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David7 Progress Report

#1 · November 20, 2023, 4:08 pm

Quote from David7 on November 20, 2023, 4:08 pm
This is my first post to this site and I have been on a vitamin A elimination diet since Feb '23.

HISTORY

I am 57 years old and born with severe eczema - so vitamin A has probably been the cause of my health problems since birth. I was a sick kid and had eczema for most of my childhood. Diet included everything with vitamin A: fortified low fat milk, fortified breakfast cereals, multivitamins containing vA, lots of daily, lots of misc. high vitamin A foods. I thought I was growing out of my health problems when I hit puberty, but Grant's explanation makes sense that my growing liver was able to store more vA and keep it locked away to do little damage - but this respite in my poor health came crashing down when I hit 20; I've been very sick since then, my whole adult life. My primary complaint has always been cognitive brain-fog. I've tried just about everything to gain my health but with no luck to date. I spent 13 years doing the Marshall Protocol with no improvement in my cognitive issues. Developed a bad case of gout midway through the protocol with mild chronic kidney disease.

MY ZERO VITAMIN A DIET EXPERIENCE

So far my experience with a diet close to zero vitamin A has been not very pleasant. All my symptoms have increase to a whole new level - I guess this is what everyone here is calling a detox setback. I'm also experiencing massive depression - not the sad kind of depression, but the kind where I am virtually unmotivated to do any productive work - even small house chores are a struggle.

My diet consists of ground beef and ground bison (cooked and rinsed), organic black beans, cassava, organic white and brown rice, organic pasta. Currently eating a time restricted eating schedule with an 8 hour eating window and a 16 hour fasting window. Taking 1/4 tsp activated charcoal daily but have experimented with 1/2 tsp daily. Have tried additional fiber (sunfiber, apple pectin, and glucomannan) but have currently stopped all other fiber except black beans. Currently consuming about 7g of soluble fiber daily. I was up to 28g of soluble fiber, but this would cause bad nighttime leg cramps which would interfere with my sleep. I'll probably starting increasing fiber again next week to see where the sweet spot is.

Gout went away rather quickly when I first eliminated vA from my diet and I did have my kidney function tested shortly after I started which showed that my CKD was no longer an issue.

Experiencing a lot of inflammation since starting low vA, mostly in the lower back. Bowel movements are all very loose and I'm taking Magnesium Oxide to assist with constipation. Also taking 45mg zinc picolinate daily.

RECENT LAB WORK

Had a bunch of lab work done in the past month. Here were the ones that were out of range:

Vitamin D 25-OH: 7ng/ml (ref. 30-100). This makes sense coming out of the Marshall Protocol where eliminating D-25 is a basic part of the protocol. My doctor is very concerned with this level given my DEXA scan which shows that I have full blown osteoporosis in my lumber spine and low bone mass in my left and right femur. Have no plans to consume vitamin D, and I'm starting to take boron and doing some running to see if this will improve my bone density. Given Grant's thoughts on vA being the cause of osteoporosis, I think low/zero vA diet is the best way to proceed and have a DEXA done again in a few year. Thoughts?

Two liver enzymes were bad AST and ALT:

AST: 64 U/L (Ref. 10-35)

ALT 139 U/L (Ref. 9-46)

I'm wonder if my liver dysfunction is contributing to my cognitive issues. Also had a scan done of my liver which showed that I do not have fatty liver disease.

TSH: 4.65 mIU/L (Ref. .40-4.5). This is slightly high and I'm not sure how concerned I should be about my thyroid.

Hemoglobin: 12.9 g/dL (Ref. 13.2-17.1). I've had anemia my whole life and after reading Grant's books, vA is likely the cause.

Iron % Saturation: 16% (Ref. 20-48%)

Ferritin: 36 ng/mL (Ref. 38-380)

Kidneys show slight CKD once again:

BUN: 33 mg/dL (Ref. 7-25)

Creatinine: 1.53 mg/dL (Ref. .7-1.3)

EGFR: 53 (Ref. >=60)

I do test my uric acid at home with a home test kit which show that my UA is consistently below 5 since starting vA elimination diet.

