Posted by headachequeen on August 29, 2005, at 17:59:13
In reply to Re: Topamax increase - stupifying! » headachequeen, posted by Nickengland on August 29, 2005, at 12:32:58
> Hello again Kat!
>
> >the elimination of grains from my life..
>
> What are the symtoms of your grain allergy if you don't mind me asking?
>
> Kind regards
>
> NickAllo Nick!
The grain allergy is apparently something I have lived with since forever, but that I have discovered to exist only in the last four months or so and what a difference came with eliminating grains! (by 'grains' I mean corn, wheat, oats, rye, soy, alfalfa, barley, and any other sort of grain as well as any side products... flower, starch, oil, sauce, and so on)
I had always known some people were allergic to the gluten in wheat flour, however, I do not have a problem with gluten, so I never worried about it.
In the early spring my husband pointed out an article in The National Post about grain allergies other than celiac disease that is associated with gluten, commenting that I really fit the profile.According to the feature, if you suffer from a condition such as osteoporosis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis or depression, for that matter any of more than 192 disorders, ranging from Addison’s disease and asthma to sperm abnormalities, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis and hyperthyroidism, among them upper respiratory tract problems such as sinusitis, “allergies”, and “glue ear” (whatever that is), you are likely to be sensitive to grains. It went on to list
-Symptoms related to malabsorption of nutrients such as anaemia and fatigue (lack of iron or folic acid), osteoporosis, insomnia (lack of calcium)
-Bowel complaints: diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and distention, spastic colon, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis
-Autoimmune problems: rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, Crohn’s disease
-Diseases of the nervous system: motor neurone disease, certain forms of epilepsy
-Mental problems: depression, behavioural difficulties, ADDSeveral heavyweights in the research and treatment field were interviewed and quoted, and there was a great deal of information. As my favourite husband pointed out, I did fit the profile.
- I have epilepsy, a form that was singled out for discussion in the feature;
- I have autoimmune problems that defeat medical practitioners with great regularity;
- I suffer fatigue and insomnia;
- I have to have B-12 injections because I have been diagnosed with pernicious anemia despite the fact that I have haemachromatosis, an overabundance of a certain category of iron (just not a very useful iron, it would seem);
- I go through periods of time when my energy levels are excrutiatingly low, but I have ADD;
- Specialists have decided that I must have Crohns' although there is no real determination of it, but they said it had to be Crohns' because some of the symptoms are there... ;
-I have severe allergies, especially during 'hay fever' season;
- I have respiratory problems and have to see a laryngologist (sp?) for treatment as well as a respirologist and have to carry emergency inhalers with me at all times, as well as rely on regular inhalers morning and night to expand whatever it is in my lungs to help me breathe;
- I did have bouts of diverticulitis, stress-related as my work is high stress....
- I have on several occasions had to see a specialist about problems with waxy buildup in my ears, something he said was related to allergies and I forget what else... probably a food allergy cause though....My husband and I looked at this, did some further research and decided it was worth a try...
Not only did my breathing improve and my so-called Crohns' symptoms disappear, but within the first two weeks of the elimination experiment I lost eleven pounds... all the refined sugars and flours and stuff...
Sleep apnea was no longer a threat... within a few weeks.. or it may have been days, I was no longer doing the let's stop breathing in the middle of the night and drive the husband person out of his mind routine...
and what made him even happier, I stopped snoring...now if I could but get him to quit eating grains, maybe his snoring would stop, although I must admit that he snores only when he lies on his back which is seldom... <g>
my inhaler use has dropped dramatically; I turn to the emergency inhaler with far less frequency even in the recent and long heat wave and have not needed to rush off to Emerg for help in the worst of the humidity...
I have been able to change to a once-a-day regular inhaler too...the so-called Crohns' symptoms are gone...
and I am now discovering that a size six is too big... among many other very positive changes...
it means a lot of label reading, no more Chinese food as they use so much soya sauce and there are noodles and wraps in so many dishes that I like but there is a restaurant we frequent where the chef will prepare dishes that do not have any grains in them (if only he prepared Chinese and Thai food...)
some days I find it is just too much trouble to even eat and I have to make it a point to at least have some fruit... but it has made such a difference...
even cuts heal better and I have not even had an infection develop when I might have expected it...
it works!!!
cheers!
kat
poster:headachequeen
thread:542426
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050827/msgs/548320.html