Here it is. My Thoughts on the Hoda/Today Show/Gluten-Free Joke Debacle.

Have you ever had one of those days when you wished you hadn't read your Twitter feed or opened up your Facebook?

Today was that day for me.

I knew as soon as I saw a tweet that said something like "Today Show Makes Fun at Gluten-Free Again".  Then there was a post about how Hoda Kotb had joked about not wanting to date a man who is gluten-free and a "picky eater".  What followed was a lot of name-calling and hatred being hurled in Hoda's direction.

Then, I saw it happen.  This tweet being retweeted in all forms on Twitter.

Then came the comments.  More people calling Hoda "stupid" and "ignorant".

I turned to Facebook.  Yup.  More of the same.

Ok.  I get it.  She shouldn't have said it.  But honestly, does she deserve being called "worthless" and "sad"?

No.

No more than those of us who have celiac disease deserve to be called anything.

Hoda is someone's daughter, sister, friend.  Just like we are.

Does getting angry and calling someone names make anything better?  Absolutely not.

Does educating that person and asking them to stop?  Maybe.

I admit that I watch the fourth hour of "Today".  Not every morning, but pretty regularly.  Hoda and Kathie Lee are pretty silly and goofy and most of the time make me laugh.  Some days I really need a good laugh.  Lots of people don't like them or watch the show and that's okay too.

I honestly do not believe that Hoda is stupid or worthless or even uncaring or uncompassionate.  She is a cancer survivor and I can bet has had other struggles in her life.  I think she was trying to be funny.  It is very unfortunate that she chose "gluten-free" to pick on.

If Hoda were my BFF, I would have kindly told her about celiac disease and why it isn't appropriate or funny to try to make a joke about it.

I did tweet @KLGandHoda and asked them to please stop making fun of people who are gluten-free.  When she apologized, I sent another tweet thanking her.  Then I let it go...

I know about being angry.  I am angry I have celiac.  I am angry about my other undiagnosed health issues.  I am angry about terrorism and natural disasters and the economy.  I have been angry about things people in the media and elsewhere have said about many things.

Here is what I have personally decided for myself.  Anger helps NOTHING.  The only one it hurts is me.  Sitting and stewing for days about something someone said does not make me feel better.  In fact, as someone with health issues, it makes me feel so much worse.

Does it make you feel better?  My guess would be that it doesn't.

And how do you think others view a bunch of angry, name-calling, gluten-free folks?  As just that.

Instead, why don't we turn all of that anger into something positive?

Educate, people!  Isn't that what Celiac Awareness Month is all about anyway???

Oscar Night and White Chicken Chili

It's Oscar Night!  We will be watching the festivities with a little more interest this year.  Unlike past years, we have actually seen many of the nominated pictures.  Most just in the past week!  We saw Lincoln, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Skyfall!  We saw Les Mis, Brave when they came out in theaters.  The hubby saw The Hobbit, which I will see when it comes out on DVD.

Of all of the movies we've seen, I definitely liked Les Mis the best.  I'm a sucker for musicals of any kind and this one just blew me away.  I know it was panned by many movie critics, but I loved it anyway.

I do think that Daniel Day Lewis did an excellent job playing Lincoln.  I found his portrayal eerie at times.  He was just as I imagined Lincoln to be.

So here are my official Oscar Movie Rankings!  I am not a professional movie critic by far, but I know what I find entertaining!

1) Le Mis...Powerful!  This movie sucked me right in.  Tissues required.
2) Lincoln...Excellent.  Good history lesson for middle school and up children, although they may fall asleep.  ;-)
3) Argo...Very intense.  Had to calm hubby down halfway through the film.  Nail-biter!
4) Skyfall...Good action movie, but it needed more spy gadgets!  LOL!
5) Brave....Nice, Family Movie
6) Beasts of the Southern Wild....MEH...wasn't my kind of movie, I find any movie where there's right-out child abuse hard to watch.


