Living Our Lives Well: January 2023

Time for an update!

Aside from making my yearly review and scripture posts, I haven't been on this blog much for the past couple of years, so I decided I better get in here and let you know I'm still out here!

Even though my last update was almost two years ago, I still have many visits here every month looking for information on Lichen Planus. My posts, My Oral Lichen Planus Diet, Living With Oral Lichen Planus, and my Oral Lichen Planus Resource lists are some of my most popular posts. I hope these posts have been helpful to all who are seeking information about this terrible illness. I belong to a few groups online and hear so many stories of suffering far worse than I've experienced, so I do hope I've been a help.

How have I been the past two years?

I really wish I had taken the time to keep a record of how my OLP symptoms have been. I do know that at Christmas 2021, I decided to try an orange, something I hadn't risked eating in a few years. I was surprised to find that it didn't cause a flare up. Over the next months, I started adding other foods that had previously been on my list of foods to avoid, number one on the list being tomatoes. For several months I enjoyed eating a lot of foods I probably shouldn't have, and I still do. I've even been able to eat pizza! But eventually, I ended up with a flare up and that scalded feeling, although it never went away completely, it did intensify again. So, I had to go back to being more careful. I have to say, I did enjoy it while it lasted!

At this point, in January 2023, I'm feeling pretty good. Yes, I can feel the OLP, but it isn't in a flare, so it's manageable. I'm still able to eat tomatoes, citrus fruits, and a bit of spice in moderation. The one thing I've realized I need to avoid more than anything else is SUGAR. I know, I know, that should be a given, but sometimes I just want a bit of chocolate! Well, I need to find some other food to treat myself, because I'm guaranteed a flare up if I eat sweet things.

What do I attribute my progress to?

Supplements! I really do believe the supplements I've been taking for years now are the reason not only my OLP is milder, but I just feel good, for the most part. I have more energy in my 60s than I ever did 20 years ago!

Supplement List:

I take 8 supplements, some of which are blends or combinations of vitamins etc. The ingredient list is long on some of them, so I won't include the amounts of the ingredients in each one.

Multivitamin & Mineral: Beta caroten, Vitamins C,D,E,B6,B12, Thiamine,Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic acid, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Boron,

High EPA Fish Oil

Broad Spectrum Antioxidant: Mixed carotenoids, Vitamin C, Mixed tocopherols concentrate, Lycopene, Olive extract, Grape extract, Calcium (carbonate)

Inflammatory Support: Turmeric, Ginger, Green Tea, Devil's Claw, Calcium

Anthocyanin Rich Antioxidant: Grape seed, Resveratrol, Green Tea, Protease, Bromelain, Quercetin, Bilberry Extract, Ginko Extract

Probiotic

Extra Vitamin D3

Immune Function Support: vitamin C, E, zinc, Echinacea extract, Astragalus, Black Chokeberry extract

I can't say for sure why these supplements have helped me, but I do know the last three on the list seem to have made the most difference. I added these to my regimen a few years ago, and that's when I started to see improvements. These are also the supplements recommended to strengthen the immune system against a virus and I had a very mild case. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I do seem to be sick a lot less frequently than I used to be, so I'll take the win!

What am I doing these days instead of blogging?

As much as I've always loved writing, I just can't seem to get back into it. Even in the last two years I was blogging, I'd start off the first of the year with plans and ideas, but had a hard time following through. Our granddaughter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in March 2020, at the age of 6. At that time, I started a Facebook page called Team Emberley, and I guess that took more of my focus. It was a way to update family and friends on her progress through the ups and downs of treatment. It also became a way to raise funds to help support our son and his family. With all the trips to the city, and long stays in the hospital or Ronald MacDonald House it was impossible for him to work full time. Two months later, his second daughter was born, making things even more difficult.

We're looking forward to our granddaughter ringing the bell after her last chemo in June, 2023, God willing.

We've been overwhelmed with the support and encouragement we've received during this time, but we didn't want to depend on the generosity of others indefinitely, so we started brainstorming other ways to raise funds. My husband came up with a novel idea; start a YouTube channel! In March 2022, he uploaded his first video on Coffee Walks and Whatever.

I'm mostly behind the scenes, but as time goes by, I've started taking part more in the videos. It's a long road to monetization for two old fogies like us, but it's something we can do together, and guess what? We're having fun!

I hope you'll come over and check out the channel, and you can also follow our FB page.

Coffee Walks and Whatever (FB page)

Will I be back to blogging?

I never say never! When I see how many people still visit here, it really does make me want to come back. And who knows, that need to write may return someday and I'll make my way back here on a regular basis. For now, I'll try to at least make an update now and then. I may even share some videos from Coffee Walks and Whatever. 😁

To whoever is reading this, Thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere. I hope you've found a little help and encouragement during your visit.

Until next time, Bye for now ~~~Deb

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Oral Lichen Planus and Life Update