How Do You Emotionally Deal With Setbacks?

[icelandgirl]

Icelandgirl - I've been going through the same thing! It's super duper frustrating. I am beginning to suspect some sort of hormonal component to it - it is very obviously cyclical, and they did find a big old ovarian cyst they said was benign looking. But it's pumping out ridiculous amounts of estrogen. I don't know why that would give me D for weeks on end, but I do seem to get a week or two reprieve. I'm now tracking them both, in between the many tests that are costing me a fortune...

 

I nearly burst into tears when I went to a local farmer's market and saw a baked goods booth - they had the most beautiful loaves of bread and cakes and muffins. I glanced at them, wincing, but then noticed the "gluten free" sign. I asked, are these really gluten-free, as in safe for celiacs made with certified gluten-free ingredients or are they Paleo gluten-free? She said no no no, these are certified gluten-free. I told her I loved her.

Hi coffngirl...I've read your recent struggles and we both seem to be going through something similar and frustrating.

How exciting to find the baked goods...what did you get? Was it amazing? You're not in Colorado by chance are you? If so...I'd love to go see, smell and taste it all.

[icelandgirl]

ahhh, the hormones...........  yeah, i have to remind myself every month (when i start feeling tired & my insides get wonky) that i should check my calendar before i think i'm glutened.  i am at the menopause age, pretty much  - i have no idea what sort of mutant baby eggs i have left in my ovaries and i'm ready to be done with it!  lolz  

 

((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))) to e'erybody who needs some

Seriously...The hormones. My period has been horrendous since it started a month before I turned 12. It's frustrating too. I keep hoping that being gluten free will at some point help with that stuff.

[icelandgirl]

I would have said about the same thing as Ski (because at times we seem to share a brain) so I'll just add a HUG, a "chin up, sweetie' and

and a hang in there-- it does get better. 

 

Something you said caught my attention: H. pylori infection. 

How as that treated?? My dad had this and I know a little about how rascally it can be. Just want to be sure you've got it eradicated.

Oh yeah...h. pylori. So not fun. Especially because the 2 different antibiotics I had to be on made my D even worse. Ugh. Anyway...it has been eradicated. Had to provide a stool sample...twice...cause the first time they forgot to freeze it. For real.

Thanks for the hugs and good wishes.

[GottaSki]

Oh yeah...h. pylori. So not fun. Especially because the 2 different antibiotics I had to be on made my D even worse. Ugh. Anyway...it has been eradicated. Had to provide a stool sample...twice...cause the first time they forgot to freeze it. For real.

Thanks for the hugs and good wishes.

 

lol....they did something funky with my sample one time too -- I know it isn't likely the most fun sample in the lab...but come on -- having to carry the brown paper bag around twice...so not cool

[C-Girl]

Hi coffngirl...I've read your recent struggles and we both seem to be going through something similar and frustrating.

How exciting to find the baked goods...what did you get? Was it amazing? You're not in Colorado by chance are you? If so...I'd love to go see, smell and taste it all.

 

I'm in NC but I bet there are people in Colorado who are doing the same thing. It was just such a surprise! I usually hate going to street fairs and markets because they're chock full of delicious things I can't eat... I'm not sure if it was the hormones or the fact that I haven't had a decent sandwich since last September, but I really had to fight hard to not cry

 

I hate that you're going through a similar struggle, but am glad it's not just me. I have tried so many times to link this to diet, giving up so many things, including eating altogether (because some disorders get better with fasting). Nothing made it better, nothing made it worse. So I guess I'll just eat with caution and see if I can correlate it to the phases of the moon, or maybe the position of the zodiac, the passing asteroids or solar flares...

[icelandgirl]

lol....they did something funky with my sample one time too -- I know it isn't likely the most fun sample in the lab...but come on -- having to carry the brown paper bag around twice...so not cool

Right...and both times I had my 2 1/2 year old with me going, "Mama, is that your p u-ee...Gross."

[icelandgirl]

I'm in NC but I bet there are people in Colorado who are doing the same thing. It was just such a surprise! I usually hate going to street fairs and markets because they're chock full of delicious things I can't eat... I'm not sure if it was the hormones or the fact that I haven't had a decent sandwich since last September, but I really had to fight hard to not cry

 

I hate that you're going through a similar struggle, but am glad it's not just me. I have tried so many times to link this to diet, giving up so many things, including eating altogether (because some disorders get better with fasting). Nothing made it better, nothing made it worse. So I guess I'll just eat with caution and see if I can correlate it to the phases of the moon, or maybe the position of the zodiac, the passing asteroids or solar flares...

What a nice surprise though!  Love it.  We have a gluten free restaurant where I live.  My husband took me there for Mother's Day and it's so nice being able to order anything and relax and not explain.  It was delish!

 

On Monday I started a food diary to see if I can track anything specific.  But at the time I'm really only eating chicken, rice,  eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas and berries.  Thanks to Lisa's suggestion I got some carrots and asparagus today.  With my chicken and rice for lunch I had some steamed carrots.  We'll see right?  My kids get out of school tomorrow and I would really love to have a great summer with them rather than clutching my side and going to the bathroom all day. 

[C-Girl]

What a nice surprise though!  Love it.  We have a gluten free restaurant where I live.  My husband took me there for Mother's Day and it's so nice being able to order anything and relax and not explain.  It was delish!

 

On Monday I started a food diary to see if I can track anything specific.  But at the time I'm really only eating chicken, rice,  eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas and berries.  Thanks to Lisa's suggestion I got some carrots and asparagus today.  With my chicken and rice for lunch I had some steamed carrots.  We'll see right?  My kids get out of school tomorrow and I would really love to have a great summer with them rather than clutching my side and going to the bathroom all day. 

 

I'd keep track of the sweet potatoes - those are high fodmaps. I had explosive bright orange D the day after a sweet potato binge

Of course, now I'm questioning all of my food/symptom correlations.

[icelandgirl]

I'd keep track of the sweet potatoes - those are high fodmaps. I had explosive bright orange D the day after a sweet potato binge

Of course, now I'm questioning all of my food/symptom correlations.

Oh my...misery.  I'm sorry.  (((hugs)))  Hoping you get to feeling better soon.

[IrishHeart]

Oh yeah...h. pylori. So not fun. Especially because the 2 different antibiotics I had to be on made my D even worse. Ugh. Anyway...it has been eradicated. Had to provide a stool sample...twice...cause the first time they forgot to freeze it. For real.

Thanks for the hugs and good wishes.

 

 

After 2 doses of antibiotics, your gut is a mess of unbalanced gut flora. Please be sure to take probiotics. Honestly, it may be part of the reason you're still messed up.

[icelandgirl]

After 2 doses of antibiotics, your gut is a mess of unbalanced gut flora. Please be sure to take probiotics. Honestly, it may be part of the reason you're still messed up.

I completed the antibiotics in early February. Of course then on February 12th I had my gallbladder out and uterine polyps out. So...it's been quite a year already. I did start probiotics in February as well.

[C-Girl]

I completed the antibiotics in early February. Of course then on February 12th I had my gallbladder out and uterine polyps out. So...it's been quite a year already. I did start probiotics in February as well.

 

It can take months to get back to normal after antibiotics. My dear hubby had surgery and they gave him prophylactic antibiotics that caused him tons of grief, and he isn't even celiac. Check the kinds they gave you - some are more prone to cause C. Diff overgrowth.

Stick with the probiotics and pre-biotics. They'll help. He was back to normal after half a year, I bet a celiac would take longer.

[NatureChick]

Sometimes they use wheat flower to keep chocolate from sticking to processing machinery, so you could get a higher dose than just a minor contamination if your chocolate isn't gluten free. But bitter chocolate is also high in arginine, the side effects of too much being bloating, cramps, and diarrhea. If you ate half the bag of chips while you did your baking, that could have been the culprit rather than gluten.

Otherwise, other people's comments seem to have already mentioned the other basics about additional food intolerances, etc.

One month in is way early in the process. I wouldn't expect anyone to get "good" at being gluten-free until at least month four or five. But it does get MUCH easier ... after you learn the hard way from a few mistakes. 
 

[GottaSki]

I completed the antibiotics in early February. Of course then on February 12th I had my gallbladder out and uterine polyps out. So...it's been quite a year already. I did start probiotics in February as well.

That is a lot for a body to recover from....it's only been three months and it all happened during a time your body had not yet recovered from Celiac Disease.

Are you still on probiotics? Many recovering Celiacs use them...I did for my first year or more....but eventually had to stop as I was not tolerating any supplements. Perhaps take a break from them for a few days and see if you digestive system feels better. If no difference, I would keep taking a good quality probiotic.

[icelandgirl]

Sometimes they use wheat flower to keep chocolate from sticking to processing machinery, so you could get a higher dose than just a minor contamination if your chocolate isn't gluten free. But bitter chocolate is also high in arginine, the side effects of too much being bloating, cramps, and diarrhea. If you ate half the bag of chips while you did your baking, that could have been the culprit rather than gluten.

Otherwise, other people's comments seem to have already mentioned the other basics about additional food intolerances, etc.

One month in is way early in the process. I wouldn't expect anyone to get "good" at being gluten-free until at least month four or five. But it does get MUCH easier ... after you learn the hard way from a few mistakes.

It's actually been 4 months today. And I felt great during April...I thought I was getting pretty good at this gluten free thing. Until this hit.

[icelandgirl]

That is a lot for a body to recover from....it's only been three months and it all happened during a time your body had not yet recovered from Celiac Disease.

Are you still on probiotics? Many recovering Celiacs use them...I did for my first year or more....but eventually had to stop as I was not tolerating any supplements. Perhaps take a break from them for a few days and see if you digestive system feels better. If no difference, I would keep taking a good quality probiotic.

I am still taking the probiotic twice a day. Really felt like it was part of what was helping until this started up. Yesterday felt like things were improving...hoping for the same today.

[GottaSki]

I am still taking the probiotic twice a day. Really felt like it was part of what was helping until this started up. Yesterday felt like things were improving...hoping for the same today.

Great news...certainly do not stop the proBs if you are improving....they are very important as long as they are tolerated.

[icelandgirl]

Great news...certainly do not stop the proBs if you are improving....they are very important as long as they are tolerated.

Totally.

 

And I want to thank you for your food suggestions yesterday.   I was down to my last sweet potato...a scary thing when you're only eating like 6 things, right?  So, I went to the store and grabbed some asparagus too.  For lunch I had some steamed carrots with my chicken and rice.  For dinner I made sweet potato fries as you suggested...yum.  Had those with some chicken and asparagus.  So good...so nice to add 2 more foods to my life again.  Any other suggestions for what to add next?  Thank you again!

[GottaSki]

Totally.

 

And I want to thank you for your food suggestions yesterday.   I was down to my last sweet potato...a scary thing when you're only eating like 6 things, right?  So, I went to the store and grabbed some asparagus too.  For lunch I had some steamed carrots with my chicken and rice.  For dinner I made sweet potato fries as you suggested...yum.  Had those with some chicken and asparagus.  So good...so nice to add 2 more foods to my life again.  Any other suggestions for what to add next?  Thank you again!

 

You are more than welcome...I am the queen of making a couple foods into many different dishes.

 

As I lost so many foods back in 2011...I was having regular hissy fits...hubs said something brilliant:

 

"Stop thinking of food as food...start thinking of food as your medicine."

 

Simple really, but allowed me to accept there were things I could not eat...still have many, many things I cannot eat, but I'm getting a few things back and they taste f#%*ing fantastic to me

 

The sweet potato is my best friend -- look for purple sweet potatoes -- there are some with purple skin that are light purple on the inside and some with light skin (looks like a regular sweet potato) and dark purple inside.  Then there are yams -- was never a fan until I lost my beloved spuds   I think I made a list on the dinner thread one time...think there was about 18 ways to make sweet potatoes -- really six, but when you multiply that by regular sweet potato, purple sweet potato and yams -- you get 18!

