Hi, all. New to permies.com Found the Kickstarter campaign for the purple cards a few days ago and pledged.
Reading this thread was very interesting.
At age 10, we were doing one of those stupid things children do. I slammed head-first into a large oak tree. Left Frontal Lobe Traumatic Brain Injury #1. I had headaches whenever the barometer changed. Sensitivity to storms and tornados (grew up on an Indiana farm). Also a need to "feed the beast" with salty, protein, and carbohydrate rich foods. Sweets made symptoms worse.
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at 16. My hips, spine and hands are sensitive to weather changes: symptoms: pain and irritability.
For the last 29 years, I have been in recovery for two additional left-frontal lobe traumatic brain injuries, 9 years apart (basically considered back-to-back TBIs). Think of an earthquake scale (logarithmic): the third TBI was a logarithmic step worse than the second. Whenever the weather changes for the worse, I get: headaches, optical migraines, sinus issues, lymph node swelling, pain in the "healed" 4 broken ribs I have sustained, pain in my hands, hips and spine, vertigo (typical with TBI), balance issues worsen, excessively tired (sleep much during stormy days), teary eyes, itchy eyes, pain in the depressed skull fracture area, irritable, itchy skin, brain fog, speech difficulties, right earache, increased tinnitus, an increased need for shrub-enhanced water.
Because of the TBI recovery, I eat exceptionally well: mostly organic; lots of vegetables; little fruit; high quality meats: mostly bison, lamb, turkey, wild-caught salmon; animal fats. I cook from scratch because my nutritional needs vary wildly day-to-day. Any type of restaurant foods upset my digestion. I do believe my diet plays a major role in my health and helps reduce the symptoms.
Since I am retired, I have the luxury of hibernating during the worst of the symptoms. I have adverse reactions to most drugs (discovered when I was a child) so do not take man-made modern medicines. No alcohol (allergy). I find the best grade organic dark chocolate (88% cacao or higher; I used to eat my mother's Bakers Chocolate when I was a child) will sooth most of the symptoms. Many mushrooms help as well. Salty, protein, and carbohydrate rich foods also help. Toss in some ACV to balance blood chemistry. Again, sweets aggravate the symptoms.
For years, I have searched for confirmation of this weather sensitivity. Mostly, I have been told "it is all in your head". Not quite.
Except for the Rheumatoid Arthritis, I test exceptionally healthy.
Thanks for this thread!
