Well, my ob/gyn called back and it turns out that I did not ovulate this past month. Wow, do I tell way too much info or what? Honestly, I'm really hoping my story will help someone or else I've spilled my guts for nothing. Anyway, he wants to start me on Clomid ASAP. Since I'm the big 3-5 and I have a history of PCOS, he felt it was unnecessary to wait the customary 6 months of TTC before intervening (1 year for wanna-be-moms under 35). I was a little freaked out by the prospect of taking fertility meds, so I have an appointment with doc in December to discuss all my options. In the meantime, I figured I'd go to my naturopath and see what he has in his bag of tricks to increase my fertility.
I met with Dr. Smith last Wednesday. First, he (once again) changed my homeopathic remedy (3rd time) since my IC pain has been unbearable lately. I asked Dr. Smith if the remedy would work if I didn't really believe in homeopathy, even though I want to believe it works. He assured me that he's cured many a skeptic. I also inquired about Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex), which is supposed to help with PCOS. There is research to support that it helps regulate ovulation, decrease excessive facial hair, lengthen one's luteal phase (if too short), and clear up acne. Since off the pill, I've noticed a few extra break outs here and there and my luteal phase is deficient, so I thought Vitex would be a good solution. He agreed, so I will begin taking Vitex when my next cycle starts, whenever that happens.
In attempting to find me the right homeopathic remedy, Dr. Smith asks me very detailed questions about all my symptoms, both physical and mental. When he asked me what was causing me stress, I flippantly replied, "Well, basically I'm stressed because I can't conceive and think that maybe it means that I'm unfit to reproduce...especially considering all my health issues..." Dr. Smith looked at me sadly, shook his head, and told me that I needed to love myself more. He suggested positive self-affirmations, which I assured him I had used before, in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, prayer, yada, yada, yada...
Not deterred by my 'Been there, done that' attitude, Dr.Smith dug deeper into his bag of tricks. "Are you creative?" he asked.
"I paint." I replied, "Why?"
"Do you have body paints?" he inquired.
Whoa, this was getting a little weird. "No."
"Can you get some?"
"Um, why?"
"Well, what I want you to do is send positive energy to your pelvic region. I'd like you to paint something beautiful on your abdomen, like a flower. Then I want you to send your pelvic region and stomach positive energy. You have a lot of negativity towards that area, and I feel you need to send yourself some love. I also want you to take a picture of what you've painted and keep the picture someplace where you'll see it daily. When you see it, I want you to send yourself some love."
"Honestly, ya know what I'm thinkin' right now?" I countered, "I'm thinking that if I take a picture of my stomach and look at it, all I'm going to be thinking is, 'What happened to my abs? I used to have nice abs and now I'm all flabby.'"
Dr. Smith laughed, but put his recommendation for me on paper so that I would not forget. Looks like I've got some body paint to buy.
I'm sending my abs love as I write this. ; )
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Waiting Game
I am waiting by my cell phone for a call I likely won't get today. The nurse is supposed to call with the results from my Day 21 Progesterone test. Yup, seems that my hormones are out of whack and the doctor wants to find out if I'm ovulating. To me, this really highlights the importance of diet and health. You see, for the first couple of months that I started eating "clean," meaning GF/CF, organic, whole foods, my reproductive system was happy. Despite years of PCOS, my cycle finally became regular. However, this month I have gotten sloppy with my diet. I've been eating some gluten and dairy here and there, and my sugar intake is higher than it had been the first two months. For women with PCOS, keeping blood sugar levels stable and within a healthy range is crucial for regulating cycles and reproduction. Even for those, like me, who are not diabetic, eating low glycemic foods and staying fit help ensure that the reproductive system is working the way it should be. Since I've been charting my basal body temperature, I can pretty much know with certainty when I've ovulated and if my cycle is looking ok. This month, after a month of not strictly following my diet, it looks like I'm back to wacky cycles. Here's the thing that really sucks. It seems that each time my body gears up to ovulate, I get horrible IC pain. It doesn't matter what homeopathic remedy I'm on- I'm in excruciating pain. If my body is trying really hard to ovulate...and keeps trying and trying and trying, then I get to feel that lovely pain multiple times during my cycle. That's what happened the past couple of weeks. Not to mention that I can't conceive if I don't ovulate. My last few attempts have not been successful, so I'm eager to find out what is preventing it from happening. My doctor thinks I haven't been ovulating, which is why he ordered the blood work. It's now past 5 pm and the office is closed, so I guess I'll have to wait until Monday. Bummer.
PS This post is really from last week but I forgot to publish it....
PS This post is really from last week but I forgot to publish it....
Sunday, November 1, 2009
I'M BAAAAACK!
First, as usual, a "quick" update. I reduced my dosage of the Cystoprotek in half around the time of ovulation last month because I didn't want to take any chances and risk "chromosomal mutations" even though my ob/gyn assured me that I could wait until the day I find out I'm pregnant. A couple of days later, my IC started to flare again and so did my fibro! Yuck. My joint pain and fatigue, which had been better for a while, started to slowly creep back. Now it's to the point where a day of running errands will leave me achy and exhausted for a couple of days.
Two days after I stopped the Cystoprotek, I had my first visit with a local naturopath, Dr. Smith. My initial consult was two hours long- not covered by my insurance. Dr. Smith was very thorough in his investigation of my medical history and my current symptoms. In fact, when time ran out, he asked if I could come back later in the afternoon so that he could continue the interview, stating that my case was one of the more complex ones he's come across. He saw me for an additional hour and a half- without charging me for the extra time! He prescribed several supplements, including slippery elm bark powder (for my IC), a probiotic, a glucosamine and glutamine supplement (for my gut), Vitamin D, Juice Plus (multi), and a homeopathic remedy. Five hundred dollars later (that included the consultation), I walked out, praying that something would work.
Thus far, I can honestly say that my IC pain is somewhat reduced. Most nights I am no longer kept up by my IC pain and there are days when I am almost pain free. I've even eaten some of my "forbidden foods" and been okay. I can't go overboard, but a piece of chocolate here and there seems to be tolerable. That being said, the pain isn't totally gone. Tomato sauce (and many other foods and beverages) still leaves me burning and stress flares me up almost every time. I'm going back for a follow up appointment on Tuesday and am hoping a little tweaking of my "remedies" may do the trick. I've noticed when my progesterone levels are higher (as evidenced by a rise in basal body temperature after ovulation), my IC pain is often better. It's worse prior to ovulation. I haven't noticed the same correlation with my fibro or IBS though. In fact, my fibro and IBS are often worse during my period but don't seem as affected during other times during my cycle.
It's important to note, however, that I haven't been strictly following my GF/CF diet. Big mistake! While I've gotten to the point where I can tolerate small amounts of dairy, it seems that my body does not appreciate the slices of pizza I attempted to sneak into my diet. I was especially naughty when my good friend from back home came down to visit, since we spent half of our time eating out. I'm now attempting to get back on track with my diet, since it does make a tremendous difference, especially with my IBS.
No funny stories today, but I'm hoping to get back into the habit of blogging more frequently. I plan on sharing lots of information and maybe even a silly story now and then.
Until then, Cento Anni!
Two days after I stopped the Cystoprotek, I had my first visit with a local naturopath, Dr. Smith. My initial consult was two hours long- not covered by my insurance. Dr. Smith was very thorough in his investigation of my medical history and my current symptoms. In fact, when time ran out, he asked if I could come back later in the afternoon so that he could continue the interview, stating that my case was one of the more complex ones he's come across. He saw me for an additional hour and a half- without charging me for the extra time! He prescribed several supplements, including slippery elm bark powder (for my IC), a probiotic, a glucosamine and glutamine supplement (for my gut), Vitamin D, Juice Plus (multi), and a homeopathic remedy. Five hundred dollars later (that included the consultation), I walked out, praying that something would work.
Thus far, I can honestly say that my IC pain is somewhat reduced. Most nights I am no longer kept up by my IC pain and there are days when I am almost pain free. I've even eaten some of my "forbidden foods" and been okay. I can't go overboard, but a piece of chocolate here and there seems to be tolerable. That being said, the pain isn't totally gone. Tomato sauce (and many other foods and beverages) still leaves me burning and stress flares me up almost every time. I'm going back for a follow up appointment on Tuesday and am hoping a little tweaking of my "remedies" may do the trick. I've noticed when my progesterone levels are higher (as evidenced by a rise in basal body temperature after ovulation), my IC pain is often better. It's worse prior to ovulation. I haven't noticed the same correlation with my fibro or IBS though. In fact, my fibro and IBS are often worse during my period but don't seem as affected during other times during my cycle.
It's important to note, however, that I haven't been strictly following my GF/CF diet. Big mistake! While I've gotten to the point where I can tolerate small amounts of dairy, it seems that my body does not appreciate the slices of pizza I attempted to sneak into my diet. I was especially naughty when my good friend from back home came down to visit, since we spent half of our time eating out. I'm now attempting to get back on track with my diet, since it does make a tremendous difference, especially with my IBS.
No funny stories today, but I'm hoping to get back into the habit of blogging more frequently. I plan on sharing lots of information and maybe even a silly story now and then.
Until then, Cento Anni!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Where did the time go?
Ok, so I had every intention of writing this fabulous post about Cystoprotek (a supplement developed to treat IC) and the doctor from Tufts U. who has researched/written extensively about how inflammation in the body is linked to Fibro, IC, IBS, etc. However, to do the topic justice would have taken quite a bit of time, and with everything that's been keeping me busy, that task became quite daunting. So, I'm going to break it down a bit so that it's more manageable, meaning that I will delve into the topic over a few posts.
