Much better, thank you!

I once told my mom, “My mind is like a steel trap”. I was a freshman in college…only someone that age could be so stupidly arrogant. We proceeded to play Trivial Pursuit (with wine) almost every evening of my summer break. I only won one game.

However, as much as that my seem to be a non sequitur, I am ecstactic to report that I have energy today! Yes!

The is the best I’ve felt in months!

I think the treatment is working! I have been following a strict diet, and I had a pint of blood drawn from me in November.

In terms of eating it’s a lot like diabetes…except I avoid iron instead of sugar. Supposedly, my body takes too much iron from the food I consume and stores it in my organs beginning with the liver.

On the naughty list:

uncooked shellfish
beef & pork
bread and cereal (esp. the iron fortified kinds)
vitamin C supplements
noodles and rice
soda
sugar
fried foods
alcohol
pastries and “bread” based bakery goods

O.K. foods (in moderaton)

brown rice
rice noodles
red wine
chicken
fish

The upside of all of this is I get to drink coffee and tea without guilt!
Coffee and tea inhibits iron absorption! (Yeah, take that!, gals at the clinic who thought I drank too much coffee! Remember chiquitqas this fun formula: Karin+Coffee+no iron=hyper active fun!)

My first blood iron reading=204 mg on 11/14
(Normal iron is between 30-160.)
By 11/18 I was in incredible amounts of pain.
I gave a pint and watched my iron intake.
By 12/2 my blood iron was down to 124mg!

Since then I have had other blood-loss of the normal female variety. I never thought I would be so thankful for the “curse”. But, this wacky disease is worse in women who have already gone through menopause.

It’s a weird life. But even with this I am loving every minute. It’s amazing as much as you think you know…everything is still a mystery isn’t it!? My mind may be more like Swiss-cheese than steel, but I learn something new about myself and the world around me everyday.

Ma, it’s time for a rematch! Your T.P. champion status is going down like Donkey Kong! I’m throwing the gauntlet!

Until our tournament commences…I’m going Christmas shopping! I have energy! Game ON!