Living la Vida Lupus

The good news, I had a negative response to almonds, aspergillus (what?), cashews, corn, egg (whole), garlic (garlic is real filling), lobster (ka-ching), mustard, orange, pinto beans, rice, salmon, soybean, strawberries, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, tuna, and walnuts.

Please note that I am sharing my actual test results with you as well as my actual efforts to resolve these issues. Hmmmmmmmmm, this may be more than 2 parts! And I have to factor in autoimmune disease considerations as well.                                                                        

Let’s start with addressing the autoimmune disease considerations. First foods to eliminate: dairy and wheat/gluten, why? These two groups contribute to “inflammation” and we need a non-inflammatory diet. So, I have given up my beloved skim milk, Cheddar cheese on a triscuit, and ice cream. The good news just a few days of elimination and I don’t really miss these foods. My cravings for a cold glass of milk have diminished.

The rest of the foods in the mild sensitivities group…shrimp is totally out due to actual allergy. I eat peanuts once a week when I dine at Texas Roadhouse. Mild sensitivity foods should be eaten every fourth day. Once a week is good. I was a big oatmeal advocate, high cholesterol you know, but oatmeal had been out since I started replacing a meal a day with a smoothie. My first rule of achievement…replace one meal a day with a protein smoothie. So rotate beef, cantaloupe, pork, and turkey every four days. Whatever!

On to the negative response foods, I don’t eat corn as it is genetically modified (another conversation), I don’t care for eggs, but it looks like I may have to give them serious consideration, soybeans…another genetically modified food, my food list is shrinking. Hmmmmmmmm, fish, nuts and berries, beans and rice (lucky I am Mexican).

All I can tell you at this point is that if I had relied on trial and error I would never have discovered my true food sensitivities. Thanks to “testing” I know the culprit of many symptoms that have plagued me forever. Women, listen up, we are notorious for being constipated, yes, I said constipated. The sad news is we have convinced ourselves that is “normal” for us. It is not “normal”. Every digestive issue I have ever had has been resolved by making some simple food additions and eliminations. Want to know more? All you have to do is ask <smile>, I love to share my good fortune.

Thanks for reading,

Ruby

Facing life with lupus

6/26/2010

Meet Knox, Sport’s nephew.  It’s hard to tell if this is the front or back view…

Knox is adding a whole new dimension to my life <smile>.

6/24/2010-better late than never

Did You Do It?

Did you Google “Food Sensitivities”? It’s ok if you didn’t because we are going to talk about them right now.

I have a food allergy…shrimp…they are lethal to me. I break out in hives, swell up, itch, and have difficulty breathing when I consume shrimp. One of my son’s friends has these reactions from just touching shrimp!

I also have some food sensitivities that fortunately are not lethal, but they do cause symptoms that before being tested I had no idea were food related. I can assure you in the past I have taken over the counter and prescription medications for these symptoms. It is such a relief to get to the root of their cause.

Are you paying attention? This is important. Delayed food reactions can cause a variety of chronic symptoms. Now here is the part that really caught my attention as someone who suffers from lupus. Food sensitivities can cause inflammatory reactions at various sites in your body, including the small and large intestines, skin, kidneys, ears, sinuses, head, lungs, and joints. OMGosh!

So, what foods are people most commonly sensitive too? That would be eggs, dairy, gluten, soy and peanuts. I have never been fond of eggs or soy, maybe a little edamame sometimes. I crave dairy, hmmmmmm a nice cold glass of skim milk, cheese, ice cream…I eat peanuts, but it is no big deal to eliminate them. Gluten? What the heck is gluten? It is a protein found in wheat and some other grains. Great, no bread! And what about all the grains I have been consuming for “fiber”?

When I began my quest to lose my extra poundage by eating healthy and exercising smarter I decided to eliminate the eggs, dairy, gluten, soy, and peanuts. A much harder feat that I thought. Anyway I was doing quite well. Lost a few pounds. I was feeling fabulous, sleeping better and not feeling so bloated. But the weight loss came to a stand still after couple of months into my program so, I decided to actually be tested for food sensitivities. It is a simple test, I performed it in the comfort of my own home. My results arrived a few weeks later and guess what. I am not sensitive to eggs, dairy, gluten, soy or peanuts!

