jw
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Post by jw on Apr 13, 2014 14:08:41 GMT -5
I am newly diagnosed with Celiac and Crohn's (January 2014). I started the elimination phase of AIP the first week of March 2014 adding the restriction of eliminating high FODMAP foods. I am currently in the reintroduction phase, reintroducing FODMAP foods. It has been the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. I am a "square peg through a round whole" type of person and am lucky to have a Western Medicine doctor willing to hold back on the pharmaceuticals and give AIP a chance. I am currently on 40 mg of Prednisone and will taper of that and see if AIP keeps me on the upswing.
Although AIP has been extremely time consuming (not to mention making separate meals for my three kids and husband), I am 100% on board because of how it has made me feel. What this experience has done for me is indescribable, and I thank everyone going through this experience for sharing your recipes, your struggles, and your research. So, although today might be a tougher day, I am sticking to my AIP meal plan and staying on track to have more good days than bad days.
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Post by Irene Adamson on Apr 13, 2014 17:29:15 GMT -5
jw, I am glad you are jumping in! I am glad your dr is working with you! That is great! AIP does seem to be the answer for soooo many here. It sure has helped me with Hashimoto's and various painful joints. It is time consumimg but I was able to save myself some time by cooking things up for me in advance. Most Monday mornings I started by baking beets and sweet potatoes. I also made some chicken baked with my favorite seasonings (lemon, garlic, and EVOO). All that would be in the oven at once. Then I'd sauté some veggies. I would make several hamburger patties (seasoned they way I wanted). I tried to make enough of each for several meals so that several of my lunches and dinners were covered. All this I'd get done by noon. Then at meal times I would warm mine and just make something fresh for the family. If I made something for the family that was AIP friendly, then I could eat that with them. It seemed to save me a lot of time. Thought this might help you conserve time. Good Luck!!
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jw
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Post by jw on Apr 14, 2014 9:40:24 GMT -5
My thoughts.....
Starting April 12, my hormones are a force I cannot reckon with. I am impatient, hot tempered, and generally irritated. My children and husband are bearing the brunt of it. But, as always, are very supportive. I tried yoga, deep breathing, meditation, going to bed early, focusing on my good food and my health, but this is the worst emotional hormonal experience I have had in years. I wonder how the steroids are contributing? My cravings for food I cannot have, has also increased. I have resisted 100%, but I am obsessively of thinking of eating chips, jelly beans, and drinking alcohol-all my pre-AIP premenstrual indulgences. What a hard two days it's been.
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jw
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Post by jw on Apr 15, 2014 6:15:33 GMT -5
And yesterday I was back to myself. The hormonal craze gone. Thank God for my decision to not cheat. As the saying goes, This too shall pass. Today is a New day with a new reintiduction!
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Post by alisongregory on Apr 15, 2014 7:16:58 GMT -5
If it's any consolation... We detox hormones too apparently. But from what I hear around here, it usually evens out after a couple of cycles. Yay!!
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jw
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Post by jw on Apr 16, 2014 10:45:38 GMT -5
Today is a great day and I am thankful that the weekend of emotionally hard days passed. I am even more thankful that I didn't abandon AIP. It's working for me and because of that I keep at it, even when it would be easier to give up. I have even been able to start exercising again. Oh how my brain needed that!!! Yesterday's reintroduction was wine. I chose that because I am tired of going to my many work functions and not having a glass. I love wine, gosh darn it, and that glass last night tasted divine! My next goal is to find meals my kids and hubs will eat that work for me too. It'll get easier as I reintroduce more FODMAP foods.
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jw
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Post by jw on Apr 22, 2014 19:47:32 GMT -5
Today was a day in my journey I have been trying to avoid. Since my diagnosis in January, I have tried to stay away from what I've called "the big gun" drugs. I thought I would be able to take control of my health with AIP, and with the assistance of steroids, get myself into remission. Today's blood/stool results proved otherwise, and I started Imuran. I had a week to mentally prepare for this likelihood and I thought I was prepared. But as I left the GI clinic, I was instantly overcome with emotions. I am not upset that I used AIP to feel better or that I took an approach different than the path recommended initially by my doc. I am, however, disappointed as a overall emotion. I feel like I am grieving the diagnosis all over again. Today has certainly been emotional. I wanted so badly to have a pity party, say screw it to all I've done, and just be "normal." But, really, that would take away from me all the energy, effort, and success I've experienced with these past six weeks of AIP. And do I really want to feel horrible again just to throw "screw you" in the face of Crohn's and Celiac?! No way. And NO WAY!
I am scared to be on Imuran. I am scared of the side effects. I am scared that it won't work. I am scared to taper off prednisone. I am scared to feel horrible again. Oh the fears. Thank God for my supportive family and friends!
On to another day....
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Karin
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Post by Karin on Apr 23, 2014 11:25:18 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear this! Yes, I can understand that you're scared of taking this step and it's only natural to feel disappointed. Take your time to grieve, that is part of the journey as well.
