queenofhearts

Good timing! I just got an email with this link: Open Original Shared Link

Great link!

If you like ratatouille, to me it's perfect over polenta. (I do like it best sauteed, but it's good plain too.)

Definitely make it from scratch, especially if you're serving it soft, the difference is very noticeable.

My sister thought this would be okay for me too. I knew it wasn't, luckily.

It got me thinking, though, I wonder if those of us who are grain-sensitive in general could tolerate sprouted gluten-free grains? Does anyone know which grains will sprout easily? Quinoa maybe?

Morning, all!

Thank you all so much for all your supportive words. My friend made it through the night so she may get to see her son! (He was in Iraq & though he was given leave, most thought he wouldn't arrive in time.) I'm so happy about this-- it really was one of the hardest things about her sudden decline.

Celia, how's the weather? Have you noticed it's unusually stinky?

Leah

I wonder why this isn't discussed more? Have you had any experience with this technique?

I built my first garden 5 years ago, but my cats made it their litter box . Can't blame them, I should have seen that one coming.

If cats won't leave your garden alone, you can mulch it with small sharp pebbles-- they don't like walking on them. Chunky fireplace ashes will sometimes help too (& they're a good amendment for clay soil). My neighborhood has a dozen feral cats wandering about, & yes, they make a bee-line for any freshly turned soil!

I don't have a square foot garden per se, more of a potager with veggies, herbs & flowers growing together. I'm always planting the next round-- especially arugula, which I can't live without, & cilantro, which goes to seed fast in my hot climate. But I'm less systematic about it than I probably should be... I'm sure I'd harvest more.

I'm back... spent some time after visiting with a mutual friend (we went to the hospital together)... that helped.

It was so sad to see her struggling for breath, but incredibly, she was still joking-- one of the things that always helped her through-- her fabulous sense of humor, still hanging on even though her lungs are collapsing. Amazing... she inspires me still & always will no matter what.

I was so incredibly touched when I got home-- my son called from college because my husband had told him about this... how sweet is that?

Oh, life is so full of sweetness & sadness... I'm a teary mess right now... I'll come back later, need to rest for a while.

Thank you all for your sweet words--

Love,

Leah

p.s. Celia, I hope you & your clean panties stay safe & dry!

Celia's moving around so much, no hurricane could find her! Keep Ernesto guessing, girl!

Sounds like you got glutened but good-- green fingers & a purple beard, sounds like a fauvist painting!

I wish I could taste some of your cheeses!

Lest anyone imagine that gfp is the timid, overly cautious type, I would like to point out that on his questionnaire he states he has gone bungee jumping!

Hi all, I've been given permission to visit my friend today so I am somewhat comforted... her husband is hyper-protective of her so I'd feared that I wouldn't be able to see her & tell her how much I love her.. but her condition is even worse than I knew, so today's visit will very likely be goodbye. The world will be losing a beacon of light...

Rinne, just this morning I was thinking how grateful I was to have the puzzle to take my mind off things...

I'm a cryptic crossword addict myself, but I have to get those online. Love cryptoquotes too.

Susan, hope today is a little less coconutty, & your interview tomorrow goes well. Your brain seems pretty sharp to me! I'm sure you'll be fine on the job once you get going...

I agree, Lister-- your anxiety is making you sicker. Have you spoken with your doctor about this, or seen a psychologist? Mind you I'm not saying you are imagining your pain-- but the digestive system is very sensitive to nervous disturbance. Even the healthiest person has experienced "butterflies in the stomach" or in a terrifying moment being "scared s$#&less"-- in someone with inflamed intestines, these symptoms are magnified. You would do yourself a world of good by learning relaxation techniques, guided visualization, yogic breathing. I suspect you would also profit from anti-anxiety meds but given your fear of meds, I'd start with the others.

Leah

Lister, I haven't taken this myself, but please don't freak out about the meds, I really think you should stick with them for a bit. Your doctor did NOT prescribe "cyanide". The symptoms you have been suffering need to be addressed. Who has been telling you that the meds are poison? All the messages here have been positive. Patti & Ravenwoodglass were helped by them--I feel sure they will help you too. Please take your next dose on schedule.

Leah

Sorry I was away for awhile... Thank you all for your comforting words... & for being here...

Oh God, I just got a call from a friend telling me that a dear friend is dying... she's been battling breast cancer for several years but it has suddenly spread to her lungs and kidneys... the doctor is saying she may not live through this week. I'm just heartbroken... this is a wonderful, wonderful woman, so smart & kind & creative & funny... her poor daughter just started college this week... I just don't know what to do... not sure if she can even have visitors; my friend (her best friend of 30 years) is there now at least... she's checking. But I am feeling so helpless and sad & angry... I just don't understand...

I've seen posts that said yes, haven't checked myself.

Yeah, the social thing is by far the biggest issue for me too. I used to love "breaking bread" with friends & eating adventurously in restaurants... now I feel like a recovered alcoholic in a bar must feel... not tempted, that is, just... what do I do now? I'm even afraid to eat things like cruditees & such for fear of cc, so I end up just sipping a drink & feeling a little left out. I guess once I get to the point when I know for sure when I've been glutened, I'll feel less paranoid, maybe, but for now, I don't really know what I can tolerate.

I hate that sort of thing too. The awkward chit-chat, the food which is rarely that great even without considering gluten... & especially anything when someone gives a supposedly inspirational speech... ugh!

Hi Julie: Just taking a break from trying to catch all the tumbleweeds, I tell you, I take a couple of days off and look what happens! No I haven't checked anything off the list, hopefully soon! Thank-you for asking, you are always so kind.

Good for you Leah, I think I have mentioned that my mom and brother were diagnosed in the last year, my brother wasn't even sick but had lots of damage, no villi and it had already affected his bones. I had been after him for at least a year prior just to get tested, he had asked his doctor who asked him why he would want to go on such an awful diet if he wasn't having any symptoms!

Another brother did not go get tested but was quite ill and has had positive results going gluten free

It seems like some people are of the mind that this is just the disease of the month! Oh, well gotta let it go, sorry for the rant

I'm worried about my sister's bones too-- she's had back pain ever since I can remember & I worry it might be related. She's younger than I but has had dairy intolerance for a long time, plus candida, depression & anxiety... well, at least she's getting tested. I just hope her doctor isn't such a dork...

I did make it! Thanks for asking. I was a pretty fatigued, but enjoyed it nonetheless. I slept on the way home LOL. They were GREAT! I had pretty low expectations since there are only two original members and you don't really hear about them anymore ... but I always like their music ... they were quite the showmen and I highly recommend seeing them! Some concerts are a disappointment, but theirs was a pleasant surprise, even when I was feeling crummy.

Glad you got some fun in despite the mystery bug/ glutening.

Sorry, I'm not a subscriber either. It must have been only temporarily accessible, because I could read it before but not now.

I've only been on the diet 2 1/2 months, & I'm already noticing distinct results. I think I'm beginning to absorb iron for the first time in many years, & my strength & endurance are improving. It took 2 months before I started to feel this way, & I have enormous hope about the future.

One thing is, I am 50 & from your pic I'm guessing you are a lot younger! That gives you an advantage since not as much damage has been done, & you still have the youthful resiliance & quicker healing. So it may not take so long.

Is it at least much better than 2 years prior to the gluten-free diet?

Ya know, i haven't had any gluten or dairy which i am sure of beacuse of my food choices...however, i tryed to do a detox kit and some orthobiotics (replacing the good bacteria into my digestive tract and flushing out my system) and i'm just wondering if that triggered this to come on this strong again...what do you think? It seemed like the day after i started to detox kit and the orthobiotics it came back like before i started the diet!

I'm not sure if there might have been gluten in those-- think some orthobiotics may be suspect-- but in any case, I'd drop them right away & see what happens. And also are you absolutely sure about the cross contamination? It takes very little to set off a reaction. Shared cutting boards, peanut butter... really eliminate any chance of contamination.

oh on a plus side i slept like a baby last night i was in a deep deep sleep and i can say honestly today is the first day in 5 months i have woken up not incrediably tired and it feels good, just wish my stomic would shut up

That is an extremely good sign. Real rest will help you heal much faster. Your stomach will get the message soon!

Six months may seem like a very long time, especially now when you're having to struggle to learn all the do's & don'ts, but in the grand scheme of things it is really not so long. And consider that your DH symptoms may be the result of an accidental glutening. Have you been scrupulous about cross-contamination, cosmetics, & so on?

Hang in there, you WILL feel better.

Leah

That's the idea. Give it a chance!

Jennifer, I think you have discovered the cause of your misery, & whether the medicos agree is not really the point. Search this site & you'll find hundreds of testimonials on the subject of clueless doctors. You have the choice to pursue a completely gluten-free diet with no-one's permission, & if it makes you feel well, you'll have your answer. It's great that your husband is on your side about this, because the one disadvantage to going on the diet undiagnosed is that sometimes family members undermine you. You won't have that problem, so JUST DO IT! Forget the uneducated doctors. I know it's hard but when you heal without their help you'll have the last laugh. And maybe just maybe they'll learn something. (There have been a few stories on this site of docs who were converted by the empirical evidence!)

For lots of helpful info, Nini's Newbie Kit:

Open Original Shared Link

For some truly inspirational stories of healing:

Open Original Shared Link

And of course, come to this board with any questions or just to vent!

Leah

It's to give you a chance to heal, Lister, don't you want that? Try not to let your mind spiral into worries about the future. Let the meds do their work. It's not instantaneous, but you will get results. Then with luck your body will achieve a balance so that healing begins to predominate over inflammation. It's like getting a jump start. Your own healing will take over eventually.