I talk about my food a lot. It has taken over my life in a sense. When you can't eat everything everyone else does, it's really different.
I don't feel as though I've had this for the 9-11 years that it normally takes a person to be diagnosed.
I know I had an awful flu a few years ago which was a possible catalyst.
I used to think I was allergic to beer. Why did I blow up so much?
2 years ago, I went to the Calgary Stampede. French fries, snowcones, peanuts... okay. Mini-donuts, beef on a bun, beer, funnel cake...bad.We bought extra donuts and they just sat like lead in my stomach. I hurt for a few weeks.
After that, I was looking at beer again. After all, why did I always feel so badly after golfing where I would drink beer? Why could I only have 1 or 2 pints or a couple glasses from a pitcher? 1 can of beer...hmmm, no problem. Yes! Not allergic. Phew! That was close.
So, moving on. I decided to clean up my eating. Let's try proper food combining. Protein and veggies and fats. Carbs and veggies and fats. Fruit on it's own. Time for more googling.... " Stick poking under rib area" "Shooting pain under ribs" " What the heck kind of organ is even in that area anyway?" Okay, maybe not the last one. I was eating fairly clean. Special K cereal would hurt. Pretzels would make my stomach gurgle like a monster. Soda crackers didn't hurt. So I ate crackers for about a week.
It started getting worse when I started eating again. Breaded shrimp put me in bed all curled up. I would leave parties or outings early because I wasn't feeling well. I wore pants that could stretch from morning waist to evening bloated waist.
I continued googling and somehow put it all together and took a list, all nicely highlighted to my doctor along with a summary, sort of like this. I am so thankful that I had a doctor who was aware.
I went back 3 months later feeling absolutely, unbelievably fantastic.
Sometimes I think that you can almost feel too good. Like you are invincible. Like maybe nothing is actually wrong with you. Except that even a little unintentional slip can turn your life upside down for days/weeks/months.
It's worth being vigilant. And strict. And making yourself homemade mozzarella sticks, crackers and cinnamon buns. Because Life is Good.
