An update.

Dear readers,
     It is with the utmost excitement that I confess to you, a secret. I am going to have a baby. I'm entering my 6 month of pregnancy and so far, it has been a wild ride. I'm writing this blog post for very similar reasons that I started this blog in the first place. I get asked many questions, most of them all surrounding the same topics. I tend to think that if our conversations and thoughts navigate in certain directions, those subjects deserve some attention. So, let's get to it!

1. How was my first trimester?
       Health wise, my first trimester was incredibly simple. I ate whenever I started to feel poorly, and overall avoided most of the unpleasantness associated with morning sickness, fatigue, etc. That being said, I did experience all the scary things of the first trimester. I had bleeding on a regular basis, I experienced "higher than normal" cramping, but all the while my midwife assured me that I was ok. Then, around 8 weeks, I was sitting at my desk (scrolling through strollers) and a message popped up. And long story short, my husband and I were offered positions in our dream town. We've been here 2.5 months and I we couldn't be happier.

Here's what I've deduced from the first trimester: I am under regular chiropractic care. As a product, I haven't had any low back pain, I didn't really have any morning sickness to speak of, and my fatigue was really mild. Between the support of my chiropractor and my midwife, I've maintained a fairly low stress approach to my pregnancy that I honestly believe would be completely different without them.

2. Where am I going to deliver?
     My husband was born at home, his brother was born at home and his sister was born in a birth center. I was born via c-section due to health risks to both my mother and myself. My goal throughout this pregnancy is to do what is best for the longevity of my health and the health of my baby. In considering what I wanted and what I believe to be the best path with least intervention, my husband and I decided to hire a midwife and pursue a home birth. I was nervous that I would "opt out" due to high blood pressure or other health concerns that my mother had, but so far (22 weeks) nothing has come up. We are also planning to participate in a Bradley birth class to help us prep.

3. When am I due?
     August. I'm willing to accept July 29th-September 3rd. But really any time in that window is fine by me.

4. What cravings am I having?
     Pickles, deli sandwiches, french onion dip (gross, I know), sparkling flavored water (La Croix) and spicy foods. I'm specifically not enjoying peanut butter, bread, bacon, or sweet things.

5. How is my husband doing?
      Like he always does, my husband is my greatest cheerleader and the best support I could ever ask for. Keep an eye out, the next blog will be about dads :)

6. What are you having?
      Hopefully a baby. :) We opted to not find out. But so far we know that baby has ten fingers and toes, 4 heart chambers, a spinal cord, a brain, and a wicked kick.

That's all for now. Check out the next blog in which I make a huge apology to dads.

An introduction to my next big project

Hi!

It's been a while. I've been writing blog posts for my office, and as a product this blog has been somewhat neglected. That being said, today's topic will be a preview of things to come.

I talk a lot about what birth means and why birth matters. Birth is a gnarly process in which parenthood takes hold. I often say that a parent becomes a parent when the needs of their baby (or zygote, or fetus) is above their own needs or wants. Moms tend to see this earlier because the things they put in to their bodies influence baby's health. Birth, however is the mechanism in which an individual comes in to existence. The focus is justifiably often on the baby but this system is really about making people parents. For some, this experience is like a light switch. For others, it's a dimmer switch. Either way, someone is responsible for this tiny little squishy ball of cuteness.

The thing is: Parents have a big a job. That job is pretty scary. The best plan, the most empowering plan, is to help parents make informed decisions before the overwhelm and sleep deprivation slide in. We start this by letting them gather information, ask questions, and have input on their lives.

Starting in January, I'll be interviewing and discussing various birthing methods and outcomes with real women who lived it. I hope you all enjoy these videos as much as I am. The big message to take away from this is that an ideal birth is what best for an informed mama and dad.

I look forward to sharing with you all soon.

Mental illness and health advocacy; a lesson in compassion and growth

Maslow's hierarchy of needs dictates that once our basic needs are met, then we can aspire to healthy interactions with others, and ultimately self-actualization.

A side, but valuable, comment here is that this doesn't indicate that self-actualization is the inevitable crown on a harrowing climb. It simply means that self-actualization, for the sake of life span and achievement, would be the launch pad that would carry someone to their greatest achievements. In other words, self-actualization is really the beginning of what could be. 

