The Secret Life of Pumba

There Is Power In Knowledge

2011-07-08T12:30:00.000-04:00

I loved school. I've always valued education and believe that it can have a great impact on peoples' lives. As I've grown older I still value education only my perspective on what education is has shifted a bit. I believe education is the pursuit of knowledge both spiritual and temporal, whether in a formal setting or not. I also believe that there is power in knowledge, which is why I continually try to educate myself. Knowledge can bring enlightenment to a hope-less situation. Knowledge can bring guidance to the lost. Knowledge can empower someone to change and make a difference in the world around them. I have experienced the power of knowledge and have found that it really has made all the difference in my life. Because of knowledge I can understand and have peace about challenges in my life. Knowledge has given me a foundation on which to build myself.

I have been amazed recently with some people I've met how they don't take advantage of the knowledge around, but rather sit confused and in a stupor, figuring that it'll all just work out magically somehow. And they are right, it will. But where I see the difference is in the quality of life they have in the interim. My life is much happier and much more peaceful when I have an understanding about what is going on. For me that means I am going to research and use the resources I have been given. Knowledge may not always fix my life but it makes the quality of my life better.

We live in a world now where knowledge is all around us. We are blessed to have more knowledge at our fingertips than most scholars had access to 'back in the day'. That's not to say that acquiring knowledge these days is easy. In fact I think it is just as difficult as it used to be. Because there is so much information available to us, through the internet and all the research that is currently being done, it is difficult to sift through it all and decide what is really true and what just sounds good. It's easy to go to someone's blog and read about, oh I don't know.... the oats controversy in a gluten free diet, but just because it's there doesn't mean it's true.
** On a side note, I do try to only write about information that I have researched and believe for myself. It's up to my readers to do their research too and decide for themselves if what I say is true.

Just because it's difficult though doesn't mean it isn't worth it. For me taking the easy way out and just letting life work itself out isn't an option. I want the power that knowledge brings with it. I want the peace and understanding. I want to use the knowledge I obtain to make my life better than it could have been. So I'll keep researching and sifting through information. I may make mistakes, I may get frustrated, but to me it's worth it.

How do you make a video go viral?

2011-06-21T13:57:00.000-04:00

Because I'm pretty sure this one needs to...

Oh, and bonus points to anyone who can tell me what movie scene this reminds me of. :)

Curly Hair

2011-05-31T17:17:00.001-04:00

I figured since I eluded to the fact that I would explain my new curly hair I should probably live up to it.

I mentioned a while ago, as in when I first started this blog, that I lost a lot of hair when I was really sick. This was pretty traumatic (that might be a bit of an exaggeration) for me. I loved me hair. It was thick, shiny, rich colored, silky soft, and I didn't need to do anything to it. I would just wash it, let it dry, and it would be movie start straight with just the right amount of volume (that might be a bit of an exaggeration too, it wasn't always perfect). I always got compliments on my hair, and I liked that.Well I guess we all need a bit of humbling. When I got sick I lost over half of my hair. It turned a funny rusty-dull color, was dry and brittle, and flat as a board.

Since I've gotten better my hair has come back to me, only different. It's not quite as thick anymore, or as soft, but my rich color has come back and on most days it's shiny and healthy looking. Oh and it's curly now... which isn't too much of a surprise because my mom and brother have curly hair and when I was really little my hair was curly too.

By request of Em T here's a picture:

My hair is so curly in fact that it's a pain to straighten it anymore (although I'll admit straight hair is more flattering to my face. Hmmm.... I'm sensing some more humbling needed). Since I'm not really the kind of person who enjoys spending loads of time getting ready I have been trying to figure out what to do. While I do straighten it once a week (which lasts about 3 days) I don't like to do it too often because of the damaging heat.

Here are some things that I have been using lately.

Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo and Knot Today Conditioner

On days I know I am going to keep my hair curly I use these. They are all natural products, they smell great, and they are great for naturally curly hair.

Kinky Curly Curling Custard

During the winter months this is a great styling product to use. It only takes a little bit, but it does a good job keeping the frizz down. It also leaves your hair feeling soft and natural, not like you have a stiff gel or other product in it like most other curly hair products. During the summer however, it doesn't do so good because it will actually draw water to your hair making it frizzier.

Herbal Essence Tousle Me Softly Mousse

I use this in the summer months. It controls frizz and holds the curl, but without any stiffness or crunch. It just leaves natural, soft feeling hair. This is what I used the day I took the picture.

I've enjoyed playing with my 'new' hair. I don't know if it will last or what I'll think of it years down the road. Right now I'm just glad it grew back at all.

Apparently I'm just really sensitive.

2011-05-29T17:43:00.000-04:00

I don't mean emotionally, although a few my contest that point.

I mean my sensitivity to gluten. I try my hardest to live my life 100% gluten-free. I take measures that most would say are extreme. And yet I am healthier and happier for it so I am not going to change. However, because I have been so strict from the very beginning it has not allowed me to see how sensitive I really am. Recently however I have had a couple experiences that have made me realize how sensitive to gluten I truly am.

The first one really blew my mind. For Christmas my younger brother got me some salon-grade shampoo and conditioner I like. I had already been using the conditioner for a while, but hadn't splurged on the shampoo yet. I started using them right away, and loved them! After the Christmas holidays I started to noticed that my bowels were off. I would have minor cramps and bowel inconsistency. After several weeks of this I went over everything I was eating trying to figure out what was contaminating me. But I couldn't find anything, so I just let it go. A couple weeks later I was out at the store looking for hair products, trying to find something to tame my newly curly hair (more on that later). As I was looking at products I noticed that a lot of them had gluten in them. I decided not to get them, just in case. (At the time I remember questioning myself about whether that was just too extreme.) But then I had a thought. Had I checked the shampoo and conditioner I got for Christmas for gluten? I went home and checked. The conditioner was clean, but lo and behold the shampoo had gluten. So I stopped using them and within a few days my symptoms stopped.
Now let me first say that just using something with gluten in it topically does not induce a gluten reaction. The gluten has to be ingested. I was somehow ingesting enough of it through cross-contamination that it was giving me grief. I don't know how, but it did. That was my first clue that I was WAY sensitive to gluten.

The second one didn't surprise me as much, but it still gave me a clue to my sensitivity level and how I need to live me life going forward. While I was visiting my brothers at college I attended the schools Celiac Club dinner. A group of people with Celiac Disease meet once a week and share dinner. This was the first time in two years that I went to an event and ate freely. Bad move on my part. I still got sick from it. My guess is (and I am pretty confident in this) that the food got contaminated in preparation. Students made the dinner. They all live with roommates who eat gluten and who don't have any clue about cross-contamination issues. This made me realize that my resolve to have my home gluten-free is a good one. It would be so easy to get contaminated with sticky, crumby kids running around. I want to be a healthy, symptom-free mom when that time comes.

As I am becoming more aware of my sensitivity to gluten I am also becoming more aware that many other people with Celiac Disease aren't as sensitive. And actually science is beginning to back this up. It was first thought that anyone with Celiac disease would have the same reaction to the same amount of gluten. It was also believed that Gluten Intolerance, Gluten Sensitivity, and Celiac Disease were completely different things. While it's true that the reactions and severity differ, science is beginning to think that maybe they are not so different after all. The thought is slowly coming out that maybe all of these things fit together on a continuum with Gluten Intolerance being the least sensitive and Celiac Disease being the most sensitive, with different levels of sensitivity in each defined group.

There is still a lot of research to be done to fully connect all of them and there is actually a lot of controversy in the matter. Some people believe that it's unfair to those who have Celiac Disease to link Gluten Intolerance and Gluten Sensitivity into the same category because those who have Celiac Disease have certain genes, whereas those who are intolerant or sensitive don't necessarily need to have those genes. Also, the reaction in Celiac Disease has been proven to be an autoimmune response resulting in villus atrophy, whereas in intolerance and sensitivity that's not the case.

I don't know the answer to this, but I think the information is interesting. I do believe that there is varying sensitivity levels in those with Celiac Disease and I think that science is beginning to realize this as well. It's good for me to know how sensitive I truly I am so that I can live my life in the way I need to, even though some people may think me a bit extreme....

Me + Technology = Not so much....

2011-04-20T19:58:00.002-04:00

Is it just me or is this blog getting a bit too serious? Time to lighten things up....

I am going to confess something (I do that a lot on here). But it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. The fact is I'm not so good at technology type things. You know computers, gadgets, etc. Using them doesn't come naturally, I don't have the patience to learn it, and I'm not all that interested in it. It's usually not that big of a deal for me. I know the basics of things like using common software, research on the internet, and how to keep my stuff working... some what.

One moment that I was really proud of was when I figured out how to implement the tags on this blog! I wanted to do it since the moment I started this thing about a year and a half ago. I finally figured it out about a month ago. Of course it turns out you just had to find the right button to push, so I realize I shouldn't celebrate too much.

I've also had some not-so-proud moments. For example my last computer's hard drive crashed last year. I lost everything. Granted my computer had been through a lot. All of college, and a pretty vicious virus. But in the end I still believe I caused the crash. You see, a week or so before it crashed I had been cleaning the files on my computer, deleting the ones I didn't need anymore. Well, there was this odd looking file in one of my folders. I didn't know what it was, I thought it was some software thing I never used or something, so I deleted it. I'm pretty sure that was a bad thing to do. But who knows maybe that was just a coincidence. Either way, I don't delete random files from my computer anymore.

All that speaks to my actual ability. But what about my interest? I think this will give you a good picture...