Thank you Grant for all the work that you have done and providing me with many answers to the life long mystery of my failing health - I just hope it's not too late for me.

Regards,

David

This is my first post to this site and I have been on a vitamin A elimination diet since Feb '23.

HISTORY

I am 57 years old and born with severe eczema - so vitamin A has probably been the cause of my health problems since birth. I was a sick kid and had eczema for most of my childhood. Diet included everything with vitamin A: fortified low fat milk, fortified breakfast cereals, multivitamins containing vA, lots of daily, lots of misc. high vitamin A foods. I thought I was growing out of my health problems when I hit puberty, but Grant's explanation makes sense that my growing liver was able to store more vA and keep it locked away to do little damage - but this respite in my poor health came crashing down when I hit 20; I've been very sick since then, my whole adult life. My primary complaint has always been cognitive brain-fog. I've tried just about everything to gain my health but with no luck to date. I spent 13 years doing the Marshall Protocol with no improvement in my cognitive issues. Developed a bad case of gout midway through the protocol with mild chronic kidney disease.

MY ZERO VITAMIN A DIET EXPERIENCE

So far my experience with a diet close to zero vitamin A has been not very pleasant. All my symptoms have increase to a whole new level - I guess this is what everyone here is calling a detox setback. I'm also experiencing massive depression - not the sad kind of depression, but the kind where I am virtually unmotivated to do any productive work - even small house chores are a struggle.

My diet consists of ground beef and ground bison (cooked and rinsed), organic black beans, cassava, organic white and brown rice, organic pasta. Currently eating a time restricted eating schedule with an 8 hour eating window and a 16 hour fasting window. Taking 1/4 tsp activated charcoal daily but have experimented with 1/2 tsp daily. Have tried additional fiber (sunfiber, apple pectin, and glucomannan) but have currently stopped all other fiber except black beans. Currently consuming about 7g of soluble fiber daily. I was up to 28g of soluble fiber, but this would cause bad nighttime leg cramps which would interfere with my sleep. I'll probably starting increasing fiber again next week to see where the sweet spot is.

Gout went away rather quickly when I first eliminated vA from my diet and I did have my kidney function tested shortly after I started which showed that my CKD was no longer an issue.

Experiencing a lot of inflammation since starting low vA, mostly in the lower back. Bowel movements are all very loose and I'm taking Magnesium Oxide to assist with constipation. Also taking 45mg zinc picolinate daily.

RECENT LAB WORK

Had a bunch of lab work done in the past month. Here were the ones that were out of range:

Vitamin D 25-OH: 7ng/ml (ref. 30-100). This makes sense coming out of the Marshall Protocol where eliminating D-25 is a basic part of the protocol. My doctor is very concerned with this level given my DEXA scan which shows that I have full blown osteoporosis in my lumber spine and low bone mass in my left and right femur. Have no plans to consume vitamin D, and I'm starting to take boron and doing some running to see if this will improve my bone density. Given Grant's thoughts on vA being the cause of osteoporosis, I think low/zero vA diet is the best way to proceed and have a DEXA done again in a few year. Thoughts?

Two liver enzymes were bad AST and ALT:

AST: 64 U/L (Ref. 10-35)

ALT 139 U/L (Ref. 9-46)

I'm wonder if my liver dysfunction is contributing to my cognitive issues. Also had a scan done of my liver which showed that I do not have fatty liver disease.

TSH: 4.65 mIU/L (Ref. .40-4.5). This is slightly high and I'm not sure how concerned I should be about my thyroid.

Hemoglobin: 12.9 g/dL (Ref. 13.2-17.1). I've had anemia my whole life and after reading Grant's books, vA is likely the cause.

Iron % Saturation: 16% (Ref. 20-48%)

Ferritin: 36 ng/mL (Ref. 38-380)

Kidneys show slight CKD once again:

BUN: 33 mg/dL (Ref. 7-25)

Creatinine: 1.53 mg/dL (Ref. .7-1.3)

EGFR: 53 (Ref. >=60)

I do test my uric acid at home with a home test kit which show that my UA is consistently below 5 since starting vA elimination diet.

