Overwhelmed

[BabsV]

So, after 24+ hours of travel time my DD and I made it back to the good ole U S of A! I'm having wicked jetlag issues but am luckily at my mother's place so I don't have to actually do anything unless I choose to.

I just have to squee a bit about all the wondeful shopping options that I've found in the stores...meat that doesn't contain gluten -- why yes, I've probably eaten way too much ham in the last 10 days but boy does it taste good to me! I'm going to try bacon this week -- the first bacon I've had in about a year! Shops that have sweet potats AND yams (can't remember the last time I saw a yam...) and they don't cost $8 per lb?!?! Labels. IN ENGLISH! With allergens clearly marked?!?! And some 'main stream' items now have gluten free labels?!?! (Don't worry, I'm still closely reading all labels...) I feel like I've died and gone to food shopping heaven.

I'm having to pace myself with introducing different foods since my diet was so limited for months. I want to just go crazy and try EVERYTHING but I know that will make me miserable...

It is just so nice to be able to go grocery shopping and feel like I can trust the food quality. And yes, this honeymoon period will undoubtedly wear off but for right now I just wanted to share the joy!

[Adalaide]

This is a great reminder about just how good we have it here. I'm happy for you that you're having such a great time. Since I had to recently give up ham and bacon you can just say you're eating my share so you feel less guilty.

[Darn210]

OK . . . just bring me up to speed so I don't have to go looking in your posting history. Where were you? . . . and is this just a visit or are you back for awhile/good?

Enjoy yourself!!

[IrishHeart]

Welcome Home, Babs!!

When is your Dr. Fasano visit??

[BabsV]

OK . . . just bring me up to speed so I don't have to go looking in your posting history. Where were you? . . . and is this just a visit or are you back for awhile/good?

Enjoy yourself!!

I was in Krakow, Poland. Wheat and barley are huge diet staples and gluten is everywhere in Poland, e.g bacon, it is in bacon?!?!

We're back for what looks like at least 2 years this time around. Then, who knows...I plan to enjoy every single second!!!!

[BabsV]

Welcome Home, Babs!!

When is your Dr. Fasano visit??

I'm off to the Center for Celiac Research on July 31st. Spoke with them today to update my phone number and confirm time/date/etc. They are just so friendly and helpful.

Also had 3 enormous vials of blood drawn today at my mother's doctor -- I'll be able to take all the results to MD with me so that they won't have to waste time doing the tests! My mom's doc, a GP, knew more about Celiac than any doctor I ever spoke to in Poland, and was willing to run everything and anything I asked for. She was concerned they'd never wanted to check thyroid or iron or vitamin levels or really anything after my diagnosis. Nice to have someone agree with me that that should have been done!

[IrishHeart]

My mom's doc, a GP, knew more about Celiac than any doctor I ever spoke to in Poland, and was willing to run everything and anything I asked for. She was concerned they'd never wanted to check thyroid or iron or vitamin levels or really anything after my diagnosis. Nice to have someone agree with me that that should have been done!

I think we all worried you were not getting sufficient care post- DX from what you were telling us. So glad you are home and can investigate what's going on.

Hey, how's the pain level? any better?

[BabsV]

I think we all worried you were not getting sufficient care post- DX from what you were telling us. So glad you are home and can investigate what's going on.

Hey, how's the pain level? any better?

Hahahaha. After my visit to the doctor yesterday I think I can safely say I basically was having no real care post-DX!

Pain still present. The amitriptyline allows me to function for the most part. Having more to do helps since I don't have as much time to focus on it. Stress levels have definitely gone down...I still think it might be related to continued exposure to gluten from food in Poland plus perhaps another intolerance. Maybe? We shall see what the experts have to say. The doctor I saw yesterday was also surprised they hadn't done a gallbladder function test to rule that out as a possible problem. And when I mentioned they couldn't do a bone density test because the machine was always 'being serviced' (for 8 flippin' months?!?!) she was speechless. Ah, third world medical care...I am NOT going to miss it!

[IrishHeart]

I think you will start to progress now that you are home, IMHO.

I'd like to see you off the Amitriptyline. again, IMHO

It causes long term issues you do not need.

(I know: a rheumy made me take it to help me sleep. I used it for 6 months and I gained about 50 lbs. and it made me sluggish in the head)

Be careful when tapering off, okay. Go slowly. It's not pretty.