Ferocious Fix February - Carnivore Challenge (Fit it In - Fit in It! ) Feb 2022

Karen18 · 2022-02-19 20:21:42 UTC

A little foody pic… my loverly meaty bargains!

Azi · 2022-02-19 21:46:31 UTC

my rings were so tight this morning could get them off so I weighed myself up 4lbs of the ,5 I lost my arm is still sore after falling in nebraska so I have asked for a referral to see if I’ve pulled something or torn something.

I’m going to return to my bbbe seemed to be doing better on that…

@Fangs yeah it’s so hard losing our parents I was close to my dad and when I lost him it hit me hard even though at the time it was best thing for him I didn’t want to see him suffer anymore…
But now I live knowing he will always be therefor me I can’t pick up the phone to hear his voice but I still often talk to him when I need him the most…he will always be my strength.

JJFiddle · 2022-02-20 03:40:06 UTC

I take magnesium threonate. Started with the usual mg oxides 25 years ago and slowly worked over to this one. I like that it does NOT mess with my poop, lol. (crosses the blood brain barrier, they say.) I’m waiting for more “solidity” nowadays - I think bile and lipase help if I remember to take them a few times a day. Just waiting for fat adaption, whenever it decides to manifest!

JJFiddle · 2022-02-20 03:57:27 UTC

Taught on and off today, fixed hubby’s big meal and cookies for the church-then cleaned it all up. He’s worried this woe is a bad idea especially because I still have diarrhea. But I got over it with OMAD so in time will likely get over it this time, too.
Today I got the grassfed beef roast out of the sous vide and seared it in tallow. Hubby loved it, it was good. He commented that he couldn’t eat a lot of it, I said that’s because it’s nutrient dense.
I tried @Ketodaisy’s beef broth and hamburger soup with a little Parmesan sprinkled over, it was a nice change. I’ll put some in my new heated lunch box for tomorrow as I’m out most of the day.
Here’s some food:

FrankoBear · 2022-02-20 04:55:55 UTC

I keep thinking about gut bugs and diet changes. Fermented foods seem good to help restructure a gut society after a diet change gut biota die-off. Zero carb precludes us from eating fermented vegetables. Fermented dairy is our next option. Cheeses and unsweetened yoghurt? But commercial yoghurts may not be made from the cultures we need and are only fermented for a day or two for business expediency, so they may not have the colony numbers to get through the stomach to the intestines. Home-made yoghurt, might be the way? There are also fermented meats, but I don’t know much about them except they are presented as small goods.

Probiotics also come in powders and capsules. Again getting through the stomach environment is the challenge. But health companies are looking into spore forming helpful bacteria. The spores are acid resistant and get through to the gut. But those gut bugs might not be the ones we want for a carnivore diet?

Lipase and bile are digestive helpers, so are the right gut bugs. Might be an angle to consider?

FrankoBear · 2022-02-21 14:25:57 UTC

I’m thinking about disturbed sleep. Last night I woke at 3:49am. Thought I needed to go to the toilet. So I started to get up and felt incredibly weak. The moonlight was amazing. So it was easy to navigate. Interestingly I had a full bladder urination. Then I realised that my heart beat was all over the place. So I took a 500mg magnesium aspartate tablet with a swallow of water, and went back to bed.

I woke at 7am, which is normal. I had the prednisone tablet, every second day now seems to hold off the sharp joint pain. When I woke it felt like I had sliding door shifted into another dimension. I had another full bladder urination. I’m recording that as I ended up having 5 full bladders by noon. That’s a lot of water dumping. Then I realised what was going on with the increased urination I was probably also dumping electrolytes. The prednisone can be calculated in as a part cause.

My feet and ankles were swollen. I felt weak but not too unwell. In that “something ain’t right zone” that @Karen18 described in having a stroke. I wasn’t having a stroke, but the diagnosis is related. I slept another 2 hours and got up at 9:30am. I still felt like a drunk time traveller. So I took my heart rate. It was 230bpm. There it was, I was in atrial fibrillation. It can lead to a stroke. Mrs. Bear arrived home from morning yoga. And it was into action mode. Home treatment to avoid a drive to the hospital emergency room. We got it resolved within 20 minutes. It’s an interesting feeling when the heart flips back to normal rate and rhythm. My heart rate now is a steady 66bpm. That surreal feeling of being in a movie that you’re watching of yourself, welcomes the audience, you, back into the body and a feeling of wholeness and reality ensues. Now I’m tired. Last night I had a total of 12 hours sleep. But I also had an extreme cardio workout for about 6 hours mixed in there.

So, I was thinking. My heart woke me up. Could a heart-rate check help others when they wake up? If you’re waking up at night to pee, what is your heart doing? It should be under 120bpm. It should actually be the lowest rate of a 24hr period. If not, revisit your electrolyte management.

