A question I get asked often…..How did you find out you were allergic to flour/wheat? š¾
Soooo over a period of a few months I noticed some weird, irregular things happening with my body. After eating, I would get this unbearable itch in my right leg to the left of my shin. It would itch so bad I would sometimes scratch till it bled. Crazy I know! š³
Other times I would get severe stomach pains that felt like my stomach was trying to rip itself out of my body. Sometimes that was followed by the runs. Or other times I would start to turn red and splotchy, get red bumps all over my body, start to feel really hot and itch a bit. As some people like to call it…..hot hives! š©
I went to the doctor and they told me it was anxiety. It didnāt make sense. I donāt get anxiety after eating. I feel happy and content after I eat. So I brushed off that doctor and tried another. Who told he he had no idea what it was and maybe it would go away in its own. š¤¦š¼āāļø
It took me going to 4 doctors to finally have one tell me itās possibly a food allergy. So he told me to fast for a full 24 hours to get everything out of my system. Then try one thing at a time and see the reaction. I started with fruits, then veggies, then meats, then cheeses and nothing was happening. One day I made a sandwich and BAM! Stomach pains and the runs. The only thing new Iād eaten was the bread on the sandwich! So I figured that was it! After a few more trial and errors I learned that I have a wheat/flour allergy. I tell people itās a gluten allergy because itās just easier to explain and I get less questions since gluten allergies are like a āthingā now. But for me itās wheat and flour. Different types of wheat/flour affect me differently. Hence one time I’ll get hives, and another the runs. š“
My food allergy and my auto immune run hand in hand. They each affect each other. Turns out the itching in my leg is due to inflammation of the skin and tissue caused by eating wheat/flour. My body becomes inflamed, doesn’t understand what’s happening and goes on the attack. Therefore causing an itching reaction. It’s crazy but makes sense how one thing affects another.
Iām not missing out too much in life. People always give me the poor pitiful you look and ask what I can eat. Well I can eat pretty much what I want within reason…..fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, etc. Instead of flour tortillas I do corn, when at a Mexican restaurant. I have always hated pasta so there was no loss there. They make gluten free bread/wraps and gluten free pizza crust so I can still enjoy a good sandwich or pizza when I want. I honestly donāt feel like Iām missing out on anything. Going wheat/flour free hasnāt changed my life other than ridden me of stomach pain, itching, etc. š¤·š¼āāļø
Iām a huge advocate for letting your immune system build and do its job. I have a few close friends that are the opposite. At even the slightest hint of illness they immediately push for medication. (Medication not immunization. Two totally different topics) šŖš»
If you thought you were exhausted, achy, etc just being pregnant, try being pregnant while having autoimmune! My body is constantly overworked. Itās straining daily just to keep me and baby healthy while also battling against itself.
I think itās interesting to see a ānew agedā doctors view vs an āold schoolā one. My first pregnancy I went to an older doctor. Despite being perfectly healthy, she put me on SO many physical restrictions while pregnant. She wouldnāt allow me to lift more than 20lbs or get my heart rate above 140. She told me to limit back exercises and avoid any workout involving my core.
Pregnancy flu….never heard of it? Thatās because I made it up. Well, the name at least. š Not to be confused with morning sickness. This is way worse and it hit me REAL hard yesterday.
Attention deficit disorder aka ADD. If you have it, you know how miserable it can be. If you donāt have it, itās hard to understand.
A few times a month I wake up feeling EXTREMELY hungover. It literally feels like I drank 2 bottles of wine to myself. Yet I havenāt had a drop of alcohol and I drank plenty of water the day before. š·
Yesterday did not exactly go as planned. We spent the afternoon in the ER getting some stitches. I never thought Iād have to bring my 18 month old in for stitches! I figured we still had a few more years before this kind of thing happened.
Recently I bumped into someone (not a close friend) who seemed shocked to find out I was still going to the gym while pregnant. They gave me this confused look then the awkward āgood for youā comment. š¤¦š¼āāļø
Iām pretty particular about what my child eats. I give a little here and there. But one thing I donāt budge on is sweets. I personally believe we introduce candy and sugars into childrenās diets at too early of an age. Most doctors and dieticians will recommend waiting till a child is at least 4 before introducing them to candy and sweets (longer if possible).
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