Is it really possible to cure Lupus with diet?

Recently, this naturally healthy grandma ordered a naturally healthy cure book for “her” Lupus. The book is by a doctor who has been Lupus free for 10 years. She used a raw vegan diet (tons of fresh fruit and veggies) (no processed foods allowed) combined with powerful green smoothies and a gallon of filtered water a day to rid her body of all signs of Lupus.

Now, this doctor was much sicker than I am now, which is saying a lot for her amazing recovery. I'm pretty freaking sick, you guys. However, her Lupus had escalated to the point where her kidneys were impacted. She had blood sugar issues and had also suffered several mini strokes. Right now I am on a journey to follow her lead and try to cure my Lupus with her “Goodbye Lupus” diet. I figure that if it worked for her issues, curing mine should be no problem.

So, is it possible?

Well, to be honest, I have no idea if this will lead to a permanent cure. There are no guarantees in life, after all. However, I am showing some improvement already after just a few short weeks. Also, to be fair, I have cheated on the raw thing a few times, so my results may not reflect hers until I become more disciplined and/or until more time has passed.

What kind of results am I seeing?

The main issues that have started resolving themselves at this point in my journey are digestive. Before I started this diet, I was, to put it bluntly, worshiping the porcelain god on a regular nightly basis. Most nights of the week would find me awake and suffering from extremely painful acid re-flux, unable to digest most of what I had eaten that day. To put it delicately, what won't go down has nowhere to go but back up.

Now the good news.

Since about a week after starting this diet I am no longer having those late night episodes. You have no idea how much of a relief that is. This week, I had one night where the acid re-flux reared it's ugly head for what I am hoping was the last hurrah. It was a very mild attack, though and not nearly as intense as it used to be. So at least where the digestive issues are concerned, I believe this diet is helping.

So, even if that's all the benefit I get from purchasing this book, it's certainly worth the time, money and effort. It's no fun feeling as if you have a horrendous case of food poisoning on a nightly basis for sure. I'm so thankful for the reprieve from that issue.

To what do I owe this relief?

Well, those green smoothies are an absolute powerhouse of nutrition. In addition to the dark leafy greens, they also contain organic powdered greens with added vitamins, chlorella and spirulina, which, among other things are wonderful for moving things along, if you know what I mean. And then there is that gallon of daily water. That certainly doesn't hurt the digestive process. It likely provides extra lubrication and also flushes a lot of toxins from the system. Not to mention the fact that banishing chemical ridden tap water from the diet is always a good plan.

So there you go. Cross your toes and fingers for me. This naturally healthy vegan grandma is taking things to a whole new even healthier level. I may just beat this Lupus thing, after all. And even if I don't, at least I will be getting some awesome nutrition to help me fight it and feel better doing so. Wish me luck!

Note: This is not a paid revue. The author of this post has no affiliation with the author of the book mentioned.

Just another crazy day in the life at Grandma's house

Let me take you through an average, awesomely crazy day for us here at Grandma's house. It was February and I believe, if my sensory perception is correct, it was at least 70 degrees out. But that's not all. Gary spent the day serving on a jury, which necessitated me giving him a ride back and forth. There was also the matter of getting Tia back and forth to work. Nope, that's not all either.

On the way to buy home-school workbooks, we brought “our” found cat to Pet Smart where they discovered she had a microchip. So, after a bunch of phone calls, etc. she's back with her new owners.

It was also spring poop-scoop day. Which generally occurs when it's been hot enough and dry enough to make it a more pleasant task, if you get my wind drift.

So, off I went to the backyard with rake, shovel and contractor bags in hand to start that fun as heck job. Meanwhile, I had mentioned to my oldest grand-daughter, Amber, that it might be fun to build a tiny fort for the younger two, which she started gathering scrap wood for.

The idea was that she and the littlest grand-daughter, Aja would build the little house while I spent the afternoon scooping poop. Fun times and a great plan, right? Turns out, though, they needed more than my not-so-technical advice.

So, before you know it, I was hammering away with them, having done only 1/3 of the yard. Surprise! Building a tiny play house is way more fun than scooping poop. Who knew?

Now, due to the fact that our nail gun was malfunctioning and we couldn't find the saw to cut the boards to size and a few other issues, like the umbrella nearly taking Amber off to sky-land, we had to settle for a really, really, tiny house play house (with a tarp roof instead of the cool umbrella roof we were going to make.)