 

For me...adding as much color as possible to my plate makes me happy and others feel better eating around me because I have a pretty plate of food wherever I go -- no pity party rule for my family and friends works pretty well now -- when someone new joins the equation I rarely have to give them the speech because those around me know it by heart too!

 

I think you will have many foods that work for you once your tummy settles from all the upset your body had in February. 

[GF Lover]

I have a list of the 6 er 18 ways to make a sweet potato that you listed.  I would post it again but um, I forgot where I wrote it down but I do make the cut like fries one, smashed is another.  

 

Icelandgirl, have you tried squashes?  like Acorn?  Total yummers.  Maybe eggplant.  I'm thinking of mild on the tummy foods.

 

Colleen

[icelandgirl]

You are more than welcome...I am the queen of making a couple foods into many different dishes.

 

As I lost so many foods back in 2011...I was having regular hissy fits...hubs said something brilliant:

 

"Stop thinking of food as food...start thinking of food as your medicine."

 

Simple really, but allowed me to accept there were things I could not eat...still have many, many things I cannot eat, but I'm getting a few things back and they taste f#%*ing fantastic to me

 

The sweet potato is my best friend -- look for purple sweet potatoes -- there are some with purple skin that are light purple on the inside and some with light skin (looks like a regular sweet potato) and dark purple inside.  Then there are yams -- was never a fan until I lost my beloved spuds   I think I made a list on the dinner thread one time...think there was about 18 ways to make sweet potatoes -- really six, but when you multiply that by regular sweet potato, purple sweet potato and yams -- you get 18!

 

For me...adding as much color as possible to my plate makes me happy and others feel better eating around me because I have a pretty plate of food wherever I go -- no pity party rule for my family and friends works pretty well now -- when someone new joins the equation I rarely have to give them the speech because those around me know it by heart too!

 

I think you will have many foods that work for you once your tummy settles from all the upset your body had in February. 

Your husband sounds like a wise man.  

 

I know what you mean about things tasting awesome!  After days of only eating the same few things, the carrots and asparagus yesterday were soooooo good!

[icelandgirl]

I have a list of the 6 er 18 ways to make a sweet potato that you listed.  I would post it again but um, I forgot where I wrote it down but I do make the cut like fries one, smashed is another.  

 

Icelandgirl, have you tried squashes?  like Acorn?  Total yummers.  Maybe eggplant.  I'm thinking of mild on the tummy foods.

 

Colleen

I haven't.  I've never actually made acorn squash...as much as I cook.  I think it intimidates me.  LOL!  How do you cook it? I would love to have something else to try.  Thanks!

[GF Lover]

I haven't.  I've never actually made acorn squash...as much as I cook.  I think it intimidates me.  LOL!  How do you cook it? I would love to have something else to try.  Thanks!

 

Wow.  Squash are the bomb.  Ok.  Get a nice Acorn Squash, they are orange and green, I like some good orange color on the rind.  Knock on it.  Should sound a bit hollow, it has seeds.  Wash it good, cut it long ways thru the center.  put about a 1/4 - 1/2 inch of filtered water in a baking pan.  put the two halves, cut side down, in the pan and bake at 350 or so for about an hour.  When done the squash will be nice and soft.  I eat mine plain but some people put some butter and cinnamon or brown sugar sprinkled on theirs.  I think they taste great by themselves.  Another one is Spegetti Squash.  This one you cook and then you can use a fork and run it down the sides to make a linguini type string.  Season to taste.  Over on the "What's for Dinner" thread, they make Zoodles.  I think its zucchini made into noodles.  The members on the dinner thread know how to make any kind of food into all kinds of different ways.  You should check it out.

 

Colleen

[GottaSki]

How could I forget zoodles!

Colleen is right .... Cruise over to the dinner thread.

[IrishHeart]

I loves me some zoodles!! sauteed in a bit of garlicy butter...