Time to gauge my progress

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:00 pm

Considering the past couple of months of activity in my life, this week is the first quiet-ish week I have had in ages, and this weekend will be the first time since October that I have a weekend where nothing is planned, (no travel, no packing/moving tasks) the forecast is for fine weather.

I have had some minor symptoms here and there with the move and the flood event last week, generally I am feeling better as I am sleeping better and my work days are not as intense. Some colleagues wanted to have a working meeting over lunch, it was a café that has gf meals so I thought why not test the waters so to speak, I didn’t have any meetings booked that afternoon so if I was a bit poorly it wouldn’t matter.

Knowing that gluten and soy are my worst enemies and dairy and yeast are medium enemies, the meal I ordered was gluten and soy free, there was just a small amt of yeast and dairy, and maybe a bit of a risk of slight contamination of gluten preparation wise.

After eating the meal, interestingly I didn’t get the gurgles straight away, the gurgle/rumblings only started about an hour after the meal. 4 hours after the meal some slight discomfort started but not the sharp jabbing pains I used to get, by this stage I was on my way home, I rested for a bit. 7 hours after the meal had a BM that was the pile of mud MC classic. Slept ok did not have to get up through the night, next morning the BM was the Gabes normal.
24 hours later the aches in my knees and ankles started and these aches hung around for about 24 hours. There was no further D type BM’s

I am assuming based on this test that the leaky gut has almost healed, my reactions to these items was not as intense or chronic as what they were 6 months ago. The last time I was contaminated was last October and I reacted quite badly having D within 30 mins.

I don’t plan on eating out very often, it was great to test what would happen and see the progress I have made and the benefit of the patience and diligence I have used regarding my meals.. It was also interesting to note that with less stress in my life how much better my digestion coped when I did ingest these items.

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:56 pm

I'm not sure I'd agree to anymore lunch meetings. At the very least I'd bring my own food. But it is good to know what progress looks like. I'm grateful for the detail you put in. It helps newbies like me to know what to look for.

Glad you're feeling better now!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:26 am

It is not my preference to eat out, In the past I have taken my own food for work related meetings etc.

The circumstances at the moment are that I am into the 3rd week of a new job, with new employer, in a new town, I have moved from a capital city to a regional town for this job, and know a total of 3 people within a 40minute drive.

I think it is important to have the balance of managing the MC without alienating myself too much, I am keen to settle into the new job and build the rapport with my colleagues.
I wouldn’t have risked the meal if I was feeling poorly. The week prior for a similar circumstance I declined to eat and just had a black coffee while the others ate,

It is a relief to know that my body is able to cope with mild doses of contaminate. To have results that show the progress I am making by sticking to the bland staples 99% of the time is motivating

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:52 am

What an absolutely delightful post from you Gabes. After everything you've been through, it sounds like what you've worked so hard to achieve is coming together wonderfully!!! So glad you're enjoying your slower pace of life. The same holds for me, as I lived in NYC for 35 years before moving out West to sunny Colorado. The switch in lifestyle has been enormously healing.

Your post is very encouraging when it comes to living with MC. When you're engaged in the guess work of figuring things out, it seems like it will be a never ending battle. However, your story shows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that with diligence and lots of detective work, you can look forward to managing your MC rather than having it manage you.

Thanks for such an upbeat post - hope things continue to go well for you!!!

Lots of love,
Kari

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:02 am

Gabes!

How exciting to be able to experience real progress! You have done everything you could think of to help the healing process, and it is working. Often it is only by looking back to earlier months/years that we can recognize improvement. I recall noticing after one year how much better the fatigue had become, and then after another whole year I noticed it was gone. Softly, softly catchy monkey, as you always say. I am impressed by how much in tune you are with your body - it is obvious from the way you describe in detail your former vs. current reactions to eating out.

Congrats on your healing! You have indeed come a long way. Lucky you, having a weekend all to yourself! Enjoy just letting it unfold.

Love,

Polly

P.S. I love your "classic MC pile of mud". Very amusing!

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:54 am

Gabes that's incredible news. Your patience and perseverance are begging to pay off. This really is a disease that the steps are measured in many months, not days or weeks. You know those that are not delaing with MC would never understand how important these small steps truly are to us.

Congrats on that milestone.

slowly slowly...

--Joe

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:04 pm

Yay Gabes!!! You are an inspiration to me. I always know when I see a post from you that I am going to appreciate what you have to say. You are a courageous and encouraging woman!!!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:38 pm

Thanks Kari, Polly, Joe and Marliss

that was part of the reason i wanted to share it, taking the time to figure out your every day food items and nurturing your body the gut will heal.

it was this time 12 months ago that i had gained enough knowledge from this wonderful group of people and i knew that diet would get me to wellness, i stopped the meds the GI specialist recommended (lomotol 8 times a day, the anti inflammatory that gave me headaches) and i wanted to get off the questran.

I am so chuffed with this achievement i am going to make GF/DF/SF/YF pancakes today for breakfast, all the recent talk of pancakes has really made me crave them!!!
i will apologise up front for breakingthe american tradition that they must have syrup, i dont like syrup. I am a lemon and brown sugar gal..... (i used to have icecream but with MC that is no longer)

Have a wonderful not too cold weekend everybody.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:19 pm

Hmmm lemon and brown sugar?? do tell, how do you mix that??

--Joe

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:17 am

It's lemon and white sugar in our house. Sprinkle sugar over pancake. Squeeze lemon over it. Eat.

Works even better with thin crepes, rolled up and eaten with the hands so the sweet lemon drips down your fingers and needs to be licked up.

Ooh I am hungry now. Better go cook tea.

Lyn

ant · Post by **ant** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:35 am

Dear Gabes

What an inspiration!! That you are making progress (slowly slowly, of course) WITHOUT medication.

As you know, I am using the crutch of Entocort (back to one a day) and socialise at friends' homes and "tame" restaurants. If/when I have the discipline to sort my lifestyle out, like you have, maybe I could get off the steroids. Till then thanks for showing me the next horizon.

Best, Ant

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:02 am

Lyn
you and I are kindred spirits, lemon and sugar is the only way!!

i did make GF/DF/YF pancakes from scratch, adjusted my recipe that was passed to me by a dear elderly aunt. i think it is the first time in over 18 months that i have had pancakes MAN did they taste good! and no reactions to the lemon so i have a new ingredient i can use in my cooking.

Ant,
as i say to the newbies, there is no right way or wrong way there is your way. If you are managing to work and socialise and enjoy life! and still keep the symptoms to a minimum that is a huge achievement, doesnt matter how you get there

i am waiting patiently for the roads to dry up so i can hit the granite belt wineries (about an hour or so away) and see if i can find a winery that has sulphite free shiraz.....

ant · Post by **ant** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:34 am

I am sure you will find sulfur free Shiraz!

Best, Ant

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:12 am

Congratulations Gabe!

Well it sounds like you just might every now and then risk a meal out but I, like you, know not to test the waters very often. I guess this was pancake weekend for a lot of us since we posted so much last week about them. They were my Saturday breakfast and I top them either with Vermont Maple Syrup (never without it in my home) or cinnamon sugar and a touch of lemon juice too.

Love, Maggie

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:40 pm

Gabe, I know I read a post by you where you outlined the healing menu you've used. Could you either point me in the right direction to that post or outline it here?

I'm surprised we don't have a sticky post with stuff like this, ie the sticky rice and how to make it, etc. (no pun intended)