Around Thanksgiving I got an iTouch (my iPod's battery was dead). I didn't get any apps for it until February. As in 3 full months. Even then I only got 3 in a two week period (all of which were free and to this day are the only 3 I have). The second one I got was Solitaire. The third one I got was the LDS Gospel Library. So what was the first one you ask? Despicable Me iMoo. If you don't have it, get it! Only the hardest of hearts won't get a smile out of this. For those of you who don't have an app type device check out the video below. The iMoo app is basically just a video of the first half of this trailer.

Like I said, just trying to lighten things up. I play my iMoo when I need a happy moment in my day. :)

In the end I don't think it's a problem that I'm not a techy or a computer wiz. Inevitably someone around me can always help me and I can get around pretty well myself. I just have to watch which buttons I push. But at least this might explain to my few readers why this blog is so plain and basic. Even if I wanted a fun background or gadget or something (which I don't) I wouldn't know how to find/get/implement it.

Of course I don't mind, if you don't mind.

Redo

2011-04-07T13:43:00.000-04:00

How many times in your life have you said something like this... "If only I could go back and do it again knowing what I know now." I've said it, you've said it, but how many times do any of us actually get to do it. From my knowledge not many.

However I like to think I'm an exception to that. Let me explain... I was able to move off and make my own life during my college years. I was young, naive, and I made a lot of mistakes, as we all do. Looking back I don't have many regrets. I was able to learn from all my mistakes, even though they were painful. I grew from the experiences I had and they shaped me as a person. I learned a lot about myself, mostly about what I don't want to do, or be.

There are two points which I regret though. First, I was so busy pushing through school and getting it done that I feel I missed it. While I did do some exploration and I did overall enjoy my college years I feel like I didn't take the time to truly live them. You know, explore, have fun, take random classes just because you can. By the time I graduated I was left feeling like I missed it all. It just kind of passed me by without me realizing it. In the end I didn't really feel like I accomplished anything great.

The second point is more of a life lesson. There were many times during my college years that I allowed the influence and peer-pressure of other people to change me. I found myself giving up things that meant a lot to me. I let my high standards slack a bit. I didn't stand up for myself. No one around me would have noticed the changes, they were so small. But those small changes had a great impact on me personally. It wasn't other people's fault. They had no idea the kind of influence they were having on me. I wasn't strong enough or confident enough in myself to stand firm. I wanted to be liked and accepted. I wanted to have friends and fit in. And so I conformed. This caused me a lot of pain and sorrow in my life because I wasn't being true to who I was. In the middle of college I realized this and made a few changes. I wasn't perfect but I was better. I still struggled with it though all the way until the end though.

So that brings me back to me redo. After college I came home, was really sick, blah, blah, blah, you know the story. Now that I am looking to venture out into the world again it's almost like I am doing it again, only now I know better. The question is what do I do with my redo? How do I use it so that I don't waste this gift?

I have been applying for jobs and graduate programs in the field that I have been working towards for years. A few weeks ago I even interviewed for a few jobs. While I have been given opportunities to move forward in this area I haven't taken them. They haven't seemed right. To be honest it seems like every time I get close to doing something in this area a wall comes up. It's frustrating. It makes me question if I am headed in the right direction. After my job interviews a few weeks ago didn't turn out the way I expected I found myself at another turning point. What do I do now? Do I just get a random job, because that seems like the productive thing to do? Do I push forward with the graduate program even though it doesn't feel like the right thing to do right now? I'll admit, I got a bit down. I was confused, frustrated, and felt trapped.

And then I realized I was doing it again. I was doing exactly what I had done in college. I was trying to push through with what seemed like the most logical plan and in doing so I was missing my opportunity to fully use my redo. Instead of being frustrated about my circumstances, maybe I should look at it as a blessing. I have the opportunity to explore. To decide if I still really want to do what I have been planning on doing this whole time, or it I want to do something completely different. Something that is true to who I am and who I want to become. Who says I need to get a job right now or start graduate school? Maybe I just need to take an exploration vacation! I know some people will say, "she's been home for two years doing nothing, and she wants to take time for herself?" But let's be honest being home sick for two years isn't exactly what I wanted to be doing, so yes, maybe I do need to take time for myself to do things I enjoy doing and to learn more about myself and what I want my life to be.

I don't know exactly what my redo will look like, or where I'll end up. I do know that I am going to be true to myself. I am not going to let others change me or push me into anything. I am going to be confident in who I am and love myself. I am going to find people to be friends with who accept that. I am going to find a path (job, school) that fits me, that makes me happy, and that I enjoy doing. I might end up right where I started, but at least this time I won't regret missing the opportunity.

This week I am going to learn about Organic Farming. Saturday I am taking an all-day class at a local farm to learn about organic farming and gardening practices. Next week I am going to volunteer at an Organic Farm and see what the work is actually like. I am excited about it! I am excited to learn more about something I have been interested in.

Welcome to my redo. Welcome to the new, empowered me!!

Blogosphere Etiquette

2011-04-01T17:48:00.000-04:00

Since there's not a rule book out there on this topic I am asking for your feedback. I guess I should set up the situation before I ask my question....

First let me say that I know that some people mean for their blogs to be read by the whole world. Mine is one of those, which is why I try to keep the personal information on my blog limited. I also know some people who have truly personal blogs that they mean for everyone to read (why they invite the world to have a seat in their living room I'll never know. I try to be a little more judicious with what I put out there than some people.) I also know that some people just have personal blogs that they keep public so that their friends and families can come and go as they please, but they don't necessarily intend for the world to be viewing.

I sometimes "blog hop". You know, I look at one friend's blog then off to the side, or in the comments I see the name of another friend so I check out their blog, and so on and so on. Well, here's where things get sticky. I always end up finding someone's blog whom I know of, but I know they probably don't know, or care about, or remember me. And yet sometimes I occasionally go back and check their blogs again. (Come on, I know some of you out there do this too. I can't be the only one!)

Now I know I do this innocently, but it does beg the question, is this appropriate? I mean well. I'm interested in their lives and happy to see their accomplishments and blessings in their lives. But in the end is this really just voyeurism?

I decided for me that I needed to make my judgments based on whether I would be happy to hear they are reading my blog and if I thought they would mind if I was reading their blog. Making my decision based on that, some blogs I look at regularly and some I don't go back to.

But what are your opinions? What do you think about blogosphere voyeurism?

(I know many people read this blog. Don't feel shy about giving your opinion. Remember, I'm okay with anyone and everyone reading my blog and I would love the variety of opinions.)

Eat Your Greens

2011-03-30T13:36:00.000-04:00

I think it's pretty safe to say that we all know we need to eat greens. Greens like spinach, romaine, chard, cabbage, and the list could go on. If you do a bit of nutrition research you will find that most greens have list of nutrients that could rival a multivitamin. It seems like the darker the green the more nutritious they are. They are full of iron, calcium, fiber, vitamins A, B, C, E, K, etc. So the question now is, if greens as so good for you why in the world are they so hard to eat?

I'll admit that greens are not the easiest thing for me to put in my diet. Don't get me wrong, I love salads with romaine and spinach, however, while they are good for you they aren't the most nutrient dense of the bunch. Greens (the darker ones like kale, collard, and chard) can be quite tough and bitter. Definitely not something I would be excited to go eat. That said I realize the benefit they are to my health so I have been trying to wean myself into eating more variety of greens.

I have found that I really like greens cooked in soups, stews, and casseroles. Granted I like them more cooked than they recommend for optimum nutrition, but it's a step. One of my favorites is savoy cabbage. When cooked in soups it can lend a sweet delicate flavor. I have even eaten, and liked, lentil soup with collard greens cooked in it.

Many people swear that the way to "get your greens" is to drink green smoothies. They say that it provides you with a boost of energy and nutrients, which I can see to be true. One lady whose blog I check occasionally said it like this, "I love green smoothies because I feel the living energy pulsing through my veins!" I have tried to make a couple of green smoothies over the past year and all I've felt is a rock in my stomach, no "pulsing energy". I found them to be watery and bitter. I got a few mouthfuls down, but never the full thing. So I gave up. I figured I'd just get my greens from salads and soups.

But then again it's not like me to give up completely. I decided this morning that I'd try again. It had been several months since I've tried. Maybe my tastes have changed. Plus I decided that maybe I needed to slowly move into green smoothies. So this morning I made something in between a fruit smoothie and a green smoothie. You know what? It was pretty good! (For a green smoothie)

Here's what I did...

Fill the blender 3/4 full with mixed baby greens
(I use Organic Girl Baby Spring Mix. It provides a variety of greens. Being 'baby greens' they tend to be sweeter and more tender, thus easier on the palate and digestive system. Perfect for acquiring your taste for greens.)
Fill the blender 1/2 full with cold filtered water.

Blend greens and water until completely blended

Add
1 small banana
1 ripe pear
1/4 of an avocado
1 Dole fruit cup of Mandarin Oranges (juice and all)

Blend until smooth. Enjoy! (makes about 3 glasses worth)

The avocado and banana yield a creamy smooth flavor that makes it easier to get down. Even though there's a lot of fruit in here it's not really sweet, so be prepared.

Even though I didn't use some of the heartier greens I think this is a pretty good start. I'll just try to keep making baby steps to eating more variety of greens, including the 'yucky' ones. :)

Oats Controversy

2011-03-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

Remember in school when you learned the vowels. A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y. I never got that. Does anyone even know when Y counts as vowel and when it doesn't?

I have found similar things with the gluten-free diet. If you hear anything about the gluten-free diet you will hear that you can't have wheat, barely, rye, and sometimes oats. This is a little bit of a different principle than the whole vowel thing though. I actually have knowledge about when and why the 'sometimes' exists. And for those who care, I am going to share it with you.

