Weeks 5-6

There was not an update last week with tape-measure and photos measurements, but I am going to include my other data. Unfortunately, last Saturday night I got kidney stones, and I wasn’t in a good place Sunday to do my measurements. Kidney stones seem to be a thing with me, and November always seems to be the month I get them. It had been a few years though, so it was a bit of a shocker.

Tomorrow or Tuesday, I will be getting updated blood work. This will be about the half-way point of my 3 month experiment. I am going to write down my predictions, as I wonder how accurate they are and if I’m reading my body well.

My inflammation markers were very high 6 weeks ago. I expect they will be down significantly, perhaps cut in half, but I don’t think they will be in the normal range. I doubt I can get in the normal range while still taking ibuprofen. I should also note that during these 6 weeks. I cut from 4 to 3 mg of prednisone and from 600-800 mg of ibuprofen to 400 mg. I had thought about cutting to 2.5 mg this week, however, I wanted to try to be as stable as possible going into my bloodwork and not measuring an inflammatory spike from cutting back prednisone. I’m not even sure if that’s a thing, but I wanted to be as clear as I can about what I was measuring.

With the “as clear as I can” piece, we have to keep in mind that I did take 1 infusion of Rituxan on 9/11/24. This was about 10 weeks ago, and I “should” be seeing some benefit from that, even though I did not take the second infusion. This will be hard to tease apart from my dietary changes until many months down the road, when any effects should be worn off. I should dig in and see if there is any research on Rituxan and its impact on autoantibodies. I should also note that I felt much worse RA-wise in the few weeks after the Rituxan.

I think I am also getting tests for RA autoantibodies. I suspect these will still all be above average, but likely similar to lower than 2011 (before I went AIP Paleo the first time). Unfortunately, I didn’t get these tests done 6 weeks ago. I suspect they would have been outrageously high. I suspect these won’t calm down until I am off ibuprofen and prednisone.

Also, my blood pressure has come down, inconsistently, the last 6 weeks. I also suspect that will not normalize until I am off prednisone.

I will also note that I am trying, successfully, to exercise again. This is VERY limited. I tried doing 3 reps of a leg (kinda like a squat) exercise on the pilates reformer a few weeks ago, and it really irritated my RA. Currently, I am doing time on an exercise bike. I started off just doing 30 seconds, then 1 minute, now 1 ½ minutes. It’s not much, but it’s more than I could do 6 weeks ago without sending my body on a negative cascade. I’ve also done a few inconsistent exercises on the reformer, but have stopped until I get my bloodwork (again, want to take the guess work out of what is working and what is not). No sense in irritating my joints right before the test.

I am taking a new supplement called C15 (pentadecanoic acid). It is an essential fatty acid like Omega 3 and Omega 6 (we need it to live, and our bodies don’t make it). It’s newly discovered, but you can find information about it from the National Institute of Health. Lack of this fatty acid, best found in some fish (or high fat dairy, which I don’t eat as it irritates my RA), correlates to many cancers, fatty liver disease, and may be a target for future RA drugs. I will be honest that this is a very expensive supplement. I am going to give it a try for 3-6 months, but it will have to show its worth for me to continue.

Things I am noticing:

Early mornings used to be my worst time of day, now they’re the best.
My worst time of day seems to be around 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, right before my prednisone dose at noon and until it kicks in.
I am cold a lot and think my T3 thyroid levels are likely too low later in the day.
I still have significant swelling that comes and goes, but way better than having it all the time.
I’m probably going to need OT for my fingers (trigger finger) and hand strength.
I’m having a little more energy and mental clarity.
I’m having some sharp random joint pains. This happened the first time I started AIP Paleo, and I think it’s because joints are loose (tendons and ligaments are stretched out from inflammation, but now the inflammation has gone down). It has happened in my left knee, both ankles, left wrist.

The numbers:

Measurements in Inches on Sunday Mornings
	Left Knuckles	Right Knuckles	Left Wrist	Right Wrist	Left Elbow (doesn’t straighten)	Right Elbow	Left Knee	Right Knee	Left Foot Knuckles	Right Foot Knuckles
10/13/24	7.125	7.5	8.5	8.5	12.5	11.5	17	17.75	9.125	9.875
10/20/24	7	7.5	7.5	7.75	12.125	11.25	17	17.75	9.25	9.875
10/27/24	6.875	7.375	7.5	7.5	11.75	11.25	17	17.5	8.75	9.5
11/3/24	7.125	7.25	7.375	7.5	11.25	11	17	17	9.0	9.75
11/10/24	7	7.25	7.125	7.375	11.5	11	17	17.25	9.125	9.5
11/17/24	No	Data	Kidney	Stones
11/24/24	6.875	7.125	7	7.375	12?	11.5?	16.75	17.75	8.875	9.25