Here’s what we did if anyone is interested:

Mrs. Bear puts on hypnosis music sound therapy aimed at slowing the heart rate and steadying the breathing. I find it a good cue to help me focus on deep, slow breathing.
Mrs. Bear presses on my eyeballs to initiate our ancient ‘dive reflex’ that slows the heart rate
The key here is to let people help, if they are nearby
I dose magnesium citrate and magnesium aspartate tablets to gut tolerance disaster pants by taking a set double dose every 20 minutes
To swallow the magnesium I drink a large mug of salty (added bullion cube) beef bone broth. The salt is important as a magnesium helper.
I take 50mg of aspirin to help prevent a stroke while the heart rate is so high
Every 20 minutes I check my heart rate
On the 3rd check, at the one hour point, I hit the shower for a 20 minute hot shower
At one hour and 20 minutes I take a final dose of magnesium and bone broth and wait a final 20 minutes
If I’m still in AF at that time point we go to hospital

I flipped back to normal heart rate within 12 minutes this time.

These episodes are rare. I diarise them and there are months in between. It’s been years since I have been admitted to the ER. And the last time my heart rate had settled while I was in the waiting room, but I was already on the hospital conveyor belt and they wouldn’t let me go home until they thought they fixed me.

In January 2021:

robintemplin · 2022-02-20 06:10:55 UTC

My gosh. I have never heard of doing anything but heading to the hospital when in AFib! You and Mrs Bear have tapped into the good flow of body/mind/music. Touch connection. I applaud you both!

Azi · 2022-02-20 06:48:04 UTC

Wow scary stuff

JJFiddle · 2022-02-20 10:58:11 UTC

Thanks @FrankoBear, I better look into probiotics. Any dairy product with lactose has that post-covid metallic taste for me (even butter) - if I could make kefir or yogurt out of pure cream! But unfortunately it’s the lactose that ferments. Probiotics in pill (or liquid) form could be a way! I used to give the kids acidophilus, I’ll get some next week.
I keep reading the magic number “6 weeks.” I’m on day 40, maybe just 2 more nights of this?

JJFiddle · 2022-02-20 11:17:52 UTC

@FrankoBear that’s brilliant workmanship, I’m going go and write all that down as soon as it gets light out!
220 is a LOT of afib. Interesting to link it to electrolyte imbalance, but of course.

Back in '84 when my grandma was 84 and I was in nursing school (after which I went back to music, lol) she called and asked me to drive up to New Jersey and see her. When I got there she opened her pill chest, pointed to each one and said “what would happen if I stopped taking this one?” when she got to the calcium blocker I said, “you’d probably have a massive heart attack,” and she closed the box and said thank you.
I went home later that day and the following morning she was rushed to the hospital and did not survive the week.
Electrolytes.

Fangs · 2022-02-20 12:12:52 UTC

@Karen18, ahhh your kitty Astrid is so cute. My cat looked exactly like her but she was solid dark gray, but that same type of fur and face angle. Her name was ‘Lil’ Kitty’…you reminded me of her when I saw your kitty you are kitty-sitting, too cute!

Yea my sleep is a train wreck right now.

@Azi, taking that fall could also have inflamed alot of your body ya know. When hurt we retain liquid and other stuff from that darn inflammation but yea, if you are not sure on your arm, definitely get it checked out. I hope you get over all this quickly and get back to feeling ok!

@JJFiddle
I never had the big D when I adapted in that I was so extreme lc when I went zc that I was already kinda there, so my adaption was way easier than most but I had some adaption like weird sleeping etc. but never the other. You mostly control your D situation thru food…fat intake. More fat intake, more gut issues…leaner food like make a meal include some lean like chicken without the skin or some fish/seafood options etc. to feed up yourself it helps a bit. Of course not all can control with eating some leaner, so some supps like ox bile or even something like Immodium come into play when required. Hoping you get adapted thru faster than longer Also rendered beef fat alot of times is a huge cause of D for many of us when we change into this plan. So eating just burger and draining off any fat helps alot, plus eating some leaner beef cuts helps alot etc.

@robintemplin,

@FrankoBear
wow, 12 mins. is all it took for you to get back to normal…that is amazing actually. Your list of what you guys do is so smart to find yourself a natural change on how to handle this is so interesting to me. But you also know if no change back you seek other help

this was a scary post to read about what affected you but I just enjoy your posts, taking care of yourself and being very smart to journal your episodes and more.

-----------------------I am not sleeping well at all. I am in that brain zombie land a bit still. Of course coming to terms with stuff as I have to but still in that bit super sad weepy stage. I am sure I will follow my time after my Dad passed around 5 yrs ago, I kinda now how this will go down for a while.

I don’t even pretend to participate in life for real right now. 2 focus. food that goes in my gob and just take the day in any simple way and best form for me without any other BS coming at me. In a bit of time I will be fully back in the brain and will tackle life again, right now I kinda checked out of it.

Plus I got some darn sinus cold type thing going on. clogged nose etc. Probably got that from hosptial visits? who knows, but all in the head, other than that I feel good…but of course still feel bloaty at this point.

