WDEIA- What does that even mean? Well if you search around it is vague, but a food allergy that is only activated during exercise. And then sometimes it will depend on the amount of allergen in your system.
So by definition i should be able to eat wheat and not be "active" I'm not sure what that means my only guess is if i was planning to go into a coma i could have a loaf of bread and olive oil. Luckily for me I'm not planning any comas, but that also means no wheat.
Exercise- I would have always argued that bowling is not an exercise. Any thing that is usually enjoyed with cigarettes and beer does not make me think of exercise. I could argue that some of my attacks came from fairly moderate activities like grocery shopping and furniture shopping, nothing that you could find in your local gym.
So when I initially started having attacks I thought like a guy "if i do it again it wont happen or could not be that bad all the histamine must be gone" So i kept running. And started to modify my diet.
I thought I had Exercise Induced Anaphalxis so I just adapted my exercise routine to a drink a small V-8 in the morning and limit any food. I did not even think it was food related but i avoided eating prior to exercise.
So after the Hanes incident I went to my new Dr. in Boston,and then went to an allergist. This time my blood work came back with a positive allergy for shrimp and gluten. Skin test revealed that it was wheat, so Rye and Oats were fine.
I did not get my full diagnosis until July 2008. so just over 5 years of perpetual caution and unnerving anxiety is over, solved by avoiding the most common food in the world.
So during all this time I started running more and more. As of now i run 10-15 miles a week, and don't eat any wheat. After I run my face is still blotchy and red but I can Breath, and well that's better than looking funny.
Its funny after large meals before I would have a slight wheeze or cough, or just a hard time breathing. Now I don't have an issue breathing after 5 miles of jogging. I needed to the change my fuel source, I only use Premium Fuel made of rice, corn, and potatoes.
So just because your allergic to exercise does not mean you are unable to exercise, you just need to find your trigger. Unless of course it is all exercise that you are allergic to, and i can't help you.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
My Wife- The Greatest
Well I started in my story when i was about 22, and it was only luck that that i met my wife. She has been with me through so many allergy attacks that we both knew what to do and how to react. She at one point was concerned that I was allergic to her, I knew that to be impossible. There quite a few times when our plans had to change because i started getting hives. So always kept her cool and didn't show worry until i started to wheeze. I remember reading the info on presciption for the Epi-Pen and it stated that a symptom "is a feeling of impending doom" so her ability to keep me calm was a godsend.
When i was finally diagnosed she helped me go through the cupboards and separate the wheat from non-wheat containing items. Wow, we donated a couple bags of food, stuff that you would not think of as a grain product. stuff like Mashed Potatoes, a lot of prepacked foods have wheat as a filler or as a ingredient to thicken.
Then she did the most amazing thing she gave wheat with me, she went through the hardest phase the first month of headaches and cravings. She has been so good about it. He ability to stand by me through a very tough times has given me the strengh not to say you maybe i just go buy a sandwich and see what will happen.
She is all i could every hope for. Anyone else who is going through a similar condition, celiac or allergy. having someone willing to help out out makes life so much more bearable.
When i was finally diagnosed she helped me go through the cupboards and separate the wheat from non-wheat containing items. Wow, we donated a couple bags of food, stuff that you would not think of as a grain product. stuff like Mashed Potatoes, a lot of prepacked foods have wheat as a filler or as a ingredient to thicken.
Then she did the most amazing thing she gave wheat with me, she went through the hardest phase the first month of headaches and cravings. She has been so good about it. He ability to stand by me through a very tough times has given me the strengh not to say you maybe i just go buy a sandwich and see what will happen.
She is all i could every hope for. Anyone else who is going through a similar condition, celiac or allergy. having someone willing to help out out makes life so much more bearable.
MSG
MSG-Mono Sodium Glutamate is a chemical that stimulated part of your taste buds to make food taste savory. I know that MSG is not a product of wheat, but my wife and I do not react well to MSG. It is in almost every thing that you think tastes good or is processed, Ranch dressing - Chinese food.
With out getting to graphic my wife and I went to Chili's and both ordered ribs off their Wheat free Menu, Their ribs were mediocre at best, but both of us had a upset stomach at the same time and same reaction.
I had thought for the longest time that going out to eat meant that food would taste good but cause me to feel bad in a half hour. I used to joke about McDonalds having a negative calorie menu because it was never in my body long enough to process, I did not realize that it was just me.
Once I recognized it was MSG, I did a couple tests eat "X" with MSG added, and "X" without if pretty much realized that both my wife and I are intolerant of MSG and therefore most commercial chain restaurants.
So No Wheat and No MSG, Fried Food and ranch are gone but.. their are better foods that taste great without those things.
With out getting to graphic my wife and I went to Chili's and both ordered ribs off their Wheat free Menu, Their ribs were mediocre at best, but both of us had a upset stomach at the same time and same reaction.
