What would be some signs that you are properly absorbing your food?
Lack of bloating Energy
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Everybodys digestive system works perfectly, here in the future Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
LOL massman - what else to they have in the future?
I would think maintaining weight could be one.. minimal undigested food in stools..
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Minimal undigested stools in food.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
how my skin looks tends to give me clues as well.
And there is going to be some undigested food, there are plant fibers that are stricly there to help move things through the tract and don't actually breakdown. But bloating is a big one, and also how quickly it moves through you and how well formed things are haha-sorry- a bit graphic I know.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
"well-formed" would be a good sign though, correct?
I just worry that I'm not absorbing any nutrients. I've lost 20 lbs since being sick and can't gain a single pound back. And I eat 6-7 meals a day. Good, quality meals too.
I also avoid gluten/wheat/dairy... so I know there's no issue with celiacs.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
quote:Originally posted by massman: Minimal undigested stools in food.
So as to not misquote massman, I think he means 'Minimal undigested FOOD IN STOOLS' and not "stools in food". Undigested food in stools also occurs when you don't chew your food well enough. (Ex. corn kernels, etc.)
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
I'm very thin as well and yes, well formed is a good thing.
I know I am absorbing things simply because I feel and look better.
For instance, I am still real thin but my face filled back out and my skin stopped looking so gray.
Also, I feel better mentally and physically, sleep better.
If you are eating throughout the whole day (same as me, I'm a grazer also haha) keep in mind your metabolism will be higher due to this especially since you are eating good foods and keeping your blood sugar level (grazing really helps to stop any spikes in blood sugar) so there won't be much stored.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Right. Doesn't help that I've cut carbs pretty low (I have no yeast isues! even on heavy abx's! wooo wooo)
I guess I just have to be patient and wait for my body to recovery and start building muscle again.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
yeah its not easy.
I bought a protein powder in hopes that I can start building muscle mass. I eat few carbs as well, just the carbs in quinoa, a few legumes ehere and there, and about a cup of berries a day.
All of this will kepp your metabolism racing.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Helps me get my free form amino acids (that I tested very low for)
elley, did you treat thyroid issues?
It's hard to get people to believe you have thyroid issues when you're losing weight. But I think all Lymies have thyroid/adrenal issues.
Just curious if you went on any supps or meds
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
my one doc thinks I am subclinical hypothyroid and yes I have awful adrenal issues.
He gave me a script for Cytomel, but I have not tried it yet.
I am trying to treat it a bit more naturally via sea salt, Vit C, Zinc, and D. Also the amino acids in the protein powder.
My numbers weren't even out of the normal range, but he suspects an issues and like i said I'm very thin.
But adrenal issues will often make you lose weight as well, so even being hypothyroid, you may not gain.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
as for Adrenals though-I am on low does hydrocortisone as well as taking sups for it-I need the hydro, i was in the hospital for half of december from an Addisonian crisis...but even with the hyrdro-I do feel much better, but still not putting on any weight. It was a deciding factor in me absorbing nutrients though.
During my crisis, I was basically vomitting up everything I put in me, even water. So at this point, I think the adrenals are somewhat under control. Its really hard to know what to do and what not to do.
I didn't want to take meds, but at the same time it was necessary.
I may try the thyroid med eventually, but for now I'm not ready to try anything else.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Ya. You and I probably fall right into the adrenal fatigue category.
I'm treating adrenals aggressively... and still believe that I may have to use low-dose synthetics to displace whatevers blocking my T3 receptor sites.
rT3, metals, toxins
Do you have low body temperature?
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I know I should probably treat the adrenals. I have lost 24 pounds and can't seem to gain one pound back.
However, I have maintained my weight for the last 6 to 8 months. I am hoping this is a sign that my body is trying to balance itself out.
I need to gain at least 10 pounds back just to look better......not look sick!
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Just an FYI friends, I started wilson's adrenal rebuilder and am having amazing results w/ it in the first week of it's use.
Temp is nearer 98' most days now, even right on sometimes, and there is no extreme fatigue or energy drop at 5pm, etc.
Just thought I'd share as I have used tons of adrenal supportive supplements and I believe this one is different.
Best
Derek
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
djf,
The glandulars?
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
interesting. If its glandulars i can't seem to tolerate those-I tried, but my system rejected it.
Cane-my body temp used to be 96.5 and still gets down there at times, but since being on hydro its about 97.5 most of the time. Not the best, but not as bad either.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
As for metals and toxins-I am doing a cleanse in a couple months for these exact reasons.
I know metals interfere with things. i am going to do Dr. Natura's colonix and toxin out program at the same time.
Plus I take baths all the time-I wish I could live in a bath tub lol.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
You could call it that, yeah.
The one I posted about previously, it's working well.
It's not a supportive herb or vitamin, rather a proprietary blend of porcine(pig) adrenal, gonadal, hypothalamus and pituitary concentrates that have been processed to remove hormones.
