PPP or Pustular Psoriasis - A Chronicle

[PaulBeck]

   *****   COME ALONG ON MY JOURNEY TO FIND A PERSONAL CURE  ****

  *****   BRIEF HISTORY   *****
Starting about 10 years ago, I began getting little ˜bumps' between my fingers that I attributed to contact dermatitis or allergic reactions to something unknown or a touch of poison ivy.  I didn't realize these were the pustules that signaled the beginning of palmoplantar pustulosis.  It was easy to pass it off as something else because I used many photographic and automotive chemicals and have certainly been exposed to lead, mercury and arsenic in my lifetime.  My wife, a Registered Nurse thought it might be just severe dry skin as it was always worse in the winter.
In addition, I would get a small round patch of ˜rough skin' about 2cm in diameter on one or both insteps.  All of these things would pass with minimal intervention; moisturizers, scrubbing with the rough edge of the washcloth, a bit of melaleuca oil, etc.
About one year ago I could not get the patches on my feet to subside and they began to grow in size.  I decided to visit my doctor when two small patches on my left foot met, to become one larger patch.
   *****  THE DIAGNOSIS   *****
My doctor misdiagnosed this as tinea pedis ( Athlete's Foot ) and gave me a prescription for Lamisil, instructing me to use it for four weeks.  I used it for 6 weeks “ just to be sure “ with no affect, except that it did act as a good moisturizer.  I called the doctor's office to get a referral to a dermatologist.
   *****   THE DERMATOLOGIST   *****
I was fortunate to be put on an ˜on-call' list because I live only 4 minutes away from the derm's office.  My appointment had been scheduled almost three months out.  They had a cancellation within 2 days and I was in.  At the time, I had no signs of the disease on my hands.  He took one look at my feet and said, œAh¦ pustular psoriasis.  Very hard to treat.�  He scraped to extract some material for a culture, to be sure the pustules were sterile and prescribed Dovonex, which, after a few days caused the worst flare-up I'd ever experienced.  He then put me on all four varieties of Tazarac, which resulted in the same kind of reactions.  It was at this point that I thought it possible I may have been misdiagnosed a second time, or that my elderly derm was just out of touch with current treatments.  At this point, he said if the Tazarac truly wasn't working, I could go on Methotrexate.  For those of you not aware, Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug given to cancer patients and it can cause liver damage.  I became a bit despondent over the choices of not being able to walk without experiencing something between discomfort and sheer agony, or being able to walk but not having a liver.  Hmmm¦ tough choices.
   *****   THE REFERRAL TO DARTMOUTH   *****
I called my Primary Care Physician (PCP) back and asked to be seen again “ several weeks out.  In the meanwhile, I intensified my research.  I joined several online organizations and spent virtually every free minute reading books, hanging out in the local health food stores and perusing web pages ˜til my eyeballs were nearly as sore as my feet.  By the time I revisited my PCP around October 8, 2003, I went armed with some current, recent and all very relevant documentation regarding PPP.  I have known my PCP over 20 years and thought him to be open-minded.  How wrong I was.  When I suggested to him that there were a number of treatments that offered great promise, he just brushed me off.  He told me he didn't know about such things, nor did he have any interest in helping me develop a regimen, and referred me to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Dermatology Clinic.  ( I've since learned that the Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology Clinic might also be covered under my health insurance plan, and that they are much more aggressive and progressive in their thinking, and that they would perhaps entertain pursuing new or homeopathic approaches to treatment.  As of this writing, I'm trying to verify coverage and change my appointment to Mass. Gen.'s world-class facility.  )
That's about as brief as I can make it and has left out only minor facts that I'll put back in subsequent installments.  As of today, I have what would be termed a moderate case of PPP affecting both feet, worse on my right foot.  It started out on the instep but has worked it's way around to my soles.  As with many skin ailments, it can be very painful at times.
As this chronicle progresses I'll relate as much information as possible about what I've tried that DOES and DOES NOT work for me.  Bear in mind, though it goes without saying in this forum, the thoughts in my posting are exclusively mine and not advocacy.  I'm sure many, if not all of you are aware that treatments effective for one individual may not work well, at all, or worse on another person.  I'll disclose EVERYTHING on the chance that might hit on SOMETHING which provides a measure of comfort.
Another phenomenon of my PPP, and perhaps you've experienced this with your own skin ailment/condition is this: unlike poison ivy, or a cut, or a burn, etc.  PPP sometimes responds remarkably well to a topical, only to have the effect wear off in varying lengths of time, and sometimes, towards the end of intolerance cause a severe flare-up.  I reiterate this which may be obvious to some or all of you, only because it would trouble me greatly to suggest something and have it cause an adverse reaction to another human being.  I don't want to be responsible for that, so you're on your own if you attempt anything that has worked for me.  On the other hand, over time one becomes so desperate for a remedy that snake oil salesmen can at least a bit more easily influence you.  Then again, I'm at a point where on a really bad foot day amputation seems like a suitable form of relief.  So it becomes not too difficult to imagine tabloid remedies.  Just now, a rather harsh flare-up is beginning to subside.  If you'd told me yesterday that you cured your PPP by pouring battery acid over it, and then neutralizing it with toad urine¦ well¦ I might have given serious consideration.  Been there, eh?
More in coming days.
Next installment will detail some hopeful things I've come upon, followed by lists of what DOES work for me and what DOES NOT.