I had thought for the longest time that going out to eat meant that food would taste good but cause me to feel bad in a half hour. I used to joke about McDonalds having a negative calorie menu because it was never in my body long enough to process, I did not realize that it was just me.
Once I recognized it was MSG, I did a couple tests eat "X" with MSG added, and "X" without if pretty much realized that both my wife and I are intolerant of MSG and therefore most commercial chain restaurants.
So No Wheat and No MSG, Fried Food and ranch are gone but.. their are better foods that taste great without those things.
Pizza
There are a couple ways around pizza. Both are easy.
1. Gluten Free Dough available at Whole Foods. $5 a pizza, but take it home and make your pie. not too hard at all. My wife and I use tomato Paste and spread it thin then topping and cheese last. I also use Butter on the crust with a bit of garlic salt. bake at 350 til the cheese browns.
It tastes like real homemade pizza.
2. This is a quick lunch idea, Take a Brown Rice tortilla and put the tomato paste on that thin layer of toppings and then the cheese last. Now the trick is to put the second layer on top with another rice tortilla, and then tomato paste topping and cheese.
We tried single layer but was to thin, the second almost tasted like Domino's double layer pizza.
1. Gluten Free Dough available at Whole Foods. $5 a pizza, but take it home and make your pie. not too hard at all. My wife and I use tomato Paste and spread it thin then topping and cheese last. I also use Butter on the crust with a bit of garlic salt. bake at 350 til the cheese browns.
It tastes like real homemade pizza.
2. This is a quick lunch idea, Take a Brown Rice tortilla and put the tomato paste on that thin layer of toppings and then the cheese last. Now the trick is to put the second layer on top with another rice tortilla, and then tomato paste topping and cheese.
We tried single layer but was to thin, the second almost tasted like Domino's double layer pizza.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Beer
Well Beer is a great evil if you can't have wheat and exercise.
My worst attack came after drinking the better part of a pitcher of beer while bowling and eating Pizza. We all can think of the great time spent with friends and beer, or family and beer, or activities and Beer. There are a couple answers.
Red Bridge- its beer, its good and has a decent flavor. I want to try it with a slice of orange to compliment its character, but over all it is better than most domestics, a dark amber color. about $8.99 for a six pack and pretty common.
Hard Cider- WoodChuck- Its apple, but it is cool and refreshing on a summer day. Great with a steak on the grill and all flavors are Gluten Free. I also love to cook turkey with it.
I will update when i try more flavors but for now.
To finish up the story about bowling and beer that night is proof that walking and drinking do not mix. I wound up in the Emergency Room with my Boss and his Boss. I went in 20 minutes from a slight rash to a full blown attack that caused my tongue and lips to swell up vision go blurry. I knew i was heading for the attack so I walked back to the hotel 2 blocks and took 2 Zyrtec and then waited. When I realized that this was going to be serious i took the Epi-Pen and injected it into my thigh. I called my boss and could barely speak the words Epi-Pen on the phone. While i was waiting for them (ems) I treated myself for shock.
My wife and I had gone through this process a number of times, so I was very calm and collected, I failed to recognize that not everyone I worked with knew or understood my unknown allergy attacks. So needless to say when they got to my hotel room and saw me standing there with bright red hives and only my Hanes on, well that scared them more than me. The best line i heard was "there goes his Calvin Klein Career" I laughed, I think.
My good friend who is all of 5'7" and a 160 pounds tried to kick my hotel room door down and was bounced off like a basketball. My other friend who was a EMT tried to get my vitals, the Epi-Pen worked to keep me alive that night, but my heat was over 180bpm and my blood pressure was low 90 over 50 as best as they could tell. My biggest concern after the Epi-Pen, I really had to take a poop. 10 people standing around concerned for my health, and i was barely conscience but I had to go. I had to repeat myself a number of times but finally they walked me to the bathroom, that provided the best relief i ever felt.
They let me throw some cloths on and walked me to the the ambulance, where I was transported to the local hospital. I was given some Benydryl and asked to stay awake, after you body goes through such a shock your ability to remain awake is severely hampered by anything let alone an IV of Benydryl.
So drifting in and out of conciseness i realized that the Zyrtec was not the answer i thought it was. I was still unaware of what caused my atacks, so the questions loomed over me like it always had. I felt very powerless in the following weeks, making up my own diagnosis like, Cockroaches in the bowling alley, or the cheese on the pizza or possibly a spice. I figured that beer weakened my immune system response and caused the bigger attack.
My worst attack came after drinking the better part of a pitcher of beer while bowling and eating Pizza. We all can think of the great time spent with friends and beer, or family and beer, or activities and Beer. There are a couple answers.
