Getting on with Things

I am getting better! As I told you in my last post, I found a pill that makes my symptoms much more tolerable. I have taken it a few times with questionable foods and been good to go. Last week we went to Applebees for dinner. On their site, they showed items that were supposed to be safe for gluten intolerant folks like me. Not so much. We ordered chips and salsa as an appetizer. Everything was going fine till we got to the bottom of the basket. I found what looked to be a crumb of batter. I had no idea that they fried their chips at the restaurant. I immediately took a GlutenEase and prayed. We finished our dinners. I had a steak and baked potato. I assume that those weren’t the problem (although you know what they say about assuming) but I threw away the leftovers the next day anyway. Anyway, we got home and I was sicker than a dog as soon as we did. I won’t go into detail but fellow celiacs know what I mean. I had never gotten sick that quickly in the past. When I was done getting sick I felt better, at least enough to be able to go to bed. The next day, I was a little queasy and in general didn’t feel well. It was basically the same symptoms, but lessened. This happened five days ago and I’m still struggling a bit. I certainly wouldn’t use it as an excuse to be able to purposely eat gluten, but it has helped immensely with symptoms.

I am very thankful that I’m getting this under control because school starts tomorrow. This is my last semester of classes before I start my program classes. I finished up my observation hours this week and can now apply for the program. I did them at St. V’s. I had to have 20 hours in an outpatient setting and either 20 in acute care or 20 in a residential setting, such as a nursing home, or 10 in each of the two. I was a bit shocked when the first pt (patient) we saw was on a vent, feeding tube and almost no movement on the right side. I was ready to completely write off acute care. It did get better after that. I had nowhere to go but up right? It obviously got much better from there. I have actually decided that I may end up working in acute care after I graduate.

Well that is all I have for now. I will check back soon.

Help Found

Well I was doing really well for a few weeks again and then had a setback. My mom was having spaghetti at her house. She didn’t realize that I needed to have absolutely clean items for my foods. I brought my own spaghetti noodles and garlic bread. She told me to rinse my noodles in a strainer. I questioned for a second that it might be contaminated but she’d never used that strainer for spaghetti so I went with it thinking that she knew I couldn’t use the other one. Oh no friends! It was not safe but I didn’t know that yet. The next day, I was so very sick! I couldn’t put my finger on anything except for the spaghetti strainer. I didn’t want to ask my mom thought cause I didn’t want her to think I was accusing her of doing something on purpose (I know she would never do anything on purpose). It was a long weekend. On Monday. I had to take my mom to the store and she knew I was feeling bad. She asked me if I had eaten anything with gluten. I told her nothing I could think of and took the opening to ask her if she rinsed anything in the strainer before I out my noodles in it. She started to say no that it was clean, then said, “oh yeah I rinsed the other noodles in it.” I told her that was enough to make me sick because of the gluten residue left behind. She told me she didn’t realize that I could get sick from that. So I took the opportunity to explain some of the ways I could get contaminated.

Very early Wednesday morning I was in the ER AGAIN! I was actually there on Monday and they did nothing for me. Gave me a shot of pain med and sent me home. No blood work or anything! The doc acted like I was an idiot! Tuesday I got in to see Dr. Reddy. She did more blood work and scripts for antibiotics and Bentyl for the cramping. Percocet didn’t help the pain and just made me sleepy. Tuesday night the pain was terrible and I started vomiting so I went back to the ER. They gave me fluids and pain meds. I finally got some relief and was feeling better.

Saturday night I went out with some friends. Was drinking my vodka and cranberry like a good girl. One of my friends asked to try it. I told him not to use the straw. Explained that not I’m not a germaphobe but he’d been drinking beer and I wouldn’t be able to drink after him. I did worry that even with him not using the straw that some gluten could get into my drink. Yesterday I was feeling like I got glutened. The stomach cramps, need to use the bathroom and nausea set in. I have heard that there is an enzyme that helps if you’re gluten intolerant and get some gluten. I went to Claudia’s (a health food store here in Toledo). They had it. It’s called GlutenEase. I took it and did start feeling better! I certainly wouldn’t use it as a way to purposely eat something with gluten in it but I now have it on hand (and will make sure I always have some) just in case! It was a little pricey at Claudia’s (as is everything there). It was $29.99 for 60 gel caps. I found it online for the same price for 120 gel caps. I definitely recommend it for contaminations though!