Sunshine

Are you getting enough sunshine?

One thing I look forward to doing everyday is watering the plants. It's the time of the day where I get some sunshine. I usually try to do it around 4:30 in the afternoon when it's not too hot anymore. I've been doing this since we moved and noticed I'm not paper white anymore! Haha! 

Getting some sun back in 2017 at Nami Island, South Korea.

The sunshine has also helped me resolve my vitamin D deficiency. I was experiencing a lot of body pain and joint pain. A roller coaster ride of tests led me to a rheumatologist. He had to review whether I had an autoimmune disease. Luckily I don't, but he found out I was severely vitamin D deficient. I'm supposed to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 every week for four months. 

Two months in this was reduced to 25,000 since I showed symptoms of toxicity. I emailed my doctor in SG when this happened. Good thing he responded immediately and advised to reduce the dosage. My rheumatologist was the "last stop" I made to determine what caused my clots. He had a huge headache after going through all my files. He told me that he'd try his best to end the investigation. He also explained that sometimes there are just mysteries that never get resolved. 

Flexing my zipper* in Boracay, 2014.

By the time I had gone to the rheumatologist I had gone through many tests. I had also seen many other specialists. I had already accepted that my clotting issue would remain a mystery. I was not surprised anymore when the doctor told me I didn't have an autoimmune disease. I'm just grateful that my prescription was to take vitamins and get more sun! 

The sun provides us a lot of benefits and it's for free! The sun helps with vitamin D which contributes to better immunity. It also helps with your mental health because it's a mood booster. This is probably my Mom's secret. She gardens twice a day. That's probably how she's remained strong and permanently in a good mood. 

Thank you Papa God for always providing us with good sunshine everyday! :)

#BeKind #StayHome #StaySafe

*zipper - open heart surgery scar

The Sunshine Vitamin

It's been a few days since my doctor's worried nurse called me up. I had a "vampire*" appointment last Friday to check for vitamin deficiencies. I was getting off the taxi when the nurse called. She sounded really worried that I have a vitamin D deficiency and advised to drink within 24 hours. 

The nurse wanted me to go to a clinic to pick up some vitamin D3. I was wary to go out again especially to a clinic. Luckily I found some on Amazon with next-day delivery. After ordering I read up on the benefits of vitamin D3. It's supposed to keep your bone and muscles healthy. It's known as the sunshine vitamin because you can get it from the sun. 

I realized I was showing signs of the deficiency already. The past two weeks I felt imbalanced whenever I walk. The morning of my vampire appointment I almost had a fall in the shower. Good thing I was able to steady myself by holding the ledge. I didn't think much about it because I thought it was an effect of the other meds I'm taking. 

Here's a video by a doctor explaining the importance of vitamin D3 and D2 -

I guess I developed the deficiency because I was told to stop all of my vitamins last year. I used to take vitamin C, E and multivitamins everyday. I noticed I wasn't as energetic as before. My doctor though wanted me to be cautious about drinking vitamins because of my medication. I've been taking vitamin D3 for four days now and there are some noticeable effects. 

My balance has improved, I've been able to add more reps in my exercise and I feel less muscle and joint pains. I feel more energetic also and don't feel so exhausted after heating up food on the stove. I know this is just probably one of the many things my doctor will flag. The nurse hasn't called back, so hopefully the other things they checked are within normal level. 

Thank you St. Raphael the Archangel for intervening to get me an immediate appointment! 

CB////*Yr2/177 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/198 #NewG270 #Home29 #Xmas83 #StayHome #BeKind

*Vampire - my nickname for medtech's who take my blood hehe. So far they find it funny. This started post-OHS when my blood was taken everyday.