[Val]

Good start Paul.

I'm so glad that you included the bit about what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another, so that no one misunderstands you.

Good luck in your quest from one PPP sufferer to another.

By the way mine started out in a very similar way, just one tiny patch in the centre of 1 sole of 1 foot. Don't we wish it had stayed that way.  

[PaulBeck]

*****   HOPEFUL THINGS   *****
As mentioned in the last installment, it occurred to me that maybe I've been diagnosed incorrectly TWICE.  First, by my PCP and then by the dermatologist.  There are several reasons why I feel this way.
1. If Dovonex and Tazarac are useful to treat psoriasis, why did they have a negative effect or no effect at all ( much like the Lamisil ) when applied?
2. Having acquired and read most of "PATIENT Heal Thyself" by Jordan S. Rubin, what if treating the symptom has NOTHING at all to do with cause?  After all, Jordan should be long dead with severe and presumed terminal Chron's disease, and he is very much alive and enjoying robust health.
3. And finally, in my intensive web research, not willing to pass on even the most obscure or bizarre excerpts I came upon this, quoted once again from a previous posting:
I'm particularly intrigued by a recent (2003-04-01) abstract from The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Here's the link:
www.jidonline.org/cgi/content/...tract/120/4/627
"Palmoplantar pustulosis, however, did not show association with any of the three candidate genes (associated with psoriasis vulgaris & guttate psoriasis [Ed.] ) at this locus. ~ whereas palmoplantar pustulosis appears to be a distinct order."
   This last item in particular is what has spurred my recent endeavors to take a good look at this whole PPP thing from both a macro and a micro perspective.  There is ˜sketchy' but formal scientific research to show that like eczema, PPP seems to have a link to biotin deficiency.  More properly stated a link to a deficiency in how the gut is able to use any available biotin.

*****   MY POSTULATE “ WELL, THEORY AT LEAST  *****
If everything I've researched means anything at all, then I'm proceeding on the promise held out by improving the gut.  Dr. Pagano says psoriasis IS curable and results from ˜leaky gut' problems.  Dr. Maebashi suggests a direct causal relationship between biotin uptake and his professed ˜cure' of PPP.  And most credibly, Jordan Rubin's indisputable, published and well-documented account of his journey away from the very precipice of death itself, by healing his own gut with super nutrients.  The fact there seems to be a sufficient body of work suggesting that the mechanism triggering the outbreak of PPP ( and perhaps some other skin conditions ) is an over-active autoimmune response thinking that your skin itself is the enemy and reacts just as would to any other insult whether viral, bacterial, etc.
Hmm¦ since everybody looking at my feet WANTS me to be well, but also, only WANTS to treat my symptoms, it seems a reasonable approach to examine options that may appear to be 180 degrees from where all the others are looking.
Therefore, I've taken the approach of trying to normalize my body's immune response to stop attacking my skin.  Before I go into exactly what I'm doing now, I'll interject my tidbits “ also as promised “ of what works for me and what does not.

