Curcumin Relapse

Last weekend, I reacted TERRIBLY to Curcumin.  I most probably do not need that stuff anyway so it’s not that big of a deal.  Still, the fact that it happened makes me feel uneasy.  Again, a couple of doses of a pill SHOULD NOT cause significant harm even if it is wrong for your chemistry.  I had not been taking it regularly, only occasionally until the bottle was finished.  Why did it happen?  The smart money is on excess sulfur and methyl donation because I got noticeable relief after taking a CBS/NOS pill.  It could be that I need stand alone B-12 after all.  The amount in the CBS/NOS and B-complex may not be enough.  With the extra B-12, I probably tolerate Curcumin and Co-Q10 and may even benefit from them.  A few weeks ago, I had trouble with B-12 but that was because I had insufficient Lithium for transport.  That’s been resolved by taking just one ADHS pill in addition to the heavy dose of Thym-Adren. 

Plan Going Forward:

I’m going without B-12 for the time being but if I can’t break 25 for 3 miles very soon, I’m going back to it.  Again, with just a trace of Lithium, I should not have any problems with it.  After that, I may or not re-assess my need and tolerance for CoQ10 and Curcumin.  If I don’t see significant benefit from either of them, there is no reason to take them.  I prefer to save space in my cabinet as well as money. 

If I am still not satisfied with my progress, I have one last resort, which is Fulvic Acid.  I don’t know much about it, but it is intended to replace minerals depleted by poor soil and processed foods.  Do I see a “real doctor”?  It is highly doubtful that will help but as a last resort, I’d give it a try.  Symptoms and tolerance for pills will almost certainly be different between the time I select a doctor and when I get the first appointment.  I’d give it a 90 percent chance that they find nothing wrong and prescribe anti-depressants, which I refuse to take.  I’ve tried 2 classes of them before and it only made things worse. 

Update:

I had a very bad day yesterday and the culprit was extra doses of Texas Superfood (fruit and veggie supp).  I just finished the bottle and will not re-order.  It was another case of taking it to get rid of it rather than waste it.  For the record, I did not exceed the dose listed on the label, just my usual low dose.  This product is entirely food based but does contain a small amount of Curcumin.  The opening mile was a horrid 10:36 but after taking 2 Liver Beef pills, which is a strong source of B-12, my pace improved to 9:06 on the back half.  I took the last 2 Texas Superfood pills in the bottle when I got home and felt noticeably WORSE.  I didn’t need to run to test it out.  Even though I don’t need this product, the fact that I reacted this badly to a food-based supplement is a sure sign that something is wrong.  It has become clear that I need that stand-alone B-12 and will alternate it with the Liver.  As long as I take the trace of Lithium in the ADHS, I should not have any trouble with B-12 in any form.  Do I need the CoQ10 and Curcumin?  I hope not but if I do need either of them, the B-12 should enable tolerance. 

WILL THIS EVER END??  

Training 6/28-7/4

 6/28-AM- Lakeshore 2 mile in 18:40 (9:20 pace).  Big improvement over yesterday with splits of  9:31-9:09.  I'm staying with 6 Thym-Adren and no Curcumin.  In theory, this should do it but it never works in practice.

PM- 3 miles at Canterbury in 26:18 (8:46 pace).  Continued steady improvement but I got the sense that I might be stymied in the 25s, which is not nearly good enough.  This was a hilly route and certainly translates to a sub-26 at Lakeshore.  Without stand alone B-12, I probably won't collapse but I may not improve much either.  We shall see what happens this week before I make any decisions.

Distance=5.0

6/29- 2 miles on Lakeshore in 19:42 (9:51 pace).  Splits were 10:36-9:06.  Took Liver Beef at the turnaround point, which is clearly what made the difference.  A fruit and veggie supp called Texas Superfood was the culprit this time.  I got better after taking the Liver because it is a good source of B-12.  More details to come in a separate post.

Distance=2.0

6/30- SUCKED again.  Hoped to run 3 on Lakeshore and had to settle for 1 in a time of 10:44.  Splits were 4:53-5:51.  OUCH!  I pin the blame on the confirmation dose of Texas Superfood.  This time, even the Liver Beef didn't make much of a difference.  It's becoming increasingly clear that I need the stand alone B-12 after all.

Distance=1.0

7/1- AM- 1 mile at Montreat in 9:42.  An improvement but I really was hoping for better after nearly 36 hours off the TX Superfood.  I need hydroxy or adenosyl B-12 and neither is sold in stores so I have to order it and hope the shipment is not delayed.  

