July 29

Feeling fine. Eating my Thiocyanate containing foods and drinking lots of water like I should.

Day? 26 July

Not feeling well tonight. Wondering if it’s because I tried to work out two days ago or because of stress or just because life sucks sometimes. Wondering what I’m gonna do in France if I can’t handle job stress or my health. This all points to suckiness and things that don’t bode well. My ribs hurt and so does the muscle in my right leg. How am I supposed to live if my body thwarts me every time I try to live? Is it worth it to go to France? How will I do for seven months if I keep getting sick despite the fact that I’m eating pretty healthy? I honestly don’t know what to do. I have a good job, for the most part, right now. I could keep it, and not stress about it. If I go overseas for seven months, how will I fare mentally and emotionally?

Day ? – 23 July

Last week was terrible so I didn’t really keep up with this, but I’ve still been eating as healthy as possible. The stomach pains lasted for half the week, landing me in the ER Tuesday early morning. Today it’s almost completely gone.

Breakfast

Banana

Curried Barley Pilaf w. Raisins and Almonds

Curried Lentils

Strawberry Cake

Snack

Wise Corn Chips

Later Snack

Banana

Lunch/Dinner

Curried Barley Pilaf w. Raisins and Almonds

Later Snack

Banana

Even Later

Two Bags Wise Corn Chips

Later

Chamomile Tea

Even Later

Strawberry Cake

Day 20 – 16 July

Breakfast

Banana

Lunch

Rice and Beans

Curried Lentils

Steamed Carrots w. Watercress

The pain’s mostly gone today, the memories of it remain in my muscles. Diarrhea this morning.

Day 19 – 15 July

Pain above my elbows and around my knees, and ribs persists today, called out sick to work. Stomach hurts from having to take Ibuprofen yesterday. The pain comes and goes in waves. Ulcers suck.

Breakfast

Brown Rice and Beans

Yuca

Lunch

Brown Rice and Beans

Chicken

Plantains

Snack

Cherries

Plantains

Dinner

Yuca

Plantains

Later

Strawberry Coconut Smoothie

Day 18 – 14 July

 The upper left arm was hurting on and off all day. Was it the alcohol last night? Or was it the stress from the job? Or was it all three?

Breakfast

Yuca

Scrambled Eggs

Lunch

Banana

Snack

Cherries

Later Lunch

Potato Knish

Later

Yuca Chips

Much Later

Veggie Crackers

Dinner

Vegetable Soup

Day 17 – 13 July

The things coming out of my body lately/this morning have been scary! I don’t know if it’s because I’m on the new diet and my body is seeking to detox itself, or if it’s because I have food poisoning because of my fridge. My stomach hasn’t been hurting to indicate food poisoning, so I wonder if it’s the detox! I also took the laxative pill yesterday because I needed it. Yesterday, the area under my chin, near my throat was hurting. Indication of problems with my thyroid? I desire to eat plantains today. I must purchase some. Also, today the fridge seems fine!

Breakfast

Curried Barley Pilaf

Yuca

Lunch

Bagel w. Butter

Snack

Cherries

Lunch

Steamed Mussels w. White Bread

Other tasty morsels from restaurant

Various amounts of wine, beer, rum and coke, and vodka (?) and pineapple juice

Day 16 – 12 July

Joints were hurting last night/this morning, so I took half a codeine. I also had to use my inhaler, which resulted in me not being able to sleep for a few hours. Prognosis: I need a laxative.

Breakfast

Cream of Wheat

Snacks

Banana

Curried Lentils

Dinner

Curried Lentils

Rice w. Green Peas

Later Dinner

Cherries

Cream of Wheat

Much Later

Cherries

Bagel w. Butter

Day 15 – 11 July

Breakfast

Curried Barley Pilaf

Curried Lentils

Lunch

Plantains

Barley Pilaf

Later Lunch

Rice and Beans Empanada

Even Later Lunch

Beef and Potatoes Empanada

Early Dinner

Plantains

Barley Pilaf

Snack

Lindsay Butter Crunch Cookies

Dinner

Fried Chicken

Rice w. Green Peas

Later Dinner

Rice w. Green Peas

Fried Onion Stuff

Day 14 – 10 July

My knees are  a bit sore today, I guess I’ve been taking the stairs too much? I sure didn’t drink enough water yesterday (1^st day of period -_-)