*****   WHAT WORKS FOR ME “ THE ˜GOOD' LIST   *****
Much of what will be conveyed in this and subsequent entries are anecdotal, but accurate.  I state this up front only because you MUST believe in my good intentions.  I'm publishing these things in this forum for others to examine and consider, and perhaps to compare my statements to their own experiences.
Here is a short list of topical products I can use repeatedly without them losing their effectiveness or triggering a flare-up:
If skin has cracked: any generic Triple Antibiotic Ointment ( Bacitracin, etc.) SPARINGLY to hopefully avoid infection.  Petroleum jelly based, this causes NO reaction at all.  ( Petroleum derivatives are NOT my first choice, but sometimes the only vehicle available. )
If skin has become inflamed:  Oil of Melaleuca.  At first when applying, it seems to give a mild, very slight burning sensation and usually causes the skin to be more red than usual.   The very tolerable burning lasts only 30 seconds or so.  The sensitivity and redness may continue on for 20 to 40 minutes, after which time it calms down and improves the inflammation dramatically.
For moisturizing:
Lanolin - Newest to the list as of today:  Pure, unadulterated lanolin.  Very nice!  I don't expect any negative reaction to occur, as this is already a part of another product I use regularly for moisturizing:
Bag Balm “ This product contains lanolin and petroleum jelly with a bit of antiseptic thrown in.  It's a very old remedy for chapped hands and such, and offers considerable comfort.
Pure Baby Brand Eczema Care:  This product by Philcor Labs I use CONSTANTLY and several times a day.  It is just great and since it's hypoallergenic, dye-free and perfume-free, it's a joy to use.
I'll continue this list tomorrow or Saturday.  Enough for tonight.  Tired.  Feet are pretty good today though.  Had a nice ½ hour oatmeal soak after supper and then slathered on the various useful gooes.  ( What the heck IS the plural of ˜goo'? )
Later!
K

[Celery Peach]

  Paul, ty for your first 2 posts in your chronicle. I find it really interesting & several things could be related to any skin disease.

Since being diagnosed with HS, I searched on the web and found many people were getting unsatisfactory care, both in UK & USA. Since joining Skincell, I have become to realize that it is not just HS but skin diseases in general that seem to get the raw deal. I find it amazing that when the skin is our biggest organ that not more progress has been made.

As Val pointed out, it is so important what you stated that 'what works for some doesnt allways work for others'. I have found this too, with HS. I would also agree with you, that at times the skin is so painful that I would happily take a knife to it, or my term is usually 'someone run me a bath of sulphuric acid !'   I am managing better now with natural produce.

You are right of course, that these skin disease are just a symptom, our bodies are trying to tell us something !...and like you, I feel docs are too quick to prescribe very harsh treatments, and tablets, but they only mask the symptoms in many cases.

[PaulBeck]

Celery Peach!
You are SO right!  I'm sure many of us often overlook the fact that our skin IS the largest organ we have!  And, yeah... Western medicine does much good for the vast majority, but continues to use the cut, burn and poison strategy whenever they become befuddled.
Keep smilin' everybody!  
We're all after answers, and I intend to find some.
Wait 'til you hear what I have planned if my strategy works!  You won't even believe it!  I'm gonna go up against the establishment.
Later! Peace and Clear Skin for all!
K

[Fishs]

 

     

  Looking good so far Paul..

fish

[PaulBeck]