First though, an update: I saw my ob/gyn (Doc F) again on Thursday, feeling great because my IC had improved significantly since following the IC diet and taking the Cystoprotek. While I had good and bad days, I could reduce the number of flares I had by being consistent with my diet. He was quite impressed by the level of improvement I reported and was okay with my decision to not try Elmiron, a prescription med for IC; however, Doc F also had some disappointing news. He had done a little more research about Cystoprotek and the individual ingredients in the supplement. One of the ingredients it contains is quercetin, a bioflavonoid that has anti-inflammatory properties. While it's considered safe in recommended doses, it is not recommended for pregnant women because laboratory studies suggested it could cause chromosomal mutations in bacteria. While there isn't any evidence that happens in humans, it's prudent to avoid the supplement during pregnancy just in case. Doc F assured me that I could take it up until I find out I'm pregnant and then to stop it immediately. That's a little scary since a tremendous amount of cell division and growth occurs during those first days after conception. I went home pretty bummed, worried that the only supplement that seemed to be helping my condition could potentially (although the chances are slim) cause harm to my (future) pregnancy.
On the plus side, the soy lecithin that I'm taking for my brain fog (recommended by my rheumatologist) and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is perfectly safe, even during pregnancy. Info about supplements and PCOS will be in a future post, so to all my menstration-ly challenged sisters, be on the lookout for that post in the upcoming month. : ) As an aside, my doctor got a big chuckle when I mentioned I was taking the soy lecithin for brain fog. He smiled and said, "Claudia, out of all my patients, you are the last person I would ever think had brain fog. You are probably my most well-informed, intelligent patient. I even have trouble keeping up with you." I thought he was teasing me but he repeated his statement and added, "I meant that as a compliment. I mean it." I have to admit, getting that validation felt pretty great because I had feared that he just thought I was a big hypochondriac that spent too much time doing research on the Internet. Well, he probably still thinks that, but at least he values the effort I put into getting myself well again.
I guess I had spoken too soon when I told Doc F I felt much better because a couple of hours later I was in tears from IC pain. At first I attributed it to the disappointment I felt after my appointment, but a couple of days later I realized that the tortilla chips I had been eating were fried in sunflower seed oil. I had discovered earlier in the week that sunflower seeds trigger my IC. The day of my appointment, I had gone home and munched on a big bag of organic corn chips, but it was a brand I hadn't tried in the past and I hadn't looked at the ingredient list, except to make sure they were GFCF. Turns out they're fried in sunflower oil! As soon as I cut them out, my IC pain improved...well, that is until I went out to dinner the next night with a bunch of my school psychologist colleagues/friends. I was determined to prove to myself that with a few Prelief and my Cystoprotek that I could have a few IC forbidden foods and be ok. Well, I wasn't. I had tomatoes and vinegar on my salad and a glass of white wine with dinner- big mistake. That night and well into the next day, my IC pain reared its ugly head. Seems that my hour of pleasure would end up causing almost 24 hours of misery.
I know there are some people out there that may think that the improvements and setbacks I experience are due to the placebo effect. Maybe to some degree it's possible, but it doesn't mean that it's all in my head. Believe me, if it were, I'd will myself right this second to be able to eat a slice of pizza and a piece of chocolate layer cake without any pain or ill effects. Yummy!
Today I made the mistake of eating an organic hotdog with mustard. I don’t know if it was the dog, the mustard, or the combo that made me flare, but I’m paying for my food choices once again.
I’m pretty sick of feeling like a freak on this restricted diet. I know that it helps, but it’s not fun feeling as if every bit of food you put in your mouth could hurt you.
Let’s hope this doesn’t last for cento anni!
First though, an update: I saw my ob/gyn (Doc F) again on Thursday, feeling great because my IC had improved significantly since following the IC diet and taking the Cystoprotek. While I had good and bad days, I could reduce the number of flares I had by being consistent with my diet. He was quite impressed by the level of improvement I reported and was okay with my decision to not try Elmiron, a prescription med for IC; however, Doc F also had some disappointing news. He had done a little more research about Cystoprotek and the individual ingredients in the supplement. One of the ingredients it contains is quercetin, a bioflavonoid that has anti-inflammatory properties. While it's considered safe in recommended doses, it is not recommended for pregnant women because laboratory studies suggested it could cause chromosomal mutations in bacteria. While there isn't any evidence that happens in humans, it's prudent to avoid the supplement during pregnancy just in case. Doc F assured me that I could take it up until I find out I'm pregnant and then to stop it immediately. That's a little scary since a tremendous amount of cell division and growth occurs during those first days after conception. I went home pretty bummed, worried that the only supplement that seemed to be helping my condition could potentially (although the chances are slim) cause harm to my (future) pregnancy.
On the plus side, the soy lecithin that I'm taking for my brain fog (recommended by my rheumatologist) and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is perfectly safe, even during pregnancy. Info about supplements and PCOS will be in a future post, so to all my menstration-ly challenged sisters, be on the lookout for that post in the upcoming month. : ) As an aside, my doctor got a big chuckle when I mentioned I was taking the soy lecithin for brain fog. He smiled and said, "Claudia, out of all my patients, you are the last person I would ever think had brain fog. You are probably my most well-informed, intelligent patient. I even have trouble keeping up with you." I thought he was teasing me but he repeated his statement and added, "I meant that as a compliment. I mean it." I have to admit, getting that validation felt pretty great because I had feared that he just thought I was a big hypochondriac that spent too much time doing research on the Internet. Well, he probably still thinks that, but at least he values the effort I put into getting myself well again.
I guess I had spoken too soon when I told Doc F I felt much better because a couple of hours later I was in tears from IC pain. At first I attributed it to the disappointment I felt after my appointment, but a couple of days later I realized that the tortilla chips I had been eating were fried in sunflower seed oil. I had discovered earlier in the week that sunflower seeds trigger my IC. The day of my appointment, I had gone home and munched on a big bag of organic corn chips, but it was a brand I hadn't tried in the past and I hadn't looked at the ingredient list, except to make sure they were GFCF. Turns out they're fried in sunflower oil! As soon as I cut them out, my IC pain improved...well, that is until I went out to dinner the next night with a bunch of my school psychologist colleagues/friends. I was determined to prove to myself that with a few Prelief and my Cystoprotek that I could have a few IC forbidden foods and be ok. Well, I wasn't. I had tomatoes and vinegar on my salad and a glass of white wine with dinner- big mistake. That night and well into the next day, my IC pain reared its ugly head. Seems that my hour of pleasure would end up causing almost 24 hours of misery.
I know there are some people out there that may think that the improvements and setbacks I experience are due to the placebo effect. Maybe to some degree it's possible, but it doesn't mean that it's all in my head. Believe me, if it were, I'd will myself right this second to be able to eat a slice of pizza and a piece of chocolate layer cake without any pain or ill effects. Yummy!
Today I made the mistake of eating an organic hotdog with mustard. I don’t know if it was the dog, the mustard, or the combo that made me flare, but I’m paying for my food choices once again.
I’m pretty sick of feeling like a freak on this restricted diet. I know that it helps, but it’s not fun feeling as if every bit of food you put in your mouth could hurt you.
Let’s hope this doesn’t last for cento anni!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Update
Wow, it's been a while since the last time I posted. Another bad week of IC pain but it's starting to simmer down a bit. This will be a quick update in preparation for a longer post that is to come. For those of you without IC pain, keep reading. I promise that if you have Fibro or food allergies or IBS or any other disorder related to inflammation in the body, this post will eventually relate to you.
Well, the IC pain became so severe last week that I even missed a day of work. While I was upset that I had to use up a sick day, boy, did I need the day off! The IC pain had been keeping me up at night, so I was averaging between three and four hours of sleep. Not good for my baby making efforts. : ) I finally saw my own Ob/Gyn on Friday. I came armed with a notepad full of questions, although it's hard to come across as an educated and informed patient while spread eagle on the exam table and/or sitting with a sheet draped around your waist. While he confirmed that my pain is most likely due to IC, he wanted to start me on a course of antibiotics to definitively rule out a UTI. Great- more antibiotics. I'm still taking my probiotics, so I'm hoping that will ward off any secondary infections. Thus far, the antibiotics have not drastically reduced my UT pain, if at all. Instead, I notice an increase in pain about an hour after taking them.
Good news. I got the ok from my Ob/Gyn to start taking Cystoprotek, a supplement developed to treat IC that is also helpful for Fibro and IBS. I was concerned that it might not be safe to take should I get pregnant, but he assured me that there was nothing in Cystoprotek that would be harmful to consume during pregnancy. My next blog will talk more about the product and its developer. He is a doctor/researcher in the Department of Pharmacology at Tufts University School of Medicine. Seems that IC, Fibro, IBS, and many other diseases share a common link- inflammation in the body! I am waiting until I'm done with the antibiotic before starting the Cystoprotek since I'd like to be able to determine what's helping/hurting, which will be difficult to do if I'm taking them concurrently.
I attempted to take the Body Balance again, taking on 1 tsp. per day to see if I could work my way back up to a higher dose. After 3 days of doing this, I couldn't stand the IC pain anymore. I know that BB is great for a lot of people, but probably not the right product for me at this point in time. My hubby is finishing the rest of my supply. I did find a multivitamin, Women's One Multivitamin/Mineral by Rainbow Light. I've taken it 4 days thus far and it doesn't seem to bother me any more than the folic acid I was taking. Since it has 800 mcg of folic acid in it, I no longer need to take folic acid by itself. When I went to a naturopath a decade ago, she highly recommended the Rainbow Light brand. They've changed their formula since then to reflect current nutritional research and the product seems much gentler on the stomach than past formulations.
So, thus far, what has my GFCF diet and numerous supplements done for me?
1. About 80% improvement of my IBS symptoms
2. GERD-free (except now that I'm on the antibiotic, which is tearing up my stomach!)
3. Lost 8 lbs since July
4. Less fluctuation in my energy levels (no more crashing due to diet- now it's just due to lack of sleep)
5. My blood pressure is 106/60. It was never a problem, but had gotten as high as 120/80.
6. Reduction in muscle pain, except for IC related pain
Good night for now!
Claudia
PS If you like my blog, feel free to sign up to be a "follower." : )
Well, the IC pain became so severe last week that I even missed a day of work. While I was upset that I had to use up a sick day, boy, did I need the day off! The IC pain had been keeping me up at night, so I was averaging between three and four hours of sleep. Not good for my baby making efforts. : ) I finally saw my own Ob/Gyn on Friday. I came armed with a notepad full of questions, although it's hard to come across as an educated and informed patient while spread eagle on the exam table and/or sitting with a sheet draped around your waist. While he confirmed that my pain is most likely due to IC, he wanted to start me on a course of antibiotics to definitively rule out a UTI. Great- more antibiotics. I'm still taking my probiotics, so I'm hoping that will ward off any secondary infections. Thus far, the antibiotics have not drastically reduced my UT pain, if at all. Instead, I notice an increase in pain about an hour after taking them.
