sick

I didn't have a very good day yesterday. I might have told some of you that I went to a specialist doctor a few months ago and I did all kinds of tests. There were some easy fixes with suppliments for a vitamin D deficiency and some other natural medicine that seems to be working... I'm in a much better place than I was and I'm a big proponent of curing things naturally. There was always that terrible tummy that I have lived with so long, that I hardly notice it so I forgot that I mentioned it to the doctor. It's been getting a lot worse lately, though, so I thought maybe it was something not agreeing with me. I got a second set of tests back yesterday and found out that I have a parasite which causes an ulcer so I'm going on antibiotic medicines... that is treatable. It may be from all the sushi I eat or the raw milk. And all that good fat I've been eating has not been absorbed at all ... mainly because I don't have a gallbladder anymore... my constant battle. So I have to take digestive enzymes every time I eat a meal! That was upsetting enough but then I found out that I have a gluten intolerance and he wants me to go on a gluten-free diet. First I cried because I love homemade bread and muffins and cake and pretzels and bagels and pasta and ... well, you get the picture. It's not like I overindulge in any of it, but to think that I can eat none of it?! I just read that even oats can cause problems so my granola cereal that I make every week might not be for me anymore. And gluten can be in gravies and fillers... even in ice cream!!! One of my friends here said that she heard that going off of gluten makes you feel instantly better. I can't even imagine a life without a stomach ache because that's been all I've ever known. I guess beer is out of the question too. For this foodie, this is probably some of the worst news I could get. Does anyone out there know someone who is on a gluten-free diet?  I am trying to grasp the optimistic view of this but I really haven't been able to yet.

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THANK YOU everyone for your notes and suggestions! Because of some of the links you provided, I've found a lot of information and recipes, and generally a better outlook on this!  It will be an adjustment but I think I will be able to handle it. I found out that Bob's Red Mill makes the same exact oats I usually buy in a Gluten Free version so at least I can still make my granola! (Oats are gluten free... it's just the place that they are packaged that matters.) I guess this is a lesson that some things will always remain out of my control, but I can try to make the best of it. I might have to switch my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe to oatmeal or something like it...mmm... peanut butter... now that sounds really good!