In the process of all this, I heard my phone ringing in my pocket. Turns out that I had butt dialed my brother in NY. In fact, my sister-in-law called to inform me that my butt had called so many times in a row (her estimate was 20) that she took the phone off the hook, thinking it was a telemarketer. Yes, they still have an old house phone. And they do have caller ID, but for some reason my name didn't show up on it.

We had a great laugh over the whole thing, then my brother got on the phone. Now, anyone who knows my brother and I very well, knows what that means. We are the thinkers of the family, for sure. Some might even go so far as to use those two dirty words (conspiracy theorists) when referring to us. Really what we are though is just two compassionate people who are good at connecting the dots.

We don't think anyone is conspiring against us, not really, anyway. We don't believe aliens are trying to kidnap or poison us or anything all that crazy. We just basically think the planet is fucked and humans are responsible. Well, that's the short of it, anyway. If you want the long of it, you'll have to listen in sometime. Because this blog is too short for that.

In fact, I'm about at the end of my page. So, the rest of the day was filled with doing housework, picking up Gary and Tia, buying girl scout cookies, making spaghetti and watching re-runs of Stargate Atlantis, during which, Gary started snoring loudly, then sat up and declared he was going to bed. Yup. Just another day. And believe it or not, I left a lot of stuff out!

Setting a healthy example

Healthy and yummy! It's a win/win.

You know, the older I get, the more I realize the importance of passing on good, healthy habits to my kids and grand-kids. Doing so may save them from chronic illness or at least keep the symptoms of any inherited illnesses they may acquire down to a dull roar. And for me, that's doubly important.

The Lupus and Rheumatoid that I'm fighting are both prevalent in my family. I'm told that they come from my Dad's side. That means my kids and grand-kids may unfortunately inherit those Lupus and Rheumatoid tendencies from me, as I did from him.

But you know, that's not all. You see, even if I didn't have these chronic illnesses, I would want the healthiest future for them. Doesn't everyone want their descendants to live long, happy, healthy lives? And of course, the more we learn, the more we realize that healthy habits are vital for disease prevention.

I've even heard that lifestyle choices can impact the physical condition of the future gene pool. In other words, unhealthy people produce unhealthy people. Who knew? But even if this weren't true, there's something else to consider.

Monkey see, monkey do? We all know that kids whose parents smoke often pick up the habit themselves. And so it follows that people who have unhealthy habits are likely passing those on, not just through physical changes, but through example.

I always say it's the best teacher. Example, that is. I'm sure I could find a study that proves it, but I think it's fairly obvious, don't you? We've all seen whole families of athletes or whole families of couch potatoes, right? It's pretty common.

So, when I make these positive changes for my health and the health of the planet, I'm not just doing it for my own sake. I'm doing it for my kids and grand-kids too. So they don't ever have to go through what I do with these illnesses.

Because I know that focusing on my own good health isn't just good for me. It's good for them too. Plus, I'm not ready to say goodbye to them yet. We have a whole lot of good times to look forward to and a lot of moments to share. Throwing that all away for a lousy ice cream cone just feels selfish to me.

Stay healthy, my friends. If not for yourself, than for your loved ones. Because one of the best gifts you can give them is a healthy example to follow.

Sorry, sweetie, I won't poison myself to line your pockets with gold

Sorry, we're not going there. At least not until it's necessary.

OK, so maybe the title sounds a bit condescending, but this naturally healthy Grandma is ticked off. I'm so tired of these rheumatology fellows (fresh out of medical school and newly brainwashed) pushing drugs that I don't need on me. And I'm even sicker of their supervisors backing them up in the name of funding.

I used to think that was just a conspiracy theory, but speaking from experience, I can now tell you it's the truth.

You may disagree and you're certainly entitled to your opinion. But when my doctors recommend that I take a medicine that's been proven lethal to more than a few patients and is not intended to be given to those who do not tolerate meds well, like me, I smell something stinky and it's not my feet.

That's because:

*I have a very low tolerance for most medications and my doctors all know it. In my lifetime, there have only been 2, count them, 2 prescription medications that I can tolerate. That would be prednisone and penicillin.

*The reason they are supposedly suggesting this medicine is because I have not been able to tolerate any of the other meds except prednisone, which is coincidentally inexpensive, been around a long time and does not earn them any bonus money.

