Well, I know that I said that I would post healing foods and things to do/not to do with certain disorders, but I guess I felt like I had to chronicle my own healing before I started giving advice to others.
A little over a week ago, I went really strict and cut out all remaining traces of dairy, soy and grains. (Specifically corn products in EVERYTHING!!!) I also started supplementing vit D, and I have to say, I'm feeling better.
I can't believe it, and I hate to say that maybe, just maybe, I have stumbled across another big piece of my puzzle. I'm not as tired during the day, especially late afternoon, and I find that overall, I can get more accomplished. My mood as very much improved, and I'm able to find that I'm not constantly thinking about what I could do better, but instead, doing what I can, and accepting what I can't.
My stomach pains are not completely gone, but I slipped last week and ate at Chipotle. They use soy oil in ALL of their products, which I had totally zoned out about. Anyway, I felt that all to familiar feeling of yuck after I ate. But nothing that lingers on like a mistaken glutening. Overall, I feel so much better eating fruits, veggies, nuts and meats. I am truly hoping that I continue down this path. Life's getting good again!!!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Another step forward
As part of my attitude adjustment, I decided that I would really buckle down. This year has to be better than the last, which was better than the last... I'm trying really hard to create a pattern here.
So, I've totally cut out dairy. I even resisted topping my steak with bleu cheese tonight. I figure if I can say no to that, I'm making great strides. I've also decided to very seriously do away with soy, and trial corn. All other grains are pretty limited, too.
I've started taking a vitamin D supplement on the advice of my doctor (surprise, surprise! I have low vitamin D) and between that and eliminating these foods, I'm actually doing pretty good. Now, if my dear, sweet son would let me get some sleep, I might be in business.
Another important thing I'm doing is taking digestive enzymes. I went into a local health food store, and the owner gave me some info on enzymes to look over. Within five minutes, I had determined that I had an amylase deficiency. Amylase is the enzyme that deals primarily in the breakdown of carbohydrates, and is not uncommon for celiacs to be deficient in this enzyme. I can't say that it healed me, but I notice a big difference between taking the enzymes and not taking them. If I try grains without them, I usually feel pretty sluggish. I think I'm finally moving in the right direction again!!!
So, I've totally cut out dairy. I even resisted topping my steak with bleu cheese tonight. I figure if I can say no to that, I'm making great strides. I've also decided to very seriously do away with soy, and trial corn. All other grains are pretty limited, too.
I've started taking a vitamin D supplement on the advice of my doctor (surprise, surprise! I have low vitamin D) and between that and eliminating these foods, I'm actually doing pretty good. Now, if my dear, sweet son would let me get some sleep, I might be in business.
Another important thing I'm doing is taking digestive enzymes. I went into a local health food store, and the owner gave me some info on enzymes to look over. Within five minutes, I had determined that I had an amylase deficiency. Amylase is the enzyme that deals primarily in the breakdown of carbohydrates, and is not uncommon for celiacs to be deficient in this enzyme. I can't say that it healed me, but I notice a big difference between taking the enzymes and not taking them. If I try grains without them, I usually feel pretty sluggish. I think I'm finally moving in the right direction again!!!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Attitude Adjustment
I'm sitting here in the dark, it's after midnight, and my mind is racing, as usual. Maybe it's the new year, I don't know, but I realized that I need to re-evaluate how I approach things so that I can really and truly regain my health.
I've been gluten free for a little over a year now, and hands down with out a doubt, I am doing so much better than I was. But I'm still not where I want to be. I have days, like today, when I have so much I need and want to accomplish, but can't quite get the energy or motivation to do so. I eat something and then I start feeling, well, sort of blah. Eliminating gluten was really not that hard, maybe because the change was so drastic and I felt better almost immediately. But for some reason, knowing that I should do another round of eliminations to see if something else is causing me problems and actually doing it are just not working well together. I already know that I don't handle dairy very well, and yet I continue to have little bits here and there.
Perhaps I've just had enough of feeling like there's nothing really wrong, but something is not quite right. I looked in the mirror tonight and my face looked like a 16 year olds. Something is not working right in my body, and I'm adjusting my attitude so that I can figure out what it is. For so long, I thought that because I was feeling ok, I didn't have any other food intolerances. I mean, I already had to give up eating gluten. So now, I face having to add something or take something away. And that's ok, because now I think I'm ready.
So, I needed an attitude adjustment. At least I know the cause of my sickness. There's people out there who are sick and don't know why, with autoimmune diseases and the only way to manage it is to take medication everyday. At least I don't have to deal with that, although I'm starting to worry that if I don't start to take better care of myself, I will.
So, off I go to the online library, where I will see what kind of info I can find. And then maybe, my brain will calm down enough to let me sleep... ok, I guess we'll have to see about that one.
I've been gluten free for a little over a year now, and hands down with out a doubt, I am doing so much better than I was. But I'm still not where I want to be. I have days, like today, when I have so much I need and want to accomplish, but can't quite get the energy or motivation to do so. I eat something and then I start feeling, well, sort of blah. Eliminating gluten was really not that hard, maybe because the change was so drastic and I felt better almost immediately. But for some reason, knowing that I should do another round of eliminations to see if something else is causing me problems and actually doing it are just not working well together. I already know that I don't handle dairy very well, and yet I continue to have little bits here and there.
Perhaps I've just had enough of feeling like there's nothing really wrong, but something is not quite right. I looked in the mirror tonight and my face looked like a 16 year olds. Something is not working right in my body, and I'm adjusting my attitude so that I can figure out what it is. For so long, I thought that because I was feeling ok, I didn't have any other food intolerances. I mean, I already had to give up eating gluten. So now, I face having to add something or take something away. And that's ok, because now I think I'm ready.
So, I needed an attitude adjustment. At least I know the cause of my sickness. There's people out there who are sick and don't know why, with autoimmune diseases and the only way to manage it is to take medication everyday. At least I don't have to deal with that, although I'm starting to worry that if I don't start to take better care of myself, I will.
So, off I go to the online library, where I will see what kind of info I can find. And then maybe, my brain will calm down enough to let me sleep... ok, I guess we'll have to see about that one.
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