I think I really hurt it this time

Last week was a week of craziness.  And it involved too much sitting--at a conference, in the van on the way to Ottawa, in the stands in the gym for basketball, in the van for the drive home from Ottawa.  And it has all made my iliopsoas really, really hurt.  I couldn't even walk a week ago.  I still went to school and hobbled around, and it's still not better.  It's a bit better, but I still am limping (and now have a sore back because of it).  I think I really hurt it this time.  It's always gotten better after a few days of babying.  *gulp* A friend suggested I might have torn something and need medical intervention to fix it.  Crap.  On my to do list this week is to actually make an appointment with a chiropractor that specializes in sports injuries (what started this whole deal was overdoing it at yoga in October, coupled with running), and if that means time off work, then that's what I will do.  Because this nonsense has to stop.  I need to exercise!  No exercise, and an autoimmune disease that makes me gain weight makes Nicole a fat chick.  Not cool.

In other news, work is insanely stressful.  The end of the year is looming, I have a ton of stuff we haven't learned yet, and I feel like I do nothing but manage behaviour.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job.  I love kids.  But I am ready for a break.  This long weekend didn't come a moment too soon.  My class is now up to 22 boys and 5 girls.  It wears me out.  And I have report cards to write, and I'm taking a course.  That was self-inflicted, report cards are not.  Why I ask myself, why?  Because as my good friend at school says, I'm crazy.  Obviously.

As I wrote the other day, my dietary change has not improved the whole Hashimoto's situation.  Which is causing me more stress.  Arrrggghhh.  But it will get better.  It has to.  And since gluten-free wasn't working, I ate some gluten yesterday.  I won't be repeating that.  While it hasn't improved my autoimmune issues, apparently it does impact my system.  Not in a positive way.

Anyway, this is a long weekend and the sun is shining, it's supposed to be hot, gardening is on the agenda, life is good.

Enjoy!

gluten...again & some other stuff

Found another great blog about autoimmune, Hashimoto's and gluten.  This post in particular was great!
http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2012/02/gluten-questions-answered/#more-1401

And another
http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2011/10/healing-autoimmune-disease-8-a-podcast/

I am starting to feel better, the dietary changes and IVs are kicking in....for now anyway!  Next step is to add exercise back in--particularly yoga and some running.  I miss them, and since I'm feeling a bit better I'm going to give it a try.

And really the best part of it all is that being gluten-free has not been that difficult.  Realizing it's essential for better health helps for sure.  Not sure why, but I don't really even miss it.  Which is a good thing.  And for whatever reason, it's made it easier to stay dairy-free too.  Go figure.

You know that little thing over to the right that says "Stress is related to 99% of all illness"?  Turns out it's true.  I swiped it from Lululemon btw if you didn't realize.  One thing that Lulu has right.  Manage the stress, manage the illness.  I'm trying to keep that in mind.

Having said that, yesterday was a hugely stressful day.  I had a very important and meaningful meeting yesterday afternoon.  I'll spill the beans about it when I find out the results.  Suffice it to say that I'm glad it's over, I think it will have really positive results, and I'd like all of my friends to keep their fingers crossed for me.

Enjoy this Good Friday, friends.  A day that causes me introspection and quiet meditation.  A day that fills me with a mixture of sadness and incredible hope.  This extremely important day to Christians.  I am grateful for this day.

Gluten and inflammation

Gluten causes inflammation in the body.  And as I've recently discovered, can cause not only celiac but other autoimmune disorders as well.  Often autoimmune diseases are linked to celiac.  I have also found some research that indicates that gluten-free diets improve the symptoms of some forms of arthritis.  Really an autoimmune disease is just your immune system in wacko overdrive, and attacking your body.  Which causes inflammation, joint pain, thyroid issues, bowel and gut issues, brain fog and a myriad of other things.

Blood tests for various conditions will not necessarily reveal that it is gluten that is the cause.  However they may uncover antibodies that are way over normal limits, indicating an autoimmune disorder.  Depending on the antibody, it can demonstrate different types of autoimmune disorders.  Mine is directly attacking my thyroid.

Often the mainstream medical community either doesn't test for the presence of antibodies, or doesn't buy into the link between gluten and autoimmune disease.  Equally as often, there is no mainstream medical treatment until the part of the body being attacked is completely destroyed.

