Ratchet’s Story & Recovery

[Ratchet]

Wow, I just lost the entire message I typed due to not being logged in or a security token? That’s a bitch.

Anyways, here’s a summary:

Just re-read my intro post. Really focused on the negative descriptions of my experience so far, not enough on the positives. That’s not the energy or message I want to bring to my thread or this forum. It didn’t help that I punctuated it by telling all of you about my current downswing.

That being said, I am in a downswing. No way around it. I haven’t deviated from the protocol in almost three months either, but I also haven’t incorporated some of the most important parts yet.

To all the skeptical/anxious/suffering: through diet, exercise, therapy, yoga, meditation, cold exposure, socializing, nature, and like two of the herbs listed on this website (which I took prior to PFS), I’ve experienced prolonged bouts of happiness, libido, motivation, mental clarity, uninterrupted sleep, and a general reduction in all of my side effects (which I so descriptively gave you above). I’ve significantly reduced and managed my depression brought out by fin, and I even popped a no handed stiffy (and held it) on Xmas day through my own flourishing imagination alone. It was a god damn Xmas miracle and all the validation I needed to know that this will work. This has all happened despite stressful setbacks not even associated with fin i.e concussion protocols and unforeseen breakups.

I’ll be beginning my next step in this journey and ordering my herbs soon. I will keep you all updated as to which ones and their effects, if any.

To round this out, I do have some questions.

I have always struggled with the mental symptoms the most, specifically the “brain fog” and “thinking through a blanket” feeling. I also have that weird head pressure. When I fasted, this all went away. It was almost completely absent after cutting out carbs too, so in my mind, it’s probably inflammatory. Prior to PFS, I didn’t have any food sensitivities. Now, however, im a borderline celiac when it comes to gluten (hyperbole). These sides are also triggered to a much lesser degree by dairy, legumes, and carbohydrates in general. This is problematic for me. I need carbohydrates for performance, and I need performance for the reclamation of all those juicy androgens I want back. I currently only backload with sweet potatoes, but I still have persistent brain fog and mental symptoms since I reintroduced carbs back into my diet. Any suggestions? Should I lean into the pain and continue with carbs or find another route? Fruit isn’t as much an issue, but it’s off the table due to my next concern.

My liver. I’ve been experiencing jaundice, primarily in my hands, but to a lesser degree elsewhere. It’s not the beta-carotene or vitA from sweet potatoes, either. I’ve ruled that out. My ALTs/ASTs were 10 and 15 respectively pre-fin, and now they’re in the 30s, despite no booze and a diet on point. Fructose is stressful on the liver, so it’s not a tool I use for glycogen replenishment. I’d love to hear some suggestions (no milk thistle though) from those who experienced and fixed what seems to be a damaged liver. I’ll probably see my GP for further testing if it continues to worsen.

Finally, this downswing has really fricked my balance and coordination. I don’t know how to describe it other than I bump into more shit, I’m clumsy as hell, and just off-kilter. If I didn’t take that poison, I’d think I was developing MS or Parkinson’s. Anybody else experience this?

Otherwise, all the best. I’m in the rocket ship now though, gents. Steam is coming out the bottom. Blast off time, bitch. Next major post gonna be upswing city.

Ratchet