dlp252

I too want to wish all my Rachelvillians the happiest of holidays, and the best of new year's. May we all come out of the various celebrations unscathed.

At least we can regroup in our cult farm and share horror stories

RYAN!!!! Glad to see you, happy holidays!!!

Susie...I found a Turkey sausage at Whole Foods (a chain health food store), which only had turkey and spices as ingredients, so I've been eating that for breakfast. I have also reintroduced eggs, which seem to be sitting well, lol, so I have that too. I alternate that with some bars my doctor sells, which is "legal" for the elimination diet, onto which I put some nut butter. They also sell a protein type powder mix which I make up with some water, frozen fruit, nut butter and Stevia.

I've mixed pumpkin with sweetener before and it tastes pretty good, lol. I can't have any sweeteners on the elimination diet except for stevia and fruit juice.

I have to take a stool sample to be tested for other bacteria and parasites. I have been putting it off because I really don't feel like walking through the hospital with something that is obviously a stool sample during the day (I know too many people there). Luckily the lab is open 24 hours so I hope to make a late night run.

Anyone know what I will take since I am allergic to amoxicillin?

Sorry, don't know what they'll use instead. I was diagnosed from a stool antigen test, which also found a klebsiella infection.

Yes, it is possible to be gluten intolerant and not have it show up in the blood tests. Since you've already had the testing, you may want to give the diet a try for a few months. My doctor did my blood tests and endoscope AFTER I went gluten-free, so we both figured it wouldn't show anything, but he did say that diet is a valid indication. (But without the positive test results, he would not diagnose me with Celiac.) I ended up having my testing done at Enterolabs, who uses stool testing to find antibodies for gluten and a handful of other things.

I had to go to the doctor for my follow up from my colonoscopy the day after Christmas. He did more blood test and order an endoscopy for yesterday. They called from the office today to tell me that my test came back positive for H Pylori. Finally... a diagnosis! So, I start the antibiotics tonight. Any crazy side effects I should know about? I don't know exactly what they are giving me yet since I am allergic to amoxicillin. Also, how is this spread? My boyfriend has an undiagnosed ulcer, could it be from him? He is going to the doctor on January 9th, so I have a feeling if it is spread my bodily fluids they will or should test him too.

I was just diagnosed with this too. I started the meds last Thursday, so one week to go. They prescribed a PrevPac which contains two Amoxicillin (500 mg), 1 clarithromycin (500 mg) and one Prevacid pill. My doctor said that protocol is about 85% effective so they are also having me take 10 Pepto Bismol tablets a day (apparently the Bismuth in the PB is toxic to H.Pylori)...so with the PB, the treatment becomes about 95% effective.

Side affects so far...the first couple of days I was really dizzy and slightly nauseated, but I'm also recoverying from a sinus infection and ear infection, so that could have contributed. Other than that the only thing I've noticed this week is that I'm EXTREMELY hungry, lol. I just can't get full...the meds MAY have something to do with that. I have a terrible taste in my mouth, at night--like in the middle of the night...I don't notice it any other time, so maybe it's because I haven't eaten or drank anything for several hours by that time...I think it may be the Pepto that's responsible for that though.

I've been reading a bit on the Internet about H.Pylori, and some sites say it is transmitted from person to person, but some don't mention it. It is a bacteria, so it seems to me it is at least plausible that it could be spread that way.

Yeah...they do give you a print out of everything. I asked her if she works on Saturdays and she does. I'm thinking she probably always does the initial testing as well....so it should be her.

YAY!!!!!!

It SURE was!! I just finished it off today. Yeah....its pretty darned unbelievable that I didnt react to it.

Another Xmas miracle is the fact that I didnt Rachel the little pie on the first night.

I made it laaaaaaast. If they still have any I'll buy another one. Holidays arent over yet right?? There is still New Years....so there *may* still be PIE.

I hope you're seeing Anna for your your BioSET testing...she's the best one there. I cant wait to hear how it goes for you.

I Rachelled my pie for you, lol. But, I'm thinking of getting another pie myself, lol. Crazy! I'm going on a Saturday...I think you said she might not work on Saturdays. I'm hoping she ALWAYS does the initial testing no matter what day it comes on...but maybe wishful thinking. I'm really hoping they can clear dairy, lol. I miss that more than gluten! And, then I could eat as many pumpkin pies as I want, lol.

Speaking of BioSET, do they give you any kind of printout of what they find? I don't know how I'll remember everything.

I'm glad work has settled down Donna. Have you got that brief done or does it get finished today? Missed seeing you pop in here the last couple days.

