From our FAB Family…
I had allergies my entire life. I suffered from a year-round “hay fever” and was terribly allergic to cats. I was never an energetic person, and I always felt just a little bit tired. Having kids didn’t help with the tired part. My husband and I thought maybe we should figure out why I was so tired all the time. I had my doctor do some blood work, and everything was normal. I stopped eating sugar, and it didn’t really help much (though I did lose some weight!). Somehow, my amazing husband thought to suggest I stop eating wheat; this was about 5 years ago before “gluten-free” was a common household phrase. I tried taking gluten out of my diet for about a week. I didn’t notice much difference, but thought I would test by eating a little wheat one day. I had a few bites of bread and a couple of noodles, and within an hour I was a zombie! I couldn’t keep my eyes open and I could hardly hold a pen. I felt as if I had taken a Valium. It was crazy!
From that day on, I went without gluten. Soon, I noticed other changes in my body, mainly my loss of all other allergies. I no longer had am itchy throat and stuffy nose all the time. I wasn’t sneezing all day long. And most amazingly, my allergy to cats disappeared. I had more energy and for the first time in my life I was able to get regular exercise. It changed my life.
Not long after I quit gluten, I had a doctor visit. Somehow allergies came up, and I mentioned to my doctor that I didn’t have them anymore, not since I had stopped eating gluten. She was confused, and I explained. She looked at me like I was a nut, and she actually kind of snickered at me. I know that doctors don’t have a lot of training when it comes to nutrition, but really? She had the nerve to laugh? I know for a fact that going GF has relieved me of my allergies and caused so many great changes in my life! I hope that more people can realize that while food allergies may not be obvious, they can cause so many issues that we would never associate with food.
Have you had a similar experience?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
At least your dr only laughed at you. Mine said it was all in my head and offered a referral to psychiatrist. 🙁 I changed doctors and got the same response from the new one. I had a history of anxiety and depression and that’s all anyone would look at. Best part was that anxiety and depression completely went away on a GF diet and I’ve been medication free for years. Pretty sure it’s not all in my head. LOL
Wow Brandy! Yay for you to holding out and finding the real cause of your troubles, and taking good care of yourself!
Erin
I haven’t had that experience, but when I tell people doctors are very under-educated in nutrition and that changing their diet (eliminating gluten [or all grains, really] and sugar, with possibly dairy) can solve just about any health problem they have… I’m pretty sure they think I’m a nut too. It’s frustrating because I want to help others, but you can’t beat them over the head with it nor can you make them do something they don’t want to. Oh well, worry about yourself and your family, the others? What can you do?!
This is interesting to read. I’m currently having a ton of trouble with fatigue and nausea. I know some of the nausea is related to GERD; however, the fatigue is becoming unbearable. I feel like I’m barely able to enjoy time with my son and family b/c I’m so tired. I had blood work done too and nothing was found. I may try the diet and see if it works.
I know for myself Kristy, the less gluten I eat, the more energy I have. While I haven’t eliminated it entirely, I do notice a difference when I avoid it.
Erin
Kristy-
My #1 & #2 symptoms for 14 years were also nausea and fatigue. Very strict gluten free diet and a good probiotic took care of my nausea in 2 days!
I was the exact same way! Horrible seasonal allergies, horribly allergic to cats, IBS symptoms, and bad psoriasis on my scalp. Within a month of going gluten free, I was no longer having to take allergy meds, was no longer tied to a bathroom, and I have maybe 1/4 of the psoriatic plaques that I used to. Plus, my energy levels are way better than they used to be. You couldn’t pay me to eat wheat now!
I grew up eating peanut butter and had cats now i am super allergic and I break out in hives…I think since chemicals in food has changed, ever since Monsanto started putting RoundUp ready in crops there is new chemicals now in food, like in the soy and corn and most products carry them, so I try to get food free from GMOs…but most supermarket food is Not labeled no GMO’s and trying to get word out to lable GMOs like other countries around the world…http://justlabelit.org/
Thanks for sharing that link Michelle!
Erin