dlp252

You and Rachel can keep each other company. I use my debit card for almost everything. The only time I use a check is the day before payday if we are running low on funds. Ssshhh, don't tell anyone. Oh yeah, can't forget the bills I can't pay online, gotta write checks for those.

Ha, I write so many checks that when I put in my last check order the guy called me to tell me that it would be cheaper for me to order 4 boxes at one time rather than doing it in small increments more often, lol.

I'm still in the stone ages too...and I only have one line so nobody can call me. Mostly pesky telemarketers anyway. My mom knows to email me if she can't get through.

Me too! My friends reach me by email when I'm online but my mom doesn't even have email, lol.

I know I'm the only one here who still writes checks with no ATM card though.

Well, as I recall you actually write checks for cash, so you've got me there, but I really only use the ATM card to get cash from the ATM machines, lol. I write checks for everything else.

Donna you probably look beautiful and healthy... I still look sickly... I hate it... the doctor said I'd start to gain weight but it's not happening as fast I would like it to.

Yah, I'm fortunate in that I didn't have a malabsorbtion problem so never got very thin. I think if I hadn't figured this all out when I did, it wouldn't have been much longer before it became a problem though. I was actually at a really good weight when I started the diet and now have gained about 10 pounds so am a little over what I should be.

Rachel, you've got company in the stone age...I'm on dial up too, which is why I post mostly from work, lol.

Floridian - congratulations on that weight gain...I wish I could send you (and Rachel too) the extra weight I gained after going gluten/dairy free.

since I've waited a lifetime for it....well, at least 30 pages or so.

Hope your appointment is fruitful!

Happy Birthday Julie!!!!

Happy anniversary to us for 100 pages, lol.

Ha, yep, I guess I agree...the more interesting my case the more they are likely to look at it, lol. The doctor did say it was a high risk operation if I have to have it, so I know that is why he is being so cautious.

Mom is okay. Apparently some crews are working in the park and cut some cable lines last week...they must have cut some phone lines too. They didn't even know their phone didn't work until I showed up on their doorstep, lol. We're not a big phone family.

Julie - yep, the name is just lovely, lol. It's darned near impossible to do research on it o

Donna,

I hope everything's ok with your mom.

Post after your appt. with Dr. R. and let us know how it goes.

Well, still can't reach my mom, but I AM back from Dr. R. I'm going to have another endoscope on Thursday so he can take another biopsy of my enlarged ampulla of vater (the opening in the intestine where the pancreatic and bile juices empty into the intestine.

He gave me the report that Stanford sent him which basically said that they think it's just inflamation. Dr. R thinks so too, but he wants to do another biopsy to be sure. He's been having me take ZantacOTC for the last two months to see if it changes the way the cells look with decreased inflamation.

If this biopsy shows the same thing we'll probably just ignore it unless I'm feeling bad. If it is pre-cancerous I'll have to have it removed.

Stanford thinks my case is interesting, lol. The first line of their comment: "Thank you for sending us this interesting case in consultation." That's me, interesting case. When I had my hysterectomy, it was because of fibroids. My doctor said he had never seen anything like it and stopped counting at 20...he also said it was an interesting case.

Floridian, I'm so sorry for your loss. I have a slight idea of what you might be feeling and it really does suck! I lost my father, aunt and uncle in the same car crash 10 years ago in September...it was the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with...that happened in the same year I lost my grandmother and two other aunts. I had to go through some of my dad's papers the other day and it still brought tears to my eyes even after 10 years. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Calling Donna. Are you feeling better today?

Yes, thankfully, much better although the scatter-brainedness hasn't gone away yet, lol. Now, I'm just worried about my mother...haven't been able to reach her for 3 days. I'll drive by this afternoon after work just to make sure...I'm sure the phone just got turned off somehow.

I have an appointment today with my GI, at which I think we'll make the next endoscope appointment.

