Here is an actual post that has very little to do with the kids! That almost never happens these days (I am in a bit of a blogging rut). This is more of a sneak peak into how I approach chronic health issues in general (usually, try lots of things until something works)
So, many moons ago, I followed a book about figuring out what kinds of food disrupt you digestion. Sadly, the conclusion was that BREAD (and pretty much anything made with wheat) was the culprit. I was fortunate not to have severe health issues from it, but my body definitely didn’t appreciate a lot of wheat products.
As an aside, looking back through my old posts, I noticed that is was almost exactly six years ago that I figured this out the first time because I also wrote about Weiberfasching in the same post – how crazy is that?!
So, after the first pregnancy, my digestion actually got a bit stronger, and it didn’t bother me as much. A few years later, I was pregnant with Lily, and my entire body downshifted to low gear. After she was born, I got a bit more energy, but I was still a bit slow.
However, I had one chronic health issue that bothered me after the pregnancy, but I didn’t really think much about it. I have had a stuffy nose for almost two years. During the pregnancy, I didn’t think anything of it because that is one side effect of gestating babies. However, having swollen sinuses for an extended period was starting to wear on me.
A few weeks ago, my friend Christina made an awesome Thai lunch for a few friends and me. She is an amazing chef so I was happy to be part of it. She had a little bread basket out before lunch and I shoved a few pieces of bread in my mouth before the good stuff came out. However, as lunch wore on, my sinuses started swelling until, by the end, I could barely taste because my nose was practically sealed shut.
On the way home, it was like a light went off! Bread, my arch nemesis! So , I stopped eating anything made with gluten. After a few days, I had some noticeable improvement. About a week into this adjustment, Matthias made some pizza with a spelt/wheat mix of flour (it was delicious), and I decided to use it as a test of the gluten factor. That night, as I sat in meditation, I could, literally, feel the blood pumping to my sinuses and they began to close…… sigh, who needs a food nemesis?
So, that was clear enough for me. Aside from some other supplementary things to help my body recover (a Pranic cleanse and just more movement), I am fully wheat free. It has been a week since my sinuses have felt swollen. The only thing I still notice is that they are a bit swollen when I am inverted, but that too is getting better.
My next step is making the kitchen a little more gluten-free so it is easier for us all to eat things together as opposed to me getting a special version of a meal. Plus, of course, there needs to be a new shift in eating habits. The first week was rough because I was kind of fasting just from lack of selection (and not a lot of energy to remedy that thanks to sick kids).. Now, however, I can eat a bit more, and my stomach feels very happy as do my sinuses.
I asked myself if I should go to the doctor about this, and I kind of decided that there is nothing that he can do, and I am certain of my own diagnosis (there is not quick and simple test for gluten intolerance – though there are tests that basically measure how much your body gets stressed from gluten). Aside from that, I suspect he won’t have anything of use to offer. I am not looking for a pill to fix it. Now that I know the root cause, I can adjust and become more aware of my body.
Breathing easily is such a joy!
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