The V-safe challenge

At our party last night, we provided pulled pork (and buns), chicken and peppers, and salad. Since many people want to bring something, we suggested sides and desserts. And for those who wanted to accept the mission, I gave them my "no" list; I didn't expect too many "safe" dishes.

There were things I couldn't eat: a standard veggie tray with ranch dip (and another ranch dip, which seemed kinda random), a pot of canned baked beans, chocolate cake, something like an upside down cake, some chocolate bundt cakes, and cookies--both homemade and store bought.

And my friends came through in a big way! They took the V-safe challenge. There was a bean salad, baked beans (family recipe), beet orange fennel salad (I had leftovers today with goat cheese and candied walnuts), dill cucumber salad (this was very popular), corn salad (from Whole Foods), and vinegar coleslaw (the closest I've ever had to KFC slaw).

But the hit of the night was the "jello" shots my friend made. Go ahead, be jealous.

Judging from the rate they were consumed, the popularity was: dark chocolate mocha (Patron cafe dark cocoa), coconut (Malibu), ginger coconut (Malibu), peppermint mocha (peppermint mocha Kahlua, Patron cafe dark cocoa), hibiscus blackberry (vodka), and blood orange margarita (Grand Marnier, rum). Both the mocha shots were like pudding and the coconut was like flan. REALLY--everyone was asking for another "flan." It looks like she did an amazing amount of work. They were made with half alcohol and half other liquid and some agar. I hope that wasn't a secret now that I've told my huge readership!

I bought some cheap forks for parties and lose one or two almost every party. I have about half of them in my kitchen drawer. But when we ran out, I forgot that was only half of them. I put out the rest of our "real" forks, some plastic forks. And then I remembered I have a whole stash of party supplies. It's not that I forget; I just take a long time to remember!

Is it sinusey or sinusy?

I was invited to lunch at Revo. I used to go there a LOT. Half of their menu is gluten-free. But then I realized that they are not super careful about cross contamination, and they often put chips (gluten-free until they fry them) on TOP of my gluten-free food. *SIGH*

So I went and had the chicken fajita rice bow with brown rice and corn tortillas instead of chips. And they got it right. Sweet!

The co-workers who invited me had a groupon for the Gelato Spot, which is almost right next to Revo. I went with them but didn't understand why P was asking me if I could eat sorbet. (Yes, if it doesn't have dairy or bananas.) As they were ordering, they told me to pick a sorbet. I talked to the guy and they just have fruit, sugar, and water in the sorbet. Nice! I got pineapple after a little taster spoonful.

I took my pineapple sorbet home with me and had it after a pasta and sausage dinner. I ate it with some Enjoy Life gingerbread cookies. I probably should have eaten half tonight and half tomorrow. But I didn't.

We were watching Burn Notice when I noticed that my throat was "sore" a little. Kind of stuffy or something, I'm not even sure how to explain it, but that feeling when you might be getting sick. Except that I get this without getting sick. And all these thoughts start going around in my head. Is this an allergic reaction? Did that guy at Gelato Spot use the same scoop for my sorbet that he used for the gelato? Was there something wrong with the pork sausage (I usually use chicken, but I had this in the freezer from some Sprouts sale)? Is it from the dust I stirred up cleaning the dog room and washing the dog bedding? What. is. wrong. with. me?!

I've been keeping a food diary that includes columns for BM times and Symptoms. Once I started feeling better and wasn't filling the whole symptoms box with some version of low-, moderate-, or severe-level butt/low back pain, cramping, or bloating, I (re-)noticed something else. And I wrote phlemy one day. Then sinusy. Or is it sinusey? That *is* a word, right?! Cause I'm sinusy. Not all the time. But I have some notion that it's related to my other symptoms. I just haven't paid attention since it's the least problematic issue I have going on. But the throat thing--that made me think, I've had this before. I didn't care because I felt shitty. Really, that is *totally* the right word. Like sinusy.

Bloomers.

It took longer than usual to get in to see Dr. M, my naturopathic "chiropractor" for my adjustment. I was feeling okay, no real complaints, just my near-constant popping in my right shoulder. The student, who I've seen once before, seemed surprised when I answered that I don't eat any of the things on my allergy list. She has a dairy issue but says she sometimes cheats. And pays for it. And that would be why I don't cheat--paying for it sucks.

Dr. M did more adjustments around my knees than usual. He asked if my knee was hurting. Actually, it was hurting a couple times very recently; I felt like I was favoring it and was worried about what that would do to the rest of my "structure." He also asked if I had been, I don't recall exactly, but this is the second time he has implied that I'm laying or sitting on the couch in a bad position and that I shouldn't sleep on the couch. He spent some time on the shoulders and neck area, of course, among other things.

I told him that I started taking the magnesium he suggested (I'm taking it twice a day along with a cranberry pill*) and that the twitching in my eyes actually went away the first day. It has come back, but not as severe as it was. He commented to the student that a lot of people, to his surprise, are shocked when something he suggests works. He clarified that he wasn't talking about me. (Hmm, are you sure? I'm surprised that doctors, etc. think that I won't take their advice or do whatever I need to do to feel better and be healthy.)

He mentioned to the student that the magnesium helps with spasms and tremors. Well, now that you mention it. I'm trying to think back. I've been having almost daily "numbness" in my left calf area; it goes away and comes back, not lasting long enough to be an MS relapse. I have less frequent "numbness" in my midsection (stomach area, usually on the left but not always) and in my fingers. I don't think I've had any of this numbness since I started the magnesium last week.

We talked about upcoming plans and he offered this tidbit for someone who may make a "funny" but mean comment to me in front of a group of people. Ask: when I am dead, is that is what you want to remember saying to me. WOW. Harsh. But maybe effective for some passive aggressiveness. He warned that it should be saved for a really terrible comment.