You want to know the results right? I was shocked, dismayed, and a little confused. I had no foods that I am severely sensitive to. This is a good thing. Now for the shocking part…I am sensitive to “chicken”!?! My main source of protein. How will I survive? So why am I dismayed? I am moderately sensitive to crab meat. I don’t eat crab meat often, but it is a favorite considering my shrimp allergy. I will miss crab meat, but it doesn’t rank up there with chicken. Now for the confusing part…green peas, what? I don’t eat green peas. Or at least I didn’t think I did. I told you I have a protein smoothie for breakfast “every” morning and sometimes for dinner too. I was using a rice protein powder instead of whey because I was not doing dairy, remember? Well the rice protein powder contained hemp and GREEN PEAS!

To be continued…
Ruby
Facing life with lupus

I hope I am not developing a pattern here…Tuesday posts becoming Wednesday posts! I had a follow up with my rheumatologist yesterday after work. My appointment was at 4:15pm. I left the doctor’s office at 6:00pm. They were behind schedule…I had an hour commute home from the appointment. No excuses, just “sayin”, there aren’t enough hours in a day!

So, on with today’s conversation. No loss of additional poundage since my last update. And actually no inch or body fat % loss either, but “stop the presses” I had three comments from co-workers that I look like I have lost some weight! Can you say “motivation”?

My custom blended amino acids were delivered today. The instruction pamphlet says I should notice improvement in 3 to 14 days! I still need to order my B vitamins and a couple other supplements in order to blaze ahead with my full arsenal of weapons.

I would like to share with you a food experience I had this weekend.

Father’s Day dinner at my in-laws. Lots of healthy food choices, but also a lot of foods that I have not been consuming. Because of inflammation issues with autoimmune disease I have been eliminating gluten and dairy, well about 90% anyway, it is really hard and sometimes these two items are in foods that you least expect. Example…I was looking at the nutrition information at Freebirds, a tex – mex fast food restaurant close to where I live and can you believe it, there is freakin’ gluten in their salsa! How ridiculous is that!

So, what was my experience? I had my signature smoothie for breakfast, went to church, early service, lunch was to be served around 1pm. Got to our destination and my husband poured me a glass of red wine, yum, nothing wrong with that except it may have triggered my appetite a smidge and then out came the chips, Doritos with a hint of jalepeno, ok, just a few, yum, Ruby you really need to stop, this could get out of control real quick, ok, mixed nuts, better choice than chips, oops, how did that chip get in my mouth? Fruit! Cherries and pineapple, that’s better than nuts or chips. When is lunch being served again? Lunch consists of roast beef, green beans, salad, bread, warm buttery bread, luckily it is sliced thin because I indulge in two pieces. Oh yea, red potatoes, I ate one, yikes, then it’s time for dessert, marble cake with chocolate frosting. I had a small, really small piece. The frosting was decadent. Not really, but it had been soooooooooo looooooong since I had indulged, trust me it was decadent! So for about two hours I grazed on foods that have been foreign to me for some time. I didn’t stuff myself, but I felt like I had eaten an elephant. But I haven’t even told you the real experience yet! I almost went into a coma after consuming this food. I am not kidding, I sat on the sofa and could not keep my eyes open, I felt as if I had been drugged. We had to leave, it was really embarrassing. It didn’t end there, I nodded in and out of consciousness all the way home, about an hour’s drive. I was nauseated, I had a headache, I felt bloated, and it lingered on until the next day. Do not do this to yourself. There is no food, do you hear me? No food is worth the symptoms I experienced.

Do yourself a favor and Google “food sensitivities”. I believe that nurturing my body with healthy food is key to my lupus success. If you have an autoimmune disease you know there is a fine line  you have to walk to keep yourself off medications and out of the hospital. Make up your mind that you are worth it, please. Don’t take my word for it, I am my own guinea pig, feel free to learn from my mistakes. I know there is someone, probably many someones who need “you” to hang around and be as healthy as possible. I promise you if it weren’t for my husband and kids I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you. Disease is the hardest thing you will ever fight.

Thanks for listening,

Ruby

Facing life with lupus

Hay Chihuahua!
Did you know the first modern day Chihuahua registered with the American Kennel Club was” Midget” in 1905. Chihuahua popularity has grown consistently until they have become one of the most popular breeds. Smooth coated has been the most popular but in recent years, the longhaired variety is closing in.

This is Sport and his cousin, Hazel, preparing to perform the Mexican Hat Dance!

As you can see…Sport is a major source of joy in my life…joy is healthy! Tell me about the joy in your life!

Hola Compadres, are you watching “So You Think You Can Dance”? I am .

Are you aware of the benefits of dance?

NO?

Please be pulling my leg!

Here are just a few:
Can you say “flexibility”?
How about “strength”?
“Endurance“, you bet!
Dance improves your “self esteem”.
Did I mention “FUN”, hel-lo!

