Going Gluten Free backdated to April 2013
April 28 via mobile
Day 3 homeopathic ragweed and tree pollen treatment: going good, no attacks today, took a walk outside with no adverse reactions.
Day 6 gluten free: notably less bloating(hahah tmi), slightly less scalp irritation, energy level pretty good, mood slight improvement.
April 30
Day 8: gluten free: notably less tummy issues all over the board. Yesterday I drank whole milk for the first time I can ever remember without feeling ill. I am kinda hungry in general though, its not as convenient to grab a bite.. takes some planning . Attitude and mood stable and positive. Feeling a lot less tired than I typically do.
Day 5 pollen: Going good, no attacks, itchiness. Had a couple small hives on my neck but nothing too reportable. I am gradually working up from half doses to full doses and eventually maybe bee pollen.
May 6
Day 13 Gluten Free: I have noticed pronounced changes in my energy level. MY stomach is hardly acting up at all. I was having other personal issues (too personal to post publicly haha and probably TMI anyway) but those seem to be steadily improving as well. I was having issues with chronic dandruff too, which as of today I don't see anything. Often I felt fatigued a lot, but I have to say I am feeling better. Its not quite where I would like still. I wonder what would happen if I had a blood test.... if gluten was causing my anemia would my red blood cell count be better? Could low red blood cells be related somehow to the asthma I was experiencing? On the advice of a friend, I am going to have a full physical in a couple weeks just to check everything out.
Tree pollen and Ragweed Pollen supplements: Going well. I haven't really had any pronounced allergy problems other than a runny nose. HOWEVER, I am very happy to report that I have eaten several things now which I previously had adverse reactions too without any effects! This is very exciting for me because I really do love everything that I am allergic to including nuts, bananas, melons etc. Even if I had to take pollen everyday for the rest of my life and it only cured my food allergies that'd be enough!!! It also seems to be really effective prevents acute attacks that I have, even when I feel one coming on I can take it and its got within a minute... even quick dissolve claritin and benedryl took more time not to mention wiped me out.. yes claritin makes me feel really run down if not drowsy and it sucks.
If you are healthy, treasure it..
May 6 via mobile
Today I got gluten free muffins, bagels, cookies at whole foods also sandwich bread! Yeiii
May 7
Is this you? It was definitely me. Maybe this will help someone.
Gluten has been linked to:
1. Anemia
2. Severe Allergies overall, food and/or seasonal
3. Painful and severe PMS and menstrual problems
4. irritable bowel-like symptoms, stomach always feeling bloated or gassy
5. negative interactions with milk (lactose intolerance-like symptoms)
6. low libido
7. Anxiety
8. Depression
9. Mood swings
10. Skin rashes - painful psoriasis-like rashes
11. Chronic dandruff
6131Like · · Promote · S
May 12 via mobile
Day 20 gluten free: I have been feeling some ups and downs but overall I feel improvements. Still taking pollen with no adverse effects. I think I got accidentally glutened yesterday during graduation food escapades because I awoke at 330 this am with a stomach ache and nauseated. and feeling really anxious. Dunno... I can only do my best to avoid it!
May 13
Day 21 Gluten Free: so I thought I was losing my mind a little bit when I thought my breasts were growing, but now I do not fit in almost all of my bras. I am not pregnant btw! I did a little research and many people who go gluten free report growing 1-2 cup sizes without weight gain. Apparently gluten has a tremendous effect on hormones which we already kinda knew because of the problems with PMS. Anyways, it remains to be seen but I feel like im turning into a barbie because my stomach is tinier. I dont know? Maybe I never grew into my true size because of wheat?? The women in my family are quite large up top and I just figured I got a random smaller gene? dunno. Stay tuned.
