Friday, March 16, 2012

A lot on my mind....



So a little over a year ago I decided to try eating gluten free, to avoid white sugar and most dairy products. People kept asking me why? I didn't have a great answer I just wanted to try it out, see If I noticed a difference in how I felt. I have not always been perfect at it, in some cases it was too hard to avoid all together, or I just simply didn't want to avoid it. At times I would ask myself the question why? I decided at the beginning of this year that I wanted to permanently continue on with this diet.

The reason why came shortly after. I went into see a specialist doctor that my mom recommended. I never go the doctors, and I'm sure as long as Nathan and I have been married Nathan has never gone to one. However I felt like I should go and I did. I have been tired all my life, and I wanted to get to the root of the problem. The doctor took a lot of blood samples from me and had food allergy tests done. They found out  that I have a problem called Candida Yeast overgrowth. My case was off the charts severe. It's way to complex to try and explain in this blog post, you can always google it if your curious. It is something that is very tuff to really ever overcome or ever get rid of, the best thing I can do is to keep it at bay by starving that awful wicked yeast to it's near death. And that means for me a very strict diet! Ah Ha! Which I'll be honest when I'm told I have to follow something it makes it harder, much much harder. And the fact that this problem will never really go away makes it all the more discouraging to want to follow such a strict way of eating. Then more news came......

I decided I wanted Nathan and Rebecca to go see this guy. I have been worried that Becca might have the same condition due to her constant yeast infections, though I never had yeast infections. However Candida can be genetically handed down. I wanted to get Nathan in to be checked for overall health. Results came back yesterday and it turns out that both Nathan and Rebecca both have severe Gluten intolerance! Along with dairy for Becca, which she was happy about because she hates milk.

Last night I was pondering over the days events and it hit me. I knew that this whole gluten free, dairy free experiment of mine for the last year has really prepped me for this new lifestyle change that is no longer optional, but needed. Instead of feeling totally overwhelmed right now I feel like I know what I'm doing, and so thankful I don't have to start from scratch. And I know the inspiration came from my Heavenly Father, and what a good father he is. Food is a big part of my life, it makes me happy I love to enjoy it! And over the last year I have really learned the gluten free art form so that food can still be yummy and enjoyable to us YEA!!! I know this sounds really ridiculous but I promise you it's not! I have become the expert baker in all things gluten free, Nathan laughs at me when I think I am eating "healthier desserts" because sugar is sugar after all, but I still think their is some difference in the sugars I use along with other ingredients chosen so onward I go! 

I am thankful to our doctor, especially because he doesn't normally see patients Beccas age. She was super brave by the way when they had to take her blood! Did not make a peep! Though her eyes went as wide as they could in shock when they put the needle in her....poor thing! I think the culprit for this flood of gluten and allergy breakouts are due to GMO'S, but that's another blog post for another day.

5 comments:

summer said...

Wow - that is quite some news for everyone to receive! How fortunate that you were watched out for and felt impressed to try this diet before now...you are right, our Father knows us very well and at times takes trials and puts them into baby steps that can be a little more manageable for us. You'll have to fill us in on more of the details - and if this Dr. is seeing other patients I'd be interested for myself...in the past few months we are noticing that I get stomach pains when having cheese...which I love cheese, but I have wondered why my body is reacting differently to it now. Please do a post on GMO's...I'm with you on that I think so much of people's diet restrictions have come from that, I keep thinking that the nut allergies must have something to do with how different the food is processed now...we didn't have these allergies when we were growing up! We'll definitely have to talk more on all this :)

Michelle said...

I'm so sorry it has to be permanently cut out (I DEFINITELY know how difficult it can be!) but it's so nice you found out so you guys can all start feeling healthier. I love food sooo much so I completely understand your feelings on it and how big of a pain it is to have to pay more attention to ingredients! Good luck and we'll have to do some recipe swapping'! PS Are you as anxious for Thursday night to come as I am!?

Haley and Lance (but probably just Haley) said...

Oh man, this post made me cry a little. What a scary thing to find out. I'm so glad it will be a little easier on you since you already got used to it on your own terms. What a crazy story! On a positive note, at least knowing how you should be eating will help all of you feel better, which I'm sure you've noticed this past year. Good luck with everything!!

Kristen said...

As long as it's from GMO's and not NCMOS! Just kidding! Isn't it amazing how the Lord works in our lives? Everything that happens prepares us for the next stage without us even knowing it. I'm sorry that you guys have all these problems(?) but so happy that you know now and can help keep it better for the future.

Audrey Crisp said...

That's crazy you have that. Good for you for figuring it out! I'm glad you've already been doing this! You are awesome! I hope it makes you less tired!