Good news. I got the ok from my Ob/Gyn to start taking Cystoprotek, a supplement developed to treat IC that is also helpful for Fibro and IBS. I was concerned that it might not be safe to take should I get pregnant, but he assured me that there was nothing in Cystoprotek that would be harmful to consume during pregnancy. My next blog will talk more about the product and its developer. He is a doctor/researcher in the Department of Pharmacology at Tufts University School of Medicine. Seems that IC, Fibro, IBS, and many other diseases share a common link- inflammation in the body! I am waiting until I'm done with the antibiotic before starting the Cystoprotek since I'd like to be able to determine what's helping/hurting, which will be difficult to do if I'm taking them concurrently.
I attempted to take the Body Balance again, taking on 1 tsp. per day to see if I could work my way back up to a higher dose. After 3 days of doing this, I couldn't stand the IC pain anymore. I know that BB is great for a lot of people, but probably not the right product for me at this point in time. My hubby is finishing the rest of my supply. I did find a multivitamin, Women's One Multivitamin/Mineral by Rainbow Light. I've taken it 4 days thus far and it doesn't seem to bother me any more than the folic acid I was taking. Since it has 800 mcg of folic acid in it, I no longer need to take folic acid by itself. When I went to a naturopath a decade ago, she highly recommended the Rainbow Light brand. They've changed their formula since then to reflect current nutritional research and the product seems much gentler on the stomach than past formulations.
So, thus far, what has my GFCF diet and numerous supplements done for me?
1. About 80% improvement of my IBS symptoms
2. GERD-free (except now that I'm on the antibiotic, which is tearing up my stomach!)
3. Lost 8 lbs since July
4. Less fluctuation in my energy levels (no more crashing due to diet- now it's just due to lack of sleep)
5. My blood pressure is 106/60. It was never a problem, but had gotten as high as 120/80.
6. Reduction in muscle pain, except for IC related pain
Good night for now!
Claudia
PS If you like my blog, feel free to sign up to be a "follower." : )
Thursday, September 10, 2009
GF/CF Doesn't Equal Calorie Free
Ok, I'm back. My IC and Fibro pain had become so unbearable that it left me little energy for blogging. The pain was a little better yesterday evening and this morning, but after I got frustrated/angry with an interpersonal issue I was dealing with this afternoon, I think I literally became "pissed off" and the IC pain returned. Bummer...
After doing more research on the affects of supplements and IC (supplements can often lead to "flares"), I realized what may have caused the BB to worsen my condition (if indeed it was the BB). The aloe in BB is preserved using citric acid. Not a big deal for most people, but for people with IC, it can exacerbate symptoms. I was also taking 800 mcg of folic acid twice a day at the advice of my rheumatologist, not knowing that folic acid can also trigger symptoms. Yesterday I didn't take my morning dose of folic acid; instead, I took only one capsule with two Prelief tabs and lots of water after dinner. It seemed to help. I might even switch to taking just 400 mcg once a day to be on the safe side. The only supplement I take close to bedtime is my calcium combo, as the calcium, magnesium, and Vit D in it are supposed to help calm the body and allow for improved sleep. Just don't take it right before bed with a big glass of water unless you like waking up to pee.
One other big trigger that I cut, especially because I shouldn't have been indulging in the first place, is chocolate- in the form of Trader Joe's scrumptious GF/CF brownies. What a find! I baked them twice in the past two weeks, once when a friend visited and the second time when I was going to my "girls' night in"; although, I didn't end up bringing the brownies because they are almost impossible to cut into nice, square pieces. They look more like blobs- gooey, moist, chocolatety blobs. I doctor them up with CF chocolate chips and pecans- delish! Sorry, I'm drooling as I write this. Every day, I would come home from work, eat a chunk, and then an hour later, I would have fire shooting through my UT. They also have quite a bit of sugar in them, another no-no with regards to my "diet." However, as far as brownies go (for those of you not sensitive to chocolate), I would highly recommend them. Even if you're not eating GF/CF, they are quite tasty and don't have any of the artificial additives you'll find in other brownie mixes. But sadly, no more for me for now.
Yes, I'm learning that even if products are GF/CF, they are not "freebies." I can't eat them with abandon because all those calories will eventually add up. Trader Joe's also sells ginger snap cookies that are GF. Those don't trigger flares for me and the ginger calms my stomach; still, cookies aren't exactly health food, so I've got to cut back. They are too tempting, especially when I'm starving and don't have any other quick and easy snack choices. I've put on a couple of the pounds that I lost, and it's likely because of all the empty calories I consumed in brownies and cookies. I'll have to save those treats for an occasional indulgence.
Belly troubles are back today. Not quite sure why except that maybe all the calcium in Prelief is slowing things down too much. I didn't even finish lunch because I felt so bloated.
One last comment: Did you know that the soy based "veggie slices" of cheese, sold as a substitute for American cheese, have casein in them? Yes, they do, and I was just as shocked as you are. LOL. Seriously though, I ate a slice yesterday morning on my oat bread toast and felt "bubbly" a couple of hours later. When I got home and checked the ingredients, I saw the dreaded words, "milk protein." They are lactose-free but not dairy free. WOA: Read the ingredients list carefully if you want to get results. Little slip ups here and there will have an impact, even if you don't want to believe it. Do your homework. Your bowels will thank you for it. : )
After doing more research on the affects of supplements and IC (supplements can often lead to "flares"), I realized what may have caused the BB to worsen my condition (if indeed it was the BB). The aloe in BB is preserved using citric acid. Not a big deal for most people, but for people with IC, it can exacerbate symptoms. I was also taking 800 mcg of folic acid twice a day at the advice of my rheumatologist, not knowing that folic acid can also trigger symptoms. Yesterday I didn't take my morning dose of folic acid; instead, I took only one capsule with two Prelief tabs and lots of water after dinner. It seemed to help. I might even switch to taking just 400 mcg once a day to be on the safe side. The only supplement I take close to bedtime is my calcium combo, as the calcium, magnesium, and Vit D in it are supposed to help calm the body and allow for improved sleep. Just don't take it right before bed with a big glass of water unless you like waking up to pee.
One other big trigger that I cut, especially because I shouldn't have been indulging in the first place, is chocolate- in the form of Trader Joe's scrumptious GF/CF brownies. What a find! I baked them twice in the past two weeks, once when a friend visited and the second time when I was going to my "girls' night in"; although, I didn't end up bringing the brownies because they are almost impossible to cut into nice, square pieces. They look more like blobs- gooey, moist, chocolatety blobs. I doctor them up with CF chocolate chips and pecans- delish! Sorry, I'm drooling as I write this. Every day, I would come home from work, eat a chunk, and then an hour later, I would have fire shooting through my UT. They also have quite a bit of sugar in them, another no-no with regards to my "diet." However, as far as brownies go (for those of you not sensitive to chocolate), I would highly recommend them. Even if you're not eating GF/CF, they are quite tasty and don't have any of the artificial additives you'll find in other brownie mixes. But sadly, no more for me for now.
Yes, I'm learning that even if products are GF/CF, they are not "freebies." I can't eat them with abandon because all those calories will eventually add up. Trader Joe's also sells ginger snap cookies that are GF. Those don't trigger flares for me and the ginger calms my stomach; still, cookies aren't exactly health food, so I've got to cut back. They are too tempting, especially when I'm starving and don't have any other quick and easy snack choices. I've put on a couple of the pounds that I lost, and it's likely because of all the empty calories I consumed in brownies and cookies. I'll have to save those treats for an occasional indulgence.
Belly troubles are back today. Not quite sure why except that maybe all the calcium in Prelief is slowing things down too much. I didn't even finish lunch because I felt so bloated.
One last comment: Did you know that the soy based "veggie slices" of cheese, sold as a substitute for American cheese, have casein in them? Yes, they do, and I was just as shocked as you are. LOL. Seriously though, I ate a slice yesterday morning on my oat bread toast and felt "bubbly" a couple of hours later. When I got home and checked the ingredients, I saw the dreaded words, "milk protein." They are lactose-free but not dairy free. WOA: Read the ingredients list carefully if you want to get results. Little slip ups here and there will have an impact, even if you don't want to believe it. Do your homework. Your bowels will thank you for it. : )
Monday, September 7, 2009
Hanging In There
Well, since my last post, I've had good and bad days regarding the IC. I'm still eating GF/CF, although I've stopped the Body Balance. Since supplements can sometimes contribute to IC pain, my doctor thought it would be best if I stopped taking the BB to see if that helps to calm things down. I should say that lots of people have had great results with BB, but I've made so many dietary, drug, and supplement changes in the past month that it's hard to tweeze out what's been helping and what hasn't. I'm still taking the Fisol Omega-3 supplement, New Chapter Take Care Bone Strength calcium/magnesium/Vit K/Vit D supplement, Folic Acid, and Culterelle (probiotics). I also take Prelief prior to eating, although I've had mixed results. I can't tell if that's been helpful or not for my IC, but it really helps my acid reflux. Licorice I take on and off. Yesterday I had a good day with regards to my IC pain, but last night I made the mistake of having a glass of Chardonnay and a martini when I was at my friend's house. I took the Prelief and felt fine last night, but this morning my IC pain was a 7 out of 10. I may have also been slightly dehydrated, which doesn't help. I added a fiber supplement (Metamucil Clear and Natural) two nights ago because I think my fiber intake isn't as high as it used to be when I ate lots of wheat-based, whole grain foods. I'm only using it once a day though because twice a day starts to make me bloated. It seems to help.
WOA: It's really important to up one's water intake, especially when taking supplemental fiber. Drinking lots of clean, pure water is important to IC as well as diluted urine typically doesn't cause as much pain.
