My name is Debbie and this is my first post to YUMMY GLUTEN FREE LIFE. My journey began about 10 years ago. It's a very long journey so I'm going to give you the short version.
At the time my symptoms came on, I was working as a Real Estate Agent on a part time basis, and raising my two energetic boys. I was also starting to build a sewing business. So, you would think that would be enough reason to feel sluggish, tired, achy and lethargic, right? Well, that's what the Dr.'s said too, but after a couple years with no relief, I asked for further evaluation.! I was after all, aware of how my own body felt, and knew it was not just the way a busy woman feels. I mean, I could not even weed the garden without being exhausted. So the tests went on...and on...and on...and finally I was diagnosed with Lupus. When a second opinion was requested, I got some attitude from the Dr., but it was authorized and I continued with tests and tests and tests. The 2nd opinion was a big fat NO! That was good, but also frustrating, as I still was unsure of the problem. I was tested for TB, Lead Poisoning, Lupus, Lyme Disease, Thyroid Disease and a host of other autoimmune diseases. This Dr....and the next said Fibromyalgia. This was hard to explain to people, as it had not yet been coined a "real" diagnosis. My Dr. put me on steroids and told me to take a nap every day. Well...40 lbs later and feeling like an overfilled balloon, I decided it was better to be in pain than to feel sedated and swollen and lay around being a lump...so I gave up the meds and talked to my Dr. about what else might help. He said.."deal with it..you have fibromyalgia"! So that's what I did....I dealt with it....until....
About 2 years ago I began feeling worse. My muscle and joint pain was severe and getting up in the morning was excruciating. There had to be another answer!! So back to the Dr.'s. Some new, some old...but no new answers...the roller coaster ride had begun again...it could be MS...it could be Lupus...it could be Lyme...it could be Thyroid...NOPE...NONE! So on and on we went....dealing with it...until...
Last summer I had a severe headache. Migraines were not uncommon for me. I got htem at least a few times a month...this one was maybe just a little bit worse. I went to bed..I took all my migraine meds..but nothing...so I sat up in bed, crying and holding my head. I suddenly felt the urge to throw up...so I ran to the bathroom. I didn't end up vomiting, but all of a sudden I could not see...I felt dizzy and was confused...I began the walk back to the bedroom and I guess I bounced off the walls a couple times, which is when my husband came running to my rescue...luckily he caught me just before I hit the floor. Poor Carl thought he lost me...even though it was only for about 45 seconds. He said it was the longest 45 seconds of his life! My son also came up from his bedroom when he heard the bang. I only remember waking up with my head on my son's hands and my husband on the phone with 911. It seemed like they came fairly quickly and loaded me up into the ambulance. They brought me to Providence hospital because they suspected stroke or a brain situation. Tests...tests...tests...MRI's...brain scans...and what did they find...NOTHING! So off to a Neurologist, and a Reumatologist I went.....Diagnosed with seizures of an unknown nature, so to speak...and fibromyalgia! Second opinion Not seizures and not convinced fibromyalgia...maybe MS...maybe problems in my blood vessels or brain...wow...MRI's, EKG's, Stess Tests, EEG's......and.....wait for it.....NOTHING! until...I had 3 more incidents! My last trip to the er was just 2 weeks ago and they acted as though I had a panic attack. They checked for heart attack, but did nothing more other than tell me to go home and come back if it was worse. It took me an entire week of bed rest to get back on my feet! Meanwhile I made an appointment with my regular Dr. because I was peeing like a race horse....20 times in a day...what the heck...so I called the Dr. and said I think I have a bladder infection. In I go for a urine analysis...well...there was so much sugar in my urine that the Dr. was sure I had diabetes...but the blood test showed regular sugar in my blood...So he took blood tests for Celiac and for all kinds of other things. So back in a week for another test. Turns out Celiac was not proven, but Gluten sensitivity was determined. Why no other Dr., had ever mentioned Celiac or gluten sensitivity to me, I don't know....but...I started my gluten free diet right away. Now Gluten sensitivity is not my only issue...I've also got Diverticulitis Disease, which means no nuts, seeds, or skins...and Fibromyalgia, so my health story is not over yet! Today I got a call from the Dr., saying more tests came back and my insulin is extremely high. Off to the endocrinologist on the 20th, but for now, I am starting my gluten free lifestyle and I'm surprised and extremely happy to say..I am actually feeling better in the tummy each and every day! It's been 1 week! I expensive, but surprisingly YUMMY week! I realized how much I was telling people about what foods I liked, didn't like, found to be a good deal, not a good deal, tolerable to my pallet, etc. so I decided to begin this blog. I may post every now and then about my other health issues, but this blog will mainly be my review of gluten free foods, restaurants, recipes and how my health improves over the next year! Feel free to comment! Ask questions if you have them, but this journey is very new to me, so my opinion may be all I have to offer!
And yes...I am finding Gluten Free Living to be quite YUMMY!
Tune in tomorrow for my first review! Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix!
p.s. I guess we will see how much of my health is related to Gluten! Wouldn't it be amazing if all these problems are resolved...simply by cutting Gluten from my diet! I've heard a lot of story's that say it could happen...let's see...