Thank you Grant for all the work that you have done and providing me with many answers to the life long mystery of my failing health - I just hope it's not too late for me.

Regards,

David

puddleduck, Janelle525 and 6 other users have reacted to this post.

#2 · November 20, 2023, 5:43 pm

Welcome here @david7! 😁 And thank you for starting a log. 🙂

Sounds like you’re in the right place. I’m glad you’ve already reversed gout and that your uric acid levels aren’t too high. That’s great to hear!

If you live where you can sun daily, or utilize a UVB lamp (that’s what I do since I live far north), you might find that helpful. One forum member who didn’t take cholecalciferol supplements, reported her vitamin D levels going up naturally with intentional, timed UVB exposure and lowering vitamin A intake.

For motivation issues and brain fog, I have found plant-based omega 3s (freshly ground flaxseed and chia seed) super helpful.

All the best with your continued health journey!

Hermes, PJ and Rebecca3 have reacted to this post.

#3 · November 21, 2023, 12:45 am

I'm always surprised when people on here say they suffer from severe brain fog, but then churn out such well-structured and very clear posts. It must take effort if it doesn't come easy.

What also resonates with me is the persistence of battling major health issues for a lifetime until you finally find something that actually seems to slowly work. There's a lot of suffering in silence and probably unlived potential because you didn't have the energy for years to actually pursue what you dreamed about. This makes me so sad. Respect for not giving up and continuing the journey to better health.

puddleduck, lil chick and 2 other users have reacted to this post.

#4 · November 21, 2023, 1:24 am

Quote from Armin on November 21, 2023, 1:24 am

Quote from David7 on November 20, 2023, 4:08 pm

This is my first post to this site and I have been on a vitamin A elimination diet since Feb '23.

HISTORY

I am 57 years old and born with severe eczema - so vitamin A has probably been the cause of my health problems since birth. I was a sick kid and had eczema for most of my childhood. Diet included everything with vitamin A: fortified low fat milk, fortified breakfast cereals, multivitamins containing vA, lots of daily, lots of misc. high vitamin A foods. I thought I was growing out of my health problems when I hit puberty, but Grant's explanation makes sense that my growing liver was able to store more vA and keep it locked away to do little damage - but this respite in my poor health came crashing down when I hit 20; I've been very sick since then, my whole adult life. My primary complaint has always been cognitive brain-fog. I've tried just about everything to gain my health but with no luck to date. I spent 13 years doing the Marshall Protocol with no improvement in my cognitive issues. Developed a bad case of gout midway through the protocol with mild chronic kidney disease.

MY ZERO VITAMIN A DIET EXPERIENCE

So far my experience with a diet close to zero vitamin A has been not very pleasant. All my symptoms have increase to a whole new level - I guess this is what everyone here is calling a detox setback. I'm also experiencing massive depression - not the sad kind of depression, but the kind where I am virtually unmotivated to do any productive work - even small house chores are a struggle.

My diet consists of ground beef and ground bison (cooked and rinsed), organic black beans, cassava, organic white and brown rice, organic pasta. Currently eating a time restricted eating schedule with an 8 hour eating window and a 16 hour fasting window. Taking 1/4 tsp activated charcoal daily but have experimented with 1/2 tsp daily. Have tried additional fiber (sunfiber, apple pectin, and glucomannan) but have currently stopped all other fiber except black beans. Currently consuming about 7g of soluble fiber daily. I was up to 28g of soluble fiber, but this would cause bad nighttime leg cramps which would interfere with my sleep. I'll probably starting increasing fiber again next week to see where the sweet spot is.

Gout went away rather quickly when I first eliminated vA from my diet and I did have my kidney function tested shortly after I started which showed that my CKD was no longer an issue.

Experiencing a lot of inflammation since starting low vA, mostly in the lower back. Bowel movements are all very loose and I'm taking Magnesium Oxide to assist with constipation. Also taking 45mg zinc picolinate daily.