I can't wait!!! Am looking forward to more updates from bioset for you. How are the meds going? Seems like you've gotten used to them.

I got a break on Tuesday and they had our other local office work on it since I was so sick. I saw it yesterday, but it really wasn't bad. They have to file it with the court today, so I'm not sure if I'll see it or not. Darned thing is 150 pages, lol. I'll probably see it at least once today for last minute revisions.

The meds seem okay. The only thing I'm having a problem with now is the Pepto Bismol. That stuff is wretched, lol. My throat doesn't want to swallow the pills! I really have to concentrate when I try to swallow them, lol. And, I'm waking up in the middle of the night with the most awful taste in my mouth and throat. But, I'm not feeling as queasy or light-headed as when I first started all the meds. Some of that may be just that I'm not as sick as I was then.

Sleeping, lol! I'm still trying to recover from a sinus and ear infection, so I'll be sleeping for sure.

Dlp- Thanks for the welcome And good luck on your BioSET, I'm excited for you! keep us updated! Do you have pretty bad food sensitivities?

My reactions to foods aren't as severe as most on this thread, but I suspect food plays some part in why I don't feel well most of the time. I have diarrhea most of the time, so can't offer any help on the constipation issue. I do have times where I won't go for a couple of days...when that happens I do something really odd, lol. I have an exercise ball...you know, one of those really big balls that people sit on to do sit ups, etc. When I have constipation, I drape myself (as in very relaxed) over it face down and kind of massage the tummy area. It also helps to relieve the "tightness" in the lower back area. Weird, but it seems to help me anyway.

I also have a casein intolerance. I think my main symptoms are nasal/sinus issues. I used to get sinus infections about every six weeks, and until last week, hadn't had a single one in a year! (I went gluten/casein free last December.) If I cheat with casein (which I don't do frequently, but have on ocassion), I feel the sinus issues worsening almost immediately. I've been glutened twice in the last year, and my symptoms from that seem to be more digestive in nature, so I'm fairly positive the casein was responsible for my infections.

Very interesting, Rachel. I have a lot of that. I have a Rolex I bought with money I saved babysitting and some that I got for high school graduation. I bought it in 1982 and have been wearing it ever since (it ended up being a good investment ). I stopped wearing it a couple months ago because it bugs me. Morgan was flabbergasted when I told her. She couldn't believe I had worn it that long and don't wear it anymore. Jewelry seems like it's choking me sometimes. Sometimes the kids grab me to hug me and it hurts.

Sounds REALLY bug me. So do lights. I wear sunglasses even when it's cloudy, but not all the time, some days it's worse than others. I can't sleep if any light is on ... if the cordless phone's light, or the computer charger, etc. I've learned to tolerate the air cleaner's light because the sound helps. I get completely blinded when cars have their bright lights on ... even if it's daytime.

Ditto! I don't wear jewelry much for the same reason and I also wear sunglasses when it's overcast! Cars with bright lights really hurt!

For some reason New Years doesnt get to me too much even though January was also the month that I got really sick. I was developing symptoms for a few months prior to that but got hit hard in January. I just go to bed early on New Years and by the time I wake up its all over with and I'm like...."Who cares?"

Ditto! If I'm feeling particularly festive, I stay up until 9:00 New Years Eve, but otherwise, it's bed at 8:00! :lol:

Do you guys feel like you're immune system is over active too....and you dont catch colds?? Obviously my immune sytem has freaked out on me and is fighting everything in sight (or out of sight) so this is a good sign??

I've had two doctors tell me mine is overactive! And, I DO feel sick most of the time, but usually don't get colds. Whatever I've got now is what I usually get...not a cold, but something like it.

Rachel- I noticed you said that you've started Bioset treatments! I'm so excited for you because I've been doing it for a couple months now and it helps SO MUCH! I can eat dairy right after my treatments (which I usually can't eat), and a couple of other things that im usually sensitive too, but unfortunately it doesnt clear up my gluten problem, and unfortunately people with lyme disease get re-sensitized quickly.

That's exciting, lol!!! I'm going to start BioSET in about a week and a half! I go next Saturday for my initial appointment!

Donna.....that was one HECK of a good pie! I dont know if its just cause I havent had any in so long.....but MAN....I think that little gluten-free $10 pie was the BEST I've ever had!!

Of course it would have been even better with cool whip. I wonder if I can just bring a tub of cool whip to Bioset and have the Voo-Doo lady "de-sensitize" me.

