off infections.  A simple cold isn't that simple anymore, I have to be on guard for it to turn into something worse.  The immune suppressant started to work, and AGAIN I could live in denial, a few months later, the dose needed to be upped, then it needed to be upped again.  I am at the max now.  My Crohns symptoms are returning. 
In eight months. I have gone from the entry level drug for this disease to now, facing the end all of drugs.  Remicade infusions.  It is the last option.  If it doesn't work, I am screwed.  My head hangs low, right now, I did this to myself.  My doctor said, come in to see him and talk about when we will start the infusions.  I begged for 30 days.  30 days to turn back some of the damage I have caused.  30 days to change.  He only gave my 30 days, too much more and irreversible damage may be done. 
If I am successful, I can avoid Remicade, take back my health and get off the immune suppressants.  It is clear what I have to do.....it is time to change.