Red Bridge- its beer, its good and has a decent flavor. I want to try it with a slice of orange to compliment its character, but over all it is better than most domestics, a dark amber color. about $8.99 for a six pack and pretty common.
Hard Cider- WoodChuck- Its apple, but it is cool and refreshing on a summer day. Great with a steak on the grill and all flavors are Gluten Free. I also love to cook turkey with it.
I will update when i try more flavors but for now.
To finish up the story about bowling and beer that night is proof that walking and drinking do not mix. I wound up in the Emergency Room with my Boss and his Boss. I went in 20 minutes from a slight rash to a full blown attack that caused my tongue and lips to swell up vision go blurry. I knew i was heading for the attack so I walked back to the hotel 2 blocks and took 2 Zyrtec and then waited. When I realized that this was going to be serious i took the Epi-Pen and injected it into my thigh. I called my boss and could barely speak the words Epi-Pen on the phone. While i was waiting for them (ems) I treated myself for shock.
My wife and I had gone through this process a number of times, so I was very calm and collected, I failed to recognize that not everyone I worked with knew or understood my unknown allergy attacks. So needless to say when they got to my hotel room and saw me standing there with bright red hives and only my Hanes on, well that scared them more than me. The best line i heard was "there goes his Calvin Klein Career" I laughed, I think.
My good friend who is all of 5'7" and a 160 pounds tried to kick my hotel room door down and was bounced off like a basketball. My other friend who was a EMT tried to get my vitals, the Epi-Pen worked to keep me alive that night, but my heat was over 180bpm and my blood pressure was low 90 over 50 as best as they could tell. My biggest concern after the Epi-Pen, I really had to take a poop. 10 people standing around concerned for my health, and i was barely conscience but I had to go. I had to repeat myself a number of times but finally they walked me to the bathroom, that provided the best relief i ever felt.
They let me throw some cloths on and walked me to the the ambulance, where I was transported to the local hospital. I was given some Benydryl and asked to stay awake, after you body goes through such a shock your ability to remain awake is severely hampered by anything let alone an IV of Benydryl.
So drifting in and out of conciseness i realized that the Zyrtec was not the answer i thought it was. I was still unaware of what caused my atacks, so the questions loomed over me like it always had. I felt very powerless in the following weeks, making up my own diagnosis like, Cockroaches in the bowling alley, or the cheese on the pizza or possibly a spice. I figured that beer weakened my immune system response and caused the bigger attack.
Food Sad
I cant really describe it as anything else. I know that I can't eat wheat or anything that contains it. I've dealt with it. but there are times especially when shopping or on a busy day running around that it is very hard to find food available.
so Fast food is done. except hard tacos from taco bell, and sushi. (bring own soy sauce)
But there are full areas in the grocery story that feel forbidden. I know that I don't really want a sandwich but with the soft white bread that sticks to the roof of your mouth and the grape jelly falls out of the other side is a good feeling.
I hate to make the analogy, but I feel as though I am an addict and have to stay away from the evils of grains.
If I chose to to go gluten free then I would think I could go back anytime, but since it is not a choice, but a disease then I don't really have that hope. Some days I just want to pull into McDonald's and order a BigMac. I hate McDonald's yet their fries sound so good. Here is a hint do not look up their ingredients. Wow more chemically processed than gasoline. and made with wheat. in fact most potato products are made with wheat.
So I try to keep some foods around that are good and quick to make. I will add recipes as i think of them.
SlimFast
Beef Jerky- Check label
Fritos-only 3 ingredients Corn, Corn Oil, Salt
Rice-Rice Cooker Is easy and fairly fast
Corn Tortilla Chips most of Fritos brands are Gluten Free
so Fast food is done. except hard tacos from taco bell, and sushi. (bring own soy sauce)
But there are full areas in the grocery story that feel forbidden. I know that I don't really want a sandwich but with the soft white bread that sticks to the roof of your mouth and the grape jelly falls out of the other side is a good feeling.
I hate to make the analogy, but I feel as though I am an addict and have to stay away from the evils of grains.
If I chose to to go gluten free then I would think I could go back anytime, but since it is not a choice, but a disease then I don't really have that hope. Some days I just want to pull into McDonald's and order a BigMac. I hate McDonald's yet their fries sound so good. Here is a hint do not look up their ingredients. Wow more chemically processed than gasoline. and made with wheat. in fact most potato products are made with wheat.
So I try to keep some foods around that are good and quick to make. I will add recipes as i think of them.
SlimFast
Beef Jerky- Check label
Fritos-only 3 ingredients Corn, Corn Oil, Salt
Rice-Rice Cooker Is easy and fairly fast
Corn Tortilla Chips most of Fritos brands are Gluten Free
Hamburgers
No wheat means no bun means no burgers, just greasy meat patties with cheese. Not to appetising.