RECENT LAB WORK

Had a bunch of lab work done in the past month. Here were the ones that were out of range:

Vitamin D 25-OH: 7ng/ml (ref. 30-100). This makes sense coming out of the Marshall Protocol where eliminating D-25 is a basic part of the protocol. My doctor is very concerned with this level given my DEXA scan which shows that I have full blown osteoporosis in my lumber spine and low bone mass in my left and right femur. Have no plans to consume vitamin D, and I'm starting to take boron and doing some running to see if this will improve my bone density. Given Grant's thoughts on vA being the cause of osteoporosis, I think low/zero vA diet is the best way to proceed and have a DEXA done again in a few year. Thoughts?

Two liver enzymes were bad AST and ALT:

AST: 64 U/L (Ref. 10-35)

ALT 139 U/L (Ref. 9-46)

I'm wonder if my liver dysfunction is contributing to my cognitive issues. Also had a scan done of my liver which showed that I do not have fatty liver disease.

TSH: 4.65 mIU/L (Ref. .40-4.5). This is slightly high and I'm not sure how concerned I should be about my thyroid.

Hemoglobin: 12.9 g/dL (Ref. 13.2-17.1). I've had anemia my whole life and after reading Grant's books, vA is likely the cause.

Iron % Saturation: 16% (Ref. 20-48%)

Ferritin: 36 ng/mL (Ref. 38-380)

Kidneys show slight CKD once again:

BUN: 33 mg/dL (Ref. 7-25)

Creatinine: 1.53 mg/dL (Ref. .7-1.3)

EGFR: 53 (Ref. >=60)

I do test my uric acid at home with a home test kit which show that my UA is consistently below 5 since starting vA elimination diet.

Thank you Grant for all the work that you have done and providing me with many answers to the life long mystery of my failing health - I just hope it's not too late for me.

Regards,

David

Welcome Davidmac.

I as well was born with eczema and suffer from bouts of brain fog/fatigue.

I remember my parents telling me that when I was really young that I had really dry skin that they dubbed me "lizard puppy". Sometimes my skin got so dry that my feet would crack and bleed and I would need to wear socks to bed with copious amounts of lotion. I saw pictures of when I was just born and I looked like an alien. Just really odd looking. Not sure how baby birth weights factor into long term health but I found it interesting that I suffered the most by far of us 3 kids.

We as well ate all the fortified foods, copious amounts of dairy.

Eczema is such an insidious situation to have, even if you currently don't have a flare. It limits and makes you question every single decision you make because anything that may set off a flare is anxiety inducing.

Should I go swimming? What happens if I take too many showers? Physical activity may lead to sweating and that could be my demise. Should I use soap? Washing hands can be risky-hand eczema is the worst IMO. It is just so exhausting to live like that. And that is when things are "good". Every little blemish is analyzed in an OCD manner as to whether the next 6 months to a year is gonna be a new journey.

Quote from David7 on November 20, 2023, 4:08 pm

This is my first post to this site and I have been on a vitamin A elimination diet since Feb '23.

HISTORY

I am 57 years old and born with severe eczema - so vitamin A has probably been the cause of my health problems since birth. I was a sick kid and had eczema for most of my childhood. Diet included everything with vitamin A: fortified low fat milk, fortified breakfast cereals, multivitamins containing vA, lots of daily, lots of misc. high vitamin A foods. I thought I was growing out of my health problems when I hit puberty, but Grant's explanation makes sense that my growing liver was able to store more vA and keep it locked away to do little damage - but this respite in my poor health came crashing down when I hit 20; I've been very sick since then, my whole adult life. My primary complaint has always been cognitive brain-fog. I've tried just about everything to gain my health but with no luck to date. I spent 13 years doing the Marshall Protocol with no improvement in my cognitive issues. Developed a bad case of gout midway through the protocol with mild chronic kidney disease.