PM- Interesting.  I was hoping that I could tolerate a little bit of methyl B-12 even though it is not good for my genetic profile.  It did work out.  I was noticeably better immediately after taking it.  It showed in the run too as I managed a 3:52 for a half mile at Montreat (7:44 pace).  However, I was noticeably weaker after a 2nd such pill.  I was still better on 2 than without any.  I'll just have to be careful with the methyl B-12 until the Adenosyl arrives.

Distance=1.5

Reaction:  

I am virtually CERTAIN that the B-12 would have enabled tolerance to Texas Superfood.  Unfortunately, that bottle is empty.  I feel that I should test it out with Curcumin and CoQ10 but that will wait until next week when the Adenosyl comes.  One other thing that I am willing to try is something called Intrinsic Factor, which is a stomach protein that enables B-12 absorption.  I've got that plus the Fulvic acid to try before I see a "real doctor"

7/2-Planned rest day.  Flight to Philly and drive to Wildwood, New Jersey.

7/3- 3 miles on the Wildwood boardwalk.  Finished in 27:54 (9:18 pace) but faded down the stretch and could not have gone any longer.  Adrenals are spiking again.

Distance=3.0

7/4- 1 mile on the boardwalk in 10:30.  Without pills, I ran the first half in 5:40 but improved to 4:50 with more Thym-Adren.

Distance=1.5

-14 miles on the week

Training 6/21-6/27

 One of the main conditions for stability is NO EXTREME NEED FOR ANY ONE PILL.  I tried to go just 1 day without Thym-Adren last weekend and was BEYOND AWFUL!  I didn't think I could go much under 8:00 for 1 mile on the usual 3 pills either so I decided to up the dose to see what would happen.  In what really should not be a surprise, it triggered an extreme need going forward.  

6/21- PM- On the usual 3 pills, I opened with a 67 for half a lap at Montreat (6:42 pace).  Added 2 more pills and I was down to 60.  2 more beyond that took me down to 52 (5:12 pace).  

Distance=1.5

When it comes to pills that I need, there are 3 outcomes:

1. Sweet spot- I feel best on a certain number of pills.  For example. I perform fairly well on 3 pills but if I take 2 or 4, I will decline significantly and it gets worse on 5.  Now, imagine that PLUS moving targets.  Man, that SUCKS!  I've been there and fortunately, that is NOT the case this time.  

2.Limited Ceiling- I'll improve with every pill up up to a point but it's no better or worse beyond that.  I recall being very happy after trials with Methyl Folate.  I did need it and could not get by without it but regardless of whether I took 400 mcg or 2400 mcg, my time would be the same for each interval give or take a few seconds.  That's the best case scenario.

3. Unlimited Ceiling- This is where I am with the Thym-Adren.  I'll be total crap without it.  1 pill may help but it's not a game changer and neither is the 2n or 3rd.  I will see a small improvement on each additional pill even at mega doses.  I do expect that this need with eventually diminish.  This tells me that the Manganese did not trigger an adrenal spike.  It exposed long-standing over-activity.  It will simply take time to normalize but I'll get there.  

6/22- DISASTER.  Even at mega doses, I was crap.  Additional pills did help but I improved only from a 1:43 half lap to a 1:28 (8:48 pace) on 3 additional pills.  

Distance=1.0

6/23- AM- Better in a sprint but still struggled mightily in a real workout.  1.5 miles in 17:16 (11:36 pace) with a brutal fade.  8:02-9:14

PM- Noticeably better by the afternoon.  Repeated the distance this time at Canterbury in 13:50 (9:13 pace) with even splits but not much left.  Start of steady improvements?  I doubt it.

Distance=3.0

6/24- One of my better showings this year.  2.5 on Lakeshore in 21:12 (8:29 pace).  Even pace (10:34-10:38) but not much left at the end.  Added a half mile cool.  Took 6 pills and probably could have done better with 8 but I'm sticking with 6.  This was a significant improvement over yesterday.

Distance=3.0

6/25- Planned rest day but decided to run 1 mile at Montreat in 9:33 WITHOUT pills.  Extreme dependence is fading but it will be a while before I can get by without this stuff for even 1-2 days.  Still, this was comparable to 2 days ago, which was done with a stacked deck.

Distance=1.0

6/26- FAILURE.  Hoped for an easy 6 and had to settle for 1 in a time over 11 minutes.  Curcumin was the culprit.

