What is going on with me????

[Tombi]

Even as I type this my head is hurting so bad and my throat is so sore I can hardly swallow. Thank goodness I am over the chills that started last night and ended this evening. I realize that these symptoms could be detox, however I do get confused because these symptoms have been reacurring since the end of January. Just as I get over one bout of "cold symptoms" I come down with it again in a days time. It always starts with a sore throat and mucous gathers in my throat and sinus area. This makes me constantly cough it up and spit it out. Sometimes I wind up with a rattle in my chest that is so audible at night. When this happens I am left with a cough that sometime lasts for weeks. I realize that detox is different for everyone. Has anyone ever had this happen to them or known of it happening to someonelse.

I have been completely raw for going on 5 months now. Never slipped up. I eat fruit in the mornings, green drink in the afternoons, usually a salad, or other green vegatables or another green drink at night.

[Rawkinlocs]

Tombi...wow your experiences sound almost identical to that of Nora Lenz of Rawschool.com!

Here is an excerpt from her website where she shares her personal story:


Everyone has a different experience when transitioning to a living foods diet. That's because each of our bodies has its own way of healing, adjusting and regaining balance, and each of us starts out in a different condition. It is helpful for people wanting to make changes to their diet to know what others have experienced, in order to prepare themselves for the possibilities. I felt pretty sick during the first few weeks. I was lethargic, weak, lightheaded, drowsy (especially in the evening), mildly depressed and irritable. I had many ups and downs during this period but by the end of the second month I was having many days when I felt good. After 5 months of being 100% raw, I had my first of 3 major cleansing events, which felt like the "flu". I was nauseous, had diarrhea and was extremely weak and faint if I attempted to stand up for more than a couple minutes. The worst of it lasted about a week. I understood enough about what was happening to know that I should not attempt to stop the symptoms with remedies of any sort, but I didn't realize that I should not have continued eating. I had no appetite, so I ate very little, but I was still laboring under the idea that food gives us "strength" and was afraid that doing without it would make me feel even weaker. If I had fasted on water only, the "crisis" would have been over in a couple days at most. http://rawschool.com/story.htm

Reading her experiences may be helpful to you.

[karenisraw]

Tombi,

Try magnesium suppliments for your headaches. You may have a magnesium deficiency. I did. I had headaches and ate sunflower seeds and cashews which have magnesium and they helped and went away. Once in a while, they came back so I started to take magnesium suppliments because apparently most people are deficient anyway so I just want to make sure.

About the detox symptoms. I am overweight. I just started 100% raw 3 months ago. I notice that when I lose a few pounds, I feel flu-like immediately after I lose, within 24 hours. I believe this is the toxins in my stored fat that are on their way out of my system that are making me feel sick. When I lost all of the stored fat one time a few years ago, I felt great all of the time, especially when I was at my thinnest. I attribute this to not having any stored toxic fat, not much anyway.

In the past week and a half, I have been feeling kind of flu-like. It is also in this past week and a half that I have lost 2 lbs. I did not lose any weight for the previous 2 months and did not feel sick then either.

If you are losing weight, then this may be the case for you too. I am just guessing, but I feel like this might be what is happening.

k
:)

[Tombi]

Rawkinlocs! Thanks so much for the reference it truely helped me understand what is going on. I knew it was detox but I needed that confirmation of someone who had gone through the same thing. Just like Nora said it does help to know what others have experienced.

It really hit home when she referred to this:

"I had some very difficult and trying times during my first year of being raw. I learned that our bodies use the same habituated mechanisms to heal and find balance when we are getting healthier as they do when we are sick and getting sicker. That is, if you've had menstrual cramps your whole life, or headaches, acne or cold sores, etc., you'll most likely experience more of the same while you are healing as old stored wastes re-enter the bloodstream on their way out of your body. These symptoms we experience are sometimes called "retracing"."

In my case when I was between 4-6 I would constantly get colds. I remember my father saying "you are forever full of cold". I also remember one time being so sickly that family, friends and neighbors came over to visit as if I were going to die! I remember being very very sick at that time. So it could be possible that this is residual matter from these events.

