Life

I have not been as diligent as I want to be with these posts. But life is busy. I'm currently studying for my professional engineering license, preparing applications for MBA school, holding down a full-time job, and dealing with weekly doctor's appointments (and the illness and pain and required cooking because of my dietary needs).

Back Troubles

I finally got the results of an MRI that I had on my back. Multiple torn and/or bulging disks. One of the disks is bulging into my central canal (the canal where my spinal cord runs) and pushing my spinal cord, which is causing the pain. At least now I know the cause of the pain.

I have begun multiple treatments - continued acupuncture, water therapy, regular doses of anti-inflamatory drugs, and muscle strengthening. So far, my back feels much better than it did before. I have an appointment with an orthapedist in mid-September. We shall see what he has to say...

Parasites & Nightshades

My feet were cold - something which is unusual for men - but my body was hot. My abdomen previously hurt. I have an excess of heat. These are symptoms. The potential cause - a parasite.

I recently finished taking a course of herbs called Wu Mei San. They tasted horrible. I tried to make a hot tea - awful. I tried to make a cold tea - worse. I tried to pour the powder past my taste buds through a straw - trial failed. I tried to pour the powder past my taste buds via a spoon - trial succeeded, power clogged my throat making it difficult to breathe for what seemed like a minute, powder burned my throat, came out of my nose. I bought some empty gel caps and spent a few hours filling them. Success at last.

My diet was significantly restricted while on the herbs. I hadto eat a bland diet without allergenic foods, fermented foods, foods containing yeasts or mushrooms, all sugars and sweets, and sweet/sour foods such as tomatoes and oranges. I was constantly hungry despite the volume of food that I ate (which was substantial).

While on the diet (and herbs) my energy level skyrocketed. Some nights I did not sleep very well. It didn't matter. I had plenty of energy at work. My acupuncturinst thinks it my be nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, chilies, tomatillos, potatoes, etc.). I am going to add nightshades to my list of foods not to eat to see if my energy returns. Hopefully, I can get my energy back...

Flickers of Normalcy - In Real Time

I am having flickers of normalcy (energy, no pain, normal stomach) in my life for the first time in 5 years. Last Friday I woke up feeling completely normal. The feeling was short lived, but it was a flicker nonetheless.

The Darkness Lifting - In Real Time

This post may seem to come out of nowhere, as my posts are generally a month or two behind real-time events, but the past two nights I have wanted to cry with joy. Aside from my continuing back troubles, I feel significantly better than I have in the past 5 years. I have more energy, I can focus for long periods of time, my muscles do not ache, my stomach is not constantly upset, and on and on...

It feels like the darkness is lifting. I hope this feeling (and progress) continue.

Hosting Difficulties - In Real Time

Joe, a buddy of mine recently visited for a few days. Company plus glutenous food equals difficult time. The first day we went to Point Loma Seafoods for lunch. Point Loma Seafoods is a crazy and popular fish market in San Diego. Ordering is chaotic. The food deep fried, but delicious. Joe and I went for a hike later that day. My joints, achy, my energy non-existent, my bathroom trips frequent.

Later, we went to Old Town, a living park that mimics early San Diego. We tasted wine. My stomach soured.

We went to the city of Avalon on Catalina, an island off the coast of Los Angeles. We ate seafood and bread. I became nauseated. We listened to a mariachi band at a wedding on our way to Hermit Gulch Campground. They sang "Hey Hey Hey" over and over. We slept underneath the stars. We hiked up the firebreak. We ate cheeseburgers while watching the world cup. We snorkeled. We laid on the beach. I got hot. I got nauseated. I got dizzy. My stomach tensed up, felt as if someone had tied it in a knot and put a clamp on it. I could not eat dinner. My back ached. We went on a flying fish tour. We walked back to the campsite and slept.

We went back to the mainland. I tried to eat gluten-free. We went to the Padres Game and pre-game tour. I was excited to try the new gluten-free stand. But during the pre-game tour, we saw a food service worker heating a burrito on the gluten-free grill. Inadequate food service, as is common. No gluten-free for me.

Joe left. My stomach calmed even though my mind and body remained tired.

Needles, Fishbowls, and Herbs

Let's pretend that you are the sick one for a moment. You've been sick for years with a lot of difficult symptoms. You have been to multiple western doctors and had umpteen loads (a very precise number) of tests. All of your normal doctors tell you you are a normal and healthy human being. You know you are not. And I know that you are not. Fortunately for you, I have a friend who thinks they can help. This person practices acupuncture. Because I think you deserve to know what you're getting into, I decide to tell you how your journey will begin.

First, my friend is going to make you undress and get into a paper nightgown. Then she will take your pulses. This is not western medicine, where you and I are familiar with one pulse. This is acupuncture where you have multiple pulses, all taken at about the same location on your arm. Then, my friend is going to evaluate your tongue. It may look swollen or a slightly wrong shade of red, but don't worry that is treatable. But here's where your journey gets really interesting. After the evaluation my friend is going to stick needles in you. Not just one or two, but maybe two dozen. The needles don't hurt, but you are very aware that they are in your shins and hands and feet and arms. My friend leaves you; you begin to feel a little drugged and eventually nod off to sleep until my friend comes back over an hour later. You turn over onto your stomach. In go more needles. They are up and down either parts of your spine, in your neck, in the backs of your legs. After another hour you are done. My friend tells you that you may be ill after the first treatment. And you are. That evening you can barely lift your head. You are nauseated. You ache. Your muscles feel heavy and tired. Your digestive system is upset. You feel feverish. It will last an entire week, but don't worry, you have another acupuncture appointment the following week, after which you will be ill again. Again, don't worry. Soon my friend will also give you herbs (all legal, of course) and then heat very tiny fishbowls and put them on your back to such out all of the toxins.

If you grew up with traditional western medicine, then by now you probably think I'm crazy. But here's the thing - acupuncture has been around for thousands of years; and it is a central method of health care for hundreds of millions of people. It also happens to be covered by your health insurance. So why not give it a try?