*The physicians website (not web-MD or the equivalent) I consult with specifically states that this new medicine they want me to try should not be given to anyone with tolerance issues. In fact, the first thing you see if you have access to this site is a huge warning label to that effect in red and black. The site is restricted to licensed physicians. I got around that. Shhhhh

*I have caught my doctors flat out lying to me concerning the side effects of the last medicine “we” tried that I also could not tolerate but which they do receive funding for dispensing in an effort to keep me taking it, even though it was not improving my condition in any way whatsoever, according to their own lab tests.

You guys, I'm pretty much done with the kinds of doctors we have these days. I'm having a lot of promising results with changing my diet, taking high dose nutritional supplements and exercising more frequently. So much so that I have myself down to 5 mg. of prednisone daily. Plus, the way I am feeling (which is about 90% better) indicates that I will be able to eliminate prescription drugs within a year or so.

Now, I'm no fool. I know there's a chance with the Lupus that there may come a time when I absolutely have to try extreme measures. It's just that I know this is not that time.

So the real question is, “Why would you put someone who is doing better using natural methods on a more extreme drug?” And the logical answer is because it benefits you, the doctor, monetarily. (Because it's certainly not beneficial to me, the patient in any way.)

Sorry, sweetie, I won't poison myself to line your pockets with gold. Thank-you and have a nice day. I don't hold it against you. I know you're just doing what you've been brainwashed.... I mean taught to do. I'm off to look for a real doctor. You know, one who thinks of me as something more than an ATM machine.

Arthritic bathtub adventures

One time I got stuck in the bathtub.
Arthritis would not let me out.
I tried several different positions.
Ended up with a toe up the spout.
I twisted my leg to one side.
I tried getting onto my knees.
Just when I thought that I had it.
I slipped back in due to a sneeze.
I finally managed a handhold,
and pulled my way over the rim.
As I flopped on the floor,
someone opened the door,
and gave me a sarcastic grin.

Why does everyone else with Lupus seem so much sicker than me?

I'm no Wonder Woman, but I refuse to be defeated by Lupus.

I quite often get comments about how energized or productive I am compared to most people with Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes I wonder about that myself. Why is it that I am coping so well while others seem to be fading away? Of course, I can't say what others are going through. They may very well be much sicker than I am, for one thing. But aside from that, here are some things I do to make sure I feel as well as I can for as long as I can.

I remain as active as possible.

As I said, some folks don't have a choice. Some days, neither do I. However, when I do feel well, I make sure to get up, move around and get things done. Sometimes I don't feel up to heavy labor. That's OK. I still get up once in a while to stretch or wash a few dishes or do a load of laundry. Before Lupus, I was a very hard working person. With Lupus, I try to keep that up as much as possible. Why? Because a sedentary lifestyle is deadly, whether you have a chronic illness or not.

I sleep when I need to.

I've never been much of a sleeper. However, I've learned that when you have a chronic illness, sometimes you need a nap in the middle of the day. Sometimes, I go to bed earlier than usual. I'm also careful not to drive when I'm tired because that can be deadly with Lupus. So, in other words, I work hard with Lupus, but I also know when to quit and rest.

I'm not a defeatist.

I try to see the bright side. Yes, there is one. I even blog about it in my “LupusLove” blog. Doing so keeps me focused on the positive. I feel that when people define themselves by their illness, confine themselves to a limited life, complain about it constantly and basically focus on their problems, it's self defeating.

Once again, I realize that some people have no choice in the matter. But as long as I do, I will focus on creating positive energy and solutions, rather than bemoaning my lot in life.

I take a crap ton of vitamins and I eat my veggies.

I believe a healthy diet can help improve many health issues. That's why they call it a healthy diet. Your body is designed to function normally when it has everything it needs. Granted, Lupus can be hereditary. Mine is and it's not going away, no matter what I eat. Still, eating junk instead of food can make it much worse. Therefore, it follows that eating right can help keep symptoms minimal.

I take a massive amount of Vitamin D. In fact, I take 10,000 units of D-3 daily. Doctor's orders, if it makes you feel any better. I did have a continual prescription until I found out it was cheaper to buy 5000 unit capsules over the counter and take 2 a day.

