Well ladies and gents here I am trying to get posts going again. I am the worst these days. My small business is picking up which is a big time taker and with the debilitating fatigue I have been having I barely have the energy to think. There there was my Hunger Games read-a-thon but we won't talk about that ;)
So here I am with an update for the 2 readers I know actual read this blog haha. After feeling bad for what has been close to a year following a serious salmonella poisoning that nearly killed me I have finally found what is wrong with me. I have Celiac Disease aka a gluten allergy, an illness that goes largely undiagnosed and is common enough to be found in 1 our of every 100 adults. Most of which is activated after a serious illness...like say um salmageddon. I set out on this journey out of my desperate need to feel good again. I am not that person who enjoys feeling bad or even average. I like to feel like sunshine is coming our of every orifice, I am that annoying person ;) I like to exercise everyday, laugh lots and have the energy to do it all, all of the time. I have had a serious lack of that in my life since getting sick.
I have had a few people asking me how I found out I had Celiac, I love to share this because it can take an average of 7 years for most people to be diagnosed. I can blame it all on the Paleo diet. After 30 days of strict paleo I started reintroducing food and I was met with a serious lack of reaction to anything...then I ate some battered fried fish after fasting all day. It started there and didn't stop. For some reason when I start eating gluten I am like a junkie and it is all I consume. It was like a big snowball effect and it was killing my body. I was constantly in intestinal distress, fatigued and moody and one time I even had what I would call an out right allergic reaction. I realized something was amiss and gluten was a culprit. I had heard of Celiac and it kept coming up in the back of my mind. I have pretty good intuition even if I don't always listen to it.
It took me close to 3 weeks to finally get the nerve to get tested and go see my doctor. Why would I do that you ask? Because me realizing I had celiac and acknowledging it is different that a doctor confirming it. If I know about it I can eat the foods that make me sick and in some sick twisted way pretend it doesn't exist, but the reality of a formal you have celiac is intimidating. Pizza anyone? So I bit the bullet and went because the damage celiac does to your body if you go undiagnosed is more painful than and food I will have to give up.
So how was I diagnosed is another question I get. There are a series of tests, but my Dr. gave me a pretty solid diagnosis based on the blood work she had on file. I have had quite a few blood tests since my poisoning and looking at them she said my nutrient deficiencies are typical for Celiacs. These are numbers she has been perplexed as to why they won't regulate. She went ahead and did the blood panel to test for celiac as well as my normal blood work and an extra blood chemistry to see how my nutrients are faring. I also have to go have a biopsy done of my small intestine (I think) with a gastroenterologist of which I am not too excited about...how exactly do they get that biopsy :/
So what does this mean for me now. ENERGY I hope. Fatigue is a side effect of Celiacs consuming gluten as well as anemia which can cause fatigue. A nasty detox, which I think I am coming out of as I type this. It was nasty did I say that already? I read that there is a peptide in gluten that attaches to the opiate receptors in your brain so you can withdrawal like you are taking drugs. I did, it wasn't pretty but like I said I am coming out of it and already feeling better. I also noticed my abdomen has gone down significantly. It looks like I have lost about 15 lbs when I haven't. I am guessing that my belly was swollen from being irritated.
This also means that I have to be diligent about not eating gluten. Some Celiacs can eat certain levels of gluten without any symptoms other can't even have a smidge without tailspinning into misery. I am hoping I am the former, it means that I can suffer cross contamination without bad results. For now however I am not risking it and am completely eliminating gluten from my life to allow my body to heal which can take about a month. This means reading everything I buy and eat, research research research, and presenting myself as a celiac when dining out. Which is kind of embarrassing but totally worth not having a reaction.
So far my hubby has been amazing. He even found me a g-free pizzeria and the worlds biggest list of mainstream g free foods. I have found some great blogs and tons of pins on pinterest. It hasn't been easy even for the short time I have been living this way. I have found that almost everything either has gluten in it or is a cross contaminate. All of the chocolate in my house has a "may contain wheat" warning...my favorite taco seasoning has gluten and many other things I am used to eating. Did I mention my hubby brews beer? Really good beer...full of gluten. He has talked about making me a g free so we will see. For now I am happy I can still have pizza, there is a Trader Joe's close (which is super G free friendly) and I have a great support system. I just finished The G Free Diet book which was helpful, especially the part where she gives advice on how to attend food centered functions without making a fuss. Easter is coming up and I want my family to prepare their usual fare, I can always bring something if I need to. It is about the company after all and I don't want Easter to become about my new lifestyle.
I also, out of no where, had the energy and desire to go for a short walk today...it was great. I hope today ifs the beginning of many, many energy filled healthy days!!!
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