Other Measurements, Daily for First Month
	Heart rate, early	Oxygen AM	WeightPounds	Blood Pressure	AM down 16 stairs in seconds, fastest I can
10/11/24 (doc visit)	70*			144/88*	Could barely get down at all.
10/13/24	73	95	182	144/99	Could barely get down at all.
10/14/24	75	97	181	144/91
10/15/24	69	93	181	131/83
10/16/24	71	95	180	139/92
10/17/24	79	97	180	129/89	27 (first day timing)
10/18/24	74	93	180	133/90	15
10/19/24	75	95	180	133/86	18
10/20/24	69	95	180	140/93	18
10/21/24	73	95	180	143/97	Timer error
10/22/24	76	94	180	133/91	14, but knees hurt a lot, should have gone slower
10/23/24	75	97	180	148/97	14 seconds
10/24/24	70	98	180	130/88	9 seconds!
10/25/24	75	99	180	133/89	10 seconds!
10/26/24	72	97	180	143/93	16
10/27/24	69	97	179	136/92	12
10/28/24	70	97	179	136/94	9
10/29/24	69	96	179	125/85	9
10/30/24	74	97	179	126/81	11
10/31/24	72	96	179	139/89	9
11/1/24			180	134/90	10
11/2/24	77	94		131/82	14 with knee brace
11/3/24	67	97	179	114/78!	18
11/4/24	70	97	179	124/86	10
11/5/24	86	95	180	137/89	9
11/6/24	97	83		148/93	11
11/7/24	93	86	179	146/95	11
11/8/24	93	67		134/86	14
11/9/24	97	71		127/89	16, no shoes
11/10/24	97	67	179	131/82	10
11/11/24	98	68	179	118/78	9
11/12/24	93	68	179	122/80	10
11/13/24	97	70		131/86	12
11/14/24			180	128/84	10
11/15/24	97	74	178	130/79	10
11/16/24	96	75			18
11/17/24
11/18/24	98	66	179	127/82	9
11/19/24			180	127/83	9
11/20/24	95	68	179		11
11/21/24	93	73	179	131/88	10
11/22/24	98	72	179	122/81	10 (no shoes)
11/23/24	97	71	178		16 (no shoes)
11/24/24	98	69	176	124/87	10

Medications/Supplements Taken
	Ibuprofen	Prednisone	D3	Mag	Fish oil11/2/24: C15	B Complex	K2 / Zinc	Levo	Liothyronine
10/13/24	200+400 mg	4 mg	4,000 IU	Threonate	1200 mg	Yes	No	50	5, whole + 1.25
10/14/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	K2	100	5 whole + 1.25
10/15/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	K2, zinc	100	5 whole + 1.25
10/16/24	200+?	4	4,000	threonate	600	no	no	100	2.5 + 2.5+1.25
10/17/24	200+200+400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	zinc	100	5 whole
10/18/24	200+200+400	4	4,000	no	no	no	no	100	5 +1.25
10/19/24	200+200+400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	no	no	50	5
10/20/24	200+400	4	0	0	0	yes	no	100	5
10/21/24	200+400	4	4,000	0	600	yes	no	100	5+ 1.25
10/22/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
10/23/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	0	yes	no	100	5
10/24/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	no	100	5
10/25/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
10/26/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	0	no	no	50	5
10/27/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	1200	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
10/28/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	no	no	100	5
10/29/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	yes,zinc	100	5 + 1.25
10/30/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	yes,zinc	100	5 + 1.25
10/31/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5 + 1.25
11/1/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600	no	no	100	5 + 1
11/2/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	no	no	50	5
11/3/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	no	no	100	5
11/4/24	400	4	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/5/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/6/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/7/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15			100	5
11/8/24	400	3.5	No	No	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/9/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	no	no	50	5
11/10/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/11/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/12/24	400	3.0				yes	K2, zinc	100	5
11/13/24	400	3.5	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100	5
11/14/24	400	3.0	4,000	Threonate	C15	yes	yes,zinc	100	5
11/15/24	400	3.5	no	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	Yes, zinc	100?	5?
11/16/24	400	3.0	4,000	Threonate				50	5
11/17/24BenadrylInapsineIsovueVersed	400	3.0	no		600FO			100	5
11/18/24	400	3.0	4,000	Threonate	600FO, C15	yes	yes	100	5
11/19/24	400	3.0	4,000	Threonate	C15, 600FO	no	no	100	5
11/20/24	400	3.0	4,000	no	C15	no	no	100	5
11/21/24	400	3.0	4,000	Threonate	C15, 600FO	no	no	100	5+1.25
11/22/24	400	3.0	no	no	C15, 600FO	no	no	100	5
11/23/24	400	3.0	no	no	600fo	yes	yes	100	5+1.25

