Hi from the Cool Rockies

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:07 pm

Hi everyone - hope you're all having a wonderful summer.

I have not been on here much lately, as I have been vacationing in the mountains. The weather here has been wonderful - in the 70's during the day and 40's at night - couldn't ask for more in terms of summer weather. So sorry for the horrible drought and scorching temperatures you're living with in Texas. I have a very good friend in the outskirts of Austin, and she said she can't be outside for more than a couple of hours in the morning:(.

There seems to be so many posts since I've been on, and many Newbies. WELCOME to all - you have been fortunate to find this wonderful forum of caring and knowledgeable people - it might just change your life, as it did mine!!! Don't know how I would have gotten through everything MC related without the PP family.

I have now past the one year milestone of going gluten free. My treatment plan has been through diet alone, and I have seen amazing results. After 10+ years of constant D., I mostly have one to two BM's a day, and usually pretty firm. I feel I have gotten a good handle on what I can and cannot eat, and even eat out occasionally without too much trouble.

The biggest lesson I have learned, is that it takes lots of time, patience and diligence to heal from gluten damage. I'm sure it is somewhat related to the length of time and severity of the damage caused, which in my case was quite extreme on both scores. Now that I'm feeling better, I wonder if I'll be like you Tex, who was able to tolerate most foods (other than gluten) after a couple of years.

I'm hoping that when all is said and done, the fact that I have 2 celiac genes means that most of my food troubles are related to gluten, rather than the other multitude of food sensitivities I have - only time will tell. Even though I'm sooo much better, I think it will take quite a bit longer before my gut is truly healed. So I continue with my diet vigilance.

I plan on staying in the mountains for another week or two. This seems to be a vacation of regaining my strength and stamina after a grueling year of diet vigilance and weight loss. It seems that the topic of weight stabilization at some kind of a personal "normal" level was discussed here lately. That's definitely how I feel - my weight seems to have reverted to what I was in my 20's. It's a bit below what's considered "normal limits" in most weight tables (I'm 5'8" and 121 lbs.), but as long as I feel strong and fit, that works for me :).

Wishing good health to all and a wonderful rest of the summer.

Love,
Kari

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:21 pm

Hi Kari, it's great to hear from you again. You are definitely in the best place for the summer months. I lived in Woodland Park for years and do miss that wonderful cool dry weather.

That's great that you have accomplished so much in a year, that certainly is an inspiration.

Thanks for the update

Joe

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:59 pm

Hi Kari,

I've been wondering where you were. It's good to hear that you're enjoying the healing powers of that good, clean, (and cool

), mountain air, and it's a pleasure to read that your recovery is coming along so well. I'll keep my fingers crossed, and hope that you will indeed be able to add most of the foods that you're now avoiding, back into your diet, after some more healing.

As hard as you've been working, to do everything right, in your treatment program, if there's any justice at all in this world, surely your efforts will be well rewarded.

The heat won't bother me near as much tomorrow, just thinking about your description of the beautiful weather there.

Thank you for a great update.

Love,
Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:07 pm

Hi Kari,

It sounds like you're having a wonderful summer. I'm glad your MC symptoms seem to be stabilized. Hopefully you will be like Tex and have gluten be your main food intolerance. I guess that's what we all hope for, though having mast cell issues probably makes that hope a little unrealistic for some of us.

My weight is also about where it was when I was in my teens and twenties, so it doesn't seem so bad. I do wish I weighed a little more because my skin isn't as supple as it was then. For years I wished I could get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and now that I'm there, I wish I could put some pounds back on. This weight would have been better 20 years ago. LOL

Gloria

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:18 am

Hi Kari,

Good to get an update. Sounds like the diet is really working now. Even with the right diet sometimes it takes quite a few months to see progress. You are an inspiration to others.

Enjoy your time in the mountains. Sure wish I could sneak away for a few weeks to cool weather.

Love,

Mary Beth

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:32 am

Hi Kari,
Good to hear from you and happy to hear you are enjoying life again. I'm with you and Gloria. I am at my high school weight, but not fitting in my skin any more. Also, still learing about intolerances. I wish I could have done it without meds like you.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. Why does it go by so much quicker that winter? Although I bet Tex and Mary Beth wouldn't agree, this must seem like to longest summer ever.

Nancy

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:47 pm

Kari,

So nice to hear from you! It sounds as though you're in a wonderful place, metaphorically and literally. Congratulations on your one-year milestone, and thanks for the wise words about patience and diligence. I agree, but that doesn't always make it easy. It's nice to be reminded of the reward down the road.

Love,
Sara

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:47 am

Morning Kari,

Great hearing from you and so happy that you have passed the year marker. Colorado is such a wonderful place to just relax and regroup. Hope the Fall stays as great for you.

Love, Maggie

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:26 am

Hi Kari,
I join you at this one year marker, and also at being my early 20's weight again. I have seen dramatic improvements with diet alone too, but I'm sure I haven't been as careful with the diet as you have. Hopefully I will see good results after MRT testing this fall. Glad you are enjoying the summer and not having to know where the bathroom is everywhere!

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:32 pm

Thanks for the cool update. Glad to know things are working out pretty well for you. Have fun!

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:27 am

Thanks for your cheerful notes everyone.

Gloria and Nancy - LOL - yes, the skin is a little 'oversized' right now - perhaps by building more muscle tissue, I'll grow back into it

. I'm back to using pure coconut oil as a moisturizer.

Zizzle - so glad you're doing the MRT test. It has helped me immeasurably. Don't think I'd ever experienced a "Norman" if it wasn't for eliminating the reactive foods on the test results. Some of them I would never have suspected. It's a super tool to have during the healing process.

Love,
Kari