Distance=1.0

6/27- 2 miles in 23:42 (11:51 pace).  OUCH!

PM- 3x1 laps at Montreat.  3:48-3:24-2:52.  Hours of rest in between.  Clearing out.

Distance=3.0

-13 miles on the week

Relapses

 I just can’t plug all the leaks.  It’s been one thing after another.  The most frustrating aspect is that actions taken to patch up one hole actually CAUSE another leak to spring up.  Let’s take a look at what happened since I returned from Minnesota 4 weeks ago.  I must also remind my readers that this was shortly after I made it through a pill free weekend, and it looked like I had to shot at getting this under control very soon. 

First, the need for CBS/NOS went up then back down again with ill-effects from taking too much.  Fortunately, this stabilized after I reduced consumption of protein bars as well as methyl donors and sulfur containing amino acids.  I went up from 1 such pill to 3 then back down.  Fortunately, it appears to have stabilized back at 1 with no extreme need.  I can lay off it for a couple days without major problems just like the others. 

Despite having my best formula in Minnesota, I still bombed in the race.  I hoped to run a sub-2-hour half marathon, which was a moderate goal considering that I had reached 20-25 MPW with consistency.  In the end, I wasn’t even close.  I fell off pace after 7 miles and finished in 2:05:19 or roughly 25 seconds per mile short of the goal.  I surmised that I had a mineral deficiency, which proved to be correct. 

After the usual shock reaction to Manganese, I developed an insatiable need for it.  This need eventually faded just like the others but kept me down for the better part of the next 2 weeks.  I was okay with this because I knew it would benefit me in the long run.  In the short run, it either spiked the adrenals, which is common after solving a long-standing problem or exposed extreme over-activity that was masked by the deficiency.  It may have been a combination of both but in any event, the adrenal modulator (ADHS) was not strong enough.  I needed a suppressant in Thym-Adren, which I could not tolerate before taking the Manganese.  Once again, the insatiable need kicked in once I started back on Thym-Adren and it is only now beginning to die down.    

Now, I have been reacting TERRIBLY to B-12 and found out today that it is ALL B-vitamins that are the problem.  What triggered this?  It was the switch from ADHS to Thym-Adren, which was necessary after the addition of Manganese.  ADHS contains trace amounts of Lithium from vegetable culture.  For the record, this stuff is VERY DIFFERENT from the Lithium Carbonate given to bi-polar patients.  It might slow the thyroid a bit but only if taken in mega doses and I was taking only a trace amount.  Where Lithium is necessary is its ability to transport B-12 into the cells.  I determined that stand alone B-12 is not needed because both the B-complex and the CBS/NOS contain plenty of it.  I planned to finish the rest of the bottle of B-12 then pitch it and not re-order.  Bad call.  I could not better 11:30 for just 1 Mile on excess B-12.  Without Lithium to transport it into the cells, it just pools up in the blood.  The only thing I can do is go back to ADHS and lay off all B-vitamins for a least a few days.  I already know that I CANNOT get by without them long-term.  It’s looking bleak.    

Rave: North Coast/ Interstate 65 Road Trip

 The Great Lakes stretch from Western New York to Eastern Minnesota.  I'll call it the North Coast.  That term is not commonly used outside of Ohio but I'll use it to describe the entire Great Lakes because it sounds cool.  Water temperatures are tolerable from June-September though you may have to wait until July to enter Lake Superior in northern Michigan and Minnesota.  Surf is rare in the summer but there are a few days in which it can kick up to 2-3 feet.    

I haven't thoroughly explored this region but I will list my favorite spots in each state:

New York: Lots of coastline around Lake Erie but the clear number 1 spot here must be Niagara Falls.  I saw it as a small child and don't remember much.  I saw the Falls again as a teenager but didn't get too close.  I may be back for a Buffalo/Toronto road trip that may also include Cleveland.

Pennsylvania- Small amount of coastline but Presque Isle State Park packs a punch.

Ohio- Cedar Point in Sandusky is one of the greatest amusement parks in the country.  There are a lot of nice beaches as well around Mentor (near Cleveland) including views of the skyline.  I'd also like to see the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Indiana- Small Lake Michigan coastline but the Indiana Dunes National Seashore has recently been designated as a National Park.

Illinois- City of Chicago, especially Lakeshore Drive, not to be confused with the running trail in Homewood, Alabama.  