*****   WHAT WORKS FOR ME cont. “ MORE TOPICALS   *****
I'll summarize the ˜does' & ˜doesn't' list a bit later in case somebody wants to cut ˜n paste a quick list - after I've finished expounding on the products and added periodic discourse.  So, to continue¦
Olive Oil: This and peanut oil, as suggested by Dr. Pagano, offer a great measure of comfort and have only the slightest aroma which I don't mind at all.  I'm currently using Olio Beato brand; first cold pressed extra virgin, 100% organic.  I've hardly paid that much for good whiskey, but¦ it works.  Moreover, even if it proves to be ineffective for others, it's the best for marinating chicken breasts and veggies before you throw ˜em on the grill!  Hard to lose on this one, and though expensive the supply lasts a long, long time.
Peanut Oil: Any brand is probably just fine, the better quality ones having excellent food value too.  Currently using Spectrum Naturals brand, unrefined for full flavor use, expeller pressed, organic.  Pretty yummy both on the outside and the inside.  As with olive oil, a little goes a long way.
For the ITCH:  Geez!  I almost forgot!  The ONLY thing I've ever found that works exactly as advertised is Presley's Itch Remedy available here: www.itchnomore.com Also pricey, but goes a long way.  Spray it on while skin is still damp after shower or bath, and the itch ceases almost instantly.  After drying in a few seconds, I follow it with the Pure Baby Eczema Care.
Chlorine filters: For those of you following this thread that may have missed an earlier post¦  In the U.S. many town and city water services use chlorination “ some say OVER-chlorination.  I had never given this much thought.  My wife found the Presley's because she itched so badly after showering, especially in the winter.  Obviously, that's how I stumbled on to it.  Rubin's book suggested a chlorine filter for the showerhead.  Okay.  Since that's the regimen, why not.  I'm using one from CuZn called the TurboShower, discount priced at: www.needs.com From the VERY FIRST USE its advantage was obvious.  Much improvement in comfort while showering, and I'll inherit my wife's hoard of Presley's after the nasty, dry New Hampshire winter ends.
Plastic wrap or bags.  On a really bad day, this can be the only layer of protection between me and the softest cotton socks in the world becoming an abrasive scourge.  Let's practice safe moisturizing out there people!  And remember, unfortunately you cannot occlude the skin for very long periods.
Tegaderm:  If the skin is really raw this is a good, though expensive alternative to plastic wrap.
Nothing at all:  On rare, exceedingly good days in the cycle I can get away without doing anything for a maximum of 7 or 8 hours.
A couple of quick notes and corrections.
Bacitracin in not a multiple antibiotic ointment.  That should read Neosporin or similar generic multis.
I've given a gift of Pure Baby to an eczema sufferer who reports that it is the only thing has worked for her hands when they itch so bad it wakes her up at night.  YEAH!
I think that covers it.

*****   SUMMARY OF MY SAFE TOPICALS  *****
Neosporin or similar generic triple antibiotic.  ( I use this ONLY if got broken skin. )
Oil of Melaleuca
Lanolin
Bag Balm
Pure Baby Eczema Care
Olive Oil
Peanut Oil
Presley's Itch Remedy
Chlorine filter on shower head
Plastic film or bags
Tegaderm
Nothing At All ( rarely )

*****   MY ˜BAD' LIST   *****
To reiterate as previously stated:
Hot water:  I've mentioned this although many or most of you are already aware of this, for the benefit of newcomers.
Dovonex:  caused repeated and escalating inflammatory flare-ups.
Tazarac:  all four types/strengths, ditto above.
Conventional ˜Intensive Care “ type' moisturizers:  the ones containing vitamin A, vitamin D or both.  I have not found a single brand that doesn't cause a reaction from mild to severe.
Most ˜patent medicine “ type' topicals:  That's a fairly long list but includes things like Bactine and Aloe Vera.  The aloe vera is really great for inflammation, but ramps up my plaques and may bring on cracks if I over use it.
Acadia Skin Care:  See this link for this product line, among others, that brought about two of the most PAINFUL flare-ups I ever had.  I tried this stuff early on before I started doing serious research.  Noteworthy in distinguishing their products from all others, was the fact that though they claimed to be selling the stuff by the ton, one of the topicals was 8 MONTHS OUTDATED UPON RECEIPT.  BIG red flag. http://www.pinch.com/skin/pshame.html#psoriasiscure
Next installment I'll start on the internals.
Later!  Be well, safe & happy.
K

