A year ago I stopped eating wheat consciously.
I say it that way because it is easy or at least easy to understand that bread, pasta, and cereals are essentially wheat, but everyday I learn what other foods have wheat lurking within. I stopped eating wheat because I finally made the association that wheat was the cause of my blistering skin rashes and stomach pains. What I didn't know was that giving up wheat would also heal my irritated bladder, all arthritis inflammation, pain and mood. Wow, and none of the many doctors I have seen for a variety of conditions ever brought up the concept of any of my health woes being caused by something I was eating.
Here is a list of all of my previous health problems for which I saw specialists, had tests, major drugs and was very close to surgery.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Lactose Intolerance
Hypoglycemia
TMJ (jaw pain and locked jaw)
Fibromyalgia
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Bunions on both big toes
Asthma
Night Sweats
Blistering rashes on face, and arms
Debilitating fatigue
Brain Fog
Bladder Pain
Sciatica
Restless Leg Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Another time I'll go into my specific symptoms that better descibe my previous health situation outlined above, but what I want all to know is that over a period of 20 years I lived with some sort of pain everyday and today wheat free I don't. Nor to I take any of the medications for my severe arthritis.
A few years ago I stopped taking my Methotrexate for the RA and for 6 months was fine but the pains and inflammation came back as bad as ever and my Rheumatologist told me that I could never go off the meds again. It ends up that the reason I felt better for a while was that I was not eating wheat for many months, but I had put it back into my diet (perfect hindsight tells me this). At the beginning of this first good health period I had vowed to change my diet for 6 months and eliminate process foods hoping by digestive problems would be helped. I had essentially put myself on a low carb diet, but I didn't really intend it to be so. But because I had cut out simple carbohydrates and felt better, I continued to do so.
Along with feeling better, I started looking better and quickly went from a tight 10 to a very loose 6. I didn't want to be rail thin so I begun adding more simple carbs back into my diet and then I felt bad again. Real bad, have to have painkiller bad. Nothing to mess around with bad.
I don't know where I first heard of Celiac disease or a wheat allergy but I do know when it was. It was a year after I had to go back on the arthritis drugs. I immediately Googled : "wheat", "allergy", "IBS" and "Brain Fog" Hmmm. Maybe I'm not such a hypochondriac crazy lady. Giving up wheat sounded nearly impossible but I decided to give it a try.
I gave up wheat. I felt great for 4 months, but "they" say you should really be sure that it is Celiac and get tested. My gastro doctor agreed. I would have to go back to eating wheat for 4 months. It was "really important" for my health to be sure. I told her that even if the tests were negative I was positive that my stomach was better and really enjoyed thinking clearly. But I did it anyway, and felt like crap again for 4 months.
I really over did it last 2 weeks before my intestinal biopsy so they would find lots of horrible sad ville in my gut and be able to clearly announce a definitive title to what was ailing me. But guess what? The tests were negative. "Eat wheat if you want but if you feel better when you don't and choose to avoid it's up to you." I was pissed. Four months lost.
I know my body. When I went back to eating wheat for my "gluten challenge" my face and arms once again became a continual rash of intensely itchy blisters. My face was also stuck in a continual grimace from persistent gnawing stomach pain. Eating, particularity dining out meant having my meal pass through my digestion before the drive home was complete. No fun. Nope no wheat for me. Stupid tests. Stupid doctors.
Since I was in the stupid doctor frame of mind I wasn't in the mood to see my Rheumatologist for a refill of RA medicines. I let it go again and stopped taking those drugs that he had insisted I could never again exist without. I told myself that I wouldn't let it get as bad as it had before and I would make an appointment soon. Now it has been over a year and they only reason I have to see that or any other of these "specialists" that I and and my insurance company have funded through the years, is to tell my story and ask why no one, not a one ever thought of wheat or no wheat.
So do I have Celiac Disease or is it "just" a wheat allergy? That part I really don't care about so much anymore. What interests me now is learning how eat this way for life and sharing my discovery with others.
THIS IS ME..
- artistdeb
- Lawrence, Kansas, United States
- I'm a passionate fine art painter and spiritual writer awakening to a deeper sense of purpose and connectedness with the universe everyday. As an artist, I express the the joy I feel with the voice of color. Just I as I have been inspired to sing the song of my soul with paint and palette, I am now being prompted to pick up a pen and write. Listen Hear, A Divine Love Story journals a year of my awakening to the Voice of Love. I used to have to guard my thoughts; now my thoughts guard and guide me. It’s like I have a life coach in my head, but the wisdom is from a whole different source than my brain. I invite you to spend sometime here perusing excerpts from my soon to be published book and browsing a gallery of my paintings. It is my wish that what I offer may open a window of new possibility within your heart and mind. And like a “breath of fresh air,” awaken a part of your soul. May your joy be full, Debra Clemente artist/author www.DebraClemente.com www.artistdeb.com
11 comments:
Not sure what my wheat problem stems from, Celiac Disease or wheat senstivity, but it's severe enough that when ever I eat wheat, which is never if I can avoid it, I end up with bronchial problems. The reactions are severe enough to be charcterized as an Anaphalactic response. I also have an allergy/sensitivity to Yellow food coloring, especially #5 and #6. Doesn't leave a lot left to eat, they both "hide" everywhere! A friend who has family members with Celiac told me that white vinegar and soy sauce also are made with wheat. I also seem to be insulin resistant/cabohydrate resistant. Have had very little succes finding healthy alternatives to these. Would like once in awhile to eat something really yummy like an angel food cake or something!!
I have Arthritis in my neck and back and had very sucessful back surg. by a wonderful Dr. in Birmingham. I was a low disc herniated and bulging and I choose suurg. over the pain blocks which don't help.. The surg. went fine and I came home at 7p that night and didn't even need my pain meds.
Now I have pain in my shoulder radiating down my arms into my hands with numbness and tingling and I'm beginning to have numbness in both buttocks. My MRI is scheduled for Monday. Here we go again, my fist surg. was in 2003. I'll check into the wheat thing as I have been eating whole grains alot lately.
I have often wondered, why my breathing, and asthma seemed worse after teatime, and noticed that everytime I ate pastry, bread, gravy etc, i got a pain in my side. I have also suffered horrible muscle pain in my left shoulder. Sometimes it is severe that it keeps me awake. I read that wheat can cause similar symptons. I have also suffered severe fatigue, and put that and most of the other problems down to being menopausal as well. I decided to try to cut anything with wheat out of my diet, and although it has only been 2 days, my shoulder pain has been insignificant today, and my breathing easier, and i have had more energy. Maybe this is the answer, time will tell. Fingers crossed!
I just discovered that I am wheat intolerant. A few weeks ago, I decided to stop eating wheat to lose weight, and discovered that I felt a lot more energy. A few years ago I was on Atkin's and my excema disappeared, but I went back to eating wheat anyway. I am an easily influenced eater, and always want to eat what others are eating. I finally think I'm ready to be wheat free for life. Feeling well is priceless.
I stopped eating wheat/Gluten a couple of weeks ago. I was addicted to bread which caused me to overeat. I now find that without the wheat the compulsion to gorge myself is not as strong. Eating more slowly helps me to be more aware of being satisfied.My psorises has got worse if anything but sometimes symptoms do as healing takes place. I think it is obvious that we are poisening our systems. Leaky gut syndrome seems the most likely cause.
I gave up smoking years ago. This will be just as hard.
I want to give up wheat but am having a really hard time giving up bread and boxed cereals. I don't like pasta, have recently kicked a pastry and sugar habit by going cold turkey, but can't seem to stop eating bread and boxed cereal. Any tips would be appreciated. Please!!
Been wanting to ask you... how do you see correlation of celiac disease and wheat allergy symptoms?
If you have a hard time giving up wheat then you are allergic for sure. We CARVE what is bad....think of smokers for example.
Best thing to do.....go and eat something else even if you feel it's impossible.....fruit smoothies helped me......it wasn't long before the carvings stopped.
I am pretty sure you meant to say CRAVE. And I did crave wheat. I absolutely adored it.
I do not have celiac but I tested positive to a wheat allergy, I've got many of the problems you do. Have you had a blood test or skin test done to see if you allergic to wheat itself? When I eat wheat I feel like I'm dying and get terrible eczema and stomach issues, when I don't eat wheat I feel amazing.
No conventional medical testing indicated that grains were any problem to me. It has all been my own time testing which has over and over proved this truth to me.
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