Hi all! I joined this wonderful group in early March after being diagnosed with MC. I had been taking NSAID's since July 2010 for TMJ and stopped those in early March. I went GF on 3/11/11 and have achieved what I and my dr think is remission. I am learning to live with the TMJ pain and take tylenol only when I have too. I am still a vegetarian but am struggling to get adequate protein intake. I have eliminated soy and most dairy (still eat hard cheese and greek yogurt) and feel much better. I lost 20 lbs from Jan-Feb (which I needed to do) and have kept it off. I haven't posted much but log on often and read some of the posts and have learned so much from you all.
Here's the interesting thing: for the last 3 years or so I have been trying to keep sugar free, mainly because once I would start eating something with sugar I had a hard time stopping. And for several months prior to the diagnosis I had been avoiding most carbs: no breads, cereals, pastas, etc. I could be around sweets and cakes, cookies, etc with no temptation or desire to eat them. But once I decided to go GF it was as if I was obsessed with trying GF alternatives. I've had more Rice and Wheat Chex (GF) in the two months than I've had in years, with almond milk which I really like. I've tried commercial GF cookies and breads (most of which pale in comparison to traditional cookies and breads); I've loaded up on GF alternative flours and mixes and even tried baking Bob's Red Mill GF bread (much better than stuff in the store). I'm not really sure why I've been almost obsessed with all the GF replacement foods when I hadn't been eating similar regular foods for a long time. I guess it's because part of me thinks GF has been forced on me whereas before the choice not to eat the same things was my free choice. Interesting what the brain can do. I'm getting a better handle on that and hope it settles down soon so the GF alternatives no longer call my name.
I had my last (I hope) visit with my GI last week and he and his office staff really get the gluten connection with MC. He had suspected I had NSAID induced MC and was really pleased to hear I was back to normal, even slightly C, since stopping the NSAIDs and going GF. He said most people could benefit from going GF.........where have I heard that before.....oh yeah...HERE! He did suggest I get tested for celiac disease, but I didn't take him up on that just yet. I may have my family dr do that at some point.
Any advice for dealing with family members who dismiss the importance of remaining GF and NSAID free? My DH and I were eating at a wonderful local seafood restaurant noted for their fresh sourdough bread. As DH was chowing down on the bread I commented that it was kinda unfair for him to eat it when I couldn't and his response was I should go ahead and eat it if I want; it wouldn't hurt anything. He has the same response to NSAIDs: what's it gonna hurt. Interestingly he has several conditions that I think could benefit from going GF. But he's the kind who chooses to take pills instead of making any lifestyle or diet changes.
I apologize for the long rambling post; thanks for reading it through. Thanks to all of you for your posts of wisdom and experience. I have been humbled by your stories. The MC flares I had pale in comparison to what most of you deal with on a daily basis. I know I am fortunate to have achieved remission so quickly, and for that I am thankful. I will continue to visit this site often and know I will continue to learn lots of useful information. Thanks and blessings to all of you!
Update.....no longer overwhelmed
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Congratulations on getting control of your symptoms and health so quickly. Good for you.
As far as family stuff goes - the only part you can control is your own piece of the equation. That could mean avoiding restaurants famous for their bread, or it could mean learning not to mind that others continue to eat what truly does not work for you. My husband has reduced but not eliminated gluten, and I appreciate his efforts. (The local restaurant where we eat 1x/week no longer brings bread to our table.) Total vaporization of gluten from the social landscape is just not feasible for most of us... but hopefully if you can ask for support that doesn't feel like deprivation to your husband, he'll step up.
There's so much of that attitude of "just a little" in our culture - and as you're noticing with these GF things, it's not that easy to have just a little. Of course we're told to indulge moderately, but the national waistline is a pretty good reminder of about how well that works.
When pushed to have just a little, I say "Last time I ate that, I was in bed for a week, and lost a pound each day."
Also, and these are all going onto my "snappy comebacks" list:
"That's a common misunderstanding." (I have much edgier versions of this one.)
"You and my doctor don't see eye-to-eye on this, I guess." (Best said while smiling.)