Today we will talk about mental health, but not yours.

Many people tout that mental health issues are better left under the rug. I identify strongly with honor culture. It should come as no surprise then, that people in my culture do not discuss their weaknesses. They push through them while mocking people who admit their struggles. For the most part, honor culture is on the decline, and more importantly, honor culture seems to be evolving to acknowledge that one can have pride in one's work, while admitting the difficulties in accomplishing it. 

This is overwhelmingly present in social media. And this is a good thing! We see what it really looks like to lose 100+ pounds. We see what it looks like to struggle to conceive. However there is one huge blot on the professional spectrum that seems to be a century behind when it comes to acknowledging mental health issues: health care. 

Did you know that professions with prescriptive rights are among the most likely to suffer from mental illness [1]? While medical doctors have a high rate of depression, there's also things like bipolar disorder, anxiety, addiction, and panic attacks that aren't accounted for in the reference listed below. 

A second side note: Chiropractors are also listed on the reference, but we are the only profession on the list that says, "Category includes chiropractors (a licensed profession) along with miscellaneous unlicensed health diagnosing practitioners." (insert eye roll here). That is like saying, "This category includes medical doctors along with miscellaneous actors that play doctors on t.v."

All that withstanding, I have two points to make.

1. Healthcare providers are under a LOT of stress. They deserve our patience and our compassion for the work they do.

2. In this current situation, it is not simply a pleasant concept, it is absolutely vital that you be your own advocate.

There are brilliant minds throughout our history that have had mental illnesses. Many of the diagnoses that previously would have resulted in inhumane treatments are now easily managed with chiropractic care, medication, or supplements.. But part of this stress and anxiety that affects our medical professionals so greatly is from carrying the burden of being the "decision maker". I would also argue that some of that stress comes from algorithms and pressures within the hospitalist system, but that's not anything that you and I can influence, other than with our mighty dollars. 

Most people don't become doctors because they hate people. Most people become doctors because they want to help people. Most doctors approach each patient with the wealth of knowledge that they have, and every motion is to help the patient towards health. Most doctors don't act out of malice. Most of them are working on 4 cups of coffee, too little sleep, too much stress, and frankly, too much outside influence to be the teacher their name implies. 

If you are pressured or emotionally manipulated away from your own decisions: you need a new doctor. That doctor isn't a bad person. That doctor is simply too distracted to acknowledge that the body you have is the one you will have for the rest of your days; the actions and consequences performed upon it are literally your burden to bear. 

Things to consider about your health:

• take time to read and learn about diagnoses you've been given
• go into follow up appointments with a knowledge of what to expect
• ask questions
• take a friend with you to listen and be the objective ears in the room. 
• if you are interested in alternative therapies for your diagnosis, print some articles and take them to your doctor
• don't assume that your doctor will say, "My way or the high way." Because I bet, if your doctor is worth their salt, they will either be open to your ideas, or will explain to you why it isn't a good idea.
• ask for dialogue, not just a prescription
• take notes!

1. http://www.businessinsider.com/most-suicidal-occupations-2011-10

Getting by with less.

This isn't a post about budgeting, or how to play your chiropractor into lessening your care plan, or how to not notice 1000 calories missing from your diet.

This is a post about filling emotional needs when people you depend on are no longer around. This post is about chronic, insufferable, unending loss, and how after time it doesn't really get better*, but you learn to get by with less.

My Grandmother was an excellent listener. She listened when she most likely shouldn't have, but it was one of the most comforting things in the world to call my nana and tell her all of the insane things I'd done and wait for her to smack her lips, laugh, or cry (I'd like to think that crying didn't happen too often). Her form of encouragement was unique. When I wanted to give up and felt like I'd never make it, she would say, "Why don't you come home?" That made me so angry! I'd say, "Why do you want to tempt me with mediocrity?" Then she'd go on to say, "Why don't you just come home, live with me, and get your old job back at the grocery store?" This would dig at my heart and make me feel like a complete failure. How could she say that? How could she say that after working so hard and getting so far, that I should come home and work as a cashier in the local grocery store? And then I would push harder than I ever thought imaginable, and she would beam at me with a pride that bordered evil.

I always suspected that she'd said those things to push me, but I also know that she genuinely missed me being home, so it was always a toss up as to whether she believed her own words or not. I imagine that was a battle she also faced.