I would like to add a multi-vitamin back into the mix, especially because I don't think I'm eating a very balanced diet. I'm trying, but with all the foods that are forbidden now, I'm not getting a lot of variety. One of my best friends from back home is a registered dietician and has sent me some great links to companies that offer GF/CF foods. See email below:
Hi Claudia:
These are some companies that offer high-quality, nutritious foods that meet a variety of specific needs: This information can also be found at www.foodallergysurvivalguide.com - click the link under resources. This list is continually changing…. I noted some of their links are currently not working off their website and was not able to find exactly this list that is found in their book: Food Allergy Survival Guide
Hopefully this information is helpful for you – have fun browsing around ..
Alpsnack. Gluten-, wheat-, egg-, and dairy-free organic snack bar made with hemp nuts, almonds, dried fruits, and other natural ingredients. Phone: 760-743-2211. Web: http://www.alpsnack.com/
Aunt Candice Foods. Cookies, brownies, and mixes free of wheat, dairy, gluten, casein, corn, soy and additives. Web: http://www.auntcandicefoods.com/
Authentic Foods. Dedicated to glueten-free products, from milling to blending, to packaging. Baking mixes, flours, pasta, snacks, cereals. Phone: 310-366-7612. Web: http://www.authenticfoods.com/
Berket Millls. Buckwheat products. Web: http://www.thebirkettmills.com/
Bob’s Red Mill. Hypoallergenic baking products, flours, mixes, cereals, entrees, grains, beans, dried fruits, seeds, and spices. Many gluten-free poducts. Phone: 800-349-2173. Web: http://www.bobsredmill.com/
Dietary Specialties. Gluten-free frozen foods, baking mixes, breads, pastas, snacks, and sweets. Phone: 888-640-2800. Web: http://www.dietspec.com/
Eden Foods. Grains, 100 percent buckwheat noodles, beans, seasonings. Phone: 888-441-EDEN. Web: http://www.edenfoods.com/
Edward & Sons. Organic grocery items such as miso soup, rice snaps, sauces, and candies, many of which are free of gluten and other common allergens. Phone: 805-684-8500. Web: http://www.edwardandsons.com/
El Peto. Manufacturer and distributor of a huge line of gluten-, wheat-, yeast-, corn-, milk-, and egg-free products. Phone: 800-387-4064. Web: http://www.elpeto.com/
Ener-G Foods. Egg and milk substitutes, flours, baked goods, mixes, pasta, cereals, soups, gluten-free items. Phone: 800-331-5222. Web: http://www.ener-g.com/
Enjoy Life Foods. Baked goods, snack bars, and cereals free of gluten, wheat, dairy casein, eggs, soy, nuts, potoato, GMOs and hydrogentaed oil prepared in a gluten-free and peanut-free facility. Phone: 888-550-ENJOY. Web: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/
Gluten Free Mixes. Baking and seasoning mixes, flours, and even cake decorating kits, all gluten free. Phone 866-225-3432. Web: http://www.glutenfreemixes.com/
Gold Mine Natural Food Company. Hard-to-find gluten-free grains, snacks, condiments, dried fruits and more, most of which are organic. Phone: 1-800-475-FOOD.
Web: http://www.goldminenaturalfood.com/
Grainworks. Quinoa and other organic grains. Phone: 800-563-3756. Web: http://www.grainworks.com/
Kinnikinnick Foods. (Canada) Gluten-, wheat-, and casein-free breads (some are yeast free), mixes, snacks, baking mixes, desserts, and more. Phone: 877-503-4466. Web: http://www.kinnikinnick.om/
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Food and Oils. (Canada) Organic and GMO-free sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Phone: 800-665-HEMP. Web: http://www.manitobaharvest.com/
Mail Order Catalog for Healthy Eating. Dairy substitutes, nutritional yeast, gluten-free grains and pastas, soynut butters. Phone: 800-695-2241. Web: http://www.healthy-eating.com/
Mrs. Leeperes. Rice and corn pasta. Phone: 816-502-6000. Web: http://www.mrsleeperspasta.com/
Natures Highlights. Gluten free, dedicated facitility producing wheat-, gluten-, and yeast-free, pizza crusts, fozen entrees, and snacks. Phone: 800-313-6454. Web: http://www.natures-highlights.com/
Natures Path Foods. Organic cereals, including gluten-free products. Phone: 888-808-9505. Web: http://www.naturespath.com/
Nu-World Amaranth. Amaranth-based snacks free of dairy, eggs, wheat, rice, corn, oats, soy, potato, and nuts. Phone: 630-369-6819. Web: www.nuworldfoods.com
Omega Nutrition. Organic flaxseed oil and related products. Phone: 800-661-FLAX (3529). Web: http://www.omeganutrition.com/
Pangea. Foods, sancks, mixes and sweets that are free of eggs and diary products. Phone: 800-340-1200. Web: http://www.pangeaveg.com/
Pamela’s. Wheat-free baked goods and baking mixes, many of which are also free of gluten, eggs, nuts, and soy. Phone: 707-462-6605. Web: http://www.pamelaproducts.com/
Tinkyada. (Canada) Amazing wheat-free, gluten-free rice pasta in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Phone: 416-609-0016. Web: http://www.tinkyada.com/
The Soynut Butter Company. Peanut-free soynut butter produced in a 100 percent peanut- and treent-free facility. Also gluten-free toriilla crumbs and cornflake crumbs. Phone: 800-288-1012. Web: www.soynutbutter.com
Vegan Essentials. Better than Milk fortified rice beverage and a varity of egg- and dairy-free foods. Phone: 866-88-VEGAN. Web: http://www.veganessentials.com/
Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates. Chocolate confections, absolutely free of nuts. The dark chocolate has no dairy ingredients, although it is produced on the same equipment as the milk chocolate. Phone: 888-468-8373. Web: http://www.vermontnutfree.com/
WholeSoy. Drinks and cultured soy yogurt with probiotics (live active cultures). Phone: 415-495-2870. Web: http://www.wholesoycom.com/
___________________
Thanks, Sheila, for this great info!
No funny stories for today's post. I'm too beat and a little discouraged right now. I'm hoping to muster up some energy for my next post. What I do want to say is that I think is critically important, especially when dealing with chronic health issues (or even when one is healthy), to cherish those moments when one is feeling good, healthly, and/or happy. Last night, after spending an enjoyable night hanging out with my girlfriends, I came home and admired a couple of home improvements projects my husband and I had just completed earlier in the day. I savored the satisfaction I felt and was also grateful for the pain-free evening I had experienced. In that moment, life was good. It's easy to forget those moments during the bad times and to think that one's doomed to a lifetime of pain and suffering. It's crucial to carve out time for rest and relaxation. Creating a space in ones home that is free of clutter and distractions, while being visually appealing, can also aid in bolstering one's spirits. There is always hope. On days like today when I'm feeling tortured by my body, it's hard to remember that things can and will get better... but they will. Happy Labor Day.
WOA: It's really important to up one's water intake, especially when taking supplemental fiber. Drinking lots of clean, pure water is important to IC as well as diluted urine typically doesn't cause as much pain.
I would like to add a multi-vitamin back into the mix, especially because I don't think I'm eating a very balanced diet. I'm trying, but with all the foods that are forbidden now, I'm not getting a lot of variety. One of my best friends from back home is a registered dietician and has sent me some great links to companies that offer GF/CF foods. See email below:
Hi Claudia:
These are some companies that offer high-quality, nutritious foods that meet a variety of specific needs: This information can also be found at www.foodallergysurvivalguide.com - click the link under resources. This list is continually changing…. I noted some of their links are currently not working off their website and was not able to find exactly this list that is found in their book: Food Allergy Survival Guide
Hopefully this information is helpful for you – have fun browsing around ..
Alpsnack. Gluten-, wheat-, egg-, and dairy-free organic snack bar made with hemp nuts, almonds, dried fruits, and other natural ingredients. Phone: 760-743-2211. Web: http://www.alpsnack.com/
Aunt Candice Foods. Cookies, brownies, and mixes free of wheat, dairy, gluten, casein, corn, soy and additives. Web: http://www.auntcandicefoods.com/
Authentic Foods. Dedicated to glueten-free products, from milling to blending, to packaging. Baking mixes, flours, pasta, snacks, cereals. Phone: 310-366-7612. Web: http://www.authenticfoods.com/
Berket Millls. Buckwheat products. Web: http://www.thebirkettmills.com/
Bob’s Red Mill. Hypoallergenic baking products, flours, mixes, cereals, entrees, grains, beans, dried fruits, seeds, and spices. Many gluten-free poducts. Phone: 800-349-2173. Web: http://www.bobsredmill.com/
Dietary Specialties. Gluten-free frozen foods, baking mixes, breads, pastas, snacks, and sweets. Phone: 888-640-2800. Web: http://www.dietspec.com/
Eden Foods. Grains, 100 percent buckwheat noodles, beans, seasonings. Phone: 888-441-EDEN. Web: http://www.edenfoods.com/
Edward & Sons. Organic grocery items such as miso soup, rice snaps, sauces, and candies, many of which are free of gluten and other common allergens. Phone: 805-684-8500. Web: http://www.edwardandsons.com/
El Peto. Manufacturer and distributor of a huge line of gluten-, wheat-, yeast-, corn-, milk-, and egg-free products. Phone: 800-387-4064. Web: http://www.elpeto.com/
Ener-G Foods. Egg and milk substitutes, flours, baked goods, mixes, pasta, cereals, soups, gluten-free items. Phone: 800-331-5222. Web: http://www.ener-g.com/
Enjoy Life Foods. Baked goods, snack bars, and cereals free of gluten, wheat, dairy casein, eggs, soy, nuts, potoato, GMOs and hydrogentaed oil prepared in a gluten-free and peanut-free facility. Phone: 888-550-ENJOY. Web: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/
Gluten Free Mixes. Baking and seasoning mixes, flours, and even cake decorating kits, all gluten free. Phone 866-225-3432. Web: http://www.glutenfreemixes.com/
Gold Mine Natural Food Company. Hard-to-find gluten-free grains, snacks, condiments, dried fruits and more, most of which are organic. Phone: 1-800-475-FOOD.