Dance has been part of my life forever. I took modern jazz classes as a young girl, you know, so I would have a talent. Really, that was my stepmother’s reasoning. I took a year of tap lessons, but I was never interested in ballet until a few years ago when I was trying to improve my “arm lines”. Dance was a big reason I was healthy enough to survive my horrific lupus flare that left me with lungs full of scar tissue. Dance was an intricate part of my recovery. Dance lessons were something to look forward to. An escape from the reality of medications, pain, doctor visits, CT scans of my chest and pulmonary function tests every six months for several years.

My lupus diagnosis journey was of course the culmination of many factors. The week Mick and I had an appointment at the County courthouse to get married I was in the hospital for three days with “pneumonia”. Loaded up on antibiotics and released on Thursday so I could get married on Friday. The following week…you guessed it, back in the hospital, “pneumonia” again! This stay was 10 days, but I checked out with a definitive diagnosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The amazing thing about dance for me, someone with an autoimmune disease, was its ability to lure me back into an active life.

Mick and I were on a Country Western dance team for several years. Two hour practice sessions once a week, three performances at Dance Competitions each year. It was awesome. We made some lifelong friends and continue to social dance with many of them.

I danced Pro Am competition for a couple of years after our dance team experience. Talk about feeling like you are on top of the world. I may not have looked like Ginger Rogers, but I surely felt like her, albeit a country western version. I am smiling right now just thinking about it. It’s a feeling I will always remember. Competing required weekly private lessons and a practice party. For several years I was at the dance studio most evenings for group lessons, practice, private classes, and just the love of dance.

And each time I went to see my Rheumatologist he would ask me if I had the stamina to make it through the grocery store I could smile and say emphatically, “yes”! My doctor told me that most people with my limited lung capacity were on oxygen. Thank you physical activity for keeping in the game of life.

Currently Zumba is my dance of choice. It is my “icing on the cake” exercise. I am also certified to teach “Flirty Girl” fitness. Both formats allow for some self expression, fun, and interaction with other dancers. Yes, every member of a Zumba or Flirty Girl class is a dancer or they would have chosen a traditional aerobic class.

If you haven’t tried dance…pull down the shades…crank up some tunes…dance like no one is watching, deal? Enjoy!

Thanks for joining me,
Ruby Aguilar as I face life with lupus

Well, friends, I began my increased dose of synthroid this past Saturday and added the supplement for my cholesterol, recommended by my physician. My food plan (I would love to share, but you have to ask) remained the same. You are not going to believe it…I lost 4 pounds this week…you heard me right, 4, 4, 4, 4, sorry I can’t quit saying it, 4 pounds, 4 pounds, 4 pounds. Not only did I lose 4 pounds I broke through a major plateau that I have been trying to overcome for about 6 weeks.

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you I have pretty consistently carried about 10 extra pounds since my years of steroid therapy. Then I hit menopause this year, OMGosh it seemed as if I woke up one morning with an additional 20 pounds, that’s, you know….30 pounds overweight. This could not be happening! Well, in February of this year I decided I had to muster up all my strength and determination to somehow lose the extra pounds. I got off to a good start lost 8 pounds in a couple of months, stalled a few weeks, lost 4 more pounds, came to a screeching halt. Mick on the other hand lost 30 pounds in the same time frame (grumbling under my breath).

Of course I now know why I was having such a hard time…test don’t guess! It is the secret to my success<smile>.

At this time I am only concerned with my waist and hip measurements. So what do you think the ideal waist measurement is? I just read that under the guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation, a normal waist measurement for a woman is 32 inches or less, and for a man it is 38 inches or less. Some doctors even recommend 30 inches or less for women and 35 for men. Great balls of fire! Well, my first goal is going to be to lose 5 inches in my waistline. Please send positive energy my way…scratch that…please pray for my success.

No, this is not a photo of me <sheepish grin>
My body fat % is 41, hay caramba, I need to feel some love people. According to a chart I found online that is not acceptable. In fact I am in the obese category!!! Say it isn’t so. Forgive me, but I am going to give that chart the same acknowledgement I give the BMI chart…not very much.

I ordered my “custom blended” amino acids today. Another important piece of the puzzle known as Ruby’s body. Lupus, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc…you better look out, I am fighting back.