Basically all taken from a pig, hormones removed, then processed and put into pill form which when added to the human body should result in the stimulation of the growth of the same hormones resulting in rebalanced adrenals.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
hmmm interesting. Perhaps my problems with other glandulars stem from the hormones not being removed in those produtcs.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Could be Elley. I have not taken a product w/ hormones, but now that I think of it I don't think I would want the hormones left in as the aim is to get our bodies to mfg. them again on their own.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
I've heard that Dr. Wilson's Thyro-Balance is pretty good too but I've never tried it.
What others like about it is the no iodine formula.
Just an FYI
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
ping,
Doesn't Wilson recommend synthetic T3 though in his Wilson's Sydrome?
So for us Lymies... his thyro-balance isn't enough in his eyes?
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
Don't really know right off if he likes T3. I do know there are a lot of people (like me) who are tapering off Armour Thyroid (AT) and trying to see if their thyroids have adjusted to better health before even considering T3. I have a bottle full of it, but would rather wait and have my doc test me again and see if any changes since stopping AT.
Re: Adrenal Rebuilder... I know it claims to have no hormones in it, but I'm skiddish with regard to those claims. Don't see how you can keep the hormones out of a swine-based product. As with Armour, it's swine-based also, so I can't help but wonder. I don't know anything for a fact, just talking....
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
I doubt they (wilson's products) would make the claims if they were not true.
There is too much at stake for them and it would be too easily dis-proven to make an erroneous statement like that-
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
Derek - I'm not saying that Wilson's is out to deceive, I'm saying that chemically, or by other lab means, don't know a process that can remove ALL hormones from swine glands for a product like this. Would seem that such a process would boost the price of Wilson's products quite a bit higher than they are at present.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
The bigger issue, than hormones, is where the hogs are from and how they are raised.
Does this Wilson have a a good reputation?
Has he been in business long?
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Ingredients - Thyro-Balance� contains a special liquid blend of: calcium, chromium, iodine, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin B 1, vitamin B 2, vitamin B 3, vitamin B 5, vitamin B 6, vitamin B 12, folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, vitamin D, vitamin E complex, boron & choline, in a base of L-tyrosine, & liquified seaweed with citrus seed extract.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Ping-
you may be right, although I don't think you, I, or anyone on this board know enough about extracting hormones from adrenal supplements to be able to say how expensive or efficient it might be.
If it helps, great. If not, well, try something else.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
quote:Originally posted by djf2005: Ping-
you may be right, although I don't think you, I, or anyone on this board know enough about extracting hormones from adrenal supplements to be able to say how expensive or efficient it might be.
If it helps, great. If not, well, try something else.
Derek - I believe you're taking my comments the wrong way. I said that "I heard", as in from some people.....etc.
As far as my lab knowledge... As I also said, "just thinking". I'm allowed to attempt that occasionally...And my comments on this thread do not violate Lymenet rules, therefore I'll post as I like. (Geez!)
cane, if you want to continue conversation, send me email.
Bye ya'll, be back later!
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
Ingredients - Thyro-Balance� contains a special liquid blend of: calcium, chromium, iodine, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin B 1, vitamin B 2, vitamin B 3, vitamin B 5, vitamin B 6, vitamin B 12, folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, vitamin D, vitamin E complex, boron & choline, in a base of L-tyrosine, & liquified seaweed with citrus seed extract.
cane - Thanks for pointing this out. Like I said, I don't take it (or anything for thyroid right now), just what I heard.
Adios for now!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Just want to say that, in my experience, people in their 40's or younger who go on a low carb diet can lose weight drastically. (Same with a low fat/no fat diet.)
This is all people. Not talking about people with lyme disease.
People with a naturally high metabolism would really be prone to losing weight easily on these diets. I saw it with my husband.
On a low fat diet that allowed him to eat all the "legal" foods that he wanted, he lost 30 pounds in 30 days and all of his coworkers thought he had gotten AIDS. He became under-weight. (I was trying to keep him from ever having a heart attack.) Endocrinologist said he had an extremely high metabolism. He ate constantly and was prone to hypoglycemia.
So, changing our diets alone can cause dramatic weight loss in people with high metabolisms.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
well I definitely do not eat low fat, just lower carbs to avoid yeast issues since I am on abx.
But I fully think carbs are good for the brain and body-but as unprocesses and whole as possible. i still eat some, I feel like complete garabage without my morning quinoa and my berries.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
TF,
Yep. If I don't eat 6 small meals a day and one right before bed I'll have hypoglycemia issues.
I want to increase my carbs... but really can't due to hypoglycemia stuff.
I think once I'm able to get back into the gym and lift (heavier than I am now)... I'll put some muscle back on (being that I'm on a high protein diet.
I might really start going after almond butter and avocados.
Adrenal fatigue can cause serious weight loss too. Your metabolism is put into overdrive and malabsorption occurs.
So fixing endo situations can help imo
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
My husband actually had to carry food with him where ever he went to avoid hypoglycemia. This was doctor's orders.
