No More Veganism

This has been a very eventful week regarding my health.

HYPOTHYROIDISM
The tempest began with a visit to my favorite endocrinologist who told me my thyroid has more or less failed and therefore prescribed a daily dose of thyroid hormone to take orally every morning. We guessed on the dosage, she said she could start me super low (.25) but was pretty sure I'd eventually need more (.5 or .75). I told her she might as well give me the bigger dose already (bigger relatively, some people take up to 3mg I think) and so I've started on .5mg of Levothyroxine every morning. As she suspected taking this pill had pretty visible affects in my energy and mood. I found myself able to survive a whole day of rehearsals and shows without the usual moodiness, at least for the first day or two. By the third day, however, I found myself feeling a bit dodgy again. I'd find myself getting lightheaded whenever I stood up too fast, my muscles felt achy just from climbing stairs, I felt weak and then late at night I started feeling very nauseous, which is a sign of...

ADDISON'S DISEASE
My endocrinologist warned me that taking the thyroid pill, though necessary, may speed up the progression of the Addison's disease which has been present in each of the blood tests I've done over the last several months. Up until now, however, my adrenal function has remained fairly normal considering the insane amount of antibodies present in my blood. But inexplicable nausea (especially considering my blood sugar was fine) was a big red flag for me. She said if I experienced any such symptoms to immediately take an oral hydrocortisone pill. I did, and almost immediately my nausea went away and my energy returned in force (along with an abundantly good mood I left somewhere in last September).

 (did you know that when you have both Hashimoto Thyroiditis and Addison's disease it's called Schmidt syndrome?)

What does this have to do with veganism???

Well, to quote wikipedia:

"To form cortisol, the adrenal gland requires cholesterol."  

Cholesterol comes from animal products. My adrenal gland isn't dead, it's just not working very well, and I'm not helping it by starving it to death.

"You need to start eating meat again."
"Okay."

So my 40 or so days of veganism has come to an end. I've had fish thrice, yogurt twice, and a half a chicken since the appointment (the chicken made me a bit ill). I won't forget what I learned though... although I may save it for another post.

The past few days:

April 10, 2012 - First day of Thyroid pills
9:30 -> 142 Way to f***ing high! Took 2P and 2N w/cereal 140c, chips 10c, banana 27c. Took thyroid pill at 1:00. At 3:00 had Larabar 26c.
4:34 -> 108 Had apple then went on 2 mile run (knee hurt) then took 4P w/ CHIPOTLE burrito bowl 110c.
6:54 -> 112 This is good! It means the Prandin is still doing something despite my C-Peptite being at an all time low of .48 during my most recent blood test. At 8:30 had grapefruit 25c and peanuts 5c.
10:55 -> 66 Took 1P and 2N w/greens 18c, squash 30c, salad 30c, yams 90c and Juice 24c.
3:42 -> 186 Poor planning of my meal, I drank the juice because I felt low because the yams hadn't finished cooking yet. Took 5L.

April 11, 2012
11:06 -> 100 Better. Took 2P and 1N w/cereal 140c, pb toast 19c.
4:52 -> 63 Took 4P w/ Black Eyed Peas and kale 180c, then apple 18c, kiwi 10c, pumpkin seeds and peanuts 8c. At 9:30 had apple 18c.
12:25 -> 63 Took 3N w/salad 30c, squash 40c, yams 60c, carrots 30c, potato 40c and just about exploded from a stupid amount of starchy foods.
4:00 -> 140 Took 5L.

April 12, 2012 - First day of Hydrocortizone
10:37 -> 95 Took 2P and 1N w/cereal 140c, apple 18c. At 2:30 had Larabar 331c and grapefruit 24c.
5:17 -> 70 Took 3P w/brussels sprouts 18c, rice 40c, fish, apple 18c, peanuts and pumpkin seeds 10c, apple 18c and kiwi 20c.
12:15 -> 89 Feel weak and nauseous, took a hydrocortizone and 2N w/dumplings 100c, b sprouts 25c and salad 20c.
5:45 -> 102 (don't judge me) Took 5L w/carrot 8c.