Karen thanks so much for the magnesium reccomendation. However, my weight situation may be a little different than yours. Actually it is a bit of the opposite. I started raw in November and from then until January I lost 55 lbs. I started over 255. Since January I have been sliding up and down on 5 lbs. Right now because I am not eating I am 197 lbs. When I start eating again I will probably go back to 200 or more (give an additional pound or two). I now know that once I overcome this little struggle with the dextox I will once again start losing weight. But right now my body is working on something that it feels far more important than my little vanity need to lose the poundage. It is so interesting to me how different everyones experiences are although there are alot of symptoms that are the same.

This just makes me appreciate my journey even more. I feel much better now. :D

[kmik]

Hi Ntombi!

I hope you feel better soon! This was good for me to read, as I had read Nora's site last year when I was learning about raw, but I forgot completely about it. I, personally, wouldn't have known what to tell you, but I'm glad there are those wiser that have gone before us, and have better recollection of what they've read and where ;)

Isn't it great to know you feel so crappy cuz you're getting strong and healthy! :D

[Tombi]

Ooooooooooh K...ain't it so! Ya gotta go through it to get to it!

[swingbolder]

Your body is really healing itself. . . that's awesome. :)

Feel better soon.

[rawpriestess]

Hope you feel better soonly,

eat raw, feel better, this is my mantra.

[PhoeniX]

Hi Tombi,

I think that your attitude towards healing is really great! Way to go.

[misslinda]

Tombi aka ZULU woman!

Hey, since you have been given great info. I would suggest staying away from foods that make your mucous worse.......have you tried foods to enhance upper respiratory health?

lemons
tangerines
cayeene is mucous dissolving
eucalyptus for aromatherapy and steam
raw honey for sooting sorness

just a few things ....make sure you rest too! :)

[Tombi]

Thanks everybody for your support!! I am feeling much better. I have developed a little cough but my throat is much better. Doing nothing...meaning not eating (maybe some citrus) or not injesting herbs and teas (I am famous for looking up some herbs ;) ) was challenging however I have done this before during 3 of the bouts. I realize now that it is the best thing for my body. That and rest whenever I can get it.

It is so hard for us initially to let go of the control we are use to over our bodies. We need to surrender to The Universe and allow the body to do what it does best...heal. Isn't that why we have choosen to go raw in the first place? To obtain optium health. Well to do that we have to listen to our bodies and (the hard part) do what it wants us to do!


Eat Raw and Leave Yourself Alone!!!


What a journey! :D

[free]

Tombi,

I'm glad you are feeling better. I don't have any advise because right now I'm in the same position I feel like cramp.

Thank you guys for letting me know what is wrong with me. I've only been raw since Dec. In Jan. got so sick I went back to food I didn't that this was part of the detox process. I just starting making veggie smoothies this week, Monday to be exact and now I'm dead on my feet. I feel so bad I just sat up in my bed last night and prayed that Jesus would hurry up and heal me. Does anyone know how long this will last?

[Tombi]

Free I am so sorry you aren't feeling better. Whatelse are you eating with your green smoothie? When I feel real bad I really don't want food and won't eat anything until I feel (my body tells me) like it. Usually I will treat it like a fast. In fact once last month I got sooooo sick I didn't eat for 3 days. When I started to eat again I started with oranges, ruby red grapefruit (yum), and lemon and lime juice. Then as I felt better I would ease in a green juice of kale, apple, carrot, and maybe a pear or wheatgrass.

Just a suggestion. Take it slow and make sure you take that time out to rest as much as you can. When you are resting you are healing.

Feel Better Soon! :)

[free]

Hi Tombi,

I really haven't been eating much. I'll have 2 smoothies a day one in the a.m. the other in the p.m. and for lunch I've been having a couple of veggie patties and some sunflower seeds. To sick to move. I've been expelling a lot of phelm so I've been drinking a lot of Penta water I've even had to rely on my Advair enhaler for breathing. Yesterday I had a broth of clam chowder, a salad and a couple of blueberry muffins.

Glad to see your feeling much better.

Best wishes,

Free

[Tombi]

Hi Free! Good to hear from you. I am so sorry you are still a little under the weather.

Question: Do you like citrus? The reason I am asking is because citrus helps me during these times and even when I am not detoxing as soon as I have citrus it makes me very happy. So I equate that to boy I must really need it! If citrus is something that you enjoy try a little in next day or so and see how you feel. It is great that you are drinking a lot of water. As for the mucous although it is annoying just be glad you are getting it out. It can't stay in there! :D

Hang in there and yes you will be free! What a journey! Embrace it!