I feel validated...

The past couple weeks I have been feeling like hell. Tired, hot flashes, anxiety, my hip feels like it's going to fall off (that's another story.), etc. I have had under-active thyroid (for the last 14 years) and for the past 6 months (give or take) my thyroid levels have been inconsistent. About 6 weeks ago my thyroid was way under-treated and my Internal Medicine doctor bumped my meds way up, to a dosage I have never had before. That's where the hot flashes, etc came in the picture. This totally stunk because the last 4 weeks before I had been feeling pretty good. Lots of energy, feeling great, assuming from going gluten-free.

I called and ask to have my thyroid levels checked again and sure enough on an office visit on Friday, my levels were way over-treated. I have never had an over-treated thyroid and of course the one side effect that I didn't get was weight loss. Figures. In the course of the conversation with my physician, she didn't know I was recently diagnosed with Celiac. I guess the GI doctor that diagnosed me never sent her my medical records. Here comes the validation. She said she was so sorry that she didn't catch the Celiac diagnosis over the years with my stomach issues, she (and other specialists) linked it to my hip surgery's, use of anti-inflammatory med's (for my hip) and ulcers from stress. She asked if I had the positive biopsy's and blood tests and I said yes, the biopsy's and both blood tests confirmed. She also said that the diagnosis put many puzzle pieces together with all of my miscellaneous symptoms over the years. Her thought was that she didn't event think of Celiac because I never mentioned diarrhea. She said from now on, she will not assume one has to have significant diarrhea to have Celiac. 

My thyroid med's were changed to a lower dosage. I haven't taken the thyroid med's in over a week, starting when I assumed on my own I was over-treated, even still with the lower dosage I am freaked the new dosage will still be too high. I hated the way I felt being over-treated but scared to be under-treated again. Not sure how it's going to level out (pun intended!), but will have levels checked again in 6 weeks. I asked her if the thyroid issues and Celiac had a connection and her response was that they are both auto-immune disorders but didn't think much past that. 

Long story short. When I walked out of her office, for the first time in 5 plus years of feeling like death, I didn't leave feeling like a nutcase with unexplained symptoms. I felt validated and it feels amazing. 

I was glutenized...

The last few weeks have been fairly busy with some what stressful days. I got sloppy eating out and paid the price, twice. I was glutenized.

Let me start by saying since being diagnosed in early June of this year, I have done everything possible not to consume any gluten in fear of the gnawing stomach pain coming back. I have wondered daily if I had accidentally had consumed gluten since going gluten-free with all of our eating out. However I think it's fairly safe to say I had not consumed gluten until recently.

We ended up at Shari's restaurant late on a Saturday night after we were starving and running out of options. The waitress was pretty clueless (not to mention stressed) when I asked about what was gluten-free. I ended up ordering a steak and salad. I asked if the ranch was gluten-free and she came back and said yes. The salad came with croutons and instead of sending the salad back, I picked off the croutons. Mistake. Big Mistake. Huge. Even though I know it was the croutons, I still wonder about the ranch. It definitely was not fresh ranch by any means. I won't even mention how bad the rest of the meal was for all of us. Ok, wait. The kids loved their milkshakes. By the time we got home, I could barely stand up. The gnawing stomach pain was unbelievable and shocking how quickly it hit.

This past week I needed a meal for the kids after soccer practice and of course had no desire to cook. After all it was going to be 9:00 pm when they got home. I stopped by KFC and bought a bucket for the troops and ordered a baked chicken breast for me. I didn't ask if it was gluten-free or even do a quick internet check. I just ordered. About 20 minutes after I devoured the chicken, including the skin, I couldn't stand straight because my stomach hurt so bad. I wanted to crawl instead of walking and I looked like I was about 9 months pregnant. The next morning I did a KFC menu check and sure enough, the baked chicken does contain gluten.

Being gluten-free stinks and I have my "poor me" days, but after being glutenized twice in a 2-week period, I will do my very best not to lazy about my food choices because it just isn't worth it.

Pasta Craving - Pad Thai

I have had a pasta craving for weeks. I tried brown rice pasta last weekend and threw it out in disgust. Last night I made the family a Stouffers pasta meal and I wanted to cry because I couldn't have it. Today, I satisfied my pasta craving, pad thai!