Web: http://www.goldminenaturalfood.com/
Grainworks. Quinoa and other organic grains. Phone: 800-563-3756. Web: http://www.grainworks.com/
Kinnikinnick Foods. (Canada) Gluten-, wheat-, and casein-free breads (some are yeast free), mixes, snacks, baking mixes, desserts, and more. Phone: 877-503-4466. Web: http://www.kinnikinnick.om/
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Food and Oils. (Canada) Organic and GMO-free sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Phone: 800-665-HEMP. Web: http://www.manitobaharvest.com/
Mail Order Catalog for Healthy Eating. Dairy substitutes, nutritional yeast, gluten-free grains and pastas, soynut butters. Phone: 800-695-2241. Web: http://www.healthy-eating.com/
Mrs. Leeperes. Rice and corn pasta. Phone: 816-502-6000. Web: http://www.mrsleeperspasta.com/
Natures Highlights. Gluten free, dedicated facitility producing wheat-, gluten-, and yeast-free, pizza crusts, fozen entrees, and snacks. Phone: 800-313-6454. Web: http://www.natures-highlights.com/
Natures Path Foods. Organic cereals, including gluten-free products. Phone: 888-808-9505. Web: http://www.naturespath.com/
Nu-World Amaranth. Amaranth-based snacks free of dairy, eggs, wheat, rice, corn, oats, soy, potato, and nuts. Phone: 630-369-6819. Web: www.nuworldfoods.com
Omega Nutrition. Organic flaxseed oil and related products. Phone: 800-661-FLAX (3529). Web: http://www.omeganutrition.com/
Pangea. Foods, sancks, mixes and sweets that are free of eggs and diary products. Phone: 800-340-1200. Web: http://www.pangeaveg.com/
Pamela’s. Wheat-free baked goods and baking mixes, many of which are also free of gluten, eggs, nuts, and soy. Phone: 707-462-6605. Web: http://www.pamelaproducts.com/
Tinkyada. (Canada) Amazing wheat-free, gluten-free rice pasta in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Phone: 416-609-0016. Web: http://www.tinkyada.com/
The Soynut Butter Company. Peanut-free soynut butter produced in a 100 percent peanut- and treent-free facility. Also gluten-free toriilla crumbs and cornflake crumbs. Phone: 800-288-1012. Web: www.soynutbutter.com
Vegan Essentials. Better than Milk fortified rice beverage and a varity of egg- and dairy-free foods. Phone: 866-88-VEGAN. Web: http://www.veganessentials.com/
Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates. Chocolate confections, absolutely free of nuts. The dark chocolate has no dairy ingredients, although it is produced on the same equipment as the milk chocolate. Phone: 888-468-8373. Web: http://www.vermontnutfree.com/
WholeSoy. Drinks and cultured soy yogurt with probiotics (live active cultures). Phone: 415-495-2870. Web: http://www.wholesoycom.com/
___________________
Thanks, Sheila, for this great info!
No funny stories for today's post. I'm too beat and a little discouraged right now. I'm hoping to muster up some energy for my next post. What I do want to say is that I think is critically important, especially when dealing with chronic health issues (or even when one is healthy), to cherish those moments when one is feeling good, healthly, and/or happy. Last night, after spending an enjoyable night hanging out with my girlfriends, I came home and admired a couple of home improvements projects my husband and I had just completed earlier in the day. I savored the satisfaction I felt and was also grateful for the pain-free evening I had experienced. In that moment, life was good. It's easy to forget those moments during the bad times and to think that one's doomed to a lifetime of pain and suffering. It's crucial to carve out time for rest and relaxation. Creating a space in ones home that is free of clutter and distractions, while being visually appealing, can also aid in bolstering one's spirits. There is always hope. On days like today when I'm feeling tortured by my body, it's hard to remember that things can and will get better... but they will. Happy Labor Day.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Prelief...a relief?
Well, it seems that I just keep putting out fires and haven't really been able to enjoy the fact that my IBS symptoms have improved. Also, my husband continues to remind me that thus far, I have not entered any real data into my posts (although I have been keeping notes in my day planner). I will begin including data at some point; however, now is not the time. There are much more pressing (and burning) issues to address.
Ok, so if things haven't gotten personal enough talking about my tummy troubles, I'm taking it to a whole new level. This is also where the focus of my blog takes a turn and starts really delving into fibromyalgia (and all the fun symptoms that come with it). Last week, I felt as if I had a horrible UTI. The pain was excruciating. I went to the ob/gyn and saw the only doctor available, a kind, older doctor who resembled the assistant coach from the 90's sitcom "Coach," but less bumbling. Doc said that it wasn't a UTI but an overgrowth of bacteria in another area of my anatomy close in proximity, likely caused by something trivial, like the summer heat or a change in bath soap. He wrote me a script for an antibiotic and assured me it would take care of my problem. I asked if it could be cystitis but he dismissed my concerns and sent me on my way. After one day on the oral antibiotic, my GERD was back, lump in my throat and all. Two phone calls to the ob/gyn later, I was switched to another medication that wasn't oral. Let's just leave it at that.
A week later (this past Tuesday), the pain was still there. It felt like my bladder was filled with a corrosive acid that was slowly burning through my plumbing. I made a follow up appointment. My doctor was again unavailable, so I saw yet another male doctor in the same practice. This guy looked like the runner up from the most recent season of "The Next Food Network Star." I think his name was Jeffery- the chef, not the doctor. Anyway, after waiting twenty minutes in the reception area and another fifteen minutes in waiting room number two, I was finally led into the examination room and asked to change. The nurse took my blood pressure and told me the doctor would be in to see me shortly. Twenty-five minutes later, I was still in a state of undress, waiting for the doctor. I peeked my head out the door, sheet draped around my waist, but there was no one in sight. Already late for an appointment with the HVAC guy (who was coming to fix the A/C back at my house), I grew increasingly impatient and decided I would use my cell phone to call the front desk. The shocked receptionist quickly paged the doctor, who casually strolled in a couple of minutes later. After a brief examination, he determined that my problem was not a bacterial infection. His diagnosis was Interstitial Cystitis. Hello?! Wasn't that what I told the last doc? Ok, so I had left out the first word that I couldn't pronounce, but he should have known what I was getting at. However, this wasn't the diagnosis I wanted to hear, since IC can be extremely painful and difficult to treat. My heart sank. Doc Next Food Network Star told me that IC often is associated with Fibro and Endometriosis (I have both). The birth control that I was taking previously likely halted the progression of my endometriosis, which in turn kept the IC at bay (his theory). Now that I was off the Pill, I didn't have the same protection. Stopping the acid blocker didn't help either, since acidic urine burns more. There is a medication that can be prescribed for the pain, but the doctor said it usually takes about six months to see improvement and it only helps about 30% of those who take it. Nice odds. The other two things he has seen help IC are hysterectomy (for those who have endometriosis) and pregnancy. Ok, pregnancy was a treatment option I could get behind.
The next day the pain was better and I was hopeful that these symptoms would soon pass; however, yesterday it was back. The pain was so bad I wanted to cut my bladder out, so I called the ob/gyn again. I'm still not sure where my doctor is because the nurse consulted with Doc NFNS instead of my guy. The nurse told me that I could take Tylenol for the pain and she recommended a supplement called "Prelief" that one of her family members with IC takes. It is a food grade mineral chemically known as calcium glycerophosphate that reduces the amount of acid in foods. Since acidic foods can trigger IC symptoms, many women with IC get significant relief when taking the supplement. I bought it last night and took it this morning. I still have symptoms, so I'm not sure if I took an inadequate dose or if it takes several doses before one sees relief. The testimonials are fantastic http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/prelieftestimonials.html so I'm really hoping that it will work. It's also supposed to help with IBS. Does anyone out there know how long it takes before one starts to feel relief?
This is my question. There are all these doctors who specialize in just part of the human anatomy; as a result, they treat diseases related to their "part" as if the part is not connected to the rest of the body. Do they not get that a lot of these separate diseases/syndromes (IBS, IC, Fibro, etc.) seem to occur together and may be caused by the same thing? Why are doctors just treating part of the patient and not working together with other specialists and the PCP as a team to treat underlying causes of disease? The more research I read, the more I am convinced that Dr. Hyman is on to something. Inflammation seems to do a lot of damage to the body. Why aren't more doctors looking at what contributes to inflammation in their patients instead of just passing out drugs like candy? Only treating symptoms is like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. Sorry, I use a lot of clichés. Yeah, I want my pain to go away, but more importantly, I want to eliminate the cause of my pain. I'm not anti conventional medicine but there are alternatives to drugs. Let's open our eyes and see the kind of damage we're doing to ourselves with all the chemicals we're surrounded by, the pollutants we're breathing, the processed food we ingest, the chemically laced water we drink, our hectic lifestyles, lack of sleep, etc. etc. We're a mess. No wonder so many people are sick. There needs to be a paradigm shift, and it needs to happen immediately.
Ok, I'm going to get off my soap box for now. Just wait until my diatribe about bad parenting. Yeah, as a school psychologist and former counselor at a group home for pregnant and parenting teens, I've got enough fodder to last through at least 100 posts. LOL.
Ok, so if things haven't gotten personal enough talking about my tummy troubles, I'm taking it to a whole new level. This is also where the focus of my blog takes a turn and starts really delving into fibromyalgia (and all the fun symptoms that come with it). Last week, I felt as if I had a horrible UTI. The pain was excruciating. I went to the ob/gyn and saw the only doctor available, a kind, older doctor who resembled the assistant coach from the 90's sitcom "Coach," but less bumbling. Doc said that it wasn't a UTI but an overgrowth of bacteria in another area of my anatomy close in proximity, likely caused by something trivial, like the summer heat or a change in bath soap. He wrote me a script for an antibiotic and assured me it would take care of my problem. I asked if it could be cystitis but he dismissed my concerns and sent me on my way. After one day on the oral antibiotic, my GERD was back, lump in my throat and all. Two phone calls to the ob/gyn later, I was switched to another medication that wasn't oral. Let's just leave it at that.