[PaulBeck]

I don't check grammar as well as I should so both the utilities and I miss a few words here and there.
Just a couple of things I failed to transcribe from my notes:
Add to the list of things that I've found ineffective: Emu oil.  Pretty good moisturizer, but little else.
I'm going to go to the Links board after this and add that link for pinch.com as I think their Hall of Pshame is a useful resource, especially for newcomers seeking HELP, NOT SNAKE OIL.  I hope the ill-guided individuals who are preying upon those of us with nasty skin disorders visit here once in a while so they can at least appreciate that fact they are being publicly reviled in their pursuit of profits.  I'm not against profit and as much of it as can be generated.  I'm a capitalist at heart.  Nevertheless, you can certainly do just as well by selling stuff HONESTLY, that actually has some value.
IMAGES COMING SOON.  I've just taken a new set of digital photos as part of my monthly documentation.  I'll soon be adding images starting with the first set.  You've already had a preview of my right heel on the 'Let me introduce myself...' board.  I'll likely limit this to just two - one of each foot - unless their is a compelling change that would be useful to share.
Be Well, Safe & Happy!
K

[PaulBeck]

Alrighty then!  I admit that a year's worth of PPP notes are largely a mess for me to manage as many are actually written, instead of being my database where they belong.  Pretty shameful behaviour for a geek, eh?
Anyway...  here's one more to add to my 'BAD' list:
Psoriasin:  Did essentially nothing for me except make the skin a bit more red than usual.  Since it's coal tar based, there's little point in continuing its use as there are published reports suggesting that my rats will get cancer from it.
Later!
K
THERE!  I think that cleans up my notes and puts them all in electronic text so I can better reference them in the future.
Thanks for staying tuned!

[B Kennedy]

I can't believe my good fortune to have not only found this forum but to have read your message.  I have been plagued with the exact same problem but my hands are inflicted, not my feet (thank God...that must be excruciating).  My saga began last November and involved just a dime-size area of my left palm.  Now both my hands are in chronic chaos.  And I cannot begin to tell you how much money and time I have invested in treating myself.  COUNTLESS hours spent researching the web and buying every conceiveable product on the market.  I find it necessary to wear gloves with extra padded palms whenever I do even the most simple things such as vacuuming or sweeping.  Friction is my number one enemy.  In order to keep my hands moisturized during the day I have to wear light-weight fingerless palm gloves made out of lycra that I sew together myself.  

I just wanted to write and tell you thank you.  Until just today I had not been successful in discovering what exactly it was.  I've been to a dermatologist 5 times in the last 6 months, and I too suffered the same outcome as you.  I have not the time nor patience to endure another doctor that won't listen to what I have to say.  My next plan was to consult a new dermatologist in hopes of finding out just what I suffered from, but now I think I will call my old one up and when I get in to see him I'm going to hand him the pix I found on the web of palmoplantar pustular psoriasis and tell him he needs to study up on the subject.

Thanks again and I wish you all the best.

[PaulBeck]

Welcome B Kennedy !  
Hang in there and check in on the PPP Chronicle from time to time.  Initially I had planned on only updating it once a week.  I'm certainly checking it at least daily, and I'll update more often if the interest is there.
I'm truly hoping that I can get my problem solved or at the very least get a lasting remisssion with the protocol I'm on.
In subsequent installments I'll be detailing what I'm doing right down to the most minute detail.  Stay tuned for that.  Meanwhile use the board search tool on my posts and include the word 'Primal'.  That will bring up a quick list of what I'm doing.
If you want to read my other posts that are not in the PPP Chronicle thread, just search on me and use the word 'the'.
In case you're unfamiliar... drop the single quotation marks.  Type in just the letters.
Be Well, Safe & Happy!
Later!
Ke

[PaulBeck]

Pictures coming later tonight or tomorrow.  I've organized them and reduced the file sizes so they'll post well.

