I was not getting better heart-wise after stopping the aspirin and had a moment’s quiet reflection on what else I might be doing to cause the problem. About six weeks ago I added Fucoidan, a seaweed/kelp supplement to my routine. It’s an anti-oxidant and has, I read, many health benefits. What could go wrong? I went on line and researched a possible connection to tachycardia and I found it. The site with the information had its own agenda since it sells a similar product. It says theirs is the ONLY seaweed/kelp product on the market that has not been harvested from Pacific waters contaminated by the Japanese nuclear reactor meltdown of a few years ago.

Whoa. I wrote my endocrinologist (it’s impossible to get him on the phone). He called me and said that definitely, and not even related to the contamination, kelp added to my diet was messing with my thyroid. So now I am waiting for heart to return to normal, which is mid-70s and it’s taking a while, but somewhat better. (80s-90s, down from 120).

Meanwhile, I am hungry all the time. Okay, what now? The last time I was hungry all the time was when I had decided to dispense with regular sugar and use Equal in my coffee. Turns out that was the problem. So severe that I had to have medical intervention for constipation that was messing with my colon and might have resulted in surgery if not caught in time.

So, what is it I am doing that I wasn’t before? I have been drinking Silk almond milk for about three weeks. It is less caloric than my 2 percent Lactaid and gives more calcium. What do you want to bet this is causing the hunger issue? So I have stopped as of mid-day today (I had some with breakfast) and we’ll see how I feel in a day or two.

I have not wanted to stress a racing heart and have cut my workouts down severely. I am, of course, likely to gain some weight under these conditions. For those of you not tyrannized by this possibility, let me explain, that, to me, weight gain is not only the pits, it is an excellent reason to sit in a closet in the dark and sob.

It is amazing how these things can mess you up and you think you are helping yourself.

As of today, I vow not to add anything to my intake that I haven’t cleared with a medical professional.

Meanwhile, at dinner at Sandy Hook the other night with our friend, Solveiga, and her landlord (he wants her, he can't have her and meanwhile, she is living rent free) she ate two cream cheesecake desserts with berries. Hers, plus she finished off Ed's and he only had a couple of bites. I watched in awe.

xx, Teal