Health: My World

My most common mood problem is a combination of irritability, depression, lack of clear thinking, and the tendency to burst into tears at nothing. Invariably, this particular combination is due to a drop in body temperature, and using a thermometer confirms it. Solution: The fastest way to get my temperature up is to eat certain foods, particularly those categorized in Chinese medicine as "hot". Chocolate is my first choice, as dark as possible, just an ounce or two (though I am occasionally so cold that it won't melt in my mouth easily). My second choice is coffee. Hot chiles are a possible third option, though I haven't tried them.

I rarely have a problem with classic weepy depression, other than when my temperature fluctuates, but I discovered some time ago that a lack of B-vitamins (which one, I am not certain) will give me classic symptoms of depression. I have tested this hypothesis on many occasions, and it has held.
Solution: Take a B-complex, usually B-50; the problem clears up within a couple of hours, regardless of how long it persisted. I now take sizeable amounts of B-vitamins daily, courtesy of my rather ambitious multivitamin.

Occasionally I will have problems with moodiness, inability to concentrate, and a proliferation of "romantic notions" in the poetic sense; I tend to spend this time writing stories and poetry rather than doing anything I should be doing. I also get clingy and somewhat hormonal, with anxiety attacks. Strangely enough, about 80% of the time this is because a particular bone in my neck is out of position (C1, I believe). If I get it professionally corrected, I go back to my usual practical down-to-earth self within minutes.
Solution: Visit a chiropractor. It's a five minute fix.

Something I always have to watch out for is getting too manic, too revved-up and excited. I get very stressed out, and I have real problems relaxing or sleeping. I do get a lot done, and I have a great time in social situations, but the lack of sleep and sheer energy output take their toll. This is, as far as I can determine, the first stages of adrenal exhaustion, encouraged by eating sugar in too much quantity or getting too excited. If it continues, I become completely exhausted and crash for a week or more.
Solution: I stay away from sugar (sucrose) now. If I still get too manic, acupuncture solves it, sometimes with a course of herbs.

Eating wheat will make me irritable and cranky as well as restless.

Unthinking panic is one of my symptoms when exposed to certain chemicals, Formula 409 in particular. It is a survival instinct, to get me out of the vicinity as quickly as possible; I have occasionally been glad of it, as by the time I panic I have very little coherent thought left, having been overcome by brainfog.

Soy and peanuts have similar effects on my digestion, though peanuts are less severe. Eating more than about a half-cup of peanuts slows down my digestion; I have taken advantage of this once or twice, as a peanut-butter sandwich will be all the food I need for eight to ten hours, but I usually avoid it in any quantity. Large quantities cause gastric irritation and possibly inflammation (my lower abdomen feels lightly bruised inside under any pressure). Soy is more of a problem the closer it is to liquid; I have no problem with soy protein, but a little soy milk gives me immediate diarrhea and severe gastric irritation (my organs feel like they've been pummeled and remain sore for two days). Tofu I can handle in minute quantities. Lecithin has a similar irritating effect, though I have had no luck tracking down what source the lecithin comes from in any instance -- it comes from either soy or egg, and I don't know whether the source plays a factor.

Occasionally I will wake up in the morning feeling internal soreness and with the taste of bile in my mouth. I have had no luck tracing it to any food or additive, and it's uncommon and random enough that a systematic approach is impossible. It usually solves itself within a day; I have been meaning to explore the possibility that it might involve irritation of the bile duct.

Eating wheat causes my digestion to stall. Given the evidence that it evokes an adrenalin response, this is not surprising: fight-or-flight state suspends digestion. This is a bit of a problem, as it slows the passage of the wheat through my system.

Without warning, my digestion will slow down, and I will have problems with undigested food and diarrhea. If there is no obvious problem, I take some probiotics for a day or two and it clears up. Why it happens seemingly at random, I have no idea.

Formula 409 causes my digestion to malfunction. The first massive exposure I had resulted in being unable to digest much of anything; food passed through completely undigested. That time it lasted for four to six months; more minor exposures last for only a week or so. This condition sets me up for more food allergies due to "leaky gut".
Solution: Large doses of probiotics with every meal, plus digestive enzymes and stomach acid tablets. Supplement with vitamins (liquid if necessary). The only real solution with this is time, waiting for the digestive tract to heal and start functioning again.