As you can see, I could go on ;) My real point is, it's hard enough to manage what we eat ourselves, and not worth the extra suffering to try to influence others, even those closest to us.
A good old-fashioned "No, thank you" should be the end of any conversation where someone is trying to convince you to eat something you choose not to. (In fact, "no" is a complete sentence.) You do not have to convince anyone about how much you can/can't indulge. The important thing is that you've figured it out for yourself.
Good luck - I bet working these details out will become easier now that your symptoms are under control!
Best,
Sara
As far as family stuff goes - the only part you can control is your own piece of the equation. That could mean avoiding restaurants famous for their bread, or it could mean learning not to mind that others continue to eat what truly does not work for you. My husband has reduced but not eliminated gluten, and I appreciate his efforts. (The local restaurant where we eat 1x/week no longer brings bread to our table.) Total vaporization of gluten from the social landscape is just not feasible for most of us... but hopefully if you can ask for support that doesn't feel like deprivation to your husband, he'll step up.
There's so much of that attitude of "just a little" in our culture - and as you're noticing with these GF things, it's not that easy to have just a little. Of course we're told to indulge moderately, but the national waistline is a pretty good reminder of about how well that works.
When pushed to have just a little, I say "Last time I ate that, I was in bed for a week, and lost a pound each day."
Also, and these are all going onto my "snappy comebacks" list:
"That's a common misunderstanding." (I have much edgier versions of this one.)
"You and my doctor don't see eye-to-eye on this, I guess." (Best said while smiling.)
As you can see, I could go on ;) My real point is, it's hard enough to manage what we eat ourselves, and not worth the extra suffering to try to influence others, even those closest to us.
A good old-fashioned "No, thank you" should be the end of any conversation where someone is trying to convince you to eat something you choose not to. (In fact, "no" is a complete sentence.) You do not have to convince anyone about how much you can/can't indulge. The important thing is that you've figured it out for yourself.
Good luck - I bet working these details out will become easier now that your symptoms are under control!
Best,
Sara
Sara,
Thanks for the tips. Attitude is everything. I guess I've had a bit of "poor me's" since diagnosed and have been grieving not being able to eat some things. As someone else posted on this Forum I need to focus on the wonderful variety of foods I can have instead of the few i can't. And I love your snappy comebacks! I'll borrow some to keep at hand when I need them.
Blessings to you![/b]
Thanks for the tips. Attitude is everything. I guess I've had a bit of "poor me's" since diagnosed and have been grieving not being able to eat some things. As someone else posted on this Forum I need to focus on the wonderful variety of foods I can have instead of the few i can't. And I love your snappy comebacks! I'll borrow some to keep at hand when I need them.
Blessings to you![/b]
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irisheyes13
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Congrats and no need to apologize for your post- I loved it! It's such a comfort to hear a positive report from someone who has achieved remission from this exhausting and frustrating disease.
I'm not going to add too much to Sara's take on the snappy combacks because she has the market cornered lol! Although I must say I have used a few of them with my own family. I also have a hubby who continues to indulge in gluten and cooks/bakes everything right under my nose. Some days are harder than others and although I feel he would be so much better off if he would chose a GF lifestyle, he's a big boy and just because I have made this decision it doesn't mean that he has to as well. Most days he is very supportive and does deal with some guilt over his choices but for the most part tries not to taunt/torture me with it. Quite honestly it doesn't bother me too much any longer. My biggest concern is the cross contamination. I'm constantly disinfecting my kitchen, grumbling all the while. On the flip side, he is also contantly searching for recipes which are safe for me to eat so I have to give him some props there.
I know first hand how difficult is has been to give up gluten, dairy, soy, yeast and eggs and have now eliminated beef, pork and turkey so to ask he and the rest of my family to jump on board with this would be unfair. I would ultimately like to make my home gluten free but am being patient in my approach.
I feel like nsaids played a big role in my MC and have now eliminated them from the house completely and won't let anyone in the family take them.
Your thought process on why you jumped in head first with gluten free alternatives sounds spot on to me. I would imagine it is a common reaction when faced with the reality of a major dietary change to most people. I did much of that in the beginning and realized pretty quickly that the options aren't always good choices and many are full of empty calories. It sounds like you have a much better handle on things and I'm sure you'll settle in on a healthy balance soon. Grasping gluten free baking can having a learning curve for sure so enjoy it and don't get discouraged along the way.