Just a couple more good and bad items from my notes:

Good:  Oatmeal soaks.  I use just enough tepid, dechlorinated water to cover both feet - about a gallon - and 3 heaping tablespoons of ground up oatmeal ground up almost to a powder, for 1/2 hour or so.  Very comforting to me.  Be cautious with this one.  It's my understanding that oatmeal can be uncomfortable for treating some skin conditions.

Bad... well ineffective for me:  Ointments containing urea.  No harm done, but no good either.  Again, not a bad moisturizer.
Olux foam ( clobetasol - prescription ):  Actually not too bad and does control the itch and inflammation for a short time.  But... as it's a steroid I'm concerned about secondary fungal infections and lack of efficacy over time, so I've stopped using it.  There seem to be better or equivalent alternatives that are more natural.  I'm having nearly as good a result with the Pure Baby as I did with the Olux.  The only difference being that I have to apply it more frequently.

My top two topicals ( nope. tried it.  definitely can't say 'top two topicals' three times fast. ) are still the Pure Baby Eczema Care which I apply many, many times throughout the day, and as of late, the pure lanolin once in a while.


Later!
K

[Val]

B Kennedy,

Welcome to our SkinCell cyber family.

I also have PPP and mine affects both my hand's and feet, so do understand your problems's.

How about putting a post in the Inroduction board (first one on main page), so that we can welcome you properly.

Looking forward to reading more of your posts.


Val

[Val]

Paul,

It's good to see that the food wrap/plastic bags help you as well.  I put moisturiser on under mine and find that a big help in keeping those hard crusts softer and easier to get rid of.

I've tried the oatmeal soaks again as you suggested and yes they are soothing.

The Witch Hazel Gel is still the only thing that helps with the itching though. Also I use an ice pack covered with a thin towel and rest my feet on it for a while, which really helps with that burning sensation and the itch to a point.

Oh! And I also find the Olive Oil good as well.

Thanks for the link to the Hall of Pshame site, make's very interesting reading. I 100% agree with you about these people that make those untrue claims for profit.




Val

[PaulBeck]

   *****   PHOTOS OF MY FEET 2003-10-08   *****
Finally have my life under control after holiday activities, preparing my home for winter and ordinary end of the month stuff !
I'll attach left photo to this post.  A second post will follow with the right foot.

While organizing my images I've tried to crop each image to approximate the size and brightness of previous ones.  In this way, changes will be more apparent.  Except for these minor adjustments, ALL IMAGES HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED IN ANY WAY.  Understand that it's rather awkward to take photos of the sides of one's own foot.  Therefore I don't have studio control to ensure consistancy from a technically acceptable perspective.  

The photos tell me that the lesions have spread to some extent in the past two months.  The GOOD NEWS is, however, that the cycle of 'burn - itch -pustule - scaling - calm' has lengthened.  By that I mean that there is a longer period of 'calm' and the discomfort periods are shorter.
If you look carefully at the tiny, isolated red spot on my left heel in the image of 2003-10-08, you'll see that it has disappeared completely - and thus far NOT reappeared, nor has a new pustule (or pustules) appeared -  when you compare it to the image taken 2003-11-26.

Here you have it:


[attachment deleted ~ Routine maintenance]

[PaulBeck]

  *****  PHOTOS OF MY FEET 2003-10-08  PART II   *****

Here's the companion image of my right foot:


 
 


[attachment deleted ~ Routine maintenance]

[PaulBeck]

   *****   WHAT I'M DOING ABOUT IT  INTERNALLY   *****
I've already expounded sufficiently on topical treatments, so here's what I'm taking - AND WHAT I'M AVOIDING - that I believe is worthwhile:

1-3 TABLESPOONS FLAX SEED OIL
I use Barlean's brand only because my natural food store, Peppercorn, gets it quite fresh.  I usually mix this with olive oil to make a sort of salad dressing out of it.  It's my understanding that if you take either flax seed or fish oil high in Omega 3 content, that you should supplement it with vitamin E.  Apparently the Omega fatty acids deplete this vitamin.  So...