I am intolerant of some substance in standard municipal tap water. Drinking tap water causes me to become thirstier than I was before, and can result in significant dehydration. The substance is not chlorine or chloramine, nor any other volatile substance, as it persists after prolonged cooking or boiling. It can transfer to foods cooked in it, such as rice. This eliminates many foods cooked with tap water, such as soup, rice or noodles, potatoes, and gelatin.
Solution: Filter all drinking and cooking water with at least a carbon-block filter. If exposed to tap water, drink sufficient filtered water to compensate.

Sometimes I have trouble drinking more than a few mouthfuls of water at a time. my throat is tight and I feel full, and can't seem to drink as much as I need. My tongue has a white coating which is not thrush.
Solution: This is called "dampness" in Chinese medicine. I take an herbal remedy regularly that helps.

If one particular bone is out in my shoulders (it's either T2 or T3), I experience an all-over ache that is not unlike the aches from flu. It is constant and draining, and occasionally severe enough that I can't function. This is usually accompanied by burning muscles, which feel exactly like muscle fatigue, even when all I have done is to take a few steps. Pain medicine allows me to function, but does nothing to alleviate the pain. I have had this problem to a greater or lesser degree for as long as I can remember; it is only in the last year that it has become an uncommon occurrence, and it is only kept at bay by regular chiropractic adjustments.
Solution: Chiropractic adjustment. There is no other lasting solution. Heat, such as a hot tub, will lessen the pain for the duration that I am immersed, but does nothing to dull the pain in the longer term.

The other systemic pain I experience is sharp, burning, and shocking. I have finally associated it with vasoconstriction; it occurs when I am startled, when my blood pressure increases rapidly, and when I am exposed to severe cold, such as from an ice cube. It also happens when my skin contracts to form goosebumps, though it is as localized as the goosebumps themselves. This pain has been with me for as long as I can remember as well.
Solution: Wait. The pain is short-lived, usually less than a minute.

I experience internal soreness when I eat certain types of soy products (particularly soy milk or tofu), lecithin, or more than a small quantity of peanuts. The pain is abdominal, and feels as though I am bruised inside; pressing on my lower abdomen is quite painful, and contracting my abdominal muscles for movement provokes an ache.
Solution: Wait for a day or two, until the food is out of my system.

I used to have a constant slight headache, to the point that I recognized it was there only when it was gone for some reason. It had no focus; it was a tight, achy sensation, like my skull was too small. It turned out to be the fact that vertebra C1 was significantly out of position, and correcting that has gotten rid of the constant headache. It does return if I go too long without chiropractic adjustment.
Solution: See my chiropractor. It's another five-minute fix.

If I am exposed to perfumes or other synthetic fragrances (such as air fresheners, dryer sheets, soap, deoderant, or dishwashing liquid) it results in a sinus headache, which is sometimes so bad I can't think or even drive. My upper sinuses contract so that I have trouble focusing my eyes, and the pain is significant.
Solution: Get away from the irritant. Fresh air usually eases the headache in a reasonable period of time (ten minutes to an hour), though certain fragrances such as those containing synthetic musks can linger for up to a day. Menthol or other substances that open airways can help accelerate recovery; I sometimes use strong mints once I am away from the source. Decontamination is necessary to make sure that I am not carrying the fragrance on my person.

If a certain vertebra in my shoulders is out of position (it is either T2 or T3), my extremities are always quite cold. My fingers and feet become very cold to the touch, even in 80-90 degree weather, and nothing seems to keep them warm. There is no loss of feeling, but the circulation seems quite poor.
Solution: Chiropractic adjustment. Immersion in hot water will warm my extremities for a short period, but they quickly become cold again.

Occasionally my internal temperature will drop below normal (measurable by a thermometer). Even without a thermometer, I can detect the drop by a very warm, flushed feeling in my cheeks and on my upper thighs, and my mouth feels cold; despite the warm patches on my skin, I have trouble with chills in all but the hottest environments. My normal temp is 98.6 degrees; most times my temperature drops by about 1.2 degrees, to my usual waking temperature, but in one particularly severe episode I found it at 96.8 degrees. Chicken livers seemed to encourage this problem, as did regular saunas or other extreme temperatures (hot or cold); emotional distress will also bring it on.
Solution: The fastest way to get my temperature up is to eat certain foods, particularly those categorized in Chinese medicine as "hot". Chocolate is my first choice, as dark as possible, just an ounce or two (though I am occasionally so cold that it won't melt in my mouth easily). My second choice is coffee. Hot chiles are a possible third option, though I haven't tried them.