Las Vegas!! A fun place to go. More fun if you win some money though. I don't know if you know that P.F. Changs (a chinese food type restaurant) which has great food has 3 locations there. They have complete gluten free menus right down to the chocolate flourless cake for dessert. Future reference perhaps.

Also, just in case you haven't heard there is a new product out there called mindlinx by Pharmax that contains strains of probiotics known to degrade wheat and dairy exorphins. This does not give us a free ticket to eat i but it seems to help keep things to a miniumum with accidentals.'

Just talked to my doc about it again today and they say there are more and more studies (most still in the clenches of doctors research and not as much online yet) that shows VERY Postitive results for gluten sensitivity etc.. My doctor said that if I wanted to I could probably get my hands on more of the research through our local university library. I have been on it for more than a week now and already feeling better in general.

I took some info with me on the locations for Outback and PF Changs, but actually didn't see any of them (must admit I didn't look very hard)...we actually didn't leave the hotel much except for a couple of days. I'll have to ask my GI about that med...I see him in a little over an hour from now.

Ive been asked for an update on my son... so here it be!

First a refresher...

Timothy (aka Tymber) was born on Aug 13th, 2003 and well that was just the start of his troubles. Well the first week went okay, but after that it went downhill fast. To the point where I would hold him at night (his mom was passed from exhustion by that time we took turns best we could), while he just screamed in and writhed in pain for 45mins to an hour. At first docs/etc thought it was acid reflux so we treated that and it did reduced the issues, but not cure it. Eventually he seemed to get better, so everyone thought he was out growing it, eventually though it came back, and much worse. Jumping foward in time (so not to depress to many ppl, but this continued on for a while..) to 18mos he was, IMO, dieing. Literly shrinking physicaly and mentally regressing. Some one on my forum mention celiac disease and we instantly tried a gluten-free diet. With in a week we started seeing results. He has had biospies, blood tests, barium seris and all that, but with out that nice lady (goes by Orionlover) on my forums we might not have ever guessed.

Minor side note, it was my GI doc that sent us to this site for more info/help.

Well he was getting better and better, but still was not picking up any langauge, save about a dozen signs we taught him. So last october we had his hearing tested, he came back completely 100% deaf in the left ear, but right ear was okay. Doc's thought it was fuild build up so they started antibotics (tried 2 rounds of 2 dif ones). Hes next hearing test in late December showed him completely death in BOTH ears. We know he could hear some, but it was below the range of the test eqiupment since it always showed 0. Antiboitics did not do anything at all.

Late January the docs put him under AGAIN and went in to drain fluid out from behind his eardrums, turns out there was no fuild, it was a gooey mess, docs words were 'its one of the worst cases I have ever seen'. THey got it cleaned out and put the tubs in with out issue. He was extremely close to PERMANT hearing loss, if not for the hearing screening in october....

THAT VERY DAY he started doing something he has never down before... mimic sounds around him! By the end of that week he was up to dozen or so words! THat was last January. Its now July in case you forgot

The entire time he has been getting speical tutors from the state for speach/etc and was making 0 progress. At 2 years old he was scoring about equal to a 10month old.

Well last firday we took him in for a re-evaluation this time by the city. Once he turns 3, he will graduate from the state program, and start with the city so they needed to do thier own testing. We do not have the official results yet, but we asked the tester, unofficially what she thought and she said "I would be surprised if he qualifies, but I still need run the numbers" !!!

What a major turn around!! A real answer to all the prayers of the faithful thats for sure!!!

Congratulations! What a wonderful blessing!

Wow, I'm amazed at the wisdom on this thread!!! You all are amazing!

I'm too tired to reply to it all, but thanks for the well wishes and welcome backs everyone! I mised you all too. IN fact, while I was there, kept wondering how many new pages on this thread I was going to come back to, lol.

I realized a while ago that the problems in my relationship start with me, lol...I've just been too tired to figure out exactly what I need to look at--I've heard Oprah say that you keep repeating the same kinds of relationships until you "learn" but I really have never tried to figure it all out...it's all exhausting sometimes.

