Triumphant Set Back..huh?

[chasbari 70]

Well, a year ago I was all but ready to lay down and die. I had given up all performance responsibilities and was staying in the game by doing a little stage directing. I have been involved with a local symphony orchestra's yearly performances of "Amahl and the Night Visitors' for the last 14 years and had to relinquish singing the role of Melchior as I became progressively more ill over the last two years. I coach the boys who sing the lead role, am stage director and this year my youngest was singing the role of Amahl along with two other boy sopranos. It had always been my dream that I would share the stage with one of my sons in this production and here I was too ill to do so last year. Not knowing my health situation would improve so greatly we cast another baritone in the role of Melchior. We run the show in two different venues over two weeks. I was wondering and wishing out loud about the possibility of singing the last performance as that was a show my son was going to sing. The gentleman who was singing the role of Melchior this year offered to allow me to sing that show. I took him up on the offer. For those of you in the performing arts, you understand how rare it would be for someone to willingly give up a major gig with an orchestra/opera company. His kindness is unprecedented and I am not so sure I would have been so gracious presented with the same situation. The cast was notified about the change but I forgot to let the maestro know. Management was aware of and approved the change so I had taken care of all but letting the maestro know... His first clue was when I made my first entrance. He was smiling afterward so I guess there are no problems there. the performance went very well and I have now made it through two major works in the last two months having sung the bass solos for a Mozart Requiem last month.

Now for the setback. I didn't check my stage makeup thoroughly enough and there must be some gluten hiding somewhere in there. My gluten symptoms always seem to be the sort of "slow role cascade" type of reaction except when I ingest a significant amount at which point the abdominal pain is immediate and severe. The last few days I have had increasing intestinal pain and discomfort, The RA is flaring and the pain and weakness in my joints is at a level I have not experienced for some time. Vision is fuzzy and emotions and brain fogginess are all present to some degree. Time to get new makeup for the kit as I feel like I have some very good years of performing ahead of me if I take care of myself and don't get glutened by makeup in the future. As the celiac has healed I find myself in better vocal shape than at any time in my life...ever! The happy result of having struggled through the ravages of the disease for so many years is that I had to seek out the perfect vocal technique in order to remain even marginally functional throughout the last several decades. Now that my body is not chronically inflamed that technique is serving me very well. What doesn't kill us truly can make us stronger. I hit the nadir of symptoms early this morning when my back went out so I figure it is nothing but up from here on. When in doubt, I will not guess but will insist on knowing what's in what! I knew that but now I know that!

[yolo 62]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Its so wonderful to get back one's gifts one thought one lost!

About the glutening from the cosmetics, there are gluten-free cosmetics out there. You can find some advertising on this site.

Also I recently learned that ta king L-glutamine right away helps avert some of the worst symptoms of the glutening. It helps heal the lining of the gut. Similarly, marshmallow root and slippery elm help soothe the lining of the gut too.

Taking enzymes like bromelain/papain and/or eating some fresh papaya and pineapple also helps. I find taking dandelion root and cleavers helps speed the detox. Taking extra enterically coated acidophilus also seems to help.

I similarly am now able to paint and do sculpture after thinking I could not for years. I still have to do yoga etc. of course and stay off sugars and processed foods and remain gluten-free, but its well worth it.

Perhaps now you will have a whole new singing career!

Bea

[jststric 13]

What a delight to get to perform with your son! I have played violin in many orchestras as well as play piano in many venues. My biggest thrill has been to accompany my son with his trumpet solos in school! This gluten and other intolerances many of us here suffer with certainly doesn't make life easy. But I'm really glad you got to perform!

[chasbari 70]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Its so wonderful to get back one's gifts one thought one lost!

About the glutening from the cosmetics, there are gluten-free cosmetics out there. You can find some advertising on this site.

Also I recently learned that ta king L-glutamine right away helps avert some of the worst symptoms of the glutening. It helps heal the lining of the gut. Similarly, marshmallow root and slippery elm help soothe the lining of the gut too.

Taking enzymes like bromelain/papain and/or eating some fresh papaya and pineapple also helps. I find taking dandelion root and cleavers helps speed the detox. Taking extra enterically coated acidophilus also seems to help.

I similarly am now able to paint and do sculpture after thinking I could not for years. I still have to do yoga etc. of course and stay off sugars and processed foods and remain gluten-free, but its well worth it.

Perhaps now you will have a whole new singing career!

Bea

I love pineapple but just don't understand papaya... for some reason it doesn't taste as good as its name sounds to me. I think I would be happiest living in Hawai'i in the middle of a field of pineapples. I have fresh pineapple pretty much every day as it really helps me feel better. I am eating goat's milk yogurt but haven't tried any other probiotics or other supplements as you have mentioned.

Glad to hear you are back to sculpture. I had a hard time with even wanting to sing as I was healing even though I finally could with much less technical trouble than in the past.

I am still having a few rough days here and it doesn't help that my wife is a mad cookie baker around the holidays. I woke up in a fog having a hard time breathing and my ears were ringing and the house was filled with the smell of a bakery. I can't get her to understand that I need to remove myself to the studio which is separate enough from the house that the baking doesn't bother me out there when she is baking. It's my gluten free refuge. She still won't double check her makeup and shampoos or detergents... It's all up to me and then I am met with skepticism. Tough being in a non gluten free household. Especially when I am not feeling too good as in the last few days.Wah, wah and all that. I have been craving oranges all day, they just taste especially good and leave me felling a bit better. Clementines are almost too sweet but the oranges aren't.

Done rambling.

[yolo 62]

I love pineapple but just don't understand papaya... for some reason it doesn't taste as good as its name sounds to me. I think I would be happiest living in Hawai'i in the middle of a field of pineapples. I have fresh pineapple pretty much every day as it really helps me feel better. I am eating goat's milk yogurt but haven't tried any other probiotics or other supplements as you have mentioned.

Glad to hear you are back to sculpture. I had a hard time with even wanting to sing as I was healing even though I finally could with much less technical trouble than in the past.

I am still having a few rough days here and it doesn't help that my wife is a mad cookie baker around the holidays. I woke up in a fog having a hard time breathing and my ears were ringing and the house was filled with the smell of a bakery. I can't get her to understand that I need to remove myself to the studio which is separate enough from the house that the baking doesn't bother me out there when she is baking. It's my gluten free refuge. She still won't double check her makeup and shampoos or detergents... It's all up to me and then I am met with skepticism. Tough being in a non gluten free household. Especially when I am not feeling too good as in the last few days.Wah, wah and all that. I have been craving oranges all day, they just taste especially good and leave me felling a bit better. Clementines are almost too sweet but the oranges aren't.

Done rambling.

Hi Chasbari,

Too bad you can't get your wife to bake gluten-free for you instead--there are lots of excellent recipes out there. I would try to bend her on that one--maybe even investigate baking a few of the gluten-free goodies myself. Having gluten in the air (as in wheat flour etc.) where you live is awful. Afterward there is the whole tedious clean up too!!

I now live in an entirely gluten-free household; the difference in my health has been astounding. Now there are so many things I don't have to even think about unless/until I go out to eat elsewhere and/or am dating some new guy.

Previously I actually had my own separate kitchen and living quarters--living in a daylight apartment under my my mom's house. However it was still too close to the mad holiday gluten fests and I would get ill. Ain't family grand??

Bea