So fast forward to now. I am 4 months into private practice. Like most ventures, my weeks are full of ups and downs. Lately I've just wanted someone to talk to. I don't really want to talk about what I do with them:I don't really want to talk very much at all. I just want someone to listen to me, and someone I can listen to that has absolutely nothing to do with my daily efforts. (This is the plight of anyone who's spouse is in the same profession as them.) And more importantly, I want my grandmother to listen to me. So how can I find that same feeling of content, and peace without her physical presence?

You find it where you can.

You'll find that after time, you don't need much. And sometimes you'll mistakenly put that need into someone who isn't really going to help fulfill it. But most of the time, just a pinch of that feeling will return and you'll be ok again for awhile.

Yesterday was a rough day. I cried 4 times. You should probably know that I've cried 4 times in the past 12 months, so 4 times in a day was odd. I cried in my car, cried over a pot of rice, cried in my office, and cried while watching a video of a man who couldn't walk kiss his wife on unsteady feet. It was amidst the car cry that I realized I was upset because I didn't feel as though I had that outlet; that person to argue with quietly until one of us had had enough and we'd sit in silence until we were ready again. That person who egged me to "come home" and settle for what was handed to me at birth. So last night I got up and went to a meeting that I'd kind of been dreading. I showed up and spent way too much time on my phone instead of interacting with people around me. Then one of the most brilliant minds I've ever encountered walked up to me and said, "How's it going?" I said, "I'm ok. I'm doing great, just not where I thought I'd be. I'm impatient." And she replied simply, "Me too." And that was it. That was all I needed. I needed to see that outside of my bubble, the difficulty in visualizing the future while living in the real present was universal.

And that's really the heart of this. The ups and the downs and the ins and outs are not special or unique to Chiropractic, or NFP, or me at all. These feelings and experiences are universal. If you are a SAHM, or a auditor working 85 hours a week, the waves of satisfaction and defeat are just as real for you as they are me. Some times we just need a little shoulder bump as a reminder that all of this is ok. This is all part of some nasty goopy process that will ultimately and unavoidably end in our excellence. We are all in the same life raft and no one ever gets their fair share of steering.



*https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Warwick_Middleton/publication/232480143_Pathological_grief_reactions/links/57637bf008ae9964a16baa32.pdf

The tact and grace of an inside joke.

I seem to mention at least every other blog or so, "mom guilt". It is a soul crushing distraction from all the other great things we have to be stressed and freaking out about. In my opinion, building a community based on inclusion and "laughing through the chaos" is one of the best ways to combat "mom guilt"

So what on earth does an inside joke have to do with chiropractic, pregnancy, fertility, or ketogenesis? Everything. Have you ever been so stressed out that you focused in on a doughnut until it was in your mouth. Have you ever been so tired or out of it that you missed an entire conversation someone was trying to have with you? Have you ever caught yourself looking at facebook on your phone while facebook is also open on the computer in front of you? These are symptoms of overwhelm; and they are part of the problem.

We, as humans, are meant for social interaction. We hug, we kiss, and for those of us who are really uncomfortable with physical touch, we have great intimacy in sharing the mundane tiny details and simply speaking to other people.

When we talk about inside jokes, the beauty and simplicity of the comment is that there's no necessary depth before the event comes to fruition. We have inside jokes with people we've only met a few times. To say to a person, "Remember that one time..." even if it was the first time, is no less valuable. An inside joke artificially (and then, of course, genuinely) increases intimacy. We want people to remember us. We don't all want to be the star of the show, but when you meet someone  for the second or third time and they remember something you were wearing or something you said, it makes us feel as if that person values that memory.

So, if you are tired of being home with babies, and you are looking for a mom group or a scheduled event for kids and moms alike, seek out the women that remember you. Those women are the goodies, the ones who pay attention, and the ones who are more likely to laugh at life with you, instead of chastising every decision you make.

The art of the inside joke takes the edge off of what could be a painful reintroduction to society. In general I think we could all stand to laugh a little more.

Recently I was asked, "What do you want to do with your life?" And I said, "I want to make people laugh." Can chiropractic make people laugh? Absolutely. If we know that the brain is speaking to the body and the body is speaking to the brain, and that person is "working on all cylinders" then we know that no matter what happens, they will be adapting to whatever life throws at them better.