Well TRADER JOE'S has a close product that will work for buns.
Gluten-Free French Rolls
4 in a pack.
Make you burger just as normal,
cut the roll into thirds and discard the center section, there is just to much bread there.
and you can have a good old fashioned cook out.
Well TRADER JOE'S has a close product that will work for buns.
Gluten-Free French Rolls
4 in a pack.
Make you burger just as normal,
cut the roll into thirds and discard the center section, there is just to much bread there.
and you can have a good old fashioned cook out.
Hives and Exercising
In the spring of 2003 i started to exercise more consistently than i had in the previous few years. I had just moved to Milwaukee, WI. I wanted to get in shape and enjoy the city. At that time I was 22, I had become accustom to large amounts of beer consumption and general unhealthy eating habits in rural Wisconsin. So I started to exercise mostly at night, because of work. Every so often I would have a slight rash on my lower stomach. I didn't think much of it, figured it was sweat related. after a couple months the reactions got worse. A year passed and I was doing fine any hives I had were small and easily managed with benedryl. Well in the spring of 2004 i went for a jog during my lunch hour, a mile and a half. when I cam back to work I was fine for about 3 minutes. Then i developed a full blown Anaphalaxic Attack. My co-workers reacted fast and called EMS. I went through hives to swelling of the tongue and brief loss of conciseness. By the time I got to the emergency room, the swelling had subsided and I was fine.
So to any one that has slight hives during or after exercising this is a fair warning. You maybe fine for a while but if you do not know the cause then be careful and have an epi-pen ready.
So I was young and naive, the next day i figured that I could run again, no worries right? same thing ate lunch and ran a mile and half. with the same reaction. we this time was not as bad but I was then told by my boss to not exercise at all.
I started to research and found out that exercise can cause anaphalxis, but then went to my doctor and then an allergist and went through all the tests. Here is a surprise I was not able to reproduce the attacks.
My Allergist came up with a list of allergies
1. dust
2. mold
3. ragweed
4. cockroaches
5. silk
6. Penicillin (knew i was allergic due to hives on arm after wisdom teeth were pulled)
But none of those were causing the attacks.
so he tested me for hot and cold allergies, nothing
a stress test, nothing.
mean while the attacks were getting more common. Grocery store, walking, outdoor events these attacks were all mild but caused my fiance to be concerned. I was frustrated but i had no idea what i could do to prevent it.
While I was on my honeymoon in 2005 I had an attack after eating lunch and walking a couple miles. We were in Paris and I could only speak enough french to get by not get medical help. I had hives from head to toe I walked into a pharmacy and pointed to my arms the woman gave me a package for 5 euros. Hives were gone in 30 minutes and i felt great.
When we got home I took that to my allergist, he looked at it and said yeah that's Zyrtec. So i said why not prescribe that because it works. He wanted the cause and i was more concerned with the cure. Well eventually i was able to get my primary doctor to prescribe Zyrtec.
It worked but was not the answer.
So to any one that has slight hives during or after exercising this is a fair warning. You maybe fine for a while but if you do not know the cause then be careful and have an epi-pen ready.
So I was young and naive, the next day i figured that I could run again, no worries right? same thing ate lunch and ran a mile and half. with the same reaction. we this time was not as bad but I was then told by my boss to not exercise at all.
I started to research and found out that exercise can cause anaphalxis, but then went to my doctor and then an allergist and went through all the tests. Here is a surprise I was not able to reproduce the attacks.
My Allergist came up with a list of allergies
1. dust
2. mold
3. ragweed
4. cockroaches
5. silk
6. Penicillin (knew i was allergic due to hives on arm after wisdom teeth were pulled)
But none of those were causing the attacks.
so he tested me for hot and cold allergies, nothing
a stress test, nothing.
mean while the attacks were getting more common. Grocery store, walking, outdoor events these attacks were all mild but caused my fiance to be concerned. I was frustrated but i had no idea what i could do to prevent it.
While I was on my honeymoon in 2005 I had an attack after eating lunch and walking a couple miles. We were in Paris and I could only speak enough french to get by not get medical help. I had hives from head to toe I walked into a pharmacy and pointed to my arms the woman gave me a package for 5 euros. Hives were gone in 30 minutes and i felt great.
When we got home I took that to my allergist, he looked at it and said yeah that's Zyrtec. So i said why not prescribe that because it works. He wanted the cause and i was more concerned with the cure. Well eventually i was able to get my primary doctor to prescribe Zyrtec.
It worked but was not the answer.
Intro
Hello my name is Dave and I have decided to start this blog to help other people who have to live on a gluten free or wheat free diet. This will contain recipes and daily notes about living without the most common ingredient in American food. I will also provide a bit of back story on how I found out about my condition. Some of the stesses and joys of the required lifestyle.
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