All grains have a protein. However it is the protein (gluten) in wheat, barely, and rye that are an issue. Wheat, barely, and rye are related on the same ancestry line, which is why they all contain the same genetic protein gluten. Oats were an early branch off that line, thus being closely related. The protein in oats is called avenin. Research has found that in some people with Celiac Disease this protein can cause a reaction similar to gluten, including the intestinal enteropathy (damage).

Some people believe that all people with Celiac Disease should not eat oats. Some people think that it's fine for those who can tolerate oats. I have personally taken the position of no oats. There is still a lot of research to be done on this particular issue and on Celiac Disease in general. I take the position of 'if there is any question, I'm just not going to eat it'. So no oats for me.

However, if you choose to eat oats there are a few things you should know. First off most oats are grown in a rotation crop with wheat, or in a field next to wheat. Shockingly enough this is actually sufficient to cross-contaminate the oats with gluten. Even if it weren't most farms process oats on the same equipment they process their wheat, thus cross-contaminating it further. So, if you eat oats make sure that you get Certified Gluten-Free Oats!!! This means that they were grow in a dedicated gluten-free field and processed on gluten-free equipment. I have seen that Bob's Red Mill have some Gluten-Free Oats you can try if you wish.

The other point to be aware of if you decide to eat oats is that you shouldn't eat more than about 1/2 a cup (50-70g) a day. This is a studied and know fact. People have found that if they eat more than that they have negative effects. Also, make sure to be retested about six months after you start eating oats to make sure you aren't having any negative effects from the avenin.

Relativity of Classiness

2011-03-09T17:55:00.000-05:00

My friend once told me I was a classy person. I've really appreciated that compliment in my life. She also told me I had great legs. While I am grateful for that compliment as well I might appreciate it more if it had come from a guy. :)

But I digress..... To the point

I was reading an article recently about new reality TV shows coming out (why I don't know, I was bored most likely) and one of them caught my eye. Not for the actual show, but for certain things about the people in the show. Here, read for yourself...

"It's "The Biggest Loser," only with brides and grooms. On the new show "Shedding for the Wedding," nine engaged couples compete to lose weight and win the wedding of their dreams. Each couple's wedding has a theme, from gaming to football to Greek life (frat, not Athens). The Greek life couple plan to have a beer pong table at their nuptials, but monogrammed 'cause that's "classier." (Premieres after 'Top Model," Feb. 23, 9 p.m., The CW.)"

Gaming? Football? Greek life? Hmmmmm...... not exactly my opinion of classy.

Want to know something else that caught my attention? I went bowling for my birthday this past summer. When we arrived we noticed a wedding party there. Each person in the wedding party had a shirt with the date of the wedding (it was the next day) on the front and their name on the back. The bride had a white one, the groom a black one, and everyone else had a bright green one. Don't believe me? Check it out....

It didn't end up being the family friendly affair I thought it would, especially once the beer and pizza came out. (Hmmm.... beer and pizza, now that's class.)

The next time I happened to be at this same bowling alley someone proposed over the intercom system. Half of the place was in cheers (the half of the place that was surrounding the couple), and the other half were in disbelief and groans of "Seriously!?! Really!?!? On the intercom!?!?"

At first I thought about writing this and making some sarcastic jokes about the seemingly class-less wedding affairs of others. I even had some great one liners ready to go. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that I have no right to judge what is meaningful or "classy" to other people. In the end I have to have a great deal of respect for all these people. They had the courage to do what was meaningful and important to them in celebration of their relationship together no matter what others might think about it. While I may not be interested in having a Greek life themed reception, or having my significant other propose his love for me on a bowling alley intercom, I do want to feel free to celebrate in the way I choose. (I might could get on board for a bowling party the night before.) So whenever the time comes for me to plan a wedding of my own I am going to remember these people. I am going to make sure that whatever we do it is fun and classy for us. Who cares what other people think or say, it's not about them anyway.

I will just say if and when I get to plan a wedding it will be TRULY classy!!! ;)

Walk With The Lord Daily

2011-03-03T13:23:00.002-05:00

Elder Christofferson gave a talk entitled "Give us this day our daily bread" at a CES fireside a couple of months ago. Check it out HERE.

I loved this talk! I think it is applicable to everyone no matter what is going on in their lives. I felt touched by several aspects, but one thing that really stuck with me was the point that our trials are opportunities to draw closer to the Lord, to learn to rely on the Lord in all things, to walk with the Lord daily. When our trials span over years it allows us to create the habit of always relying of the Lord. Hopefully we will be able to keep this habit when the trial ends and maintain the relationship we have created with the Lord.

I hope and pray that I have created a sufficient enough habit to not loose the relationship with the Lord I have gained over the past several years. If I am able to continue to walk with the Lord daily, I know that this habit will be one of the greatest blessings I could have received through the trials of the past few years.

Habits

2011-02-23T17:03:00.001-05:00

Those of you who know me know I love sugar. However, over the past two years I have come to the realization that sugar does not love me. So I have given it up. It took me two years of baby steps to do it, but I am proud to say that with Divine help I have recently been able to fully kick my sugar habit. I do still eat fruit, and will allow myself treats made with natural sugar (ie. fruit, honey, maple syrup, etc) on special occasions (translating to 2-3 times a year).

Unfortunately I will admit that I am not the kind of person that can just give up a bad habit. I am the kind of person that replaces one habit for another. In place of my sugar habit I now have a peanut butter habit. I've always loved peanut butter, and have always eaten it. But now it is a bit to the extreme. I have been averaging a jar of peanut butter every 3-4 days for the past couple of months. I know, it's sick to think about.... but delicious in reality. :)

To my credit I only eat all natural peanut butter. Only peanuts and salt. That's good, right? I have tried many kinds and brands over the past couple of months and have found a favorite.

I've decided that this habit is not beneficial to my health for many reasons, and I realize that I need to do something about it. This past Sunday I finished a jar of peanut butter and decided that I was going to try and not eat peanut butter this week. I realized that I probably wasn't going to be successful. I made it a day and a half. See, what happened was is I was at the store that had the peanut butter (you can't find it everywhere) so I decided to get a jar just in case. You know, in case I decided to cave at some point. Well, I caved the moment I got home. I actually did well on portion control that day. Today however, I have not done so well. Right before I wrote this I ate my fourth peanut butter on rice cake for the day. In my defense I didn't really have lunch today.

So, maybe tomorrow I'll be a bit better at portion control. And maybe after this jar is finished I'll last a bit longer than a day and a half before I get another jar. Right now I'm not too worried about it. I have a really good diet besides the overkill of peanut butter. I don't eat junk food, or eat out. Eventually I'll quit the habit. Hopefully it won't take me two years, like the sugar habit. I think if I kept eating as much peanut butter as I am now for two years I'd be as big as a house, and NO ONE wants that.

I'm Back!!

2011-02-22T20:30:00.000-05:00

Let's face it, I couldn't stay away from the blog forever. So I'm back. However, I am going to do things a bit differently now. This blog isn't just going to be about Celiac Disease. It's going to be my personal, here's what's going on with me blog. There will still be information on Celiac Disease (and thyroid disease), because that's a big part of who I am and why I do what I do, but there will also be updates on my life, my thoughts, and any other random thing I can think of.
I decided to blog again for a few reasons. I am no longer on Facebook and so reading my friends blogs is how I keep informed on what they are doing. It's only fair that I allow them that opportunity to know about me too. Plus, it helps that I had a little push from one of those friends. :) Another reason is that I need an outlet for creative writing and humorous thoughts. It won't all be that, but I occasionally have my moments of glory, and I would like to share them and hopefully bring a smile to someone's day.
Now, I won't promise that I'll post regularly, or that I'll have something interesting to say when I do post. But at least I'm making a small step for friends to stay connected.

I guess now is as good as time as any for an update on my life. I'll give you the short and sweet version, minus all the boring details. Beginning of last year (January 2010) I finally was starting to feel really better from the whole being sick with Celiac Disease thing. I went on several trips for graduate school interviews and was looking forward to starting "real" life again. I got a really good offer and had accepted admission to a program. Only problem was that at that point (April 2010) I has started to feel bad again. But in a different way. I assumed I was getting gluten or something. I went back to the doctor and has some tests run. It actually had nothing to do with Celiac Disease. Instead I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease that targets the thryoid gland, destroying it and leading to Hypothyroidism. At that time the doctor also thought something more serious was wrong, so I decided to withdraw from the graduate program before I even started. Turns out it was just the thyroid thing.
So, I've spent the last many months just chillin' again. I have been trying to get regulated on thyroid medication, which takes a while. I am actually very glad that I had this extra year. I have been able to let my body recover more fully. I have been able to spend more time with my parents and actually do more with them. I wouldn't change the way things have happened for anything.
I am doing very well right now and am moving towards "real" life again, almost 2 years after I checked out. I am currently applying for jobs and am even considering doing an online graduate program. I don't know when an opportunity will open up for me, but I have full faith in the timing of the Lord. I am not in any hurry, but I'm ready whenever the chance comes.

Fin

2010-03-11T17:58:00.001-05:00

I haven't written in a while. This blog has not turned out to be what I wanted it to be. I feel like it too easily becomes a place for me to vent my frustrations. Which is not really how I see things or who I am. I wanted this to be a positive and fun thing. To make it what I really wanted it to be would take too much time and energy, which I choose to devote to other things. So, I am no longer going to post.

My blogging life was short, and that's okay. I am doing great and looking forward to a long and healthy life!!