1 200mg VITAMIN E CAPSULE

1 MULTIVITAMIN CAPLET
Presently using Centrum.

6, 150mcg BIOTIN TABLETS  (TWO, 3X A DAY)
Presently using Rexall brand.  Just in case the evidence regarding faulty biotin uptake proves correct, I want to make sure I've plenty available for my gut to absorb.  Since B vitamins apparently are passed easily if they can't be used, I see no harm in keeping an ample supply available to my body.

1-3 CC's LIQUID B VITAMINS
Here again, I'm megadosing since these vitamins are presumed to be safe in huge amounts.  Unused portions readily pass in urine.

1-3 TABLESPOONS GOAT'S MILK PROTEIN.
Using Garden of Life Goatein.

48-64 OUNCES WATER DAILY.
I have no particular preference here, as long as it is NOT untreated tap water.  I use carbon block filtered water from home.  I'm fortunate to have a water cooler at work that is supplied with 5 gallon carboys of a good quality spring water.  If neither is available, I prefer spring water of any brand.  I DO NOT like, and will not use ENGINEERED WATER like DASANI OR AQUAFINA, for a variety of reasons:  they taste like crap, they support the same producers that are KILLING US ALL with sugary, carbonated beverages and I don't believe no matter how they add back minerals that you get all the trace elements that would be available in naturally supplied water.  This is just my opinion mind you, and I COULD be wrong about the trace elements.  But... why is it that a 20 oz. bottle of this stuff DOES NOT quench my thirst, when just a few ounces of quality water does?  Seems to me there's SOMETHING LACKING.

12 DROPS PER 8 OUNCES, WATER ADDITIVE
Presently using Garden of Life, Springs of Life.
I've always added something to my water if available.  In the past I've used Willard Water, a catalyst altered water.  I still use this in small amounts.  You can read more about it here:

http://www.aim4health.com/water.htm

The following are all Garden of Life products:

9, RM-10  (THREE, 3X A DAY)
This is an immune support formula.  Since there appears ample evidence, both anecdotal and scientific, that PPP is possibly caused by an out of balance immune system, this makes perfect sense to me.

3, PERFECT FOOD  (ONE, 3X A DAY)
'Super food' supplement.  I used to do AIM Barleygreen, Carrots & Beets.  The GoL Perfect Food just makes more sense and is slightly more cost effective.

8, PRIMAL DEFENSE (3 - 2 - 2)
Homeostatic Soil Organisms (HSO's).  This product replaces yet other elements of 'modern' foods that have been decimated by soil depletion (MY statement), processing and 'sterilization' of the earth in which our present food crops are grown.

6, FYI  (TWO, 3X A DAY)
For Your Inflammation.  I'm taking this to reduce or replace the need for NSAID's (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and steroids.  When the PPP inflammation is bad, but not excruciating, I used to take Ibuprofen, Aspirin or Aleve.  When excruciating I would resort to the Olux, which IS a steroid.  I've found since I started taking the FYI, my need for anything else is almost entirely gone.  Only on rare occasions do I need NSAID's now and I've only had to resort to the Olux in an 'emergency' when I was going out and had nothing else at hand.

OATMEAL
Yeah... plain old ordinary oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning.  If I want to be just a tad bit bad, then I'll put a tiny bit of 100% real NH Maple Syrup on it and a few tablespoons of milk.

I take my first portion of the caplet and tablet supplements on an empty stomach when I get up in the morning, with 8+ ounces of water.  I wait about 45 minutes before having breakfast, which usually consists of oatmeal and a cup of regular coffee.  I know... I should probably give up the caffeine too.  Not just yet.  I've few other indulgences at the moment.