April 13, 2012
12:35 -> 98 Good, consistent. One more # like this and I'll go up to 6L at night. Took 2P w/cereal 130c, then apple 18c then kiwi 10c.
4:55 -> 72 Took 1P w/PUR-BIRD 1/2 chicken 5c and roasted cauliflower 15c, pb and banana 58c and two homemade gluten free bacon bourbon chocolate chip cookies 37c.
12:25 -> 89 Took 1P and 1N w/ indian veg 20c, quinoa 60c and kale 6c.
2:25 -> 114 Pretty dang good, had a carrot 8c and took 5L.

Day 115

The Honeymoon is Over?

When I was first diagnosed in December of 2011, I was warned that I would, for the next few weeks or months (or even a year) experience what is commonly called the "honeymoon period." This is a time before T cells have destroyed all insulin producing pancreatic tissue and so your sugar highs and lows, spikes and drops have a buffer zone produced by your failing organ. I was warned, I was. And yet when I experienced some early success with some dietary alterations and regular exercise regimens I allowed my budding hope to harvest within me, dreaming of some diabetic fairytale where I use positivity and vegetables to send this life long auto-immune disease into remission. I was even off the insulin for a little over a week!

But the time bomb that was my flailing pancreas kept ticking towards an inevitable downfall. And though there is still some trace of function in my pancreas I've been increasing insulin dosage almost daily for the past week.

So here are a lot of numbers since I went MIA. Pay careful attention to the meds/insulin I take and watch as they increase:

March 30, 2012
12:00 -> 98 Still too high for the morning. Took 2P w/ cereal 120c, orange 15c, 1/2 banana 12c, peanuts 4c.
4:52 -> 111 Took 3P w/ pb and 1/2 banana 43c, pea soup 100c, pepper 8c, grapefruit 24c, apple 25c, pumpkin seeds 7c.
11:56 -> 71 Took 2P w/ salad 40c and took 1 unit of Novolog w/ 2 yams 55c, tortilla chips 20c, brussels sprouts and fennel 45c.
2:42 -> 127 Took 4 units Lantus w/ 2 cookies 19c.

March 31, 2012
11:09 -> 86 Good, 80s! Took 2P w/cereal 120c, apple 35c. At 3:30 had 2 oranges 32c and pumpkin seeds 6c.
5:27 -> 64 Low Took 3P w/ Whole Foods: sprouts 4c, cauliflower 5c, beans 100c, potatoes 30c, mango 30c, rice 25c, seaweed 5c = 200c + cookes 26c, fake coffee 4c, grapefruit 25c, more pumpkin seeds 6c.
12:04 -> 59 Tortilla chips 10c then 2P w/salad 45c and yams 70c.
2:38 -> 157 That's exactly where I want to be. Took 4 units Lantus.


April 1, 2012
10:37 -> 84 Great! Took 2P w/cereal 120c, 4 mile run, apple 35c, pb toast 16c, cake 40c, orange 15c.
6:50 -> 80 Took 2P w/SOU-EN ramen 55c and cornbread 50c and 1/2 SUN IN BLOOM cookie sandwich 40c, chips and hummus 10c, strawberries 27c, fries 5c, 2 shots of Fernet Branca.
2:31 -> 58 Larabar 31c, 1 Prandin w/salad 50c.
4:06 -> 83 Took 4 units Lantus w/ pb banana 50c.

April 2, 2012
10:53 -> 113 High, the alcohol processes slowly, and the 4am sandwich was too much. Took 2 P w/cereal 120c, apple 40c, Larabar 27c.
8:43 -> 70 Took 2P w/16 oysters, 3 oz salmon, potatoes 100c, spinach 14c, salad 7c, tomatoes 8c, asparagus 4c, 1 glass of wine.
1:04 -> 150 Took 4 units of Lantus.

April 3, 2012
10:33 -> 96 Higher than I'd like. Took 2P w/cereal 120c.
2:19 -> 164 No good! Took 2P AND injected 2 units of Novolog w/quinoa 60c, chickpeas 35c, grapefruit 25c, squash and cabbage 50c, sweet potatoes 40c, seaweed 5c, cookie 9c.
4:35 -> 41 Woops, overdid the meds. Had 2 bananas 60c, cookies 20c, pumpkin seeds 5c, bread w/hummus 18c and orange 17c.
10:54 -> 111 Took 2P w/salad 45c, greens 5c, 2 kiwis 20c, apple 20c.
2:37 -> 167 Took 4 units of Lantus.