You also mentioned Rice and Wheat Chex and the fact that they are gluten free. It may have been a typo and you meant to say Corn rather than Wheat because I don't believe the Wheat Chex are gluten free;) My kids really enjoy the various GF Chex cereals as well.
Wishing you much success in your diet and continued healing~Keep us updated.
I'm not going to add too much to Sara's take on the snappy combacks because she has the market cornered lol! Although I must say I have used a few of them with my own family. I also have a hubby who continues to indulge in gluten and cooks/bakes everything right under my nose. Some days are harder than others and although I feel he would be so much better off if he would chose a GF lifestyle, he's a big boy and just because I have made this decision it doesn't mean that he has to as well. Most days he is very supportive and does deal with some guilt over his choices but for the most part tries not to taunt/torture me with it. Quite honestly it doesn't bother me too much any longer. My biggest concern is the cross contamination. I'm constantly disinfecting my kitchen, grumbling all the while. On the flip side, he is also contantly searching for recipes which are safe for me to eat so I have to give him some props there.
I know first hand how difficult is has been to give up gluten, dairy, soy, yeast and eggs and have now eliminated beef, pork and turkey so to ask he and the rest of my family to jump on board with this would be unfair. I would ultimately like to make my home gluten free but am being patient in my approach.
I feel like nsaids played a big role in my MC and have now eliminated them from the house completely and won't let anyone in the family take them.
Your thought process on why you jumped in head first with gluten free alternatives sounds spot on to me. I would imagine it is a common reaction when faced with the reality of a major dietary change to most people. I did much of that in the beginning and realized pretty quickly that the options aren't always good choices and many are full of empty calories. It sounds like you have a much better handle on things and I'm sure you'll settle in on a healthy balance soon. Grasping gluten free baking can having a learning curve for sure so enjoy it and don't get discouraged along the way.
You also mentioned Rice and Wheat Chex and the fact that they are gluten free. It may have been a typo and you meant to say Corn rather than Wheat because I don't believe the Wheat Chex are gluten free;) My kids really enjoy the various GF Chex cereals as well.
Wishing you much success in your diet and continued healing~Keep us updated.
Hi Katie,
Thanks for posting such a great update. It's always a pleasure to read about someone's success at controlling this disease, and I'm glad to hear that your treatment is working so well.
I hope that your treatment program continues to bring improving health, and that it will become easier as time goes by.
Please keep us updated, from time to time.
Thanks,
Tex
Thanks for posting such a great update. It's always a pleasure to read about someone's success at controlling this disease, and I'm glad to hear that your treatment is working so well.
I hope that your treatment program continues to bring improving health, and that it will become easier as time goes by.
Please keep us updated, from time to time.
Thanks,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Despite my amazing array of snappy comebacks and awesome spousal support, I don't think I'm going to make our house absolutely gluten free. In theory, it should be easier for us than for many families... we are only two adults. In the past we've done shared Thanksgiving prep with friends, and maybe now, I'd ask anyone who wanted to bake either to bring their dish ready-made, or to bring their own equipment, and I'd set them up far from the main prep (not only to avoid cross-contamination, but I think it would help the message sink in that I'm not kidding, it's not temporary, and no, a little bit is not OK). The invitations could read "Haz-mat suits optional" - just kidding!
L,
S
L,
S
Oops; I did mean Corn and Rice Chex, not Wheat Chex. Duh. I guess my brain is having a hard time accepting that whole grains and whole wheat are no longer good for me.
I'm learning that some meals can be a challenge, like family dinners, but I've figured out by volunteering to do everything but the meat, that I can control everything and make everything that I'll eat GF. When I was planning our Easter dinner I kept looking at recipes then decided I needed to keep it all simple, so we just had roasted asparagus, fresh corn on the cob, green beans, new potatoes, carrots and fresh strawberries for dessert. It was one of our better meals and no one was eating anything they considered weird, and it was all things I could eat. I did bake a cake for everyone else but doing that didn't bother me, since I knew I had the berries as an option. It makes it easier that we have a small family and I'm only having to cook for 6.
I've had less successful results at work. We eat a lot where I work and last week we had a couple of meals catered in and I asked in advance if I could order something I could eat and was told I couldn't, so I ended up bringing my own meals. And folks said my food looked lots better than what they had. That's frustrating, but it is what it is.
Thanks for the encouragement. This is an awesome group!
I'm learning that some meals can be a challenge, like family dinners, but I've figured out by volunteering to do everything but the meat, that I can control everything and make everything that I'll eat GF. When I was planning our Easter dinner I kept looking at recipes then decided I needed to keep it all simple, so we just had roasted asparagus, fresh corn on the cob, green beans, new potatoes, carrots and fresh strawberries for dessert. It was one of our better meals and no one was eating anything they considered weird, and it was all things I could eat. I did bake a cake for everyone else but doing that didn't bother me, since I knew I had the berries as an option. It makes it easier that we have a small family and I'm only having to cook for 6.
I've had less successful results at work. We eat a lot where I work and last week we had a couple of meals catered in and I asked in advance if I could order something I could eat and was told I couldn't, so I ended up bringing my own meals. And folks said my food looked lots better than what they had. That's frustrating, but it is what it is.
Thanks for the encouragement. This is an awesome group!
Hi Katie,
Thanks for the great report. You've probably educated your GI and someone else in his practice will reap the benefit of your efforts.
I agree with Sara that you can't change anyone but yourself. When I was first diagnosed and DH and I went out to eat, it really bothered me to see him eat rolls, butter and a salad. I also was upset that he didn't think he needed to avoid them for my sake. It was especially difficult when I was really hungry and he was eating away while I waited for my meal. Four years later, it doesn't bother me. I know that he has already made many sacrifices because I have MC. We don't go out for breakfast anymore, for example. Our vacations have changed and we have to adapt them so that I can prepare my own meals. No more tours.
As you mentioned, much of our feelings stem from resentment at not being able to eat these foods. It takes a while for that to diminish, and I still feel resentful sometimes. You will eventually begin to realize that you are probably eating a more healthy diet than he is and begin to think he should join you for his health's sake.
Gloria
Thanks for the great report. You've probably educated your GI and someone else in his practice will reap the benefit of your efforts.
I agree with Sara that you can't change anyone but yourself. When I was first diagnosed and DH and I went out to eat, it really bothered me to see him eat rolls, butter and a salad. I also was upset that he didn't think he needed to avoid them for my sake. It was especially difficult when I was really hungry and he was eating away while I waited for my meal. Four years later, it doesn't bother me. I know that he has already made many sacrifices because I have MC. We don't go out for breakfast anymore, for example. Our vacations have changed and we have to adapt them so that I can prepare my own meals. No more tours.
As you mentioned, much of our feelings stem from resentment at not being able to eat these foods. It takes a while for that to diminish, and I still feel resentful sometimes. You will eventually begin to realize that you are probably eating a more healthy diet than he is and begin to think he should join you for his health's sake.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
I know there have been times when DH is eating a wonderful piece of sour dough bread in a restaurant and I have felt resentful that I couldn't have any. It is getting easier though. I am trying to introduce more GF foods at home though, even for holidays. I have family members that probably have gluten issues that they're not willing to consider at this time. My efforts at making tasty GF foods is my attempt to show there can be (tasty) life without gluten and hopefully, down the road, they won't feel the emotions (panic?) I felt when I learned I couldn't eat it any more.
Hi Katie,
My wife has actually joined me in eating gluten free. Do you think your husband would be willing to give it a try? There are many tasty alternatives to gluten filled products. Perhaps you could convince him of the secondary benefits... For me, this included a reduction in my cholesterol, etc.
Rich
My wife has actually joined me in eating gluten free. Do you think your husband would be willing to give it a try? There are many tasty alternatives to gluten filled products. Perhaps you could convince him of the secondary benefits... For me, this included a reduction in my cholesterol, etc.
Rich
"It's not what I believe. It's what I can prove." - A Few Good Men