Here is a new paper on the Spectrum of gluten-related disorders: consensus on new nomenclature and classification. It is informationally dense, but "summarizes our current knowledge" about the various ways wheat can make people sick. Wheat allergy, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are described, along with a diagnostic algorithm to distinguish ( Read more... )

I'm scheduled for gastroscopy to check my hiatal hernia and reflux issues on April 3. The specialist said he can also check for damage from celiac disease, however that means I'll have to go off the wheat-free diet for four weeks. I have never been diagnosed. The advantage of doing it now is I can skip the blood test (which costs $120 because it ( Read more... )

My birthday treat to myself was to organize some pantry shelves in the kitchen. The main problem was that, since I went gluten-free, my baking supplies have proliferated (because I keep experimenting with flour blends) to the point where I can't see anything. Small packages of unidentifiable powders accumulated. Is that cornstarch or tapioca flour ( Read more... )

The e-bar accidentally served me shrimp on wheat pasta Tuesday night. I had ordered a different gluten-free shrimp dish the server recommended, but received the wrong plate. An open mic session was underway. Distracted, I assumed the stuff under the shrimp was rice pasta, and ate most of it before the server realized her error. They gave me my ( Read more... )

I've experienced a distinct and profound increase in energy since two weeks ago, a week after resuming dietary supplements.

The other day I mentioned my mood has become more stable, but actually that is an inaccurate statement, because my mood was stable and predictable before. The effort to get out of bed, go to work, run errands, prepare food, ( Read more... )

Many thanks for all the well wishes. With the doctor's recommended treatment, the problem has been improving steadily albeit slowly. I haven't needed Percoset for the past two days, and my guts are happier for that. Today there has been negligible bleeding. I still have to avoid sitting and exertion, but walking is good. This afternoon Danny and I ( Read more... )

This evening did not go quite as planned. After work I needed to be present for one of the important people in my life, and the phone call set my head spinning for a little while. And it is my writing partner's birthday; she still wanted to meet, but called to see whether we could shift it later to allow her partner to take her out for dinner.

I ( Read more... )

I had in mind writing a lengthy post today about what happened when I left the church, broke up with my wife, and came out. I set aside time this afternoon while hanging out with Michele at the public library, which of course managed to coincide with LiveJournal going offline for several hours. I thought I might get around to it while working my ( Read more... )

Here are a couple gluten-free ideas-and a third, low-carb-yummy enough for everyone to try.
Sylvie knows I love stuffing, so she found a gluten-free recipe for (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner. Last night Danny and I had roast turkey breast, so I tried the formula to serve along with mashed potatoes, beets with butter and orange rind, and quinoa ( Read more... )

I went to the covered bridge to take some scenic pictures of the Speed River, but as usual wound up ecstatically distracted by tiny beasts. The Bombus requires no introduction. The other is a moth, Alypia octomaculata, otherwise known as Eight-spotted Forester. It is a strong and agile flyer.

The field guides say adults appear in late spring; a ( Read more... )