February Newsletter
Welcome to the February 2024 Newsletter for the Live with ME/CFS blog.
Let me know what you think, what you'd like to see in the next newsletter, or if you have any comments or questions at [email protected].
A big thank you to all those who took the time and energy to respond and let me know what you enjoy in the newsletter--thanks to you, I decided to continue it!
Life
I haven't sent a newsletter since the start of November, mostly because I was so horribly sick at the end of the year and needed every ounce of energy to get ready for the holidays. I spent most of the last three months of 2023 lying on my couch, wracked with flu-like aches and exhausted. If you saw any of my Chronic Illness Vlogs during that time, you got a glimpse of the situation.
I'm happy to report that 2024 started out much, much better. My son and I saw our functional medicine specialist in mid-December, and I explained how sick I'd been and that it was clear my immune system was activated (those flu-like aches), but I didn't know why this time. I mentioned that yeast overgrowth was always an issue but that I'd gotten it under control (insert giant eye roll here!). She looked in my mouth and told me I still had thrush on my tongue, a surprise to me since I'd just finished a month on really strong prescription antifungals. She said I needed to get really strict with my diet to "starve the yeast." I thought my diet was already strict, but she pointed out all the things that were still feeling yeast (fruit, oatmeal, starchy vegetables).
She recommended a Carnivore Diet (for my son, too), which is what it sounds like: no plant foods at all. It's just a wide variety of meats, fish, seafood, eggs, and butter. High-fat dairy is OK, but I'm intolerant. So, I immediately restricted my diet to just that stuff, plus cruciferous vegetables (which yeast don't like) and a bit of avocado. Within about 10 days, by Christmas Eve, the aches were gone, my energy was coming back, and I was able to enjoy Christmas with my family. On January 2, I went "whole hog" (if you'll pardon the pun) on the full Carnivore Diet (details in my diet video). I felt fabulous for the first two weeks of January, with better energy than I've had in years. I was a bit run-down last week but am doing better again now. And with the yeast truly under control now, I am able to see the full benefits of treating thyroid dysfunction last year.
I have come back to life! It's been amazing to not only be up off the couch but back out in the world again. I had a very busy January, going to all the appointments I had to put off last fall, seeing friends again, and best of all, finally being able to help a friend who's trying to move from their home of 23 years while also juggling two family crises. It feels so good not to feel useless! I even went to my neighborhood book group's 200th book celebration at a local restaurant.
Quotes of the Month
“Hibernation time … Antonina wondered if humans might use the same metaphor and picture the war days as ‘a sort of hibernation of the spirit, when ideas, knowledge, science, enthusiasm for work, understanding, and love—all accumulate inside, where nobody can take them from us’.”
“The rapt brain-state of living from moment to moment arises naturally in times of danger and uncertainty, but it’s also a rhythm of remedy which Antonina cultivated for herself and her family. One of the most remarkable things about Antonina was her determination to include play, animals, wonder, curiosity, marvel, and a wide blaze of innocence in a household where all dodged the ambient dangers, horrors, and uncertainties.”
“Confined to her bed’s well-padded prison, Antonina rose occasionally to hobble the few painful steps onto her balcony, from which she had a wide view, and could even hear the powerful noise of ice cracking on the Vistula River, a tympani signaling winter’s end. Being bedridden had slowed the world down, given her time to page through memories, and brought a new perspective to some things, while others lay beyond reach or evaded her view.”
---from the nonfiction book The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman, the inspiring true story of a couple in Warsaw (who ran the zoo) who not only saved hundreds of Jews during the war but also--as you can see in these quotes--kept their own and others' spirits alive. These passages stood out to me as being just as applicable to a restricted, homebound life of chronic illness (in fact in that last one, the zookeeper's wife was confined to her room due to chronic pain) as to life during a war. You can read my full review of the book at my book blog, including where to get the book or audio. We can find inspiration in unexpected places!
From My Book
"We also celebrate all kinds of smaller occasions, which can be even more fun and less stressful than celebrating the big holidays. The dead of winter, after the major holiday season is past and before Easter and spring arrive, can be a dark and depressing time. But there are lots of smaller holidays and occasions to celebrate during that time that can add a bit of brightness to an otherwise dreary winter."
---from a chapter called Celebrate Everything, Big and Small!, providing tips and lots of simple ideas for celebrating small occasions with minimal effort to add joy to your life, from my book, Finding a New Normal: Living Your Best Life with Chronic Illness, available everywhere (links here). This chapter (I also made a video about it) is perfect for this time of year! In fact, just by chance this year, there are four little reasons to celebrate all in one week, starting Saturday, February 10. They're all listed in the notes under the video. We'll be celebrating in our own small ways here!
A Look Back on the Blog
In keeping with the theme of small celebration at this time of year, check out my post on Celebrating Mardi Gras - the Easy Way. That's one of the holidays falling in that one week in February this year (Mardi Gras day is February 13 this year, but the season is going on now!). It includes chill recommendations for great books, movies, and TV shows set in New Orleans or Louisiana, links to simple (even cheap takeout) food options, and more--and don't forget to wear purple, gold, and green that day!
My Recent Videos
(Note that these are my chronic illness videos; my Youtube channel also features videos about books, if you enjoy reading or listening to audio books.)
Virginia Fall Camping Trip Vlog - some beautiful footage of fall foliage and the sights and sounds of nature
Chronic Illness Vlog 11-16-23: A Mostly Horizontal Week
Chronic Illness Vlog 11-27-23: Highs and Lows - from tears on the couch to somehow managing my 40th high school reunion!
Chronic Illness Vlog 12-12-23: Still Relapse, Still Flat, Trying Treatments
Chronic Illness Vlog 1-8-24: Much Better! The Diet That's Helping
My Experiences with Carnivore Diet - First Three Weeks - what it is, why I'm trying it, what we eat, and results so far
Connect with me on:
My blog: http://livewithcfs.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/livewithmecfs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livewithmecfs
This message was published Friday, February 2nd 2024 at 6:23PM Eastern Standard Time (US)
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