ABOUT ME!

Ok, so I just wrote this MASSIVE crazy amount of writing for my About Me section only to learn that the About Me only takes 1200 words :) 

So have decided to make it my first blog entry. Seems quite fitting! 

This blog is going to publish my progress of healing myself over the next year. After years of digestive dysfunction, food allergies and intolerances, undiagnosed/unexplained symptoms and general ill health, I am officially dedicated to curing/managing this 100%.
I will share my journey, what I eat, how I am feeling, along with a picture of my face and whole body portrait each and every day.
I believe that over this time of experimentation, learning and healing that I will continue to improve in every way, look better, feel better, and overall begin to understand my body at a deeper level so that I can maintain abundant health for my life.

I am Katie. 19 years old. After developing intolerance to eggs and what was believed to be wheat (not gluten at this stage) at the age of about 7, I have not eaten wheat or eggs for years. However, over the years I have developed sensitivity to a number of other things. I began developing great discomfort after eating Rye, which I eventually had to cut out also. Rice, since about the age of 15 has been my main grain source. Since the age of 15, I also began developing digestive discomfort and dysfunction from ALL types of flour. Even rice flour! I wasn't sure why and believe me this journey so far has been extremely confusing for myself and my family.
I moved away from home after just turning 17 in February 2010 to begin my university course in Nutrition and Dietetics (the interest was definitely sparked through my early experiences with food and my huge interest in health and how food impacts upon good or bad health outcomes). Living in an on-campus college, food was provided via the college kitchen. I knew this would be a challenge considering my intolerance to eggs and wheat/gluten ("not really sure whether it's just gluten intolerance or actual Coeliac" is what I've been saying for AGES when people ask me, because honestly, I don't know... and I haven't been diagnosed properly as of yet - HOWEVER I am currently under investigation (Began proper investigation ~September 2011) and am getting an endoscopy/colonoscopy in the new year 2012). However, I moved into college because my older brother had been there for 2 years before me and I did not know where else to go! I came to the conclusion that other people had food issues and that the college could surely provide adequate food for me.
First year, 2010. First semester.
I was happy to just get out of home. I was really not well for the first 6 months of my uni life. Diarrhoea, THE worst fatigue i've ever had in my life (I've never been one to be tired - ask my family - so this was definitely weird), headaches, aching joints, weight loss, acne.
I wasn't being careful with what I ate. Who knows, there could have been gluten riddled throughout all the college food. I was eating bacon, tinned baked beans, everything the college provided.
Not healthy. Not to mention the humongous change/stress that moving away from home brings at such a young age - definitely impacted upon my health.
Due to this crazy time I was having, mid year I came home and began to look into eating cleaner foods - I began to slowly cut out all processed foods, any additives etc. I also began acupuncture, which I believe is one of the best things out there. It completely helped my digestion and for the next 6 months I was the healthiest I believe I've ever looked/been throughout this journey with food intolerance. I was able to tolerate more foods easier, I wasn't so sensitive to environmental stimulants like perfume, grass, etc. It was rather brilliant. My skin was the BEST it's EVER been. I literally was glowing. I will post photos of these times. Also the bad times. It's rather amazing the difference in appearances when I am in good and bad health. My new found interest and amazement in natural therapies thus sparked extreme interest in me of organic food, other natural healing alternatives and the belief that there is a natural and clean way to treat the body. If there's one thing I am completely convinced about, it is that there is ALWAYS an underlying reason for a presenting symptom/problem - Western medicine and the 'take a pill' approach is NOT the answer - it is simply a means of covering up the problem and dampening down the impression it has upon you - all the while, probably causing problems elsewhere, not to mention putting further burden on your liver trying to detox the body. Taking this approach, I want to get to the bottom of the issues in my body and find the true, underlying reason for everything that's happening - I am refusing to resort to popping a pill to cover up symptoms. Most of the time, those drugs are probably doing more harm than good. I see it in a way that why put further stress on your body in the form of a harsh drug just for that quick fix, when you could find the root cause and deal with it naturally - just taking a little longer to see results? I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure the 2nd option sounds better. Anyway, back to the story!
I was in brilliant health and so happy from about July 2010-Dec 2010. It was seemingly crazy, because, while I had cleaned up my diet a fair bit, I was still drinking alcohol (college!) and partying and eating certain things that could have upset me - but didn't. My skin remained radiant, my digestion was the best it had been in years, I was having a blast... I suppose the whole thing may just be one of those mysteries that I may never fully understand but I must say ...Acupuncture was most DEFINITELY one of the best things I've ever had done. Thanks Mum for suggesting it! It definitely sorted something out for me - and lasted for quite some time, allowed me to deal with things better that usually would have harmed me.
