Update

Hello Precious friends,

Quick update on me, my costochondritis, and my Celiac Disease journey. Thanks to everyone for all the comments all over the blog. I know I'm not writing here anymore, but I love you all and just had to post!!

I'm doing much better. I have rough days and good days. But my roughest days this month are better than my best days 6 months ago, so no complaining here. The HCL (stomach acid) and a digestive enzyme called Ancient Legacy Digestive Enzyme have helped my chest pain more than I could ever imagine. It's been the most amazing gift to my health...and my sanity! I have to take it with even the smallest bite of food I eat, but none the less, it's helped immensely. I'm eating only a few foods that my body will handle, but I don't mind that either. I'm still having to take mag/cal every 4 hours or the left side of the body goes numb. But last month, it was every 2 hours. So I'll take it. Still struggling with headaches and the runs. lol. fun. But it's all good. Taking one day at a time, getting stronger each month.

I have been working with a dietitian that is AMAZING. He can do all his work long distance. He's like Dr. House. I've been so impressed with him. We do my blood work where I live, the results are shipped to him, and we do our meetings over the phone. So no matter where you live in the US- check him out if you're interested...Dr. Ron. He works not only with Celiacs, but with tons of people who have medical issues no one can figure out. He's been such a gift to me...he looks a little creepy on his website, lol- but he's brilliant. =)

If you want to visit me on My Celiac Diva website, come on over! However, this site, in all honesty, is purely a business move, it's not my heart or sharing what's going on in my life. I'm working on trying to earn money no matter how my body feels. And don't let my crazy energy in the show fool you. I don't feel that good. Being an actress comes in handy from time to time. lol. However, my insides do feel that good. I know how that one day soon my body will catch up to the joy I feel. I'm able to talk with much less pain as of about 2 weeks ago, and even wear necklaces...and move easier....wow...it's been so weird. Almost overwhelming.

Anyhoo- that's me. Hugs to you all. You are close to my heart. I don't check this site anymore, so if you'd like to chat, maybe leave a comment on my new crazy site. It's a joy to hear from you.

Blessings and Healing,
Lauren Lucille

A New Direction

Hello precious readers!

So, I'm taking the plunge in my new Celiac direction and will not longer be writing on my Costochondritis blog...which is so weird. For almost a year, this blog and you all have been such sweet friends to me on many dark days.

I will leave this blog up for many years to come for all you Costochondritis sufferers that are living with this terrible condition both now and in the future. To those who I've walked with for this past year, thank you for your support, your love, and your encouragement. To those who are currently being thrown into the pain of this disease and seeking answers, you are not alone. The pain you feel is real, it's not invisible, and it's debilitating in more than just the physical realm. So please let me validate you, and send you many hugs of support.

That being said, I do want to say this. This past year I've learned more about Costochondritis than I could ever have imagined. And although it's a nasty and quite rude condition, hear me when I say that if you have this condition long term and it will not go away....do not, I beg you, continue to seek pain killers, seek the source of your pain. Look into auto-immune disorders and other weird conditions. I don't say this to scare anyone, I say it to give you hope. Don't take this pain at face value...it's a chameleon. Look past the pain and go after the reason for it. Dig, Dig, Dig....and don't give up. It took me almost 4 years with this chest pain that has taken my breathe away and stolen so many beautiful moments from me to finally find the source, my Celiac. I know that I'm healing and moving on. But I promise you, there is a reason for your pain. And when you are tired and weak, take some time to pray, recover, relax, and then continue to be your own advocate, no matter how crazy other people or doctors think you are, don't give up. The day I found out the reason behind my pain...my world changed in a single instant. And I just know in my heart that yours can too. That fact that you are on this blog, seeking answers is awesome, and I just know that those who don't give up along with the grace and direction of God can have that life changing moment too, where it all becomes clear, the clouds part, and the violent storm that has engulfed your life can be a memory of the past.

As per me, I know the road ahead will be slow going, but I'm no idiot, I know how blessed I am to know what's going on in my body. And I thank God for that every day. I know this next year will be a year or 2 of healing, of trying to get my body back to where it can handle way more than it can now. So for now, I'm going to take one day at a time, start recording music in my home town since I can't travel to NYC, and update my Celiac blog. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. But today, that's all I got. And I'm content with that... peaceful...grateful.

