Greetings from Atlanta---I am new

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:43 am

Welcome to the family, Deb.

You certainly have had your share of health problems. Hopefully, your MC problems will soon be off the radar even though you will always have to be careful about your diet.

I was wondering if you are a native Georgian. I was born (and raised) in Buford, Ga. I have a sister who now lives in Atlanta..... at least her home base is Atlanta....... She travels a LOT due to her job.

I'm so glad you are feeling better already. Please don't be shy about asking questions if something isn't clear or you are just wondering about anything......... This place is wonderful..... because of wonderful people, of course. HaHa

Welcome again, Shirley

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:46 pm

Hi Deb and welcome!

I am late coming in on your thread since I have been away but yes, stress seems to be a huge trigger for most of us. I would get tested for lupus and it can't hurt. The rash seems to be exactly as you asked and Tex advised could be the culprit. You have had a long, nasty haul and I hope that things start to turn around for you. I agree with your last line of your first post. The medical profession holds little help for some of us (must say my heart doc and GP are great ) but few others. Pepto is such a joke from their medication advise.

Welcome to the family, Maggie

drdeb · Post by **drdeb** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:35 pm

Hi Jan,

Thanks for writing. I do not think coffee is bothering me but perhaps it is. I had one D encounter today (day two) but I suspected it was linked to a stress situation (happened right after one). I think I will leave the coffee off tomorrow and see if it helps. I too love lots of onions, garlic, red peppers and tomatoes. Tonight I grilled some chicken tenders with a little garlic granules-no salt, also had a couple of spoons of black eyed peas and turnips. So far so good. However, my challenges are usually after I wake up.
Thanks again,
Deb

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:56 pm

Welcome Deb,

You have reduced your D trips already by the second day? I'm impressed! You seem very determined to overcome this dreadful disease and I have no doubt you will do it. Keep us posted. I hope tomorrow brings another good day for you.

Gloria

drdeb · Post by **drdeb** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:29 pm

Hi Gloria,

Thanks so much! I have had D for 26 years now! I was frankly getting tired of guzzling Pepto B, the acid indigestion and still having D. Also I now realize how depressed and moody I become when the MC is in full blast. I was walking around in a fog.

On New Year's Eve, I had a party for a singles group at the local Presbyterian Church. Over 50 showed up and I spent too much of the evening in the bathroom drinking Pepto. I guess the fear related to the skin problems, the anemia, the bad cold all at once were my wake up call. That's when I discovered the site, read about BRAT and said why not. Only 4 times today and only one was D. I am so much happier and have so much energy! I AM determined to make this work-for the improved way I feel as well as the physical aspect. I have been reviewing all of your recipes and I have started a shopping list. I discovered Crushmaster Multi-Grain Gluten free crackers that Sam's had as a seasonal item. Sam's price is much less than ordering them online. They are terrific with soup ! I plan to go back tomorrow and buy them out if they are still there. I also plan to cook some of the soup recipes.Today I registered for some classes at Emory and Kaiser including yoga and tai'chi. I also ordered a pedometer on eBay. I even felt like cleaning my house which still looked like a New Years Eve bomb had been dropped, and I just finished taking down my Christmas decorations. I am not even tired. I guess I will have to drink some herbal tea to go to sleep.

I am treading softly adding only a couple of non-BRAT items per day. This is helping me start my food diary.

I really appreciate your support. I am so thrilled that something is finally helping me get well. It is amazing.
Thanks again,
Deb

drdeb · Post by **drdeb** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:54 pm

Hi Shirley,

Yes I am a native Georgian. I grew up in the city of Decatur, in downtown Decatur. I now live in Atlanta near Lenox and Phipps if you are familiar with that area. Most of my married life (32 yrs) I lived in Gwinnett County so I am familiar with Buford. I lived in Lilburn and Snellville.

It will be terrific indeed to lick this---be normal physically and return to my positive cheerful self. That is what is amazing about the diet. I am so much happier!

Thanks for making me feel so welcome.