Feeding Pumba

2009-12-08T19:57:00.000-05:00

So I have a bunch of new recipes to post, that are absolutely amazing, and pictures to go with them. Unfortunately, my computer decided to die a few weeks ago. Luckily my dad was able to get everything off of my computer and rebuild it. However, this is not the first time this has happened so I have decided to get a new computer. Until I do get a new computer I do not want to put any pictures or anything on my old one, just in case. So the recipes and pictures will have to wait a bit, but they will come eventually. Now I just have to find a computer I like. Wish me luck.

Update

2009-12-08T19:41:00.000-05:00

I went to the doctor this week. Good news!! The celiac panel blood test that the doctor redid came back negative for celiac disease. That does not mean that I don't have it anymore; it just means that I am no longer receiving damage to my small intestine, because I am no longer eating gluten. In the big picture it means that I can start healing now; almost 6 months later. I will say that I realize I am so blessed and I am grateful for that. In all reality we did not expect me to be this well yet. However, I must admit that I sometimes loose my patience. I'm trying to do everything I can and I sometimes get frustrated that it is such a slow process to heal. But there is even a blessing in that. Every time I feel that I am about to loose my patience completely I feel myself strengthened with a renewed sense of importance for what I am doing and how I am spending my time right now. When I look at everything I have been through the past few months I cannot help but be grateful and in complete awe at the blessings, strength, guidance, and comfort I have received from my Father in Heaven. I honestly can't think negatively about my situation. I have been able to become closer with my family and my Father in Heaven. I have grown personally; becoming more confident in myself and more sure of who I am and what I want my life to be. I am truly happy right now and I know that the Lord will continue to bless my life and guide me to the opportunities that will be of the most value to me.

Cravings and Endless Hunger

2009-11-20T21:32:00.001-05:00

For the past year I have had the worst eating habits. I would crave sweets and carbohydrates to no end. Plus... I was ALWAYS hungy. I not just talking about the 'hey I want a bite of that' hunger, I am talking my stomach was growling hunger. At first I decided I just had a bad relationship with food. So I tried to be careful about what I ate and how much I ate. My will power would only ever last a few days. The cravings and hunger would get to me and I would start to constantly eat again. I didn't know what was wrong with me or what to do about it. I felt like I had no control over myself. There was just something instinctive inside me the knew it had to keep eating. It got to the point where some nights I would be completely full and yet I would still have this internal need to keep eating, even though I didn't want to. In all honesty it really scared me.
Well, it makes much more sense now. Because of the damage in my intestines I wasn't absorbing any of the nutrients from the food I was eating. So in reality my body was starving even though I was eating. That explains the constant hunger and the need to keep eating. Also, because I was so fatigued (which I'll write about later), and again not absorbing anything, my body was craving quick energy, which would explain the cravings for sweets and carbohydrates. Understanding this has helped me handle the cravings and hunger. Knowing why I am feeling the way I am feeling has helped me be able to manage what I eat and how much I eat, to give my body what it needs and not necessarily what it wants. Over the past few months the cravings and hunger have subsided a lot. Now that my body is absorbing some nutrients it's not on constant alert for food. A more reasonable diet is coming slowly, although I still think I eat more than I should. Over time I think I will be fine. It's a relief to know that I can manage my relationship with food and that I don't have some sort of psychological disorder.

Only me...

2009-11-20T21:16:00.000-05:00

For those of you who truly know me, you know I can be quite the ditz. Well a few weeks ago I had a 'moment'. I was getting ready for bed and decided that I was going to put lotion on. Now, I usually put on lotion after I shower but decided to switch things up that day and put it on at night. I also decided that I was going to use a lotion I hadn't used in a while. So, I put the lotion on, got dressed and went downstairs to brush my teeth. As I was flossing I realized that I still had lotion on my hands. I just shook my head at myself. Seriously, who puts on lotion before they floss their teeth. Don't you learn not to do that by the time you're 6!?! Oh well, the worst that happens is that it tastes bad right? Then I stopped... some lotions have gluten but it's not a big deal because you don't ingest it. Only, being the immensely intelligent person I am, I stuck my hands in my mouth right after I put it on, thus ingesting it. Well, still not a big deal, because most lotions don't have gluten, only a few. So, I just finished flossing and brushing my teeth. When I went back to my bedroom I decided to check my lotion bottles. The lotion I usually use was fine, completely gluten-free. Then I checked the lotion that I had used that night, you know the one I hadn't used in a while. Well, just my luck, one of the last ingredients was wheat-starch. So, just a recap... not only did I get a bad taste in my mouth but I also gave myself a gluten reaction (it came full force the next day). It's just another one of those things that makes me laugh at myself and shake my head saying, "only me, only me."

Feeding Pumba

2009-11-02T15:12:00.000-05:00

Quinoa (pronounced 'KEEN-wa') is one of the new things I have tried, and love. It is actually a seed, though it is used like a grain. It is the only grain-like thing that has all the amino acids needed to build a protein, so it is very nutritionally sound. There are limitless ways to use quinoa, and it has become one of the staples of my diet (right up there with rice). I have tried many recipes using quinoa and have liked all of them. Here is one of my favorites. Black Bean Mango Quinoa Salad

1 red pepper, seeded and diced small

3 green onions, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 mango, peeled and chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1 can (15oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 cups quinoa, cooked and chilled

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill. Serve cold. I love this dish with warm crab or fish. It is absolutely delicious!!!

Gluten Free Review

2009-11-01T18:28:00.001-05:00

You know how when you go to the grocery store hungry you come home with some crazy stuff? I really can't do that with the regular grocery store anymore, which is probably a good thing. However, there is still Whole Foods. I may have gone to Whole Foods hungry the other day. Things were just jumping into my basket, begging to come home with me. One thing in particular was very insistent on coming home with me. I must admit it seemed like the perfect thing. It was gluten free, I am gluten free. It was dairy free, I am dairy free. It had spinach, I love spinach. It was pizza and I have been craving pizza since the day I started this all consuming diet!!! And to top it all off, it was Amy's (and though I have been trying not to put my name on this blog, the coincidence was too great to pass it by. Yes, my name is Amy.) I was so excited to come home and try Amy's Gluten Free, Dairy Free Spinach Pizza!! It was meant to be, right?

I am not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed (although I should know better by now). It was edible, though. I may even get it again when I really want pizza. But it was not as perfect as it seemed to be in the store. So overall, I wouldn't recommend it, but it may take the edge off of some cravings.

Vendor Fair

2009-11-01T17:57:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago the local Celiac Support group held a vendor fair. It was amazing and huge!! I came away with a ton of information, gluten free samples to last me weeks, and some great ideas for food. The 70+ vendors ranged from things like local restaurants, country-wide grocery chains, local catering, or people just selling their product. Here are a few of my favorite finds...

Whole Foods - I already shop at Whole Foods for some things. I had noticed that they had a store brand line of gluten free food. I never wanted to try because I wasn't sure how reliable it was. However, here's what I found out. Everything in the Whole Foods gluten free line is processed and packaged in a seperate facility, so it is completely safe. I was so excited to find this out because now I have a whole new line of stuff to try.

Gluten Free Catering/Bakery - There are tons of gluten free catering and bakery companies, especially locally! (Be sure to check their practices though.) I always wondered what I would do for big events (ie. wedding), now I know there are some options around.

Celiaccess - This cute local couple has started a website, celiaccess.com. I think that if people take advantage of this new resource that it could make living a gluten free diet so much easier. You can look up any product on this website and get information about it's status of being gluten free or not. This includes resources on where the information was found and what makes it gluten free or not. Here's the thing though. Products are put on by other people. So, once you find out about a product that you like, put it on celiaccess.

Like I said before, there were tons of samples there. I am not going to go into everything I tried but here are the two things that I found that I liked.

Pamela's Cookies - I tried one of Pamela's mixes before and I really didn't like it, so I was skeptical about trying Pamela's cookies. However, they were delicious. I tried several kinds. My two favorites were the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk and the Mini Ginger Snaps. While I did enjoy these cookies, I am trying to stay away from sugary things (I'm not going to lie though, I really fell off that bandwagon with Halloween, oh well) so I'll probably won't eat them very often.

Bakery on Main Granola - I have always wanted to try this granola, but never had the courage to. It's not like regular granola, there are no oats. I tried 3 different kinds and they were all delicious!! I will definitely be getting them again. My favorite was the Extreme Fruit and Nut. Here's why... I love hazelnuts! So imagine my joy when I pour a handful of granola in my mouth and bite down to have the taste of hazelnut fill my mouth. That moment made me entire week!! So, that was the vendor fair. Definitely worth my entire morning. I can't wait till next year!!

Intestinal Issues

2009-10-21T22:13:00.001-04:00

I once overheard a conversation that went something like this:
Guy: "Did you know that the average american farts 14 times a day?"
Girl: "No way."
Guy: "Seriously, I'm not making this up."
Girl: "Really, I don't think so. I never fart, so how can that be true?"
Sorry everyone, I'm pretty sure I single-handedly skewed that statistic... for the entire nation.

