What happens when I have Gluten, Casein and Soy?

When I often tell people that I have an intolerance, or allergy, to gluten, casein and soy, their first question usually is: "What happens when you have it?"

Well, in my quest to be "normal" (again with that normal word), I indulged for dinner Sunday night. I pretended, after being on a gluten-, casein-, soy-free diet for 6 months that I didn't have a problem to any of these foods and went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Yes, it was tasty, but not enough for me to EVER want these foods again! The results are documented.....
 
The symptoms began within minutes of ingesting the glutinous meal of chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes (both with white gravy), fried okra, hash brown casserole and 2 biscuits. What I first noticed was that I became very itchy... my face, my arms, my scalp. The next symptom actually surprised even me, as it was a first to be correlated - my left knee started hurting badly. It felt as if someone was stabbing me with small knives right above my knee cap. I also started feeling as if I was congested, mucus built up in the back of my throat and in my nasal passages, and I started clearing it. During the ride home, my husband had to ask if I was going to get sick because I couldn't stop burping. My response "no, I'm just gassy!" By the time we got home, I had a stabbing headache, was extremely bloated (to the point where I looked and felt like I had regained all the weight I've lost in my stomach), started to get very tired and felt like crap! It was at this point that I really started to regret my decision to be "normal" for just one meal.

Note: Since I have noticed a decrease in joint pain since being on this diet, I assumed that either the gluten, casein or soy was causing an inflammation in my joints. Until I experienced this symptom within 30 minutes of eating, I hadn't been 100% convinced - I mean not every symptom I experience is related to my problems with these foods. But this one is clear.

During the night, even though I took 4 tums, I suffered from acid reflux (almost throwing up in my sleep). And vivid / terrible dreams. I also had extreme night sweats where I woke up with my hair drenched.

The next day brought on more symptoms: stomach pains, lack of energy, trips to the bathroom that almost cleared me out of the house, more headaches, loss of concentration, and just feeling like shit. What surprised me here was that I couldn't control my mood (even by working out which generally gives me a great feeling afterwards). I felt so out of control, I basically told my husband to leave me alone... I was irritated.... at him for saying "hi", at the people talking on the TV, by the way I felt. I couldn't stand it! To feel that out of control of your emotions is scary, and isn't very pleasant.

This brings me to today, two days after my gluten, casein, soy binge. I woke up feeling like I have a cold. I have an extremely sore throat, have been very lethargic all day (have taken 2 naps), have felt hot to the touch (but not feverish), feel muscle achy, and have been coughing off and on throughout the day. 

Interesting Note: A few days after I had my skin prick allergy test, which didn't show a skin reaction / anaphylaxis allergy, I came down with a sinus infection and bronchitis. Due to the way I'm feeling now, I think my assessment that my recurrent sinus infections and bronchitis were in part related to my diet is correct.

My symptoms are known to last up to a week after having any offending foods, so I am eating a very clean diet (with lots of veggies and water) trying desperately to heal the damage I just caused. I am also making sure my workouts are as intense as they can be, helping my body rid the toxins out of my body (although I didn't work out today). Here's hoping I don't have any more symptoms pop up.

But one thing is for sure. I have determined that I am normal.... even with all my food restrictions... and that I don't have to have the occasional indulgence prove this to myself any more, because the way I feel after I have these foods is NOT normal!!

First Thoughts

I have no idea where to even begin. This is my first ever blog post, and I'm not really sure where to start. I guess I could start by introducing myself.

My name is Keri. I am in my mid-30's, married to a wonderful man, David. We don't have any children, unless you count our wonderful mutt Nike (which is a 13-year old black lab / doberman mix).

Ever since I was in high school, I had dreamt of becoming a mother at an early age. My plans were to start building my family by the time I was 25, and I did! Just 2 weeks after turning 25, David and I were married - September 11, 1999. It was the perfect wedding that we were blessed to share with many of family and friends.

