The Diary of Dairy

(Note, Sandra gave me the idea for this new and improved title!)

The nice thing about facebook is that everything you post eventually becomes written history. You don’t think so at the time, but it’s very easy to forget events and the way you feel at the time. And dates—it’s so easy to get that mixed up in your head.

I decided I wanted to do a simple timeline of my upper respiratory infections, multiple courses of antibiotics and then decision to go dairy free. (The only thing that stopped the madness and a key moment in my health journey.) As I started perusing facebook to get dates I quickly realized my status updates recorded much more than just the facts. It shows when I was sick, when I took antibiotics and even records symptoms that I didn’t know were symptoms at the time. (Such as exhaustion and random talking/being upset at night.)

Since it’s not that easy to navigate past posts on facebook, I decided to record what I found here, like a dairy, one sentence or paragraph at a time. Maybe later I’ll go back and add to it and/or do the simple timeline, with just the facts ma’am.

Oct. 4, 2011

Well, I'm at work. I can feel myself getting sick in slow motion: it started with a sore throat last night, spread to some coughing in the night and is moving down into my chest today. Hopefully I can get a lot done before it really hits.

Nov. 15, 2011

So tired. I think the snow exhausted me.

Nov. 24, 2011

Now that was an awesome thanksgiving! (even though I was sick) It was so warm out we ate part of our meal on the deck (it got hot in the house) and Roni (would not let me tag you!) french braided Chad's beard! Memorable!!

Nov. 26, 2011

Still sick. Getting sicker.

Later that same day.

Even though I am sick, I am thankful I've been able to spend time with my family!

Nov. 28, 2011

Just came back from nearly 2 hours in urgent care. I got antibiotics for my upper respiratory infection. At least I didn’t sit there all that time to be told, it’s a virus, drink fluids and rest.

Dec. 5, 2011

The first round of antibiotics didn't do it so I went back to the doctor and got a second kind today. I really hope this does it because I am SO sick of being sick!!

Dec. 6, 2011

The good news is, I'm on day 1.5 of my new and improved antibiotics and I already feel better! I got the good drugs this time!!

Dec. 13, 2011

Home from the pharmacy with my third type of antibiotics and a small arsenal of over-the-counter snot chaser outers. This had better work this time! Now, I'm off to swallow pills and shoot (doctor approved) stuff up my nose.

Dec. 12, 2011

I have nothing useful to say except that I wish to indicate I'm still alive and kickin'.

Alicia: Tryin' out for the Rockettes?

Me: That would take WAY too much energy. These are sort of little, understated kicks. 

Jan. 3, 2012

Well, I either caught something new at home over the weekend or my sinus infection is coming back. I could feel it moving in all day.

Jan. 4, 2012

I'm sick. This is stupid.

Jan. 7, 2012

I've had a "fun" day. It's another sinus infection. I am now on my fourth type of antibiotic in about a month and a half.

Jan. 7, 2012

My eye decided to join the party. It's red, irritated and leaking some kind of pus...? Sounds like the antibiotic I am on now will probably take care of that too but if it's worse tomorrow I'll have to go back in. HORRAY!!

Jan. 8, 2012

The antibiotics are kicking in, feeling better than I was yesterday. Course, considering how sick I was, I'm still awful sick!

Jan. 11, 2012

Today was my first (almost) full day back to work. On the way home I stopped and bought groceries so I could cook myself some food. Because I actually had the energy and desire for the first time in six days!! It's great feeling better, finally!

Jan. 13, 2012

I got better so I skipped the Neti pot thing for a couple days. Woke up this morning with a runny nose and a sore throat. By the time I Neti potted it tonight, my one nostril was completely stuffed up. Guess I know what my new routine is...

Jan. 15, 2012 (I don’t realize it until later, but this is a key moment for me. Thanks to Melissa and Sandra.)

I feel like the antibiotics I'm taking and neti pot thing are only beating back my sickness, not killing it. When my pills are gone (Friday) and I stop rising out my sinuses, I fear it will just come back, worse than ever.

Melissa: I'm wondering if there's a bigger issue...

Sandra: Food allergies? If I have too much dairy, I will be full of respiratory-type infections. My mom has asthma symptoms when she eats wheat-based food. Mold, or other airborne allergies? I mean, these things can develop as we age. My mom's asthma thing, for example, didn't start until she was past her 50s.... My dad never experienced hay fever until he was like 45..... It's worth investigating!

Me: That's an idea. My mom recently told me that she realized milk has caused her problems with fatigue over the years. So it could be I have food allergies too...

Melissa: dairy products seem to be a common culprit for respiratory and digestive problems. Do you drink soy milk? I can do other dairy ok, but reg. milk seems to give me problems. I had septoplasty done a few months ago and am able to breathe better now. Also, I had allergy testing done and realized that I was allergic to stuff I didn't even imagine.

Me: I LOVE milk and I hate soy milk. But if that's actually the problem for me, I guess I hate sinus infections more. We'll see.