May 15
Day 15 on homeopathic pollen: No full on attacks of allergies or any severe symptoms that I am used to seeing. I have been able to eat Banana, Nuts, carrots and paprika with no detectable effects. Taking pollen has reversed an oncoming attack on several occasions. I am not sure if its the homeopathy or the gluten free or the combination that is effective.. but I am feeling great. No tiredness due to allergies either and no side effects from medications! yay
May 15
Day 23 gluten free: Going well, I have never experienced such a pronounced change in my body for some time. Physical, emotional, mental etc. When I get bummed about something I can eat, I focus on all the new things I can that i couldn't before! Things are improving pretty well and I feel pretty good. Its strange though, I have to stop and think because I'm so used to not feeling well that its surprising when I am not conked out by 9 or how I eat and feel nothing bad after!
May 17
Day 25 Gluten Free: The worst thing happened yesterday. I will try not to go into too much gruesome detail but I was working down at the NHCC. I got there about 4:30. I had a little snack before I went. I started feeling really lightheaded and hungry around 7:30. Sean was there, he had brought his car (stick transmission) which I can't drive. I order a gluten free pizza from Domino's. 30 minutes later the guy calls me and is at the wrong place, then tells me he doesn't deliver to NHCC. Rather than call and wait another half hour, I walk over to sonic. Apparently they wont serve you unless you are in a car. The only other thing that is walkable in short amount of time is McDonald's. Now, I don't like eating there but I felt like I was going to pass out. Anyway, I order a bunless burger and some fries. 1 hour later I begin feeling incredibly nauseated and dizzy. I also start to feel weak. Around 10pm I came home finally and BOOM. I threw up all over the place. It was violent and accompanied by bile. I couldn't even stop it or make it to the toilet. Today I feel like I was poisioned and like I was hit by a truck, so I don't know if its because the fries I ordered were fried in oil with other products which contain wheat or ??? I don't know if I got food poisoning or if I am now very sensitive to gluten. ? yuck. Either way, I need to make sure I pack my own snacks so I quit eating poison. I had gotten Sean a chicken wrap but I wouldn't let him eat it after I started to feel ill.
May 18
Day 26: I awoke with a splitting head ache, yesterday I had body aches nearly the entire day. I drank an entire bottle of sparkling water this morning. Yesterday all I ate was fruit and a ton of fluids all day. Right about now though, my headache finally subsided and I feel like I can eat. That was terribly bad! A friend with Celiac's says that she experiences many of the same symptoms when she gets contaminated with gluten. She said that even a tiny amount can send her into a tail spin. I was really hoping I wasn't that sensitive. I ran across a statistic online that it is estimated that 1/133 persons are gluten intolerant/celiac or other gluten sensititivity but because the link isn't obvious, people don't seek treatment. I am feeling a little sad about this today because I was hoping maybe I could have foods once in a while but it is definitely NOT worth all this. Makes me wonder how much damage to my system was done over time. This whole thing is kind of a whirlwind. It all seemed so simple, that I stop eating wheat and see what happens. Well, a lot has happened.
Day 32 Gluten Free: Energy levels good, I am sleeping an average of 5/6 hours a night and have been for a while. This is a huge change for me. At times I would sleep 12 hours easily and some days I felt really run down. (allergies had a lot to do with this) My hayfever is almost un-noticeable (huge change). I have backed off taking pollen and haven't taken it for several days, but I am still not having attacks or food allergy reactions. Last night I indulged in a caramel, banana, almond sundae at coldstone. OMG. Delish. I am taking a daily vitamin supplement to help with the absence of fortified wheat products. PMS was a breeze. No pain, no cramps, no excessive junx. I was a little blah for a day but that's it. (Huge change). So far so good. I am looking forward to a good physical exam and testing. It's been a bit of a bummer giving up some things, but I wouldn't trade it for health and longevity at ALL. - feeling happy.
May 30
Day 38 Gluten Free: What can I say? My energy levels are incredible. I only sleep 6 hours a night on average now. I feel pretty great all day and not so lethargic. My Hayfever/allergies are pretty much non-existent. I have been off pollen but I have it around just in case. I feel great! - feeling awesome.
