But No More Bannock!

Yes it's true, I can no longer eat bannock, or croissants, or danishes. It is a sad reality. But now it has been almost four months since I have realized that I need to live a gluten free existence so the shock of it all has lessened considerably.

One night in July I spent a wonderful evening with friends gorging on bread, baguettes and pizza in Little Italy. We wined and dined and had a grand ole time. The next morning I woke up with a few itchy little bumps that I ignored. The next day they had spread all over my legs and a few on my arms. They were so itchy and terrible looking I couldn't go to my internship. Then it got worse and I went to the emergency room (after two sleepless nights and being doped on Benadryl all day) where the doctor gave me cortizone and Claritin and basically said 'good luck.' I being the researcher that I am had already figured out what was wrong with me and just wanted a shot of Dapsone to make it all go away instantly.

I had a rash breakout that was caused by a food allergy reaction to gluten and wheat. I was not overly surprised by this 'self-diagnosis' as I have had symptoms previously and had gone an an elimination diet of sorts (led by a Naturopathic doctor) which had helped alleviate symptoms and made me feel incredible. But travel had prevented me from continuing the strict diet and I had to give it up. For the last two years since then I tried to avoid wheat, but gave in to the occasional pizza, hamburger, and cookie. I always felt a little bloated after and not fantastic, but certainly it wasn't, ahem, cramping my style too much so I continued to eat it occasionally.

Obviously I had become too comfortable with eating bread and wheat and thought that it was okay. But my body let me know enough was enough. I researched the symptoms associated with gluten sensitivity and it all became a lot clearer. I had struggled with my health since my adolescence and had always had difficulties with nutrition and vitamin deficiency. My health problems had become very severe at one point in my life and a Naturopathic Doctor in BC had basically really helped in my recovery by administering numerous vitamins. The reason that I need the large dosages of vitamins is that my body hasn't been absorbing them from the food I eat because of the gluten I had been ingesting. Big revelations in my world.

My diet now has been entirely gluten free for almost four months and while I feel better (obviously no hives and bloating) I still don't feel like I am in top form. I have been resisting seeing my Naturopathic Doctor because the cost is so high ($150 per session) and being on an elimination diet sucks. No sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol, no vinegars, no salad dressings, no ketchup and no fun. But alas, I know that I absolutely must in order to understand my body better and how it can operate in peak performance.