I AM feeling better today except for the headache I have and being so danged tired. I just lazed around the house today, watched a DVD and may pop in another one soon. I don't have D, in fact haven't gone at all, but have the feeling like if I did go it would be D if that makes sense.

Rachel - I had problems with my ears yesterday too (kind of painful to fly with, lol)...they are still a bit plugged today. At least today it doesn't feel like there is fluid in there, but yesterday it did. Fortunately my reaction seems to be going away quickly.

Hi everyone I'm back. Went to Las Vegas for a few days. Didn't win anything, and left plenty of money there, lol.

Think I got glutened or dairied Friday (but had the symptoms yesterday). The whole trip was great...had a slight stomach ache the first day, but not bad. Then yesterday I had D from the moment I woke up. It was pretty bad. I could tell as soon as I finished my lunch yesterday that it was going to come out the other end in a few minutes (and it did). The problem was something that I ate on Friday though, because I had D as soon as I woke up. So whatever I ate on Friday caused my digestive system to go into hypermode, lol. I was being pretty careful, eating mostly stuff I brought with me, but did eat at least one meal a day at a restaurant or buffet, and I tried to pick stuff that seemed safe like plain steamed rice and carved roast beef (that I watched them carve in front of me) and plain veggies. I did eat some sushi (only two small pieces each day) both on Thursday and Friday, THAT might have done it...it didn't look like it had soy sauce in it, but the crab may have been the culprit since I couldn't be sure it was real crab. And, now that I think of it, it may have had rice vinegar in it, which I'm not sure is safe. It was a stupid thing to eat, but I miss sushi, lol. I also had Starbucks every day but I watched them make my stuff to make sure they used soy milk (which only seems to bother me if I have too much in one day) instead of dairy--there was only one time that I couldn't see them make my drink and that was towards the beginning of my trip.

Yes BALANCE and clumsiness is definitely an issue with me when I have a reaction. I was way off balance yesterday and did crash into a few things. Felt light headed most of the day. I also couldn't think straight and had hard time making decisions. I also had a bad headache most of the later half of the day. My vision was also much blurrier. By mid afternoon I was soooo tired I could hardly keep myself upright...unfortunately we had to check out of our room at 11:00 so couldn't even lay down. I think I could have slept for a while had I been able to lay down.

ChelsE - thanks for the birthday wishes and the link.

I'm exhausted today, but I'll read the link and the Olive Oil thread tomorrow.

Rachel - glad you are having fun with your new friend! The one statement you made about not wanting to get hurt hit home with me. I've turned down invitations for the same reason and am just about in the same place with not wanting to have a relationship yet. I actually think cutting down on the stress was a good thing for your healing.

About the earring thing...I've been trying to wear them a little more lately. They still cause a little weeping, but not nearly as bad as before I went gluten/dairy free. I'm thinking the longer I am free of the stuff that I'm intolerant to, the better it might get, although I may never be able to wear them every day.

I had both an endoscopy and a colonoscopy on the same day and I wish I had taken the day after off.

A week later I had just an endoscopy done and I really felt fine the next day, but still kind of wish I had taken the day off just to take a day off, lol.

Donna,Donna ,Donna,the fact that you have nothing to wear with them should never stop you buying beautiful shoes!!!!!

Just have to buy some outfits that will-oh and a handbag.....

You're right! Don't know what came over me because I USUALLY don't let that stop me, lol. I did buy a really cute BRIGHT FUSCHIA PINK purse a month or two ago...figured I'd find something to wear it with...I did too--plenty. I think the fact that these slides were $115 nad aren't all that beautiful had something to do with it (Danskos are really comfortable and that means they are usually not that attactive).

Oh, and I forgot to thank you all for the feedback on the ProActive. I started using it on Saturday evening and already my spots are much smaller! I may be 51 but my skin is still a bit oily, so I'm thinking my face shouldn't get too dry from this. The rest of my body is dry skin, but not my face.