Love to you all,
Lucy

Costochondritis- Genetics

So you know those folks who you love, who drive you crazy, are always there when you need them, but you're ready for them to go home? AKA, your family? Yup talking about them. I think it's totally note worthy to take a tally of every medical issue your immediate and extended family has. Take inventory of their medical history, past and present. No matter if it seems related or not. It may be a clue as to what the crap is going on your own body.

Take me for instance, I don't have anyone in my family who has had my exact chest pain...but looking deeper, my Dad suffers from terrible stomach issues, he can't tolerate citric acid, he has blood sugar problems...and after I gained a case of the runs as a part of my life, I finally learned that all my aunts have chronic diarrhea. Sorry, my lovely aunts, I must tell this secret for the greater good. -) So looking deeper, it becomes clear that something is going on with the stomachs of my family...that is so not right. And so worth looking into.

Had I looked into this angle and my family history a little deeper, and not just focused on my chest pain that wouldn't heal, maybe I would have clued into the Celiac diagnoses sooner rather than later. Or maybe I would have just kept on coping with french fries and Diet. Dr. Pepper...oh how I miss you, dearest grease and fizz. So it's just a thought, maybe the next time your family ask if they can do anything...you can smile and say..."why yes, send all of your medical history my way. with chocolate."

Chest Pain- Cause: Low Stomach Acid?

Alright chicks and dudes, let's talk about low stomach acid and your chest pain. I had another appointment this week with my dietitian. The entire appt. was about Costochondritis. He's crazy smart. By the way, I haven't had a stabbing attack in 7 days. Holla.

First, what would cause low stomach acid?

Well, you'd need a reason to have low stomach acid for it to cause your chest pain. This could be caused by aging, disease or a host of conditions. Here's in excerpt I found:

"Normally, stomach acid kills harmful bacteria, working to keep diseases at bay. People with low stomach acid have a higher than average incidence of illness such as candida because harmful bacteria ends up in their small intestine, rather than being killed off by HCL in their stomachs. Often, without knowing why, people with low stomach acid simply never feel good. This is hardly surprising since many health problems are associated with low stomach acid."

Conditions Linked to Low Stomach Acid include:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Autoimmune diseases
• Celiac Disease
  
• Chronic candida (low stomach acid can cause candida)
  
• CFS
  
• Chronic hepatitis
• Chronic hives
• Dry skin
• Eczema
• Gallbladder Disease
  
• Gastrointestinal (GI) infections and parasites
  
• Hypoglycemia
• Lupus
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis
• Reduced night vision
• Rheumatic arthritis
• Rosacea
• Thyroid disorders
• Type I and II diabetes
• Vitiligo (a skin disorder characterized by white patches or spots)
• Weakened hair, nails, and skin

Next, how would low stomach acid cause your chest pain?

Okay, hang with me. If your stomach acid is low due to any of the reasons above, your food will not digest properly since it doesn't have enough acid to break it down, especially bigger meals and protein. So for those who's chest pain gets worse after eating, listen up- this is about you! -)

So the stomach cannot digest the food without enough acid, so the food gets hard in your stomach, causing more pressure in your chest. You have 2 valves in your stomach, one on top and one on the bottom of it. And since the stomach is trying to digest the food and cannot push the food through bottom valve and into your intestines, the pressure on the top valve gets crazy bad. And that, my friends, is what can cause pressure in your chest, and worse pressure when sitting down, if you have low stomach acid. As per the burning, if you have low stomach acid, it can mimic the conditions of too much acid when you eat certain spicy foods- however, it can simply be low stomach acid. Crazy, right?

So how do you find out if you have low stomach acid and what do you do?

It's cheap and easy to snag product called Betaine HCL. It's the acid your stomach may not be able to create. So to those who want to test this idea, you simply take a pill at the beginning of your meal and see what happens. If you get acid reflux, simply drink water to dilute the acid and drink some pepto, and then you'll know that your stomach has plenty of acid and this theory ain't for you. However, if you don't get a warm feeling in your stomach, or acid reflux, you should jump up and down and do a little dance, cause it means that you're on to something. Which leads me to a side thought about glucosamine and apple cidar vinegar- both of these calm the stomach acid situation, so if you take or drink either of those and notice that your pain is less, trying the HCL is a great option. I use THIS HCL.

Wrapping it Up...