I think I might have to write to Whole Foods to MAKE SURE that they always have that pie available during the holidays....or even all year would be great!

I cant believe I didnt get any bad reactions though....maybe the Bioset is helping?? As far as stuff in foods....I've only been treated for molds and phenolics so far. The phenolics panel was pretty big though....alot of the chemical type stuff in foods. Who knows...maybe it helped some.

I'm looking forward to getting into foods next week! WOO-HOO!

I miss eggs. My mom was making egg sandwiches this morning. Holy Cow....I miss those!! I LOVE eggs like that...english muffins are the best. Do they make any gluten-free english muffins yet???

Emotionally....I didnt do too well through the holiday.

Lots of tears and lonliness and just missing life the way it used to be. I didnt go to work yesterday or today because the sadness brought me down and I didnt feel good.

I had those balls of stress in my stomach again but its better now...I'm going to work tomorrow.

Its crazy cause I do all this stuff to keep myself feeling good. Avoid all these foods, dont drink alcohol, avoid chemicals....then I keep someone in my life who is more toxic to me than all that stuff put together.

I decided not to do that to myself anymore...No more toxic people in my life. This is the same person who got me in this mess to begin with....causing me so much stress. Its my New Years resolution to just focus on me....and getting better.

...

Donna, are you feeling better??

That pie WAS good...I looked for one last year and they didn't have one, so I was really excited when I saw it. Heck $10 is nothing when we're talking pumpkin pie, lol, it was worth every CENT!

I'll bet the BioSET IS working! I find it amazing that you didn't react! That's pretty exciting!

I always tend to reflect more at the holidays...you're right, toxic people have to go. I felt like work was VERY toxic for a couple of years, but it's calming down now for me.

Oh my goodness, this board is HUGE. haha...well I was ever so kindly invited by Carla to join because she informed me that lyme disease is a popular topic on this board. But anywayyyys...it looks like everyone is talking about the holidays right now...I hope everyone is having a good time, it sure sounds like you are.

Hello and welcome!!!

I had constant colds prior to my diagnosis. Last winter I had zero colds, which was truly amazing (was gluten-free). That alone is incentive to lay off the poison!

My story is similar except it wasn't colds or flu, rather I got very frequent sinus infections. However, since going gluten/casein free last year I hadn't had even one until this last week, and I believe that is because I accidentally ate some gluten. It may not directly cause it (although admittedly I think mine did, lol), but I believe any time we eat something we are intolerant to it just taxes the immune system a bit more than normal which opens us up to all sorts of things.

Wow, great to hear everyone made it through the weekend relatively unscathed, lol.

I'm back at work this morning, although wishing I stayed home one more day...they have a huge brief (never got the connection of calling a document that is 100 pages a brief, lol) that they need to file on Thursday, so I'll be busy today and tomorrow. If I start to feel really bad, I'll just have to tell them I can't work on it, and then leave. In fact I just sent an email saying I was still not completely well.

After all that, I actually AM feeling better. The coughing has calmed down, and the congestion is slowly going away. I still can't hear out of my right ear though, and all the meds are doing some interesting things to my digestive system, lol.

I went back to Whole Foods to find that larger pumpkin pie (with no dairy/gluten/soy), but it was gone. I ended up Racheling the stupid pumpkin pie with the dairy in it, so am paying for that a bit this morning. Fortunately I only ate the crust, which for some reason just tasted sooooo very good, but I know that crust has butter, lol.

It was a Sunday, my cousin and her family did stop by, but they didn't stay long, so mainly it was just my mom, aunt and myself. I was really worn out though, so left as soon as my cousin did. Yesterday I felt much better and it was just my mom, aunt and myself again.

OMG...Donna , which pie did you get??? You must have been shopping at WF!!

The only food I'm really sad about not eating during the holidays is pumpkin pie....with whip cream. The thought of not having pumpkin pie actually has brought tears to my eyes.

...

Wow....sorry for the long "pie post".....I guess I could of just said "Yeah...you can freeze pumpkin pie....I bought a frozen gluten-free pie tonight."

Yep it was Whole Foods. The small one I got was the WF Gluten-Free Bakehosue, hence the bad stuff in it, lol. Actually the ingredients didn't look too bad except the first ingredient is butter, then farther down the list is milk and condensed milk. I ate a very small bite of it, and it was heavenly, but I don't want to risk a bigger piece since I KNOW I can't eat dairy, lol.

