Gluten-free for me!

As much as I love making decisions, the past couple of months I've learned so much about myself and what I can do if I put my mind to it! Yet, it's great to be feeling better and more active each day! I don't exactly remember when the promptings started, but it was a clear indication to me that I needed to go on a celiac diet.

Stubborn, as I sometimes can be, I didn't want to try or attempt this new lifestyle. For as long as I can remember, my Aunt Ann has eaten differently than the rest of us, but I didn't realize the struggle avoiding foods is until I started with milk products. Of course, milk-free diet is so much easier than a gluten-free one. Then I met with a gastro specialist after Thanksgiving and he wanted to me to do a more serious diet either gluten or milk. Both Trent and I knew that my stomach did fairly fine with milk products so we decided for the celiac diet. After countless tears and avoiding meals, my wonderful mother took us shopping and helped me realize that grocery shopping IS POSSIBLE - just takes a little bit extra time!

I'll be honest and admit that Christmas time is not the best time to do a gluten-free diet, but my two weeks came and went, faster than I thought. We went to Trent's parents for Christmas which wasn't easy either, but  his mom was great and tried to cook a few things for me. Through all this, I knew deep in my heart that I needed to go on a gluten-free diet, just didn't want to admit it out loud AND in front of others!

So after eating whatever on New Year's Day, I tried to have a better attitude about gluten-free foods and started my diet on January 2nd. Gluten is in so many things that you have read the ingredients almost every food. Wheat, barley and rye, all have different names that you have to know a huge list of sub-ingredients. Ever so slowly, both Trent and I are learning what foods are better for me and which ones to avoid. Some meals are still hard as I cook something different for Trent and Chloe. Mostly, I try to cook dinners so that we can eat the same thing. Other times I have leftovers from the night before.

There is also a great friend here in my ward that let me borrow some of her cookbooks last week! I didn't really cook anything from the recipes, but it helped me realize that I am still normal eating gluten-free and cooking for my family. This new lifestyle requires extra time and energy but that shouldn't stop me. Some days I still fall into tears especially when I smell yummy food that I can't eat. But I'm grateful that I have found some answers through wonderful people who have cheered me on and will always be there for me!

Celiac diet

I am almost done with my 2 week trial-celiac diet!! On Saturday, I can eat whatever foods I crave...yet that doesn't mean I should.....

That wonderful choice would probably cause the same symptoms I've been having for almost the past five years. Some days and months were better than others, but both of us would like to find answers and get me feeling better...FOR GOOD! That doesn't mean I won't get sick, cuz life is always unexpected. But that doesn't mean that I can take control of my health and only eat foods that won't bother me.

At least, my blood work came back normal and I don't have celiac disease...yet. Hopefully, I'm just gluten intolerant! These last two weeks haven't been the easiest for me and many days were tearful and quite a struggle. But I also know that I couldn't have done it alone. Many other people have given their love and support to me on this new journey and I appreciate them all so much!

A Long Anticipated Answer!

My blood work came back normal last week and I am neither lactose intolerant or celiac!! But there is still a chance that I am gluten intolerant meaning my body can only so much gluten before I become sick. Is this a possible answer? After almost 5 years of not feeling good and running numerous medical tests, yes, I believe it is!

Although most medical test are 95% right, there still leaves that mere 5% that could change things. With that in mind, we've decided for me to do a strict 2 week celiac diet. At first, I didn't think it would be such a big change in my diet until I realized how many foods have gluten, modified food starch, and natural flavoring (only to name a few name variations). Once that realization hit home, it was extremely hard both for me to eat, but also to watch others eat at the same time. There's a difference in feeding you and your spouse but when you a little child who watches you eat, that's a totally new ball game! It also doesn't help with the funnest month of the year with all the Christmas festivities and yummy!

Plus, my mom and Trent both agreed I won't have to do my 2 week lactose free diet until January! So I can enjoy all the yummy Christmas treats after this Friday!! Over the past week, I've been quite careful on what I've eaten and cooked separately for my family! Most dishes weren't too hard to separate or we just fed Chloe something different than me and Trent. My aunt Ann has also been a wonderful help to us in guiding us to specific foods and answering lots of questions! A big , special thanks to wonderful family and friends who support and love me every day and will always be there as I face this new adventure!!