	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Drinks	Other
10/13/24	Skillet: olive oil, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1/2 apple, 1 kale leaf, 1 small piece pork	BananaHomemade beef jerky	Salmon, rosemary	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried cherries½ apple
10/14/24	Skillet: olive oil, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1/2 apple, 1 kale leaf, 1 small piece pork, oregano.Juice: fresh squeezed chard, carrot, apple, pear	BananaHomemade beef jerky	Beef stew with sweet potato, Italian seasoning, mashed cauliflower (with coconut milk, accidentally put some sea salt in)	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried cherriesDried mango sliceDried apricots
10/15/24	Skillet: olive oil, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1 apple, 1 kale leaf, 1 small piece pork.	Beef stew with sweet potato, Italian seasoning, mashed cauliflower (with coconut milk, accidentally put some sea salt in)	Mashed cauliflower, coconut, salt	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried mangoDried pineapple
10/16/24	Beef Jerky	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	½ mug ginger turmeric tea	Dried pineappleDried cherriesDried bananasDried apricots
10/17/24	Skillet: olive oil, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1 apple, 1 kale leaf, 1 small piece pork.	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried pineappleDried cherriesDried bananasFresh banana
10/18/24	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	Steak, sweet potato fries (cinnamon)	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried applesDried mangoDried banana
10/19/24	Skillet: olive oil, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1 apple, 1 kale leaf, 1 small piece pork.	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried pineappleDried banana
10/20/24	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big potSalmon, rosemary, coconut oil	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)		Dried pineappleDried banana
10/21/24	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	2 small mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried pineappleFresh banana
10/22/24	Skillet: olive oil, ½ large sweet potato, 1 onion, 1/2 apple, 1 kale leaf, pork belly.	Turkey soup (turkey, carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, arrowroot starch)	Yam bisque (garlic, red onion, olive oil, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, thyme, ¼ tsp salt in big pot	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried pineappleDried dates
10/23/24	Shake: banana, blueberry, strawberry, cherry, coconut milk, kale, chia seeds	Turkey with herbs, ½ avocado, olive oil, balsamic vinegar	Brisket, garlic, onion, rosemary. Cauliflower, coconut milk	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried pineappleDried dates
10/24/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Brisket, garlic, onion, rosemary. Cauliflower, coconut milk	Banana	3 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried datesDried mango
10/25/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Brisket, garlic, onion, rosemary. Cauliflower, coconut milk	Steak, mushrooms (olive oil)	Drank very little.	Dried dates.
10/26/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato, ½ onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Brisket, garlic, onion, rosemary. Cauliflower, coconut milk	Mango chia bowl (mango, chia, blueberry, coconut milk, passion fruit juice)	WaterDrank very little.	Dried baby bananas
10/27/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato,1 onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Cauliflower, coconut milk	None	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea2 large mugs of mango tea	Dried datesDried figs
10/28/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato,1 onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Cooked onions and apples	Pork shoulder, onions, apples (ginger, cinnamon, garlic, chicken broth)	2 large mugs of mango tea	Dried mangoDried figs
10/29/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato,1/2 onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Homemade beef jerky.Mango chia bowl (mango, chia, blueberry, coconut milk, passion fruit juice)	Pork shoulder, onions, apples (ginger, cinnamon, garlic, chicken broth)	2 large mugs of mango tea	Dried mangoDried figs
10/30/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato,1/2 onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Banana	Pork shoulder, grapes	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea1/2 large mug of mango tea	Dried mangoDried figs
10/31/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, ½ large sweet potato,1/2 onion, 1 large apple, 1 large kale leaf	Homemade jerky (grass-fed beef, raisins, figs, currants, apples, goldenberries, lemon, olive oil, cinnamon, ginger, coconut sugar (small amount).	Pork shoulder, onions, apples (ginger, cinnamon, garlic, chicken broth)	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried cherriesDried goldenberries