A week later (this past Tuesday), the pain was still there. It felt like my bladder was filled with a corrosive acid that was slowly burning through my plumbing. I made a follow up appointment. My doctor was again unavailable, so I saw yet another male doctor in the same practice. This guy looked like the runner up from the most recent season of "The Next Food Network Star." I think his name was Jeffery- the chef, not the doctor. Anyway, after waiting twenty minutes in the reception area and another fifteen minutes in waiting room number two, I was finally led into the examination room and asked to change. The nurse took my blood pressure and told me the doctor would be in to see me shortly. Twenty-five minutes later, I was still in a state of undress, waiting for the doctor. I peeked my head out the door, sheet draped around my waist, but there was no one in sight. Already late for an appointment with the HVAC guy (who was coming to fix the A/C back at my house), I grew increasingly impatient and decided I would use my cell phone to call the front desk. The shocked receptionist quickly paged the doctor, who casually strolled in a couple of minutes later. After a brief examination, he determined that my problem was not a bacterial infection. His diagnosis was Interstitial Cystitis. Hello?! Wasn't that what I told the last doc? Ok, so I had left out the first word that I couldn't pronounce, but he should have known what I was getting at. However, this wasn't the diagnosis I wanted to hear, since IC can be extremely painful and difficult to treat. My heart sank. Doc Next Food Network Star told me that IC often is associated with Fibro and Endometriosis (I have both). The birth control that I was taking previously likely halted the progression of my endometriosis, which in turn kept the IC at bay (his theory). Now that I was off the Pill, I didn't have the same protection. Stopping the acid blocker didn't help either, since acidic urine burns more. There is a medication that can be prescribed for the pain, but the doctor said it usually takes about six months to see improvement and it only helps about 30% of those who take it. Nice odds. The other two things he has seen help IC are hysterectomy (for those who have endometriosis) and pregnancy. Ok, pregnancy was a treatment option I could get behind.
The next day the pain was better and I was hopeful that these symptoms would soon pass; however, yesterday it was back. The pain was so bad I wanted to cut my bladder out, so I called the ob/gyn again. I'm still not sure where my doctor is because the nurse consulted with Doc NFNS instead of my guy. The nurse told me that I could take Tylenol for the pain and she recommended a supplement called "Prelief" that one of her family members with IC takes. It is a food grade mineral chemically known as calcium glycerophosphate that reduces the amount of acid in foods. Since acidic foods can trigger IC symptoms, many women with IC get significant relief when taking the supplement. I bought it last night and took it this morning. I still have symptoms, so I'm not sure if I took an inadequate dose or if it takes several doses before one sees relief. The testimonials are fantastic http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/prelieftestimonials.html so I'm really hoping that it will work. It's also supposed to help with IBS. Does anyone out there know how long it takes before one starts to feel relief?
This is my question. There are all these doctors who specialize in just part of the human anatomy; as a result, they treat diseases related to their "part" as if the part is not connected to the rest of the body. Do they not get that a lot of these separate diseases/syndromes (IBS, IC, Fibro, etc.) seem to occur together and may be caused by the same thing? Why are doctors just treating part of the patient and not working together with other specialists and the PCP as a team to treat underlying causes of disease? The more research I read, the more I am convinced that Dr. Hyman is on to something. Inflammation seems to do a lot of damage to the body. Why aren't more doctors looking at what contributes to inflammation in their patients instead of just passing out drugs like candy? Only treating symptoms is like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. Sorry, I use a lot of clichés. Yeah, I want my pain to go away, but more importantly, I want to eliminate the cause of my pain. I'm not anti conventional medicine but there are alternatives to drugs. Let's open our eyes and see the kind of damage we're doing to ourselves with all the chemicals we're surrounded by, the pollutants we're breathing, the processed food we ingest, the chemically laced water we drink, our hectic lifestyles, lack of sleep, etc. etc. We're a mess. No wonder so many people are sick. There needs to be a paradigm shift, and it needs to happen immediately.
Ok, I'm going to get off my soap box for now. Just wait until my diatribe about bad parenting. Yeah, as a school psychologist and former counselor at a group home for pregnant and parenting teens, I've got enough fodder to last through at least 100 posts. LOL.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Dinner Party
One of the most difficult aspects of eating a gluten-free, casein-free, organic diet is maintaining a social life that was once centered around food. In my Italian family, no family gathering or special occasion is complete without ample amounts of starch. As a self-proclaimed foodie, my primary means of exploring the world is through my taste buds. Some of my best memories from my year of weekends in NYC (where my now husband, then boyfriend worked) were of the meals I ate in some of the finest upscale restaurants and dives in the world. Ah, Papaya King! I remember cities by the food I ate. Baltimore’s crab cakes, Philly's cheese steaks, Napoli's pizza, Roma's gelato, Playa del Carmen's tortilla soup...
So, entertaining G/CF (gluten/casein-free) was not going to be easy. My husband and I just bought a home and were excited to have our first dinner guests over. However, my normal standbys were not going to work if I was going to stick to my dietary changes. Lasagna, one of my favorite feed-a-bunch-of-people-cheap meals, was not even a consideration anymore. I ended up making Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (my husband's family recipe) and Chicken Calabrese (my dad's recipe). I used regular ketchup when making the shrimp for my guests, but gluten-free for myself. Word of Advice (WOA): label the one you've made gluten-free. One of my guests accidentally ate my GF cocktail. I ended up eating one that wasn't and paid for it later in the evening.
Chicken Calabrese calls for dusting the chicken with flour, which I omitted, before browning. Not a good idea consistency-wise since the flour thickens the sauce. I've since learned that tapioca flour can be used instead of wheat flour with good results, but I didn't know this the night of my dinner party- unfortunately for my guests who were served dry chicken in a liquidy sauce. Whole-wheat penne was served on the side, just so I wouldn't totally deprive my guests. Cooking it required my husband nearby to taste as I seasoned. I miss my penne but have found some decent brown rice pastas that aren't too bad. Trader Joe's has a brown rice penne and fusilli that are good, as long as you cook them al dente and rinse them with cold water when they are done cooking.
Explaining to people why you aren't eating the lovely, crusty French bread your guest has just brought hot from the local bakery isn't easy. While most people are understanding, there are always the few out there who think you're just a neurotic health-nut when you turn down the staff birthday cake in the teacher's lounge, especially if you're eating gluten free and are not actually diagnosed Celiac. I was tested for Celiac, for which I tested negative; however, since I didn't have a biopsy (the gold standard), my doctor said Celiac can't totally be ruled out yet, especially because my system seems to do better eating GF. I could have a gluten sensitivity (for which I have tested positive for in the past), and by omitting gluten from my diet for a while and giving my body a break, eventually I could reintroduce it into my diet and see how I react. Either way, avoiding gluten seems to do my body good; still, unless one has a diagnosed medical condition, eating GF isn't always easily accepted by others who can't fathom why I would impose such torture upon myself.
Eating out is very difficult as cross-contamination can happen easily in a busy kitchen. On two occasions I've eaten salads out, the only "safe" food left on the menu, only to suffer the same G.I. effects as had I eaten a slice of pizza (which makes me just want to go ahead and eat the slice of pizza instead of the boring salad). I could make the very same salads at home and have no negative consequences. Who knows if the cook cut bread on the same board used to chop lettuce or if the vinaigrette had modified food starch as a thickener? Even yesterday when I ate prepared foods from my local health food store (which were not guaranteed GF), I noticed a difference in how I felt, and not for the positive. Sometimes it's hard for me to fathom how such a tiny amount of gluten could have such significant effects. Is this possible? Seriously, it's not fun at all, and can even be dangerous for people with Celiac, where any tiny amount of gluten will do damage to their intestines.
It may be time to start keeping a food diary since today I am feeling as lousy- achy, bloated, tired- as I was before I started this experiment. What may have caused it, I'm not sure. Whatever it was, I could sure use a nap.
Cento Anni!
So, entertaining G/CF (gluten/casein-free) was not going to be easy. My husband and I just bought a home and were excited to have our first dinner guests over. However, my normal standbys were not going to work if I was going to stick to my dietary changes. Lasagna, one of my favorite feed-a-bunch-of-people-cheap meals, was not even a consideration anymore. I ended up making Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (my husband's family recipe) and Chicken Calabrese (my dad's recipe). I used regular ketchup when making the shrimp for my guests, but gluten-free for myself. Word of Advice (WOA): label the one you've made gluten-free. One of my guests accidentally ate my GF cocktail. I ended up eating one that wasn't and paid for it later in the evening.
Chicken Calabrese calls for dusting the chicken with flour, which I omitted, before browning. Not a good idea consistency-wise since the flour thickens the sauce. I've since learned that tapioca flour can be used instead of wheat flour with good results, but I didn't know this the night of my dinner party- unfortunately for my guests who were served dry chicken in a liquidy sauce. Whole-wheat penne was served on the side, just so I wouldn't totally deprive my guests. Cooking it required my husband nearby to taste as I seasoned. I miss my penne but have found some decent brown rice pastas that aren't too bad. Trader Joe's has a brown rice penne and fusilli that are good, as long as you cook them al dente and rinse them with cold water when they are done cooking.
Explaining to people why you aren't eating the lovely, crusty French bread your guest has just brought hot from the local bakery isn't easy. While most people are understanding, there are always the few out there who think you're just a neurotic health-nut when you turn down the staff birthday cake in the teacher's lounge, especially if you're eating gluten free and are not actually diagnosed Celiac. I was tested for Celiac, for which I tested negative; however, since I didn't have a biopsy (the gold standard), my doctor said Celiac can't totally be ruled out yet, especially because my system seems to do better eating GF. I could have a gluten sensitivity (for which I have tested positive for in the past), and by omitting gluten from my diet for a while and giving my body a break, eventually I could reintroduce it into my diet and see how I react. Either way, avoiding gluten seems to do my body good; still, unless one has a diagnosed medical condition, eating GF isn't always easily accepted by others who can't fathom why I would impose such torture upon myself.
