Day 10/12 of ReFeed.
NOTE: ReFeed extended 2 days.
Weight loss: -3lbs Total weight gain: 19lbs
BGL: Normal
Fasting: No Fasting
Exercise: Rest
Energy: 
( In Pain, 
Tired, 
Ok, 
Strong)
Personal Section:
In spite of hot āwetā and topical treatments, the joint inflammation was getting worse and spreading. I had to re-assess my perception of reality to create a long-term solution to this re-occurring problem which posed a serious threat to my goal of ā6-pack at 60ā. Here are the steps I undertook:
FIRST: I had to accept the fact that in my zeal to maintain my āmedication freeā status had led me to a mis-diagnosis of the type of arthritis I was suffering at end of both of my 21-day fasts and refeeds.
Itās NOT osteoarthritis but a re-occurrence of my gout. The redness and swelling around the joints in my hands and feet was visual evidence I could no longer refute. The specific reason for the mis-diagnosis was because I didnāt want to get back on my anti-gout medication.
SECOND: Accepting it was a re-occurrence of gout I could start my investigation. It would begin with why did it re-occur ONLY at the end of my 21-day fasts and NOT at the end of my 40-day? Here is where doing my daily journal entries and stats keeping on my spreadsheets helped. The data led me to do more detailed scientific digging and this is the conclusion I come up with.
INVESTIGATION CONCLUSION:
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By the end of my 40-day I had dropped from a starting weight of 278lbs to 197lbs. A loss of 81lbs. That seems like a lot. However 20lbs had only been gained during April 2018 to August 2019 due to the daily insulin injections. As I remember weighing in at 258lbs the day I was first proscribed the daily insulin injections,
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When I got hit by my unexpected health crisis in September of 2010 that led me to being bedridden for 5 years and the other subsequent health issues I believe I was around 203 to 211lbs range at the time.
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Therefore, I had not started digging into my deep visceral belly fat until I began the 21-day fasts. Studies done by NIH (National Institutes of Health) have shown that visceral fat have stored preinflammatory cytokines IL-6 & IL-18 that can raise the uric acid level in the body. For myself, even though I was still in a fasted state this caused the arthritic symptoms of stiffness BUT not the gout symptoms, It was ONLY during refeeds after the 21-day fasts that it became full blown gout attacks when I ate foods rich in purines that when broken down in the stomach raise the uric acid level in my body. Its like lighting a match in a gas station. It also explains why I did not suffer from gout after the 40-day and its subsequent refeed since my uric acid level was showing normal on the blood panel taken shortly at end of that long fast.
SOLUTION:
My treatment protocol is based on my investigation and this excellent YouTube series from John Hopkins Medicine Rheumatology Division. Here are 3 of the 6:
STEP 1: Immediate Pain Relief
Ibuprofen 600 MG tablet ever 4 hours. Took my 1st around 9pm. Immediate relief. Also stopped feeling so cold as body relieved of fighting inflammatory pain released energy for other bodily functions. Also stopped urinating every hour to hour and a half as body felt less compelled to excrete excess uric acid causing the pain. Took the 2nd at 1am. Slept 8 hours with only having to get up 3 times to pee. Also ordered refill of ant-gout medication through Walgreens auto system.
This morning was able to stand unassisted, and make my usual 2 meals for the day. By this early afternoon able to walk unassisted.
Took remaining 2 ibuprofen tablets at 7am & 11am. Followed up with doctorās office they authorized refill prescription because its a 90-day supply. Got authorization. Confirmed with Walgreens who will have medication available for pickup after 2:15pm PST.
STEP 2: Short-term solution
A. Avoid foods with purines until ALL gout symptoms gone.
B. Take daily medication whose purpose is to suppress uric acid production from foods processed in the stomach (Allopurinol).
C. Extend current ReFeed phase due to end with 30-day workout phase scheduled to start tomorrow by 2 more days. Workout schedule now slated to start Thu 4/23 and final 21-day fast delayed to May 23rd with it ending on same day as primary doctor visit on 6/12 to review blood panels taken 6/5.
STEP 3: Long-term Solution.
The good news: Once I get rid of the remaining visceral fat and curing my CKD I will finally rid myself of gout long-term. Iāll take allopurinol on days I eat purine heavy foods as a precautionary measure.
The bad news: Iāll have to keep ibuprofen around for ābreak glassā short-term relief emergencies. Iāll continue to take allopurinol during the remainder of the refeed and during the entire 30-day workout phase.
I plan to run this by the endocrinologist at USC in my weekly status report, due today, to see what he thinks.
OTHER NEWS:
- Well I dropped 3lbs since I last weighed myself. Probably all pee weight! LOL
- Nice to see being able to maintain my BGL at normal through all this craziness.
Eating Section:
Had my anti-inflammatory breakfast. 2nd meal had no food high in purines.
Exercise Section:
Feeling better but not confident enough to do my usual 1 mile circle walk.
Sat 4/11 - 1 mile walk
Sun 4/12 - Rest
Mon 4/13 - 1 mile walk
Tue 4/14 - Rest UPDATED: 1 mile walk
Wed 4/15 - Costco shopping
Thu 4/16 - On crutches to and fro to TM mtg.
Fri 4/17 - Rest
Sat 4/18 - Rest
Sun 4/19 - Rest
Mom 4/20 - Rest
Tue 4/21 - ?
Fasting Section:
Now that I have correctly diagnosed my āarthritisā issue and implemented a solution that appears to be working, Iām shooting to re-start fasting with an 18:6 beginning after my last meal finished around 12:30pm earlier today.
Writing Section:
Going to write an article on the little journey with my āarthritisā problem with more scientific references for review by the endocrinologist at USC.
Public Speaking Section:
On hold until I schedule my next speech.
Keep safe and sane out there!