June 19 near Albuquerque, NM
Day 57 Gluten Free:
Hormones and mood stablized/improved
PMS symptoms - improved
Allergies - Tons of improvement. no hayfever, no uncontrollable attacks, still reactions to walnuts (3 hour delay itchy eye attack, no oral symptoms), reaction to carrots (one mouth ulcer formed), no oral reactions or hives to bananas, melons, cinnamon, almonds, paprika
GI/Stomach/IBS issues - non-existant
Energy levels - much improved, I can go on 6-7 hours of sleep no problem without extreme fatigue at the end of the day. I can go to bed at 11 and pop up at 6 no problem now. OMG thank goodness.
My physical figure and features have shifted from a banana shape to an hourglass (whoa!)
no illnesses or feelings of asthma or trouble breathing.
to be continued.....
June 26 via mobile
The coOp has 4 Gluten Free baked goods choices this morning ! Yay
July 5
Gluten free folks be warned:
Gosh, I have had to completely replace my entire wardrobe except for t-shirts and dance pants because of my new figure! Downside: I've had to do it on the cheap for now . Upside: I can revamp my style a little bit.
July 14
Over 75 days gluten free: Cant tell you how much joy i got throwing out all my allergy medications. I haven't had an attack in months and i even own a cat now!
OCT 2
Gluten free since April! Except for a 10 hour food poisoning episode, I have not been sick in 5 months! Pretty amazing. I have more energy and feel better than I ever have. Crazy what a little wheat can do to send my body from healthy to super ill so fast. I am so happy it got figured out. The other option was a laundry list of shots and pills. No thanks. - feeling great.
October 30 via mobile
Those of you who know me well know this is my bad season for allergies... It has improved a lot but Saturday my asthma returned. To boot, sean has also had really bad allergies. We did an allergen sweep last night. Laundering all the bedding and replacing our pillows. Cleaning the floor too. I even washed the cats! They were actually really good! Today I feel less constricted but we will see. Still gluten free! This is still a lot of improvement over previous years.
Day 3 homeopathic ragweed and tree pollen treatment: going good, no attacks today, took a walk outside with no adverse reactions.
Day 6 gluten free: notably less bloating(hahah tmi), slightly less scalp irritation, energy level pretty good, mood slight improvement.
April 30
Day 8: gluten free: notably less tummy issues all over the board. Yesterday I drank whole milk for the first time I can ever remember without feeling ill. I am kinda hungry in general though, its not as convenient to grab a bite.. takes some planning . Attitude and mood stable and positive. Feeling a lot less tired than I typically do.
Day 5 pollen: Going good, no attacks, itchiness. Had a couple small hives on my neck but nothing too reportable. I am gradually working up from half doses to full doses and eventually maybe bee pollen.
May 6
Day 13 Gluten Free: I have noticed pronounced changes in my energy level. MY stomach is hardly acting up at all. I was having other personal issues (too personal to post publicly haha and probably TMI anyway) but those seem to be steadily improving as well. I was having issues with chronic dandruff too, which as of today I don't see anything. Often I felt fatigued a lot, but I have to say I am feeling better. Its not quite where I would like still. I wonder what would happen if I had a blood test.... if gluten was causing my anemia would my red blood cell count be better? Could low red blood cells be related somehow to the asthma I was experiencing? On the advice of a friend, I am going to have a full physical in a couple weeks just to check everything out.
Tree pollen and Ragweed Pollen supplements: Going well. I haven't really had any pronounced allergy problems other than a runny nose. HOWEVER, I am very happy to report that I have eaten several things now which I previously had adverse reactions too without any effects! This is very exciting for me because I really do love everything that I am allergic to including nuts, bananas, melons etc. Even if I had to take pollen everyday for the rest of my life and it only cured my food allergies that'd be enough!!! It also seems to be really effective prevents acute attacks that I have, even when I feel one coming on I can take it and its got within a minute... even quick dissolve claritin and benedryl took more time not to mention wiped me out.. yes claritin makes me feel really run down if not drowsy and it sucks.