April 4, 2012
10:39 -> 111 Too high for fasting level. Took 2P and 1N w/cereal 120c, grapefruit 24c, apple 18c, pb bread 22c, kiwi 10c.
4:41 -> 105 Not bad. Took 3P w/salad 40c and soup 40c, apple 20c, pb banana 58c.
7:41 -> 113 A tad low for Pre-Joey. Had grape leaves 47c. At intermission had kiwi 10c and pumpkin seeds 5c.
11:52 -> 132 Overdid it earlier I guess. Took 1P and 2N w/(rice 105c, beans 67c, chorizo 13c, salsa 10c, avocado 15c, fake cheese 2c, kale 5c) x 2/3 =140c + salad 25c, chips 15c, more kale 10c.
2:36 -> 96 Had grapefruit 24c with 4L.

April 5, 2012
11:04 -> 65 A little low. Took 2P and 1N w/cereal 125c, apple 18c, apple 18c, kiwi 10c, grapefruit 24c, pumpkin seeds 4c, Larabar 31c.
5:00 -> 95 Apple 25c, 6.2 mile run (46 minutes) Gu 25c.
6:49 -> 94 Nice! Took 2P w/yams 50c, cabbage and squash 60c, pb and j 38c, 2 kiwis 20c, pumpkin seeds 5c. At intermission had a grapefruit 25c.
1:00 -> 83 Took 1P and 2N w/spring roll 20c, Momma made casserole 200c.
3:26 -> 187 Took 4L

April 6, 2012
11:44 -> 61 One more low day and I'm going to decrease the Lantus. Took 2P w/cereal 110c, apple 25c, Larabar 27c.
5:24 -> 95 Took 3P w/SOUEN rice 45c and pesto veg 30C, dessert 45c, apple 38c, p seeds/hummus/peanuts 12c. At intermission pb and j 38c.
11:58 -> 93 Took 1P and 2N w/salad 52c, casserol 150c.
2:30 -> 85 Had 2 kiwis 20c, soy ice cream 20c and 4L.

April 7, 2012
10:51 -> 88 Good! Took 3P w/cereal 125c, apple 30c, grapefruit 24c, pumpkin seeds 4c.
4:52 -> 91 Took 2P w/rice 70c, beans 25c, fake cheese 2c, salad 40c, apple 18c, potatoes 60c, salad 10c, horoset 45c.
7:46 -> 140 Good Pre-Joey number. At intermission had pb and j 38c.
11:52 -> 136 Had 1P and 1N w/ brussel sprouts 18c, lentil soup 38c, pepper 6c, fennel 14c.
2:44 -> 106 Took 4 units with Lantus w/ mango piece 10c.

April 8, 2012
12:05 -> 108 Too high again. Took 2P and 1N w/cereal 130c, grapefruit 25c, gluten free muffin 35c, apple 35c.
6:51 -> 66 Not bad, took 3P w/ MAOZ falafel salad 225c, chips and macaroon 20c.
12:02 -> 136 Took 2P and 1N w/salad 30c, apple 40c, 2 kiwis 20c, green beans 8c = 98c.
2:38 -> 156 Woah, why so high? That's a big number after 2P and 1N. Took 4L.

April 9, 2012
10:56 -> 101 Too dang high! Tonight I take 5L. Took 2P and 2N w/cereal 140c, 2 apples 36c, Larabar 31c.
5:59 -> 55 Cookie 9c, coconut juice 16c, collard greens 18c. Then took 1P and 3N w/kurobata squash 45c, roast carrots 70c, potatoes 50c, Black Eyed Peas 45c.
8:42 -> 52 Corrected with a cookie 9c, black eyed peas 20c and an apple 18c.
11:29 -> 195 Over-corrected much? Ugh! Took 2P and 2N w/brussel sprouts 18c, BEPs w/kale 80c, 2 pieces of toast 60c.
2:07 -> 117 I'm appreciative of this good number. I'll have a kiwi 10c and then take 5 units Lantus. I should be fine with that since I haven't been active all day.

So over the time I'm showing you I've gone from 5 units of insulin per day to 11 units per day, and my Prandin dosage has stayed about the same. I've had 2 highs and 7 lows. When the diabetes progresses I always jump to errors I might have made first. Is it that I've become lax with the veganism? Is it that I don't workout daily but instead to huge cardio workouts once or twice a week? Am I getting lazy with my carb counting? Or...

...is the Honeymoon coming to an end?

Tomorrow I see Dr. Thys. I have some questions for her.

Day 111