Over the past few months, I started losing my hair at an alarming rate. So much so, that in the last few weeks I’ve gained three new bald-patches on top of my head just above my forehead. For months I’d noticed that my hairline was receding, revealing an already “high” forehead, but now I’m really in trouble of losing so much of my hair I might have to get a wig. I’ve “done bald” before. I really don’t want to do it again. Arg!
 
So, what’s causing this extreme hair loss, not to mention the extreme fatigue I’ve been battling every day for months on end and the weight-gain that keeps piling on? The answer is coming.
 
First I want to share with you WHO is in charge of my healthcare. I can’t stand going to the doctor. Every time I go to see one, they want to put a band aid on whatever is wrong with me, and they don’t seem to have any desire to find out “why” I’m suffering.
 
Well, after God cured my cancer with His stuff, along with the MS I had, I KNOW God can cure my thyroid issues. GOD is my physician now, and any doctors I see are His “assistants.” PERIOD.
​
​2 Chronicles 16:12-13, “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. So Asa slept with his fathers, having died in the forty-first year of his reign.”
 
I don’t want to be like Asa.
 
So, after a lot of research, on top of a lot of prayer to the Great Physician, I got blood work done from my doctor. When I got the results, I was told I have hypothyroid.
 
“Do you want to take the med?” asked the woman on the phone.
“Well …” I said, uncertain and feeling quite overwhelmed with this diagnosis. I mean, what did I know about thyroid issues? Ask me about cancer, no problem. But the thyroid? So, I said, “It depends on what all that would entail.”
“Well,” said the woman on the phone in a demeaning voice, “it would entail healing your thyroid and stopping your hair loss.”
“Well,” said I. “May I make an appointment with my doctor to find out what the side-effects of this drug would entail?”
 
Unbelievable. Oh, and the side effects are possible temporary hair loss and/or permanent hair loss! I did discover that many (I spoke to a total of three ladies at my church) who are taking this drug  (Levothyroxine) and have a full head of hair, and I also spoke to two other ladies who also suffer from thyroid issues but are not taking the drug and still have hair, but it’s thinning. I had no idea that SO MANY women were suffering from thyroid problems! How can this be? Why is this? It’s almost like a silent epidemic that no one knows about until you get diagnosed with it yourself.
 
I always knew that after all the failed cancer treatments I received, I’d have a TON of residual poisons left in my body (namely: chemo, radiation, and radio-active material I received from the many PET scans I got--by the way, after getting this radio-active material put into my blood stream, the hospital would send me home with a note for the police just in case I got pulled over because they picked up “bomb-making” material in our car; apparently this happened to enough patients that they started sending folks home with a “doctor’s note”). My problem was, I didn’t know “how” to get rid of all that mess. What I didn’t realize was that God was leading me to the “cure” long before I asked Him for help.
 
One thing I learned was that our thyroid is dependent on our liver, kidneys and muscles in order to function properly. This is in regards to both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid. So I figured, I just need to fix my liver and kidneys, not to mention, get more exercise. From the beginning, I had a deep nagging sensation that I needed a good detox to get these left-over chemicals out of my body. My gut told me (or shall I say, the Lord told me) that my liver and kidneys were the cause of my thyroid problems.
 
In order to find out “what” caused my thyroid to malfunction, I needed more blood tests. When I saw my doctor for the appointment to discuss the drug (which I didn’t bother discussing because I decided I wasn’t going to take it), I asked for the following extra blood tests. These would tell me if my thyroid was malfunctioning because of an autoimmune problem (which would be Hashimoto’s Disease) or if it’s malfunctioning from the toxins in my body, or for some other reason.
 
