This has been the longest break I have taken since Jan 2019.
A much needed break from everything in addition to writing. It feels weird now to just write. I feel like a newbie. But I am here to update the wonderful people I have become close to over the years through this shared passion of writing. I am amazed to see the consistency that #teamstreakers continue to have.
My Update:
The problem came to my attention a few months ago as I was busy preparing to do some extensive summer traveling. My routine blood work revealed that my health was in a dire condition. It is still difficult to describe the feeling of dread and panic I feel when I login to my online labcorp account to check on my labs.
Once it was clear to me that life was going to be miserable if I continued in the same direction, I got serious. My whole family did. My mom flew back from Ethiopia to be by my side and help me with what I needed. I shut down from all classes, groups, activities, passion projects, non-fiction books and anything else that wasn't related to taking care of my health.
I went to serious research mode. I studied my labs going back 3-4 years to see any patterns. I read a few books about my condition and watched videos of people going through similar ordeals. I spent time reading amazon review of books to see what other patients were doing. Facebook groups became a great place to research.
I created excel sheets summarizing my findings. I went full data scientist on that sheet. I extracted the common things that I found in multiple sources and did my own additional research on NIH and similar sites. I created the list of the foods I can have with details of the carb, sodium, protein, potassium, phosphorous, fiber and other scores that gave me a clear figure for my food consumption. It was my sisters idea to go to that level of detail. If people can do this type of calculus for body building competitions, it can't be impossible for me to do it to change the course of my future.
This post is getting longer that I had expected. Pent up writing I suppose.
But there is more to my story. There is a lot that just diet can do for chronic conditions. Most of which are said to be irreversible and hopeless.
But I got great news today. I got my 3 month blood work report and things have reversed back to almost where I was 3 years ago. I had to do the test twice to make sure. I am still a long way from where I intend to go but this progress has made me proud and optimistic. Even my doctors tell me that my situation is complicated and the changes are amazing.
I say they ain't seen nothing yet.
A much needed break from everything in addition to writing. It feels weird now to just write. I feel like a newbie. But I am here to update the wonderful people I have become close to over the years through this shared passion of writing. I am amazed to see the consistency that #teamstreakers continue to have.
My Update:
The problem came to my attention a few months ago as I was busy preparing to do some extensive summer traveling. My routine blood work revealed that my health was in a dire condition. It is still difficult to describe the feeling of dread and panic I feel when I login to my online labcorp account to check on my labs.
Once it was clear to me that life was going to be miserable if I continued in the same direction, I got serious. My whole family did. My mom flew back from Ethiopia to be by my side and help me with what I needed. I shut down from all classes, groups, activities, passion projects, non-fiction books and anything else that wasn't related to taking care of my health.
I went to serious research mode. I studied my labs going back 3-4 years to see any patterns. I read a few books about my condition and watched videos of people going through similar ordeals. I spent time reading amazon review of books to see what other patients were doing. Facebook groups became a great place to research.
I created excel sheets summarizing my findings. I went full data scientist on that sheet. I extracted the common things that I found in multiple sources and did my own additional research on NIH and similar sites. I created the list of the foods I can have with details of the carb, sodium, protein, potassium, phosphorous, fiber and other scores that gave me a clear figure for my food consumption. It was my sisters idea to go to that level of detail. If people can do this type of calculus for body building competitions, it can't be impossible for me to do it to change the course of my future.
This post is getting longer that I had expected. Pent up writing I suppose.
But there is more to my story. There is a lot that just diet can do for chronic conditions. Most of which are said to be irreversible and hopeless.
But I got great news today. I got my 3 month blood work report and things have reversed back to almost where I was 3 years ago. I had to do the test twice to make sure. I am still a long way from where I intend to go but this progress has made me proud and optimistic. Even my doctors tell me that my situation is complicated and the changes are amazing.
I say they ain't seen nothing yet.
Way to go Keni! They truly ain't see nothing yet.
Welcome Back,
Happy to hear of your progress.
Welcome back and keep doing whatever you're doing, health is #1.