I can't remember who made the other pie, but it was larger and I think it was actually a "tort" or something...looked like a pumpkin pie to me with straight up and down sides instead of the usual pie slope. I'm thinking of trying to go in early this morning to see if it's still there and get one.

Neither pie was in the freezer.

I've actually noticed mold on some stuff too, although I must admit, on this pie I didn't even check the expiration date until I got home. And, I still don't know how much it actually cost, lol.

I wonder what type of cream your ice cream uses...if you could find that cream by itself maybe you could make your own whipped cream?

Rachel and Donna,

I love pumpkin pies too! I hope you both enjoy them and don't get sick.

I'm curious--now that you have been off so many offending foods for so long, do cakes actually still TASTE good to you?

Does to me, lol. No matter how long I

Donna,

Buy the larger one, leave out (and enjoy!) as much as you want--and then freeze the rest! If you freeze it in individual wedges, you will have dessert anytime you want!

Great, I wasn't sure if pumpkin pie freeze well...that will also keep me from eating the whole thing at once. (I have a secret Rachel-like habit of racheling food, lol)

Yep, mine took about 2.5 weeks as well.

I've read two weeks too and there is one antibiotic, can't remember sorry, that doesn't treat the Lyme but unmasks it. I'm thinking a LLMD would know.

Donna, sorry that you are feeling so wretched, I hope the meds help soon.

Laura, glad to know your doctor is thorough and is taking the Lyme indications on your test seriously.

Physically I am in less pain, just slightly, but am still feeling flattened emotionally, just no energy. I was thinking about what you had said Rachel, about emoticons and it does seem true that when I am down I just don't use them much.

Christmas is a very low key event around here but I will tell you that I have some happy Lyme bugs after indulging in too many spicy pecans. They are roasted with kahlua, maple syrup and chimayo chili powder on them and were supposed to be gifts but they have mostly disappeared. Oh and they taste really good with chocolate chips.

Great thanks for the info and I'm glad your pain has eased even if it's just a little.

Ha, I'm with you in the happy bug category then, lol. I made it grocery shopping this morning and saw that there were two gluten-free pumpkin pies, a larger one and a smaller one. I miss pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas so I was very happy. I picked up the larger one first, read the ingredients, which sent me to heavan cuz it was gluten, casein and soy free! But, it was so large...I decided to get the smaller one. Well, stupid me, the smaller one was completely different and was gluten-free but has dairy in it. Grrr. I decided to have a bite of it, but I'm afraid to have more. I may go back tomorrow and get the bigger one even if I end up throwing most of it out, lol.

LMAO....Carla, I woke up this morning thinking about what Rinne wrote re: starting out on 1/4 drop.

I was laying in bed thinking how in the heck do I get 1/4 drop???

Like what am I supposed to do....try to sqeeze out less than a drop?....lick the tip of the dropper? WTH??

I came back on here to ask the stupidest question and then found your post.

But I'm still a little bit confused on how to "divide" the water ....oh well...I'm gonna start on one whole drop...seperating a drop seems like alot of work.

Yay Donna...I'm glad the meds are helping with the infections but that sucks that you have to feel bad in the process.

Thanks Rachel...I think maybe my body just needs to get "used" to the meds...so far today I haven't felt the nausea and I took the meds about 4 hours ago. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will get better, lol.

As far as the drops, you could just put one drop in a glass of water, stir it up then only drink half the glass and save the rest for later in the day. Saves you from dividing the water into 4 glasses but is still less than 1 drop.

How long do you have to be on this stuff? Was it two weeks?

Will it take care of the sinus/ear infection? I used to get sinus infections every year and got to the point where I'd call the clinic for a prescription since one was coming on. They wanted to see me the first time and didn't notice anything but took an x-ray or something and found that I was right. After that they didn't question me. Seems since we've moved down south a few counties that I haven't had one. My allergies were much worse where we used to live and I'm hoping gluten free will make enough of a difference to actually be able to go out and enjoy the summers again.

Merry Christmas everyone.......I'll be checking in through the weekend but for those of you that won't....I didn't want to miss anyone.

Yep, 2 weeks. A full 14 days and then I get to start the Prilosec + probiotic portion--that goes for 30 days.

I was getting pretty good at feeling them coming on since I had one about every 6 weeks for 3.5 years, but I haven't had one in just over a year (since gluten/casein free) so I kind of forgot, lol. This one did seem different though so not sure if it started out that way, but it's one now, lol. Last year it started with strep throat which is why I was so worried when I had the bad sore throat for so long, but the doctor did the swab in the office and it didn't show strep this time. A mystery to be sure, lol.