To Be or Not To Be Gluten-free

For some it’s a choice. For others like me it isn’t a choice. Though to my knowledge gluten isn’t my problem, I can’t have it due to my wheat allergy. I am also allergic to cows milk, so I am doubly whammied.

What is it like to be allergic to wheat or gluten? Dining out is harder. Some restaurants have gluten free menus, while others do not. For some they cannot even have the contamination of wheat (gluten). I am fortunate that a slight contamination does not bother me. I can still partake in the blood of Christ during communion. For me the slight contamination of drinking wine after others who have had wheat does not cause any adverse reactions.

If you are allergic there is a constant vigilance on your part to make sure what you’re eating is gluten free. People don’t even realize that something as benign as a seasoning packet might contain wheat. If your like me there will only be minor consequences, but others will get deathly ill. One would hope that others would be more conscientious when preparing food for their family, but that is not always the case.

Why was I diagnosed with food allergies? I was vomiting frequently and my reflux was crazy. So, my gastrointestinalogist sent me for blood tests. It was a simple blood draw and the lab tested me for the most common allergies.

1. Cow’s Milk 
2. Eggs
3. Tree Nuts: (Brazil Nuts, Almonds, Cashews, Macadamia Nuts, Pustachios, Pine Nuts and Walnuts)
4. Peanuts
5. Shellfish
6. Wheat
7. Soy
8. Fish

Once I cut out my food allergies which included most of the tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, shrimp and egg whites, I noticed other symptoms, because they went away. For instance I was having a different type of vertigo than my normal Ménière’s Vertigo. Also, I had constipation and  diarrhea for most of my life... all that stopped when I eliminated my allergens. 

Upon learning that most were just food sensitivities, I could add them back in. Cow’s milk and wheat, however, are allergies that I notice fairly quickly after ingesting. Fortunately, they just cause me stomach pain, reflux and  diarrhea. I avoid them, but occasionally I do get some accidentally or because I was not diligent in asking the ingredients or I am craving a sweet. I am glad my allergies are not severe enough to cause me to go into anaphylaxis. 

Just not having the extra vertigo has been enough to keep me off the wheat and dairy. I miss having a cake or a milkshake, but have found alternatives. My nearest grocery store has a big gluten-free section and even offer vegan cheese. 

The bottom line is that I feel better and I have lost about 15 pounds. Who knew allergies were the cause of my IBS? If you have that and/or reflux, have your doctor check you for food allergies. 

I hope you are spin free!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Birthday Month

This month is my birthday month. It’s been a fantastic month so far. Penn & Tellers Fool
Me taping on the 1st. A night of celebration as the hubby shaved his head for St. Baldrick’s on the 2nd. Followed by a day at the races. Unfortunately, Kevin Harvick didn’t win. Then this past weekend a staycation at a local hotel, where I was comped and then hit a jack pot. It’s been a great start to the big 55.

Yes, I will be 55 on my birthday! No, it doesn’t bother me. I really love my life and wouldn’t change it for the world. Well, I would eliminate the crazy autoimmune stuff that plagues me, but I am living despite it. It has taught me to appreciate the good days and even the so-so ones and to take it easy on the bad ones.

This weekend... St. Patrick’s Day weekend is the only free weeken for us this month and Ralph will probably have to work. I would like to drive to the winery... my supply has gone. LOL!

I get to see Donny & Marie during my birthday weekend. Though I’ve seen Doony twice, I’ve never seen Marie. I am excited. Then the day after my birthday I am off to visit my family in Ohio. I pray for spring weather and not winter. I have seen it go both ways when I lived there.

I will help celebrate my best friend’s birthday and my sister’s birthday while in Ohio. Ours are just a few days apart. There are a lot of March birthdays! So for all you March babies, whether you are a Pisces or Aries, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy our birthday month.

I hope you are spin free.

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Rare Disease Day

First I want to send hugs to all who have a rare disease. I wrote this on my Facebook timeline, but need to share with you.

Meniere’s Disease is a rare disease, so much so that doctors don’t know what causes it or how to cure it.  It is characterized by vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, ear fullness, drop attacks I and deafness.

It is unpredictable with good days and bad days. I look normal even on not so good days. Though you may notice that I tip or stumble or walk like I’m drunk. I have more of these days then even the people closest to me realizes.

On my not so good days, when my ears are full and the tinnitus is loud, my brain feels cloudy. I have trouble concentrating, I carry on especially for fun things. Sometimes I let people know how I feel, just in case it turns into a full vertigo attack.

I have been fortunate not to have had a vertigo attack in public. Mine are usually when I awaken.  I have had mini-spins (one or two rotations) in public, also, wavy walls or shifting floors.

Even on good days the tinnitus is present as are the balance issues. I try to limit my salt intake, which helps with the loudness of tinnitus. It doesn’t seem to affect the vertigo.

As I learn my new normal, I try to enjoy every minute that I can. I have had this disease since before my diagnosis in 2000. Then I had frequent bouts of vertigo and slam attacks. I went into remission around 2012, but came out of remission at Disneyland in 2017. So now I am learning about it again.

My last full vertigo attack was in May of 2018. My diuretic seems to be keeping even the mini vertigo attacks at bay, though occasionally I feel as if my head  went on a quick trip around the room. I have coping mechanisms when out having fun... including ear plugs for hyperacusis, blue light filtering glasses and I rarely do things on my own, unless I am having a really good day. Even then I am not far from home. One thing is certain is that I will survive.

I hope you are spin free.

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers everywhere to express there love. It is also a day I looked forward to when I was a kid. You remember making your Valentine boxes so all the other kids could put their cards for you in it. I love LOVE! There can never be too much love. 

So what if it’s a created holiday to sell cards and candy. Use this day to remember those you love, especially yourself! Self-love is the most important love there is. Without self-love you can’t fully love someone else, because you’ll always have that niggling thought at the back of your mind that you’re not worthy. I want you to know that you are worthy and deserving of love. So start replacing negative thoughts with positive ones about yourself! 

And for Valentines Day remind yourself to love yourself and others. Everyone deserves love! Keep that in mind today and everyday! Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone reading this. 

I hope you are spin free!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Author

Occasionally someone will remember that I write and have published a children’s book, even though I’m not writing much other than my blogs. Today is one of those days... a friend asked me to read and talk about what inspired me to be a writer for a group of kindergarteners through second graders. Despite my health issues, I said yes. I may need a driver, but I will be there.

I just ordered some bookmarks to pass out to the kids. Hopefully, there won’t be more than 100 kids. I must say I’ve never spoken to a group that large. Kids can be tough audiences or they can be truly awesome. 

Now I just need to figure out what to talk about. LOL! I will probably say that I have been writing stories since I was in elementary school. Push my favorite book series... The Wizard of Oz and Little House on the Prairie books made me want to invent my own worlds. 

I will talk about my love of reading and the ability it has to transport the reader into different times, places and experiences. Hopefully, I can awaken the love of reading in this new generation. 

Now I just need to stay calm and remember to talk slowly and to enunciate my words so the children can understand me. 

Wish me luck. I hope you are spin free!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Appreciate Life

One thing living with a debilitating disease has taught me is to enjoy life. Yes, I may have to cancel some things due to this disease, but it’s no different than having the flu. The difference is that I appreciate every single good day I have. It does pay to be flexible though.

Having friends and family who are supportive helps tremendously. There were several months, nearly a year, that I couldn’t drive. And friends and family helped me get around. Taking me back and forth to doctors appointments, getting me out of the house. Without them I would have become housebound, because even taking a walk can be frightening when you’re dizzy all the time.

My point is on the good days, even some dizzy days I try to have fun. Most importantly I appreciate each show, each lunch or dinner, each trip and every moment that I am not dizzy. I even appreciate the dizziness and general lightheadedness, since it’s not vertigo. Vertigo is the hardest part of this disease to deal with for me. Some attacks cause severe after affects that last a couple of days for me.

 I really do appreciate the days without vertigo. Sometimes my natural grumpiness emerges and I may not seem so thankful, but I am. I am working on becoming a more peaceful me. I am a work in progress and I am continually changing. I am thankful that I can work on me.

I am choosing to be happy and I appreciate all the good days. Sometimes I may just need to be reminded of this.

I love my life. I hope you are spin free!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Living Despite Meniere’s

I think living with a debilitating disease is often about timing. I know I feel better during the day than the evenings. So if I want to do anything it’s best to plan daytime activities.

Now that’s easier said than done, since most of my friends have jobs. It makes socializing harder, but not impossible. I just need to make sure I have a ride if I do evening activities. That’s what husband’s are for...

There are some days that I may have to cancel plans. It would be nice if my disease was predictable, but it’s not. If it’s frustrating for others, think about how I feel. I do not like being housebound. Not being able to drive is difficult. Even on good days I have to figure out how bad the brain fog is affecting me. Today it’s not so bad, but I still began to cook my oatmeal without water.

Imagine if I am driving and I see a squirrel.  🐿  Okay, not really a squirrel, but anything that takes my focus off what I am doing. I could put others in danger as well as myself. So, I rarely drive anymore.

I am fortunate that my brother lives with me and can take me to appointments if my husband cannot. Oh and Uber and Lyft are viable ways to get around.

The days I get out and enjoy myself make it easier to cope with the bad days. Anxiety and Depression are part of life for me, but I continue on.

I have lost 15 lbs in 5 months, because I had to stop eating wheat 🌾 and cows 🐄 milk. It cuts out so much of my previous diet. Strangely enough, I am not constantly hungry since eliminating my food allergies. And I can still have meat, fruit and vegetables.

My husband gave me a Simply Fit Board for Christmas which is helping me get into shape and it also helps with my balance. On bad days I cannot do it at all. It’s kind of funny watching me try to do the twist or even stay of the board. On good days and even my first time on it, I have no problems at all. I think because my brain is already working to keep me upright.

As I get healthier, I am feeling better. Being healthy is not a cure, but it does benefit most of what ails me. For instance, my knee isn’t causing me as much pain since dropping 15 pounds.
I refuse to give in to this disease, but I know there are days that I must. It’s all about balance and realizing that not everything is possible.

I hope you are spin free!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita