Psoriasis and Copper

So I did some research at 5 am because I couldn't sleep.

No, actually it wasn't because I was cramping really badly from my new IUD - actually I hardly felt anything at all beyond what I consider normal level period cramps.

It was just because my brain decided the wee hours of the morning were wasted on sleeping when it could be thinking. We don't always agree on that, but usually the brain wins because it just keeps me up until I give in and look into what it's pondering about. The blessing and the curse of the internet being so convenient I suppose...

Anyways, I ended up looking into the effects of the copper IUD and Psoriasis just to see if anyone had reported any findings. This article is what I found, just in case you would like to read it yourself.

So apparently it has been found that an imbalance of copper and zinc in the body may be responsible for scaly outbreaks of hell. Basically there is often too much copper and not enough zinc in the majority of people with psoriasis. It is hypothesized that the copper IUD may cause psoriasis to flare up by adding more copper to the mix.

In my mind I am picturing a war between the two elements and copper is winning.

There was also a flash of, "Oh crap, what have I done?! I just put a whole vat of copper up in there and added to the copper army's resources!"

But again... Babies > Psoriasis. Babies are the bigger problem.

So I figured to at least even things out again I'll start taking a zinc supplement and try to eat more zinc rich foods. So what foods are zinc rich you might ask? Google says the top 10 foods highest in zinc are...

1. Seafood

2. Beef and Lamb

3. Wheat Germ

4. Spinach

5. Pumpkin and Squash Seeds

6. Nuts - Particularly Cashews

7. Cocoa and Chocolate (Yippie!!!)

8. Pork and Chicken

9. Beans

10.  Mushrooms

So I'll see if I can add some more of these to my diet and make sure I take some zinc supplements so I can at least even out this copper overload. If anyone else has tried this I'd appreciate a heads up on how it worked.

Mona Lisa Copper IUD Experience

Hey whoever!

I went to the OB/GYN today to get a copper IUD and I figured I'd share my experience!

Now before going I read A LOT of reviews stating that it would be excruciatingly painful. Like nigh unbearable. Some people were told to have fainted, some got dizzy spells and one girl even said it felt like a really powerful orgasm. (say whaaat? I don't know what kind of orgasms she's having but mine have never felt like that. And I hope they never do!)

But I don't want babies. I really don't want babies. I know, I know you all are thinking or telling the screen

"You're just saying that now Lydia."
"You might change your mind!"
"Kids are different when they are your own!"

You name it,  I've heard it.

Well, to make all you mothers and mother fuckers happy I chose to get an IUD.

Well that and my OB/GYN refused to zap my ovaries with a laser. Though that was unlikely because lasers are not considered an effective method of birth control yet. Why? I don't know. We've perfected them to operate on someone's eyeball but they cant use them to scramble your eggs.

And tying my tubes? The OB/GYN pretty much laughed at me and told me I was too young to be sure.

Well poo! But the copper IUD is good for a solid 10 years so this is pretty damn close, no? And I figure when I'm 33 he shouldn't turn me down. Right? Well if he does I'll just get another one I guess.

I chose the Mona Lisa 10, again a copper IUD and that's because I don't really want to muck around with hormones. I feel weird about the idea of ditching my period forever and the side effects were heavier bleeding and some more cramping. Let see... cramping... or babies... cramping wins over labor pains any day. I witnessed my sister being born and that was some scary shit right there.

I mean I get teary eyed when I'm constipated. No one wants to see this girl push a watermelon out of a grape.

So...

THE INSERTION!

DUN DUN DUNNNNN...

To put it bluntly the most painful part was waiting for the appointment to begin. That and knowing the doc had to have a gander up my vaj-jay-jay while I was on my period. (Gross huh? But apparently it makes it easier on you to get in on the rag. Either way he didn't believe I was on my period - I had to tell him I had just started it last night)

It took like 10 minutes maybe and the worst part was a sharp pinch that felt like a really pointed cramp and I could actually feel it in my hip bones. (Yeah really, what the crap?) And I wont lie, it made me jump and squeak. But then it was over and done with. In seconds. I mean it felt pretty weird to be perched up on a table spread eagle but I have to say overall I feel like I had a positive experience.

My OB/GYN was super cool and nice and quick about it and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. If anyone around the York Region area wants the number of an IUD pro give me a shout out and I'm happy to share the information. Would it be weird to be vag-doctor buddies? Maybe. But good docs are good docs.

So far afterward nothing has occurred that is unexpected. I've had a few on and off cramping sessions but I can't say that I feel the IUD at all. I'm going for an ultrasound to make sure its hanging in there alright but as far as I'm concerned my Mona Lisa IUD is my new little T-shaped buddy.

No babies! No babies! We aint pushing strollers! Nyah nyah!

I'll keep you updated on the process and my findings with this little copper baby.

Can I hope it will help with my psoriasis? Well, probably not. But hey, a girl can dream.

Hair growth and Oil treatment

Hey who ever is out there!

So I'm here to update you on my hair growth and we'll see if there's any real difference!

I am still taking the folic acid, cod liver oil and on top of that I decided to give this oil treatment a go. Basically what you're supposed to do is massage warm oil (any but canola or vegetable oil) into your scalp and hang upside down for 4 minutes. It's supposed to make your hair grow an inch in a week. Sounds crazy right? Sounds like a pile of bologna right?

Well I decided to put it to the test. And here are my results!

Well kind of - I ended up using a drug store product instead of a pure oil.

 

And I didn't heat it up. I was lazy. I am sorry! Well that and I was afraid that the bottle would explode in the microwave. So I am taking into account that if this doesn't work it is entirely my fault for not taking the directions to heart.

So I massaged this into my scalp for at least 1-3 minutes every night to activate the blood circulation on my scalp and then hung upside down for a timed four minutes off my bed. I can tell you now that it is the longest 4 minutes of my entire day. I started reading during them to try to make it pass faster. Also if you get up too quickly you'll get very dizzy. Boo!

I also, because I'm lazy and because it smells nice and I heard it was good for my hair too, slept with the oil in my hair. I don't think I would have done that with olive oil.

First I measured my hair - it was at 4-4.5" at the front when I started. Its hard to get exact measurements in the mirror.

Then I took pictures of the front of my hair to gauge where on my nose my hair seemed to reach.

The beginning of the week, last Sunday.

Today!

Me pretending my hair is some kind of sci-fi helmet because its so short still.

Now it doesn't look like much - definitely not an inch. But bear in mind my hair isn't really as fluffy and weightless in the first picture - its pretty limp. I haven't measured my hair at this point so I don't even really know for sure what the results are.

But foremost my own personal observations are that it feels longer when its flopping into my face. It also feels and looks a little thicker. On feeling... My hair is ridiculously shiny and soft. Trust me - you want to stroke my hair right now. You can't tell really with the camera but my hair definitely looks more healthy.

(Side note: Did not effect my scalp psoriasis at all)

So measuring time! I wanted to save this until now so I could give my own honest observations. I could be totally wrong! Well aside from the healthiness. I can compete with my dog for softness now. BUAHAHAHA!

So I am now at a rather impressive 5 inches at the front of my hair!

Not bad considering I didn't follow all of the directions! A whole .5 to 1 inch in a week is pretty hefty for hair growth! Woohoo!

So if you've tried this feel free to let me know how it went for you! Or any other odd hair growth things you can think of for me to try!

I'm going to try to get some Mane 'n Tail shampoo and conditioner soon and I'll let you all know how that turns out. I've heard it smells like apples so I'm pretty excited!

In the mean time though I'm keeping up with this oil regiment and maybe even adding some lavender oil to the mix! Woohoo!!


In other news I had a really freaky apocalyptic dream where instead of zombies people were becoming creepy wax-figure looking things with frozen Barbie type smiles. I woke up feeling pretty awkward!

Pictures Finally! | Tresemme Waterless Foam Shampoo | Freaky Dream & Audible Hallucinations

Sorry anyone that's reading, I promised pictures practically a week ago and I've really just been too lazy to do it! So I did it today and I can honestly say I think my bangs/fringe is showing growth!

Maybe there is something to this whole Folic Acid thing...

For the hair anyways. As for my skin I have noticed no difference and am still as itchy and flaky as ever. 

Otherwise I must confess that the last two nights I have totally forgotten to take them! Crap! I fell asleep reading the Mercy Thompson series two nights in a row. I can't put the damn books down! Curse you Patricia Briggs for taking over my life! In the best way possible, of course.

If you are interested in the whole supernatural thing then I highly suggest picking up Moon Called and its following titles. The character is believable and I thoroughly am enjoying them. Thank you book sale where I bought the last book out!

Also recently I picked up the Tresemme Waterless Foam Dry Shampoo to test it out. It was at our local Dollarama for $3 so I figured why not? Well, I think there's a reason it was at Dollarama because it did really nothing for my hair. I still felt like my hair was yucky and dirty. Oh well! I'll use it for texture I suppose. People keep telling me that texture is good.

So last night I also had the pleasure a freaky dream where I was on a plane with my boyfriend and the plane was highjacked by a man who was a test subject for medicines for colon cancer. He was so upset about the effects of the tests that he killed everyone on board except for us. He was trying to kill us too though but we just wouldn't die apparently. I ended up getting shot in the torso and the foot with a crossbow and next thing I knew the guy jumped out of the plane and was attacking a man in a lab coat in the middle of a farmer's field. No logic to how I knew that in my dream at all.

Then I was in a waiting room and my parents, my birth parents were there (my mom is dead so this was a touch odd for me - I don't usually dream of her) and my dad was going on about how I shouldn't scare him like that and kept touching my feet. My mom didn't say anything, just smiled. Which is pretty normal, she doesn't usually talk in my dreams but when she does I never remember what was said anyways.

Then I woke up to the sound of a chain dropping right beside my head. I was immediately wide awake and looking for said chain. It sounded as though Jasper (my dog) had somehow shrugged off his chain collar onto the bed. But it wasn't on him at all - it was hanging on my bed post.

So feeling quite freaked about it all I decided to research the phenomenon of waking to a loud unusal sound with no cause. Or hallucinating sounds. After all if you can put a name to it and other people have experienced it then it makes it far less scary, right? Right.

Turns out its actually quite common and has been tied to Sleep Paralysis - which I have experienced from time to time. The term for such things are usually referred to as Hynopompic Hallucinations.

Basically it refers to all hallucinations that occur just before falling asleep or waking up.

If you'd like some spooky research then I highly suggest looking into Sleep Paralysis or "The Old Hag Syndrome". There is a lot of debate as to whether it is a supernatural phenomenon or a psychological one. And really its quite creepy when it happens so I don't blame people for thinking there might be something more to it than a trick of the mind!

So this was all at like 3:30 in the morning.

After my research I fell asleep again and had another very odd dream.

I dreamed my dad, brother and I were going on a camping trip but we had to stop in this hotel on the way. Apparently we were going a long way to go camping? Anyways I caught this guy setting fire to the gardens and was trying to tell him he had to put it out because it could hurt someone. He basically ignored me and went about his business.

Long story short I tried talking to everyone, including the fire department, about this fire at the hotel and no one cared or believed me. The random jerk guy kept showing up to antagonize me and no one ever did anything about the fire until I got up and started to try to put it out myself.

When I woke up I felt very alone and sad. Weird huh?

Well if anyone else would like to comment or add anything about Sleep Paralysis or weird dreams or hallucinating sounds at night feel free :)