responsibility for the destruction of my gallbladder. I ate the candy bars and cheese burgers and donuts and pizza. I was "too busy" to cook and popped in countless boxes of "food" into the microwave to feed my family. I did it. I did it all.
8 years ago, I was sent to an ear, nose, and throat specialist due to my daily headaches and sinus issues. After the exam and a thorough allergy test, it was concluded that I was "allergic to Colorado." That's all I was ever told. It wasn't until last year that I suspected I might have a gluten sensitivity. I have never hear of such a thing and since I have never been allergic to anything ever, I didn't think it was likely. 6 months ago, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired so I decided to try an elimination diet. For 2 weeks, I eliminated dairy and grains. Let me just say that I was feeling f@#!ing fantastic! I had more energy than I could get rid of. At day 5, I no longer had headaches and I was blowing out snot in huge amounts. My ears were popping and starting to clear. I was excited. At week 3, I decided to add dairy back in. I never thought dairy could be a problem in the first place and I turned out to be right. There was no change to my euphoric feeling. At week 4 I added wheat back in. Here's where the problems began. Within 20 minutes, I had a headache brewing. After 4 days, I started losing my energy again and had to nap in the late afternoon to make it through the day. It was all the proof I needed to self-diagnose a gluten sensitivity. But just to be sure, I stopped eating gluten for 2 more weeks and introduced it again. No doubt at all.
Naturally, I began to research everything I could about gluten. I bought the book "Wheat Belly" and it made a lot of sense out of what I had been going through for years. Then I read "Grain Brain" and was just disgusted by what I had learned. Then I wanted to search for a new way of eating and decided the Paleo diet was a good fit for me. I'm not a religious Paleo eater except for the gluten. I eat rice on occasion because I am half Japanese and I enjoy far too many dishes that are great with rice. Besides, its in my DNA and I'm sure its impossible to be allergic to it.
So now that I have pinpointed my problem, my next challenge is staying away from it. I'm going to be honest, bread tastes wonderful and the food companies made it that way. It's extremely addictive and I have yet to go more than 3 weeks without it. And I can't stop at one gluten contained food. If I have one, I want another, then another. Next thing I know I've eaten a gluten with every meal for a week. Its only when I feel like total dog shit that I snap out of my gluten induced trance and realize whats happening to me. Then I stop gluten again and the whole ugly cycle continues.
Today is my first day without gluten (again). I was gluten free yesterday until my husband came home and decided to grill some burgers. Yes, I had one, they're figgin delicious! I'm not blaming him at all. It was my choice to eat it and I don't regret it. I have never been addicted to drugs but perhaps I should act like an addict. Eating gluten when you have a gluten sensitivity can have the same effects in a way. It has the ability to destroy your body. I may not rob my friends and family for my next fix but if I'm going through my day dreaming about bread products and weighing my options on the consequences of eating a piece of pizza or some jelly toast, is it really that different? Could I live with that headache or sinus congestion? It's just one...Stop the insanity.
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