I have had an array of intestinal problems. I won't go into great detail for the sake of those who actually read this blog, but I'll go ahead and give a brief overview. I've always had problems with gas. Since the time I was about 5 up until the present day. The past two years it got really bad. By the end of the day I was so distended that I looked 7-8 months pregnant. It got to the point that the distention never really went away and I was always gassy. I was uncomfortable all the time. I still have issues with gas depending on what I eat, but I am no longer permenantly distended and uncomfortable. As the bacteria overgrowth in my system works out I will have less and less gas. One day it is my hope to be like the girl in the conversation and say, "I never have gas."
When I was really young, like 5-7, I had issues with constapation. Luckily that worked itself out pretty quickly. Once I turned 13 I started having problems with diarrhea. I would occasionally have bouts of it but nothing to cause too much concern. I just figured it was the stomach flu or stress. When I started my junior year of college it started getting even worse. By the end of that fall semester I was constantly having diarrhea. Yes, that is right, I had diarrhea for 2 years straight. It was manageable most of the time. However, in my last semester of college it got really bad. I started having to plan around being sick. If I knew I had somewhere important to be or something important to do I just wouldn't eat. Even then I would sometimes be sick. After I finished college and came home I thought it would get better. I figured it was stress (even though I never actually felt stressed), or that I wasn't eating well (I'll get to that when I post about craving and continuous hunger). Unfortunately when I got home it just got worse. I was spending most of my time in the bathroom. It was so frustrating because I knew at that point that I wasn't stressed, plus I was eating better. Of course I had started snacking on Kashi cereals which are chalk-full of wheat, barley, and rye. It was finally the fact that I was constantly sick in the bathroom for 2 months that my mom made me go to the doctor. After starting the diet I immediately saw a difference. I still had diarrhea all the time but at least I wasn't in the bathroom all day, every day. Now I am back to bouts of diarrhea and bouts of being normal. I still have a ways to go to be constantly normal, but it has been a huge improvement over the last 4 months.

Stomach cramps; I get bad stomach cramps. Bad, bad as in, curled up on the bed crying, bad stomach cramps. I get cramps with gas, I get cramps with diarrhea, and sometimes I get cramps just for the sake of getting cramps. This was the one issue I talked to my doctor about when I was about 16. Here's how the conversation went...
Me: "I get really bad stomach cramps after I eat breakfast."
Doctor: "Do you get sick as well?"
Me: "No, It just hurts really bad for a while and then goes away."
Doctor: "You probably just have gas. Everyone has gas, just deal with it."
And so I did. I no longer have to curl up on my bed an cry, I just grit my teeth and 'deal with it'.

Gasterointestinal problems are classified as 'classical symptoms' of celiac disease. Amazingly enough only 40% of celiac patients have intestinal symptoms. Usually, only patients who had onset of the disease in childhood have intestinal sypmtoms. Onset in adulthood usually manifests itself in 'atypical symptoms' like mood problems, rashes, body aches, etc. (basically everything besides intestinal problems). Ingestion of gluten, once on a gluten free diet, does not always manifest itself in intestinal distress either. I have found that if I only ingest trace amounts of gluten, like licking an envelope, I get really bad headaches and mood swings for a few days. However, when I get prolonged trace amounts of gluten or large amounts at one time I get really bad intestinal distress. Nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, the works. Mostly I just try to avoid any ingestion of gluten. That's when I'm happiest and I like being happy. :) Now you may be thinking, "Wow, that was way too much information for me." Just remember, that was the brief overview edition. You really DON'T want to know the full story.

Feeding Pumba

2009-10-20T18:49:00.001-04:00

The question I get asked most is, "So... what CAN you eat?" My answer is always the same, "More than what I can't eat." I eat a large variety of fruits and vegetables, pure meats, beans, and whole grains (ie. brown rice, quinoa, corn, etc.) There is so much you can do with it all. I have a much larger diet now then I did before I was diagnosed with celiac disease. One of my favorite things to eat right now is Southern Stirfry. It is so easy, quick, and delicious!! Sorry I don't have a picture for it (I always like to see what I am trying to make), but I promise you it is good. Try it!!

Southern Stirfry
1 can Black Eyed Peas (drained and rinsed)
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup brown rice (cooked and chilled)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 cayenne pepper
2 cups fesh spinach leaves
Warm skillet and spray with non-stick spray (gluten-free of course). Add all the ingredients except the spinach. Stir occasionally until warm through, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach. Stir occasionally, until the spinach is warm and wilted, about 7 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Update

2009-10-14T23:08:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've written anything. I've gone back and forth about whether or not I'm even going to keep the blog, but I thought I'd at least write an update. I've been doing world's better the past few weeks. My mom found some amazing supplements that have been a huge factor in that. My stamina is slowly returning. I no longer take naps everyday, and when I do the are now 30-45 minutes instead of 3-4 hours. Also, I am no longer in constant stomach distress. My physical appearance is returning to normal and my mental and emotional stability is normalizing as well. I still have rough days and weeks, but overall I have made huge improvements from just 3 short months ago (although it sometimes feels like it's been years). I am so grateful for the chance I have to heal and for all the love and support that I have around me. I still have a long way to go, but now I can see what it will be like to be healthy again, which is something that I couldn't even imagine before.

Rashes

2009-09-26T17:07:00.001-04:00

Yes, I used the plural form on purpose. I have had multiple rashes since I can remember.

Eczema - I have had eczema since I was a baby. This is a dry, flaky, itchy rash. Luckily, I usually only have a few little spots. I know some people who get huge spots everywhere. Lotion and Hydrocortisone cream will help relieve the itching and dry feeling temporarily. The only thing you can do for it permantly is, find out what the cause of it is, usually some sort of allergin, and stay away from it. Eczema is a known symptom of celiac disease and since I have been gluten free I have noticed that my spots are going away.

Hives - The chronic hives started when I was about 11 years old. The only way I can think to describe hives is itchy welts... everywhere. After going to the doctor and getting extensive allergy testing done they threw their hands up and said they didn't know what was causing it. Over the years I figured out that I got hives when I was exposed to cold or when my hormones fluctuated. After becoming immune to Benedryl the doctors put me on a daily, sometimes twice daily, dose of Claritin to try to keep it under control. Hives are not on the list of known symptoms for celiac disease. However, I have not had hives once since I have been gluten free. Plus I stopped taking Claritin when I started the diet. That means that the hives are gone!!

Dermatitis Herpetiformis - This is by far the worst rash I have ever had. It started around first or second grade. Most people who have it get it on their elbows, knees, and rear end. Over the years I have gotten it everywhere. However, since high school I have mainly gotten it on my face. If you have dermatitis herpetiformis, you have celiac disease... period. For patients with this rash it is usually the only symptom of celiac disease they have. (Not in my case, I guess I'm just lucky) This is an intensely itchy rash that appears as watery blisters. I have been really lucky with this because I usually only get small outbreaks of it and it does clear up for short periods of time. Usually people get large breakouts and it rarely goes away. Since I have been gluten free it has pretty much gone away! Every once in a while I will get one or two spots that clear up very quickly.

I am amazed that cutting out one thing from my diet has cleared up all the rashes I have had since the time I was little. I can take a lot of things but itching all the time was one thing that really got to me. I am so excited that I don't have to spend the rest of my life scratching!

Osteopenia

2009-09-15T17:35:00.002-04:00

During the process of diagnosis the Doctors decided to test several of my nutrient levels. My Vitamin D level (among others) came back low. Because of this they decided that I needed to have a Bone Density test. I must admit that I am truly grateful that we have the technology we do because all that was recquired of this test was to lay on a bed and be scanned. I went into this test thinking "No problem, what could go wrong with this?" (I didn't even have to have my mom come with me!!)
So, the day of my appointment came. I happened to be getting the test done in a Breast Health Clinic. That made sense to me; Old ladies need regular mammograms and bone scans, why not have it in the same place. When I walked in I was definitely the youngest person there, by about 40 years. I got some pretty odd looks. After a few minutes I got called back and was given some instructions to prep for my test. It went something like this:

Nurse: "Undress, completely from the waist up and put your clothes on one of the hangers."
Me: (If I needed to undress at all wouldn't I have to completely undress?)
Nurse: "Here is a gown for you. The opening goes in front."
Me: (Why would it really matter? It's not like I'm gonna have to take it off.)
Nurse: "Are you wearing deodorant?"
Me: "Yes." (Why wouldn't I be?)
Nurse: (Giving me a look of 'you should know better') "Well, use one of those wipes there and clean the underarm and breast area completely.
Me: (Getting slightly nervous as my worst fears are realized) "Why do I need to take off my deodorant?"
Nusre: (With exasperation now) "Because it gets all over the machine and messes up the results of the test."
Me: "I just want to make sure we are on the same page. I'm here for a bone scan, not a mammogram."
Nurse: "Oh... well then I guess you can keep your deodorant on then."
Me: (Right, because that is really what I was worried about. Not, the fact that you were about to send me through the squish-o-matic 20 years too early.)

So everything turned out fine and I ended up getting the right test done (although I did have an escape plan ready just in case). The bone density test was the easiest test I have done yet; No poking with cold hands, no needles, and best of all, no squishing!! All you do is lay on a table and this arm-thing passes up and down you (you seriously feel like you are in a computer scanner; makes the same noise too).

Alright, getting to the whole point of this post... The results came back and I have Osteopenia. The medical definition for Osteopenia is a bone density that is 1.0 to 2.5 standard deviations below the norm. Osteoporosis is anything below 2.5 standard deviations. The norm is the average bone density for a 30 year old woman. The reason the norm is set at 30 years old is because up until 30 you increase your bone density. After 30 you start to lose bone density. So what is the big deal with Osteopenia? Well, nothing really. If you are over 30 and you have Osteopenia your risk for later Osteoporosis is VERY high. In this case doctors may start you on some treatment or just wait and see if Osteoporosis set in. Luckily for someone like me, who has several years before I hit 30, it's not a big deal at all. I have plenty of time to build back bone density once I start absorbing nutrients again.

Here are some things that help increase bone density: Calcium supplements Vitamin D supplements Daily exposure to the sun, unprotected (15 minutes in unprotected sun exposure will give you 1,000 IU of Vitamin D) Weight bearing exercise (This could be something as simple as walking) So right now I will be taking a lot of sunny walks! What could be better than that? :)

An interesting side note... For anyone who has malabsorption problems DO NOT take any Osteoporosis medications like Boniva or Fosamax! When your body can't absorb the calcium it needs from what you intake, it turns and takes it from your bones instead. The way Osteoporosis medications work is it seals off your bones so that your body can't take the calcium from them. If you can't get the calcium from what you intake or from your bones this leads to a serious depletion of calcium which could cause things like strokes. No good!

