gluten and lectins and lactose....OH MY!!!

[sunny]

O...my...goodness!! I'm not in Kansas anymore, am I?
All my research is showing me there isn't much I CAN/ SHOULD eat.
my dh and I were talking about the difference in symptom relief vs going further and focusing on helaing of the gut which doesn't show except in the amelioration of symptoms. I think I have been focused on symptom relief and not realizing how limited my thinking was. We are both struggling with the reality of this disease and changes in my/our diet that need to be made. We are both retired now and much of our enjoyment of life has revolved around food.....at home trying new recipes and more so eating out as we run errands in town. Very sobering.....I am trying hard not to be overwhelmed, both with the information and the implementing of that information. Also looking at the impact of stress on this disease in my body. I weaned myself off of both anti-depressants due to impact on heart....tachycardia and irregular heart rate both of which have been problematic for the past 15 years, and impact my heart failure now. I am trying some natural products to see if they wil help with the depression.

[Alice]

Sunny,

I was interested in your comments about heart symptoms attributed to anti-depressant use. I have used anti-depressants of one kind or another for years. Would you mind sharing what specific ones you used?

Thank you in advance.

Alice

[sunny]

Alice....I may have given the wrong idea about my heart symptoms....my cardiologist said that Zoloft was the only one that didn't have tachycardia and or irregular heartbeats as a possible side effect. I have been on many different meds over the years, and Lexapro and Wellbutrin in combination were the ones I just finished with. I don't think every one is impacted; however, I already have tachycardia and an irregular rhythm so I decided to not add to that mix. But I am not sure that my heart symptoms stem from my anti-depressant use, or were ascerbated by them. but I really don't know for sure.
Sunny

[Polly]

Hi Sunny,

I can relate to what you are saying.  One of the main hobbies for Scott and me was eating out.  Oh, I fondly remember the days when I could actually look over a menu and make actual CHOICES.  Now I just search for anything safe - and it's usually something grilled with olive oil, a plain baked potato, and a salad (minus the cheese and croutons and dressing, thank you very much).  

However, I often take food with me.  One time I actually took a whole dinner plate filled with food in a foil pack to our local diner!  LOL!  I have taken GF pasta to our local Italian restaurant and asked them to cook it for me in a separate pot.  I take my own salad dressing.  I frequently take my own veggies, since most places seem to think that veggies must be swimming in butter.

Anyway, I did go thru a prolonged period of grieving for the loss of the way I used to be able to eat. (One member here actually had a funeral for her unsafe foods when she cleaned out her cabinet/refrig. and threw them away - LOL).

I am now on the paleo diet......eating real food (nothing processed from cans or boxes or bags). I finally just found it much easier to eat this way. Even though everything must be cooked from scratch, I found it simpler than reading labels, calling manufacturers to double check, and then still being
exposed to hidden offenders. Plus I have come to believe that it may be the most healthful diet for many of us. I was never a big believer in grains or dairy to begin with - I think they add a lot of extra, empty calories and can lead to the metabolic syndrome, among other things. Although I must admit that I still miss cheese! If you want to read more, check out the "Paleo Diet" book by Dr. Cordain.

Love,

Polly

[sunny]

Thanx for the response, Polly. I have been reading The Paleo Diet book and have subscribed to his newsletter. I have been on a low card way of life ala Dr. Michael Eades (Protein Power) and that's how I lost aobut 60 pounds, but have let a few carbs creep back in just cuz....I missed them and love then!!! hah hah....for some reason I am having a tough time making the transition back and to Paleo....your comments about grieving hit the nail on the head!! I am grieving and didn't realize it!! And grieving is a strange thing....it can remind us of other areas of grief and that compounds the issue. Thanx for the reminder...it helps me make sense of what's going on in my head.