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Those of you who know me, know that I've been having shoulder issues for the past five months.  An MRI showed that I have bursitis, tendonitis and bone spurs in my right (dominate) shoulder.  It is very painful to do even everyday tasks like showering, getting dressed, cleaning the house.  So if you see me sitting around in my dirty house, in my jammies, you will understand!  I've been doing PT for two months and have an appointment with the orthopedic in a couple of weeks.  Surgery is starting to look like the only option to get my range of motion back and hopefully get rid of some of the pain. We'll see what the doc says...

I've been trying to clean up my diet, limiting sugar and carbs, to try to combat some of the inflammation in my body, but it's been a real struggle.  It's definitely a work in progress.  I do love my sweets.

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I haven't really made a Meal Plan for this week, but I am making a crockpot full of White Chicken Chili and a casserole dish of Mac n' Cheese today and I am planning that there will be plenty of leftovers to carry through the week.

I may eat some of the chili and mac n' cheese, but I'm really focusing on eating more fish and vegetables this week.

Several people have asked for my White Chicken Chili recipe.  It is delicious and my hubby LOVES it.  It is very, very easy.  You don't need to make it in a crock pot, you can use a big pot on the stove.  Unfortunately, I can't take the credit for creating it!  The recipe came from a Rachael Ray show I watched.   Of course, if you are gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free ingredients.  Boxed chicken broth can contain gluten, so it is important to find a brand that doesn't, such as Progresso or Pacific brands.  You can find the recipe here:


Mandi Forester's White Chicken Chili from the Rachael Ray Show

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Have a great week!

It's been about a year and a half since I posted last!  Boy!  Where does time go anyway?

Several readers have sent in comments wondering how I am doing.  Thank you so much and I really do appreciate it!  I guess the answer is that I am still here, still fighting some health issues, but all in all doing well.

As far as my diet is concerned, well, it needs work.  I find that I'm just not disciplined enough to stay on any kind of "plan" for very long.  I eat really healthy for a few weeks and then, before you know it, I'm right back to eating foods that I know are not good for me.  I know that I'm not the only one who goes through this.

I also know that I eat way too much sugar.  Sugar causes inflammation.  I have a lot of inflammation.  I know that when I eat a better diet, I feel better.  I know better!  But.  Those. Cravings. Keep. Coming. Back.  I wish they didn't, but they do!  I guess I'm just a work in progress.  Aren't we all?

As far as what I've been up to?  I've been busy with my family, keeping the household running and trying to take some "me time" out whenever possible!

The best news is that since the end of August, I have been working with Stephanie O'Dea, running daily reviews and giveaways on her website!  My official title is "Chief Giveaway Wrangler".  Isn't that great???  I'm so excited to be working with Steph!  She is awesome!  If you are looking for delicious, easy, gluten-free slow-cooker recipes or help organizing your life, she is the go-to gal!  You should definitely stop by her site and see the great products we are giving away!  Writing for Steph has definitely gotten my fingers back at typing and my brain busy thinking up posts for not only our giveaways, but for my blog as well.

In other news, we took our annual trip to Cape Cod in July and it was spectacular as usual!  We hung out at the beach, avoided getting eaten by sharks, shopped, played mini golf and ate in many great restaurants.

I shared some of these great celiac-friendly restaurants in this post from our trip in 2010.  We visited all of those restaurants again this summer and more.

Of course, we went back to The Chatham Fish And Lobster Company!  I can't live without my gluten-free fried clam strips and onion rings!

We also added The Hearth 'n Kettle to our list for dinner this year.  We have always gone there for breakfast in the past.  I've had good luck ordering eggs, bacon and hash browns without getting sick.  The great news is that this year, they added an actual  gluten-free menu!  There are great breakfast, lunch and dinner items!  My favorite is "Harvest Hash and Eggs" and I had it twice while we were there.  I didn't get a picture of my plate, but it was excellent!

I did get a picture of the wonderful sand sculpture outside of the restaurant!  There's a fish trying to get out of that pot!  ;-)

I hope that you will check back with me soon.  I have been cooking up some ideas in my head and plan on writing more often.  I promise!

Thanks for visiting and have a great, gluten-free day!

Gluten-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Candida, Elimination Diet

Last week was basically the "week from Hell".  I hate to start out a post on such a sour note, but I have to tell you the truth.  I promise, it gets a little better.