Eating Out

2009-09-09T20:07:00.002-04:00

"Hey guys let's all go to Olive Garden!" Can I just say that I love Olive Garden, and yet it is probably the scariest place on earth I could go right now. Between the pasta and the dairy, you might as well just give me a death sentence; or at least I'll wish I was dead. But seriously, eating out is not something that I am doing right now.

There are a few restaurants (not Oilive Garden) that offer gluten-free menus but then there is still the issue of cross-contamination in preparation. Several of the books I have read have said that it's not a big deal; all you have to do is go into the restaurant and explain the situation to the server and they will be happy to accommodate you. One book even suggested that you print out a card that explains your 'special' needs. These authors also suggested that you might need to check labels of some of the restaurant's ingredients. One person even said that she has had her server bring her a two gallon bucket of dressing to the table so she could read the ingredients. Plus the fact that after all that there is still a chance that your food will be contaminated.

I'm sorry but I am not about to do any of that. Plus I've worked in the food industry before, I know what goes on behind the scenes. Here's how it usually goes down...
Server: "No problem ma'am. We'll do our best."
In the kitchen... Server: "This crazy lady at table 42 has some 'special' instructions for the cooks. You need to..."
Cooks: "Awww.. come on... you've got to be kidding me! If she has so many issues why doesn't she just stay home and cook for herself!! What do we look like personal chefs!?! We don't have time to worry about all this; we've got other orders to fill!"
(This is when they decide to either spit in your food or ignore the 'special' instructions. Either way, I don't want to eat the food.)

There would also be a lot of colorful language which I left out; but they are right. In my opinion restaurants are there to serve what they offer, which is on the menu. They are not there to serve our every need and desire. If you want all your needs satisfied get your own chef, cook for yourself, or bring your own food when you go to restaurants. I have brought my own food to restaurants and haven't gotten kicked out yet, but usually I just cook for myself; although, I think my mom could qualify as a personal chef. :) The nutritionist I went to gave me a good tip for eating out. She said, "Stick with the extremes of restaurants. Go to either the really cheap ones like Taco Bell and Wendy's or the really expensive ones. The cheap ones really don't have a way to cross-contaminate your food because of the assembly line process they have going on. The expensive ones cater to more individual needs. The middle ground, like Chili's, Outback, and Macaroni Grill is where you can get into the most trouble. They have a strict menu and don't tend to cater to specific individual needs."

Like I said before, I personally don't think that eating out is a good idea unless the restaurant has separate cooking areas for gluten and gluten-free items, and has practices against cross-contamination. There are a few restaurants where I live that have good practices that I might try once I feel better. You can easily do Google searches for your area to find if there is anything near you.

It's not the same...

2009-09-04T22:31:00.001-04:00

I love Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. As far as I know they are not gluten-free. This past weekend I wanted a sweet treat. Well, we had Hershey's chocolate bars and peanut butter in the house. I thought maybe if I put the two together it would be like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! Nope. It's not the same. Bummer.

Gluten Free Review

2009-09-04T20:28:00.004-04:00

This is going to be a long post. I have tried many 'gluten-free' products and have yet to post about them, so here we go...

Van's Blueberry Waffles- These were not delicious. They crumbled, had a rough texture, and no flavor. Seriously, nothing. Every once in a while I thought I tasted a hint of blueberry, but that was it. It was not worth the raw mouth you get from eating them. However, if you just need a base for some syrup or something these might be good for you.

French Meadow Bakery Brownies - You can buy these in the frozen section of Whole Foods. I enjoyed them. However, you have to eat them while the are still a bit chilled. If you let them come completley to room temperature that are kind of gritty. While I did enjoy them I do not think they are worth the price. They are about $7.00 a box and you get 9 small brownies. I can make my own that taste just as good or better for much less.

A Taste of Thai Garlic Basil Coconut Rice First - Let me say that I love rice mixes. Before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease Rice A Roni and such was my favorite stuff. Now, that said, this rice mix was not my favorite. I love Thai food but something just seemed a bit off with the flavors. Also, I made it per the directions, and it was all cooked, but it just seemed dry. I don't know if it was just the kind of rice they used, I have never had Jasmine rice before, but it wasn't my favorite. And again, it was a bit expensive for what I got out of it. I'm sure that I could come up with something that I like better on my own.

Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Brownie Mix -

Your first reaction when you see these brownies is going to be, "Is that chocolate or poop?" If I hadn't been the one to make these I would have said poop. These were not good, at all. They were gritty and had a nasty after-taste. I can and have made homemade gluten-free brownies that taste much better than these. I love Bob's Red Mill but this is not their best product.

Funny story though... I took these brownies to a party so that there would be something that I could eat. Unfortunately I couldn't get to some people to tell them to watch out because they were 'special' brownies. It was really funny to watch their faces across the room as they stuck the whole thing in their mouths. Towards the end one of my friends came into the room and said, "Pumba, I'm sorry I thought you left and I threw out your brownies." The guy sitting next to me turned and said with a tone of relief, "Oh, you brought those brownies? That makes sense now... there was no real flour in them." Needless to say they were not the hit of the party.

Boomi Bars

I didn't take a picture of these, sorry. I tried three different kinds. Macadamia Paradise was delicious but very sweet. I loved the mix of flavors between the pineapple and the macadamia nuts. Perfect Pumpkin --- (something, I can't remember what, sorry) was good too. It had a fruit and nut bar taste to it, which I love. Walnut Date was good too. It was more plain than the other two, but still good. While these are good I probably wouldn't buy them on a regular basis, but if they were around I would eat them. I could probably make my own fruit and nut bars that taste just a good. That's going to be one of my next experiments.

Larabar - I went to a Celiac support group meeting recently and they had these to try. I am so glad I did not pay money for these. I tried two kinds, Apple Pie and Pecan Pie. I tried the Apple Pie one first. It was gross. Seriously, it was dry and had this really funny tang. Seeing as these bars are mostly nuts and dates I thought that the plainer Pecan Pie one would taste better. However, it tasted exactly the same as the Apple Pie one. If I had been blind-folded I wouldn't have been able to tell them apart. I have recently been experimenting with nuts and dates and my wacky experiments have turned out way better than either of these bars.

Bob's Red Mill Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal - I actually liked this. It's really plain but you can do so much with it. I really liked it with honey and cinnamon in it. I have also tried it with blueberries. I also think it would be really good with baked apples, bacon and cheese (if I could eat cheese), and so many other things!! It's kind of like grits but chewier. It also has a more neutral flavor than grits, much more versatile. I would definitely recommend this.

So, the trend throughout this post, except for the Hot Cereal, is that most things that are made to be gluten free and not very good. I have found that it is better to experiment with homemade things and things that are naturally gluten free. This just further supports my idea of eating a mostly whole foods diet. But I will probably try more 'gluten free' things hoping to find something that is good. I'll keep you posted.

Feeding Pumba

2009-08-30T21:51:00.001-04:00

Cranberry-Orange Bread

This was a recipe from the back of a Bob's Red Mill mix. It's the best bread-like mix we've tried.

2 cups Gluten Free Biscuit & Baking Mix (Bob's Red Mill)

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

2 tbs oil

1 cup Orange juice

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup Cranberries

In a medium bowl, blend together egg, sugar, vanilla, and oil. Slowly blend in the orange juice. Add biscuit mix and cranberries to liquid ingredients and blend until just combined. Using a spatula, scoop the dough into a greased loaf pan and spread out dough evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

We found it cooks better in an 8' cake pan. Also, it's best right out of the oven. When it's cooled it gets really clobby (if that's even a word) and when it's stored for any period of time it gets moist, in a bad way. So, it's best to eat it right away. Like I said before, it's the best bread-like mix we've tried. However, that doesn't mean I want to eat it very often and I'm sure when we start experimenting with other things we'll be able to find something much better.

Feeding Pumba

2009-08-30T21:30:00.001-04:00

Tuna Tents
This was already one of my favorite meals, so I am pretty excited that it is gluten-free as well! It's way easy too, which is a plus.

On a square of aluminum foil place desired amount of tuna, and desired amount of any chopped vegetable you want. Some of my favorite vegetables to use are; squash, carrots, peppers, green onion, fresh spinach, broccoli, and snow peas. But to each his own.

After all that is piled into the middle of your aluminum foil square pour the Butter Herb sauce over it.

Butter Herb Sauce

Combine is a saucepan over medium heat

3 tbs margarine/butter
1 tbs lemon juice
1 clove garlic minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried dill weed

Once you've poured the sauce over everything roll the edges othe the aluminum together to form a packet and bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!!

I can't eat the margarine/butter right now but I tried something similar to this where I cooked everything in a skillet on the stove using the same seasonings as the sauce, to taste (except the margarine/butter) and then at the end I drizzled olive oil on everything. It turned out really well.

Endoscopy

2009-08-30T20:22:00.002-04:00

An endoscopy with multiple biopsies is the only way to have a 100% accurate diagnosis of celiac disease. Maybe one day they will find blood work that is accurate enough not to do the endoscopy but right now that is not the case. The biopsies are sent to a pathologist to assess if there is any damage to the villi in the small intestine. It is important to continue eating gluten until the endoscopy is preformed. The body is a miraculous thing and begins to heal immediately. Patients, especially children, who are diagnosed soon after onset of celiac disease can heal rapidly causing the biopsies to come back negative for damage and thus negative for celiac disease. So continue to eat gluten until all diagnostic measures are taken.

