Hello, I just joined today.  I'll tell you a bit of my history.

I believe that I was born with an ovarian cyst because my first memories are of pain, and I had pain throughout my life, and I got all manner of stomach illnesses, and was puking often.  No doctor could figure out why, and when I was 10 it got very bad.  When I was 11, I had a similar attack, but it lasted more than a day.  I had gone to the hospital the night before and they took an x-ray and thought I was constipated.  When I returned the next day, they thought it was appendicitis since I had pain on the right.  When they opened me in surgery, they were shocked to see the cyst on my ovary, but the appendix was fine.  They said the cyst had twisted the ovary over twice (at that time) and was killing the ovary and the tube.  They removed both and the appendix.  During recovery I got stomach flu in hospital, and took 2 months to recover.

Fast forward.  During my high school years I was constantly constipated (for real) and had laxatives and enemas.  My doctor prescribed to sit on the toilet every day and force myself.  This worked for about 6 months.

After that 6 months, I started getting diarrhea everyday, and pimples under my arms, and boils in the groin area (hips, waist, belly, and sometimes btw the legs on the thigh).  I saw a doctor about the pimples in the arms, but he said "there's nothing there, it's all in your head".  3 months later I saw another, who said "it's normal".  3 months later, another said "you need to see a surgeon".  The surgeon 4 months after this said "there's nothing there, it's in your head".  I had gone through much pain with puss and blood over these 10 months.  I changed my deodorant because I thought the aluminum compound was at fault along with perfume.  Pimples went away until just over a year ago.

Around the same time as the pimples, the diarrhea started.  It gradually got worse over 7 years, but it got to the point where I had it for 3-4 hrs a day.  My social life no longer existed, my summer jobs would be affected.  So I tried to not eat very much throughout the day, and eat only at night, plus tons of water (that's the only remedy I could think of).  I went to several doctors but most said "women like to make up things to get attention, so go home and don't come back", and some said "if you lost weight, you wouldn't need to see a doctor."  I begged one doctor to give me an ultrasound since the pain with the diarrhea was the same as my periods, so I thought something was wrong, and given the cyst before, I was worried.  Too bad the doctors didn't think so.

U-sound showed nothing.  I was tired of non-answers from doctors and asked my friend who was a biologist.  She said to try eliminating milk and meat from my diet for a couple weeks and see what happens.  The next day (really!), the problem was gone.  I didn't feel sick and I wasn't on the toilet all day!  I had lactose intolerance.

Everything was mostly fine over the past several years, but I'm always tired, and the pimples came back a year ago.  I changed my deodorant again from an unscented stick, to a brand called Crystal.  It's just water and potassium aluminum (a salt).  The pimples have not been developing as fast, but they're still there.

I asked my friend again for help, and she showed me links to Dr. D'Adamo's site, and another man's site (Dr. Lam) with food lists.  I ate it up.  I got the small food and drink book, and found at the library the Eat Right 4 Your Type just 3 months ago.  I have eliminated wheat, beef and pork from my diet, and the change has been immense!  My nasal drip of 20 years is gone (except when I have whole wheat buns or potatoes), and I no longer choke on the snot.  I've been putting soy flour in the bread (all homemade now) and using spelt and molasses.  My tiredness is starting to improve and I find that I have a bit more energy than I used to.

I am also seeing a nutritionist, and I showed her the books about the blood types and diets.  She hadn't heard of them, and she was amazed.  I've told her that I've been improving and she seems impressed.  I've also discussed with my doctor (a new one from all those others) about the pimples and new boils that I've been getting on my breasts for the past 3.5 years, and it's connected to the cyst that I had (polycystic ovarian disease).  I hope with the diet that it'll improve on it's own.  But all the time when I was sick has done a real number on me and I feel that it'll take years for me to recover completely.

**I just looked at the preview, and this is a long post.  Sorry. **

welcome!
you have come to the right place, for support and reading other testimonials like yours.

Hi Canadj,

It's wonderful that you are already seeing some improvments. It sounds like you have had many health challenges, and as Lola said, you came to the right place.

In time, you may want to consider a secretor test, the Genotype Diet and/or Swami. These will help you fine tune your diet to an improved state of healing. Take it slow, there is a lot to learn!

Lisa

What a good friend you have , keep listening to him/her.

Welcome to the forum! Wow, what a story! It can only get better from here, keep moving forward   Sounds like you are on the right path.....