If I am exhausted, or crashing due to adrenal fatigue or low energy, I can't seem to stay warm. Dressing more warmly helps, but I have to bundle up as if for snow to feel warm, and my extremities are still cool to the touch. This will lead to the symptoms of internal temperature drop if I don't rest.
Solution: Rest, and take measures to deal with any other underlying problems. Severe exhaustion can keep me convalescent for up to a week.

If my internal temperature drops, I have difficulty thinking clearly. I get distracted easily, have trouble with analytical reasoning, and things just don't register.
Solution: Bring up my internal temperature, as described under Cold.

Exposure to chemicals often brings cognitive impairment, or "brainfog". The most common culprits are solvents, which are present in some common cleaning solutions, new carpet, adhesives, new furniture or cars, oil-based paint, permanent or dry-erase markers, copy-machine toner, and air fresheners, among other things. Fragrances, dryer sheets, or new clothing can also cause brainfog, as can brand-new electronics. Once aired out, washed, or otherwise rid of the greater part of the solvents, these things cause no problem. Some substances cause only a little impairment and dissipate quickly, but others rapidly diminish my mental capacity and leave me dazed for hours, unable to perform even basic tasks.
Solution: Avoid solvents or other chemicals which cause cognitive problems. If exposed, I get fresh air, drink lots of water, take 3-6 grams of crystalline vitamin C every 1.5-2 hours, and eat fiber and fat. If the substance was ingested, or the symptoms persist, I take charcoal capsules. I have to refrain from driving until the brainfog lifts, which sometimes leaves me stranded for up to several hours. I carry vitamin C and water in my car.

Small, blisterlike bumps will appear in my skin periodically, usually on my hands or mouth, though they have appeared on my arms and feet before. They appear singly and in clusters, and the clusters itch as they stretch and break the skin. The bumps on my lips and inside my mouth do not resemble cold sores.
Solution: They may not be cold sores, but they are a virus. Bolstering my immune system helps prevent them, and when an outbreak happens, 5-6 grams of the amino acid lysine helps slow it down. New colonies will appear while I take the lysine, but after a couple of weeks they become fewer, and the existing ones subside.

If I am exposed to cold, especially damp cold, without sufficient clothing, I break out in hives. They appear on my upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and belly. A search for these symptoms turned up the term "cold urticaria", though I have not had an official diagnosis.
Solution: Stay warm and dry. If it happens, I get warm and dry as soon as possible, and take antihistamines to stop the reaction. It makes me very tired, and I have to rest afterward.

My scalp tends to itch, especially when it has been warm and damp (such as under a helmet). It doesn't cause dandruff, just itching and raw skin.
Solution: I rinse my hair with vinegar any time the itching becomes a problem. In the shower, I rub white vinegar onto my clean scalp, wait one minute, and rinse it out.

If the "problem vertebra" in my shoulders (T2/T3) is out of position, I always seem to be out of breath and fatigued. I have trouble walking from room to room, my muscles are burning, and I can't ever seem to quite catch my breath. I have my full lung capacity, but the air I take in doesn't seem to increase the oxygen getting to my muscles. I have to sit and rest frequently.
Solution: Chiropractic adjustment.

If I push myself too hard physically and overextend my stamina, I will be very tired for the rest of the day and I will barely be able to get out of bed the next morning. I get a sore throat, chills, and aches, and have trouble keeping my body temperature up. It is very much like the flu, and I would ascribe it to a virus if it didn't happen so predictably. It happens every time I overextend myself, and lasts until I have rested for one or two days solid, often sleeping most of the day. I can almost always tell when I have passed the point that this will happen, but being able to estimate before I go over the line is guesswork at best. Chronic stress can also contribute, though stress rarely does it by itself.
Solution: This is the classic Chronic Fatigue Syndrome flare, and is best avoided totally. I try not to overreach what I know I am capable of, and I try to pause and rest while I am doing physical activity so that I have a feeling for when I need to stop. I try to remove sources of intense emotional stress as soon as possible. If it happens, all I can do is sleep, drink water, and take vitamin C; I'll be out for a day or two, or more if stress is still there.

Occasionally I will have trouble with dizziness and my vision greying out when I stand up, and I have very low energy. It corresponds with low blood pressure, and I have had it register at roughly 100/60 during one of these times. It used to be much more of a problem than it is now.
Solution: Drink lots of water. It seems to be connected to dehydration, and whatever other factors may be involved, re-hydrating helps. I have tried to increase my water intake, and it seems to have made it less frequent.