MY ZERO VITAMIN A DIET EXPERIENCE

So far my experience with a diet close to zero vitamin A has been not very pleasant. All my symptoms have increase to a whole new level - I guess this is what everyone here is calling a detox setback. I'm also experiencing massive depression - not the sad kind of depression, but the kind where I am virtually unmotivated to do any productive work - even small house chores are a struggle.

My diet consists of ground beef and ground bison (cooked and rinsed), organic black beans, cassava, organic white and brown rice, organic pasta. Currently eating a time restricted eating schedule with an 8 hour eating window and a 16 hour fasting window. Taking 1/4 tsp activated charcoal daily but have experimented with 1/2 tsp daily. Have tried additional fiber (sunfiber, apple pectin, and glucomannan) but have currently stopped all other fiber except black beans. Currently consuming about 7g of soluble fiber daily. I was up to 28g of soluble fiber, but this would cause bad nighttime leg cramps which would interfere with my sleep. I'll probably starting increasing fiber again next week to see where the sweet spot is.

Gout went away rather quickly when I first eliminated vA from my diet and I did have my kidney function tested shortly after I started which showed that my CKD was no longer an issue.

Experiencing a lot of inflammation since starting low vA, mostly in the lower back. Bowel movements are all very loose and I'm taking Magnesium Oxide to assist with constipation. Also taking 45mg zinc picolinate daily.

RECENT LAB WORK

Had a bunch of lab work done in the past month. Here were the ones that were out of range:

Vitamin D 25-OH: 7ng/ml (ref. 30-100). This makes sense coming out of the Marshall Protocol where eliminating D-25 is a basic part of the protocol. My doctor is very concerned with this level given my DEXA scan which shows that I have full blown osteoporosis in my lumber spine and low bone mass in my left and right femur. Have no plans to consume vitamin D, and I'm starting to take boron and doing some running to see if this will improve my bone density. Given Grant's thoughts on vA being the cause of osteoporosis, I think low/zero vA diet is the best way to proceed and have a DEXA done again in a few year. Thoughts?

Two liver enzymes were bad AST and ALT:

AST: 64 U/L (Ref. 10-35)

ALT 139 U/L (Ref. 9-46)

I'm wonder if my liver dysfunction is contributing to my cognitive issues. Also had a scan done of my liver which showed that I do not have fatty liver disease.

TSH: 4.65 mIU/L (Ref. .40-4.5). This is slightly high and I'm not sure how concerned I should be about my thyroid.

Hemoglobin: 12.9 g/dL (Ref. 13.2-17.1). I've had anemia my whole life and after reading Grant's books, vA is likely the cause.

Iron % Saturation: 16% (Ref. 20-48%)

Ferritin: 36 ng/mL (Ref. 38-380)

Kidneys show slight CKD once again:

BUN: 33 mg/dL (Ref. 7-25)

Creatinine: 1.53 mg/dL (Ref. .7-1.3)

EGFR: 53 (Ref. >=60)

I do test my uric acid at home with a home test kit which show that my UA is consistently below 5 since starting vA elimination diet.

Thank you Grant for all the work that you have done and providing me with many answers to the life long mystery of my failing health - I just hope it's not too late for me.

Regards,

David

Welcome Davidmac.

I as well was born with eczema and suffer from bouts of brain fog/fatigue.

I remember my parents telling me that when I was really young that I had really dry skin that they dubbed me "lizard puppy". Sometimes my skin got so dry that my feet would crack and bleed and I would need to wear socks to bed with copious amounts of lotion. I saw pictures of when I was just born and I looked like an alien. Just really odd looking. Not sure how baby birth weights factor into long term health but I found it interesting that I suffered the most by far of us 3 kids.

We as well ate all the fortified foods, copious amounts of dairy.

Eczema is such an insidious situation to have, even if you currently don't have a flare. It limits and makes you question every single decision you make because anything that may set off a flare is anxiety inducing.

Should I go swimming? What happens if I take too many showers? Physical activity may lead to sweating and that could be my demise. Should I use soap? Washing hands can be risky-hand eczema is the worst IMO. It is just so exhausting to live like that. And that is when things are "good". Every little blemish is analyzed in an OCD manner as to whether the next 6 months to a year is gonna be a new journey.

puddleduck, Hermes and PJ have reacted to this post.

