My name is Kryssie. In 2012, I started power lifting. I was super strong. I found the Paleo/Primal diet appealing because I have a gluten/grain sensitivity. So, I started following that lifestyle. In April of 2013, I was in a car accident that resulted in a completely torn, a partially torn, and an overly stretched set of ligaments in my right ankle. It was shortly after that I began noticing odd sensations in my legs. Of course, I didn't know that my ankle was so bad, so when I fell down, we figured it was due to the front-back stabilizing ligament being torn (the talofibular ligament, I believe). I mentioned the numbness and buzzing in my left (uninjured) leg, mentioning I thought it could be the beginnings of MS, but the doctor I was seeing at the time eliminated MS with a single test (I know. I hear the gasp and terror in your voices).
As time went on, and I finally had reconstructive surgery on the ligaments (January 2014), I seemed to do well at physical therapy; anything outside of physical therapy, however, was shot. Stairs were a trial; my ankle felt week; my legs felt week. Still, I was progressing quickly through PT and was released in mid-May. I immediately went to the UK for six weeks. Like you do. My paleo/primal diet, by this point, had been completely trashed. I was, in fact, eating bread products despite knowing I'd be in a lot of pain. Our income wasn't enough to support the higher prices of gluten-free foods.
In the UK, I ate well. It was, by no means, Paleo. It wasn't even Gluten Free, but I was very well fueled for my adventures. I slept well; I ate well; I walked well (for a few hours at a time). When I returned to the states in July, I hadn't noticed any significant drops in energy.
In of 2014, I had to go to Denver, CO for school. My husband and I were on a Whole30 program, and both of us were feeling great and doing well. When I got back from the weekend, I noticed things were different. The issues that normally cleared up with a Whole30 were still present; worse yet, I had severe fatigue.
There is nothing scarier than being at Disneyland with a 6'4" Aussie and feeling so tired you're not sure you can--or even should--drive yourself and your guest home...and you have no way of getting assistance. Clearly, I made it home. Two days later, our guest, my husband, and myself went to LEGOland. The two hour drive nearly killed me. Fortunately, I still had a wheelchair in the car from when I'd had my ankle surgery. That was how I spent my first time in LEGOland. In a wheelchair, whimpering. The next day, our guest and I were to go back to Disneyland; he had the fun time of pushing me around in the wheelchair.
...and ever since, whenever we go to Disneyland, and sometimes, the grocery store, I am unable to walk around. My gait is slow, usually. If I walk too fast, I tire. My feet feel as if I've worked a 4-hr, non-stop standing/walking shift after an hour of standing or walking...and gets worse from there.
I saw an RA Specialist and eliminated RA and Lupus (besides, it's never Lupus). I'm now with a neurologist, slowly eliminating possibilities. The fear, now, is that it really is MS... All I know is some days, I can hold a knife, some days I can't. I've searched for Paleo/Primal blogs for people like me: No energy to cook and clean dishes, but still in need of food to survive. I hope this blog might help you, too.
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