Michigan- I've heard that the beaches and dunes here are just as nice as Indiana but my vote is the Pictured Rocks National Seashore on Lake Superior.

Wisconsin- Door County all the way.  Cave Point County Park and Whitefish Dunes.

Minnesota- North Shore drive on Hwy 61.  I was just there.  If I have to pick a favorite spot, it's Tettigouche State Park.  

________________________________________________________________________

Now, let's shift gears to last weekend's road trip.  Interstate 65 runs from Mobile, AL all the way up to Chicago.  On the way, you can stop in Monty, Birmingham, Nashville, Louisville, Indy and Indiana Dunes.  This time, I didn't make it all the way to Chicago but did stop in Indy on the way to Indiana Dunes and Louisville on the way back.

I arrived in Indy by mid-late afternoon on Saturday and toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.  I'm not a real big auto racing fan but this was still pretty cool.  I was able to see the track itself only from a distance but was allowed to sit inside one of the cars.  

From there, it was a walking tour of downtown including the White River State Park and the Canal walk with some pretty nice views of the skyline.  I saw Monument Circle as well but could not go to the top because it was closed.  

The next morning, it was off to the North Coast.  I chose West Beach in Gary and yes, I did see the Chicago skyline in the distance.  I stayed here a little longer than planned but that did cut down on the fun in Louisville.

I did see Churchill Downs on Monday morning, including the track itself but don't feel that I did this city justice.  The entertainment district was mostly closed when I arrived but I was still able to take a nice tour of Main Street and the river walk.  The drive home was tough but I did make one stop at Abraham Lincoln's birth place.    

Training 6/7-6/13

 6/7- Tough drive back from Louisville.  No time to run.

6/8- Did a 7:52 mile last week but after a full weekend on Thym-Adren, I fared no better today.  It took a late rally on the last lap just to match last week's time.  I'm afraid that I will have to increase the dose.  I'll give it another week.

Distance=1.0

6/9-Terrible intervals at Montreat.  The only positive was that I was only 15 seconds better per lap with the Thym-Adren versus without it.  That's 45 per mile.  The extreme dependence is gone but it will probably take a while before I can miss a weekend without significant ill-effects.  Treated lap 3 as a cool.

Distance=1.0

6/10- AM- 1 mile at Montreat in 10:52.  Splits of 5:33-5:19.  No comments needed.

PM- 2 miles on Lakeshore in 17:58 (8:59 pace).  A last quarter mile rally got me home with a sub-9 pace.  I'll take it.

Distance=3.0

6/11- Hoped to run 3 but settled for a repeat of yesterday evening.  Time has improved to 16:54 (8:27 pace).  Splits were 8:37-8:17.  Not a yuge difference from day to day but I want the slow and steady improvement.

PM- Drank a 20 oz Pepsi and slipped just a tad.  Half mile in 4:22 (8:44 pace).  Barely perceptible difference in how I felt but the improvement from session to session has STOPPED.  I am fighting the urge to buy another one but I am staying strong.  Added a cool to make it even.

Distance=3.0

Back on Thym Adren

 I said last week that I have 2 options going forward after I began reacting negatively to the Manganese, the very pill that I absolutely NEEDED just 1 week earlier.  I could stop the Manganese or take it only occasionally and stick with the ADHS OR continue the Manganese and go back to the Thym-Adren.  It is clear now that the Mn deficiency covered up some of the fast oxidation symptoms.  I thought that part was in relative balance after I reduced the Iron overload.  Doing so may have helped but it was not enough.  Now that the Mn deficiency has been corrected, years of untreated extreme fast oxidation has been exposed. 

Last weekend, I went off the Mn and found that even large doses of ADHS were NOT enough to control the symptoms.  I needed something stronger in the Thym-Adren.  The first dose yielded no sudden miracle.  My time went down from a 4:15 to a 3:41 after 2 pills (12:45 pace down to 11:03).  Perhaps mega doses will produce fast results but I’m planning to stick with 3 pills as the more stable option.  How do I feel about this relapse?  Take a guess.  Words cannot describe how angry I am.

Update:

On my third day on Thym-Adren, my time was down to 4:24 for a half mile (8:48 pace).  I suppose that I that is progress.  Will it hold?  Somehow, I don't think so.

6/4- Did a full mile in 8:51 with a pill free first half in 4:46 and the back half with pills in 4:05.  That's just about what I want to see.  Steady progress but not huge changes from day to day.