Food Drama

It is easy for me to get down about all of the things I cannot eat or drink.  I miss those foods a lot some days, and my cravings are intense.  It is almost impossible to eat in a restaurant or at someone's house, not to mention awkward and most of the time bland. 

Foods I can't eat:
-beef, pork (cause intense chest pain like a heart attack -or how I assume it would feel to have a heart attack, difficulty breathing)
-tomatoes, peppers (cause my right side of my body to go numb/tingly)
-anything with gluten: flour, bread, pasta, rice, grains, crackers, etc. I avoid corn and popcorn too (haven't felt like "testing" it). (These things give me an awful stabbing headache, overall soreness in my body and joints, irratibility)
-nuts (haven't had the allergy tests to confirm, but some kinds give me a reaction)
-bananas (give me incredibly itchy skin and hives as of December 2011)
-caffeine: tea, coffee, chocolate (cause an intense pain in the left side of my neck that is hard to explain but if I drink a cup of coffee or bottle of iced tea, I have actually thought I needed to go to the hospital or that I was dieing)
-anything from a package that is processed (bottled dressings, sauces, etc) because it isn't "clean", and probably has gluten or an off limit food

Last weekend I was out of town for a Bowen treatment with my naturopath and I had to take my cooler with my own food (breakfast, lunch, snacks).  We had planned on eating supper at a restaurant, which causes me slight anxiety because if I haven't been there before I don't know what I will order. Sometimes it is embarassing and usually limited. We try to pick places that will offer a variety of foods, but unfortunately the restaurant we chose was lame.

I knew I would have to order a salad with chicken or fish, but was hoping for a baked potato too.  Well, this place didn't have baked potatoes so I asked for a salad (no tomatoes, peppers, red onions, nuts or dressing) with grilled chicken (no seasoning).  They didn't have olive oil or maple syrup for dressing and I forgot my own at the hotel.  I ate my lettuce, carrot, cucumber, and avocado salad with the grilled (and preseasoned) "chicken"--I hate most restaurant chicken because I swear it isn't real.  What's with the rubbery texture?  I actually only ate half and couldn't finish it because it was so disappointing and I had a  much better homemade salad in the fridge at the hotel that I would eat instead. 

My favorite food-chain restaurants that are awesome for people with allergies/intolerances are:
1) Moxie's -they are so understanding and accomodating and the chef always makes sure the food is amazing! 
2) Earl's- it is very easy to find good food here because their food is pretty "clean" already and you can order a potato, meat, veg, salad easily.
3) A steakhouse- meat, potatoes, veg.

(I am sure there are more, but I don't eat out a lot and always go back to the same places because I know I will get good, safe food)

Taking things into my own hands

So in January I decided to make an appointment with a Naturopath to see if someone else had any ideas of what is going on with me.  I traveled 4 hours, since that is the closest Naturopath to our town.

I liked that both the Naturopath and the Nutritionist spent about an hour with me listening to "my story" and asking questions.  They couldn't believe all of the things going on with my health! Unfortunately they suggested I go back to my doctor to get referred for some more tests that hadn't been done yet.  My doctor isn't likely to send me for these tests since that wouldn't fit in with his Anxiety diagnosis.  Or his "you have a cold" diagnosis either. 

Then I spent an hour with the Nutritionist alone.  Since my diet is pretty strict and clean already there weren't many changes I need to make, but she did request that I cut gluten out for a month to see if  there are any changes in how I feel.  So in addition to not being able to eat red meat, pork, tomatoes, and soy now I can't eat any grains!  No bread, flours, pasta, rice, corn, cornstach!  The list for gluten is almost as huge as soy!

Today is 1 week gluten free....I can't say I've noticed any changes in how I feel.  I am craving bread.  Or my aunt's homemade scones.  Or a cookie.  Just sayin...