In conclusion, there you have another option to try my friends. Hugs to all, I pray you are doing well. I won't lie, I've had a rougher week for multiple reasons. And I keep pushing to get better, not being patient enough...but tomorrow is another day. And if we wake up, my friends, that makes it a good one. I will share this though, so my hubby is always throwing out ideas for me to do at home...sweet man is always trying to help me not feel like I'm not a useless bump on a log...and his latest idea is that I should tell children stories on You-Tube, and sing kids songs and do skits and stuff. I could not stop laughing, I don't do crafts, I suck at cooking, and I don't want to be Barney on You-tube. That is all.

Lucy the log

Costochondritis- An Award for me?! Woo-Hoo!

I originally posted as being tagged by my girl Rusty Hoe. Heeeey there Michelle! However, the truth is that she was kind enough to give me an award- so sweet!!! As a part of accepting that award, you share 10 things your readers may not know about yourself...so here's more about this Costochondritis blogger:

1. I want my toes to be painted all the time. I'm not saying that I paint them all the time, buuuuut oddly, I feel more confident when my toes are painted.
   
2. I'm jealous of melancholy personalities and often wish I was one. Do you know how much energy they must conserve every day? I'm just saying. If you were in a bind and needed a super hero, my bet would be on the melancholy. They wisely expend so little energy while interacting with others, that I think if needed, they could rock out a strong dose of energy and heroism at a moments notice. So yes, I'm jealous of boring people. Cause interacting with others at this stage in the game just plum wears me out.
   
3. I have double jointed fingers. So if I point at the sign across the street, you will think I'm being rude and pointing at you...who is standing next to me.
   
4. I have a strange super hero sense of smell. I can smell and identify smells way before anyone else notices them. It's very strange. I remember one afternoon in Colorado I smelled smoke and no one else did (we were climbing in the mountains), so we all laughed about it...and the next morning, ashes were flying through our camp and we got the heck out of dodge. CRAAAAZY!!!
5. I hate crafts of any kind. I hate making them and/or sitting while others are making them. Can't help it. Feels like nails on a chalk board to me. I'm so screwed if I have kids.
   
6. I LOVE the sound of rain and lighting storms. I feel like I can feel the heart of God when it rains. I feel his power, his gentleness, his ability to calm the storm and call one even greater. When it storms, I love to sit, watch, and listen. It mesmerizes me. It stills my soul.
   
7. I don't get bored. Ever. My mind is always on the go, thinking about the exciting next move. So while having this illness, I'm not surprised at all that I tried every remedy known to man...and started a blog.
8. I love it when my husband sings "I liked it and so I put a ring on it" and does the janky hip shake. I think it's the cutest thing ever. I keep trying to catch him on video, but he's too fast.
9. I always feel like time is slipping away from me. I feel like it moves too fast. I want desperately for it to slow down, so that selfishly, I can fit everything in! So much to do in this precious life. And I'm not talking about the "to do" list, but about adventures, and I'd love to try like 5 different careers, travel for years...not feel rushed to achieve life long dreams because of aging...not feel rushed to heal....and I don't know...it just seems so short. Oddly, I get sad about it sometimes. But maybe that's because I don't really have a grasp of how amazing heaven will be.
10. I'm a person of extremes. I lived in NYC, and also worked as a mountain guide in Colorado 10 weeks out of the year for 8 years. I can go without a shower for a week (with baby wipes of course) while climbing deep in the rockies, or wear high heels and glitter every single day. It's very confusing to people. But it's all good. Being put in a box never appealed to me. Here's a picture of me in the foothills of a mountain we were trekking to the base of. Good thing about climbing..lots of exercise, bad thing about climbing...never a good hair day.

I am passing this sweet award over to Ali at A Different Kind of Happy. She explores all different aspects of having an invisible illness and I enjoy reading her thoughts. She shares honestly about the struggles, how to deal with it, and how to be joyful amidst the pain. Thanks Ali for your great blog!

Costochondritis- And Water

Costochondritis Chat: So let's chat about water. Say what? Chest pain and water? That's right people, let's talk about Costochondritis and it's relationship to water. I had a 2 hours talk with my Celiac dietitian today, lots about the chest pain, and came away with several pots of gold....that I plan to share with you amazing readers. Cause let's be honest, we need all the help we can get. -)

If you are a person who has noticed that your chest pain is worse after you eat certain foods, this tip is for you. My dietitian, Dr. Ron, said that the chest pain is due to the malabsorption in my body has caused severe poor digestion. I'll spare the details, but he said that when the stomach cannot digest/break down the food, it becomes rock hard in your stomach, causing pressure up against your ribs (that's worse when sitting), and when aggravated by certain foods, stabbing attacks, etc. I'll admit, I was insulted to be told my chest pain is basically gas. lol. He said it was more than that, but yes, it's all due to the stomach. I said, okay, that sounds better. I'll take it.