We figured our next step was to spend quality time as a couple before starting down the road of having children. I have known since I was 16 that I'd have problems conceiving, but my husband had more faith. So, we waited for about 4 years. This is where our journey really began.

In October 2002 I found out that I had PCOS - finally, a diagnosis. I thought that having this diagnosis, I would magically become pregnant without having to go down the route of fertility drugs or treatments. Several years later, 2 failed rounds of Clomid, 1 failed round of Letrozol, I gave up. I couldn't handle the rejection whenever I took a pregnancy test. More than that, I started feeling less of a wife and woman. Here I was, in my late-20s / early-30s, and I couldn't do what so many of my other family and friends were able to do - provide a healthy family for my husband, for us. For the next 6 years, I read books, joined online support groups, went to a fertility specialist here and there, tried many weight loss plans (more about that in a minute) and exercise programs.

About a year before being diagnosed with PCOS, I had ballooned from a weight in the 120's to the 160's / 170's. A few more years of stress and not understanding why diets and exercise programs weren't working I had gained another 30-40 pounds. Now I'm at my highest point ever - 210!! This is not where I'd like to be, especially given my 5' 1/2" frame (yes I count that half inch!). I continued to try everything - things would seem to be working for about 6 weeks, and like clockwork, I'd get sick, break a bone, or be exhausted, so I'd eventually go back off my programs and eventually I forgot the dream of becoming a mother.

That all changed (for the positive) in the Spring of 2008. After getting a sunburn at a tennis match I was watching my husband play, I finally started to have renewed hope and faith of becoming a mother one day. A sunburn brought this on again, you're asking? Yep! You see - that sunburn turned into psoriasis and eczema, which I've never suffered from in my life. And to add insult to injury, it was on my face and it wasn't healing, no matter what the dermatologist gave me. It would clear up for a few weeks, and as soon as I would stop the medicine (following instructions), it would pop right back up within a few days or so. So I started doing research.... Again.

But this time I had a whole new outlook. I was ready to finally have answers. And by this, I meant I was ready to find the underlying cause to the psoriasis, PCOS, my recurrent sinus / bronchitis infections, and the broken bones (6 in total during the past 15 years). As I started paying closer attention to my body, I realized other things that I thought was normal, but weren't normal to my friends when I'd ask them. And then I started to notice that most of my symptoms were centered around meals (either during, immediately following, or a few hours after). These were just a few of the symptoms: Being extremely tired after eating, and never having much energy (I can sleep 10 hours in a night, and still take a nap a few hours after being up).... Nose itching..... Heartburn... Congestion (I always feel like I have a cold)... Pains in my stomach after eating some foods.... Always feeling bloated... extreme headaches..... Unable to focus.... Mood swings (extreme).

While researching, I started to run by articles in magazines and on websites. I researched more. Finally after I read (and found supporting studies that are currently being performed) that an OB/GYN discovered 90% of her PCOS patients tested positive to Gluten Intolerance. I knew this had to be me. This was my connection!! It finally made sense! I went back to my fertility doctor, my nutritionist, and my primary and they all agreed that I had symptoms of Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance. To be sure there was no other underlying medical issues, my doctors did a Thyroid test, Diabetes Panel, complete metabolic panel, and white blood count test. All those came back "within normal range". However, it was one test done by Enterolab that concluded at the end of December, that I had food interolances - and not only to Gluten. In order of sensitivity, I am intolerant to Soy, Gluten, Casein, and Yeast - with the beginning intolerance levels to Egg.

This is where this post picks up. Finally 5 months after having this diagnosis, I am having issues with this new lifestyle. I figured by writing about these experiences, I could keep myself mindful of the prize (becoming healthy, becoming pregnant naturally, having a healthy pregnancy, and finally having my family) and in the process, help any others who feel just as lost I as feel trying to navigate through this new world.

So thank you for reading this "dissertation". I know it was long, but I had to explain where I was coming from so you'd understand some of my future posts a little better. Thanks, Keri