A quick story to round out this pretty light post:
**This was told to me by a professor in Chiropractic School**

A man came into the clinic for low back pain. He brought his daughter with him. He didn't speak much, and his clothes were often dirty, and over all he seemed like a pretty angry man. After the first phase of his care plan ended he told the doctor he wouldn't be coming back. The little girl started crying. The doctor asked, "Are you not feeling better? Are we not getting the results you anticipated?" To which the patient said, "I feel much better, but I don't have pain any more so I'm not going to come in anymore." The doctor turned to the little girl and asked if she'd noticed any differences in her father since he'd started care. The daughter said, "Since he started chiropractic care he doesn't hit me anymore. I'm afraid if he stops he'll start hitting me again."

1. We can not down play the effect of the adjustment on the brain.
2. We can not down play the effect of dysfunction on behavior.
3. We can not pretend that "pushing through" issues has no effect on children.

Laugh more. Live better.

An unexpected opinion piece on the art and bastardization of supplementation.

Hi. I am Dr. Sam Curtis, DC. And in the past year I have made a dramatic shift away from supplementation.

How perfect is the idea of the vitamin capsule?

 Do you have an ailment but don't like the idea of herding to the doctor for a prescription?

 Have you heard that every pill you take will immediately shut down your kidneys and give you Alzheimer's!?!?!? 

Yep. Me too. So it only seems right that we, as the "thinking citizen", would opt out of those medications until ab.so.lute.ly. necessary. So, wayyy before chiropractic school, way back in my crunchy infancy, I started using supplements. Got a cold? Vitamin C, Zinc, echinacea. Heavy menstrual cramps? Cal/Mag, ginger tea, primrose oil, and a dash of black cohosh. These are the Dr. Google go-to's of supplementation. I firmly believed that if there was an issue, there was a vitamin, a mineral, or a pill to fix it. So maybe you are thinking, "A vitamin is way better than a prescription drug!" And in many ways you are right.

However, in my line of work, healing comes from the inside out. If you are dumping the highest quality gas into a car with a wrecked radiator.... it wont get you to your destination any quicker. As a chiropractor it is imperative that we ensure your brain is able to effectively communicate to your body and vice versa before we begin throwing the kitchen sink into the mix. You do you though. If you want to take a supplement, and you have either been advised by a trained professional or you have done your own research, I am certainly not speaking against that. What I am saying is that the sweeping protocols that make supplementation the billion dollar industry that it is, is really no better or more empowering than a prescription from the drug store. It may be better for you, it may cause less environmental and biological harm, but in simplest words: Allopathy is the method of taking a pill for an ailment

At present I can think of a few examples of supplementation that are misguided, and a few that are exceptions to my "no supplement" rule.

Misguided:

1. Vitamin D. We have ample research that says vitamin D is necessary for calcium to perform its best with bony lay down (new bone as old bone is broken down). Many people at this point will say, "The higher vit D levels the better!" This isn't true! [1]. Basically, about 2 decades ago, some researchers found that people with higher vitamin d levels had decreased homocysteine. Homocysteine is linked to cardiovascular disease. Because heart disease is still a heavy weight contender for most common cause of death, the healthcare world said, "oh, duh! Let's put everyone on a Vit D supplement and watch the heart disease plummet!" The major issue with this is that we aren't meant to ingest vitamin D. We are meant to create it inside of our bodies using our skin, our liver, and our blood. Vitamin D has a similar structure, or a base structure, of cholesterol; this is also true of estrogen and testosterone. So, structurally, vitamin d is like a hormone. What current research is showing us, is that when we put hormones in parts of our bodies that they aren't intended to be (ie estrogen in the digestive tract etc), we open a can of worms that we aren't exactly sure how to close. So oral  supplementation of vitamin D is increasingly controversial. That being said, regulated sun exposure is an AMAZING option for anyone with a heartbeat. I recommend downloading the D minder app (no I don't get any kickback from them, plus it's free :))  and starting there. The app will tell you when to come inside and can even estimate the D3 produced in your body per session.