He carried cans of vegetables, for example, in his vehicle at all times. He was not allowed any simple carbs--they just make hypoglycemia worse. (So, he had to eat like a lymie!)
And, if he was doing physical work, he had to eat even more often. He would have a hypoglycemic attack (irritability is first stage) every 2 hours when working on our new sidewalk on a hot day. It was like clockwork. He had to literally eat constantly!
As soon as he ate, he was back to his normal happy go lucky self.
And, he definitely was instructed to always eat a bedtime snack.
We were told that hypoglycemia is the precursor to diabetes. (Because it eventually wears out the pancreas--pancreas is secreting too much insulin in response to sugar. That is what is happening with each hypoglycemic attack. So, do your best to never get hypoglycemic episodes). So he needed to eat like a diabetic to give himself the best chance of never getting diabetes.
30 years of hypoglycemia is what it generally takes to become diabetic. And, sure enough, 30 years later, hubby is now borderline diabetic, but takes no diabetic meds. Diabetes runs in his family.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Ya, I avoid all sugar and simple carbs.
Last time I had a hypoglycemic attack was when I drank a redbull at a golfcourse.
I came home after golf and crashed(actually passed out)... my friends gave me bread and miraculously it worked! (I know now because the fermented sugar brought my level back up)
It was very scary.
what does your husband conider a hypoglycemia attack?
I sometimes get blurred vision and tired when my BS gets low.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I generally recognized the hypoglycemia before he did. During an attack, the brain doesn't work properly, so the person doesn't think about hypoglycemia.
His personality would change. He could get irritable, aggressive, confrontational, irrational, angry, etc. (The body is trying to stop from going into a coma by producing adrenalin--the "fight or flight" hormone, according to the endocrinologist.)
His employees would notice his irritability and tell him, "Get out of here and go eat something."
I would notice the mood change and say, "You need to eat." He'd snap back, "Yeah, that's what you always say. I need to eat; it's ME. It's always ME."
He would become very impatient. We would go to a restaurant, but he would not be willing to wait to get seated. He would insist on leaving and going to another restaurant. He couldn't tolerate the wait there, so he would insist on leaving that one. On and on. You couldn't reason with him.
I finally found a website for hypogycemics and it clearly said, "Go to one restaurant and make yourself stay there until seated. Do not leave and go to another one and another one."
He took the 5 hour glucose tolerance test and failed it. That's how he was diagnosed by the endo. But, his blood sugar was 72 when he was shaking, getting nauseas, and passing out. That is still in the normal range of blood sugars. What brings on the symptoms is not the low level of blood sugar but the speed at which the blood sugar is falling. If it falls too fast, you get an attack.
They took his blood sugar level every half hour during that test. They can even take it every 15 minutes if you start to feel funny. Then, they can see how fast your sugar is dropping. THAT is what you have to avoid.
To avoid a rapid drop, you eat constantly and you eat like a diabetic.
The only time my husband knew he was having an episode was when he was falling asleep at the wheel driving home every day and waking up with tree branches hitting his truck (he was at the very edge of the road). That's why we had to go to the doc. It was just a matter of time and he would have wrecked.
He also would pass out when he got home. This was all because he would get a coke and a mallow pie on the way home from work--total sugar--because he was hungry.
He would pass out in a chair at home and when he woke up, he would walk into a wall (disoriented, spatial relationship ability impaired). Once, he could not read the menu in the restaurant. (Brain could not comprehend.) Once, he was taken to the hospital from work when he felt paralyzed from the waist down. Again, they took his blood sugar and it was in the 70s. Doc decided it was another hypoglycemic attack.
Normal symptoms were tremors, an urgent need to eat, etc. Get the old, old book "Hypoglycemia, the Disease your Doctor will Refuse to Treat." It has a 2-page spread of symptoms. Hubby read them and said he had them all--at least 50.
He thought everyone shook when they needed to eat!!
DO NOT eat bread or simple carbs to stop an attack. The bread will cause the pancreas to secrete too much insulin in response to the sugar and you will be setting off another hypoglycemic attack episode. You must eat cheese or milk or meat or a whole grain.
But, you MUST learn the early warning signs and ward of any attacks by eating BY THE CLOCK. This was the doctor's orders. He was not to eat when hungry, but eat every 2 hours instead, hungry or not. This is very important if you want to avoid diabetes 30 years from now.
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
"The body is trying to stop from going into a coma by producing adrenalin--the "fight or flight" hormone, according to the endocrinologist"
this is exactly what my doc said happened to me when I was going into my Addisonian crisis. he said I had constant anxiety and agression because my body was trying to prevent coma. I eventually collapsed in the ER.
I don't get severe hypoglycemia but because of my adrenal issues I am more prone to it so I eat every two hours and if I'm eating carbs-even though it always complex carbs-I always pair it with fat and/or protein. It helps my moods for sure.
According to my doc its healthy to eat 5-6 meals a day whether you are hypoglycemic or not.
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