Breakfast

Carroty Cream of Wheat

Half a Bagel with Butter

Tea

Lunch

2 Bananas (a few hours apart)

Dinner

Sweet Plantain

Curried Lentils

Snack

Wise Corn Chips

Dinner

Carroty Cream of Wheat

Curried Barley Pilaf

Teddy grabbed my right arm today above the elbow, the other problem area. It doesn’t hurt, though the muscle has a memory of soreness, which is really a minor threat of SCKD pain, or the memory of it. Or both.

         It has officially been two weeks on my new diet, and this is a life changing experience. I haven’t been taking pain killers nearly as much, though there was a dose and half yesterday for my period. My body feels better, more whole, less weak, more strong. I’m tolerating the cold of the air conditioner on the trains and buses better. It’s just different. I’m excited to see how things progress as my body produces new blood cells and the old sickled ones die away. I don’t know how long it will take my body to make new ones, but I will keep recording how I feel! I could not be doing this job if it were not for my diet change, I would be too weak. It’s good not to feel so weak all the time. And I can walk more!!!! (^_^)

         The down side is the diarrhea, that’s persisted over the past few days. But my stomach has issues in general. I will take a laxative Thursday night to see if that solves my problems.[1]

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[1] I found out much later that there was a problem with my refrigerator and that must have been what was causing the bloating and other symptoms as opposed to my dietary changes.

Day 13 – 9 July

Almost 2 weeks!!! Teddy grabbed my left arm today above the elbow which has ALWAYS been a problem spot but it’s not the usual SCKD pain, just a minor threatening that it could be there.

Breakfast

Labouillie

Lunch

Rice and Beans

Curried Lentils

Snack

Banana

Dinner

White Yams

Carrots and Beef

Curried Lentils

Snack

Corn Chips

Later Dinner

Maiz Moulin

White Sauce Pois

Spinach, Okra, Mushrooms, and Beef

Snack

Carroty Cream of Wheat

Day 12 – 8 July

Food poisoning this morning? Or pre-cramp pains? I’m supposed to be leaving for work shortly, but I’m stuck on the toilet with bad pains.

Breakfast

Bran Flakes

Banana

Lunch

Plantains, Yams, Spinach & Mushrooms

Snack

Sausage Empanada

Dinner

Rice w. Beans

Carrots w. Beef

Red Cabbage

Red Velvet (O.O)

Diarrhea and bloating all dayyyy. Granted, my period seems to be here, but this is some ridiculous diarrhea, like omg. My fingernails are still gray around the edges on my left hand.

Day 11 – 7 July

A bit of joint pain last night/this morning, in the a.m. times. Perhaps I’ve not been drinking enough water lately? I also forgot to take my folic acid at the proper time one of the past few days. The stairs haven’t been bothering me as much lately. I’ve been up and down pretty frequently, with no negative consequences. Is this the beginning of a new life?

Breakfast

White Yams w. Scrambled Eggs

Red Velvet

Snack

Red Velvet

Curried Lentils

Lunch

Plantain

A little more joint pain earlier.

Dinner

Red Velvet

Curried Lentils

Dinner

Apple Puff

Batata w. Spinach and Mushrooms

Noticed today that the fingernails on my right hand were really dirty, but it turns out it’s not dirt, there’s just a layer of black under my nail bed on my right thumb, and the cuticles and nails of the other fingers look dirty. Looking for the causes now. Thiocyanate overload??

It would seem that I have cyanide poisoning, which could explain my excess tiredness and confusion/loss for words/inability to find the right words recently. I shall eat normally every other day and have less Thiocyanate containing foods on a regular basis.

I’ve also been having trouble falling asleep the past few nights, wonder if that’s related. And the joint pain! Or perhaps these are merely cinnamon stains? It’s difficult to say…

"Finally, chronic consumption of cyanide-containing foods, such as cassava root or apricot seeds,^[1] may lead to cyanide poisoning.