I feel your pain and the arrogance of doctors and others who would tell you that it's in your head.. I was told the same years and years ago.. I feeeele for you..

BUT I also feel the day when pain went away.. I had the same experience as you did many years ago.. it was milk with me also.. I don't think all people should have milk ..

I am sooooo pleased that you are here an that you posted this life story.. It fits with mine and I make long posts also, because it is just to over whelming to say things in one sentence..  I am celebrating with you that you are here with the people who are a whole community of same.. they (most all) have experienced similar health disappointment and then found PEACE here..

Oh please order all the early books of eat right and live right and read them as well as the Encyclopedia.. study learn and benefit from them all..  I am celebrating your self education and your self affirmation of who you could have been.

I suffered like you for 32 years, and then in ther ways until 63 years total,  but now I am happy as a clam.. (see my thread about HGC doing it homeopathic.. ) I have gone on a journey that is indescribable.. after all other years of doing things I am finally going back home to my own body again as it should have been.. Its long and my posts are mine, but read the first one in between and then the end one you will see a reflection of your life there.. and the EXHILARATION about the changes finally possible..    ALLLL THE BEST to .. and welcome!

Welcome! I am so sorry for your past struggles. Wishing you much better health.

I had my experience with doctors, too. I, too, had ovarian cysts. I went to another doctor for a second opinion. This one said I did not have a cyst but suggested opening me up anyway to do "exploratory surgery"! This was after 2 other doctors confirmed the cysts with ultrasounds and all. My childhood doctor could not identify my cough-variant asthma. He put me on cold medication and antibiotics year-round. As a result, I had yeast infections of the female kind and athlete's foot since I was 10 or so. I used to pack my liquid antibiotics and liquid cold medication in an icebox and take it to school.

We are all here to get healthier so, welcome aboard!

Thanks everyone.  I feel at home now.

Passionprincess, I understand totally about antibiotics.  They only cleared my throat, and they said it would clear the boils too, but they remain.  Obviously there is something else, and I think if I improve my diet with this, then they will go away on their own.

Goldie, what is HGC?

Also, I gained 70 pounds during the 7 yrs of undiagnosed LI.  When I found out what it was and stopped the milk, the weight stabilized.  Now I only fluctuate in a 5 pound range, and it's been like that for 5 yrs now, so I think I'm doing pretty good.

EDIT: Several yrs ago when taking a yoga class, they encouraged you to go barefoot.  I didn't like that and kept my socks on.  But one day I decided to go barefoot to get a better grip on the floor, but that one day created 6 yrs of suffering with athlete's foot.  I used to get plantar warts too.  Another friend who's a nurse said I might be susceptible to the candida/yeast infections.

Ok, I found your thread about HGC.  I don't think I'd ever do that to me, but at least it appears to be working for you.

Is there a search function on the forum?  There's so many pages I might give up what I was looking for before I get there.

Welcome Canadj to the forum and this way of life.  Yes...another Canadian...whereabouts are you from?  Glad to hear that you are doing so well with Blood Type.  It only gets better.    Keep us posted and any questions you have...ask away.

Debra

Welcome, Canadja!!  This forum and the BTD are fabulous and the people here will be a big help to you.

Welcome Candadj! I'm glad you're already feeling better, and I hope you get even healthier as you learn more about these diets.

Welcome Canadj!
This way of eating and living is the healthiest thing you will ever do for yourself! We have all been through some illness/ailment/condition and all have different, interesting stories/journeys/results. Read, ask, and learn! Its a great place with helpful people!

Yes, there is a search function, it is at the top of the page under your name/greeting. I find it helpful to look through the different categories, and if you have a question and cannot find a thread on it, start one!

As a type A I find that stress is a major contributor to things like planters warts and such. I had warts that I could not get rid of no matter what I tried. When I quit my stressful job and went back to school the warts disappeared

Hi Canadj, Glad you found this way of living. Stick to it, it will only get better. Have you considered getting to know your secretor status? It may help in refining your diet.

And what a..holes of doctors. It's such a shame that just because they don't know what is wrong with you, it's all your own fault... argghh makes me so angry! (had a similar doctor like that).

Just stay here and ask questions, this is the most friendly and helpful board I ever visited.

Haha, I knew my name would mix up some people.  It's a play on "Canada".  

I'm from Calgary, AB.

How do I find my secretor status?  Is that through a blood test at the doctor's?  (Yeah, likely they will give it to me if I ask. ... Not.)  I'll be putting a recipe or too up that I've found insanely helpful.