I visited my neurologist for a follow-up appointment on Monday.  I saw the P.A. (I never get to actually see the doctor), prepared with information on Celiac Disease and Small Fiber Neuropathy and the connection between the two.  I handed the P.A. the folder, he scanned it and handed it back.  When I told him he could keep it, he said, "Well, I can look that stuff up on the computer later".  Then he politely told me to keep taking my meds and come back in three months.

On Wednesday, I met with the P.A. at my gastroenterologist's office (the person who diagnosed my celiac disease three years ago) for my annual check-up.  I filled her in on my issues and before I could even finish, she stopped me cold with "Nope, the problems you are having are in no way related to your celiac disease as long as you are following your gluten-free diet".  She told me to "stay off of the internet and stay on my gf diet".  At that point, I just gave up trying.  I felt totally defeated.

Obviously, it's all in my head.

On Friday, I had an appointment with an Integrative Nutritionist.  I figured that I had pretty much exhausted all other avenues, so I decided to take a more holistic approach.  Her office is located inside the Spa at the Roosevelt Baths in Saratoga Springs, NY.  As I walked into the lobby, I couldn't help but relax.  Calm music was playing, an indoor waterfall was trickling and a fireplace was welcoming.  People were sitting around in padded lounge chairs in white robes and flip flops, waiting for their massages and mineral baths.  I poured myself a cup of tea and waited.  I couldn't help but wonder why doctor's offices weren't like this.  Why do they have to be so cold and sterile?

Once in her office, we talked about the paperwork I had filled out and my symptoms and struggles.  We talked about the brain-gut connection and how our gut controls a great deal of our bodies.  I had been already researching about this before our meeting, so I was totally on board with what she was saying.  She gave me instructions for an anti-inflammatory, anti-candida, elimination diet (which is also gluten-free).  The idea behind the diet is to stop eating foods that contribute to inflammation in the intestine and replace it with foods that help the gut to heal.  I won't lie, it's pretty strict.  I've been on it for five days and I can tell you that it's not easy.   I've had to give up red meat, dairy, soy, corn, white potatoes, tomatoes, sugar, chocolate, soda and pretty much everything I love.  My diet has been consisting of chicken, turkey and fish, brown rice and quinoa, allowed vegetables and fruits, sweet potatoes, black beans and chic peas, nuts and nut butters (except peanuts), almond milk, flavored seltzer, 100% juices (no citrus), decaf coffee, green tea.  I can use molasses, pure maple syrup, agave and stevia for sweeteners.  There's also an added twist called "the egg challenge".  I have to go without eggs for two weeks.  At the end of the two weeks, I eat five yolks in one day to see if I have symptoms.  If I do, then I can write-off egg yolks permanently.  In a couple of days, I do the same with egg whites.  From what I gather, this will be the way it goes as I add restricted foods back into my diet.

All of my go-to snacks are gone.  No popcorn, no M&M's, no ice cream, no soda.  I admit, I'm going through some pretty severe sugar withdrawal.  I had to sprint through Target the other day in order to avoid the HUNDREDS of aisles of Easter candy.  It's been especially tough the last couple of days.  My daughter came down with the stomach flu and my stress level is making me crave sugar all the more. 

The other component to the plan is dietary supplements.  I have four big bottles on my kitchen counter which contain probiotics, digestive enzymes and omega 3's.   I have to work up to the recommended dosages slowly to give my system a chance to adjust.  The probiotics cause the most distress.  I've had some pretty bad cramps and "bathroom issues" after taking them.  I was told that this may happen.  Apparently, as the bad bacteria are taken over by the good bacteria, a little intestinal war can break out.  Completely normal, but more than a little uncomfortable.  Right now, I'm taking it slow with the probiotics, only taking the minimum amount and only using them every-other day or so.

I haven't felt much change in my pain level yet.  I know it's still early and I get really impatient.  I have lost a couple of pounds, I'm guessing because sometimes I don't really know what to eat.  The lack of sugar probably is helping as well.  I've had moments where I just stand in the middle of the kitchen and stare at the fridge.  I'm finding that I have to cook two meals at dinner, one for my family and one for me.  I haven't tried to eat in a restaurant yet, that will be interesting.  I thought going gluten-free was challenging!