2. Iron. My grandmother was "iron deficient" for over 40 years. As a kid my iron levels were amazing, and then in my late teens/early twenties, it dipped a bit. If you've ever supplemented with iron, you may know well the constipation and other unpleasantness of supplementation. And if you "picked up what I was laying down" about the digestive tract you may be thinking, "But we do absorb iron through our digestive system!" And to that I, "Heck yeah!" So here are some questions for your healthcare provider if they suggest that you start taking iron supplements:

            a) Is ferritin low? Or hemoglobin? 

            b) Given that Ferritin is NOT synthesized in the blood, EXACTLY how does a serum measurement of Ferritin (i.e. an extracellular marker, and akin to “Kitchen temperature”…) relate to, or have ANY relevance to, the Intracellular Ferritin Protein level (i.e. the storage protein synthesized INSIDE the cells, and is more akin to “Oven temperature”)?

            c) What’s the status of my mineral & vitamin co-factors that REGULATE Iron metabolism: i.e. Magnesium, Bioavailable Copper, Zinc, Ceruloplasmin (Ferroxidase enzyme), & several select Iron markers?

            d) Do I have markers of chronic inflammation (BUN/Creatinine ratio, H1c, CRP? If so, aren't those also heavily correlated to hypoferremia?

The list goes on. If you are ever interested, shoot me a message. There's about 12 other questions to ask before starting iron supplementation. 

3. Folic Acid. Folic acid was synthetically created in the early 20th century. Up until that point our exposure to B9, the well known vitamin that influences neural tube development, was through folate. As of 1998 folic acid is a federally required fortification in many grain products. Unfortunately, as we have seen a dramatic decline in spina bifidas and cleft palates, we have seen an increase in tongue ties, which has an impact on bilateral head movement (ie, breastfeeding on both sides). [2]

Exceptions to the Rule:

A generalized note: Therapeutic supplementation ( short term doses for a diet, for recovery, to support a new body function (like, say, breastfeeding), and for chronic illness, are vastly different than the daily grind of 15-20 supplements that are to "raise your levels". I'm a huge supporter of using supplementation to aid the body through a transition or rehab, but not for longterm generic use.

1. Electrolytes. I don't fan girl over things, and lately the bottom of the list of my fan girl options would be supplements. However magnesium is my jam. Magnesium is necessary for ATP production in the body, as well as muscle recovery after a workout. Without potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium our bodies would literally immediately wither into a puddle. I have heart palpitations from my apparent inability to hold on to water/electrolytes (probably a chronic inflammation that I have yet to address). I've been supplementing with magnesium malate off and on for over a year now. If you are taking magnesium I would highly recommend against magnesium oxide (unless it is an external use) and magnesium citrate. Magnesium oxide is used as a laxative if taken orally and will only further dehydrate you. Magnesium citrate has long term negative impact on the ceruloplasmin and can negatively impact iron production.

2. Fish oils/ DHA/EPA. So fish oils....heart health....blah...blah...blah. The biggest thing about DHA/EPA is that our brain needs DHA and EPA to stay healthy. As we get older our ability to hold on to omega 3s becomes even more important. Dr. Dan Murphy claims that a ratio of O3/O6 above 1:25 wreaks havoc on the mental health and memory loss. The american diet is inundated with omega 6's. My general recommendation is to purchase an Omega 3 only, or an O3/O6 ratio as close to 1:1 as possible. There's some evidence that the body can convert DHA to DHEA, though it's hard to solidly say. At the end of the day you are eating animal fat is pretty small doses; to that I say, "No harm no foul". 

A final note on quality. Calcium carbonate is calcite. It's a rock. It's a finely ground rock. You can take that rock, and eat it, and your blood calcium will likely increase. But what can your body do with rock? Chickens eat rocks and it helps to break down the food they eat. We don't have that function, as our stomach acid is pretty bad a** and can breakdown pretty much anything we can fit down our esophagus. Short advice: try to buy foods based supplements. Or even better, try to eat the foods that contain the vitamin/mineral you are looking for.

1.http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/vitamin_d_more_may_not_be_better

2. Flanagan J, Landa R, Bhat A, Bauman M. 2012. Head lag in infants at risk for autism; a preliminary study. Amer. J. Occup. Ther. 66: 577-585.

If you ain't first, you're last; an account from the lifelong 'last friend to....'