I take other supplements too. Among them are flaxseed oil and chia seeds for Omega proteins. I'm also on a mostly vegan diet, as meat and dairy can worsen inflammation and slow down digestion. I get the rest of my protein from nuts and legumes. I'm not all that into tofu, but I do eat it from time to time.

I eat mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes and whole grains. I avoid GMO's whenever possible. I also buy organics whenever possible. I grow a lot of my own veggies to offset the cost of groceries and up the quality of the food I eat. Quality in = Quality out.

I have selective listening when it comes to medical advice.

What I mean is, I don't take everything my doctors recommend as the unvarnished truth. I don't just let them hand me a prescription and a pamphlet. I do my own research before taking any medication.

That's because in the past, I have had them give me a chemo drug without telling me that's what it was. It made me violently ill and actually worsened my symptoms. I've also had them give me other medications, assuring me they were safe, only to do the research and find they were risky as all get out and not safe at all.

I have also had doctors tell me that good nutrition wasn't really going to make a difference in the way I feel with Lupus or Rheumatoid. Seriously? They really need to start having doctors take more than the required 20-25 hours of nutritional training. Human beings need the proper fuel in order for their bodies to function properly. That's the whole reason for eating, after all. DUH!!!!!

Sick humans need even more nutrition in order to heal. This is just common sense to me. How about you?

So there you have it.

With Lupus, I remain as active as possible and eat well. I educate myself on the effects of my prescription meds. I take supplements for my particular nutritional needs and deficits. I sleep whenever I need to, even in the middle of the day. But I absolutely refuse to just lay around like a blob, waiting for the grim reaper. I have a life to live. And more importantly, I remain positive. Because once you lose hope, you lose your life.

Best Denver metro area swim beach

Recreation is important for good health. The beach is one of my favorite ways to rejuvenate. I have to use caution, due to Lupus. So, I use a beach umbrella at all times when I'm not in the water. I also use a homemade sunscreen with coconut oil and zinc. You might be wondering how one finds a beach in the Denver metro area. After all, we're not exactly on the coast, are we?

Denver is hot and dry in the summer, leaving us longing for a little beach fun. Unfortunately, there are few natural bodies of water with swim beaches. We do, however have some very nice reservoirs. In my opinion, the best Denver reservoir swim beach is at the Aurora Reservoir.

I was transplanted to Denver from upper NY state, where I was accustomed to the fabulous swim beaches in the Thousand Islands area. The sand was pristine and the water there was clean due to the natural lime river bed of the St. Lawrence River. When I came to Denver I was disappointed with the lack of swim beach venues comparable to home.

When I came upon the Aurora Reservoir, I was pleasantly surprised. True, it is man made, but also extremely well maintained. It's not at all like the other Denver area reservoirs. My main disappointment with other swim beach venues in Denver is the dirty look to the water and the lack of “real” sand.

The first thing I noticed at the Aurora Reservoir was the sparkling white sand swim beach. No rocks, pebbles or mud, just silky sand everywhere. This is the type of sand you want to sink your toes into. This lovely sand immediately made me feel at home. The sand is not, however, the only thing that makes the Aurora Reservoir swim beach my favorite Denver area swimming venue.

The water at the Aurora Reservoir is always sparkling clean. There may be a few stray pieces of seaweed floating at this Denver beach but the water is so clear, you can see through it to the bottom. At other Denver swim beach locations, I worry about what I am going to “pick up” while swimming there.

In fact, my daughter picked up a nasty case of ringworm at another popular Denver swim beach.
The atmosphere at the Aurora Reservoir swim beach is much like a back east boardwalk venue. The little store and restrooms are spotless and painted in seashore style. If I heard the sound of foghorns and the flash of a lighthouse beacon it would fit right into the scene. This Denver area swim beach makes me feel like I have been transported back to the East Coast.

In addition to the great swim beach, the Aurora Reservoir has other welcome features. There is plenty of shaded picnic space and built in grills. There are low wake boats for rent and a nice area to use them in. We like to rent the three wheeled boat tricycles. These things are just as fun as they look.

Most Denver area swim beaches have an area for jet skis and power boats. These are not allowed at Aurora Reservoir. This makes things very pleasant for people with sail boats, canoes, paddle boats and the tricycle boats. It's very nice to use a canoe without getting washed over by waves from power boats, as we recently did at another Denver swim beach. But that's a story for another time.

If you're looking for a swim beach in the Denver metro area, the Aurora reservoir is your best bet.