I've been gluten free almost 10 months. And it is still a journey of discovery. Up to Christmas it was steady improvement. Then after the New Year it all started to inexplicably unravel. Unexplained reactions, rashes, hives, illness. It's been rough. People asked me what I had eaten, told me to take better care of myself, go for extensive testing. I was frankly demoralized at feeling that I had done all that I could and yet was still sick. And then a discovery.
Every product I was applying externally had WHEAT OR OATS in it. Right there on the label of my lotion, shampoo, body gel, hair gel. It was the third ingredient on one. I have had the worst reactions from oats. I know some who are gluten intolerant can eat oats. Not me. That is what was in the lotion I was slathering on at work. Bath and Body Works...I'm gonna miss you. I would get to work and break out in hives. Then take meds for the hives while still applying the lotion. Antihistamine, cortisone cream and prednisone. Thank God for prednisone. At one point my buddy offered to make prednisone cookies for me!
It was because of a post I saw titled the 10 silly mistakes I made going gluten free.
So I feel so much better now! And Easter was a wonderful feast after months of suffering!! (I guess that is what Lent is for, right?)
Big thank you's to these special people:
- Nana's Bakery for the AMAZING GF BLUEBERRY PIE
- Irene for the STICK TO MY RIBS CHILI and asking how to make a meal gluten free
- Barb for the best feta cheese this side of the Aegean Sea and the whole grain gluten free crackers and taking me for GLUTEN FREE FISH AND CHIPS IN TORONTO at Broadview and Danforth
- El Mayor restaurant and the waitress who first asked if "gluten" was Arabic, then went out of her way to tell me everything I could and could not eat when she understood
- Frances for listening, for warming up the pie and ice cream, for coming to Easter Vigil, sharing Easter Sunday and for being so darn lovable
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