It used to be that a second endoscopy was preformed 18 months after starting a gluten-free diet to ensure that the intestines were healing. However, that is not the common practice anymore, though some doctors still do it. If patients are improving on a gluten-free diet and their antibody levels are decreasing the doctors don't find it necessary to go back in again.

I will admit, the endoscopy was not a fun experience. Did you know that if you are an adult they think you are mature enough not to be completely put under? Well obviously they didn't take into account me. I can handle a lot of things, but there are three things that I really don't like; needles, people in my mouth (my poor dentist), and throwing up. This, in a way, combined all three things. (I didn't throw up, but did gag when they pulled the tube back up which is just as bad as throwing up) I'll just say, the nurses were not amused with me. Granted, the 'mild sedative' did take the edge off and made me loopy enough to comply to their instructions I otherwise would have put up a fight against, like "open your mouth". In the end I survived, and I guess if I really had to do it again I could. But only if I REALLY have to. When my doctor came in to start the procedure she said: "Usually I can't tell anything by just looking, unless there is severe damage, beyond the damage to your villi; we usually have to wait for the pathologist report to come back. So, after this you can go and eat all the Krispy Kreme donuts you want." I politely told her that I didn't care if she could or couldn't tell anything just by looking, I was starting to eat gluten-free that day because I was tired of being sick. Well, when she finally got down into my small intestine I heard her say, through my mildly sedated haze, "Wow, you definitely have it! No more Krispy Kremes for you." Ha! I told you so. So in the end, she told me no more gluten, gave me some souvenir pictures of my intestines, and sent me on my way. When the pathologist report came back it said the same thing only in greater detail. "Near complete obliteration of the villi; Chronic inflammation of the intestine" and a lot of other stuff that I didn't fully understand, but it's not good. But as I said earlier, the body is a miraculous thing. It can heal itself even from extensive damage. So as long as I stay away from gluten I will completely heal. It just may take a few years. But I don't mind because if 15+ years of damage can be healed in 2 years, I'm not complaining.

Preliminaries

2009-08-24T13:51:00.002-04:00

Unfortunately I am not talking about a Miss America swim suit competition. I decided I would go ahead and start writing about the tests I've had. It's a bit of a process to be diagnosed with Celiac disease, and I'm not even talking about the years I and other people have gone through of random medical tests before the doctors even get around to Celiac disease.

When I finally went back to the doctor a few months ago, determined to figure out what was wrong with me, I knew I needed to at least be tested for Celiacs thanks to my mom's research and knowing a few people who had it. Thankfully after talking to my new doctor he agreed that I should be tested for Celiacs as well. (It's a good thing he agreed because there was NO WAY I was leaving that office without being tested, and I would have put up a BIG stink)

However, being the good doctor he is he wanted to test several other things as well. So, along with the Celiac panel he did blood tests for thyroid problems, hepatitis, and some other basic nutrients testing. Those tests are all pretty basic and should be done with the symptoms I was presenting. We've all had blood tests. They are easy and relatively pain less. Although I will admit that I have this fear of needles and turn into a four year old girl who wants her mommy when anyone comes at me with a needle.

He also wanted to rule out parasites and intesinal infections which meant a stool sample test. I'll say one thing about that test; some things in this life are just wrong, and that was one of them. Painless, but wrong.

Well, all of the tests came back negative, except the Celiac panel. I got a call from the doctor's office saying everything was fine but that the doctor wanted to talk to me about my Celiac test. I happened to be in the area the next day so I called to see if there was time that morning I could come in. All the nurse said was, "We'll make time. The doctor really wants to see you." So I went in and got taken back right away. Normally when the doctor walks in he is cheery and talkative, that was not the case that day. He was very quiet and solemn. He came in, pulled up a chair close to mine and sat down (he never sits down). Then he said to me in his Russian accent, "Unfortunately you were right, you definitely have Celiac Disease." I think he was expecting me to be sad or shocked or something. But I was actually relieved and happy. I had actually figured out what was wrong with me! Plus, with Celiac disease I could live a symptom-free life as long as I didn't eat gluten. This was a great day! He gave me the name and number of a gastrointestinal doctor so that I could go and get the next step of diagnosis done, an endoscopy. While the Celiac panel (blood test) is a good indication of whether or not you have Celiac disease it is only a starting point. The true diagnosis comes from an endoscopy with multiple biopsies of the small intestine. I'll get to that story later.

Here's some technical information about the Celiac Panel for those who want to know. The Celiac Panel tests for 3 anitbodies that are produced as a result of the autoimmune response that the consumption of gluten causes. These three antibodies are Ttg (Tissue Transglutaninase Ab, IgA), IgG (Gliadin Peptide Ab, IgG), and IgA (Gliadin Peptide Ab, IgA). The main one is the Ttg antibody, but the other ones are indicators as well. Some tests only test for one antibody but it is important to get all three tested or at least the Ttg. Normal levels for all three antibodies are <7; >10 definitely has Celiac disease and will need to get an endoscopy to assess the damage. Just for reference here are my levels: Ttg >128 (The scale wouldn't go any higher they said.), IgG 84, IgA 60. Verdict is: 100% chance that I have Celiac Disease!!
The other good thing about the Celiac Panel is that you can get the test redone after several months of being on a gluten-free diet. If the levels of the antibodies are decreasing you know that you are healing. If the levels are the same or increasing you know you are getting some gluten somewhere in you diet. This test is especially important for assessing improvement in patients who are asymptomatic (they don't have physical symptoms but do have intestinal damage). I will probably have to have this test done every few years once I get everything under control just to make sure that I am staying in the normal range. Even though I don't like needles I'd much rather get a blood test done every few years than an endoscopy every few years!!

Insomnia

2009-08-23T00:53:00.002-04:00

Seeing as I couldn't sleep, again, I figured it would be a good time to write about insomnia. The insomnia started in second grade. I remember lying in bed at night thinking "I have to sleep so I can go to school tomorrow." I tried listening to soothing music, counting sheep, and even praying. However, sleep continued to evade me, though the prayer did help on occasion.
The insomnia has continued throughout my life, and I still try listening to music and praying; I've given up on the whole sheep thing. I've always thought that I just had an overactive mind that was keeping me awake. I figured I just needed to learn how to relax and quiet my mind so that I could sleep. Obviously, none of that has worked since I am writing this post. The most frustrating thing about it is that when I am tired during the day and go to take a nap I have no trouble falling asleep. However, when I go to bed at night, even if I am exhausted, I lay in bed for hours on end before I finally drift off.
The good news? I found out that insomnia is a symptom of Celiac Disease; shocking, right? Now, normally I like to explain why a symptom is connected to Celiac Disease but the truth is I have no idea how insomnia is connected. All I know is that autoimmune diseases mess up your whole body, which includes sleeping patterns. Why is this good news you ask? Well, if it's a symptom of Celiac Disease there is a chance that when I get better the insomnia will go away and I'll be able to sleep. That would be wonderful!!! But for now I'll go back to bed and see if writing this all out will help me sleep tonight.

So Blessed

2009-08-20T15:39:00.002-04:00

I have been enormously blessed my entire life and right now is no different. When I was wrapping up my college education a few months ago I was frustrated that nothing was working out the way I had planned or wanted them to. I was supposed to start grad school right after graduation, but changed my plans and decided not to go. I was going to get a job right away when I moved back home, but my mom was wise and talked me into taking three months off. I am the kind of person who always likes to have a plan, and yet for the first time in my life I felt that I should just take some time off and not plan anything. It's amazing how God works. These things have placed me in the perfect situation to take the time I need to heal. Here are some of the other things that I am grateful for right now. This is certainly not the whole list, but includes things that have particularly affected me with my diagnosis of Celiac Disease.

I have a loving Father in Heaven who loves and cares for me; who has guided me to find answers about my health and has placed me in the perfect position that I am in now.
I have a wonderful family who loves and supports me. They give me strength and help me in anyway possible; from letting me live at home again, to my mom going gluten-free with me.
I have the means to not work for several months without worrying about money.
I was blessed to be able to finish college and do well, something that myself, my parents, and the doctors are shocked at.
I have been blessed with finally getting answers to all of my medical problems and that I will recover enough to live a symptom-free life.
I have been blessed to live in a time where Celiac Disease is known and where information is available for me to learn to live with it.

I love my life and everything in it. As I continue to write about my symptoms please realize that while these things have affected my life they have not dictated it. I am not writing about them to complain about them but rather to release it and allow myself to heal mentally and emotionally as well as physically. I am also writing to hopefully help others with this disease realize they are not alone and to provide information to those who want to know.
One last petty thing... today I am grateful that I was able to find peanut butter that fit into my diet!! :) It's the little things in life that bring me the most joy!

Feeding Pumba

2009-08-18T08:02:00.002-04:00

The Farmer's Market This spring my mom and I got fed up with the produce at our local grocery stores. So we decided to try out our local farmer's market. Let me tell you, it's so much better than the grocery store! So much better in fact that we get up at 5:00 every Tuesday morning to go see what we can find. You can find all sorts of produce that is good quality and cheaper than the grocery store. Over the summer we have been able to get some of our favorites (zucchini, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and berries), as well as try some new things (zephyr squash, winter squash, eggplant, figs, and october beans).
The farmer's market has been especially great since I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Fresh vegetables and fruits are some of the things that I can still eat and that I am trying to center my diet around. It's great to know that I can go somewhere that is a fun experience as well as come away with things that I know are fresh and taste good. We have had a blast trying new foods and recipes and enlarging our tastes. The farmer's market is going to close for the season soon and I don't know what we are going to do. Regular grocery stores just aren't the same anymore.

