My Fall Resolution

Children are going back to school this week. Fall seems a little like a new year. So I have decided to make a resolution.

I am going to eat better. I can't promise I will eat less, but I will try. I have gained 5 pounds on the increased lithium/Zyprexa, and I really can't be gaining weight at where I am. But I will eat better, and hopefully that will make it easier to eat a few less calories, enough to lose those 5 pounds and a little more.

What do I mean by better? No sugar. No gluten. No highly processed foods. Maybe occasionally small amounts of honey- my father is a beekeeper after all. But not very often.

I think gluten is a problem. And I am hoping that if I eliminate it some of my various unexplained symptoms will go away, like the joint pain in my hands.

No, I am not eliminating dairy, which a lot of people advocate. I love dairy too much- and I'm not convinced that it is a problem for me as long as I drink lactaid or eat cheese. Maybe someday.

So what will I eat? Lots of veggies, fruit, beans, meat, cheese, yogurt, nuts, tofu, and non-wheat grains. At least that is the plan. Oh- and baked potatoes and sweet potatoes. Yum. I love potatoes- which is part of my problem. But I think better potatoes than pasta. I will miss pasta.

I was tested for Celiac Disease about 8 years ago, and the blood test was negative. I was diagnosed (after a colonoscopy) with nothing more than irritable bowel disease. But the doctor gave me the best advice in the world- which was to take fiber. Between the probiotics, the citrucil, and the lactaid, it is pretty much under control- and it had been so bad I had accidents. It only flares up now and then when I either drink too much regular (non-lactaid) milk, or eat too many vegetables. Yes, if I eat enormous salads every day, as I occasionally do, I will pay a price.

I think that if I don't have Celiac Disease, I am probably ok with any foods that don't have wheat or gluten as an ingredient. I am not too worried about minute amounts from cross-contamination. But I don't know. I will just try this and see how I feel. And use my symptoms of joint pain and the severity of my carpal tunnel syndrome as a guide to how strict I need to be and if this is even working.

Good news but no answers... maybe gluten?

I got the results of my hand x-ray, at least what the doctor's assistant told me over the phone. I have no arthritis in my hand, everything is normal. I am very relieved.

However, that leaves me no closer to the source of my joint pain. They offered to refer me to a hand surgeon, but I said no. I really think that if there is something going on, it is more likely to be systemic or rheumatological than a simple orthopedic issue. If the x-rays were fine, a hand surgeon can't help me. I just don't want this to get worse.

I have to figure out if there is a chance that this could still be related to hemochromatosis- and see if I can't get a blood test at my next doctor's appointment just to totally rule that out. In the meantime, I am going to seriously go gluten free. I keep saying I am going to try it, but I don't.

I tested negative for celiac, but it seems you can still have trouble with gluten- and I have nothing to lose.

Meanwhile, I had a good appointment with my psychiatrist. I like him. Even though things aren't perfect, he decided to do nothing with my meds (just resume light therapy). Which was the right decision. What I didn't tell him was that at my next vacation I will probably try to cut back on the Zyprexa again, but that can wait. And meanwhile he gave me a prescription for Nuvigil which is currently still cheaper than the Provigil I take (because I take 2 pills), but I am really hoping that the price for generic Provigil falls fast. Now that my international supplier has become unreliable, I am really worried about "financing my drug habit" as my insurance company has decided that this is one drug that they will not pay for. And it is a very important one for me.

Tomorrow: Pilates after work. Am I up for it? I'd better be. I'm signed up.