He’d already done the TSH and the Free T4 test, which basically said my thyroid is sluggish and therefore “malfunctioning.” These are the usual tests they do for thyroid testing. But I wanted to know “why” it wasn’t working properly, so I asked for the tests below which would give me the “cause” for the malfunction (you’d think a doctor would want this information). He reluctantly ordered the tests, and I’m grateful that he did because many doctors wouldn’t do it. In fact, before this, I was seeing one of his assistants who refused to order these extra tests. I won’t be seeing her anymore, NOT ever again. Anyway, here are the extra tests I asked for that my own doc, thankfully, was willing to give:
 
Free T3
Reverse T3
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Ferritin Serum
 
All the tests came back normal except for my ferritin levels (a.k.a. iron levels). My iron levels are too high, which is what’s causing my thyroid to malfunction. One thing that can cause iron levels to rise is renal failure (which has everything to do with the kidneys). Other causes would be chronic inflammation, chronic alcohol consumption (I don’t drink), liver disease (I likely have toxins in my liver), metabolic syndrome, or cancer (e-hem).
 
With this knowledge, I’m surprised the doctor hasn’t asked me to come in right away to test for these issues. So, I’m thinking of going in to ask for the tests to be done. But I’ll see another doctor in the same office who I hear is very open to natural remedies.
 
In the meantime, God led me to two things that can actually help with ALL the issues I mentioned above: Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and Volcanic Ash (Bentonite Clay). I started taking the Ash one week ago last Wednesday, and I started with the Diatomaceous Earth last Friday. I spoke to the people who know about this stuff, and they say it’s fine to take both together (the DE actually has a small amount of volcanic ash in it already). Both of these things that are from God will clean out both my liver and my kidneys, removing heavy metals and toxins from my body. If you’d like to learn more about these items, this is where I got my Diatomaceous Earth (I suggest you read the testimonials): https://www.earthworkshealth.com. The following link also has interesting information about how silica, which is found in high amounts in DE, can help the kidneys http://blog.silalive.com/kidney-detox-cleanse/. You can Google food grade volcanic ash for more information, and this is where I got it: https://www.utopiasilver.com.
 
Lastly, this is a brief article by a journalist who also has high ferritin levels and says it’s from her chemo treatments (she’s not treating it naturally). This just shows I’m not the only one: http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Ronni-Gordon/cancer-iron-chemotherapy-liver/2014/02/11/id/552202/ 
 
Now, I can’t help but ask, “What would happen if I completely trusted in my doctor?” I would have gotten a band-aid put on my thyroid to help the “symptoms” but not the “cause,” and it would not have stopped the increase of my iron levels. In the end, the high iron levels likely would have continued to rise and may have caused liver disease, cancer, renal failure, heart attack, and who knows what else. Can’t get much worse than that! 

In TOTAL this is what I'm TAKING:

​Remember, our thyroid is dependent on proper liver and kidney function!

*Diatomaceous Earth (this has a high volume of Silica, which will help my kidneys. I believe my kidneys are possibly causing my iron levels to be high, which then is affecting my thyroid)
*Volcanic Ash (this will remove the heavy metals ---radiation, chemo, radio-active material--- from my body that could be affecting my kidneys and liver)
*Iodine with Kelp (only two drops a day; it's NOT GOOD to overdose on this, or your thyroid could get severely damaged). 
*Selenium (it's GOOD to take this with the iodine; it also acts as a “protector” for the thyroid from the iodine)
*Zinc Picolinate (Picolinate has better absorption from what I've read; I’m taking this because I’ve had a lot of stressful situations which can cause Zinc deficiencies, and a deficiency of Zinc causes hair loss, sleepless nights, and much of what I’m experiencing)
*Magnesium Glycinate (400mg; this also helps me sleep at night)
*Milk Thistle (this is GOOD for the liver; I just follow the instructions on the bottle)
*Vitamin B12 (for energy)
*Ashwagandha (I just follow the instructions on the bottle; this is what it’s good for: www.draxe.com/ashwagandha-proven-to-heal-thyroid-and-adrenals/)

The following is a list taken from WWW.CANCER.NET. I recommend you go to that site and listen to the video. The lady lists the many drugs that are used to battle the side-effects of chemotherapy. But for now, here is the list they have on their site:

Common side effectsDifferent drugs cause different side effects. Certain types of chemotherapy have common side effects. But each person’s experience is different.
Tell your doctor about all side effects that you notice. Typically, having side effects doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t working. But certain side effects of drugs called targeted therapies may cause concern. Learn more about targeted therapy. 
Below is a list of common side effects of traditional chemotherapy: 
Fatigue. This is a persistent feeling of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion. Cancer-related fatigue differs from feeling tired due to lack of rest. Receiving multiple treatment types may increase your fatigue. For example, having chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Learn more about how to cope with fatigue.
Pain. Chemotherapy sometimes causes these types of pain:

• Headaches
  
• Muscle pain
  
• Stomach pain
  
• Pain from nerve damage. For example, burning, numbness, or shooting pains, usually in the fingers and toes. This is called peripheral neuropathy.
  

Ways doctors treat pain:

• Treating the source of the pain
  
• Giving pain-relieving medications
  
• Blocking pain signals from the nerves to the brain with spinal treatments or nerve blocks
  

Learn more about cancer-related pain.
Mouth and throat sores. Chemotherapy can damage mouth and throat cells. This causes painful sores, a condition called mucositis. It usually happens 5 to 14 days after a treatment. Mouth sores usually go away completely when treatment ends.
To prevent infection of mouth sores, eat a healthy diet. Also keep your mouth and teeth clean. Learn more about managing mucositis and oral health during cancer treatment.
Diarrhea. This means having loose or watery bowel movements. Prevention and early treatment helps limit dehydration, which is the loss of too much body fluid. It also helps prevent other health problems. Learn more about managing diarrhea.
Nausea and vomiting. These side effects may appear, depending on the specific drug and dose. Typically, medications given before and after each dose of chemotherapy limit nausea and vomiting. Learn more about nausea and vomiting and read ASCO’s guideline for preventing these side effects.
Constipation. This means having infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Other medications, such as pain medication, also cause constipation. To lower your risk, drink enough fluids, eat balanced meals, and exercise. Learn more about managing constipation. 
Blood disorders. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside your bones. It makes new blood cells. But chemotherapy affects this process. Therefore, you may experience side effects from having too few blood cells.
Your health care team uses the following tests to check for blood disorders:

• A complete blood count (CBC) shows your levels of red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs). Having too few RBCs causes a condition called anemia. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Meanwhile, having too few WBCs causes a condition called leukopenia. This raises your risk of getting infections.
  
• A platelet count measures the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets are cells that stop bleeding. They plug damaged blood vessels and help blood form clots. Having too few platelets causes a condition called thrombocytopenia. It means you may bleed and bruise more easily than normal.
  

Doctors may prescribe medications to treat these blood disorders and prevent leukopenia. The medications help your bone marrow make more blood cells. Learn more about managing anemia, infection, and thrombocytopenia.
Nervous system effects. Some drugs cause nerve damage. Nerve or muscle symptoms may include the following:

• Tingling
  
• Burning
  
• Weakness or numbness in the hands, feet, or both
  
• Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles
  
• Loss of balance
  
• Shaking or trembling
  
• Stiff neck
  
• Headache
  
• Problems seeing, hearing, or walking normally
  

These symptoms usually get better by lowering the chemotherapy dose or after treatment ends. However, sometimes, damage is permanent. Learn more about managing nervous system side effects.
Changes in thinking and memory. Some people have trouble thinking clearly and concentrating after chemotherapy. Cancer survivors often call this chemo brain. Your doctor might call it cognitive changes or cognitive dysfunction. 
Sexual and reproductive issues. Chemotherapy can affect your fertility. For women, this is the ability to get pregnant and carry a pregnancy. For men, fertility is the ability to father a child. In addition, fatigue and other side effects can affect your ability to enjoy sex. Talk with your doctor about these possibilities before treatment starts. Learn more about managing sexual and reproductive side effects.
Chemotherapy can harm an unborn baby. Particularly within the first 3 months of pregnancy. During that time, organs are still developing. If you could become pregnant, use effective birth control. If you become pregnant, tell your doctor right away. Learn more about pregnancy and cancer. 
Appetite loss. This symptom may take various forms. You may:

• Eat less than usual
  
• Experience a lack of hunger
  
• Feel full after eating a small amount
  

If this lasts through treatment, the following may occur:

• Weight loss
  
• Malnutrition, which means not getting the nutrients your body needs
  
• Loss of muscle mass and strength
  

These symptoms may make it harder to recover from chemotherapy. Learn more about managing appetite loss.
Hair loss. Some types of chemotherapy cause hair loss. It may come out gradually or in large clumps. Hair loss usually starts after several weeks of chemotherapy. It tends to increase 1 to 2 months into treatment. Your doctor can predict the risk of hair loss based on the drugs and doses you will receive. Learn more about managing hair loss.
Radiation recall. Radiation recall is a rash that looks like a severe sunburn. Although rare, it occurs when certain types of chemotherapy are given during or soon after external beam radiation therapy.
The rash appears on the part of the body that received radiation therapy. Symptoms may include redness, tenderness, swelling, wet sores, and peeling skin.
Typically, radiation recall appears days or weeks after you receive radiation therapy. It can also appear months or years later. Doctors treat radiation recall with medications called corticosteroids. Rarely, you may wait until the skin heals before continuing chemotherapy. 
Long-term side effects. Most side effects go away after treatment. But some continue, come back, or develop later. Some types of chemotherapy may permanently damage the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and/or the reproductive system. Sometimes, cognitive changes may last for months or years after treatment.
Nervous system changes can also develop after treatment. Children who had chemotherapy may develop side effects months or years after treatment. These are called late effects. Cancer survivors also have a higher risk of second cancers later in life.

So, I'm attempting to improve my eating habits. When I had cancer, I completely cut out sugar, and was juicing everyday. But since getting better, I've reintroduced sugar into my diet. This is NOT good! During the Holidays, I ate waaaay too much sugar, much more than I normally eat, and guess what happened? It reignited SHINGLES. If you want to know what shingles are, Google or Bing it. I had them on 1/4th of my body back in 2012 when I first was cleared of cancer. Now in 2017, after the holidays and all the SUGAR, my shingles came back with a vengeance on the other side of my body, which rarely happens. (This is all compliments of chemo/radiation side-effects, btw.) However, God brought them to a halt! I got on antibiotics (I HATE antibiotics, but when I'm desperate, I'll take whatever works), and I got on a ton of supplements: mainly 10,000 mg of L-lysine a day, and Olive Leaf Extract. I'll share more about that later. In the meantime, I'm trying to cut out sugar more and more. As a replacement for sugar I eat raw, unfiltered honey and stevia. I'm also trying to cut out sugars that are found in pastas and breads. A friend of mine shared a video about the benefits of the Ketogenic Diet that I'd like to share with you here. 

Since Blogger was "kind" enough to delete my blog about B17, I started a new one. I haven't gotten everything set up yet, but at least you have my cancer story. I re-read it again. It's been so long since I've read it, I'd forgotten some of the details. It was good to read, and I encourage all of you to read it as well. It's not as long without the pictures I had with it in the original post on the first blog. The pictures made me laugh as they'd pop up between paragraphs. Anyway, it's too much work to put the photos all in again. Besides, I'm not crazy about my hair. My bangs have never cooperated! The only time they looked "okay" was in the 80s when we wore our hair BIG. It's amazing I ever got my bangs as high as I did, considering they're naturally so straight and flat. 

Okay, enough about my hair.

I hope you enjoy the new blog. I love the apricot pictures I found (and yes, purchased). I didn't purchase my own domain, so I know I'm at the risk that this will be shut down as well (even if I do purchase my own domain, it can happen; the World Without Cancer site has been shut down more than once, and they've purchased their own domain, sigh). For me, it was just too expensive. The domain was affordable, but with the website it would cost me over $100 a year. Yes, that's not bad for an entire year, but putting down that much money up front is a bit pricy for me.

In the meantime, I've saved all the pages that were so generously recovered from my old blog by my amazing Facebook friends (THANK YOU!!!) and I've backed everything up on a separate drive. Pop in here when you can as I slowly get things up and running.