fran641

Irish, I don't think it's weird to talk to your dad and give thanks for his intervention.  Both my parents are gone  and our house number was 506. Whenever  I see that number on a clock, and it is often, I always talk to both of them and ask them to intercede on behalf of my family.  Many years after they passed away I mentioned that to my little sister and she burst out laughing. She has done the same thing since they died.

Life is too short to not have a sense of humor.  My oncologist (lymphoma doc) must have had his funny bone removed at birth. I often made remarks that just flew over his head.  It would make me giggle when he didn't have a clue what I was saying.    

Take care,
Fran

Irish, glad you  had a  laugh today.

I do believe that prayer does work and did say "thank you" right away.  All the asking needs to have my thanks you's attached!!!!  

Fran

Thanks everyone. It is easier to talk to all of you  on this computer than it is to talk on the phone today.  I'm so grateful that you all listen to my yakking.  I am feeling hopeful that they have found it early.  Because I had the Lymphoma I get regular PET scans and that is what found this stuff 6 weeks ago.  I just want to get to the other side of surgery and on to recovery.  

Emotionally I'm wired and because of pancreatitis I am on all clear liquids. I AM A STRESS EATER.....that part is hard!!!  I'm hungry and today is only the first day of no food.  This may be this way until the surgery!   That little sound you hear is my tummy  growling!  LOL

I hope you are all having a good day and no pain from the celiac critters.

xo Fran

Courage and strength are such strange words to me.  I only see the days/moments when I go to my room and just beg God to let me be with hubby and the kids (2 + 11 grand/great-grands) for Christmas.  I am a woman of faith but that faith seemed to be so far away in those moments.  The relief is that God picks me up, dusts me off and faces me forward.  Then I get good news and feel shame in my lack of trust.  

The emotional part of this is the absolutely most challenging  thing I've ever experienced.  Celiac and Cancer is that hill to climb and I could  not do it without the encouragement of all of you and the other wonderful people  I've met through these boards.  

Speaking of the celiac....a friend sent me a huge gift package of food yesterday. It was filled with soups, breads, treats and other great comfort food. NONE of it gluten free!  My husband is enjoying all that stuff!!!  lol
I ate my gluten free pasta and spaghetti sauce for dinner.

Ahhhhh, life is a beach............and I'm sunning on it.  LOL
Fran

I am so happy that today is #3 of being gluten free.  We are having dinner with a friend tonight with some other couples.  She called me to check what foods I can not eat.  I almost cried because I just shared with her a few days ago how hard it has been getting back on  track with the foods.  Once I made the decision to take the gluten back out of my life the old good patterns came back.  Tell people what my needs are and not feel guilty about it.

We are going away overnight and staying with friends who are not gluten free.  I am taking foods with me so I can have something I enjoy eating while they eat other foods like I used to do.  

Thanks to all of you for helping me remember why I am doing this.

LOL, sorry I didn't pay attention that it was your sig line.  A whole tribe of warrior princesses, what power that portrays!  

Take care, fran

It's what I call myself--and any woman I know --who has survived many battles...

Warrior Princess!!!  I love it..lol  This old chick feels young with that title.
Thanks fran

Fran,
I send you  good vibes, best wishes and a giant cyber-space hug...keep us posted!
Hang tough, warrior princess
IH

Mr., I have heard of Dr.Li, thanks for the website I will check it out today.

Fran

Thanks Irish and Ravenwood.  No time like NOW to pull it together.  Raven, I knew Lymphoma was one of the a possiblity but you never think it can happen to you.  Win the lottery sure, get cancer nope....lol

Fran,

Just want to say...you faced down cancer and you are a warrior, girl!

You can beat the "gluten-jones"! Just get back on track ASAP!

Hang tough and I hope you get good news from the test results. Let us know!

All the best, Irish

First, my blood work was always good.  I began having some stomach pain in May '10 but lots of tests couldn't find anything.  A colonoscopy found a tumor in my rectum that turned out to be follicular lymphoma.  Then a PET scan found it in my thighs, hip, spine, rib and abdomen (my original complaint) plus the rectum.  I was undiagnosed with celiac for over 30 years too and did fear cancer.  My last PET 2 weeks ago has picked up some activity in my pancreas so it's off for more tests to a pancreatic cancer specialist.  But I don't know if that is cancer so I'm considering myself cancer free until told otherwise.  

You don't know how your post touched that sane part of my brain.  I know I need to be MORE cautious now than ever before.  Thanks for reminding me that I am important enough to  take care of.

I have felt pretty rough after chemo and blamed that but now the truth is the yukkies are from the gluten doing it's number on my intestines.  I can do this and today is the day.  

Thanks again...
Fran

Wow, Fran, that is wonderful that you are Lymphoma free now and the treatments worked.
Please take the gluten very seriously. It is like an opiate you know...it tells you everything is gonna be alright while it slowly destroys your health and your body.

You didn't survive cancer just to have gluten destroy your health again.

I empathize with your struggle, it sounds like it is very difficult for you.

But you need the good nutrition now more than ever.

Find ways to treat yourself so you don't give in to gluten treats.

Fill up on protein for healing and vitamins and minerals for nutrition.

You don't want another secondary cancer from gluten.

You can do this. It is hard, but it is very possible to get off gluten for good.

Your body will thank you. Hang in there and re-read your books.

Question- Did a blood test pick up the Lymphoma? I'm scared of that one myself. I have long term undiagnosed Celiac and want to know what to watch for regarding Lymphoma.


I hope you kick the grip gluten has on you and that you feel much better on your next go round Gluten Free for Life!

It is a challenge to live in a different food world than most people around us.  I have a dear neighbor that we always had lots of meals with.  She usually invited us because she doesn't go out much.  Once I couldn't eat what she cooked it took the fun out of it for her so we were invited less and less.  We took food over for the dinners a lot but that didn't fill her need to feed.  I hate that it turned out that way but I'm ever so grateful to be gluten free and feeling like a new person physically.  I recently had a biopsy that showed no sign of disease! yeah!  I've been doing this since Dec. 08 and it is working. Don't give up it is so worth it.

I was very overweight, a little less so these days.  I was diagnosed in December of 08 and began eating EVERYTHING that said gluten free.  And no I didn't lose weight and even gained some from all the crazy food I ate while remaining gluten free.  In February I started cutting out processed foods, basically no flour or sugar, that worked.  I'm losing weight and  I can eat dairy for the first time in years.  I thought I couldn't have Celiac because I was fat but thank goodness I had a great doctor who just kept investigating why I had constant diarrhea for 30 years.  I feel better now than I have in many years.  Good luck with your journey, it is so worth it.