Jan. 24, 2012

I frequently talk in my sleep. Last night, I woke up sitting up in bed, talking to my kitty’s empty cat bed: apparently I had a bad dream and thought something had happened to her. Chad sat up, grabbed me in a bear hug and pulled me back into bed—something he didn’t remember at all this morning. He’s developing mad coping skills for my nighttime shenanigans!!

Jan. 26, 2012

Finished my antibiotics over the weekend. Something is brewing again. Oh man, I am so tired of being sick!!

Jan. 28, 2012

I feel yucky
Oh so yucky
I feel yucky and icky and today
Nose be drippy
Don’t sit too near to my germs, I pray
I feel alarming
Oh so alarming
It's upsetting how alarming I feel

(Sung to the tune of I feel pretty.) I'm not really that bad, I'm just so tired of being sick!!!

Jan. 28, 2012 (Another key moment, this one at church, not on facebook. Thanks to Brenna.)

A fellow church member and physician’s assistant suggests I go off dairy to see if that’s what’s causing the upper respiratory infections. I moan and complain, but put it together with my FB friends’ suggestions and decide to try it.

Jan. 29, 2012 (BIG day in my health journey. It’s a Sunday, so there are multiple facebook posts as I consider going dairy free, decide to go dairy free and realize how hard it is to go dairy free.)

I poll my facebook friends on the dairy issue and receive multiple stories of how going off dairy has helped them or family members. Read the whole thing here. 
 

(Later in the day.)

Going dairy free for seven days starting now. You read it here! I loves me my milk and cheese, but I've got to try something to get better! If this doesn't help, I'll GLADLY go back to my milk baby status.

(At the end of the day.)

Holly's first dairy free day--not dairy free. I need to go shopping and buy some alternatives first. I had some cottage cheese with my salad (no dairy free dressing) and some butter. Trouble is, I feel too yucky to go grocery shopping.

Jan. 30, 2012

OK, so my Dr. x-rayed my sinuses and then cancelled my appointment with a specialist because there was “nothing in there.” Today, I find this online: “Regular x-rays of the sinuses are not very accurate for diagnosing sinusitis. Viewing the sinuses through a fiberoptic scope (called nasal endoscopy or rhinoscopy) may help diagnose sinusitis. This is usually done by doctors who specialize in ear, nose, and throat problems (ENTs).” I’m going back to her tomorrow—I’d better get another appointment with an ENT!

(I never did actually go to the ENT)

Jan. 30, 2012

Dear Mr. Grocery store man. I didn't appreciate your "you are a crazy person" expression when I asked if your store carried dairy-free cheese. Today is my first day going dairy free for allergy reasons (maybe) and I don't need discouragement.

May 19, 2012

I report still feeling symptoms for three days after eating something that I’m sensitive/allergic to. (I fight with this until October.)

May 29, 2012

After realizing there is more going on with me than just problems with dairy, I take the suggestion of my friend Natalie, and have my first appointment with a homeopathic chiropractor in the Twin Cities. She helps me identify additional food sensitivities, including oats, carrots and cauliflower. I have two appointments with her in about a month or so.

June 8, 2012

Granpa Nordvick dies. (this has nothing to do with health, but I just thought I’d record it.)

Aug. 2, 2012
I went to a holistic healing center here in Grand Forks today. (Grand Forks Center for Healing and Wholeness) I wasn't sure what to expect but I wanted a new homeopathic doctor since I'd rather not drive all the way to the cities for appointments anymore. She used healing touch which is just basically 45 minutes of gentle touch from head to toe and, oh man, it really helped me!! It sounds crazy but I feel amazing!

Aug. 3, 2012
Trying to eat some of the foods my holistic doc recommended. Today it was radishes, a veggie I am not overly fond of and don't eat often. When I was a kid I told my gramma I didn't like them because they were hot and she said they are not hot. I'm 36 years old and I still say they are a bit kick-y, although it does vary from radish to radish.

Aug. 6, 2012,Y
Yesterday, after Chad got home from work, we went swimming for about an hour. While in the pool I again noticed that I often paddle only with my arms and hold my toes together or hook my ankles together. Old habits die hard, I guess. Did anyone else play that game as a kid? Swim using only your hands, your legs are paralyzed?

Aug. 25, 2012
Chad, his parents, Simba and I went on a lovely hike this afternoon. Not too many months ago I never would have had the energy for that long of a walk, in fact, I probably would have been back at the house sleeping while everybody else went. It's so awesome to finally be feeling better!!!

October 2012

My “air diet” month. I take the Candida Kit, herbal supplements, while also on a very restrictive diet: NO pasta, yeast bread, NO sugar, including honey and fruit (except a squeeze of lemon on your salad or tea is OK), NO fermented products, including alcohol, vinegar and soy sauce. NO fungus, including mushrooms, corn and leftovers (more than one day old, my rule so I can pack lunches.)

After this, my symptoms are GREATLY reduced in severity and duration. I lose a significant amount of weight. I am sick for about the first 10 days of the diet/supplements, but that is expected as my body is purging dying candida, which releases toxins.

Feb. 27, 2012

For thyroid health, and at the recommendation of my holistic doctor, I start avoiding all fluoride in water and toothpaste and start taking herbal supplements and tea. The tea gives me anxiety.