Health issues and dieting?

I know, it's awful. I grew up on processed and ready to go food, so that is all I am used to. I am working on trying out new foods, seeing what I like and what I don't. I am a very picky eater, so I am trying to open up to new and healthy foods. I know you have to eat something several times before your taste buds will adjust to it, so I have been buying strawberries and broccolli here and there, just to get an idea if I might like it.

I'm a picky eater too. I find that fresh or steamed vegetables are much more tolerable for me than canned ones. Just a suggestion that might help you too. Plus you can't go wrong with fresh fruits. Strawberries are my favorite. Over the last year I can think of 8 new vegetables I eat that I didn't eat before so it is possible. Good luck in trying new things.

I am a physician assistant for an orthopedic group, and I see patients and do surgery on people with your spine problems all the time. The bulging discs in your neck could be causing your weakness because when these discs push back on your spinal cord and nerves, it compresses them which can cause pain, numbness/tingling, and weakness. The carpal tunnel could also becausing weakness in your hand(s) because that is where the nerve to your thumb, index and middle finger is being compressed in your wrist, and also causes pain, numbness/tingling, and weakness. The blood sugar could also be making you dizzy and such, just because its relatively normal does not always mean its normal for you. I would suggest seeing a spine specialist, and of course I would say orthopedic spine since that is what I do

now, my biggest issue is body weakness (arms and legs). Sometimes I get this feeling like I can’t grip or hold items (more after exercise).

the trouble gripping items might be related to your carpel tunnel, which is common cond'n in today's keyboard world. There is a small rubberband-ish cord in your wrist,
which surrounds some nerve which supplies your hand. When the band is too stressed/swells up from repetitive movements, (like keyboards sometimes induce) the band can get too tight and pinch the nerve running through it. Sometimes this pain wakes a person up at night as swelling increases during sleep.
Sometimes this carpal tunnel pain is way worse during a pregnancy.

there are exercises one can do to help 'stretch' that band in your wrist back out a bit, easily found on a google search for carpal tunnel exercises. One of them is to push each finger pad onto the pad of one's thumb several times a day. Helps a bit. There are other exercises, too.
there are splints one can wear at nightime, to prevent the nocturnal wrist and arm pains.

There is a very successful surgery to fix carpal tunnel, too, if you get insurance, however, one is left mostly "one-handed" during the recovery time. But dropping things is sometimes a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome.


Re: the weakness and shakiness, have they done a 2hour post prandial blood sugar test? Where they do a fasting sugar test, have you drink a liquid or eat a meal,
and then return 2 hours later for follow up blood sugar test? Might be interesting to see what that shows. I'd imagine they have already tested your A1C, which shows your average blood sugars over past 3 mos.

Sugars and carbs are the worst for anyone struggling with blood sugar disorders of any type, (which we do not know you have) but, in meantime, you might do experiment, by avoiding high sugar items, and using only the carbs found in fruits and veggies,
and try a HIGH PROTEIN diet.........proteins provide a more even blood sugar, overall, vs. the peaks and crashes that sugar and carbs give a person.
Everytime you eat sugar-dense items, your body cranks out insulin, and there is sometimes a 'crash' later, and some ppl do feel shakey during such a 'crash'.....whereas proteins cause steady, slow release of the nutrients, and you're less likely to have the ups/downs.

ALSO

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i see you are young, ARE YOU TAKING IRON or eating sufficient amounts of iron in your daily diet? Most young woman ARE anemic, which IS similar to driving a car on "E"......If you are NOT eating enough iron per day, grab a bottle of iron pills at Walmart. If you get bound up from iron pills, use small sips of prune juice (more iron).

and yeah, i'd think that your thyroid probably has been tested by now, but, if not, worth asking your doctor if she can check that.

Big relief your brain MRI is clear, whew. YAY, whew and whew!! It's not multiple sclerosis, whew.

The damage you describe in your spinal xray is not as uncommon as you'd think, and not even always symptomatic in ppl with similar problems. It *seems* if your spinal disorders were the cause of your weakness that your doctor would have told you this.


It sounds like you DO have a lot going on. I sure hope you are able to get some follow up care, or even ask for appt to meet with your doctor for better explanations of your test results and symptoms. It's possible, you could get that appt for free, or even a return phone call.
cuz Not knowing can stoke fear, and not knowing what you could be doing can be robbing of you of chances to regain your strength.
If you can't afford your doctor visit, there's also some free clinics in most larger towns, and occasionally, in some smaller towns.
But first, talk to office nurse, ask her if doc can meet you, or even just call you, to explain the test results.
Lots of ppl have trouble recalling the info from docs, it' comes fast, and the patient might be a bit overwhelmed as they are listening,
and the patient might still be processing "remark #1"
and doctor is now saying "remark #4"
and lots of ppl do miss hearing it all. That isn't uncommon.

in meantime, do experiment with a HIGH PROTEIN/low carb diet, avoid concentrated sweets like the plague for now,
and evaluate how much iron you are ingesting each and every day. It'd be a dang shame if you were anemic like so so many young women are, and just didn't realize it....
BEST OF LUCK!!!!!!!!!:flowerforyou:

Some great advice so far! Mine is only to eat fresh foods and get away from packaged and processed stuff.

It is fun to learn how to cook and your kids will thank you one day too :happy:

I'll confess, I haven't read all the responses, and I hate it when people respond without reading all the responses. Sorry!

But, it sounds like you might benefit from a visit to a chiropractor. Take your x-rays and other records with you. Ask people you know for a referral to a good one, and you may have to try a couple before you find the right one for you, but I really think it might help.

Also, I looked at your diary. You are doing a good job of staying within you calories, but you are not eating much real food. The actual nutrition you get from prepared foods vs. fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods you gook yourself is pretty staggering. Calories are important, but nutrition is, too.

Good luck to you!