For the situations when I don't want to pull that one out, he suggested that I picture the person in old time bloomer underwear. For the guy, have them pulled up to the ribs over the protruding belly. I don't know if this will work when I'm pissed off, but I know what he means. If I can laugh in their face when they are being asses, maybe they'll shut the hell up.

*I stopped taking a lot of supplements but not all. I currently take flax/borage oil, magnesium, cranberry, Culturelle, and Provigil in the morning and flax/borage oil, magnesium, cranberry, Culturelle, and a multivitamin at night.

Not for wimps.

I almost always participate in the NARCOMS registry surveys. They are long, but I hope that the information they gather helps decide the course of research in some way. I commented on the last one:

I'm unsure since they all seem to have the same symptoms, but my recent health issues could be related to MS, Graves disease, hyperthryoidism (previously hypo), or multiple food allergies, among other things. I'm curious about the autoimmune connection that I'm seeing in the allergy (particularly Celiac) community, people having autoimmune diseases like MS too.

And I got a response back!

There is a modest increased risk of other autoimmune diseases among MS patients (particularly thyroid, as in your case), but not as much as in other autoimmune diseases such as lupus or Type I diabetes.

Okay, it's kinda weak, but at least they tried.

Living Without

Since we were going to celebrate a birthday for a 7 year old at a relative's house. I know that they will have food but I won't be able to eat much, but also that the Celiac relative would be bringing a dessert for me to share with her. So I ate lunch right before we headed over. After some swimming, we had some cake from the Gluten Free Creations bakery. Sweet. Really, it seemed very sugary. But it was good as a treat, with another treat--coffee with Kahlua.

She sent me home with the rest of the cake and I'm certain I will eat a piece every day until it's gone so it doesn't go to waste! She also brought me some chocolate chip cookies which were very good, very much like a traditional cookie but maybe a little more, not really crumbly but kind of that type of texture.

The Celiac relative brought me her first issue of Living Without magazine. She wanted to show me an ad for Alcat testing. I'm not sure that it's the answer but it seems to be associated with a rotation diet. She also informed me that she was going to get a gift subscription for me for my birthday!

In this issue, I liked the one page Living Without pantry Substitution Solutions. Although it specifically says that substituting for more than two eggs may change the integrity of a recipe, the recipe for the blueberry pancake makeover lists the flax gel substitute for the 3 eggs. I might try it to see how it works. But I hate to waste my time and money if it doesn't come out.

There are several other recipes I could make as well. I find it interesting that even in a magazine like this, for people with allergies, there are so many recipes I can't make or have to consider what substitutions I will have to make. At the same time, it's good to see a few things for me. And I like the book recommendations. I have one of the books I borrowed from the library and it did have some good ideas, and 2 more of the books are available at my library and look like they may have some good recipes for me too.

This relative and I go to the same endocrinologist, and we discussed the lack of diet and nutrition advice we have received, how they really rely on medicine and don't seem to be looking for any cutting edge or alternative treatment to thyroid disease. For example, she is eating seaweed for her Hashimotos but it is not recommended for people with Graves. She (as I am!) was really confused by the fact that I've gone back to Hashimotos after just being diagnosed with Graves a few months ago.

Frankly, I'm kind of tired of doing all this research and trying to figure out what I should or should not be doing. I'm currently considering cutting nightshades from my diet (she has not done that, but there was an article about it) but am so restricted that I'm thinking about doing a "priority list" so that I can be the most restrictive at home but not as much when I'm out. Otherwise, I fear that I will really go insane. Insaner.

Flagstaff

I knew I was getting sick by the time I left work yesterday, so I stopped at the grocery store for some supplies. I got some Vitamin C and Zinc, both of which I generally don't take since they boost the immune system, and a couple of bottles of orange juice. I originally planned to go to get some yogurt (coconut milk) so I picked that up and a few other things and headed home.

I took a bottle of OJ and the 4 serving size of vanilla yogurt for our trip up north for dog training in the woods. While I was eating my entire yogurt with some granola added, someone asked me about the calories. I had to look and do some math since I rarely consider the calories now. I mean, I have a general idea of calories, but I'm not counting them--I just try to eat more "nutritional" calories than empty calories.

There was about 350 calories in the yogurt, so I thought that was pretty reasonable since I wouldn't be eating a sandwich like most people brought for their lunches. During the day, I had a Clif Organics Kit bar and a Larabar Uber, which I thought was a little overly sweet, just like the regular Larabar with those flavors (apple pie and cherry pie). I also had an apple with Justin's Maple Almond Butter.

After the training had ended, we were hanging out and I mentioned to a couple who had their dogs running around that they should watch them around Teka. My husband went to change his clothes, and a short time later, I heard the yelling. He later explained that Teka was fine with the male dog who came over and was nose to nose with her, but the female dog came over and growled and Teka snapped at her. So maybe, just maybe, we will be able to work with her, and get a male dog, probably from our local breed rescue from a foster who knows us and our situation, but not get a puppy, for our next dog.

We usually go to Bunhuggers on our way out of Flagstaff, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to eat there, but I encouraged my husband to go anyway. Fortunately, they grill the burgers and chicken without any oil or seasonings, so I asked for a burger with no bun.

They have a salad bar type set up for the burger toppings, which includes shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and relish, onions, and an assortment of sauces. I was thrilled that they gave me a stack of lettuce leaves under my burger, so I was able to make a lettuce wrap. I'm going to miss their fried zucchini, mushrooms and zucchini, with ranch, but the burger--protein style--was good.

Dr. M

I saw the doctor today for my adjustments. That is all.