You guys are amazing
Deb

drdeb · Post by **drdeb** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:17 am

Hi Maggie,
Thanks so much for your note. I will ask the Kaiser Doctor to rule out lupus. I just read about it on the Mayo Clinic site. i do have joint inflamation in my fingers and a trigger finger. This has gotten worse with all of this rain. All I have is Advil and I don't dare take it after reading on the site. What I currently have are blisters that appear in circles (arm), a couple of red dots on my chin (appeared today) and a circle-middle looks like a pimple-on my left breast. The pimple one looks like photos of dermatitis hepatiformis . Strangely enough what seems to help the circular burn on my arm that is painful is Vick's medicated chest rub. It still looks nasty but I think it is healing. What this one looks the most like is ring worm but it does not itch. Kaiser Permanente is supposed to biospsy all of these things so hopefully the culprit(s) will be identified.

I will definitely post the results in the hopes it can help someone else.

Again, thank you and I look forward to being a member of this community,
Deb

angy · Post by **angy** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:12 pm

welcome drdeb

sorry you had to find us,,but now that you are here you will find that you have become part of a great family. Everyone here is caring and understanding and will help you as much as possible...Tex!! is a wealth of knowledge on mc and i hope you find the answers and treatment you are looking for.

I have been on the brats diet for quite a long time and it works well for me..i was dx with cc in june 08..look forward to reading your posts..
:fam29:

drdeb · Post by **drdeb** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:11 pm

Hi Angy,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write. It is good to know you have been following the BRAT diet so long. It is going to be my main stay and I will simply supplement it as I gradually add tolerable foods. Have you had an skin blistering or burning with CC? I suspect that is also my problem given the wheat allergy in childhood, the fact that so many have tested false negative to having it, the skin challenges and the fact that I am feeling great so fast on this diet.

Today I went to the grocery store. I was shocked by what I read on so many labels I assumed were safe. The biggest shocker was the plain roasted chickens in the deli area. I was going to take one home for dinner until I noted with shock wheat, starch, soy and more. Amazing!

Are you losing any weight once you have started this diet? I hope to also lose with it.

I too look forward to reading your posts.

Deb

angy · Post by **angy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:54 pm

Hi Drdeb i used to get itchy hands and feet, and my body used to itch.. but that could be something else...i was beginning to think that i had raynauds disease like my mum...I did get eczema like breakouts when i ate gluten though, but since i stopped eating gluten i aint had much skin problems...which is proof its the gluten right...even though no doc has seen it...

yknow i always wondered why i used to get bad indigestion over the years when i ate pre-packed sandwhiches

now i know why...jigsaw peices for many things has now fitted..

I always read the labels and i have a gf food (supermarket) dictionary of foods that tell me what i can buy in thew supermarkets in uk...I got this from coeliac .co.uk...that reminds me i need to renew my membership soon...

Yes i did lose weight with the brats diet...but it wasnt unhealthy weight loss. I do eat other foods....baked potatoes , pro-biotic drinks, cheese and organic cornflakes.. and load of other stuff that i have kept in a food diary...

I am still exploring foods too...still pretty early days for me and i do still get flare ups...i reckon stress causes flare ups as well..

I also take loads of supplements....vit c and d, calcium,vit b supplements. multivitamins with iron, omega 3 capsules and loads of herbal teas such as peppermint, lemon and ginger for cleansing my gut...blackcurrant tea and juice...decaff tea and coffee. I still take some dairy products such as yoghurt drinks and cheese...i dont get a reaction from these but i dont eat as much dairy as i used to...I havent been tested for lactose intolerancy...If i miss some of the supplements i get symtoms such as painful muscles,bones and joints...Im like an old woman in the morning without them...

Phew!! i could go on and on...

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:21 pm

Don't overdo the applesauce like I did. I figured it was safe because it was on the BRAT diet. WRONG.

angy · Post by **angy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:25 pm

joan!! i never ate the applesauce only the juice...

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:30 pm

When you have figured out your intolerances you may want to look at one of the the books here http://www.ceceliasmarketplace.com/

I notice there have been two more alerts after mine for the GF, CF, SF book!

GF only is at www.triumphdining.com and others

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:32 pm

Interesting, Angy.

I've added back one serving per day.

angy · Post by **angy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:40 pm

thanks for the links joan...