Eating out is very difficult as cross-contamination can happen easily in a busy kitchen. On two occasions I've eaten salads out, the only "safe" food left on the menu, only to suffer the same G.I. effects as had I eaten a slice of pizza (which makes me just want to go ahead and eat the slice of pizza instead of the boring salad). I could make the very same salads at home and have no negative consequences. Who knows if the cook cut bread on the same board used to chop lettuce or if the vinaigrette had modified food starch as a thickener? Even yesterday when I ate prepared foods from my local health food store (which were not guaranteed GF), I noticed a difference in how I felt, and not for the positive. Sometimes it's hard for me to fathom how such a tiny amount of gluten could have such significant effects. Is this possible? Seriously, it's not fun at all, and can even be dangerous for people with Celiac, where any tiny amount of gluten will do damage to their intestines.
It may be time to start keeping a food diary since today I am feeling as lousy- achy, bloated, tired- as I was before I started this experiment. What may have caused it, I'm not sure. Whatever it was, I could sure use a nap.
Cento Anni!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Body Balance
Ok, before I get into the supplement, “Body Balance,” I still need to catch you up on the other changes I’ve made and the effects they’ve had on my health. I’m hoping that within a post or two that I can finally start writing about the present and begin officially keeping data.
On Day 4 of my new “detox” diet, I stopped taking the proton-pump inhibitor I was taking to treat my acid reflux. I had been taking it for about 3 months and found that I had become dependent. Unfortunately, chronic use of acid reducers can lead to B-12 deficiency since stomach acid is necessary for proper digestion (http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html). I decided I would stop taking the medication and see how I did. Two days of ratatouille later, I had what felt like a lump in my throat, trouble swallowing, plus my reflux was back. I called my G.I. and spoke to the nurse, who spoke to the doctor, who wanted to up my meds. Go figure. I’d made these major overhauls in my diet, hoping to improve my health, and now I was destroying my esphogus. I found it pretty depressing that I had fixed one problem (my IBS) but had created another. I had heard that stopping an acid blocker could lead to rebound acid reflux (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GERD/14956), so instead of freaking out, I decided to find some alternatives to the acid reducer.
I checked out Dr. Andrew Weil’s website, http://www.drweil.com/. I first heard of Dr. Weil after he was a guest on the Oprah show and appreciated his ability to combine conventional and complementary medicine. He is also the founder and Program Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Weil recommended deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), so after a little more research, off to the local health food store I went. DGL supplements can taste pretty gross, but the lovely clerk at Earthfare recommended a chocolate flavored one that was gluten-free. Gluten-free, yes. Dairy-free, no. Since I could barely swallow by this point, I was pretty desperate and bought it anyway. After about three days, the lump in my throat was gone. I should add that I also cut out alcohol, dark chocolate, tomatoes, raw onions, fried foods, and spicy foods (my acid triggers). After a week, I was able to reintroduce small amounts of tomatoes and garlic, but not raw onion (which I also avoid because it aggravates my IBS) or alcohol (which has always given me reflux). I should continue to avoid chocolate, but sometimes I’ll have a bite and suffer the consequences. I take the DGL three times a day, twenty minutes before meals. I find that if I skip a dose and eat a large meal, my acid comes back. Oh yeah, there are a few other things that really helped me, such as eating smaller meals, chewing well, eating slowly, and not eating three hours prior to going to bed.
Body Balance started Day 5 into my diet. Life Force International’s Body Balance is a whole foods, liquid supplement recommended to me by my physical therapist. It’s a multivitamin, antioxidant, mineral, and amino acid supplement made from sea vegetables, combined with an aloe base. Because Body Balance is in liquid form, it’s also much more absorbable than the typical horse pill sized multi’s that I never end up taking anyway because they make me gag. I was a bit skeptical at first since it’s sold via multi-level marketing, but after speaking with my PT’s daughter, Sarah (name has been changed), who sells the product, and doing tons of research, I decided I would try it. Sarah has two young boys who suffered from multiple health issues, both whose problems started to resolve after a few months on the supplement. Sarah recommended I start with a low dose (.5 oz) to ensure that it didn’t cause G.I. distress. After about two weeks, I’ve worked my way up to 2 oz per day. I don’t really notice much of a difference being on the supplement; however, as with any supplement, it typically takes weeks before the health benefits kick in. In addition to Body Balance, I also take a calcium/magnesium/Vit D/ Vit K supplement, fish oil, and folic acid. I probably have the most expensive urine on my block! Previously, I had only taken calcium and fish oil sporadically and didn’t take folic acid. But since folic acid and fish oil are both key to brain health, not to mention important to prenatal development (should I get pregnant soon), I now take them daily.
Ok, it’s almost 11 pm and I’m beat. More to come after I’ve gotten some sleep.
On Day 4 of my new “detox” diet, I stopped taking the proton-pump inhibitor I was taking to treat my acid reflux. I had been taking it for about 3 months and found that I had become dependent. Unfortunately, chronic use of acid reducers can lead to B-12 deficiency since stomach acid is necessary for proper digestion (http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html). I decided I would stop taking the medication and see how I did. Two days of ratatouille later, I had what felt like a lump in my throat, trouble swallowing, plus my reflux was back. I called my G.I. and spoke to the nurse, who spoke to the doctor, who wanted to up my meds. Go figure. I’d made these major overhauls in my diet, hoping to improve my health, and now I was destroying my esphogus. I found it pretty depressing that I had fixed one problem (my IBS) but had created another. I had heard that stopping an acid blocker could lead to rebound acid reflux (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GERD/14956), so instead of freaking out, I decided to find some alternatives to the acid reducer.
I checked out Dr. Andrew Weil’s website, http://www.drweil.com/. I first heard of Dr. Weil after he was a guest on the Oprah show and appreciated his ability to combine conventional and complementary medicine. He is also the founder and Program Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Weil recommended deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), so after a little more research, off to the local health food store I went. DGL supplements can taste pretty gross, but the lovely clerk at Earthfare recommended a chocolate flavored one that was gluten-free. Gluten-free, yes. Dairy-free, no. Since I could barely swallow by this point, I was pretty desperate and bought it anyway. After about three days, the lump in my throat was gone. I should add that I also cut out alcohol, dark chocolate, tomatoes, raw onions, fried foods, and spicy foods (my acid triggers). After a week, I was able to reintroduce small amounts of tomatoes and garlic, but not raw onion (which I also avoid because it aggravates my IBS) or alcohol (which has always given me reflux). I should continue to avoid chocolate, but sometimes I’ll have a bite and suffer the consequences. I take the DGL three times a day, twenty minutes before meals. I find that if I skip a dose and eat a large meal, my acid comes back. Oh yeah, there are a few other things that really helped me, such as eating smaller meals, chewing well, eating slowly, and not eating three hours prior to going to bed.
Body Balance started Day 5 into my diet. Life Force International’s Body Balance is a whole foods, liquid supplement recommended to me by my physical therapist. It’s a multivitamin, antioxidant, mineral, and amino acid supplement made from sea vegetables, combined with an aloe base. Because Body Balance is in liquid form, it’s also much more absorbable than the typical horse pill sized multi’s that I never end up taking anyway because they make me gag. I was a bit skeptical at first since it’s sold via multi-level marketing, but after speaking with my PT’s daughter, Sarah (name has been changed), who sells the product, and doing tons of research, I decided I would try it. Sarah has two young boys who suffered from multiple health issues, both whose problems started to resolve after a few months on the supplement. Sarah recommended I start with a low dose (.5 oz) to ensure that it didn’t cause G.I. distress. After about two weeks, I’ve worked my way up to 2 oz per day. I don’t really notice much of a difference being on the supplement; however, as with any supplement, it typically takes weeks before the health benefits kick in. In addition to Body Balance, I also take a calcium/magnesium/Vit D/ Vit K supplement, fish oil, and folic acid. I probably have the most expensive urine on my block! Previously, I had only taken calcium and fish oil sporadically and didn’t take folic acid. But since folic acid and fish oil are both key to brain health, not to mention important to prenatal development (should I get pregnant soon), I now take them daily.
Ok, it’s almost 11 pm and I’m beat. More to come after I’ve gotten some sleep.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Catching Up
Ok, so since I technically started my gluten-free, casein-free diet almost three weeks ago, I've got some catching up to do in terms of explaining why I started and how my diet's been going. About a month ago, I picked up the book, "The Ultramind Solution" by Dr. Mark Hyman. In a nutshell, he talks about how inflammation can lead to all sorts of problems in the body and mind, including ADHD, memory loss, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, etc. and how changes in diet and lifestyle, along with supplement use, can reverse these problems. He outlines a six week plan that includes several components, one of the most significant being dietary changes. Dr. Hyman (gotta love that last name) also advocates a gluten-free, casein-free diet, eating organic, whole foods, and staying away from sugar (except for naturally occurring sugars in fruits, whole grains, etc.). The book is so much more comprehensive than the couple of sentences that I've written, so I would encourage readers to look the book up on Amazon or Barnes and Noble (no, not my sponsors...yet...lol) for a more in-depth review .
Because of my fibro, IBS, and extreme fatigue, I figured going on the diet was worth a shot. I was a little skeptical because years ago a naturopath had put me on a "detox" diet. I followed a very strict rotation diet that didn't allow me to eat any of the foods that I tested as having a sensitivity to (according to IgG anti-food blood tests). Boy was I a miserable person for the three months I was on it. Because I was also vegetarian at the time, my diet was extremely limited. I lost 15 lbs off my already thin frame, my hair started falling out, and small children were afraid to look at me. Well, maybe the last part was an exaggeration but looking back at pictures of myself, I now know why people thought I was anorexic. Even my best friend told me, "You've become a total b*tch on this diet! Screw the detox and please just eat a chocolate bar." After that experience, I wasn't too optimistic that the "Ultramind Solution" diet would help; however, I was desperate to feel better so I drove to the local health food store and filled up my cart.
Organic, whole foods can be expensive, especially if you're limited to gluten and casein free. My hubby was not a happy camper when he looked at the receipt for my little shopping spree. $18 for grass-fed steak when we used to pay ten bucks for the same cut at Costco? He grew up in Texas, where evidently, bigger is better, so eating half a cow that's been pumped with hormones (sorry Texans) is a manly thing to do. He did later admit that my grass-fed, organic beef tasted ten times better that the conventional stuff we buy at the local, big-name grocery store. Word of advice: Grass-fed takes less time to good, so unless you like your sirloin jerky-style, cut back on the cooking time.
