Pulled up the last of my pie pumpkins today and figured I’d better get them processed before they start to turn. A couple already had spots, which is always the push I need to get moving. I’ve canned pumpkin before, but freezing it keeps the flavor truer, and with our whole-house generator, I don’t worry about losing anything. So, into the oven they go—nothing added, just clean, simple pumpkin, roasted until soft, scooped, blended, and packed away in jars for winter.
Somewhere between prepping pumpkins and scraping out the seeds, I got to thinking I owed you all an update on my health. Lyme disease was the popular guess, but the doctor doesn’t see signs of it. Liver ultrasound came back normal, which is good news, but my enzymes are still high. Next up is a colonoscopy, mostly because of family history, and if my bloodwork doesn’t level out, a liver biopsy might be on the horizon. No answers yet, but we’re chipping away at the unknowns.
Greenstock sent me something new—a seed-starting kit that turned up at just the right time. I hadn’t been in a gardening mood lately, but holding something built to grow things made me want to plant again. I’m rethinking this year’s plans, maybe scaling back on vegetables and focusing more on raising meat. Still, I can’t go without tomatoes, zucchini, or pumpkins, so there will be a garden, even if it’s a smaller one.
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Stick around to the end to see the final steps of the pumpkin puree process, plus a few thoughts on the value of a good, long-lasting kitchen tool. Some things hold up better than you’d expect, and some things don’t last nearly as long as they should. Sort of like everything else in life.
⚔️ Ninja Food Chopper: https://amzn.to/3EbGygo
🔗 Vitamix Replacement Gears: https://amzn.to/4hcVxFq
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00:00 Introduction
00:41 Why I Freeze Pumpkin Puree
02:19 Prepping and Baking the Pumpkins
03:09 Health Update Lyme Disease Concerns
04:47 Liver and Kidney Test Results
05:35 Colonoscopy Scheduled Due to Family History
06:28 Ongoing Symptoms and Doctor’s Thoughts
07:19 Heart and Rheumatology Concerns
08:52 Next Steps with Liver Testing
10:18 Greenstock Seed Starting Kit Review
12:54 Changing Garden Plans for the Year
14:20 Final Pumpkin Processing and Storage
17:24 Wrap Up and Final Thoughts
33 Comments
🌱 Greenstalk Seed Starting Trays: https://greenstalkgarden.com/products/greenstalk-seed-starter-kit-evergreen/?rstr=SHOP1870
🌺 Greenstalk Vertical Gardens: https://greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870
(Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
Stick around to the end to see the final steps of the pumpkin puree process, plus a few thoughts on the value of a good, long-lasting kitchen tool. Some things hold up better than you’d expect, and some things don’t last nearly as long as they should. Sort of like everything else in life.
⚔ Ninja Food Chopper: https://amzn.to/3EbGygo
🔗 Vitamix Replacement Gears: https://amzn.to/4hcVxFq
Continued prayers for you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Have you considered doing a parasite cleanse? Especially with all the bloodwork and everything coming back OK and you mentioned in this video the bumps on your arms and the itchiness can definitely be caused from having parasites. The fatigue and all that and even a lot of autoimmune issues are caused from parasites so then thinking immediately that you had an auto immune issue. You may wanna consider a parasite cleansing.
I pre-ordered the 4 pack and got them last week! They are bigger cells than I expected but seem very durable and I am very excited!!
Please don’t let the limes disease
Go. Please see an infectious disease doctor. My husband had no known bites and he tested positive after a long journey.
Have you ever freeze dried pumpkin?
MCAS Mass Cell Activation Syndrome. Unfortunately you have been describing the life altering disruptions it causes for people. Hope they continue to rule things out and healing progress.
Pbc, primary pillars sirrosis, it is rare, my mom has it, I am always scanned for it, comes with itching. It seems like your liver is okay though. I know they will figure it out!
I so feel you angst with no answers. I've been doctoring for over a year for pain in abdomin/ribs and had every test and now Dr. Wants to do them all again. I'm not a Dr person either. I'm ready to just quit trying if only the pain would go away so I could function again.
Continued prayers. ❤
I'd prefer you get a scan (?PET). How will they know where to sample? Be gracious to my bluntness, my Mom's ultrasound showed no liver problems and she died 18months later of liver cancer.
I get the itchy bumps on upper arms when I eat too much wheat .
I throw away some of my canned stuff. It go bad? Don't take that chance. Just throw it out. Trust your nose.
I have canned pumpkin chunks and froze the pumpkin puree and hands down the frozen pumpkin puree made a much better pie, that is the only way I will preserve pumpkin.
Have you been tested for rheumatic fever?
I had an experience with my Vitamix. It sounded like yours, as if the motor was dying or gears were stripped. It is probably the blender drive socket,a $12.00 part. There are many YouTube videos on how to replace it. The drive has a fail safe, and that part will break so that it protects the motor
I totally agree with your Ninja assessment!! I have one I’ve had since about 2010 and it’s amazing!! Two sizes of containers, but it’s never failed me!!
Hoping all of this clears up for you🙏Just curious if they said anything regarding your current diet ? The high fat content can take a toll on the liver.
The only thing I want to say is go with your gut instincts and keep asking questions and asking for tests because doctors are not always right I know from experience.
I freeze my garden pumpkin and it works great
Rachel I am so very sorry, I didn't get the notification that you were sick the other day. So I apologize sincerely. Tina
Long Covid
Continued prayers ❤
Glad your scans were normal, I will continue to pray for you.
🙏🏻
Kevin on "Living tradition homestead" had a very simular sickness from ticks. Even when feeling better he had to take it easy until his energy came back.
Who would think such a tiny insect could do so much damage.
I do mine it the microwave for about 5 minutes , just to make them soften enough to cu t and get the seeds out with just a little water. and then out them back in the microwave. Microwave them until you can scrap out the pumpkin. Mush the pumpkin and then put in a ziploc bag and freeze
I am tending to think it is lymes , it took a long time to find out my sister had this
Keeping you in my prayers. Not to be a pessimist, but if the other tests turn up nothing definitive, bring up the cancer question again. I’m not saying her symptoms were the same as yours, but sometimes ANY health condition takes time to fully present itself.
In Dec. 2019 my mom started a journey of vague “viral” type symptoms and was in and out of the hospital repeatedly over the next 6 months. Because of the state of the universe at that time, they kept limiting her testing options. She eventually started being anemic, requiring multiple blood transfusions and ultimately had enlarged lymph nodes on scans (neither of which was initially present). Once they were successful getting an adequate lymph node biopsy, she was found to have a rare lymphoma. She was treated and still thriving, but it was not a pleasant time for her.
Rachel- years ago my husband went hunting and came back with hundreds of ticks on him. We did remove them same day but a year or so later he started having anaphylactic reactions. After blood work it turned out to be alpha gal allergy from a tick. Monitor your symptoms and your mammal consumption. Reactions are usually 6hours after mammal consumption but can be immediate-24hrs later. Many doctors are still in the dark about this especially up north as this is mostly in the southern regions. Just passing this info along to be aware of. Prayers for answers and treatment for you to feel better soon!
Prayers
Get you a naturalist doctor, please 🙏
I am thinking could it be something in the house or the chicken food. Like a mold. I get hive type rashes when I am at my Mom's as she has some mold in her basement and attic. I feel itchy all over. Just a thought. I know some animal food storage can cause issues with mold too.