Carnivore Identity Crisis, IF and Blood Glucose, Severe Constipation | THRR141

Hi Guys, Thank you for all you do to advance honest and introspective health discussions. I am grateful for you. I am a 41-year-old male with a history of severe mental health and skin issues dating back to early in life. I was discharged from my dream career in the military due to mental health issues. Candida diets, fasts, paleo, and other approaches helped me with my skin but never with mental health. After a mental breakdown the day of a planned wedding in 2021, I left my home in Georgia and spent a month in a cabin in Idaho to focus on a carnivore diet and tai chi to see if I could make progress mentally. I did. I made advances that I never thought possible. Since then I married the woman I fled and have come close to conquering life-long OCD and anxiety. Nonetheless, depression persists at times, especially when I try to eliminate coffee. After trying the lion diet while following one carnivore advocate, I developed a new severe cystic acne response that remains months later. To my family's delight, I have become more open to the idea that carnivore is not the end-all-be-all. I find myself wrestling with an identity crisis related to this matter as I thought carnivore saved me. I also now find myself disappointed with carnivore fanatics, one in particular who would shame me for eating a single blueberry. Today, as I add things like fruit, nuts, and veggies back into my diet, I feel fine. Did I convince myself carnivore was doing the work or was it just what my body needed for some period of time? Is it a matter of time before mental health issues come raging back due to increased exposure to plant material? I feel more lost than ever with regards to my health despite feeling better than ever. All of the dogma is hard to understand. This is where I so appreciate you both for your willingness to approach everyone individually on the n=1 basis. Thanks! Carter

IF and blood glucose levels, Pre diabetes

Alan says:

I'm so glad you're doing this show! Background: 68yrs 5'7" 157lbs. Eat very few processed carbs, have 5-7ish spirits a week Life long athlete.

I've been doing daily IF for about 3 years, previously with a 12hr feeding widow. Now I've shortened that window to 10hrs often less than 8hrs. However my blood glucose levels seem to always hover over 100. Am I

"pre-diabetic". What other tests might I try and are there any other Lifestyle factors I can play with?

My wife's digestion needs urgent help

Kyle says:

Hi Robb and Nicki,

Long time listener of the podcast! I'm reaching out today in desperation for my wife. About a year ago, my wife started having SEVERE constipation and bloating. Last March we went to the E.R. for the first time because the pain from her stomach/intestinal region was a 9/10. They did some scans and said she was severely backed up, and told her to just eat a bunch of fiber and take Mira lax and sent her on her way. Super helpful, thank you sick care system.

Over the past year it's gotten progressively worse, and we've tried multiple diets to try and get this under control, from low-FODMAP to strict carnivore, and nothing seems to help. Prior to all this starting, she was very fit, worked out 5 days a week and movement was her life. She ate a pretty healthy diet for the most part - fruits, veggies and meats made up most of her diet, with some protein bars and powders mixed in too. This last year, she's lost 15 pounds on an already slim, athletic frame that didn't have much room to lose. No matter how she eats, she gets incredibly bloated with sharp pains in her stomach/intestines and has to give herself multiple enemas each day to try and get things moving, sometimes with no luck.

Within the last week, we've finally had an endoscopy and colonoscopy. The endoscopy found a small hiatal hernia, and some white spots in her esophagus that they are testing for candida. Her doctor says GHD hiatal hernia is too small to be causing her symptoms and doesn't require surgery.

In the colonoscopy, they found a small polyp, an ulcer they're doing a biopsy on, hemorrhoids, and said she has a tortuous (redundant) colon. They ruled out cancer, which was actually was bad news to her, because she wanted something that could be treated at least. They prescribed Linzess and she just started the first day to help get the constipation under control. She doesn't have much hope it's going to work though and I can't say I blame her after all she's been through the past year.

Besides the physical pain, which is more than anyone should have to bear, it's taking its toll on her mental health as well. She doesn't want to be alive anymore. She can't do the things she enjoyed previously, she can barely eat without becoming nauseated or throwing up, and she just doesn't see the point in living anymore. We're doing what we can on the mental health front with professionals, but I fear it won't get any better until her body is normal again.

We really have no idea where to turn anymore. Her massage therapist thinks it could be related to a tight muscle in her low back that needs myofascial unwinding. We have an appointment this Friday to get that worked on. My wife says when she presses on that muscle in her low back, she can feel pain through her pelvic region. Is there any way a muscle could be constricting her bowels?

I'm not sure what else to say, I'm sure there's plenty more info you need from me, so let me know what would help. We'd really appreciate any ideas you might have - if you knew a loved one in this situation, what would you tell them?

We both appreciate you and all the work you do for the Rebellion. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

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Transcript:

You can find the transcript to this episode here: https://robbwolf.com/2023/02/10/carnivore-identity-crisis-if-and-blood-glucose-severe-constipation-thrr141/