The Story: Part 3 of 3

Ok, I know you've all been on the edge of your seats, waiting for the final installment of this exciting story, so here you go :).  Thank you for listening :).

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Daily Life

So what does this all look like in our house?  Well, I’ve been sick off and on since November, which has not been lovely.  In fact, I felt like I was pregnant, which I was not (lots of nausea, headaches, etc.).  Turns out the symptoms of detoxing are very close to those of being pregnant (there are reasons for that of course, but that’s a topic for another day).  Oh joy joy.  Here’s the good news though.  About February, I started having days and then a full week at a time where I felt like my SPD was just gone – hardly any symptoms of it at all.  This has propelled me into sticking with all of these changes we’ve made.  In May I started feeling even better mentally/sensorily (read: it’s been freaking amazing!).  The nature of all of this is that you take two steps forward and one step back.  So during the whole process, I’ll feel exceptional for a few days and then not so great for a day.  Soon that turned into exceptional for a week and then not so great for a few days, and I expect it to continue on a pattern like this. 

Along with the abating of symptoms of the SPD and OCD, I’ve also noticed some other great changes that have happened:

*Less cravings:  Umm, yeah, all my life I’ve been in love with sugar, and while I still love sugar, I just don’t crave it as much.  I feel like I actually have that “stop eating” reflex now, whereas before that never really liked to kick in.  From what I understand, the serotonin in your body is responsible for giving that “stop eating” reflex, and in people with OCD, your brain does not have enough serotonin.  So I’m thinking that my serotonin production has increased (or at least the uptake of it has decreased).

*Hormonal changes:  Yeah, I’m not going to go into detail here, but let’s say that many things have changed for the better.

*Skin changes:  It just looks healthier, and so do my nails, which are generally an indicator of health.

And what about Jack?  Oh, he’s doing great.  Mr. “I only eat toast, cereal, milk, and cheese” has turned into Mr. “I love broccoli, rice milk, mixed foods, and gluten free muffins”.  Of course he’s still a big fan of hot dogs and (GFCF) pizza, cookies, etc., but he’s become much more willing to try things, such as stuff that’s a little spicier or crunchier or mushier or different looking.  And instead of full body tantrums about not wanting to eat something, he offers a little resistance and then generally gives in fairly easily.  He’s also being a lot more flexible.  That is to say, he’s willing to do things a little differently or to give in to Eli’s crazy notions or to just not flip out whenever something happens that he doesn’t like.  Hallelujah.  He’s also become more dependent about things – truly interested in putting his own shoes on, doing up his carseat, etc.  I think he’s feeling more confident in himself.

Most of what I’ve said has been about Jack and I, but I need to give credit where credit is due.  Mike has been very patient and willing to try new things and willing to put in the time to do this whole process.  It’s really hard to jump into this whole alternative medicine thing because it’s not as easily backed by decades upon decades of statistics and readily available R & D (although more is coming out all the time about the effectiveness of these types of treatment plans).  This has been a real trial of faith, and while I’ve been able to quickly see the changes that have happened, since they’ve been in my own body, Mike has just taken my word for it and put his energy and his tastebuds and his pocketbook into it.  There will never be a better husband than him, of that I am sure.  He has put up with dinners that were total bombs, a sick detoxing wife, and all manner of things, all the time trusting that it was for the best.  He is the best thing in my life and has been from day one.

The overarching theme of the last six months or so?  The proof is in the pudding.  What we are doing is changing how our bodies work, whether or not we understand why or how.  I cannot refute that.  So even for all of the ugliness that has been involved in the process and all the back-and-forth of feeling good and feeling rotten, I wake up every day knowing that my body is functioning better than it used to, and so is Jack’s.  And that is a beautiful thing.