Let’s Get Personal – Getting My Ducks in a Row

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Hello again! Just a little update on how things are going! How are you doing?

Right now, I’m in a bit of a holding pattern. Last week, I went to the new doctor and got all of my blood drawn (what seems like A LOT of blood). We’re running a variety of tests. I also had to go get an ultrasound on my thyroid, because the doctor did think it seemed enlarged and wanted to make sure nothing else was going on there …. yeah … that kind of freaked me out. But, not as much as it would have the old Jessica. The old Jessica would have been sick with worry, unable to eat, sleep, etc. The new Jessica feels little flickers of nervousness in her gut, but she is not fixated on it.

The Hairs on My Head

The one thing that Jessica (wait, why am I speaking about myself in the third person?). The one thing that I am somewhat fixated on, despite my best efforts, is my hair loss. Up until about a month ago, I never experienced any hair loss. I never lost more than what your “normal” amount is per day. “Normal” is considered anything between 40 and 120 strands per day, with increases happening in the fall. I have also been told that people with fine hair (like me), tend to lose more than thicker haired people. Still, that doesn’t make me feel any better.

Starting about a month ago, I started losing a lot — or, what seems to me is a lot. I don’t know what changed. It’s like my body said “Oh! Hey! You’re going to pay attention to me now! Let me show you how mean I can be!” I wash my hair every other day, and honestly, I dread showers now, because I don’t want to see how much hair is coating my hands when I’m shampooing and conditioning. My nutritional therapist Lydia tells me not to freak out. It will resolve itself, especially once we know what exactly is going on and start offering the body more support … OK Lydia, I’m trying my very, very, very best not to freak out! I’ve already told you that for a split second, Neurotic Jessica thought about counting each individual hair after a shower to see just how many were actually lost. But, Sane Jessica stepped in and said “No!”

Thankfully, I’m not alone. That sounds terrible. I would never, ever wish hair loss on anyone. So, perhaps “thankfully” is not the right word. But, I am not alone. I learned this past week that my friend KerryAnn from Cooking Traditional Foods also is experiencing hair loss. While I never want to hear about the bad stuff that a friend is dealing with, it is comforting to know that there is someone I can commiserate with. You really don’t know how attached you are to your hair until something happens to it. At least KerryAnn knows what I’m going through and how it makes me feel. It’s just nice to talk to someone who understands! Plus, I have a local friend who is going through similar issues and she is great to talk to, because our stories are so similar sometimes.

Waiting, Sleeping, Eating, and Counting Carbs

Besides the hair loss, I’m feeling pretty good. I’m just waiting for all of those results. This week, I will be going back to the doctor to go over those results, as well as take a 2-hour monitored blood glucose test. That should be fun. But, it will also be really good information. I am already doing the blood sugar control challenge with Lydia, which I must admit is making me feel better. What all does this blood sugar challenge entail? Well, I have eliminated:

• Grains
• Legumes
• Dairy
• ALL sugar
• Most fruits

So, what they heck am I eating?

That was the question my dad asked me when I told him about what I was doing. Well, the simple answer is lots of eggs. Haha! In all seriousness, I’m eating protein, fat, veggies, low-glycemic fruit (occasionally), and some nuts (occasionally).

The first few days of the challenge, I went WAY too low on my carbs, only getting 20-30 per day. By the Sunday after I started the blood sugar control challenge, I just crashed. I felt so cruddy. I went too low, too fast and my body fought back. Thankfully, Lydia posted about this very subject, because it seems like I am not the only person who was not getting enough carbs.

By the way, this post from Mark Sisson is fantastic and really helped me assess where I needed to be carb wise. Since Sunday, I have been getting between 55 and 75 carbs per day and I’m feeling SO much better.

The other thing I am very proud of is that for almost 3 weeks straight, I have been in bed no later than 10pm every night. Well, every night, except for last Sunday, because I was up late as we transferred this website over to a new hosting company. But, other than that, it’s been 9:30pm to 10pm every night! Go me! Sleep is so important when it comes to healing. It’s important for everyone to get enough quality sleep, but even more imperative if you’re struggling with certain health issues. If you’re curious about how sleep directly helps (or harms) adrenal fatigue, check out this post: “5 Keys to Keeping Your Adrenal Glands Healthy: #1 SLEEP“, from Lydia at Divine Health.

Now, if you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, this is a great article (also form Lydia’s website): “Adrenal Fatigue: Trouble Falling Asleep? 7 Tips to Better Sleep“. (I was keeping with the duck theme. Image credit here).

So, for right now, I am in the research and development stage of the process. I need to gather all of the test results possible, talk to as many people possible, and work with my doctor and Lydia to establish a plan for treatment. I am nervous, excited, and very optimistic. Things are going to get better. It might be slow, but things are going to get better!

So, how is your journey going right now? Anything you’d like to share? I encourage comments, because we all have so much to learn for one another!

Until next time,

Health, happiness, and love.

~Jessica ♥

About Jessica (620 Posts)

Delicious Obsessions was founded by Jessica Espinoza in 2010. Jessica is passionate about real food, natural living, and more. She helps people see how to eat nourishing food, without breaking the bank. Her motto is "baby steps" -- making small, lasting changes, one at a time, is the best way to ensure long-term success. This website contains "affiliate links" where appropriate, on which, I may earn a small commission or referral fee on your purchase. This has no effect on your price. The monies earned help maintain and support this website's hosting, maintenance, and the development of free content. The content shared on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. Statements/products discussed have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult your own health care practitioner before making changes to your current diet or before beginning any herbal or vitamin supplement regimen or exercise program.