Rising from the dead

It has been almost nine weeks since I said goodbye to milk, wheat, gluten and eggs. I am actually suppose to be re-introducing these allergens back to my diet to see if my body will now accept them as food and not a toxin that should be attacked. But truth be told, I feel so good lately that I simply do not want those foods back yet.

I feel like I have risen from the dead. The last two years (but especially the last year) have been a living nightmare in regards to my health. In fact, when my doctor informed me about my food allergies, she said the allergist told her, “I don’t know how she has been walking around like this for so long.” The thought of going back to living that way is just not worth it to me.

Actually, I have pretty much decided to give up gluten and diary on a permanent basis. It’s so funny to think of my change of heart in such a short time. Two months ago I was in tears and counting down the days till I’d be able to return to a normal diet again. Now, I view that “normal diet” as the primary reason for my failing health.

Vacation is over

I apologize for not posting in forever. I just got back from vacation a couple of days ago and have been getting things back to normal at home again.  And yes, you heard me right – I really did go on vacation to Orlando with multiple food allergies. Can you believe it?  In fact, it was not at all difficult now that I am finding my footing.

Moreover, you would not believe how allergy friendly Orlando is.  In fact, I went to Wolfgang Puck’s Cafe in Downtown Disney and before the waiter even took our orders, he asked if we had any allergies he should know about!!!  The local grocery store, Publix, had an entire isle of food dedicated to those with special dietary needs.  All of my brown rice pasta, safe cookies, and even frozen Amy’s foods were there!

Gluten free this, and dairy free that. Egg free here and wheat free there. All over Orlando. Actually, it seems to me that Orlando is more allergy friendly than my own city.

But vacation is over and I am back to the grind. Which means I will start blogging more.  I have some great news to share.

When feeling normal is not normal

Today is the first day in weeks (maybe months, I’ve lost track of time) that I feel like myself. This week had it’s ups and its downs, most days were pretty good. I only had two reactions all week (one was because I tried Chipolte Burrito bowl). Thursday was the worst day, I felt like all of my energy was sucked completely out of me and had stomach pains all day – some of which were severe. Overall, the week was a good one though.

This coming Monday will mark the 8th week of being allergy free. This is when I am suppose to visit my allergist and start to re-introduce various allergens back into my diet to see if I can tolerate them or not. I have decided to put this off for now. I may even go all summer without the foods to which I am primarily allergic – eggs, milk, gluten and wheat.

I just found out about the Irritable Bowel Syndrome last week and I’m just now feeling normal again (although normal feels alien to me now). I have decided I want my stomach to heal up completely before I start eating foods that might make me sick again.

Although I thought my new beginning was 8 weeks ago, it feels like it was actually this week instead. Man am I glad there is a new beginning at all.  I’ll be even more happy when normal feels like normal again.

Holidays with multiple food allergies

Today is my first official holiday knowing I have food allergies. To be honest, the adjustment is minimal on this holiday because we always grill. I will have steaks, corn-on-the-cob, chips & some baby carrots. I am going to make some chocolate chip cookies from the new BabyCakes Cookbook. They will be wheat free, gluten free and egg free. I’ve heard they are quite good.

I will also be serving gluten free and dairy free hot dogs from Hebrew National. A big thanks to www.surefoodsliving.com for pointing me in the right direction for allergen free hot dogs. I would never have guessed I could find hot dogs to eat.

However, I will not be eating those hot dogs on buns. I am still searching for bread that is palatable and contains not wheat, gluten or eggs. I am going to experiment with a recipe for flat bread today. The recipe seems a bit complicated just to have bread, but if I like the outcome I can make a lot and freeze them for later.

The medications for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome have officially kicked in and I am feeling 1000% better than last week. So yes, I will be having a Happy Memorial Day. Maybe I can even go on our family vacation after all. Moreover, maybe I can actually have fun too.

On the mend

After two days of sleeping, the meds for the IBS have finally kicked in.  Pain is minimal now and I feel like I have a bit of energy this afternoon.  The best news is that my reactions – whether from the food allergies or from the IBS – have slowed.  This is great news and I’m hoping it continues.  At this point I am not as optimistic as I was a month ago, but all I can do is keep going.

Maybe tomorrow I can think of something else besides my health. 

Time to rally

Yes, I have somehow found the will to rally. However, I seem to be lacking the way. The last couple of weeks have been very frustrating. I find out in April that I am allergic to wheat, milk, gluten and eggs. Then I work very hard to eliminate all of those from my diet. However, I continue to have what seemed like allergic reactions to food.

I would have good days and I would have bad ones. Some days were really bad. On top of all of that, I was having stomach pains and nausea. So I go back to the doctor and she tells me that I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. That was yesterday. I went home and slept. I went to sleep at 6 pm and finally got up for the day at about 10:45 this morning.

I ate lunch, but went running to the restroom within minutes – even with the meds. I feel weak, but not hopeless. A funny thing happened to me to force me into wanting to rally at this point. I have been so bad off that I have been thinking it would be better if someone shot me in my head and put me out of my misery. I know, drastic, but sometimes this whole thing is so overwhelming. 

Stellargy’s Series of Unfortunate Events

I had a doctor appointment today about my stomach pain and continued trips to the bathroom even though all allergens have been cleaned out of the house. Doctor said it seems I may be unfortunate enough to have both multiple food allergies and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. More meds. More dietary restrictions – as if there is any left to cut out.

I could write my own book called Stellargy’s Series of Unfortunate Events.

Not feeling healthy enough to get healthy

I read this statement on Food-Allergy.org this morning. (I added the emphasis)

As a patient with food allergies, YOU must be actively involved in your treatment. The most important parts of your treatment YOU will do, not your doctor. Food allergy is a very individual problem, and you know your body better than anyone else does. It may be difficult to take action because of your health, but if you want to get well, YOU must take responsibility for yourself. YOU must make the necessary changes in your lifestyle. YOU must become a well-informed, active participant in your own health care. Then YOU will be the one to enjoy the benefits of improved health.

I have the support of my doctor and allergist, as well as my family and friends. They have all been wonderful while I’m trying to readjust my life. My husband has done so much. He has gone shopping with me because the whole thing was so overwhelming for me. He is there for me when I break down in tears from frustration or because I am physically weak.

Walking by the grocery store sample ladies

Just went to the grocery store to get this week’s supply of food I can eat. During my visit, there were two ladies handing out samples of goodies. One was in the bakery section handing out brownies with ice cream. The other was in Deli section handing out bread with some sort of spread.

I glanced at each sample handler long enough to see what they were handing out and then I kept walking. I cannot eat brownies (no wheat flour, no dairy) and I cannot eat bread (no wheat). I do not know what was on the bread, but chances are very high that it contains one of the four things to which I am allergic.

I used to love getting these sample treats as I shopped. Now I weigh the joy of these fun treats against the fact that as soon as it hits my stomach, my body thinks it is a toxin and immediately produces a histamine to cleanse the offending food out of my system.

Yes, I want that sample treat. No, I do not want to send my body into alarm mode. I walked away and went to the next section, which was fruits and veggies, to buy some green peppers, rosemary, limes and potatoes.

I really am committed to living healthy and eating only what my body can handle, but it is so difficult to change forty years of habits. I wonder if it ever gets easier?

Really want a Starbucks Caramel Frap today

But no! I love milk, but milk hates me. No Caramel Frap for me today.