11/1/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, 1/2 onion, 1 large apple		Steak, sweet potato fries (coconut oil, cinnamon, cloves), mushrooms (garlic, olive oil)	2 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried figs
11/2/24	Leftover steak, sweet potato fries	Banana	Leftover steak	1 large mug mango tea.	Dried pineappleDried figs
11/3/24	Skillet: pork belly, kale, apple, sweet potato, cloves	Yam bisque	Yam bisque	1 large mug mango tea.	Dried pineappleDried dates
11/4/24	Skillet: olive oil, steak, small sweet potato,1 onion, 1 large apple	Yam bisque	Pork shoulder, onions, apples (ginger, cinnamon, garlic, chicken broth)	2 large mugs mango tea. 1 small mug throat coat original	Dried dates
11/5/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork shoulder, small sweet potato, 1 large apple, 1 kale leaf	Yam bisque	Salmon, rosemary, coconut oil.Yam bisque	2 large mugs throat coat original	Dried datesDried figs
11/6/24	Yam bisque	Skillet: olive oil, pork shoulder, small sweet potato, 1 small apple, 1 kale leaf	Salmon, rosemary, coconut oil.Yam bisque	3 large mugs throat coat original	Dried datesBanana
11/7/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork shoulder, small sweet potato, 1 small apple,	Yam bisque	Yam bisque	2 large mugs mango tea.	Dried mangoBanana
11/8/24	Chicken soup (chicken, carrots, celery, onions, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage)	Yam bisque	Steak, mushrooms	3 large mugs ginger turmeric herbal tea	Dried mango
11/9/24	Yam bisque	Homemade beef jerky	Chicken soup (chicken, carrots, celery, onions, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage)
11/10/24	Pumpkin tapioca pudding (pumpkin, tapioca, coconut milk, cinnamon, ginger, cloves)	Chicken soup (chicken, carrots, celery, onions, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage)	Berries and Cherries/banana, beef stew (beef, carrots, celery, dried onions, Italian seasoning, arrowroot powder)	Ginger turmeric tea	Dried figsDried mango
11/11/24	Berries and cherries, banana	Chicken soup (chicken, carrots, celery, onions, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage)	Berries and cherries, banana,beef stew (beef, carrots, celery, dried onions, Italian seasoning, arrowroot powder)	Ginger turmeric tea	Dried mangoDried figs Pumpkin tapioca pudding (pumpkin, tapioca, coconut milk, cinnamon, ginger, cloves)
11/12/24	Berries and cherries, bananabeef stew (beef, carrots, celery, dried onions, Italian seasoning, arrowroot powder)	Yam bisque	Chicken soup (chicken, carrots, celery, onions, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage)Pumpkin tapioca pudding	Ginger turmeric tea	Dried mangoHomemade beef jerkey
11/13/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, small sweet potato, 1 large apple, 1 kale leaf	Beef stew (beef, carrots, celery, dried onions, Italian seasoning, arrowroot powder)	Hamburger, dried onion, Italian seasoning, olive oil	Mango teaGinger tea	Berries and cherris, bananaDried apricotDried fig
11/14/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, small sweet potato, 1 large apple, 1 kale leaf	Hamburger, dried onion, Italian seasoning, olive oil Berries and cherries, banana	Sweet potato fries	Mango teaGinger tea	None
11/15/24	Hamburger, dried onion, Italian seasoning, olive oil	Hamburger, dried onion, Italian seasoning, olive oil	Steakmushrooms
11/16/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, small sweet potato, 1 large apple, 1 kale leaf				*Went to ER for kidney stones
11/17/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly, small sweet potato, 1 large apple		Beef jerky	Ginger teaFresh ginger tea	Dried pineappleDried figs
11/18/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly,1 large apple, 1 onion, 1 kale leaf	Shake: banana, coconut milk, berries and cherries	Beef roast, onions, sweet potatoes, italian seasoning	Ginger tea	Dried pineapple
11/19/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly,1 large apple, 1 onion, 1 kale leaf	Beef roast, onions, sweet potatoes, italian seasoning	Sweet potato fries	Ginger tea	Dried pineapple
11/20/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly,1 large apple, 1 onion, 1 kale leaf, ½ sweet potato				Dried pineappleDried apricot
11/21/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly,1 large apple, 1 onion, 1 kale leaf,	Banana, homemade beef jerky	Salmon, rosemary, olive oil	Ginger tea	Dried pineappleDried apricot
11/22/24	Skillet: olive oil, pork belly,1 large apple, 1 onion, 1 kale leaf	Banana, homemade beef jerky	Steak, mushrooms	Ginger tea	Dried apricot
11/23/24	Banana, berries and cherries	homemade beef jerky	homemade beef jerky	Ginger tea	Dried apricot

Left hand:

Right hand:

Feet: