Chock Full Of Questiony Goodness

[JNBunnie1]

That's definitely something to think about. While an official dx would probably make it easier for the family to accept my new eating routine and precautions, other than my own idle curiosity, there really isn't a "reason" to do all the testing. I have my proof.

The biggest problem I've had so far with any of this health stuff is that I don't look sick. Overwight, tired, frowzy.... but not sick. My family's having a heckuva time accepting that something's wrong. Even my mother's gone as far to ask me if it isn't all psychosomatic! I talked to her the other night and told her about the wheat reaction. She'd never heard of anything like it. Fortunately, my aunt, who mom lives with, was listening to the conversation and piped up "Oh! She has celiac! No wonder she's been so sick!". At least somebody gets it. Hopefully, the rest of the family will follow.

That's a relief! Maybe I'll finally find some coordination once my body's cleaned out a little more. It'd be nice to have my brain back too. I'd been concerned about bone density even before all the food sensitivity stuff, since I'm also vit D deficient and don't know how long that's been going on. Untreated/undertreated hypothyroid can also decrease bone mass and I'm not currently on any meds for it (long story). Considering I now have 3 risk factors for bone loss, I'd rather not wait until I break a hip before finding out there's been a problem. I think I'll bring it up, but not push the issue if the doc doesn't think its warranted.

Thanks! I haven't baked in a long time, largely because I'd eat it all if its there. Looking forward to doing some baking now. I'm heading down to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods after my dr's appt today. Looking forward to picking up some goodies and maybe a cook book (there are tons of book stores in the area as well). I react to corn items like frito's, but don't know just how far the sensitivity goes. Hoping I can have stuff like xanthan gum, since its in so many gluten-free products. Is there a substitute for xanthan gum for baking? Guess I need to start researching stuff like that too. It'd be nice to be able to bring a nice homebaked goodie to the family functions this year.

Thanks again! You've been wonderful!

The package of my xanthan gum says it comes from the 'leavings' of harmless bacteria. I don't think it has anything to do with corn.

Good call on the bone density thing, I didn't catch that. And you're right, you don't actually need a 'reason' to do all that testing, other than idle curisoity. You definitely have your proof already. And your family will 'get' it when you start losing weight and gaining energy and stop being addled all the time, trust me. The joke around the house is that if I get glutened I'm not allowed to pay bills or drive far, because I get pretty stupid. It gets better!

[Centa]

The joke around the house is that if I get glutened I'm not allowed to pay bills or drive far, because I get pretty stupid. It gets better!

I have Klutzy #1 and Klutzy #2. Klutzy 2 is non celiac...I'm just thinking about something else when I'm trying to do things, a question of attention. I could tell you stories....

As my celiac disease showed up midlife, I developed a bad case of that brain fog that you'll read others talk about sometimes too...which produced Klutzy #1. I do a lot of reading, writing and speaking in front of people in what I do, so it was very, very obvious...I got to not being able to finish sentences because I couldn't remember what I started out meaning to say. Not cool if you're doing public speaking. Couldn't remember from one task to the next what I was doing. Would go in a room, then not have the foggiest why I was there.

I forgot a whole lot more than I ever had in my life. Remembering where my car was once I came back out of the building where I work got to be a pretty dramatic adventure. I remember wandering around in grocery store parking lots, too. Kept losing my keys, which is inconvenient if you plan to drive home or want to go inside your house. I hit a few door frames, too, miscalculating what it took to walk through an open door.

Nyxie, everyone's internal system is in different shape, and people recuperate differently, but that brain fog, for me, lifted dramatically soon after I got enough gluten out of my system. I could almost physically feel a curtain rolling up in my head. I no longer lose my keys and I haven't hit a doorframe in years.

As for people not thinking that you're sick, people around me didn't either. Only one friend (who has umpteen allergies and some additional health problems of her own, so maybe she was more sensitive to signs) kept saying, you look tired are you OK? I'm my late fifties, the gluten and digestive problems cropped up 4 or 5 years ago and my turning point for the better came between 2 and 3 years ago. Maybe I'm overinterpreting, but I thought the few people I told about my symptoms, and then taking gluten out tended to treat me like a hypochondriac middle aged woman who was making things up. As JNBunnie says, the ones who care will be convinced by your return to wellbeing.

You write in such an upbeat way...you go, Nyxie

[Nyxie63]

The package of my xanthan gum says it comes from the 'leavings' of harmless bacteria. I don't think it has anything to do with corn.

Hm. Wonder where I got that idea from? Glad you brought it to my attention. Its gonna take awhile to get all this stuff straight in my head.

Good call on the bone density thing, I didn't catch that. And you're right, you don't actually need a 'reason' to do all that testing, other than idle curisoity. You definitely have your proof already. And your family will 'get' it when you start losing weight and gaining energy and stop being addled all the time, trust me. The joke around the house is that if I get glutened I'm not allowed to pay bills or drive far, because I get pretty stupid. It gets better!

Hubby doesn't ask me to help with anything unless he's desperate. The joke is "Look! I'm helping!" when in reality there's more hindering going on than anything else. Its not intentional. My mind just doesn't click like it used to. I hear you about the driving. I get lost going to the grocery store. Miss turns or head completely in the wrong direction. If I run a lot of errands, I have to allow myself an extra hour for all the backtracking. I have to sit down and go through how to get to where I'm going before getting behind the wheel in order to avoid this.

I've become a huge list maker. Problem is remembering to take the list with me. Either that or remember something, go to write it down, and then can't remember what it was. And apparently, the answer to everything can be found in the fridge. Can't count the number of times I've found myself just standing there staring into the open fridge. Wasn't hungry and didn't want to snack. Maybe the vague hope of the fridge fairy showing up was enough.

[Nyxie63]

Something else I've been thinking about. It's been the family joke for years that I was in my terrible 2's until I turned 26. I've been reading some of the threads regarding gluten's effect on children and behavior and wondering if gluten may have been the cause of my temper tantrums, fighting, and anger outbursts for all those years. I'm still easily peeved but have learned, as an adult, to control the outward signs to a greater extent. At least I'm not throwing things at the wall or picking fights anymore. Maybe I was just a difficult kid? Who knows?

I don't expect any clear answers to this, but it does give food for thought.

Edit: Re-read this post. I made myself sound like a total psycho! I'm not, really. Honest!

[hathor]

My understanding is that xanthan gum has to be grown on some medium and corn is frequently used. So some corn allergy lists put xanthan gum down as something to be avoided because some people do react to the corn-grown stuff. I guess this is analogous to the status of blue cheese & the gluten intolerant. Or is everyone agreeing on that one now

I don't know if manufacturers have to list what they grow the xanthan gum on. In the case of a severe corn problem I would check.

I don't have a problem with corn, or at least I don't know of one. I often say I'm glad Enterolab doesn't test for more things ...

[hathor]

Forgot to say -- I'm a klutz and I'm directionally impaired. I'm glad I have an excuse now

[JNBunnie1]

And apparently, the answer to everything can be found in the fridge. Can't count the number of times I've found myself just standing there staring into the open fridge. Wasn't hungry and didn't want to snack. Maybe the vague hope of the fridge fairy showing up was enough.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I SO DO THAT!!!!

Anyway. Thanks for the info, Hathor, I had no idea.

As for the neurological symptoms you've been describing nyxie, think about this. (sex talk warning for those uninterested)

Before I went gluten free, I was almost completely anorgasmic. And not for lack of trying or a wonderful partner, either, I don't think a woman could ask for more attetnion and love and skill from a guy than I got from that boyfriend. I think I only ever had like, two orgasms with him. Since being completely gluten free, I've had multiple orgasms EVERY SINGLE TIME. Gluten can really mess you up!!!!

[Nyxie63]

Nyxie, everyone's internal system is in different shape, and people recuperate differently, but that brain fog, for me, lifted dramatically soon after I got enough gluten out of my system. I could almost physically feel a curtain rolling up in my head. I no longer lose my keys and I haven't hit a doorframe in years.

As for people not thinking that you're sick, people around me didn't either. Only one friend (who has umpteen allergies and some additional health problems of her own, so maybe she was more sensitive to signs) kept saying, you look tired are you OK? I'm my late fifties, the gluten and digestive problems cropped up 4 or 5 years ago and my turning point for the better came between 2 and 3 years ago. Maybe I'm overinterpreting, but I thought the few people I told about my symptoms, and then taking gluten out tended to treat me like a hypochondriac middle aged woman who was making things up. As JNBunnie says, the ones who care will be convinced by your return to wellbeing.

You write in such an upbeat way...you go, Nyxie

Since I think I'm still getting CC'd every day to some extent, I really don't expect the fog to lift until this house is completely cleaned out. That's gonna take awhile. Oddly enough, it only seems to apply to certain things. I can remember all kinds of health/medical stuff and I'm killer at Trivial Pursuit, but you think I can remember putting a load of laundry in the washer? The dr even asked me yesterday what I did for a living because he was impressed with my medical knowledge. Nevermind that I took a wrong turn (yet again) on the way to his office. Only been there about a dozen times, but oh well.

I'm coming to the conclusion that its going to take hubby awhile to accept all this. He's not really happy about a lot of the changes that are going to have to take place around here. I'm also pretty sure he thinks I'm nuts when it comes to my new food "paranoia". He wasn't around when I had my wheat reaction and probably won't "get it" until I get really glutened again and sees how sick it makes me. Then again, I really need to cut the guy some slack. He and his entire family are lactose intolerant and they consume dairy products anyway. They just don't take food sensitivites seriously.

And thanks! I think I can best be classified as a cautiously-optimistic cynic. Or is that a somewhat-cynical optimist? Anyway, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and always have quick access to duct tape.

[Nyxie63]

Thanks for the info on xanthan gum! Was pretty sure I'd read it somewhere. I'm still pursuing the corn angle. Tried some frozen corn last night, figuring maybe its just processed corn that causes the problems. Um, no. Thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest and got lightheaded. Next step - corn starch. Bleh!

Forgot to say -- I'm a klutz and I'm directionally impaired. I'm glad I have an excuse now

LOL! All this time, I've been blaming the brain fog on either thyroid and/or nutritional deficiency stuff. Now I have 3 choices on what to blame it on! Options are good. Options are my friend.

[Nyxie63]

Before I went gluten free, I was almost completely anorgasmic. And not for lack of trying or a wonderful partner, either, I don't think a woman could ask for more attetnion and love and skill from a guy than I got from that boyfriend. I think I only ever had like, two orgasms with him. Since being completely gluten free, I've had multiple orgasms EVERY SINGLE TIME. Gluten can really mess you up!!!!

Woo! You GO, girl!

That's definitely something to look forward to! Honestly, I feel like a female eunich. No interest in sex whatsoever (never really have had much of a libido to speak of) and, on the odd occasion when it does happen, I don't really get much out of it. My wonderful, patient, and long-suffering hubby is gonna get a nice surprise one of these days!

[Nyxie63]

Ok, and now for the update. Saw the dr yesterday. It went better than I'd figured.

He wrote me an rx for an epi pen. Wow! Hope I never need to use it. And when I talked to him about the rest of the challenges, he said he wants me in his office when I do the peanut challenge. He's actually taking all this seriously!

Got my metabolic panel back too. Good news, no candida. Yay! I was worried about that.

Bad news: I have some dysbiosis so have to start taking probiotics. Not that big a deal. Turns out I'm also deficient in all the B-vits and my iron's still seriously low (ferritin's less than 20). I haven't been absorbing any of the supplements I've been taking. Guess we know why now.

Was in with him for 1-1/2 hours. Whew! Didn't get to talking about the bone scan, so I'm probably going to talk to my GP about that. She'll approve anything.

[JNBunnie1]

Woo! You GO, girl!

That's definitely something to look forward to! Honestly, I feel like a female eunich. No interest in sex whatsoever (never really have had much of a libido to speak of) and, on the odd occasion when it does happen, I don't really get much out of it. My wonderful, patient, and long-suffering hubby is gonna get a nice surprise one of these days!

It took a while for that to happen, so don't get too excited just yet. That and i had some emotional hang-ups as well, but the neurological effects of gluten were definitely to blame for some of it. My libido also increased twofold (but still no orgasm, wierd huh?) after I went off birth control.

[hathor]

All this time, I've been blaming the brain fog on either thyroid and/or nutritional deficiency stuff. Now I have 3 choices on what to blame it on! Options are good. Options are my friend.

Yeah, except when you can't figure out what to change Right now, I can blame things on gluten, casein, egg, soy, yeast (particularly since I don't know what I should be avoiding exactly), some other undiagnosed food intolerance, too much fat consumption, lingering effects from nutrient malabsorption or years of intestinal disfunction, my new exercise program, some undiagnosed allergy, stress, dehydration, menopause, age, or some other undiagnosed problem (I can come up with a number of possibilities -- I'm a clever woman ).

I'll have to tell my husband about what I've learned here about libido. Maybe that will finally teach him to avoid spreading gluten about. He can't seem to remember that he has the left side of the toaster oven and I have the right. I gave him the mnemonic "My wife is always right" but he can't seem to remember that

[Nyxie63]

I just had to post here before heading out.....

Hubby's taking me down to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods!!!

And he started looking online for gluten-free, corn-free, dairy-free recipes for me! He even printed some of them out. Don't think he's actually been looking up gluten-sensitivity, but its a start.

Woot!

[JNBunnie1]

I just had to post here before heading out.....

Hubby's taking me down to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods!!!

And he started looking online for gluten-free, corn-free, dairy-free recipes for me! He even printed some of them out. Don't think he's actually been looking up gluten-sensitivity, but its a start.

Woot!

So, how was your trip? (If you're even back yet, lol)

[Nyxie63]

It took a while for that to happen, so don't get too excited just yet.

I'm definitely going to have to let that info slip out. LOL! He doesn't understand CC, but he does get it that wheat has gluten. We'll have to work on that.

The trip last night was interesting. *cough*

I think the next time I head down that way, I'll just take hubby's debit card and leave him at home. Apparently, since he didn't look Trader Joe's up on the web, it doesn't exist. Even though I told him we could probably get stuff there cheaper, he went straight to Whole Foods. Oh well. At least he was doing the driving and was paying for the groceries.

Now I don't know about the stores near you, but I don't like it too much. Don't get me wrong... great stuff! But it was really overcrowded, the aisles were too narrow, and I was constantly in someone's way. Hubby was getting frustrated for all these reasons. That, and I was evidently taking too long reading labels. Next time, I'm going to be a little more prepared and take a list of gluten-free foods with me. Its just too overwhelming. There's another Whole Foods about an hour away in another direction, so I think I might check that out. And I still haven't gotten to Trader Joe's.

We then stopped at Wendy's on the way home. Yet another adventure. Figured I'd have a baked potato, throw some of their chili over it (since its ok) and have a side salad. Balanced meal, 's all good.

So we're standing there in line. I'm thinking about my former life, reflected on the walls in large colorful pictures and assigned numbers for ease of ordering. I think that's when the mourning and frustration started to kick in. And then they were out of baked potatoes!!!! Fine. *sigh* So I order my small chili and side salad. We get our food and take it back to the table. I couldn't help it any longer. The tears started. Hubby, who's still POed from the previous shopping trip (and traffic), asked in a rather snarky voice "So what's wrong with you?". How do you explain it? I just mumbled something about being frustrated and started eating the chili.

It wasn't one of our better outings.

I gave him the mnemonic "My wife is always right" but he can't seem to remember that

*Gigglesnort*

[Centa]

I think part of the learning curve for people around a person with celiac disease is that they can't see your illness...you're not walking along dragging one leg, and don't have bandages all over you...and they can't see your problem, either. Meaning that they have no clue what has wheat, grains or gluten in it. They haven't noticed crumbs. That that itty bitty itty bitty amount could set anybody off? We don't swell up with a histamine reaction like people who have an allergic reaction to a bee sting or food ingredient, so it's hard for them to connect X to Y by observation. You staggering up out of bed bones aching the next day is too far away from the flashpoint of knife with crumbs stuck in the jelly jar for them to easily connect X to Y. A celiac certainly can because we FEEL the "Oh..Thit..." as our body starts to gluten-impact

Nyxie, there are small spots for humor in all of this (beyond your already wonderful sense of humor). For the few folks in the know about my need not to eat gluten who have finally emotionally shifted over to not wanting to see me eat gluten and not wanting to expose me to gluten, there's a grin moment often when they offer you something, you decline it, you see the wheels turning in their head, you just wait as the wheels quietly whirr, and then they suddenly look at that french fry or chicken finger as if it had turned into a Creature from Mars right there in their hand, and their eyes get big because they realize it's got gluten in it. I go ahead and get my interior smile out of it every time it happens, but I don't torture them ("how could you" etc.), those eyes get big because they care about me...they just can't see gluten. Celiacs develop eyes, taste and memory for it far earlier than the people around them do. We get night goggles for it.

I don't live with anybody, so it's mega easier for me to handle the kitchen and there's no daily need to deal with someone else scattering crumbs like clouds of glory all over the kitchen universe until they develop some attention for your problem and change their own habits. You're right there in the middle of all that, stroking along, learning. I'd likely be in tears...and here already you got your hubby out of the house and on a journey looking for the better way, no matter whether you two hit Trader Joes this time or not. All best.

I just reread this whole thread, musing on your new situation. I'd chat with you about the following, if we were having coffee together, instead of me having my morning cuppa as i write this, so there'd be more back & forth (which I'd prefer).

I'm now at a spot, having more or less figured out my own routine with choosing food when I'm out of the house, where I start out in a restaurant or at a party not telling anybody anything, and just choose gluten free, or if I'm not convinced that there's anything just go for a beverage with something from my True, But Not to the Point repertoire, with no comment (because I'm tired of The Quiz, especially administered by people who are not friends or family, and probably don't care all that much, they're just running you through their question-grinder):

• I'm there for the company. Which is very true for me; it's #1. It just doesn't describe my food selection problem
  
• I've eaten recently--true enough
  
• I'm on a diet--very true
  
• High praise for something that looks good or that someone else chooses, but I make my own choice.
  

If there's nothing for me to eat at the situation out, this does mean that I have to eat later.

Food Pushers in restaurants, at parties and visiting other people for dinner bother the heck out of me, the ones who try to override your choices or get in gear quizzing you about why you don't choose what they think you should have chosen, or why you didn't choose the amount or kind of thing that they chose for themselves.

But they've always irritated the sox off of me...I had a mother when I was growing up who was the Queen of Food Pushers...I more than half seriously think she was fattening me up. I'm working on the social moves to be a little more gracious (I hope) as I'm firm in my "no" but because of my mother trying to turn me into a kiddie Butterball, this is still hot button for me. I get testy if I've had to say "no" more than three times.

This thing of being around gluteny food and people who eat it has this hallucinatory aspect to it for me anymore. The news articles on health are BLARING to people that you get sick and die faster if you have out of control cholesterol...that the food industry has weaned us onto that flour + fat + sugar +oil combo which shortens our life. My total cholesterol count DROPPED 20 points once I quit eating battered and sauced things...and I mean sauces like they used to make them: that country gravy or the French sauces that start with a butter + wheat flour roux.

I still do reductions (simmering to reduce the volume of a broth) which I love anyway because flavor intensifies in a reduction sauce. You can cut those with a touch of half and half or whipping cream at the end and they satisfy me no end. But what's wrong with the food we gluten free peeps eat, I ask you?

Just what's wrong, health wise with choosing a gluten-free diet, for anyone??? I don't think anything at all.

End of musing and rant.

[loco-ladi]

Well, take a deep breath and ...........

5. If you have pets, are there any special tricks you use (besides washing hands thoroughly) to ensure no CC between their food/treats and you?

All my babies are gluten free, thats all 3 dogs and both kitties as well as myself hubby to more than he knows

Ok, next question: I know there's no way hubby's going to go gluten-free along with me.

remember your mother saying what you dont know wont hurt you...... I'll just leave it at that

stomach cramping, my GERD went into full force, and got bloated and gassy. Then it got interesting. Started having pain in both shoulders, which soon radiated down both arms and legs. Then the impaired motor control started. Couldn't properly coordinate my hands and walking was like being sober in a drunk body

Well, this all didn't happen immediately. Don't know if that makes a difference. The stomach stuff started within a 1/2 hour, the bloating/gas within 2 hours, and the pain/motor function stuff within 3-4 hours. During this time, I hadn't eaten anything that I hadn't already been eating during the elimination.

OMG you HAVE to be my long lost twin sister! hello and welcome to my world altho I have to gloat and say I normally take a bit longer... but not much

Looks like the local thrift store is going to get a large donation of used, yet still usable, cookware soon.

All mine went to the goodwill of sorts in town, I dont get anything from them but the people who shop there get good stuff on the cheap and some even get it for free depending on their circumstances.

I can remember all kinds of health/medical stuff and I'm killer at Trivial Pursuit, but you think I can remember putting a load of laundry in the washer?

Yup still think one of us had to have been stolen at birth knowing my family it was most likely me I can control a train 2 miles long carrying thousands of tons of coal but the littlest things escape me totally! I have had to teach myself to be partially obsessive compulsive! and if I put one more sticky note on the fridge hubby says he will divorce me! oO(now they are all in my truck on the dash !)

"My wife is always right"

ROFLMAO we really need a smiley for that one!

[JNBunnie1]

Ok, my turn to rant about cholesterol. Cholesterol makes up a healthy percentage of the membranes wrapping your brain cells. If you are unable to DIGEST your cholesterol, it can wind up too much in your blood stream and not enough in your brain cells. This happens for one of two reasons: one: you're eating crappy cholesterol (trans fats, whatever). Two: you are unable DUE TO DIET to absorb the valuable cholesterol in your food as nutrients, so it winds up passing through your intestinal wall into your bloodstream. Ever notice that Vitamins A & D, two VERY important nutrients, are FAT-SOLUBLE? So one of two things happens, either your cholesterol goes way up and your doctor puts you on a statin (idiots, all of them) or it goes plummeting.

When I was 'sick' with Celiac before I figured it out, I had a cholesterol level of 75. My doctor never saw one that low and basically said I was dying very slowly, and that I needed to fix it. And I was on the toaster strudel diet! I ate fried crap almost every day, lots of fatty sweets and baked goods, it would be harder to have more fat, and bad fat, in your diet than I did. But I couldn't digest ANY of it, not that any of it was really valuable. So the cells in my brain were literally getting all mushy because their wrapping was weak. I was passing out and had fevers, my IQ plummeted, I actually forgot once whether green means go or stop! I think the anti-fat/cholesterol campaign is killing people. And Im not talking about vegetarians or whatever, I'm talking about margarine and Lipitor.

Ok, I feel better.

[Centa]

f you are unable to DIGEST your cholesterol, it can wind up too much in your blood stream and not enough in your brain cells.

Hey, that's interesting, JNBunnie...and a second explanation, possibly, of why my cholesterol count changed, maybe the more important than the disappearance of the fried stuff and country gravy, which didn't figure big in my diet, but it was there.

This happens for one of two reasons: one: you're eating crappy cholesterol (trans fats, whatever). Two: you are unable DUE TO DIET to absorb the valuable cholesterol in your food as nutrients, so it winds up passing through your intestinal wall into your bloodstream.

Right, and because a person is ravenous because no nutrients are coming in, likely more food cholesterol than normal is being taken in, which would make everything worse.

When I was 'sick' with Celiac before I figured it out, I had a cholesterol level of 75.

WOWsie...I've never heard of a count that low!! Well mine was 220-235; both sides of my family have mega history with heart disease...my mother and her sibs have 5 pacemakers...a whole pacemaker orchestra. Stroke city. Coronary artery disease.

My doctor never saw one that low and basically said I was dying very slowly, and that I needed to fix it. And I was on the toaster strudel diet! I ate fried crap almost every day, lots of fatty sweets and baked goods, it would be harder to have more fat, and bad fat, in your diet than I did. But I couldn't digest ANY of it, not that any of it was really valuable. So the cells in my brain were literally getting all mushy because their wrapping was weak. I was passing out and had fevers, my IQ plummeted, I actually forgot once whether green means go or stop!

What an awful story...I believe everything you say, JNB, and I haven't tracked your story in other threads but do bet that once you got your nutrient absorption back from your GI tract healing your life came back. If I may ask, did your total cholesterol count rise? What happened to your HDL and LDL?

I think the anti-fat/cholesterol campaign is killing people. And Im not talking about vegetarians or whatever, I'm talking about margarine and Lipitor.

I'd agree that the "trans fat" industry plugs right into the "Lipitor industry" if that's what you mean.

I have to deal with my genetic probabilities, but I am aiming to stay awaaaay from those statins if I can pull it off. Away. So I was pu-leased that my total count dropped, just eating no-gluten not trying anything else, under the magic 200 (I've been watching the total count & ratio for years) and my HDL went up. You may have explained the latter. I know what I need to do with diet and exercise to go after better counts...

Olive oil it is...and dem Omega 3s for me.

Ok, I feel better.

You opened up a whole new subject for me...Thanks! Where can I read more about absorption of HDL and/versus LDL? I can Google, but any suggestions?

What is so striking about this, JNBunnie, is if your cholesterol counts improved, coming from the numbers you had, and mine did, coming from the other direction, woo that suggests that there's some real powerful stuff in this gluten that throws all kinds of things out of kilter for people who can't tolerate it.

Talk about enCOUragement not to eat gluten... I wonder if gluten is the Bermuda Triangle?

[JNBunnie1]

What an awful story...I believe everything you say, JNB, and I haven't tracked your story in other threads but do bet that once you got your nutrient absorption back from your GI tract healing your life came back. If I may ask, did your total cholesterol count rise? What happened to your HDL and LDL?

Olive oil it is...and dem Omega 3s for me.

You opened up a whole new subject for me...Thanks! Where can I read more about absorption of HDL and/versus LDL? I can Google, but any suggestions?

What is so striking about this, JNBunnie, is if your cholesterol counts improved, coming from the numbers you had, and mine did, coming from the other direction, woo that suggests that there's some real powerful stuff in this gluten that throws all kinds of things out of kilter for people who can't tolerate it.

Talk about enCOUragement not to eat gluten... I wonder if gluten is the Bermuda Triangle?

I think it might be! A good place to start reading about things the FDA doesn't want you to know is the Weston A Price foundation website. He was a dentist in the 20's who decided the degradation of the nation's teeth wasn't normal and went traveling the world to study people's diets. Found some amazing things.

Olive oil is great raw, it gets compromised when cooked. The safest thing to cook in(strangely enough) is organic butter.

I have no idea what happened to my cholesterol count, as I left that job and haven't had health insurance since. I'll check when I get insurance again. I know my butt sure expanded! I used to be so bloody skinny, I was 5'7" and went down to 107 at my sickest, which is model thin to some people but offensive to me. Now I weigh 140 ish most of the time, and my boyfriend loves the butt!

[Centa]

I think it might be! A good place to start reading about things the FDA doesn't want you to know is the Weston A Price foundation website. He was a dentist in the 20's who decided the degradation of the nation's teeth wasn't normal and went traveling the world to study people's diets. Found some amazing things.

Olive oil is great raw, it gets compromised when cooked. The safest thing to cook in(strangely enough) is organic butter.

I have no idea what happened to my cholesterol count, as I left that job and haven't had health insurance since. I'll check when I get insurance again. I know my butt sure expanded! I used to be so bloody skinny, I was 5'7" and went down to 107 at my sickest, which is model thin to some people but offensive to me. Now I weigh 140 ish most of the time, and my boyfriend loves the butt!

I took a look at that site...very healthy! Reminds me of what people were stressing in the sixties...and one by one, some of those points get acknowledged by the Western medical community... I see that Dr. Price thinks that cooking with olive oil over moderate heat is fine. Just don't do Open Original Shared Link things in the frying pan, I guess is the idea... Thanks again, JNB...

[Nyxie63]

JNB,

Great info on cholesterol! And what a horror story! Wow!

When I read this, I looked back over my testing reports. My cholesterol numbers have gotten both better and worse. What have I done differently between the two? Nuthin.