Ruby

Facing life with lupus

Hey Ya’ll, I told you last week about Sport being my empty nest pet, well, he is my current pet, but he wasn’t my first empty nest pet. Before I em”bark” on this conversation let me begin by telling you right up front that I have always been a cat person. I currently have two cats, Spyder and Paris (Paris really belongs to my son, James). Anyway I will share their stories at a later date. But I promise you for years I had absolutely no use for dogs, they lick you with their slobbery tongues and chew up your cutest pair of shoes.

Well about three years ago when Mick and I were visiting two of my sisters in Tennessee (they both had dogs, Nike and Colby) for some reason dogs suddenly didn’t seem quite so bad.

So when James joined the army Mick took me to the pet shop to look at puppies. They were all soooo cute! Since Mick was the purchaser he got to be the picker…the only real stipulation was that the dog had to fit our home environment, a townhouse. Mick thinks pugs are cute and after holding a few of them I decided they were just right.

We bought a male so now we had to decide on a name. Hmmmmmmmm where to begin…we decided to name him Swoosh after his cousin, Nike. Swoosh was so adorable and he loved us so much. He certainly did shed a lot. Thank goodness he seemed to like baths cause he could be kinda stinky too. We trained him to do a few tricks and he got to sleep in the big bed. We were a very happy family unit. I didn’t miss James at all, JUST KIDDING!

One Friday evening after work we stopped by our townhouse before going to dinner. We decided to let Swoosh out of his play yard while we were gone. That is when tragedy struck. When we got back from dinner about an hour later Swoosh was huddled by the wall in the kitchen crying real tears it was so heart wrenching. He couldn’t walk. We scooped him up and rushed him to the emergency clinic. The only thing we can speculate is that he had fallen down the stairs because that’s where we found one of his toys. The vet x-rayed my poor baby and he had broken one of his hips and fractured the opposite leg. We were stunned, how in the world could this have happened. We were sent home with our beloved baby and some pain medicine to help him through the night with instructions to take him to his regular vet the next day. The prognosis was dire, especially for a 9 month old puppy. Even with extensive surgery he might never walk again and he would always be on pain medication. It was a hard decision but we thought it would be best if our poor baby went to heaven. I have seen an email going around about dogs not going to heaven, but ours did, and that’s that.

So I am sharing with you today a  picture of Swoosh Aguilar who made a genuine dog lover out of a cat person.

The joy my pets bring me can’t even be described in words. Not only did Swoosh and Sport give me a direction for my motherly instincts they brought me comfort during recovery from my worst flare and no matter how bad things may seem in my personal life, business life or in the world they bring a smile to my face.

Ruby
Facing life with lupus

Please allow me to explain, I mentioned “testing” in my “Throwing Down the Gauntlet” post because I had a number of lab tests done recently. Some of the findings of these tests were low thyroid levels, low adrenal hormone levels, I am deficient in B vitamins, and low levels of 5 amino acids. I am still waiting on my vitamin D results. Any one of these deficiencies can compromise energy production and cause chronic fatigue. And to make matters worse I haven’t been sleeping good for a couple of months, quality or quantity. I know, wah, wah, wah, but really, I share these details with you so you will understand how it is that I fell asleep on the sofa after dinner on Tuesday night, thus no post <insert embarrassed face>.I thought about writing Tuesday’s missed post yesterday, but I decided to work on techie stuff instead. I am finding that a Bloggers work is never done.

Thanks for joining me as I “Face Life with Lupus”.

Ok, before I bore you to death, on with project “Test Don’t Guess”. Saturdays will be my official weigh, measure, and calculate body fat percent day. So without having to bare my most intimate details aka actual number on the bathroom scale let it suffice to say that my 3 month weight loss goal is to lose 26 pounds. I will post my body fat percentage and inch loss goals on Saturday, “Sport’s Page Day“, I don’t think he will mind sharing a little of his online presence with his mom. And this isn’t just about fat percentages and creating a muffin top out of a pound cake people, my triglycerides are 555, yikes, my goal is to get them under 150. Total cholesterol needs to go from 276 down to between 125-200, Success in these two areas will ensure my total ratio will hit it’s target.

So, how does this all tie into autoimmune disease? Keeping yourself as healthy as possible at all times is invaluable. I never know when I might have a little flare or an extremely severe flare. My best chance for survival is a strong immune system. And even though today’s conversation is focusing on numbers, another component of strengthening my immune system is exercise. We will talk more about the value of exercise to autoimmune disease in another post. Always be prepared, scouts honor. I am important to a lot of people, so I do everything I can to be healthy for them. Who knows maybe you can find some benefit from my personal experiences.

On a lighter note…still struggling with inserting photos so I will share a picture of Mick and Sport.