How long I will need to stay on this plan is uncertain.  I guess it depends on my symptoms.  In the meantime, I'm still taking my nerve meds and trying to "stay off of the internet".  (Not!)

I will keep you posted!

Celiac Disease - More Than Just a Belly Ache

As some of you know, I've been dealing with some pretty nasty neurological pain issues in the last several months.  I haven't posted too much about it because, well, I really didn't want to talk about it until I had a little more information about what was causing it.

I've hidden my pain from most everyone.  It's not visible to the human eye.  Most days I get out of bed and go about my daily routine as best I can and just "fight through it".

The pain I'm talking about now has a name.  Small Fiber Peripheral Neuropathy.  This diagnosis was just confirmed about a week ago after visiting two neurologists and having way too many blood tests, MRI's and neurological exams.  Well, actually, the diagnosis was "some kind of neuropathy, but we don't know what's causing it, so here take these pills and come back in four weeks".  I only came upon the actual name of the neuropathy after much internet research.

Small Fiber Peripheral Neuropathy affects the small nerve fibers in your skin.  These fibers receive signals from the brain and control skin sensations such as temperature and pain.  When you burn your finger on the stove or feel a cool breeze, it is your small nerve fibers that transmit that feeling to your brain to tell you that you hurt yourself or need to put on a sweater.  Damage to the small fiber nerves disrupts this process and basically all Hell breaks loose.

For me, this means that I feel like I have a bad sunburn all over my body.  Clothes hurt.  I get chills, even though my skin feels hot.  I have trouble sleeping.  It affects every part of my day and everything I do.

The reason that I am writing this post today is that I want to get the word out there that the probable cause of my neuropathy is my Celiac Disease.  I don't know why it took me so long to figure it out.  I've been researching on the internet for months, trying to find an answer.  Finally, this past weekend, I came upon it.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I found this article on Celiac.com.  It is entitled "Up to 16% of Patients with Small Fiber Neuropathy May Have Celiac Disease".   Wow.  I had considered that the cause of my issues were Celiac-related, but here it was, in black and white.  Proof.    It was written by The Neuropathy Association.  The kicker....this article was written in 2003!  Why do mainstream doctors not know about this???

"In addition, patients with celiac disease tended to have a type of neuropathy called small fiber neuropathy which often causes severe burning, stinging, and electric-shock like pains, but is often misdiagnosed as it is undetectable with routine tests used by neurologists to diagnose neuropathy. Approximately 16% of all patients with small fiber neuropathy were found to have celiac disease. Many of our patients were told that there was nothing physically wrong with them, and were advised to seek psychiatric care for presumed anxiety or depression, noted Dr. Norman Latov, Medical and Scientific Director of The Neuropathy Association, and senior author of the study. You too would be anxious and depressed if you were in constant pain, and no-one believed you or offered to help."

So, after finding that article, I dug a little deeper.  I found this website Small Fiber Neuropathy.Net .

And this one: Center For Peripheral Neuropathy at University of Chicago. 

Needless to say, I am printing out copies for every doctor I know.  It makes me angry that I had symptoms of this since the time of my diagnosis in 2007.  Not one doctor mentioned that Celiac Disease could be causing these symptoms.  Since I had cervical disc issues at the time, the doctors just assumed that I was having nerve issues related to that.  I just sat back and believed them.  I had neck surgery.  Instead of the pain going away, it just kept getting worse.

Now that I have a diagnosis and a cause, I have to find out what my treatment options are.  For right now, it's LOTS of medications.  I'm not happy with this option, but it's the only one available at this point.  I also need to figure out why, since I am so careful about my gluten-free diet, that things are getting worse and not better.  I'm sure it's going to take a lot more research, doctor visits and prayer to help me find a way to get through this.

So, I guess the moral of my story is, please, if something is not right with your body and you know something is off, don't just accept the first answer the doctor gives you.  Don't just write it off.  Investigate.  Ask questions.  You are your best advocate!  It's taken me three years to learn this and it's been a painful lesson.