When I get exposed to chemicals such as solvents, pesticides, fragrances, or some molds, I get tired, sometimes severely so. Sometimes I go home and sleep for a few hours, until the exposure wears off.

If my internal temperature drops, I get tired and sleepy, regardless of my activity or how late in the day it is.

Eating wheat makes me jittery and unable to relax.

If I get too manic or excited, I get jittery. I can't sit still, and I can't calm down. It's like I've had a lot of coffee, but I don't drink caffeinated drinks.
Solution: Avoid sugar or overstimulating environments. Acupuncture helps.

If I don't deal with the problem when I get overstimulated, after a week to ten days I will collapse into extreme fatigue. I'm tired all the time, low-energy, I have trouble concentrating, and even small tasks leave me wiped out. Sometimes I get a mild version of this, where taking some vitamin C for a day or two gets me back on track.
Solution: Water, vitamin C, salt, and fat. By all descriptions, I've worn out my adrenal glands, and these things help them recover. Rest is essential, but frustrating: it can take two to three weeks to fully recover from major exhaustion.

When I eat wheat I can't sleep the following night; I toss and turn and can't slow down.

When I get too manic, I can't slow my thoughts down enough to sleep. I'm always thinking about what needs doing, composing letters or discussions in my head, going over the day's events, and I get very little rest.
Solution: Acupuncture, with a course of herbs if it's advanced.

After I had been taking birth-control pills for six years, I noticed that my cervix and vagina were painful to the touch, and not in the way common with vulvodynia. They felt as though they were covered in half-healed wounds, though my gynecological exams showed nothing unusual and the tissue was intact. It made sexual intercourse very painful, and I was unable to wear tampons at all when it was at its most severe. I stopped taking birth-control pills, suspecting that they were involved. Lab tests showed testosterone and progesterone to be at acceptable levels, but the hormone precursor pregnenolone was undetectable.
Solution: When supplementing for other reasons, we discovered that pregnenolone eased the pain, and at sufficient dosage takes it away entirely. At present, the minimum dosage appears to be greater than 75mg and less than 90mg per day; any less and the pain reappears, though it is minor at 75mg. After a little less than a year, the minimum dose does not appear to be diminishing, but it may over time.

I have had issues with lack of libido for years. When experiencing the cervical pain it was understandable, but the problem persisted, and has caused some stress in long-term relationships.
Solution: Taking boron seems to be helping to restore some of my libido. I discovered it when I was researching remedies for some friends going through menopause; at least one prominent holistic doctor has observed that boron has an estrogenic effect, and can help with depressed libido and menopausal symptoms. The thing which truly seems to make a difference is a sheep placenta extract I get from my acupuncturist... even softgels are not for the squeamish, but it's got me back up to what seems to be a normal level.

About once a year, my libido goes out of control. I can't concentrate because the drive is so strong, and nothing seems to abate it for more than a couple of hours.
Solution: Acupuncture and herbs. The sexual center has gotten too strong, and Chinese medicine can help restore the balance.

If I get too exhausted or push my endurance too hard, I get tinnitus. It usually goes away within an hour, but has persisted for days once or twice. I never get it when I am not pushing my limits, and I take it as a signal that I need to take things more slowly.
Solution: Slow down and rest, take some vitamin C. If it persists, I see my acupuncturist, who can cure it very quickly. Ears are linked to the kidney/adrenal gland system in Chinese medicine, and if I bolster my adrenal glands by reducing stress and taking vitamin C and fat, it happens much less often.

If the "problem vertebra" in my shoulders (T2/T3) is out, I have trouble dealing with situations that have a high degree of visual contrast. Black type on white paper in bright light is painful, as is some night driving. Correcting the vertebra's position eliminates my visual problem.

The strangest symptom I have by far is what I call "exposure tracks". 12-24 hours after being exposed to burning rubber or burning electrical insulation, the hairs on my forearms will stand up, creating goosebumps -- in patterns. They come up in swirls, lines, clusters, and rings, creating abstract designs that last for under thirty seconds, their extensiveness determined by the severity of the exposure. My only indication this is happening is a certain tightness of the skin on my arms; there isn't even the pain I associate with goosebumps from cold. They pass without incident, and since the chemicals which trigger them are usually so noticeable, they are not a useful indicator.