Ouch x 4!

My Gastroenterologist sent me today to have some blood drawn. Two hours and four pokes later, my glucose level, thyroid function, celiac disease (allergic to gluten - which I really doubt I am, but cross your fingers that I'm not if you have a minute!) and lactose intolerance (I know I am and after the test this morning, I've proven it again! UGH) were tested. We'll know the results in about a week. Stay tuned...

At this point, I'm am still angry and HUNGRY for MORE food!!! I really don't think I'm getting the nourishment I need AND I got a cold from my little guy to top it off so I've been feeling really rotten this past week. I have three weeks left to go on keeping everything out of my diet and I'm still craving certain things. My Gastro told me no more diet coke!!! Will I survive?!

On a positive note, I made Quinoa for the first time last night and I was too bitter and wallowing in self pity to actually eat it. Today I mixed it with Costco's Pesto sauce (which is pure enough for me to eat! Yay!!!), some brocolli and ham and it was pretty satisfying.

We're going up to Flagstaff for a night soon and I have NO idea what I'm going to eat, so this should be interesting! I'll keep you posted!

Am I an idiot?

Well, certainly not after reading "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Food Allergies." Who doesn't love these "idiot" books? I have to say that this book has had the most useful information I've read yet. The book is laid out in an easy to read format and you don't have to read it cover to cover if a section doesn't pertain to you. Sorry to my dogs for not even perusing the dog food allergy section...I'm too involved in my own torment right now to even THINK about THAT!

A few websites I plan to visit for more information:

1. www.allergy.mcg.edu (Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Online)

2. www.aaai.org (American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology)

3. www.mochallergies.org (Mothers of Children Having Allergies)

Food for thought...

Did you know?...

Did you know you may not react to a food for up to three days after you consumed it? A food allergy almost always shows up immediately in a rash, itchy throat/mouth or digestive problems. A food intolerance is much less obvious but can be just as serious.

According to "Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making you Fat", 'The low-grade, chronic nature of a delayed food reaction is called "masking" because it conceals the food as the perpetrator....Examples of "mask" symptoms are fatigue, chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, arthritis, depression, colitis and ADD."

I recommend this book if anyone is interested in learning more about how foods actually affects every working organ and how damaging it is to eat the wrong foods.

I would like everyone I know to get tested for food allergies. This book uses the ALCAT test in it's research and personal stories. This is a more involved blood test than the skin test I took. After all is said and done and I work out which foods I can actually live with in my diet without causing any problems, I know I will be the better for having found out my food allergies.

Having said that, you should know that sweet potato chips are very good and that buckwheat is not THAT bad, just different. Four more weeks to go before I can add something back in. Hmmm...what should it be?

Three stages...

Well, I've been a little down about my food limitations. Sorry I haven't written sooner. I have come to realize that there are three stages to finding out you have Food Allergies/Sensitivities:

1. Shock - This is by far, the quickest stage, lasting only a couple of days. Wow! Look at this list everyone! This is just craziness! Lettuce? Really?

2. Resignation/Numbness - This lasts a good week and a half. There is much to process, to read, to learn and new health food stores to explore with a new eye.

3. Anger - Who knows how long this one will last, but it comes out of nowhere and hits you like an angry, short-tempered Puerto Rican girl who can't eat rice anymore! You do NOT want to be hit with THAT! But...it will come.

I just had the nastiest fake peanut butter with the worst yeast-free bread I've had yet. Mmm, what a way to start the day!

On the positive side, I'm meeting with a nutritionist tonight! I'm hoping that she'll give me enough info to be able to add some food items back onto my list. Fingers crossed. I'll let you know!

An Alternative!

My brother sent this to me a couple of days ago. I thought it was too funny and wanted to share it with you. You just gotta laugh, right?

I have eaten all the "right" foods today and am still having the same issue. I have not had a Diet Coke, but did have a Sprite Zero with lunch????? Tomorrow...no soda and we'll see what happens. Wish me luck!

Seriously?

Okay, so it's day 7! I made it one whole week without my yummy whole wheat bread, rice, wine and anything with corn in it (except Diet Coke which contains corn syrup for coloring and which I think I need to let go, sadly). I'm very proud of myself though and even though I know this is going to get harder, I'm trying to stay positive.

I spoke with my Doctor today. I asked him if I'm allergic to iceberg lettuce, does that mean I should be able to eat spinach, red leaf and others? His answer was an unequivocal maybe so, maybe not! Gee, thanks!

I thought this new change in my diet was supposed to make things easier for me (digestively speaking). What did day 7 bring me you might ask? A new vision for a toned, healthier me? A deep understanding of my body and it's needs? Nooooooo! It brought me CONSTIPATION!!!!! Are you KIDDING ME! I know that's a lot of information but if you're in this far on the blog, you seem to care a little. So thanks for sticking with me.

May tomorrow bring an easy transition from week one to week two and may I have more luck in the loo! Sorry, couldn't help it!

Who Knew?

Okay, I consider myself to be an educated woman. My kids would argue, but do I know stuff. How come no one is talking about food allergies and they myriad of health problems they can exacerbate including:
Acne (have more now than I did in high school sorry to say)
Anxiety
Arthritis (This one blew my mind. I have also read it is the same with gout.)
Asthma (I'm scheduling my son's test tomorrow. Brady has asthma and if I can help relieve his asthma just by eliminating a few foods why wouldn't I?)
ADHD (We've had our discussions about this possibility too. I choose all other options before medicating!)
Bed-wetting (Thank goodness we don't have these issues anymore!)
Chronic Diarrhea (Ditto, right?!)
Chronic Fatigue (Although I admit to being a harried mother of two young boys, could I feel less fatigued with my new found allergen free diet? I can't wait to find out!)
Depression (I have to say, I'm actually MORE depressed now that I can't eat some of my favorite foods...stay tuned on this one...)
Diabetes (That makes sense)
Ear Infections
Eczema (For years I have been getting a mysterious rash on my legs and arms that two dermatologists have no clue where it's coming from...no one mentioned food allergies...)
Hay Fever (Did you know that an allergy to melons is connected to a ragweed allergy?)
Headaches - tension type and migraine (I have thought for years that my husband's headaches stem from food allergies. I'm trying to convince him to take the test. Stay tuned on that one too)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Still have to look this one up)
Muscle aches (Just thought we were getting older. You mean this doesn't have to be a lifelong sentence of aches?)
Obesity
Panic Attacks (Hmmm...)
Stuffy Nose (Makes sense. My nose actually stuffed up last night when I ate the walnuts. Never noticed it before. It has always stuffed up when I drink wine (yeast allergy).)
Okay and for all the $, who knows what Urticaria is? Good, old-fashioned hives. Well that makes sense too.

I'm sure there are other symptoms that stem from eating allergens. I found these in the book "Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making You Fat." This book also discusses the ALCAT test which is a very thorough blood test for food allergens.