Dr's appt

Yesterday, I lucked out and had the chance to get into a specialist here in Bountiful. I figured I was pretty lucky especially since you usually have to wait weeks to see one! My wonderful mother left work early and came to my appointment both as another set of ears and also to entertain Chloe! We weren't sure what to gain from this visit as we had lots of questions and unsure what route to take now.

As I sat talking to the P.A., I felt like I was getting somewhere even though the P.A. couldn't diagnosis me with anything. We figured that before I went in, but just wanted more help in what direction to take now. The  P.A. gave me lots of handouts to read and gave me a few options of what I wanted to do. He may not have been to diagnosis me quite yet, but definitely gave us a lots to think about!

Last night was a hard night for us both, I won't lie to ya. Diet and lifestyle changes are easy to talk about until it comes to the 'doing' part. I just hope and pray that Chloe and any other future children aren't affected by me and my diet. Trent is such an amazing husband and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I just pray that we'll be able to make it through the next 4 weeks without many tears or frustrations especially with it being the holiday season!

Not milk?

From my other blog, you've probably discovered that Trent and I hate making decisions especially when they make a huge difference in life. But we've also realized that my health is important and you can't always sit on the fence when it comes to food and health. So we decided for me to go on a lactose intolerant diet and see how I would feel overtime. Either I would avoid milk products (doesn't count cooked milk) or I would take a lactose intolerant pill with the dairy item.

Like many people say, you have to go off a certain food for more than just a few days. So in attempt to avoid dairy products, we figured I could give this a try...it wouldn't hurt, right? Well after a couple of weeks, we came to the conclusion that it might not be dairy products that sorely affects my stomach. At the store last week, we picked up a 1/2 gallon of skim milk for me to try (and for Trent) so I could experiment with a little milk. From what I can remember, I haven't had milk for a long time. 

I only had about a 1/2 cup of milk plus then we made a fruit smoothie with a little bit of milk, too. As I tried not to focus on the experiment and play with Chloe, I never really experienced much nausea or strong heartburn like I would with no milk. Funny, uh? So two days later, I gave milk a second shot and pretty much felt the same way. My stomach reacts to everything I eat, just some foods have a stronger reaction than others. Lately, I've been getting some strong impressions (or promptings) that maybe I'm not lactose intolerant. 

Oh, the joys of trials, but hopefully we are getting somewhere soon!!

New specialist

Last night was another hard night which makes me want to go back to a specialist even more. Dinner was yummy. I avoided the grated cheese and only had a few oatmeal (non-chocolate) cookies with fresh fruit for dessert. But on the way home from my sister-in-law's house, I almost told to Trent to pull over in the HOV lane (sorry, if that's TMI).

The only problem with going back to the Ogden specialist is that they've already done most all the tests they can. So in talking to my mom last night for a few minutes, she suggested we find a new and closer specialist for me to see. We are guessing that I'm lactose intolerant but still feel there are other foods that affecting me. If you know of any good digestive specialists in the Bountiful area or Davis county and would recommend them, please comment below or let us know! Thanks :)

Cheese vs. sour cream

Why is it that dairy food just tastes so good? I just love the taste of ice cream, yogurt, a big glass of milk, and don't forget all those dips made with sour cream!!

As that thought went through my mind, it never dawned on me now that cheese wasn't on that list. Yes, I do like cheese on casseroles and definitely with Mexican food, somehow there's a limit to how to much. My sister and Chloe LOVE cheese, especially when it's grated! Whenever Trent or I say 'macaroni and cheese' to Chloe, she perks up and goes crazy until she gets some. Yet I've never been that strong desire for m&c or lots of cheese. With this big transition happening in my life of no dairy, I just don't have any more cravings for cheese or even sweets. Silly, I know...but hopefully it will pay off soon!

On the other hand, sour cream is a totally different story. Even though, it's not that healthy, I eat celery and carrot sticks better with dip, but now I'm learning to eat them plain. But it's those those baked potatoes and Mexican food, that I reluctantly give in to that creamy sour cream! I also can't eat any spicy foods without putting a dab of sour cream on to help reduce the hot taste!

Maybe I'll just stick with avoiding cow's milk and the cheese for now! Cuz I don't know what I could do without you, sour cream!