At the end of Dec 2010 I began work in a hotel as a housekeeper. I was desperate to earn money as college fees are through the roof.
Working with caustic spa cleaner, bleach and a number of other horrible chemicals did NOT work with me at all! Chemical intolerance is genetic in my family. My mum went out west to work for 2 weeks whilst I was home and working as a housekeeper. She said when she returned 2 weeks after her work stint, that I was looking pale, drawn and generally unhealthy.
So basically, since then (dec 2010 - feb 2011) I have been going downhill in terms of health. What I have deemed as my 'safe' foods for so many years began to also cause problems. How confusing!!!
Having lost quite a bit of weight (~7kg over 7 or so months - but most rapid wt loss from about August - October) (I must admit here that I wasn't getting enough food at college and having got pickier with the quality of foods that I would eat - I often didn't trust the college food or want to eat it therefore was not getting enough food, and also I was in a lot of ways starving myself, and exercising too much - so I believe in some ways I was most likely becoming energy deficient, for months on end - HUGE stress on the body!!) and having lost my period since February 2011 (important to note here that I lost my periods BEFORE I had lost ANY weight!!! - was at home when lost period - therefore I assume that it has been the chemical exposure influencing this), and developing a strange sun-sensitive red-brown-yellow blistering rash on the back of my hands
(also in February) - that is still slightly visible! - I went to the doctor to investigate (probably a bit late hey). The doctor did a number of blood tests including thyroid function tests and antibodies. Results from that test were normal thyroid hormones with very elevated thyroid anti-peroxidase antibodies (APO Ab) of 1400ug/mL (they're meant to be less than 60!!!!!).
Assuming Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroiditis), I have had a thyroid ultrasound/scan, however mostly looks fine at the current time - so I hope to stop any further damage by sorting this stuff out completely once and for all NOW and over the next year!!!
Reproductive hormones were found to be really low in August/September. As of November, they are rising, however not to great enough levels to initiate menses.
My skin has broken out pretty badly also. Acne is something I've been having to deal with since I entered high school. But it was hardly bad when I think about it. Unknowing of the consequences, I began using Proactiv. I used it from about year 8-12 and then the first year and a half of uni. Stopped in August 2011. Thank jesus! Weened off it super slow to avoid MAJOR breakout which I must say did work in the way that it didn't cause the classic withdrawal symptoms of producing major rash of pimples like it has before (I tried in year 10).
Now though, after ~4 mths without it, (and because my health and hormones are so whacked at the moment) my skin has broken out in bumps. First on the chin, then the forehead, and now the cheeks. Not happy about that one. The chin has become the firing zone for major red breakouts, whereas the forehead is surface bumps looking rather ominous.
Anyway, will be seen in photos.
Must mention also, had recent blood test for b-carotene in the blood, which came back as about 5x the normal. Test was done due to the evident yellowness of my palms of my hands, feet and now face. I am not sure exactly why this is occuring, or why it is so raised in my body, however I believe it is because the carotenes are not being converted properly into Vitamin A/retinol (fat malabsorption/improper fat metabolism or missing enzymes/nutrients needed for the process of conversion).
Sooooo... essentially, I am rather a mess as of the current moment! But... with all things, there is most definitely a chance for healing, recovering, starting anew, gaining health and happiness and I know I will reach it!
My passion for health, organic food, natural living, eco-friendly living, skincare and cleaning products, and my belief that there is a natural alternative for pretty much everything will help me along my way in finding my inner vibrant health which I KNOW is in me to really shine through once again.
It may take time - and I am totally fine with that ... in fact I'm taking a year off uni to dedicate myself completely to recovery and figuring out once and for all how to manage my health to it's at its ultimate potential for the rest of my life.
Because really.. what's life without absolute health? :) Plus! I'm only young... 19!! I need to set myself up NOW for beautiful and abundant health so I can enjoy a health-filled wonderful future.
I am so thankful for my interest in health and ability to understand and learn, and I am so incredibly thankful to my Mum who has and is always caring for me, understanding and intelligent and abundant in knowledge. I love my family and I know that they will always be here to support me. Mum, Dad, David.. You are the best.

I can't wait!!! to be myself again! To be the healthiest I can be and have that ultimate power in knowing how exactly I can manage my health 100% so that I do not find myself relapsing and going through any horrible digestive and autoimmune problems to such a great extent ever again!
So excited! So ready! YAY

I feel that this about me has covered quite a bit, but there is definitely more! Will write about when time is right and I recall other important matters!

Get ready Katieeeee... You'll be flying in no time! x