Imagine living your life waking up every morning thinking about what’s on your work schedule or weekend activity and then worrying about whether or not you have Pepto-Bismol tablets in your purse or if you should have the two spoonfuls of the liquid, just in case.
Imagine living your life making a decision whether or not to attend a function based on the fear that you may unexpectedly (and sometimes frantically) need to find the nearest restroom or scoping out the nearest restroom when you arrive.
Imagine living your life trying different non-scented and hypoallergenic clothes detergents and fabric softeners to stop the rashes on your face and body but nothing works.
Almost every story I’ve read so far shares two common threads: the years of suffering through unexplained rashes, fatigue, facial acne, mental fogginess and of course, the embarrassing dash to the bathroom and then the extreme relief and joy when an answer is finally revealed.
My answer came in a round-about way. I had gone to the emergency room in August 2011 after waking up in the middle of the night with a throbbing pain on my side. At first I thought I was going to be in the bathroom sick but it was just the pain. I stayed home that morning, in bed and in pain until my boyfriend left work early and took me to the ER in case it was appendicitis. It wasn’t. The ER doctor wrote it off as gas. How embarrassing I thought at the time.
I contacted my regular physician who replied that I should just wait it out and that the pain would go away - eventually. I was not thrilled with that answer and on my own set up an appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist.
He reviewed my records and the ultrasounds taken when I was admitted to the ER a month earlier and said that I had cysts on my liver. He said I had non-alcoholic liver disease and told me to eat healthier and exercise more.
He reviewed my records and the ultrasounds taken when I was admitted to the ER a month earlier and said that I had cysts on my liver. He said I had non-alcoholic liver disease and told me to eat healthier and exercise more.
Now in order to get my liver back to health (which will take around 2 years), I had to change my diet which meant minimal dairy, definitely no alcohol, lean meats, more vegetables, no grains and no gluten. Wait. No gluten?
First, I had no idea what was considered gluten, aside from wheat. I was overwhelmed and basically ate only rice, potatoes and vegetables and lean meats.
First, I had no idea what was considered gluten, aside from wheat. I was overwhelmed and basically ate only rice, potatoes and vegetables and lean meats.
Within a week of being gluten-free, I felt better. In the next month, I felt like a new woman. I emailed the GI specialist and he told me to come back and get tested for Celiac Disease. In order to get tested, I had to start eating gluten products again. I felt miserable and could not wait to get the blood test done and over with. I tested negative but I obviously had a wheat allergy based on the symptoms. And again, within a week of being gluten-free, I felt better.
I had no idea gluten was in so many products. Every time I thought I was in the clear, I'd find another ingredient that I had to cross off my list or try to find a gluten-free version. For instance, soy sauce contains wheat. I thought I was safe at our favorite local Chinese Buffet and would get the chicken and broccoli and use soy sauce and wasabi for the sushi. Now I bring my own gluten-free soy sauce to the restaurant.
Gluten-Free is a whole new lifestyle and has been challenging, especially since I have a boyfriend who doesn't have food allergies. I'm very lucky that he likes to cook and he's been doing most of the cooking using recipes from the GF cookbooks I've purchased.
I decided to create Mochi-GO Girl ( mochiko is Japanese for sweet rice flour) to collect information as I find them and to share the recipes we try from various cookbooks. I hope this blog is helpful and compliments the other great blogs available for those who are like me, suddenly gluten-free or have recently relocated to Seattle.
