How my journey begins

BMW6Series

Hi, My name is Richard. I am very much encouraged by what you have going on here.

2008 started out rough for me. I used to be a pastor and was asked to resign (due to politics) and moved with my family back to Washington State to be close to parents and grandparents. While I was out of work, I finally went to a doctor to see what the heck was going on with me, because I felt so much pain, and fatigue. February 2008 I was diagnosed with Lupus. I was weighing about 230 at that time. My lupus medication felt like it was putting a whole in my stomach so I ate and ate.

Trying to find work, I sold insurance for a while, which put me out on the road a lot, eating fast food. Since then I started work at a fast food restaurant (because trying to start out in insurance in this economy is awful). I have ballooned up to 260lbs.

I was really hoping for a couple of new jobs to open up for me this fall, so that I could get back into ministry and those didn't happen. I was really hoping that a new Lupus medication that has been in the works for a bit was going to come to the market to help me feel better this fall as was promised and it didn't happen.

I figured that I needed to help myself where I could. I ordered a book on recovering from Lupus (There is no cure for it, so even the premise is kinda dubious). I read it and it made sense even though I didn't like it. It is basically a vegan diet, minus caffeine, white flour and other things that could trigger inflammation.

So I am now trying to go vegan for the sake of pain and fatigue, but I am starting to lose weight as well, and I figure that is a good thing.

I figure that it would be better to go through this with a group of friends, than to try to go through it on my own.

So I am joining MFP today.

I am kinda of a forum junkie, so I figure this will be good.

BMW6Series

stringsNlinks

Welcome & God Bless you on your journey to health!

weaklink109

Hi Richard,

You have definitely come to the right place. BTW, what part of Washington are you in? I am in the southwest part of the state. Also, I definitely understand about the economy and getting established in the insurance business, as I am just getting established with a new company in that business myself.

I don't know much about lupus, but the dietary program you are following certainly sounds like a positive step toward feeling better, and obviously, weight loss will certainly make you feel better in other ways.

Good luck!!!

Barb

BMW6Series

Thanks Weaklink and StringsnLinks. Trying for figure out how to sort my ticker now. LOL! It doesn't seem to be added to my signature like I expected.

BMW6Series

I am in Spokane. Southwest Washington? I used to live in Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

weaklink109

We used to be neighbors, then, as that is the area I was referring to. I was actually born near where you are living now. 'Tis a small world.