by Angela MacInnes

Created on: October 05, 2009   Last Updated: October 06, 2009

This summer I have seen the doctor more than I care too. There is something wrong with me and I had to figure it out, I am only 33 and felt so much older than that. I was tired all the time and felt as though I had the flu, just run down and an upset stomach all the time. The doctor had ordered blood work done for B12, thyroid and all the usual suspects. Those tests came back normal. My husband says, "Well that is good but there must be something they are missing, you are always sick."

I was on vacation one day and my arm broke out into a little cluster of hives. It didn't make sense, I just had a coffee and nothing else was different. The hives got worse over the course of two weeks. It was at different times of day, on different parts of my body. They were on my arms, legs, skull, back and my butt! It was the worst, I would lie in bed and my butt was so itchy! I couldn't figure it out. So since I knew the doctor was going to ask what is different, what are you eating, etc. I started keeping track when they would happen and what I was doing or eating at the time. I did some research on line and found a list of different rashes and where they were on the body. Gluten allergy was the only one that was on the butt. So I did more research on gluten allergy and figured I have a lot of the symptoms.

So then was the big thing, my carbohydrates were making me sick! I love bread, cakes and cookies and now they were on my avoid list. I though that life was very unfair! I stayed off gluten for 10 days before I made an appointment to see the doctor. I felt better; there were no hives or stomach pain. The doctor asked all the questions I knew she would ask anyway the what, where and when. I told her I had it figured and would like the gluten allergy test. No problem, done!

I called the doctor a week later and the test came back but they wanted to see me about the results. I was a little antsy since I really could be sick and it was a few days before I could go in to see her. But I made it trying not to concentrate on it. It was bad news the test came back negative but only because I was gluten free already. To make the test work properly you need to be eating gluten for at least 8 weeks! So now I am waiting to have my small intestine tested. For that test you also need to be eating gluten for 8 weeks for it to work. That is going to be a miserable 8 weeks! I really hope it is just a gluten intolerance and not celiac disease.

I did an experiment - we bought a bread maker (I know the irony)! I wanted to try the fresh bread I had just made, it smelled so good. So I had a sandwich. That night I was covered in hives and my stomach was just horrible. It lasted 2 days! So needless to say, I am sticking to my gluten free diet. I am looking for recipes and new ideas for meals on-line all the time. It is a learning experience and an adventure.

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