Katy's Diet

[kate_ce1995]

Well, lets see. I've decided I'm gluten sensitive. I have not had any testing, but through trial and error (lots of error) I find that I feel much better when I avoid all sources of gluten.

To give a little history, in 2000 I started having lightheaded spells, nauseaousness, and hot flashes. Ironically about the same time, I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, which after about 3 months of really suffering for these symptoms was removed and I was found to have severe endometriosis. After that surgery, I started to feel better. Then I started to take hormones to supress the endo (early 2001). I got worse.

In early 2002, I developed MC. As you'll see in my meds story, I self treated and solved the daily D by not using ibuprofen as my pain reliever of choice.

Throughout 2001 and 2002 I was having increasing aches and pains. I had been to the doc a few times, and each time told my muscles were just tight and I needed to stretch more. Made a bit of sense, because I'd been less active because of the health problems, and sit at a desk much of the day for work. I also had some lower back pain in one specific spot that figured was an endometriosis related adhesion.

Well all my reading on endometriosis and MC led me to worry, because both are thought to be autoimmune diseases (I couldn't even spell disease until I got MC!). Many of the references for endo suggested wheat free, dairy free diets. My biggest source of info on MC (the wonderful folks associated with this site) provided me with information about gluten sensitivity and MC.

So, in about March 2003, I decided to go gluten free, more as preventative medicine. Here I was 30 and within 2 years diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases. Well, I was pleasantly suprised that my aches and pains improved, including the spot in my lower back! It took a lot of trying gluten (on purpose and accidentally) for me to convince myself, but I do realize now that I HURT if I eat gluten. My stools also get softer and floatier.

So thats my experience, I hope it helps some of you.
Katy