If you are healthy, treasure it..
May 6 via mobile
Today I got gluten free muffins, bagels, cookies at whole foods also sandwich bread! Yeiii
May 7
Is this you? It was definitely me. Maybe this will help someone.
Gluten has been linked to:
1. Anemia
2. Severe Allergies overall, food and/or seasonal
3. Painful and severe PMS and menstrual problems
4. irritable bowel-like symptoms, stomach always feeling bloated or gassy
5. negative interactions with milk (lactose intolerance-like symptoms)
6. low libido
7. Anxiety
8. Depression
9. Mood swings
10. Skin rashes - painful psoriasis-like rashes
11. Chronic dandruff
6131Like · · Promote · S
May 12 via mobile
Day 20 gluten free: I have been feeling some ups and downs but overall I feel improvements. Still taking pollen with no adverse effects. I think I got accidentally glutened yesterday during graduation food escapades because I awoke at 330 this am with a stomach ache and nauseated. and feeling really anxious. Dunno... I can only do my best to avoid it!
May 13
Day 21 Gluten Free: so I thought I was losing my mind a little bit when I thought my breasts were growing, but now I do not fit in almost all of my bras. I am not pregnant btw! I did a little research and many people who go gluten free report growing 1-2 cup sizes without weight gain. Apparently gluten has a tremendous effect on hormones which we already kinda knew because of the problems with PMS. Anyways, it remains to be seen but I feel like im turning into a barbie because my stomach is tinier. I dont know? Maybe I never grew into my true size because of wheat?? The women in my family are quite large up top and I just figured I got a random smaller gene? dunno. Stay tuned.
May 15
Day 15 on homeopathic pollen: No full on attacks of allergies or any severe symptoms that I am used to seeing. I have been able to eat Banana, Nuts, carrots and paprika with no detectable effects. Taking pollen has reversed an oncoming attack on several occasions. I am not sure if its the homeopathy or the gluten free or the combination that is effective.. but I am feeling great. No tiredness due to allergies either and no side effects from medications! yay
May 15
Day 23 gluten free: Going well, I have never experienced such a pronounced change in my body for some time. Physical, emotional, mental etc. When I get bummed about something I can eat, I focus on all the new things I can that i couldn't before! Things are improving pretty well and I feel pretty good. Its strange though, I have to stop and think because I'm so used to not feeling well that its surprising when I am not conked out by 9 or how I eat and feel nothing bad after!
May 17
Day 25 Gluten Free: The worst thing happened yesterday. I will try not to go into too much gruesome detail but I was working down at the NHCC. I got there about 4:30. I had a little snack before I went. I started feeling really lightheaded and hungry around 7:30. Sean was there, he had brought his car (stick transmission) which I can't drive. I order a gluten free pizza from Domino's. 30 minutes later the guy calls me and is at the wrong place, then tells me he doesn't deliver to NHCC. Rather than call and wait another half hour, I walk over to sonic. Apparently they wont serve you unless you are in a car. The only other thing that is walkable in short amount of time is McDonald's. Now, I don't like eating there but I felt like I was going to pass out. Anyway, I order a bunless burger and some fries. 1 hour later I begin feeling incredibly nauseated and dizzy. I also start to feel weak. Around 10pm I came home finally and BOOM. I threw up all over the place. It was violent and accompanied by bile. I couldn't even stop it or make it to the toilet. Today I feel like I was poisioned and like I was hit by a truck, so I don't know if its because the fries I ordered were fried in oil with other products which contain wheat or ??? I don't know if I got food poisoning or if I am now very sensitive to gluten. ? yuck. Either way, I need to make sure I pack my own snacks so I quit eating poison. I had gotten Sean a chicken wrap but I wouldn't let him eat it after I started to feel ill.