Overall, depending on its form, cyanide may cause toxicity through parenteral administration, inhalation, ingestion, or dermal absorption. (See the chart below.) [1]

Gradual ingestion. The gradual ingestion of cyanide can cause general weakness, confusion, bizarre behavior, excessive sleepiness, shortness of breath, seizures, headaches, dizziness and coma. Over time, the cherry colored skin will develop and even some of the cyanide poisoning symptoms pertaining to an acute digestion will begin to show up as well. If you're showing these signs, don't ignore them. Especially if you work in a field that exposes you to things that can give off cyanide.[2]"

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[1] http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/814287-overview

[2] http://www.mademan.com/mm/cyanide-poisoning-symptoms.html

Day 10 – 6 July

I haven’t been feeling the need to keep this up urgently. I’ve been feeling better lately. I don’t feel fragile like I used to. I’ve walked a lot within the past few days, and my leg muscles haven’t attacked me. I had a bit of muscle cramping this morning, but I had plantains today so I think the potassium helped with that, and the cramping was pretty minor. A bit of arm pain around the elbow last night, but I think that’s because I didn’t drink enough water yesterday. This is different. I like the way I feel. I feel good.

Breakfast

White Yams w. Scrambled Eggs

Chamomile Tea

Lunch

Sweet Plantain

Later Lunch

Sweet Plantain

Red Velvet  (^_^)

Dinner

Curried Lentils

Day 9 – 5 July

Today I feel no repercussions for yesterday’s excessive walking. Also went to the beach today and was cold, but not body hurting lots cold. Hmm… This diet seems to be treating me well…

Breakfast

Cream of Wheat

Lunch

Scrambled Eggs w. Légume

Snacks

Oatmeal Cookie

Lindsay Butter Crunch Cookies

A few Doritos

Dinner

White Yams

Day 8 – 4 July

Breakfast

Cream of Wheat

Lunch

A bit of Mangú

Dinner

Angel hair pasta with veggies and lots of bread

Midnight Snacks

Strawberry coconut milk smoothie

Mangú

Walked a lot today in Manhattan. Super bloated tonight.

Day 7 – 3 July

Bloated last night and this morning. Could it be the Cream of Wheat, the Barley, or the Spinach? Which of these foods is the culprit?

Breakfast

Banana

Brunch

Creamed Spinach with Coconut Milk

Banana

Lunch

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Later Lunch

Strawberry Coconut Smoothie

Mangú

Feeling pretty good today. I’m not sure if it was less extreme or what, but the temperature change from the streets to the inside of the store didn’t bother me as much. The wind hasn’t bothered me much today either.

Dinner

Mangú

Salmon in Coconut Cream Sauce (tasted way better today than it did the first day I made it. I also ate it cold.)

Later

Pomegranate

Peanut Butter Cup

Day 6 – 2 July

Feeling good today. Is this going to keep getting better, will it stagnate at this level? It’s been a week, for which I’m happy (^_^)

Breakfast

Banana

Cream of Wheat

Lunch

Chicken

Indian Curried Barley Pilaf

Creamed Spinach with Coconut Milk

Later Lunch

Indian Curried Barley Pilaf

Mangú

Dinner

Mixed Vegetables Burrito

Day 5 – 1 July

Minor back pains this morning, they seem to be threatening me with death. My left leg was doing some weird things last night, near the hip and around the upper knee. Kind of like pain but also like, yeah don’t really pay attention to me. So I didn’t and went on with my life. The pain’s not there now. My muscles are a bit sore in my calves though. I wonder if I’m getting too much potassium. I also wonder if I’m lacking iron because I was feeling tired yesterday and the day before. Must discover the cause of this. Perhaps I should increase my water intake?

Breakfast

Banana

Cream of Wheat

Lunch

3 Chicken Nuggets w. Ketchup (-__-‘)

Snack

Mangú

Dinner

Indian Curried Barley Pilaf

Creamed Spinach with Coconut Milk

Salmon in Coconut Cream Sauce

Strawberry and Coconut Milk Smoothie

I feel tall today. My back was hurting a bit earlier, but it’s only a minor death threat and it went away.

Later Dinner

Strawberry and Coconut Milk Smoothie

Much Later Dinner

Baked Chicken w. Rice and Green Peas