Bummer is an understatement

A few months back I wrote about how I was feeling yucky, not sleeping, feeling bloated, etc., and I mentioned trying to cut lactose out of my diet, which by the way, didn't help much. So instead of feeling like crap all the time I went in search of answers, and eventually found some. I've not discussed what I actually found out was the issue and what I'm doing about it. So, here goes...

After a physician suggested that I try cutting out lactose and take some pills/OTC medicine to feel better, I started doing some research online. I know, I know. For all you MD's out there, this is your worst nightmare, but I felt so frustrated. When I complained to M about feeling yucky, he told me I was just getting old and that if I did plank for just half an hour a day, I'd get rid of the belly I had. So, as you can imagine, I needed some sort of affirmation that I what I was feeling was not just a result of not doing enough plank.  So once online I ran across a couple of different things that led me to figuring out what was the matter. First, a friend on Facebook posted something about how she had given up coffee because some test had told her that she had an allergy to it. Second, I found a group of people (a MD, some chiropractors, some nutritionists) with a practice that were looking at the cause of peoples' problems instead of just saying take some pills and you'll feel better. So I headed to this practice to see if I could get one of those tests.

Of course, it's never that simple. That would be too easy. I went to this practice that was not covered by my insurance. During the consultation they said they thought they could help me, so I felt encouraged. By that time, I had done some more research and thought maybe I had a parasite. I had been training in some gross lake/pond thing in the East Bay, and it seemed to make sense. Upon leaving my first appointment, I was put on a special diet (basically everything that could cause a problem was cut out including alcohol, sugar, dairy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, meat) and was given a cortisol test to send in. I also had an appointment to come back for a parasite test and a blood test to check for gluten-intolerance.

Over the next four weeks, I did my best to follow the diet (although I should point out my best wasn't very good because I went to Vegas, a bachelorette party/shower, and MT), and aside from being frustrated by my lack of options, I did feel better. I was sleeping better. For the first time in as long as I can remember, M said my skin was soft. Now the question was why. When the results came back from the blood test and saliva test (I didn't do the parasite test because it was EXPENSIVE. I figured if the other tests didn't give me any answers then I would consider doing that one.), I found out my system was completely stressed out and wasn't able to handle small stresses in my life (the cortisol was out of whack) and I have the antibodies to wheat. Awesome. Seriously awesome.

To make a long story short, I've now cut all wheat/gluten/whatever it is out of my diet, and I feel almost back to the way I felt before I noticed this was a problem. I say that because I'm not certain when it became a problem. When I think back at all the races we've done and the carbo loading I did beforehand, I feel awful for the way I treated my body. No wonder I didn't sleep before the races and I was always so bloated and feeling like crap on race day. I know for sure I felt yucky before Vineman in 2010, so maybe it started around that time. But I also know how much stress job-hunting caused me last Fall, so maybe that was it. Then, I was so sick in February... who knows? I am still a little in denial about the whole thing, but I do know I can never have gluten again, as it could lead to other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, arthritis, and fibromyalgia; all things I don't want to deal with.

A couple of times I've thought about cheating. Okay, I did cheat. I had a salad once with tuna on it. I woke up in the middle of the night, bloated, with the worst pain in my stomach. Culprit: soy sauce in the salad. Last weekend, I realized white vinegar is bad news. This means no pickles, capers, ketchup, or other yummy things and is likely why I looked 3 months pregnant after eating a burger (with lettuce instead of a bun, of course) and fries a few weekends ago.

I think my little sister (though she's not so little anymore) has it too. Saying that it's a bummer is certainly an understatement. However, I do feel like I deserve it. For the most part, I feel I lead a very fortunate and blessed life, and while I am grateful, I know there's times that I have pushed my body and demanded from it much more than it can give. I'm pretty sure this is my body's way of telling me to slow down. Hopefully, I'll take the hint.

The Worst Part About My Real Job

I realize I have yet to update you on M's big 3-0, but I decided that since this was fresh on my mind, I needed to share it.

This weekend marks the month anniversary of being at my "first real job." I say that because pretty much all my positions before have been school, and while I had responsibilities, I feel even as though I have even more responsibility now; in fact, 60 students worth. For the most part, I am thoroughly enjoying this new chapter in my life. I've been able to have dinner with M, take Charlie on walks, and if I could get my butt in gear, go on evening runs. However, I have to say that there are certain drawbacks that come with the territory. My second least favorite part is that I now have to get up early. I'm such a night person that the 7 am wake up time has taken some getting used to. It's certainly still a work in progress. But, I should also say that it is somewhat nice to get up and still be able to enjoy the morning. I think it's been a little bit easier now that my sleeping patterns have changed for the better since I have stopped eating gluten, but that's a completely different topic that I'll save for another post. But getting up early... it's just not my thing.

I think the worst part of this "real job" is having to dress nice. I used to think oh, it would be so fun to wear power suits and skirts to work and feel all fancy. I think I've had a rude awakening. This morning when I was getting ready, I had to choose my clothes based on the shoes I was going to wear. And it's not because I have this great new pair of shoes I wanted to wear. It was because my feet are so beat up - I think I have 4 blisters - that I can't handle wearing nice flats or  heels today. I don't have tennis shoes on, but it's about as close to that as you can get. Pathetic. So, even though I would have killed to wear cute, non-closed toe shoes to work a few months ago, I'm wishing/dreaming for the comfort of those shoes today.

I think it's one of those chicken and egg situations. What came first, my jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes kind of style or the fact that my previous positions required more of a relaxed attitude when it comes to clothes? I don't know if I'll ever know, but I'm pretty sure it's going to take a few more months for my poor feet to get used to being smashed into cute shoes everyday.

Last of the house pictures

I think it's about time I put up the last of the house pictures, so here they are. Enjoy!

Bathroom at the top of the stairs. This picture was taken when we visited. We haven't done anything with this room.

Our room - isn't the headboard awesome? My mother-in-law and her sister found it in a garbage pile. A little paint and the old fence is now a headboard.

"Hallway" - The view from our bedroom looking toward the TV room. This picture was also taken on our visit, and they were using the room as a bedroom. (Notice the red curtains. I'm glad they took those with them.)

The bonus room upstairs - the wet bar is to the right

M's "man cave"

He thinks we need a bigger TV... ugh

Backyard - patios that Dad and M built

I still need to take a picture of the new sod in the front of the house, but I think I'll wait until after we mow it for the first time.

It's been such a good first house. At first, it was overwhelmingly HUGE, but I think we're all starting to feel comfortable and at home.