I'm the cook in the family, so despite my husband's initial protests, he was looking forward to all the home cooked meals he'd be getting since it's almost impossible to eat take-out when you're eating this way. I even began packing lunches for him. He must have eaten ratatouille for five days straight. Another word of advice: Invest in a good gluten-free cookbook because it can be hard coming up with new things every night when you've cut out whole groups of food.
On days one and two of my diet, I didn't notice a change. I grew dismayed as I felt the same aches and pains, suffered the same tummy issues, and meandered through my day in the same brain fog I had experienced for the past several years. The only thing that kept me going was that I figured the diet would be a good way to prepare my body for pregnancy- my next "project" to work on once my husband no longer runs away in hysterics when I mention the word, "baby." : ) Just kidding honey...about the hysterics, not the baby. But I digress...Day three the changes I noticed were the absence of two things- my stomach pains and a few pounds of bloating.
When I got married a year ago, my 5' 7" frame carried 133 pounds. That was about ten pounds heavier than I had been in my 20's, but still thin. A year into marriage, I had gained 10 lbs. In the past if I had put on a pound or two (or three or four...), I just had to say the word "diet" and the pounds came off, or so it seemed. Not once I was married though. My husband's big appetite (to feed his big muscles), meant I had to cook real meals, not just pour a bowl of cereal like I had in the past if I didn't feel like cooking. Even when I tried to return to my old eating habits, my new appetite didn't allow for it - salt and vinegar potatoes chips whispered my name, hazelnut-chocolate bars sang to me, gourmet restaurant meals entertained me.
My new diet turned off that hunger. I felt less bloated, lighter, freer. One morning, my husband grabbed my waist, expecting to feel muffin top, but happily, it was almost gone. Don't get me wrong, the weight loss was great, but even better than that was that my stomach finally felt *normal*. "Wow," I thought, "is this what it's like to have a normal G.I. tract?" I became ecstatic when I went to work and ate lunch without feeling like I was going to pass out afterwards from stomach pains. I could sit through a meeting without having to excuse myself for fear of my insides exploding all over the conference room. For a while last school year, I got sick so often that people asked if I was pregnant.
I felt encouraged by my progress and happily I munched on my veggies, thankful that I had finally found something that seemed to be working, not perfectly, but it was a start. A week into my dietary changes began phase two of my experiment: Body Balance. I'll leave that for tomorrow's post.
Because of my fibro, IBS, and extreme fatigue, I figured going on the diet was worth a shot. I was a little skeptical because years ago a naturopath had put me on a "detox" diet. I followed a very strict rotation diet that didn't allow me to eat any of the foods that I tested as having a sensitivity to (according to IgG anti-food blood tests). Boy was I a miserable person for the three months I was on it. Because I was also vegetarian at the time, my diet was extremely limited. I lost 15 lbs off my already thin frame, my hair started falling out, and small children were afraid to look at me. Well, maybe the last part was an exaggeration but looking back at pictures of myself, I now know why people thought I was anorexic. Even my best friend told me, "You've become a total b*tch on this diet! Screw the detox and please just eat a chocolate bar." After that experience, I wasn't too optimistic that the "Ultramind Solution" diet would help; however, I was desperate to feel better so I drove to the local health food store and filled up my cart.
Organic, whole foods can be expensive, especially if you're limited to gluten and casein free. My hubby was not a happy camper when he looked at the receipt for my little shopping spree. $18 for grass-fed steak when we used to pay ten bucks for the same cut at Costco? He grew up in Texas, where evidently, bigger is better, so eating half a cow that's been pumped with hormones (sorry Texans) is a manly thing to do. He did later admit that my grass-fed, organic beef tasted ten times better that the conventional stuff we buy at the local, big-name grocery store. Word of advice: Grass-fed takes less time to good, so unless you like your sirloin jerky-style, cut back on the cooking time.
I'm the cook in the family, so despite my husband's initial protests, he was looking forward to all the home cooked meals he'd be getting since it's almost impossible to eat take-out when you're eating this way. I even began packing lunches for him. He must have eaten ratatouille for five days straight. Another word of advice: Invest in a good gluten-free cookbook because it can be hard coming up with new things every night when you've cut out whole groups of food.
On days one and two of my diet, I didn't notice a change. I grew dismayed as I felt the same aches and pains, suffered the same tummy issues, and meandered through my day in the same brain fog I had experienced for the past several years. The only thing that kept me going was that I figured the diet would be a good way to prepare my body for pregnancy- my next "project" to work on once my husband no longer runs away in hysterics when I mention the word, "baby." : ) Just kidding honey...about the hysterics, not the baby. But I digress...Day three the changes I noticed were the absence of two things- my stomach pains and a few pounds of bloating.
When I got married a year ago, my 5' 7" frame carried 133 pounds. That was about ten pounds heavier than I had been in my 20's, but still thin. A year into marriage, I had gained 10 lbs. In the past if I had put on a pound or two (or three or four...), I just had to say the word "diet" and the pounds came off, or so it seemed. Not once I was married though. My husband's big appetite (to feed his big muscles), meant I had to cook real meals, not just pour a bowl of cereal like I had in the past if I didn't feel like cooking. Even when I tried to return to my old eating habits, my new appetite didn't allow for it - salt and vinegar potatoes chips whispered my name, hazelnut-chocolate bars sang to me, gourmet restaurant meals entertained me.
My new diet turned off that hunger. I felt less bloated, lighter, freer. One morning, my husband grabbed my waist, expecting to feel muffin top, but happily, it was almost gone. Don't get me wrong, the weight loss was great, but even better than that was that my stomach finally felt *normal*. "Wow," I thought, "is this what it's like to have a normal G.I. tract?" I became ecstatic when I went to work and ate lunch without feeling like I was going to pass out afterwards from stomach pains. I could sit through a meeting without having to excuse myself for fear of my insides exploding all over the conference room. For a while last school year, I got sick so often that people asked if I was pregnant.
I felt encouraged by my progress and happily I munched on my veggies, thankful that I had finally found something that seemed to be working, not perfectly, but it was a start. A week into my dietary changes began phase two of my experiment: Body Balance. I'll leave that for tomorrow's post.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Who am I?
Disclaimer: The information provided is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a licensed practitioner.
My name is Claudia and I'm a thirty-something year old psychologist who is becoming an old lady before her time. Even though I look youthful and healthy- my husband and friends say I look like I'm in my twenties, God bless them- I drag through the day, saddled with muscle pain, migraines, IBS, and brain fog like you wouldn't believe. I am tired of feeling tired, so I decided to take action. Now, as a good psychologist, I know that it's important to keep data. This blog contains my data. Where I stray from my training is that I'm making several changes at the same time; thus, it will be difficult to figure out which variable is making the difference. However, since I'm too impatient to make only one change at a time, I'll do my best to weed out what's working as I go along.
But enough psychobabble. Time to get to know the other side of Claudia. Why the moniker, Claudia "The Mouth." Well, years ago my siblings and my BFF were watching "Goodfellas" and decided we should all have a Mafia name. My family is Italian and this seemed very fitting at the time, even though none of us support organized crime. Because I talk a lot and tend to put my foot in my mouth, I got the name, "The Mouth." However, knowing this tendency of mine to give Too Much Information, my husband of one year (but S.O. of six) has asked that I keep my stories about him to a minimum. I will try, dear husband, but you knew what you were getting into when you married me. LOL. Not only will my blog contain details of my dietary changes, supplement consumption, and results, but I'll also include stories that may only be tangentially related. Yup, that's what he's afraid of since some of my best stories include him.
Most importantly though, I am writing this blog in hopes that not only can I heal myself, but that I may also help someone else out there who is suffering. Being in pain is no fun. I waffled on writing this blog. Some of the details I'll share may be pretty embarrassing and/or personal, but today something happened that convinced me to do this. As I revealed to a colleague (and friend) of mine some of the health issues I've been having and the changes I've made/am making that have helped me, she revealed that she experiences very similar health difficulties and has struggled for years, thinking she was the only young person who felt that way. She encouraged me to follow through with my blog, adding that I may help others out there in cyberspace who have given up hope of ever feeling better. So, here I am, The Glutenless Italian. Thanks for reading and Cento Anni!
My name is Claudia and I'm a thirty-something year old psychologist who is becoming an old lady before her time. Even though I look youthful and healthy- my husband and friends say I look like I'm in my twenties, God bless them- I drag through the day, saddled with muscle pain, migraines, IBS, and brain fog like you wouldn't believe. I am tired of feeling tired, so I decided to take action. Now, as a good psychologist, I know that it's important to keep data. This blog contains my data. Where I stray from my training is that I'm making several changes at the same time; thus, it will be difficult to figure out which variable is making the difference. However, since I'm too impatient to make only one change at a time, I'll do my best to weed out what's working as I go along.
But enough psychobabble. Time to get to know the other side of Claudia. Why the moniker, Claudia "The Mouth." Well, years ago my siblings and my BFF were watching "Goodfellas" and decided we should all have a Mafia name. My family is Italian and this seemed very fitting at the time, even though none of us support organized crime. Because I talk a lot and tend to put my foot in my mouth, I got the name, "The Mouth." However, knowing this tendency of mine to give Too Much Information, my husband of one year (but S.O. of six) has asked that I keep my stories about him to a minimum. I will try, dear husband, but you knew what you were getting into when you married me. LOL. Not only will my blog contain details of my dietary changes, supplement consumption, and results, but I'll also include stories that may only be tangentially related. Yup, that's what he's afraid of since some of my best stories include him.
Most importantly though, I am writing this blog in hopes that not only can I heal myself, but that I may also help someone else out there who is suffering. Being in pain is no fun. I waffled on writing this blog. Some of the details I'll share may be pretty embarrassing and/or personal, but today something happened that convinced me to do this. As I revealed to a colleague (and friend) of mine some of the health issues I've been having and the changes I've made/am making that have helped me, she revealed that she experiences very similar health difficulties and has struggled for years, thinking she was the only young person who felt that way. She encouraged me to follow through with my blog, adding that I may help others out there in cyberspace who have given up hope of ever feeling better. So, here I am, The Glutenless Italian. Thanks for reading and Cento Anni!
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