NEXT... WHAT I AVOID!
Later,
K

[PaulBeck]

   *****   WHAT I AVOID   *****
Internally, I'm avoiding with vigilance:
Sugar
Breads
Alcohol

Regarding sugar...
I've practically reduced my 'blatant' sugar intake to nothing.  No more snacks, candy, cookies, etc. at all.  During a 5 year stint as a Network Administrator, I got into a bad habit of sitting around a computer monitor sucking down cheese Danishes and cappuccino.  No more of that, for sure.  I dropped 20 pounds in the process of correcting that little oversight.
I don't like my coffee with sugar, except when I'm ordering a flavored coffee.  So I use flavored coffee only as a great and rare reward.  I don't miss it that much, and it becomes a VERY SPECIAL treat when I have one now.  The rational is obvious.  Draw your own list of reasons to avoid sugar.  I don't even need to give you clue, but here's a hint:  DIABETES and TOOTH DECAY.
'nuf said on that subject.

Regarding breads...
I'm UNEQUIVOCALLY convinced that pasta, bread and over-consumption of grains in general is the single most cause of ill health in society today.  Because of the newly 'accepted' USDA Food Pyramid which lists all the carbohydrate CRAP as the base, the U.S. has become a society of fat, sick people.  Dr. Barry Sears sees it, Dr. Atkins saw it, and the list goes on and on.  It seems nothing more than common sense to me.  Why is it after that HUGE meal of lasagna or other pasta you want to do nothing more than TAKE A NAP?  You don't need to be a rocket scientist to realize that the body is trying to say, "HEY!  Whoah there!  I can't possibly keep you awake when I need all available resources to process all this crap!"  That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!  With the exception of OATMEAL for breakfast, and a rare treat of one slice of 12-grain toast with my omelet... NO GRAINS.  Once in a blue moon, a nice serving of brown rice.

Regarding alcohol...
I'm certainly fortunate to have NOT developed a dependency or thirst for alcohol.  This is particularly important to me because of family history.  I most certainly DO LIKE the stuff, but... let's face it... IT'S POISON and there's no way around it.  I'm very fond of craft beers and particularly relish Guiness.  I like the unique and distinctive tastes of many, many liquers:  Galliano, Bailey's, Cassis, etc.  And I don't hesitate to have a small amount of good wine with a meal.  The solution?  Buy REALLY GOOD BOOZE !   Just drink a lot less of it.  I'm perfectly satisfied with very small amounts of the alcoholic beverages of which I'm most fond.  That works for me and I don't think I'll be giving it up soon unless I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO in order to get past the PPP.

   *****   NEXT INSTALLMENT:   *****
More pix of my feet.
Brief commentary on externals I avoid.
WHAT I EAT!

Later!
K

[Fishs]

 

Hi Paul ..

Yea good going so far . well documented ..

Couple of points here ..

I would seriously question the merits of using Carbon blocked  filtered water over the normal Distilled or filtered water ..?
Most of the carbon filters I know of tend to saturate  and dump nitrates and toxins like a back flush .. Personally I would rather have distilled water as you do still get a measured flow of some of the minerals which are found naturally in water .. I am not in favour of removing all element traces ..

The other thing I would question here is the seemingly very high added intake of vitamin B .. I would be looking carefully at this . I would be checking if this is actually overloading  and causing an imbalance  etc..

I will look forward to your avoid list ..  I will then put forward some constructive comment .. ..

Just want to get a full picure here first ..

Paul .. I wonder if you have done a notebook term study here re your diet and gauged any significant difference in your condition by eliminating certain groups etc of your daily diet intake ?

Be interested to hear of you have done this and over what period etc ..

I will await your next chronicle of things avoided  before  making further comments..

 

Good work Buddie .. keep it up..

Fish

[Fishs]

 

 

 HuH  you must have been posting that avoid list just as I was replying ..

 Too quick for me Paul..

   . I will study this one with interest .

Fish