May 18
Day 26: I awoke with a splitting head ache, yesterday I had body aches nearly the entire day. I drank an entire bottle of sparkling water this morning. Yesterday all I ate was fruit and a ton of fluids all day. Right about now though, my headache finally subsided and I feel like I can eat. That was terribly bad! A friend with Celiac's says that she experiences many of the same symptoms when she gets contaminated with gluten. She said that even a tiny amount can send her into a tail spin. I was really hoping I wasn't that sensitive. I ran across a statistic online that it is estimated that 1/133 persons are gluten intolerant/celiac or other gluten sensititivity but because the link isn't obvious, people don't seek treatment. I am feeling a little sad about this today because I was hoping maybe I could have foods once in a while but it is definitely NOT worth all this. Makes me wonder how much damage to my system was done over time. This whole thing is kind of a whirlwind. It all seemed so simple, that I stop eating wheat and see what happens. Well, a lot has happened.
Day 32 Gluten Free: Energy levels good, I am sleeping an average of 5/6 hours a night and have been for a while. This is a huge change for me. At times I would sleep 12 hours easily and some days I felt really run down. (allergies had a lot to do with this) My hayfever is almost un-noticeable (huge change). I have backed off taking pollen and haven't taken it for several days, but I am still not having attacks or food allergy reactions. Last night I indulged in a caramel, banana, almond sundae at coldstone. OMG. Delish. I am taking a daily vitamin supplement to help with the absence of fortified wheat products. PMS was a breeze. No pain, no cramps, no excessive junx. I was a little blah for a day but that's it. (Huge change). So far so good. I am looking forward to a good physical exam and testing. It's been a bit of a bummer giving up some things, but I wouldn't trade it for health and longevity at ALL. - feeling happy.
May 30
Day 38 Gluten Free: What can I say? My energy levels are incredible. I only sleep 6 hours a night on average now. I feel pretty great all day and not so lethargic. My Hayfever/allergies are pretty much non-existent. I have been off pollen but I have it around just in case. I feel great! - feeling awesome.
June 19 near Albuquerque, NM
Day 57 Gluten Free:
Hormones and mood stablized/improved
PMS symptoms - improved
Allergies - Tons of improvement. no hayfever, no uncontrollable attacks, still reactions to walnuts (3 hour delay itchy eye attack, no oral symptoms), reaction to carrots (one mouth ulcer formed), no oral reactions or hives to bananas, melons, cinnamon, almonds, paprika
GI/Stomach/IBS issues - non-existant
Energy levels - much improved, I can go on 6-7 hours of sleep no problem without extreme fatigue at the end of the day. I can go to bed at 11 and pop up at 6 no problem now. OMG thank goodness.
My physical figure and features have shifted from a banana shape to an hourglass (whoa!)
no illnesses or feelings of asthma or trouble breathing.
to be continued.....
June 26 via mobile
The coOp has 4 Gluten Free baked goods choices this morning ! Yay
July 5
Gluten free folks be warned:
Gosh, I have had to completely replace my entire wardrobe except for t-shirts and dance pants because of my new figure! Downside: I've had to do it on the cheap for now . Upside: I can revamp my style a little bit.
July 14
Over 75 days gluten free: Cant tell you how much joy i got throwing out all my allergy medications. I haven't had an attack in months and i even own a cat now!
OCT 2
Gluten free since April! Except for a 10 hour food poisoning episode, I have not been sick in 5 months! Pretty amazing. I have more energy and feel better than I ever have. Crazy what a little wheat can do to send my body from healthy to super ill so fast. I am so happy it got figured out. The other option was a laundry list of shots and pills. No thanks. - feeling great.
October 30 via mobile
Those of you who know me well know this is my bad season for allergies... It has improved a lot but Saturday my asthma returned. To boot, sean has also had really bad allergies. We did an allergen sweep last night. Laundering all the bedding and replacing our pillows. Cleaning the floor too. I even washed the cats! They were actually really good! Today I feel less constricted but we will see. Still gluten free! This is still a lot of improvement over previous years.