Got NY Strip steak for first meal of day. I defrosted chicken for family and they don’t seem to want it so I might just fry up those chicken breasts and use them for tonights meal. I just hate defrosting stuff for meals for them and then no one wants it ya know…irks me to no end LOL

Ferocious Feb is winding down guys…we are heading toward March soon. I tell ya time is flying by without me even realizing it right now. But I know all of us will go into March as strong Carnivores!
I

Karen18 · 2022-02-20 12:58:47 UTC

@FrankoBear so glad you knew how you could remedy your AF. My stroke was caused by AF. I don’t know what my heart rate was doing on that blip day but I was told my heart rhythm was erratic. My temp also dropped to 34° and was hypothermic. My resting heart beat is generally between 45 and 54 sometimes a little higher/lower. Interestingly when they were doing their regular stats while in hosp it was between 43 and 45 bpm. Of course did tell them that was normal. The PEI’s at work used to say how strange it was that my heart rate was so low but BP so high! They would take BP before our fitness tests as one guy dropped dead straight after his test! Scarey! That was when they decided I couldn’t take the test unless the BP was lower. Annoying as I used to enjoy doing the fitness test and used it as a warm up for my lunch time gym session!

Well I really hope you don’t have any further problems, you sure are fortunate MRS Bear can help you x

Septimius · 2022-02-20 13:28:45 UTC

That was a terrifying read @FrankoBear - I’m glad you and Mrs Bear were able to remedy it, and as has been said, you know when to head to the ER.

robintemplin · 2022-02-20 14:43:05 UTC

Your “time is flying by without me even realizing it” statement really hit home for me.
When you are there with your loved one while they are struggling for so long and then suddenly, the battle is over and they are gone….
I can remember so well, looking out the hospital window and seeing all the cars… people driving to work, like nothing had changed. I was in a bubble suspended in time. All around me, everyone else was having a life, while I was in limbo and grieving a life.

It’s very disorienting when you slip into a world that exists without your person. You feel as if the calendar and clock should be reset to day one, as you are starting all over again. Day one. Now day two, etc.

Some day, you will be one of those people in your car, going somewhere… like nothing has changed. But you’ll know.

Everything has changed. You have changed too. You are learning how to navigate without your rock. I send blessings as you find your balance again. Patience and peace, friend.

Fangs · 2022-02-20 14:53:27 UTC

yes. I feel abandoned in some way but I know that is never the issue ya know, but I feel the rock has been pulled out from under me, I so understand what you posted!! everything you said is so spot on and thank you tons R! I appreciate your thoughts! Very kind to help me thru tough times I also feel better others ‘get it’ like I am feeling it right now It is comforting to not feel alone.

Septimius · 2022-02-20 15:07:02 UTC

Have you seen that image online about a ball in the room? I think that’s the best description I’ve ever seen of it.

Basically, there’s a button called ‘grief’ on the wall - and you start off with a ball that’s as big as the room. The ball constantly bangs against the button.

As time goes on, the ball gets smaller - and each time it hits the grief button, it’s as painful as it ever was, but because the ball is smaller, it only hits the button periodically instead of constantly.

I thought that was a really great way of depicting it. I always remember thinking the worst of the pain was when it was just starting to ebb away - when you’d wake up and for the first 5 seconds, you’d forgotten, and then you’d remember. The grief would hit so hard - and it’d be combined with guilt that you’d briefly forgotten. I think the juxtaposition between ‘not feeling’ and ‘feeling’ was worse than just ‘feeling’ constantly - but of course, that’s the first step forward to managing going forward.

Everyone who is going through a tough time at the moment is in my thoughts.

robintemplin · 2022-02-20 15:10:58 UTC

Yeah great analogy!

JJFiddle · 2022-02-20 15:13:13 UTC

Y’all are so beautifully graphic in your descriptions of grief! @robintemplin your writing brought tears to my eyes.
@fangs thank you, I’ll stop with the tallow and ghee for awhile, that makes perfect sense.

Fangs · 2022-02-20 15:25:52 UTC

Now heck I got tears in my eyes but they are ok tears. We are allowed to be sad…you summed up what moving forward will be all about for all of us! Thank you for your kind words to help!

Karen18 · 2022-02-20 21:18:33 UTC

Had a pretty decent sleep last night, u went to bed fairly late but didn’t wake for the loo till probably 6am so think I slept about 5 hours solid… very unlike me but I am not complaining… hahah I even had to ask myself ‘did i get up or not through the night?’ Didn’t do anything differently I don’t think except I ate less as I just had those chicken wings and some cheese when i got home from kitty sitting. Maybe cat therapy is working its magic? Another day of Astrid sitting and my daughter and her husband returned home at 4 this afternoon.

I did my stair runs before going round my daughters house and took a packet of 4 pork loin chops of which I ate just 2. Had to share a little bit with Astrid else she would have just sat on my plate! Little minx! The chops weren’t as nice as when I cook them at home… I grilled them (I don’t have a grill at home) much nicer pan-fried.

Came home and had some cheese. Must slice the steak up tomorrow and freeze it.