My health woes have flared. My GI tract is in pain, inflamed, bloated and cranky, which in turn leaves me cranky and moody. The most recent catalyst came in the cloak of a fresh vegetable juice and a healthy salad to follow. The mistake was dandelion. Yup, that great herb that ensures the liver is functioning properly turned my world into hell.
I felt awful. I hit a wall, rock bottom really. In an extreme measure I’ve decided I would not eat food for forty days, the maximum one can survive without dying. I would just drink peppermint, chamomile tea and water. Western doctor’s offer me no refuge other than to confirm what I already know. I’m inflamed. I have food allergies. I have numerous food intolerances, etc, etc… yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever dude.
So far, I am on day two of my tea/water fast and I have to say, the pain has subsided, the bloating is not as bad and I have energy. And with all the clear liquids my GI tract is actually functioning. But I know I’m not in the clear.
How did I get here? Traveling the great wide world of course. Based in Africa for three and half years my system was no match to the different germs abound. I was often ill with things like, giardia, salmonella, and gastro intestinal bacteria. I called them the three amigo’s.
But I have to admit a few good things have come out of this woeful existence. 1) my pain gives me something to bitch about on my blog 2) my travels to West Africa totally inspired my novel, Strange Hell’s 3) being forced to fast is saving me money I can’t afford to spend on my meager means.
Let’s just hope I don’t die from the GI issues or starvation during my forty day fast. Because then I would definitely have to agree with the pessimists that my cup is half empty. Although dying could possibly be dramatic enough to catapult my novel into the best sellers list and a discussion on Oprah, I would then be a famous dead person while the profits go to my family and the poor children that my book is about. And that would be a positive outcome for someone in the world, just not me.
Say What?!