Day one and boy do I need it.

[Mistriver]

Today is day one for my husband and I.  In a couple weeks we will start the kids.  My husband has total cholesterol in the 360+ range, is dealing with ED, and generally feels tired.  Four of my kids have SPD, my teenager has Aspergers and ADD.  My oldest has Asthma and anxiety so bad she shakes in crowds.  Me? well... let's just say my husband likes to joke that I have to have all the things.  

 

To date I have Hashimotos thyroditis, IBS, major brain fog (I used to have a 138 IQ.. now I just can't think through anything), I often can't remember words like shoe, wall, car, my memory recall for details or even memories from the past is almost non existent, I have high cholesterol, dangerously low vitamin D, hypothyroidism, chronic pain in every joint, muscle, and bone from my neck to my toe joints (the doctor thinks I might have lupus but is ruling out the D deficiency as a cause first), headaches, stomach pain going on two years, lymph nodes so swollen they thought I might have lymphoma (thank goodness the biopsy said no), bad TMJ in my jaw, multipallateral (?) knee syndrome in both knees, PCOS, constant post nasal drip going on 10 years,  recurrent kidney stones, I'm weak and have a hard time building muscle, am 80 pounds overweight but can't lose it for anything, chronic life stopping exhaustion for going on 4 years, bad insomnia, recurrent severe ear infections to the point they swell closed, every scratch becomes an infection, I have an injury on my back from when I birthed my 4 year old that just won't heal and acts up a lot, ptosis, bad rosacea, bursitis in hips, weird spots on my body that are super painful to the touch for no reason, my geographic tongue, my teeth are literally disintegrating, and I'm only 36.  The only treatments I receive are thyroid medicine and vitamin D supplements.  When I ask doctors for help to improve my quality of life they simply nod their heads and do nothing to even look into the matter.  It took me four years and ten docs to find one who would even take my blood for the exhaustion.  That doc was surprised when my D levels came back as a 9.  The treatments however have made no difference in how I feel.

 

To say I am not able to live life to the fullest is a bit of an understatement.  Left to handle my health myself I've been scouring the internet.  We came across the idea of plant based Vegan and really liked the concept of nutrition and elimination being the key to healing.  However, no matter how much I wanted to feel better I just couldn't stay on the diet.  My husband doesn't like beans or rice.  The food was bland.  Mostly, it just came back to overwhelming cravings.  The other day I stumbled into the Whole30.  I've been reading, listening to the audiobook, and researching ever since.  I'm thinking with all my problems I should do a Whole100 not a Whole30.  

 

Today is day 1.  If anyone has any encouragement that this will help with anything I could use it.   I would give anything to feel better.   Thanks!

[Munkers]

Holy heck, you really haven't had an easy road, have you?

 

You can do this. Take it one day at a time and you know what? Even if you do have some slips and false starts, every day that you spend focusing on following the Whole30 is a positive addition to your health bank. You're right that 30 days may only be a starting point for healing, but that's okay! It has to start somewhere.

 

Lots of good mojo for you and best of luck!

[Carlaccini]

Okay -  Wow!  I think you have come to a very good place for help.  

 

Some Thoughts:

 

Start off with the regular program, then tweak from there.  You may find that you need to do an AIP whole 30 - because you have multiple autoimmune issues. I would suggest to be aware of it and don't overdo the foods that are eliminated on the AIP program. So don't go crazy with nuts, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes or eggs.  I have 3 autoimmune issues myself and I have found that doing a regular whole 30 has alleviated most of the symptoms. 

 

Don't be afraid of starchy carby vegetables.  Especially since you are starting out. (Try to have 2 a day)  Especially since you have hormonal issues to settle. Starchy veggies were a big part of getting my hormones to run properly again.