2/05

Cholesterol 185

Triglycerides 130

HDL 54

LDL 105

10/07

Cholesterol 166

Triglycerides 66

HDL 42

LDL 111

Interesting that you mentioned organic butter for cooking. My dr recommended that, but I haven't done it because of the elimination diet and dairy. I've been using coconut oil which, in spite of really bad press the past 30 years, is surprisingly good for you! Problem is, everything that's cooked with it has a slight coconut odor and flavor. Not what you want in some dishes. Nice to know there's an option.

--------------------

Loco_ladi,

Its nice to know I'm not the only one who's gotten that reaction. Are you self-dx'd?

I made my first real foray into the world of gluten-free cooking last night. Not that I haven't made gluten-free meals before. This was just the first time it was intentional. Turned out pretty good. Took some Red Hill gluten-free baking mix, added some garlic and onion powder, dried basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary, and a little s&p. Dipped chicken breasts into rice milk and then dredged them in the gluten-free flour mixture. Then I pan fried them. Served up with white rice, and tomatoes with olive oil, basalmic vinegar, and fresh basil. Hubby ate it all up!

I took a good look at what we'd been feeding the critters. Good news! No grain! Its EVO brand. At least that's one less thing to worry about. The dog's goodies have wheat in them tho. Will have to find something gluten-free that he'll like.

Maybe its a good thing I've had OCD all my life. A minor case of it, but still. Things don't have to be clean, but they have to be organized, dagnabbit! Everything has its place, even if its in that particular pile of stuff.

---------------------

Centa,

I was drinking coffee while reading your post, so does that count?

Thank you so much for your words. I'm starting to wrap my head around all this. Hubby's coming around..... slowly. If he can be trained to put the seat down when he's done, he can certainly make some headway with this gluten stuff.

I've always had the opposite problem with family. My mother has obsessed about her weight for as long as I can remember, and subsequently, obsessed about mine. Up until a couple of years ago, I wasn't fat. Maybe about 10 pounds overweight, but not fat. Even so, she'd harp on my weight until it began to be an issue for both of us. She had an issue with my weight. I had an issue with her issue. My father was the same. During phone conversations, one of the first questions he'd ask is "so how's your weight?". For my own peace of mind, I stopped worrying about their expectations a long time ago.

My friends seem to be fairly supportive so far. At least, that's the impression. I posted what I've learned so far on my lj blog (its the only way I keep in touch with most friends on a regular basis), and the ones who've replied all seem eager to learn more. Its a start.

-----------------

Thank you all again for the info, sharing, and frivolity! Goodness knows I need all 3 right now.

[Nyxie63]

Oh! Forgot to add....

I haven't had stomach cramps for 2 days now! What have I changed? Stopped eating brown rice. *sigh* Seriously, does it ever end?

Regular white rice seems to be ok. Maybe the brown rice is why I had stomach cramps the entire time I've been on the elimination diet. Brown rice has been my grain of choice during all this.

And yesterday was "citrus day". Seems I can tolerate orange juice just fine. Yay! I told hubby about it and his reply was "So you can have orange juice in your vodka!"

Tomorrow is going to be "egg day". Need to schedule a time at the drs office for "peanut day". Not looking forward to that one.

[JNBunnie1]

Oh! Forgot to add....

I haven't had stomach cramps for 2 days now! What have I changed? Stopped eating brown rice. *sigh* Seriously, does it ever end?

Regular white rice seems to be ok. Maybe the brown rice is why I had stomach cramps the entire time I've been on the elimination diet. Brown rice has been my grain of choice during all this.

And yesterday was "citrus day". Seems I can tolerate orange juice just fine. Yay! I told hubby about it and his reply was "So you can have orange juice in your vodka!"

Tomorrow is going to be "egg day". Need to schedule a time at the drs office for "peanut day". Not looking forward to that one.

Yes, coconut oil is definitely the best of anything, but it does have that taste, so I don't usually recommend it, because people try it on like, chicken, then they never use it again. It's really yummy if you pan-fry sweet potato homefries in coconut oil!

The bran in the brown rice is probably too much for you right now, if you're ok with the white rice stick to that for another month or two and then try brown again.

It's hard for me to identify with the whole 'crazy parent' thing, because my parents have always been really down to earth about my health. I am VERY lucky, my mom rocks, I wish I could share her with everyone. I'd share Daddy too, but sadly, he died in April........