I don't know if that is so weird Christina...I've heard for years that pineapple has good enzymes.

I love birkenstocks too...I have a couple of pairs. I also really like my Danskos but those are hugely expensive and they only have a few styles that I think are "cute". I almost bought a tangerine color on Friday, lol. I had a hair appointment and there is a shoe store near the salon which I always check out if I have time...they had some cute tangerine colored ones, but I decided against it since I actually don't have anything I can wear with them.

dlp, hope you had a great day yesterday on your birthday. What did you buy?? Anything you can share??

Hope you find the deed.

I had a great birthday and fun shopping yesterday. Let's see, I bought 4 pairs of crop pants...I live in them in the summer and can wear them to work and even have worn them to church the last two Sundays, lol. I bought some chunky sandals and a tote with wheels for my trip on Wednesday...I always just take a tote with me for the 4 days I'm in Vegas, but it can get heavy with all the stuff I cram in, so wanted something small with wheels. Found it. Oh, and I also bought a sample kit of ProActive because my face is breaking out like a teenager...I figure it must be all the sugar/fruit I've been eating and probably the stress at work isn't helping.

Rachel - I'm so sorry you've had such a bad week! Glad you are feeling better...hope you get to go to the fireworks.

I'll be going to a BBQ on Tuesday, but will be home long before it gets dark. I went to this home last year...it's really fun because the entire neighborhood knows each other and they all get together to have a parade...the different families/blocks even make floats, so they close down the streets to cars and have their own little parade which winds around the neighborhood. Last year the police, fire department and paramedics even joined the little parade. It was fun.

I wonder how many 51 year old women out there being medicated when a change in diet is all that is required.

Probably so true!

I haven't looked at the website...may have to wait until Monday when I'm at work with a faster connection, or I may try tomorrow here when I'm less tired. I'm tired after my day of shopping plus I've been tearing apart my house trying to find a passbook and a deed for my father's house. I can't find them anywhere...probably put them someplace safe in one of my brain fogged states and, well, that could be anywhere and most likely not a logical place. So, trying to figure out where I might have put them when brain fogged is wearing me out, lol. Maybe I should tear apart my pantry...I might find them in the rice.

I haven't tried the testing thing yet, but I intend to give it a try...why not, lol.

Thanks Rachel, Armetta and Patti! Keep in mind the picture is kind of fuzzy, lol.

.

Thank you Julie, Floridian, Rinne & Patti! I'm having a good day...took the day off work and just hanging out doing stuff I like.

Donna,

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Thank you!!!! I'm 51 today!!

I get sinus congestion (and every cold turns into a sinus infection), constipation, bloating, gas and excruciating intestinal pains which come in waves and feel like severe menstrual cramps.

BURDEE

DITTO!!! And since going gluten/casein free haven't had a sinus infection. I still get the intestinal pains but not nearly as much, but then I'm not really careful about cross-contamination on the casein side...gluten yes, but not casein so much.

Christina - wow, that is overwhelming but very interesting! Thanks for posting. I'm glad you're feeling better!

Andrea - you and me both with the fillings. I had 11 at one time filled when I was around 13. Even my front tooth is filled. As an adult I've had to had about 3 of them replaced for one reason or another and I wish at the time I knew about the toxicity of them. Course, I don't think my dentist would replace with anything else, so not sure what good that would have done anyway. I've always wondered if these stupid filling have anything to do with my body not quite functioning right.

Patti - hope you can get that worked out with the place in Canada...I'll have to ask my allergist at my next appointment. I think I'm due soon for a "shot check", so I'll try to remember to ask her then.

Oh yeah...the capsules are gelatin-free. That was the whole reason I called him.

He said he doesnt use gelatin at all since alot of people are sensitive to it.

Ha! I was going to ask what the answer was to that question, lol.

Great information in that post, thanks so much for taking the time to write it for posterity here...I'm wondering if it would help with the environmental allergies...sounds like it would.