Change

2009-08-16T20:52:00.001-04:00

I like change. I find it challenging; and I love a good challenge! Besides change can always be a positive thing as long as you make it a positive thing. Being diagnosed with Celiac Disease definitely meant some change. But I was also filled with excitement. The gluten-free diet is certainly a learning curve but I have been enjoying every moment of it.

Well, just to keep the excitement going I am adding in some more change. I've been gluten-free for a month and the truth of the matter is that I am still sick. Earlier this week I decided it was the little bits of milk I was getting (I am lactose intolerant due to the damage of my villi); the chocolate, the margarine, the gluten-free brownies, etc. So, I decided to be 100% dairy-free too. Unfortunately, being dairy-free did not help me from being sick this weekend; and I mean SICK. I haven't been that sick in a while. This morning I was trying to figure it out. Had I gotten gluten somewhere? That just seems impossible, I've been very cautious. It wasn't the dairy because a) I hadn't eaten anything with dairy in a few days and b) this was a different kind of sick (yes, I can tell the difference). All of a sudden I realized, I had eaten something with yeast in it this weekend. I don't normally eat things with yeast. The last time I ate something with yeast I was really sick too.

Now, I don't think I am allergic to yeast but it does make sense for something else: Candida Overgrowth Candida is a bacteria (bad) in your intestinal system. Normally you have a very small amount. However, due to things like stress, poor diet, or other health problems, candida can multiple at a very high rate causing the balance of good to bad bacteria to be off which causes intestinal problems. When you ingest things like yeast and sugar it feeds the growth of the candida causing an even higher reproduction rate and more issues. I know for a fact that the good to bad bacteria ratio is off in my system. This is due to deterioration of my intestines and malabsorption. This is also why my doctor had me start taking a probiotic (good bacteria in pill form). I figure maybe the balance is just a little more off than we expected and I need to take a few extra steps in trying to right the ratio of good and bad bacteria.

So, back to the change thing; I have also decided to cut out all yeast and refined sugar from my diet as well. (At this point I will do whatever it takes to feel better) The yeast won't be a problem at all. However, I am a self proclaimed sugar addict. It's going to take some getting used to; and I'm pretty sure I am going to face withdrawls. But, like I said before, change can be a good thing if you make it a good thing. I have always wanted to conquer my addiction and eat healthier. It will also allow me to try new ways of eating that may even be better than sugar. Who knows what I'm gonna find! I am still excited for it all.

So just a quick recap; I am now: gluten-free, dairy-free, yeast-free, sugar-free (refined). I always love a good challenge!!

Feeding Pumba

2009-08-14T15:37:00.001-04:00

Since the biggest part of having Celiac Disease is figuring out the Gluten-Free diet I hope to make "Feeding Pumba" posts regular. I will post recipes, reviews of Gluten-Free items, and 'experiments'. Enjoy!

My lunch today was AMAZING!!

Tuscan Vegetable Minestone

2 cups diced spinach leaves

1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1 cup canned ground or diced tomatoes
5 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth (we use Kitchen Basics, but anything gluten-free is fine)
1 cup diced zucchini (we do half zucchini, half yellow or zephyr squash)
2 15oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp minced fresh oregano (we use dried)
Salt and Pepper to taste
In a large pot combine, spinach, onion, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and broth. Bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Cover, adjust heat to maintain simmer, and cook until vegetables are half done, about 15 minutes. Add zucchini and beans. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add oregano, salt, and pepper. This soup saves great for leftovers and does well in the freezer. You can also add 1/2 cup diced potato when you put in the other vegetables. Or you can add 1/2 cup gluten-free penne pasta when you put in the zucchini and beans. However, if you add these things it doesn't save as well in the freezer.

'Focaccia' Bread 1 pkg Bob's Red Mill gluten-free pizza crust mix (for this you will also need 1 1/2 cup warm water, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp olive oil)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 dried oregano
Make the pizza dough as instructed on the package. (I only used half the dough and put the other half in the fridge) Spread out the dough on a greased pan. It doesn't really matter the shape. I did a rectagular-like shape because I wanted to cut it into sticks. After you spread it out bake at 425 degrees for 17-20 minutes. While the dough is baking mix together olive oil, garlic powder, and oregano in small contaner. Brush olive oil mixture on the crust when it has finished cooking and cut. This was a total experiment today because I've wanted something like bread sticks/garlic bread/pizza. It had really good flavor. The texture is... different, but once you get used to it, it's fine. I would definitely eat this again, and it filled my craving.

Mood Swings and Depression

2009-08-14T14:18:00.001-04:00

The mood swings started when I was 11 or 12. You may be thinking, well duh... puberty. We thought so too for a while. When I got older and the mood swings got worse my mom suggested going to the doctor and getting medication for it. But some things about it just didn't add up. Half the time the mood swings didn't even coincide with my cycle. Plus, this was more than just a change in mood, I was like a completely different person. This was way beyond normal puberty or PMS.

Normally I am very level headed and rational. I hardly ever get irritated with people and almost never get angry. This is not the case when a mood swing hits. And when I say hit I mean a switch flips from one second to the next. One second I am happy, the next I am irritated with whoever happens to be near me. One second I am hanging out with friends, the next I just know that they really don't like me and are just being nice to me because they feel sorry for me. One second I am working hard and am confident in myself, the next I don't know how I am going to do what I need to. My perspective also switches. I perceive everyone else around me as irritated and irrational too. If I stop and logically think about things I realize that I am making no sense. But I can never snap myself out of it. I am just certifiably crazy for a while. For example... my grandparents were in town visiting. My mom, grandma, and I were all sitting at the table having a good time talking about harmless things like recipes. All of a sudden the switch flipped. I literally was so annoyed with my mom and grandma that I thought I was going to pull my hair out. They hadn't done anything but all of a sudden I saw them as irritated with each other and making sharp comments to each other; not at all the case. I just had to excuse myself and completely leave the house.

It has gotten to the point that when I am venting to my mom during these times she has stopped trying to understand me and make it all better. Instead she tells me "Don't make any life changing decisions, don't sign any legal documents. Just go watch a movie, read a book, and go to bed. Tomorrow, you'll feel better and it will all work out." She's always right. The next day, or sometimes even just hours later, I am my old self again and everything is alright again.

Luckily the depression isn't quite as bad. It tends to come as a byproduct of the mood swings and goes away with them too. There have only been two times in my life where I was depressed for extended periods of time. Those times were due to a combination of stress and other symptoms.

Why are mood swings and depression symptoms of Celiac Disease? Autoimmune diseases effect your entire body. Especially your hormone levels and functioning. Your body is mass producing antibodies, hormones, or other chemicals trying to fix what's going wrong inside you. Thus, sometimes you get spikes or drops in hormone levels causing things like mood swings and depression. Another reason is that if you're undiagnosed you may be dealing with symptoms that you don't understand. You can become frustrated, worried, and feel like you are crazy (been there, done that). This can cause severe depression in some people, especially if they don't have a strong and understanding support system behind them. Thankfully, I have had an amazing, understanding family which helped me avoid the depression. Not everyone is so lucky. So the outlook for me is hopeful. I figure once my antibody levels come down and my body isn't on alert all the time my hormones will be able to level out as well. Thank goodness!!

To Begin...

2009-08-12T21:07:00.001-04:00

Last month I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I've decided to created this blog for a few reasons.

1. As an educational reference for friends, family, and whoever else comes upon this blog.
2. As a support and information source (not that I have all the information) for those who also have Celiac Disease.
3. As a creative outlet for myself. (This is probably the main reason for the blog)
** Side note, I am a believer is the whole "humor is the best medicine". If you are offended at me taking things lightly, sorry I'm not changing it. I choose to see the humorous side of life; it makes life a lot happier, especially when times are hard.
** Additional side note, I plan on blogging about symptoms I have had and procedures I have been through because I find benefit in knowing that others have been through the same things and have had the same feelings that I have experienced. So just as a warning, occasional posts may be more information than you ever wanted to know about me.

So, a quick introduction to Celiac Disease for those of you who aren't familiar with it... Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease (NOT an allergy or intolerance!!). When someone with Celiac Disease consumes gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, and rye) an immune response is triggered. Antibodies are sent to the small intestine to destroy the 'bad guys' and instead destroys the villi in the small intestine. This causes problems with absorption of nutrients, plain ol' proper functioning, and gives rise to a host of symptoms. One of the big problems with Celiac Disease is that the immune response is triggered by any amount of gluten, even just a hidden crumb. So, since there is no cure or medicine for this disease the only course of treatment is a 100% Gluten-Free diet; including miniscule crumbs.

How was I diagnosed? Glad you asked... I have had a plethora of varying symptoms my whole life. However, the past two years have just been out of control. I chalked it up to be stress. However, that excuse fell through when I graduated college and had three months planned of no school, no work, relaxation only, and my symptoms continuing to get worse. So, through my mom's research, and the correct medical tests I finally got the dianosis of Celiac Disease. (Yeah, I know it's kind of vague but I'm going to post specific stories later that I don't want to ruin. No one likes a spoiler!) When I got home and told my brother that I was officially a Celiac he laughed and said, "It sounds like some sort of alien species on Star Trek!" He's right! I can see it now... "Captain, the Celiac ship has locked onto us!" "Shields up! Red alert! Image on screen." Okay, so I am a bit of a trekkie too. Like Celiac Disease there's no cure for that either.

So, I have been Gluten-Free for about a month and have seen some improvements in my health. I still have a LONG way to go but it will come with time. The doctor's say that because of the damage I have to my small intestine it will take about two years for it to fully heal. Luckily they say I should start feeling much better in about 6-9 months. I honestly can't remember what it's like to feel normal and healthy so I am looking forward to finding out again!