Jan 22

Gluten free living!

Posted in Gluten free and other allergy diets, Lupus related

I have Celiac disease. I also have two daughter’s with it and two other children that show sensitivity. So we are a gluten free house and have been for four years.  The children also show sensitivities to a large amount of other foods.  So in total we are gluten free, casein free, soy free, and dye free. Now the littlest one is being tested for other food allergies such as apple, banana and citrus. Yeap it is hard to feed this crew.

I wrote on my other blog reasons to stay on the GFCF diet which is gluten free just add on the casein. GFCF mom of many I think it is very important to add for those of use with other autoimmune issues like lupus, not staying on diet will cause you to flare more often and worse! That is a vitally important reason to stay on diet.

I fully plan on living a long as healthy life as I can. I have 5 little ones to watch and guide as they grow. I have taken a much more proactive and grateful turn with my health. I am grateful that I have the health I do. My kidneys are not affected, thank you Lord. I am being proactive. I am eating on diet and beginning to lose weight healthfully. I am also trying to stretch and use my sore joints as much as possible. I don’t want therapy or loss of movement.

For those who need a gluten free diet as well I have found a couple of blogs that are really good! The gluten free girl has lots of ideas and recipes. She also has a book coming out very soon and one on the market already.

Gluten free Gobsmacked had the first Christmas cookie recipe that truelly reminded me of my childhood cookies!

The only down side to most of the gluten free recipes and blogs I have seen is they are for couples or small families. Most of the recipes are for about 4 people max. So if you have a large family like mine you need to double or more. The more you swap out ingredients the chancier the outcome of these recipes becomes.

I wish you all good cooking! If you need to watch you foods please do. The more you care for your gut the healthier your entire system will be! God bless!

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Jan 19

My life of lupus melodrama

Posted in Life Rambling, Lupus related

Hi everyone! I have lupus. Yup I am still getting use to saying that. It almost feels wrong. I keep waiting for the dr to call and say “oops we made a mistake it’s all in your head”  Hmm sounds like I need therapy? No not really, I think…

When I was in middle school I started having problems with super cold hands and then feet. I heard the name Reynaud’s but no one was really upset, so I forgot.  Later I joined the Navy after 6 months of fun and sun in Puerto Rico, I got sick.  I had a strange face rash and aches but worse of all I was passing out. I went from military hospital to military hospital. Of note Walter Reed is as bad as the media portrayed them! I finally got a medical discharge with no reason for my problems. Just a note in my file that says I show labs and signs of a medical problem but since they were unable to affect it with medication it was deemed at least partially “A white hysterical female” psychiatric problem.

I did find one wonderful thing in the Navy! My husband. We were married.  We have had seven children. Two of my babies are in heaven one I believe is directly linked to lupus.  Other than my first pregnancy every baby was a hard fought battle. After my last little one over a year ago I began getting really sick and run down. Don’t laugh there is a difference from being tired parenting 5 children and this kind of tiredness.

I started to redo the garden in the spring. Then my hair began falling out! ECK! Okay I had one gray hair and I didn’t dye it. I’m not particularly vain but losing my hair scared me. The dr didn’t seem overly interested. The summer wore on I got sicker and sicker with each weekend’s gardening. Finally I stopped.  I went for one last try after I was put through the ER for chest pain. The dr, this time was a sub dr,  He kindly told me I was that age to begin losing my hair and getting aches and pains…. I got a second opinion.

On my 33 birthday I got the call from my rhuematologist. She told me I had Lupus, Celiac disease, and most likely Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. I actually cried,  for happiness. Strange I know but know I knew I wasn’t crazy! I had fought for over 18 years with thinking I was being melodramatic, or a loser. I am neither! I also now had a chance to try medicine to help stop from getting worse, and a chance at feeling better.

My lupus melodrama has been a long road. It’s not over. Sad to say my experience is not terrible different from many with chronic illnesses.  I have just picked up book about chronic illness called “Life disrupted: Getting real about chronic illness in your twenties and thirties” by http://www.achronicdose.com/ her weblog is

God bless friends see you tomorrow!

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