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Post by TamarE on Apr 23, 2014 11:40:40 GMT -5
You are not alone. I know it can be hard to feel like "why isn't the AIP working for me like it did for this person or that person?". We're all different. Many of us are on meds and eat AIP as well. There was a post about this yesterday on the FB group. Your first priority is your health. And improving your health may mean a combination of diet and meds. Hugs!
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jw
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Post by jw on Apr 26, 2014 5:55:17 GMT -5
Sometimes I wonder what I used to think about before my diagnosis. I feel that the majority of my thoughts revolve around my disease. Not necessarily in a bad way. I am simply surprised I have had the time to give this disease so much of my time. I thought I was a busy person before the diagnosis. Three little kids. Full time job that requires travel. Husband. Volunteer work. Exercise, family, friends. Since the diagnosis all those time commitments remain, but I've added going to the doctor frequently, cooking non-stop (separately for my family too), searching for recipes, studying AIP and Crohns and Celiac, researching the science behind my medication and treatment options. I simply wonder how I do it, but not just me, others too. Will I eventually crack? I feel like I won't because I have a great support system and I believe in what I am doing. But every time I swallow my medication (I am still bitter about taking it), I feel the urge to stop doing it all. Stop thinking about my disease. Stop giving it my time or energy, which would include my time to cook or research or study. But then I put on my big girl pants and try to remind myself that I am doing good. Doing just fine!
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Karin
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Post by Karin on Apr 26, 2014 6:28:50 GMT -5
Yes you are doing good. You are taking care of yourself in the best way you possibly can. That includes taking medicine and following the AIP road. It's wonderful to have a great support system and my guess is, over time you will be giving your illness less thought and your new way of eating will have become a habit, so it takes less time to search for recipes and such.
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jw
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Post by jw on Apr 30, 2014 7:42:17 GMT -5
I travel for work and eat at many meetings, social functions, and others' homes. Because AIP is new to me, it is new to my coworkers. They have all been incredibly supportive and accommodating. But the reason I write today is because of "sympathy." On my most recent trip, yesterday, two of my coworkers kept saying how sorry they were for me, how much sympathy they had for me. They actually had sad puppy dog faces. It does no good to tell them they don't need to feel sad. I don't. I feel great. But thinking about their sad puppy dog eyes makes me smile. Sure my life might be more challenging, but because of my diseases I have a new found knowledge about my health, my body, and for that I will forever be grateful. Not sad. I will feed myself and my family for optimal health. I will be strong and confident. And I will be happy. Because that's me. I was happy before and I am still happy. No sad puppy dog eyes on this girl!
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jw
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Post by jw on May 8, 2014 4:27:08 GMT -5
I love candy. My dream job is to be a candy taste tester. I love chips. Salt. Crunch. Seasonings. Yum! I love eating candy and then chips, especially at night when I am winding down from my busy day. Salt and Sweet. Relaxation. Divine.
On that note, I ate candy and chips last night. Gluten free because of celiac, but not AIP. I can't decide how I feel about it. Physically, I feel fine so far. Emotionally, I am ok with my choice. It was a conscious decision. But I do feel a bit of guilt. Maybe it's the guilt-ridden Catholic in me!
Sometimes I think of my body as a car. If I regularly get the oil changed and treat my car well, one failure to get an oil change will not ruin my car. However, if I never change the oil on my car, a few timely oil changes will not undo the damage caused by my regular neglect of my car. So, here, for MY insides, I've been regularly and consistently caring for my body, which means today's neglect will not ruin me. Right?! Ha!
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jw
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Post by jw on May 10, 2014 6:50:39 GMT -5
A new family moved into our cul-de-sac and within the first hour talking with the mom she talked about Whole 30! How the conversation came up, I cannot remember. But Yay for having someone that gets why I eat the way I do and why I feed my kids the way I do. I cannot contain my excitement!!!!
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Post by kristiemarie on May 11, 2014 16:04:45 GMT -5
A new family moved into our cul-de-sac and within the first hour talking with the mom she talked about Whole 30! How the conversation came up, I cannot remember. But Yay for having someone that gets why I eat the way I do and why I feed my kids the way I do. I cannot contain my excitement!!!! It's nice when you find someone who can relate to a healthier way of eating. When I started AIP on January 1st, I was excited to take my health into my own hands. After awhile, I did start to feel moody/depressed/annoyed about it because I felt like I wasn't living a "normal" life anymore. I longed for the days (before my Celiac diagnosis) in which I didn't think about what I ate..I just ate it! I wasn't an unhealthy eater either which is what bugged me the most. Anyway, those feelings did pass and I feel better than ever. We all have our good days and bad days with whatever autoimmune condition we have and with our emotional health as well but we just have to stick with it. AIP isn't a quick fix and it's definitely a journey! Congratulations on starting yours! By the way...we do have a Celiac board as well!
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