Not feeling good on TF

[gabbyraja]

We switch to TF in late Dec. We threw out all processed foods, do fermented beverages and veggies, use enzymes liberally, cut sugar out almost completely (all forms), added bone broths, more fish, grass-fed animal products only, lots of coconut/CO, FCLO, epsom salts, vit c, and so on.

I don't understand it. I want this to "heal" me, so much. I see good response in my 3 yr old. He's grown 2 inches in 2 months. And I AM losing weight again and at 5 months pp that feels great. I've lost 11 pounds. However:

-My children still have dark circles under their eyes/eczema in places, and dry skin/lips

-They got SOOOOOOO sick at the beginning of Feb. It lasted (or recurred or something) for 3.5 weeks overall. It spread to ear infections and sinus infections and triggered asthma in the ones with asthma and cold sores in some of them (and me). It was the worst illness I think they've ever had.

-I am/the baby is still struggling with yeast

-I do feel like I'm less tired, and my diarrhea is gone. So that's great! But my stomach feels horrible often. It feels like what I imagine constipation feels like (I've never had it before). I go 1-4 times per day! (And it looks like the description of great stools.) Previously I could go 3 days or more, then would usually have diarrhea, then another 2-3 days. Despite going so often now I feel like I'm stretched and heavy in my entire lower abdomen. Like I have those weights you wrap around your arms and legs for exercise in my intestines. It doesn't get better or go away after I use the bathroom. I swear as I sit here typing I feel like I've been wearing too-tight pants for days or something. No gas, either. I'm afraid it's the diet much higher in meat/animal products and few grains for "fiber" but I really don't know.

-I feel nauseated when I wake in the morning, and randomly throughout the day, on an empty stomach or after I eat/drink. Like when I was dealing with m/s. NO possibility I'm pg, btw.

What the heck is going on with us? Why would we appear to be getting worse health-wise on TF? Initially I kind of chalked it up to die-off/detox stuff, but 2 months later I don't think so...

[greenmagick]

I dont know, how long would detox usually take?

I know with raw feeding dogs, when switching its common for detox to go off and on for a 2-3 months so I wouldnt be surprised if its similar in humans too.

I am pretty new to all of this and am just starting so really dont know however:)

Your stomach, I am wondering if going really often is just your system trying to get back on track.  Also, going multiple times a day is not a bad thing, up to three is considered totally normal.  It varies for each person

[gabbyraja]

Ugh, really? Maybe that's it. Maybe I need a good book that describes what detox is and the process. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I know 3 times or so is "normal" it's just never been normal for me. I can't BELIEVE the amount of time I now spend in the bathroom. I'm in there as often as when I was pg!

[prancie]

You've only been doing this for 2 months, and they were the worst months for getting sick!  Hang in there! We've been doing TF for a year now and I have cleared up all depression and anxiety in myself.  I am still working on my dry skin issues, but i think those are related to bathing too often in too hot water.  We too got sick in Jan and february, the stomach flu and then a bad cold.  I think it takes a long time to build up immune systems and even then I'm not sure you can assure anything except maybe reduced secondary infections.  

I have read that dark circles are an allergy thing.  If your kids are eating food anywhere else, especially at school, that could be an issue.  

[Magelet]

Of they could be allergic to something your still feeding them. TF doesn't mean allergen free.

I would say it could be detox, it could be doing TF in a way that doesn't work for you.  Some people need lots of grains and veg and a little meat, others need lots of meat and no grains, etc.  Some people can't digest gluten, others can't digest dairy, and then there's the whole gamut of allergies that affect everyone.

Definitely you won't be fully healed in 2 months. Or 4. or 6.  If you are like me and almost everyone in America, you ate rather poorly (even if you thought you were eating well with standard "health" food like soy, unfermented whole wheat, low fat, etc) for years.  You can't expect to feel totally better in months.

With the intestine thing, I found that the first couple months, every time I had coconut oil, I felt queasy, and my stomach felt kind of heavy.  Over time, I've gotten used to eating lots of fat and coconut oil, and feel just fine eating it.

[Koalamom]

With going TF are you eating whole grains instead of processed grains? I found that I never had gluten issues that came to the surface until I went whole grain. And with going Tf are you consuming more dairy? These were the big issues for me as I felt worse than ever TF. I am only feeling better after cutting out all dairy and going paleo. Oh was it hard but the health changes are amazing.

I don't think a detox that bad should last for months and you should see some changes to know it is right.

[gabbyraja]

Yes, they have food intolerances. We're working on them with herbs and enzymes, etc. However, we're still eliminating allergens at the moment with challenges of raw dairy w/enzymes about once/week or 2. I am still fully avoiding allergens because even enzymes don't yet seem to be good enough to keep the baby from spitting up just a little and sleeping a little poorly. So I'm still 100% dairy free, also soy, corn, pear, legumes, garlic and onion, and wheat/gluten.

"you ate rather poorly (even if you thought you were eating well with standard "health" food like soy, unfermented whole wheat, low fat, etc) for years. " YES! But I really thought I'd see more improvement by now. However, 3yo ds who lost 4 pounds while sick has almost fully recovered the weight after 2 days of hitting the raw cream hard (with lots of GlutenEase enzymes and no sign of allergic reaction).

We do do whole grains, soaked in water kefir for 12-24 hours. But no gluten-containing grains. Just rice, GF oats about once a week, some buckwheat, sorghum, and teff for my homemade bread, also about once a week.

[Koalamom]

Goodness you sound aot like me as I have to avoid a ton of food, ate TF and still felt horrible. I am dealing with lyme disease that I never knew that is what I had for years, and it has totally mess with my health. I was justa toxic sick mess and it is only since going paleo and the turning point starting up on clay and alot of other amazing thing from a great naturopath mom I met here on the site. Things are finally changing as I was stuck in my old health state and TF is actually working well for me now. It was so hard to go paleo as I LOVE grain and was getting really good at making GF baked goods, but here I am and I am finding other joyful foods.

I hope you figure out what you need for your health. Hugs!

[TonyaW]

It sounds to me like you need to do some gut healing. I am studying to be a nutrition consultant and I am currently reading about digestive health and symptoms which indicate digestive distress. You have some classic symptoms. It also sounds like you need liver support and detox. I would find a natural practitioner who could help you with those issues. It doesn't sound like you just need to detox or switch diets. It sounds like you need to heal your digestive system.

While you probably have improved your health to some degree, you probably aren't absorbing many of the great nutrients you are taking consuming. Having and immune response to inflammation in your gut will also create food intolerances.

It looks like you could use a total gut healing protocol and working with someone who can deal specifically with yeast too.

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by TonyaW 

It sounds to me like you need to do some gut healing. It doesn't sound like you just need to detox or switch diets. It sounds like you need to heal your digestive system.

It looks like you could use a total gut healing protocol and working with someone who can deal specifically with yeast too.

I've read a few books about gut healing and we're working on it. I simply can't afford a NP, even if I could find one, so I'm trying a do-it-yourself kind of program. It's 3-fold 1. kill parasites, 2. get yeast under control, 3. lots of healing herbs, foods, and supplements.Well, and time, but...

I found one book that looks promising for detox, but it's only available by interlibrary loan and they're all checked out at the moment. So, I'm hanging in there. Less meat and more veggies over the last couple of days have reduced the heavy/full feeling, at least. But, I woke up queasy again this morning. GAWD I hate that.