Does that mean there is no causal link?  Absolutely not.  Naturopathic doctors (and a few MDs) believe there is and treat the patient by asking them to eliminate gluten and perhaps giving some alternative treatments.  That's where the IVC I'm getting at the ND's comes in.  It is meant to settle my immune system down, which will decrease the antibodies and I will feel better.  And so will my thyroid. 

I was asked this week some questions about gluten sensitivity and blood tests.  My food intolerance/allergy test didn't reveal a huge gluten issue.  And that's sometimes normal.  It's not always a blood test that will tell the tale.  But my full thyroid panel showed the hugely out of whack antibody levels, and Tara (the ND) has had great success with patients by removing gluten from the diet.

Anyone can do the elimination diet, in which all gluten is removed from the diet.  Symptoms may take awhile to improve, since it will take time for the inflammation to settle down.  A great book that I love that is a great resource for dietary changes is The Hormone Diet, by Dr. Natasha -it's not only about weight loss, but about being healthy--(www.thehormonediet.com).  Another book is Wheat Belly, by Dr. William Davis (www.wheatbellyblog.com) I've read them both, and frankly I can't believe I didn't connect some of my own dots sooner, so to speak.

Another resource that I can say I've used is the website for the Naturopathic clinic where I am a patient www.stonetreeclinic.com  Tara is a published author, and one smart gluten-free cookie!  There is a wealth of information, and the blog is great.

Do a google search about gluten and be amazed by the plethora of sites that come up.  Add natural therapy or naturopath and do a boolean search, and just as many again will come up.

I don't know if gluten-free is the answer for everyone, but I know it has made a huge difference in many people's health and management of autoimmune conditions.  Even something as simple as seasonal allergies is an autoimmune response and could potentially be helped by eliminating gluten.

If you wish to give going gluten-free a try, keep in mind that it will take a month or two to see a difference in how you feel.  Wheat, spelt, rye, barley and almost all packaged foods are a source of gluten.  Oatmeal and other gluten-free grains can be cross-contaminated and contain gluten, so read labels!  So many things contain gluten that we would never suspect.  Examples--bbq sauce, Chinese food, spaghetti sauce, yogurt, canned soups, soya sauce...the list is very long.  Beer and vodka contain gluten.  But it's easy to find alternatives to gluten containing products.  The health food store, many grocery stores carry gluten-free products.  Grains like brown rice and quinoa are gluten-free.  There are many gluten-free flours that can be combined to make baked goods.  Gluten-free baking is very different--it's gluten that makes dough elastic.  Recipes can be adapted and played with until a desirable product is achieved.  And there are lots of great recipes on the 'net and in cookbooks.

Good luck on whatever health journey you're on.  May your answers come easily!

gluten--my nemesis

I got the results of my blood test today.  Turns out my thyroid is working fine.  BUT, and it's a big but, I have an autoimmune condition that is attacking and destroying it.  Which has likely been going on for a big part of my life, but doesn't show up on the usual blood tests an MD will do.  And it's a wonder that I function as well as I do.  The likely root cause--gluten.  Although my food sensitivity test doesn't reveal a gluten insensitivity, that's not unusual.  It's a different reaction.  And it's fairly common. 

The good news is that I can eliminate gluten, have Vitamin C IVs to heal my immune system.  If I don't respond to that treatment, I will have heavy metal toxicity testing.  It's fantastic news in that either way, I will get better.

Even better news?!  I can stop beating myself up that I struggle with my weight and energy.  It's not my fault.  And because I take good care of myself and work hard to be fit and have a healthy weight, things are not as bad as they could be.  With treatment I will get to a healthy weight, my nails will be better, my hair will get thicker and stop shedding excessively.  I will feel great!

It amazes me how nasty gluten can be to our bodies.  I have talked before about eliminating gluten, but have never really totally eliminated it.  I probably don't eat as much as some other people, but from now on I won't be eating it at all.  For reals.

I also found out that my iron has dropped drastically over the past year.  I am supposed to eat red meat again.  At least until my iron levels are back to a normal amount.  And of  course lots of spinach, broccoli, and other iron containing things.  I can't imagine eating meat.  Not chicken?!  That is going to be very strange for me, and likely rather difficult.  But necessary since iron supplements do not agree with me.  At all.

I'm heartened that things will get better, and ready to do battle.  Gluten is my nemesis.