#5 · November 21, 2023, 7:30 am

Hi David7! Yes, I have symptoms going back 50 or more years. ! Ah well, glad for the progress you are making, welcome to the forum. It's never too late, as long as we are alive. The human body is amazing.

puddleduck and r have reacted to this post.

#6 · November 21, 2023, 3:10 pm

Quote from Hermes on November 21, 2023, 12:45 am

What also resonates with me is the persistence of battling major health issues for a lifetime until you finally find something that actually seems to slowly work. There's a lot of suffering in silence and probably unlived potential because you didn't have the energy for years to actually pursue what you dreamed about. This makes me so sad. Respect for not giving up and continuing the journey to better health.

Thanks Hermes. I hope this does work. I have mourned many of my lost values over the years and now I'm just sort of numb to what I've lost. I still desire an extraordinary life, but I accept the possibility that this might not happen for me - but I'll never stop trying. I try not to think too much about what I lost since it's sort of pointless. I spent most of my 20s crying every day when I was much closer to the values that I lost (career, romantic love, my mind). Now the central purpose of my life is to regain (or really gain for the first time) my health - after that, I think everything else I want to pursue will be relatively easy.

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#7 · November 21, 2023, 3:23 pm

Quote from Armin on November 21, 2023, 1:24 am

I as well was born with eczema and suffer from bouts of brain fog/fatigue...

Hi Armin,

It sounds like we are very similar in our medical history and even in the path that we took since we both came from the Marshall Protocol. I read some of your posts on your experience with the MP and they are similar to my own experience. Coffee in particular is the biggest loss as a result of the MP. Before the MP and early in my years on the protocol, coffee would greatly palitate my symptoms, but the in later years, coffee only produced a great deal of brain-fog. I'm not sure why this is, but I would love to go back to a time where coffee was able to provide me with a little relief. I'm thinking also that this is somehow related to vA being dumped into serum as a result of coffees ability to increase bile flow. Not sure though why the MP precipitated this though. Perhaps the MP made my body more efficient in producing bile - just a guess.

puddleduck has reacted to this post.

#8 · November 21, 2023, 3:47 pm

@david7

Have you sought out an upper cervical specific chiropractor that specializes in treating brain fog? I don't know much about their results I just know that some treat it.

Do you have any significant jaw or neck tension or issues?

Crane's Neck, Dragon Horns is a qigong method that may be helpful.

Bend Body is complementary to Crane's Neck, Dragon Horns.

Qigong methods don't normally work overnight but many people have had great results from them when they consistently do them, sometimes for many hours each day.

#9 · November 22, 2023, 1:00 am

Quote from David7 on November 21, 2023, 3:23 pm

Quote from Armin on November 21, 2023, 1:24 am

I as well was born with eczema and suffer from bouts of brain fog/fatigue...

Hi Armin,

It sounds like we are very similar in our medical history and even in the path that we took since we both came from the Marshall Protocol. I read some of your posts on your experience with the MP and they are similar to my own experience. Coffee in particular is the biggest loss as a result of the MP. Before the MP and early in my years on the protocol, coffee would greatly palitate my symptoms, but the in later years, coffee only produced a great deal of brain-fog. I'm not sure why this is, but I would love to go back to a time where coffee was able to provide me with a little relief. I'm thinking also that this is somehow related to vA being dumped into serum as a result of coffees ability to increase bile flow. Not sure though why the MP precipitated this though. Perhaps the MP made my body more efficient in producing bile - just a guess.

I had no idea what the Marshall protocol was so I googled it. It seems pretty horrendous... and it seems most people get worse from it - not better! I cant believe how it could make anyone healthier to avoid sunlight like that. That means you cant go barefoot on the beach, swim and tan all your skin in the sun, and enjoy the best doctor of all.. Nature.

That Marshall protocol sounds like hell to me.

puddleduck has reacted to this post.

#10 · November 23, 2023, 3:40 am

David7 Progress Report

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