Okay, so let's get to the water part. He told me that the stomach is like a pot of water on a stove, that you want to boil or "digest" as quickly as possible, so that the food will break down quickly and you will get all the nutrients you can out of your food, resulting in no pressure in the stomach/ribs/gas/other digestion issues etc. He said when you have a pot of water and and it's FULL of water, the "digest boil" takes way too long and causes the stomach huge digestion problems while it's trying to the break down the food in the "water pot." And also, the water deludes the stomach acid that you need to break down the food, causing problems.

So what did he suggest? He said to drink water 3o minutes before eating, then NO DRINKING WATER while eating, and NO drinking water until 1 hour after eating. He said to do this without cheating with all meals throughout the day- and the digestion will improve, and thus, the chest pressure should cease.

What do I think of this? I think this Dr. Ron rocked. I had tons of blood work done that he went through with me, along with why I have my lingering symptoms. So I'm on a new game plan with different things and although I'm overwhelmed today, it's all good. So feel free to do what you will with this little piece of gold, hugs to all.

Lucy

Costochondritis- Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mom's out there. I pray you feel as loved as you are. I LOVED getting to be with my mom today. She ROCKS! Here's a pic of my grandmother, hubby, and 2 of my nieces and nephews. So precious.

I'm not writing a ton these days, but I think about you all so often! I feel like I'm in an awkward place in my little Costochondritis blog, love you bloggy! I want those seeking healing, both now and in the future, to be able to come here and read posts all about Costo, not all about my Celiac journey. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO thankful to know why I'm having this pain, but I also know that my journey isn't everyone esle's. So I feel like maybe this isn't the place to chatty chat chat about my Celiac. I want it to stay focused on Costo. Yet I don't want to close out the blog until my Costo. pain is completely gone. I want to finish what I started. Can we say, OCD?

As for me, I'm seeing a dietitian who deals with Celiac later this week. Looking forward to this. Going to have tons of vitamin/mineral levels tested, and then will be meeting with him to get everything balanced out. Double yay for that. Other than that, I'm rocking out a very minimal diet and taking one day at a time, but hey, whatever it takes to feel better is on the menu for me. Working really hard to figure this whole puzzle out. I want to shout from the roof tops when I buy my ticket back to NYC.

Blessings to all of you mothers who are living with chronic illnesses. My heart goes out to you, you are all beautiful heroes to me.

Hugs,
Lucy

Costochondritis- Letting go of the Past

Hello my crazy and amazing readers,

I don't know about you, but this whole journey has opened my eyes and heart to so much. I've learned tons about myself, my lack of faith, how to gain that faith back with strength, what love is really about, how strong and yet weak I am, and so much more. Yet one thing that has really risen to the top in the midst of this pain- how letting go of the past can bring such freedom to this blessed life.

For me, letting go of where I've been, loving myself for who I am now, and forgiving have been huge a part of this journey, just as much as the physical pain. This physical pain has stopped me in my tracks, opening up a gap of time for me to reflect on the woman I am, and the woman I want to be. And although this pain has kicked my butt in so many ways, I am thankful for the growth in me that has to do with moving forward, cause holding on to the past only weighs you down, filling your life full of rocks, making it almost impossible to fly. So if you are struggling with letting go of your past- your emotional pain of either dealing with your invisible illness or other pain in your life- you might want to check out this great post from a blog I enjoy following. You can check it out HERE. This beautiful post deals with how we often carry around our struggles as badges of honor, instead of letting them roll into the ditches, where they belong. Or maybe that's just stubborn little ol' me. =)

Hugs,
Lucy

Costochondritis- Caused By Vitamin Deficiency?

Hi friends,

In this video, I chat about getting your vitamin levels tested- which is an oober important tool to add on to that belt of healing. You want to make sure your levels are all good to go. I mention several here- forgot to mention Calcium and Vitamin D-oops. =) Here we go!

Costochondritis- Just Because I like it....

Being that I love the outdoors just as much as I love the big city, this video cracked me up.
Cause when you get hit with an invisible illness in your life...it might go a little something like this....