Quoted from Canadj

I'll be putting a recipe or too up that I've found insanely helpful.

Make sure to (also) add your recipes to the Recipe Center database (link at the top of the page, under Online Support) so folks can find them if/when the thread goes into the ether...

Quoted from Canadj

Haha, I knew my name would mix up some people.  It's a play on "Canada".  

I'm from Calgary, AB.

How do I find my secretor status?  Is that through a blood test at the doctor's?  (Yeah, likely they will give it to me if I ask. ... Not.)  I'll be putting a recipe or too up that I've found insanely helpful.

This is the test and site you want for your secretor test.

http://www.aboessentials.com/servlet/the-45/saliva-test-secretor-non/Detail

ABO essentials is the Canadian site for your ABO shopping when it comes to BTD/GTD.

Looking forward to seeing your recipes.

Calgary eh...welcome.  

Debra   

Eat more fruit and vegetables, limit your grain based carb & consider genotyping yourself.  I'm eating lightly during the day and a big meal at night, this is AMAZING for insulin control.  Ovarian cysts are caused by insulin problems, I know because I had them and spent 7 years on the pill.  You should look at some kind of intermittent fasting plus your food list and genotype as a l/t solution. Don't gamble with this or that and hope it will all be ok.
I'm a fan of the Warrior Diet approach by Ori Hofmekler; his system is one big meal at night and 16-18 hours of fasting daily.  Eat Stop Eat is 2 24 hour fasts a week, you might look in to that also.

Sahara- bear in mind that we're all individuals. What works well for O Hunters may not work well for an A. Specifically, a lot of As seem to do best eating their biggest meal at breakfast or lunch and eat lightly at dinnertime, the exact opposite of what you're doing. An A doing intermittent fasting (if it works for her at all) may do better having the "eating window" earlier in the day rather at dinnertime. As also tend to have stable blood sugar eating a lot more carbs than Os can manage with; more beans and less animal protein.

It's all about figuring out what works best for you personally. We all share what works for us, and it's different.

This A does poorly on intermittent fasting! I need to eat a large breakfast after my walk and it serves me well to have a small dinner. If I get too hungry I stuff myself uncontrollably with anything handy (fortunately I only have good things in the house, but good things can also be consumed in quantities too large). What works for one does not work for all, that is what this way of eating is all about!

You should get some probiotics from NAP (this website). While my body has always just been mostly stuck in the constipation phase... I find turmeric to be highly valuable. Lately I have been packing into veggie caps I bought at an herbal store and taking a few, a few times a day. The Rekon Pro may help too, for immune system.

Thanks for all your input.

I've been trying to get my parents on this, but my dad doesn't believe it.  We're all type A, but he eats about 30 servings of red meat/week, and he has anemia.  I've told him about what I found in the book about A's having pernicious anemia, but he doesn't buy it.  My mom is more receptive, so we've been having chicken and fish, and she likes the bread I make.

Is there a way to convince them more fully?

Quoted Text

Is there a way to convince them more fully?

I don't think so, just keep doing what you are doing, maybe if he sees your improvement he'll be more receptive. Also, who knows, if he's an Explorer he might need more meat than most As.

The best way to convince others is by example. If your Dad isn't willing to give up red meat yet, then he won't. You may have better luck by introducing beneficial foods, rather than by removing a favorite "avoid." He may get some releif by adding in beneficials, even if he keeps eating the beef. Or, better yet, get your Mom to cook that way for your Dad.

be impaccable with your word
don't take anything personally
don't make assumptions
always do your best
be sceptical but learn to listen


the rest is defined by L.Hays books and CH.Beerlandts....and even some goodies are to be seen in Dr. Sarno's booklets as well...  



shake..shake..shake...

Canadj,
You were unlucky to have that cyst, but it was lucky they found it then. My son had a friend who started college and within a week was in hospital for the same thing but with complications, and it took her a good year + to recover.
I'm happy for you that you found the Blood type diet.

I admire your tenacity, and strength of character that you kept looking for answers.  My health issues were milder when I was young, but I can relate to some of what you describe.
The sinus drip and the mucus I can relate to, I spent years gargling with salt water thinking I had a cold coming on often. Also suffered with sluggish bowels.  Once I discovered gluten/dairy sensitivities and took them and sugar out of my diet I had a big improvement.  And with the Blood Type/Swami diet it just keeps getting better.  
Lin