I was nervous about going without having done any research before hand and knowing the place we go to for lunch doesn't speak great English. My favorite soup that they serve when you sit down is (was) my favorite. I had a feeling it had wheat (because of the broth) and decided to ask. Our waitress understood what I was talking about, I was doing internal cart wheels! The soup did have gluten. Just the fact she knew what I was talking about, I was fine with not having it. I asked about the pad thai and she said it was fine but she'd tell the kitchen no soy sauce. I couldn't eat more than 6 bites because it was so filling, but let me tell you, it was probably the most delish meal I have had since going gluten-free. And even better, I have left overs for dinner and probably lunch tomorrow.

I did do research when I get home and realized I probably could have had the deep fried spring rolls because they are made with rice paper. Next time, I know!

Lucy's Cinnamon Thins (Found at Starbucks)

These really should be called Lucy's Cinnamon Love bc I am in love! And thank goodness I was in a hurry to get to an appointment otherwise I would have went right back into Starbucks and purchased every single pack. These babies are crisp, cookie goodness; and great nutrition stats per 3 cookies: 130 calories/4.5 fat/1 gram of fiber.

I found on the Dr Lucy's website that Whole Foods, PCC and Starbucks carry these babies in my area. Then on the website I find out they also come in chocolate chip, sugar cookie, and oatmeal. I am in trouble. 
I am tempted to go to Starbucks though and buy the portion controlled packs instead of buying a box.

http://www.drlucys.com/

Betty Crocker...I am Not

I don't think I am going to bake gluten-free. I spent so many years investing time and money into making (real) homemade cupcakes and frosting, I just don't think I have it in me to experiment with gluten-free baking. So for now, this leaves me with Wheatless in Seattle (gluten-free bakery in Seattle) and Betty Crocker.

I was just at the grocery story (Albertson's) and found the line of Betty Crocker gluten-free mixes. I was tempted to buy and slather a ridiculous amount of frosting on the chosen product, but I am going to hold off for now and wait for a real reason, like a birthday, etc to make. Otherwise with me working from home, so close to the kitchen, I am afraid I would eat the entire batch...within a few hours.

On a second thought, I should just buy it, eat it and get it out of my system, instead of what will probably happen; me thinking how I should have bought and then walk around the house from 7 to 11 pm feeling sorry for myself trying to find something else to fill the void.

So which one should I try first? I think it's between the brownies and choc chip cookies. I know I need frosting but both would appreciate frosting. I am sure of it.

Gluten-Free Pizza @ Alfy's

In order to avoid making random lunch requests all afternoon for the kids, I ordered Alfy's 1/2 price pizza for lunch. I also decided on Alfy's bc they have gluten-free pizza and wanted to avoid myself from grazing all afternoon.

This is how kids pizza's arrived... in perfect condition. (Excuse the missing pieces, the kids grabbed slices before my annoyance turned into posting pictures.)

I opened up my prized gluten-free pizza and this is what I found...

I mean really? I didn't even call. How do you explain this mess? As it is, and I am making a total assumption, would they think because it's gluten-free I must be extra picky? I did eat the missing piece, actually I had to scrape it off the box and eat it with a fork bc it was not eat with your hands suitable. Part of me is tempted just to toss it and not waste the calories on such grossness.

Update: I did call. I have a credit for next time.

Famous Daves - Everett, WA

We went out for a late dinner last night and ended up at Famous Daves in Everett, WA. When we walked in, I asked the host if they had a gluten-free menu and the nice "boy" looked at me with a blank stare and said, "Ummm, I don't know what that is." I let him off the hook and while were waiting for our table I did a quick Google search on my iPhone to see if anyone had gluten-free feedback from the restaurant. I saw a few posts and was somewhat reassured.

When we were seated I asked the waitress for gluten-free options, she gave a sigh and said they really didn't have options. I looked away and said ok. Then she went through everything I couldn't have, which was 99% of the menu, but I could do the pork w/o the sauce, the brisket w/o the sauce or the chicken w/o the sauce. The sides I could have were the coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and the corn bread. No salads unless I wanted oil and vinegar bc all of their dressings come pre-made and they can't figure out what the exact ingredients are.

I settled with the pork, plain, coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and corn bread. I could have 2 of the sauces on the table: Georgia Mustard and Texas Pit. I must say after the waitress had depressed me initially, I was quite impressed with my meal. I was full and satisfied. And I wasn't looking at the other meals and salivating.

That also being said, I went to Weight Watchers on Monday and weighed-in. I have done very well this week but after this meal I realized the coleslaw, and the 2 corn breads I consumed probably wasn't the best caloric options. Hmmm...