Be careful what you ask for - You just might get it!
Never really thought much of this advice until the last 2
weeks. And what a 2 weeks it has been…
So when I went on the walk (mentioned in this post) with my
friend Roni several weeks ago we started talking about her experience with food
sensitivity testing. She had been to see
a Dr. in Peoria and had some blood tests done that revealed she was insensitive
to certain foods. Not allergic, just
insensitive. She said learning this
information has been invaluable and she has seen very positive results from
changing her diet to eliminate foods that give her issues.
“You should check it out!” she says.
This is the same friend who dragged me out in sub zero temps
to walk when I declared my ½ marathon goal.
I don’t know why I think she has good advice, she had already proven
herself crazy!! But her experience and
her outlook on the testing sparked enough of an interest that I decided to
check it out.
3 weeks ago I went in to the Dr to learn more about the
testing and the services the offer. I
scheduled the blood draw for a health screen and food insensitivities for the
next week. The Nurse said “now eat a
variety of foods this week so the test is more accurate.”
Eating a variety of foods has never been a problem for me…
and was glad I was under Dr’s orders to do so J
Next week I went for the blood draw. I swear they took like 15 tubes of
blood.
Last Tuesday I went in for my results. In all honesty I was expecting something
along the lines of “at this point, given your results, you’re better off
scheduling an appointment with the funeral home to make your arrangements
now.” Early diabetes, high cholesterol…
I was convinced it was all coming.
To my surprise, none of that was true. The health side of things checked out well, with
the exception of my thyroid which tanked on me many years ago. I control that was meds. But no early diabetes, no cholesterol
issues. Major victory…
And then came the food insensitivities. I silently began to pray
“tell me I am insensitive to green beans.”
“order me to remove all steamed food from my diet”
“suggest I eat more preserved foods in an effort to preserve
my insides so I might live as long as the twinkie shelf life”
“Well your tests are pretty crazy” she begins.
I liked where this was going. I was going to be that ONE person who should
not be eating veggies and who needs more fried food in their diet. I’ve always known I am that person!!! Finally medical confirmation!!
“Your gut is shredded due to the very high intolerances you
have to certain foods. No wonder you
feel the way you do”
She was referencing my brain fog, lack of energy, daily
lower back pain, migraines, restless sleep, inability to lose weight.
“The good news is we have answers and when you have
eliminated these foods from your diet, you’re going to feel remarkably better.”
I have no doubt I think… just tell me which veggie or rice
cake to trash!!
“Let’s start with your gluten issue. You have a major gluten issue”
Okay, that wasn’t where I was hoping to start, but I can go
there. So no gluten. I don’t have celiac, but my body can’t handle
gluten. It is interesting that gluten
intolerance is tied to many autoimmune conditions, including MS which is very
prevalent in my family. So if taking
gluten out of my diet helps to minimize my risks of these issues in the future
then I am okay with that.
After talking all about the gluten and me really being okay
with it, she says “in addition to gluten you have a significant insensitivity
to dairy. You really need to get off all
dairy.”
So now crackers and now no cheese?!?!? Who does this woman think she is telling me
these things!! I LOVE cheese. All kinds of cheese (except for the kind in
can). I can do without yogurt, I will
even give up sour cream and milk but I needed to take a minute to grieve the
loss of cheese.
And then, like a boxer just waiting to strike she delivers
the final blow…
“But your biggest issue really seems to be in regards to
yeast. You HAVE to remove that from your
diet.”
I feel the walls closing in, my throat swelling shut… I am
watching this but cannot believe it is happening…
No yeast???? “That
means no wine?!?!?” I say
She confirms
Bitch
First the crackers, then the cheese, now the wine.
She left me the grapes.
Thanks lady.
I take a minute to let it all be absorbed.
I begin to curse Roni for suggesting this testing and for me
asking for answers when I didn’t really want them. J
So I leave the Dr, with a box of 1 week of some powered
shake mix to help me detox my system and a list of foods I can have. It is a short list that I can pretty much
write on my palm. I spend the week
drinking 2 shakes a day and eating nothing but fruits and veggies.
I also pack cheese sticks in my kids lunches every day in an
effort to get them out of the fridge.
Caleb declares his love for MY salsa jalapeno cheese sticks and asks me
to buy more. I realize he is working
with the enemy and declare war on him too.
Hope you enjoy your quinoa gluten free dairy free birthday cake next
week buddy. I will have the last laugh.
And then it happened.
I would say slowly but really it was pretty much overnight…and certainly
by the end of the week.
That brain fog I seem to always have where I just can’t
focus…. Gone.
That lower back pain that I have dealt with every day for
the last 15+ years…. Gone
That restless sleep that I have blamed on the kids…. Gone
That time between 2-4 every day where I want to curl up and
take a nap…. Gone
Migraines… Gone (so far)
In the 9 days since I removed all the gluten, dairy and
yeast from my diet I have never felt better.
And the crazy thing is I didn’t realize just how bad I
felt. I knew that I didn’t feel good,
but now as things are beginning to change I realize what it is like to actually
feel GOOD.
I also didn’t realize foods that I didn’t think were hurting
me were contributing to my issues.
I didn’t realize that glass of wine was an issue.
I didn’t realize that turkey sandwich on a wheat thin could
be causing back pain.
I didn’t realize the greek yogurt I ate each day was
contributing to my brain fog.
And I began to celebrate that my weight issues and other
ailments might not be due to me being lazy or undisciplined about my
health. That is what people think when
they look at me even though I know the time I spend exercising and making good
food choices. It really might be that I
have not been eating the right foods for ME.
It was validation.
Validation and motivation… because now that I feel so much
better and it is only 9 days I am excited to see what I will feel like when my
gut is healed and all my systems are working correctly.
Today I had lunch with a friend. Her grilled cheese and fries, which would
have been mouthwatering a few weeks ago, weren’t even the least bit appealing
to me. I know I am just beginning on
this journey and there will be lots of ups and downs as I figure out this new
way of eating. But I have to trust that
the downs will be a lot easier to face with this new energy and pain free body.
I know many have had experiences with gluten and/or dairy
free. I gladly welcome your advice and
support.
Good thing bananas are still on my list… It wouldn’t be as
much fun hanging around rambling at a kale or cumquat stand. J
