(no subject)
So, finally, the beginnings of some answers about what's wrong with me! I went to an allergist today and got a scratch test. He told me I need to go to a gastroenterologist and get tested for celiac disease (gluten sensitivity) and (god forbid) Crohn's disease. But I did get some answers on my allergies: I am allergic to wheat, tomatoes, almonds, strawberries, and raw carrots (mildly). The tomatoes, almonds and strawberries got an immediate reaction-- my skin broke out in those spots, and I started coughing so hard I could barely breathe. I only had a mild reaction to wheat, but after I left the wheat spot developed a huge hive, and then I broke out in hives all over my arms and thighs, and then I got diarrhea. I guess that answers that question. I have to go to Quest Diagnostic tomorrow and get this all confirmed with a blood test. They said I can get answers on Monday, but I have a friend who works for Quest so I might actually be able to find out from him earlier than that.
So I have to get rid of tomatoes, almonds and strawberries in my diet, but I'm still a bit confused about wheat. If it's an allergy, and I want to feel better, clearly I need to eliminate wheat from my diet right away. BUT-- if it's celiac disease in addition, then I would need to be eating wheat or else the tests won't be conclusive. I think what I'm going to do is just stop eating wheat for now, and then when they tell me what tests are happening when, I'll start again briefly if they tell me it's necessary.
Fuck. Goodbye, pizza! Goodbye, vast majority of Italian-American food! *sniff* I guess vodka's out too. And cookies, cake... okay, I have to stop thinking this way.
Two brightish spots. One is that if it's only a wheat allergy, as opposed to a gluten sensitivity, that means I should be OK with barley-- which means I can still drink many kinds of beer. Hooray beer! (That would explain why I usually don't have a bad reaction to beer...) Also, the allergist told me that many people who have never-ending "seasonal" allergies, like I do, actually have food allergies that cause the same symptoms (like my coughing). So if I clear these things from my diet, the sniffles, sneezing, etc. that have driven me crazy for years might clear up too. Which would be lovely.
So I went to Whole Foods, which clearly is going to be my main source of sustenance from now on. Thank god I'm finding all this out in the year 2005, when Whole Foods is expanding to all over the damn place and you can get health foods and specialty foods and so on. I'm going to be all about risotto and masala dosa and 100% corn tortillas. And I'm trying to make myself learn to like more vegetables, and eat more fruit, and generally lay off fried things and Coke and coffee. It's easier to do when it's not just about my willpower-- when you are actually having severely unpleasant physical reactions it's a lot easier to stop eating something. It's kind of like going on a diet, and having it enforced with electric shocks when you cheat! I am definitely losing weight, too-- I sensed it the other day, and when they weighed me today I weighed less than I have in years-- I've lost about ten pounds. It's kind of annoying-- people at work keep telling me I look great, and I want to say, yeah, chronic diarrhea and an inability to hold my food are sooo awesome. Illness is such a great way to lose weight.
Bleh. Anyway, at least I can look forward to being much healthier. And maybe, if I feel good after changing my diet, I won't need any further anal probing by gastroenterologists. My therapist lent me an Ayurveda book with lots of good wheat-free recipes in it. I have my lunch packed for tomorrow: some good cheddar and pure corn tortillas, some baby spinach with olive oil/sesame oil/sesame homemade dressing, and some Whole Foods red lentil and coconut milk soup. A feast! I can't possibly feel deprived while eating food that good. From now on I will be eating only foods whose ingredients I can pronounce. (With the possible exception of quinoa.) For breakfast, maybe yogurt, or oatmeal, or an omelette. For dinner, we're taking Anand, who's having an exceptionally horrible week, to the Corner Bistro, where I will simply remove the bun from my amazing hamburger. I can eat well on this diet. And I will be taking control of my health, after more than a year of feeling completely powerless.
So: this is, overall, a positive development. I finally have some answers, I finally have some control. Time to move into the next phase of my life as a foodie. Comments (and recipes, and restaurant recommendations) welcome!
So I have to get rid of tomatoes, almonds and strawberries in my diet, but I'm still a bit confused about wheat. If it's an allergy, and I want to feel better, clearly I need to eliminate wheat from my diet right away. BUT-- if it's celiac disease in addition, then I would need to be eating wheat or else the tests won't be conclusive. I think what I'm going to do is just stop eating wheat for now, and then when they tell me what tests are happening when, I'll start again briefly if they tell me it's necessary.
Fuck. Goodbye, pizza! Goodbye, vast majority of Italian-American food! *sniff* I guess vodka's out too. And cookies, cake... okay, I have to stop thinking this way.
Two brightish spots. One is that if it's only a wheat allergy, as opposed to a gluten sensitivity, that means I should be OK with barley-- which means I can still drink many kinds of beer. Hooray beer! (That would explain why I usually don't have a bad reaction to beer...) Also, the allergist told me that many people who have never-ending "seasonal" allergies, like I do, actually have food allergies that cause the same symptoms (like my coughing). So if I clear these things from my diet, the sniffles, sneezing, etc. that have driven me crazy for years might clear up too. Which would be lovely.
So I went to Whole Foods, which clearly is going to be my main source of sustenance from now on. Thank god I'm finding all this out in the year 2005, when Whole Foods is expanding to all over the damn place and you can get health foods and specialty foods and so on. I'm going to be all about risotto and masala dosa and 100% corn tortillas. And I'm trying to make myself learn to like more vegetables, and eat more fruit, and generally lay off fried things and Coke and coffee. It's easier to do when it's not just about my willpower-- when you are actually having severely unpleasant physical reactions it's a lot easier to stop eating something. It's kind of like going on a diet, and having it enforced with electric shocks when you cheat! I am definitely losing weight, too-- I sensed it the other day, and when they weighed me today I weighed less than I have in years-- I've lost about ten pounds. It's kind of annoying-- people at work keep telling me I look great, and I want to say, yeah, chronic diarrhea and an inability to hold my food are sooo awesome. Illness is such a great way to lose weight.
Bleh. Anyway, at least I can look forward to being much healthier. And maybe, if I feel good after changing my diet, I won't need any further anal probing by gastroenterologists. My therapist lent me an Ayurveda book with lots of good wheat-free recipes in it. I have my lunch packed for tomorrow: some good cheddar and pure corn tortillas, some baby spinach with olive oil/sesame oil/sesame homemade dressing, and some Whole Foods red lentil and coconut milk soup. A feast! I can't possibly feel deprived while eating food that good. From now on I will be eating only foods whose ingredients I can pronounce. (With the possible exception of quinoa.) For breakfast, maybe yogurt, or oatmeal, or an omelette. For dinner, we're taking Anand, who's having an exceptionally horrible week, to the Corner Bistro, where I will simply remove the bun from my amazing hamburger. I can eat well on this diet. And I will be taking control of my health, after more than a year of feeling completely powerless.
So: this is, overall, a positive development. I finally have some answers, I finally have some control. Time to move into the next phase of my life as a foodie. Comments (and recipes, and restaurant recommendations) welcome!