Monday, October 15, 2007

I am a changed woman!

My life has changed forever!

Several months ago I found a product that might help in my miserable food restrictions. It is enzymes that are supposed to aid in the digestion of gluten and casein (dairy mostly) products. It is $20 for 60 capsules and at the time I did not feel I dared try it. The effects of its possible ineffeciency could be disastrous. You see, I have not "cheated" and knowingly eaten something I know would make me sick just because I miss it. It has been very difficult at times, but it simply is not worth the pain. In 3 years since my diagnosis I have not had anything that was obviously off limits. Not even a small cookie. Crumbs from croutons on my salad make me sick.

Friday night I felt adventurous. I was already planning on staying home as much as possible. If I tried it and got sick I had a few days to recover. I felt the benefits made the risk worth it. The only place I have found it so far is Harmons on 5400 S and Redwood Road. Right next door is a Sconecutter. I love Sconecutter and have dearly missed it. This was the night....

I don't know what is in those capsules, but I now vow to never be without some. I had more energy at the end of the night, after "cheating", than I did the rest of the entire day. It was so liberating and exciting! I could not stop talking, dancing and singing! I felt so alive and so new, and really have for most of the weekend. I have eaten more gluten this weekend than everything combined since my diagnosis, and I am not sick in bed!

This does not mean I can eat as much as I want of whatever I want. This weekend has been an exception. This does mean I do not have to feel the wretched anxiety surrounding social gatherings with food. This does mean that I can have what I want on special occasions. I do still feel some effects if I simply over-do it, but they are so not anything like a straight up exposure.

To some of you, this may seem so trivial. But my risk and my experiment has benefitted many people I know. This was such pure joy for me to share! In sharing it with my mother, who also has issues, describing the delicacy of Sconecutter needed few words. Upon receiving the news, my cousin exclaimed "Honey, we're going out to dinner tonight!" and "I've got so many people to call!"

As I said earlier, my life has changed forever. My psychological and emotional life looks much brighter, as well as my diet. Who knows, maybe the energy I experienced this weekend is much more than mental. I am very excited about seeing the continued benefits.