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Quarantined Again

 March found me back in quarantine, as it did last year. This time, it wasn't a bad cold, but a three-week case of diarrhea. Pepto Bismol, Candibactin BR, black seeds (nigella), NAC, thyroid medication and probiotics did nothing; a jar of kimchi made it a lot worse. So I went to urgent care, where the doctor prescribed a stool test for C. difficile and other nasties that will make you extremely ill. C. diff is so toxic that my employer advised me to stay home until results were in. Of course, I didn't want to infect others, so I quarantined myself...again. I'm even working on my computer in the sunshine as I did last year. I forgot that it's hard to see the screen.  

Photo from pixabay.com

All the test results were negative, so I'm still trying to figure out why I have diarrhea. Hypotheses include too much B vitamins and too much gut bacteria. It all started shortly after beginning a new probiotic and re-starting thyroid medication (25 mg). As I mentioned, I took a bunch of herbal antibacterials and a biofilm buster (NAC) to see if I could expel whatever bug was making me sick. After a week, and seeing stuff in the toilet I'd never seen before, I gave it up. That was on a Friday. I spent the weekend playing video games (what I do when I'm out of energy) and didn't feel up to working from home Monday or Tuesday. I assume something died off. My sinus passages are clearer, but that's all I have to show for it. 

While I sort it out, I've had to keep my electrolytes up since diarrhea flushes them out. Keto K1000 electrolyte mix has been great, and to make sure I don't overload on potassium, I bought a potassium meter. It's not made to measure potassium in humans, but no meter is. That's been one benefit of this whole thing: I can now tell if palpitations are from low potassium and not thyroid or adrenal problems. The meter was expensive ($360), but I'm glad I have it. I also bought a jewelry scale for my thyroid medication. I need such a small amount that I finally decided to buy one. I'm down three pounds since re-starting the medication and my face isn't puffy anymore. 

Also on the positive side, it's a gorgeous day and we're free to go out and enjoy it here in Indiana. The wildflowers have sprouted in the seed trays, daffodils are coming up, and I had the energy to weed the raised beds and clean up after a pressure cooker accident that sprayed chicken broth from floor to ceiling and set off the alarm. Luckily, I wasn't in the kitchen. I'd ordered a new fuse and should have waited on it. I wanted to replace the stopper, too, since the gasket is stiff, but everyone is out of stock.  At least toilet paper is in stock. 


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Comments

Lowcarb team member said…
Oh dear, so sorry to read this Lori.
I wish I could suggest something, but I can't!

However, on a positive note it is good to read that it is "a gorgeous day and you're free to go out and enjoy it there in Indiana".

Sending healing wishes

All the best Jan
March 21, 2021
Lori Miller said…
Thanks, Jan. I'm cautiously optimistic that I'm getting back to normal.
March 21, 2021
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