One of my very talented, curious, and fun-loving students asked me what was on my bucket list. The question caught me off guard. And I think she could tell, so she said, "post it on your blog." Yes, I immediately responded. Perfect. Well, I've been thinking about that question for awhile now, and to prove I haven't forgotten, here is my bucket list, Lauren ;)
*Backpack across Europe (but not sleep in a hostel).
*Spend a significant amount of time in Spain.
*Find a gluten-free pizza that tastes like my favorite glutenous Angenos pizza.
*Become a mom. And a Grandma someday, I suppose.
*Not be brought onto Oprah and told how much I ruined a student's life.
*Catch a musky (note, however, I have no intentions of holding it).
*Take a year off of work and travel the USA in an RV.
*Teach in a castle in Scotland for a semester.
*Pay for my future childrens and nieces/nephews college educations.
*Write a book about teaching. One that would actually get read instead of sitting on someone's coffee table as a decoration.
*Win a karaoke contest.
*Learn how to clean the kitchen to really meet Husband Joe's standards.
*Design my own clothes. If I'm really bold, sew them myself.
*Probably should learn how to sew.
*Take a photography class.
*Become fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language.
*Become a high school principal.
*Start my own high school.
*Co-own a bait shop business with my husband. And serve gluten-free cookies at the counter.
*Read more.
*Take ballroom dancing lessons.
As I read back over this list, I realize there are many other things I want to add, but for now I'll start with this. I imagine it will keep me busy for awhile.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
My Last Gluten Meals
As I awaited the test results of my upper ednoscopy (although the doctor indicated that he was 100% confident I had Celiac Spruce), I plotted and executed my last gluten meals: Angenos Pizza, Biscuits from Red Lobster, Oven Roasted Chicken Breast on Cheddar Bread from Subway, Husband Joe's pasta specials, etc. As each bite entered my mouth, I had an overwhelming sense of anger and relief. I was going to get healthy. All of the websites indicated that within two weeks of going gluten-free, I'd feel amazing (they weren't wrong). Yet, I was angry that I'd have to think about what I ate. That I'd have to adapt my lifestyle so I was healthy. But that anger quickly subsided as I started feeling better and better with each gluten-free day.
As soon as my test results came back, I went cold turkey off of gluten. In retrospect, I wonder if I would've done myself a service by slowly going away from it. But the reality was I was so desperate to feel better, it didn't matter. And I did. I felt amazing. No more swelling. No more throwing up after eating. No more cloudiness over my brain. My co-workers even said that my face was brighter--I didn't look so sick anymore. Two weeks and the elimination of gluten brought back the Stacy that was supressed for too long.
I have not cheated once in the last four months. Not once. Have I accidently gotten glutened? Probably. But I have not willing put any gluten into my body. And it has paid off. Not only do I feel wonderful, but my gluten level went from 20 (normal person is under three) to six in one month. Good-bye Gluten, Good-bye.
As soon as my test results came back, I went cold turkey off of gluten. In retrospect, I wonder if I would've done myself a service by slowly going away from it. But the reality was I was so desperate to feel better, it didn't matter. And I did. I felt amazing. No more swelling. No more throwing up after eating. No more cloudiness over my brain. My co-workers even said that my face was brighter--I didn't look so sick anymore. Two weeks and the elimination of gluten brought back the Stacy that was supressed for too long.
I have not cheated once in the last four months. Not once. Have I accidently gotten glutened? Probably. But I have not willing put any gluten into my body. And it has paid off. Not only do I feel wonderful, but my gluten level went from 20 (normal person is under three) to six in one month. Good-bye Gluten, Good-bye.
Too Much To Say
I've always struggled with my purpose for this blog. Originally, it was so I could write again. Then it became a teaching tool for my students. Then it became dormant as I worried that no one would want to hear what I had to say. And so for the last five months, I ignored it. I thought it was because I didn't know what to say. In reality, I know now, it's because I have too much to say.
From what I can figure, for the last five years I have been killing myself.
The catch? I didn't know it.
I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know what. Neither did
the ER doctors
the neurologist,
the obgyn,
the colorectal surgeon,
the hematologist,
the podiatrist,
the rhuemotlogist,
the family practice doctor,
the lab technicians,
the many vials of blood, or
the countless lab tests and xrays.
No, it was my cousin--the person I grew up babysitting, playing school with, and spending weekends with at my grandparents house in "the woods"--that knew. It was my cousin, a talented and kind-hearted newly graduated doctor, that solved the mystery that was killing me:I have Celiac Spruce disease.
So here begins my journey of living, not dying, as a Celiac.
From what I can figure, for the last five years I have been killing myself.
The catch? I didn't know it.
I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know what. Neither did
the ER doctors
the neurologist,
the obgyn,
the colorectal surgeon,
the hematologist,
the podiatrist,
the rhuemotlogist,
the family practice doctor,
the lab technicians,
the many vials of blood, or
the countless lab tests and xrays.
No, it was my cousin--the person I grew up babysitting, playing school with, and spending weekends with at my grandparents house in "the woods"--that knew. It was my cousin, a talented and kind-hearted newly graduated doctor, that solved the mystery that was killing me:I have Celiac Spruce disease.
So here begins my journey of living, not dying, as a Celiac.
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