A long time ago there was this radio station in Cleveland that was changing formats and they played the song "It's the end of the world as you know it" by REM over and over for 24 hours. For me it hasn't been a full 24 hours yet but last night I got a phone call that will change my life forever. I will start by saying I am not dying or anything....I won't keep you hanging on that. But as many of you know, for quite some time I have had MANY ailments that can't quite be explained. Thinning hair, bad nails, unexplained rashes, extra heart beats, brain fog, tiredness, oh the list can go on and on. I have been going to the doctor for years complaining of this and that. I fired one doctor and moved on to another. I was given diagnosises without adequate testing and when the medications haven't worked it is forgotten about until I feel the symptoms are unbearable and I go back to the doctor. Pretty much I have felt like somewhat of a hypocondriac because of the way I have been treated and looked at strangely. So, in October my doc gave me a paper for some blood work. I am embarassed to say I didn't get it done until recently. Mostly it was for normal cholesterol and such but there was another test for allegies. Back in the day they used to have to do that scratch test but now they can do it with blood. There are hundreds of these blood allergy tests. When I got to the place to get the bloodwork done the woman at the desk had to call the doc to see which allergy test he wanted me to have. He said for Food Allergies. I was disappointed because I felt like it was a waste of a test. Anyhooo..... A couple of weeks have gone by and I haven't gotten the results. In the mean time I was taking this long hot bath and reading a magazine that has an article in it about childhood food allergies. I immediately thought Elise has an allergy to wheat. I called her doc and he said he thought it may be possible and to take her off wheat for the next 10 days. When I started researching the allergy I starting thinking....wait a minute....I think I am allergic to wheat. Wheat is a tough thing to avoid. Well, last night, after dinner I got a phone call from the doc's office and they confirmed I am allergic to wheat. But there is more. I am also allergic to CORN. Do you understand corn is in everything! Oh, and I am allergic to EGGS! Wheat, corn and eggs. What will I eat? Every last one of my symptoms can be explained by these allergies. Amazing. They are bad enough I will give up these foods. I am not sure how I will do this. I can be stubborn and I do have willpower...I just don't like to use it. All I do know it...my life is changed. No pizza. No cake. No brownies. No coffeemate creamer. No chips and salsa. No beer. No cornbread. No doritos. No warm crusty bread or soft buttery yeast rolls. No lasagna. No spaghetti. No cookies. And don't even get me started on health and beauty aids.....everything has corn & wheat in it. I guess that is why certain shampoos have always made my hair fall out.
Instead of dwelling on what I can't eat or use, I will cling to the hopes of finally having thick, lush hair, clear skin and a skinny arse. Oh, and this my bring Make it from scratch up to a new level for me.
I will keep you updated but please keep me and (especially) Elise in your prayers.
8 comments:
Oh my goodness. That is tough! Those ingredients really are in everything store bought and about everything we are accustomed to making at home. But at least you now have an explanation and a fix.
Hello,
My son is allergic to soy, peanuts, eggs, wheat and dairy. I started a website www.spewdfree.com to help others who suffer from food allergies. SPEWD Free has allergy friendly recipes and an allergy blog. I hope it helps you.
Heather
I would totally go crazy! At least you know that you weren't crazy!LOl
Taking a step away from the Standard American Diet will probably be a blessing in disguise. Glad you've found the cause of the problems. Now on to the solution!
Aunt N
There is an interesting book called "Eat Right for Your Type" (it's speaking of your blood type). It's very interesting. Like, I'm type O something, and it talks about how, depending on your blood type, your body will not tolerate certain foods. So, I, too have to stay away from corn, wheat, peanuts (but almonds are great for me...) and so on. Well, I go to an "Alternative Healing" doctor (she's really the only one that has every given me true answers) and she did what's called muscle testing on me. You may have heard of it, it's where certain foods, chemicals or allergens effect your bodies natural energies and cause your muscles to go weak whence exposed to them. She found all of these things that I was "intolerant to" (there's a big difference between intolerant and allergic. Allergic, you break out into bumps, splotches.. whatever, intolerance means you feel ill, gain weight, can't poo the way we should...) and the funny thing is that the book listed many of those same things. I highly recommend that book. In fact when I see it at the Goodwill or Y.Sale, I buy it in order to have extras. Also, the doctor (she's actually a chiropractor that does whole body health) was also able to REVERSE my allergies/intolerances. I was allergic to cats and dogs and now I no longer am. Wheat and Corn isn't really good for you anyway b/c your body tends to store it as fat, same thing with white sugar... You can, however, eat blue corn and there are tons of other grains that are wonderful to use. Your health food store probably has a "gluten free" section, which just means no corn or wheat in it. You can eat spelt bread (sold at Meijer), Mullen Bread, Ezekiel Bread (sold at Kroger- it's based off of the ingredients that were spelled out in the Bible book of Ezekiel to make bread. The grains have already sprouted, then they make it into grain, therefore avoiding the gluten issues.), there's blue corn meal, blue corn chips to dip in your favorite salsa, Kroger also has blue corn taco shells. This Wheat, Corn, white sugar... tends to feed the yeast that's in your body and yeast is the culprite (sp?) of all illnesses. It causes swelling and inflamation, mucous- which carries all diseases and it effects your colon which is where ALL diseases/cancers begin. Sorry, I know I'm rambling. It's just I had the same exact things happen to me (and I've had maybe one to many cups of organic coffee:-). My son and daughter get rashes, hives and eczema constantly, so I now make my own soaps, salves, laundry detergent... When I notice there immunity failing, skin rashing or acne I eliminate as much wheat, corn, sugar, food coloring as possible from there diet. Just some things to think about...Hopefully it'll help.
MAN! I can't imagine. Not eating Doritos?!?? UGH! I hope you'll keep us up to date on what you learn and how its going. We'llkeep you all in our prayers.
Was that WMMS that did that? I vaguely remember it.
wow! so glad you finally have an answer! what a change to go through, i can't imagine. but, you'll feel a ton better i bet! i'll be praying for you as you continue to work through this. keep us posted!
the radio station was 107.9, the end, WENZ. you can go to 1079.com for more info. they were only around for a few years. it was a great station!
Oh i'm sorry D - that blows. When i was so sick last year (and the year befor that!) they ran SOSOSOSO
many different tests on me. All i was allergic to was corn..i still have it in products now and then but let me tell you, i always know because my face gets so blotchy!!
I actualy have so much inner inflamtion from random things that i take Zyrtec daily and that helps.Email me if you want to know more! Hugs to you and Elise!! Sending you serenity, your old roomie.
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