If you're here, it's a) because I asked you to be one of my cheerleaders as I embark on this who-knows-how-long Autoimmune Protocol journey, or b) you randomly stumbled across my blog. Either way, it's 100% about me feeling sorry for myself and writing about my AIP journey.
Let's start last October, when this whole thing began. I was off school for a few days with a pretty bad case of strep throat. Nothing new; I'd had strep three or four times in the past. A few weeks after I healed, though, I noticed this scaly little spot on my hairline that wouldn't go away and itched and flaked like crazy. Another spot on my forehead started, too, so I sought medical advice.
I didn't see my regular doctor; instead, I saw one of the new doctors at my clinic who prescribed me a topical corticosteroid cream for my head and face and recommended that I use a coal tar shampoo. I saw a little bit of relief, but not a whole lot, and over time, I began developing more spots. Strangely enough, I developed one mid-back, a patch on my elbow, and multiple spots on my scalp.
I was getting itchy and very, very frustrated, so I saw my doctor again. He referred me to a dermatologist, who prescribed me another medication for my spots. This was back in February.
At the beginning of May, I followed up with my doctor after a day outdoors left me covered in hives. My arms, my legs, my chest - covered. He decided to switch up my topical meds, and the new ones began working a little bit better than the ones my dermatologist had recommended, but my head was still SO itchy, and I was developing new spots - more on my spine and legs.
Last weekend, I came down with a 12-hour stomach flu, and I flared like crazy. My head was COVERED in spots, was SO flaky, and all my spots were red and angry. Even stranger was that I began having an unrelenting migraine on my left side, and my eyesight in my left eye got really, really bad. So bad that I had to begin wearing my glasses again.
Saw my doctor
again. He decided to send me to another dermatologist in Calgary and did some bloodwork for autoimmune markers. The appointment hasn't happened, but he admitted that we may have to look at some stronger medications - biologicals.
Thus, my paleo Autoimmune Protocol journey began. I am 100% certain that this psoriasis is caused by autoimmune issues triggered by damage to my intestinal walls ("leaky gut", if you will.) I've followed the protocol in the past to beat some bloating issues with success, but after my son was born in January 2016, I really gave up on Paleo. My stomach wasn't happy with the amount of fat and protein I was trying to put through my system (my fault for my dietary choices.) I started sliding back - WAY back. I went from being 80% paleo to eating a pretty much standard diet including wheat, dairy, and other foods I
know aren't great for me.
Honestly, I was so sick of having to eat differently for health reasons, when people would look at me and say, "there's nothing wrong. You look great!" Because it's not about how I look. It's about how I feel, and about how the foods I put into my body affect not only my physical self but my spirit, as well.
So the feeling sorry for myself part? It's really been awesome, eating whatever I want, especially for the past year. But seriously - my body is attacking itself, and I'm done feeling like crap for the sake of a piece of cake. There are so many pressures around me to just "eat the damn bread" but I know myself and my body well enough to know that I want to try to tackle this psoriasis through diet before I turn to riskier forms of treatment.
What are the risks of a healthier diet? Well, it's way more expensive, time-consuming, and ... time-consuming. I don't mind preparing healthy meals, but working full-time and parenting two children (not to mention a million other activities) leaves me with very little energy at the end of the day and on weekends to actually
want to fill my body with healthy food simply because of the work involved.
The risks of a biological are greater than the risks of following an autoimmune protocol, though. As much as I don't
want to eat a strict diet for at least 150 days, as much as I don't
want to admit (again!) that my body is extremely sensitive to nourishment (or lack thereof), I need this. I need this for my health, my sanity, my family, my future.
Thank you for agreeing to be in my corner. I can't do this alone.
Love,
Olivia
Lunch: