The Elimination Diet Challenge

So I saw the ND today. She was great and we sorted through my various health issues and I've started on a new plan to improve my health. She went over my blood test results with me and suggested  that I do have a type of anemia. My iron is low as is my B12. Now my "traditional" doctor didn't see a problem with the iron and B12 levels, but the ND suggested that the prescribed guidelines for high and low levels is not a set rate. In other words, if I'm on the lower level as far as she's concerned it's too low and needs to be dealt with. Another area that she brought my attention to was my red blood cells (is this getting too personal? Maybe, but so-be-it.). From what I understood my red blood cell size is larger than normal. So the dizziness or lightheadedness I've been experiencing is most likely a symptom of anemia. There are several other indicative symptoms but there's no need to go into my whole history with everyone here. 

Finally I feel like I'm getting to the root of the problem and can now treat it. It's such a great feeling. For once I left a doctor's office feeling better. I didn't get to leave without a B12 shot. Waaahhh! I hate needles. I mean I really really hate needles. I stop breathing when I see a needle (not a sewing needle thank goodness or a knitting needle). Anywho...I had the stupid shot in my hip and now it's a bit sore. I'll be stopping back once a week for a bit for a regular B12 shot. I asked her about the B12 patch, but she hadn't heard about it. I'm not even sure if it's in Canada yet. She thought it was a good idea but really felt the shot was the best option for immediate treatment. So I'll just have to deal with that.

I've got some new supplements and one of the things we discussed was having an allergy test. However, when I learned that the blood test she does cost 300 dollars I opted for the elimination diet as a way to test for allergies. I'll do the blood test when I have the extended health care plan (if ever). So...tomorrow I'll start my elimination diet. Being vegan it really isn't a huge change for me since many of my foods are on the "foods to include" list. The big one will be removing wheat from my diet since I eat bread 82 times a day and we have pasta almost as much. The big hurt will be eliminating caffeine. I can't even fathom what that's going to be like. Well, actually I can since I once went on the McDougall Program that required no caffeine and I became a herbal tea drinker. I remember three days of headaches and crankiness and about a week before I felt "better." db has promised to make me a tea latte with my unsweetened almond milk. He's also ready to research a new gluten free pizza crust so I can still enjoy pizza night. We bought some rice pasta that promises to be "Not Mushy" so that's promising. Between the supplements and the diet I should start to feel more energetic. 

I do have dinner plans tomorrow but eating in a vegan restaurant should make things easier and I decided for this one night out I'm not going to be too concerned with food for one dinner. Being decaffeinated I just hope I can stay awake through dinner. 

More fun with the Medical system

Yesterday I went to see my new doctor. She will be my new doctor for the annual necessary check-ups because she was suitable enough and I've decided she won't be my primary doctor. We met briefly in a busy office that also houses six other doctors so you can imagine the waiting room, dominated by young pregnant women and lots of little ones running around making lots of noise. It's a busy noisy place. I'm starting to think this is the norm.

In the past way back when I was living in Victoria, I had this fabulous doctor whose practice was in her basement/ground level suite of this grand old brownstone home that she lived in. There was a quiet entrance through a gate at the back that gave you a view of the everblooming garden as you descended the stone steps. I would often encounter one of her cats on the way to the office. The rooms and waiting room were naturally lit and serene. The furniture was natural wood. Only the examination table and her swivel chair were the really modern pieces of furniture. The "office" reflected the doctor. While she was very busy, I always felt that I had all the time I needed with her. I enjoyed going to see her. She always made sure all of my questions were answered. It was a very positive experience.

So this new office that I was in yesterday was a cubbyhole examination room. Doctors working on the 15 minutes per patient is a rude awakening for me. Anywho...this doctor did rule out my worst fears such as anemia. It took her little time to figure that out in contrast to the clinic doctor I saw on Thursday who questioned my diet. This doctor saw no problem with my diet or lifestyle. She still wants me to get my bloodwork done (D'oh!). I'll have to do that Friday when I'm off again since I have to fast 10 hours before I go. What? Start my day without espresso?

At the end of the day I decided that I will seek out a naturopathic doctor (ND) as well. I think this is a very worthwhile option since I'm not really comfortable with the "traditional" approach where I saw a doctor for the first time that lasted 15 minutes and she prescribed a drug to help with the dizziness even though I resisted and asked her if there was anything else I could do in terms of diet or whatever. Nope. She recommended the prescription. I've got it and I'll wait until I see the ND before filling it.

I guess this will be a long process before I get definite answers, but then this is my body, my health and I've never been one to believe in the quick fix so I'll be patient and hopefully, eventually I will feel like myself again.

Is this what our medical system looks like?

Yesterday I felt a little lightheaded while getting ready for work. Occasionally I do feel this way, but it passes as the day goes on so I treated yesterday like every other time. However, I still felt awful while on the bus to work. I arrived at work and stopped in the parking lot, asking myself if I could get through work. I went ahead, but once inside I realized that I wasn't getting better at all. I called db because I was a bit scared feeling dizzy and unstable. I told my boss I had to go and waited for the next bus.

Not having a new doctor yet, I went to the nearest drop-in clinic and was put on the wait list for an appointment much later that afternoon. While I wanted to deal with this right away, I was anxious to get home because I was absolutely famished. I ate with hopes that I'd feel better after I got some more food in me. It didn't help.

Back at the clinic I finally saw a doctor, I think. I'm being sarcastic, but I can't even believe a person would treat another person with such indifference. Sure he probably sees fifty people a day, but at least introduce yourself before you settle into making notes after asking me some very vague questions. I had to say to him "what are your writing down?" I felt like Elaine in Seinfeld when the doctor's make notes about how difficult she is and they won't let her see her chart. He asked me nothing about my family medical history. He asked very little about what I was feeling at all before making four different assumptions about what it might be.
He checked my reflexes, strength, eyes, ears, blood pressure, breathing. All things that I have no idea what he was after and when I asked he was just as vague as ever. He did ask me if I'm vegetarian. When I said "I'm vegan." He said "strict vegan?" I said, "No, I think I'm quite liberal." I really hate that term "strict" when referring to vegans. He didn't get the joke so I got defensive and said, "I'm healthier than any meat eater I know. I eat better than most people and I regularly take supplements." He just kind of brushed it off. He asked nothing about exercise or much else. Then he filled out a blood work sheet that will test me for everything under the sun. I guess that covers his ass that he was thorough.
"So what do I do?" I asked him.
"When you get up, don't get up too quickly." He told me.
Well that should do it.
He started to leave without a good-bye or anything. I stopped him. "Hey, what do I do with this?" referring to the blood work sheet.
"It's on the back." He was impatient now. My time was clearly up. He flipped it over and ran his finger down the list of clinics to get my blood work done.

I have a feeling that without having a flu or cold or some sort obvious physical trauma that I would have gotten the same treatment and result. I almost want to go in today and complain about numbness in a toe or something and see if I get the same treatment. Okay, I won't because I'd be wasting everybody's time, but my point is what kind of care does such a place offer? If it is becoming more and more difficult to find a family doctor then is this the kind of medical care we can expect from now on? This is what I'm paying for? In B.C. you do have a health care bill based on your income that comes like any other bill and you have to pay it to be covered. Obviously it doesn't cover good health care, but pays for things like blood work testing.

Once I got home I searched for doctors in the area taking new patients and made an appointment for next week. I definitely need a second opinion and I don't see the need to get any bloodwork done for the clinic doctor. What's the point? I simply don't like him.

This morning I had the same thing and while I felt better after moving around for a bit, I still feel lightheaded and "not myself." It's so strange because Wednesday I felt great and went for a run and had all kinds of energy and then I just seemed to crash.

I'll have to wait and see what this next doctor says. I'd rather go to a naturopathic doctor, but I scarcely can afford that now can I?