Miss Jane Meets The Gluten Gorilla

For years, I have been wondering what was going on inside of my body. I ate extremely well, used good quality supplements, followed a great training program and there was something that had a hold inside of me that I couldn't put my finger on.

It would show up occasionally over the years in the form of flu like systems, although I usually never had vomiting or diarrhea. I would usually describe it as fighting a bug in my system, I must have the flu! What was odd about this is I only ever used to get sick from my allergies and that was it. This type of flu bug seemed to be changing that. For the last 9 months or longer, I have been walking around feeling like I am fighting a flu bug and it continually worsened.

I learned that I had a Gluten Gorilla inside of me. He was very strong and powerful. My ND concluded that it is her belief that I have a SEVERE gluten intolerance. I now have a reason for what what happening inside my body and it is remedied by cutting out all gluten from my lifestyle. I am back in control again, no more trying to figure out what is wrong. See below a diagram of what was really going on inside my stomach as well as the 2nd diagram of what my stomach looks like now after only 4 weeks of living a gluten free lifestyle.

The top diagram shows gluten in the stomach and this is what it looks like. Imagine how it feels. The bottom diagram shows a normal digestive system gluten free or a person who tolerates gluten.

Many people out there are trying to get stronger, healthier, leaner. If you have a digestion problem no matter how positive your attitude, clean your eating, good your supplements are you might not be getting the results you are looking for. I suggest finding a Naturopath who specializes in Food Sensitivities and begin finding out what could be holding you back. Once you have the answer, you  can take your health back. Perserverence, determination, intuitiveness and strength will free you like it did me, to conquer all your goals.

Find out what Miss Jane does to tame The Gluten Gorilla inside of her. And so begin the adventures of Miss Jane versus The Gluten Gorilla. Please join me at my new blog The Gluten Gorilla. http://theglutengorilla.blogspot.com/

My Christmas present to myself was getting my health back . My husband Brandon Steen's Christmas present to me was my very own painting of Miss Jane vs The Gluten Gorilla. http://www.brandonsteenart.com/

 

With my health in control who knows what I will conquer as I create new goals and continue my pursuit to "Be Strong" on Jane Trains in 2012.

Is that light I see?

As I sit here now with my body aching and throbbing from head to toe, severely exhausted with zero energy, a foggy unclear head, and an extremely over reactive stomach. I reflect on this last year of poor health. It might be hard to believe but I can finally see the light at the other side of this horrible health roller coaster I have been riding on for almost a year now. 

What exactly have I been feeling like that has kept me from my life in 2011. Here it is:

Bloating, gas and/or abdominal pain  

Failure to thrive

Fatigue or general weakness

Flatulence

Fluid retention

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Headaches and migraines
Heartburn

Irritability or behavior changes  

Itchy skin rash         
Joint pain  

Keratosis Pilaris     
Muscle weakness

Nausea

No obvious physical symptoms (just fatigue, overall not feeling well)

Pallor (unhealthy pale appearance)

PMS

Vertigo

Voracious appetite

Weight gain

As I read my fitness journal from March 5th, 2011. I wrote, " I have been exhausted for the past 2 months and have not been able to put my mind to anything." Which has now turned into almost 12 months. People don't understand what is wrong with a person suffering like this because they can't see your symptoms. It gets to the point where you don't even talk about it and most people around you don't even know your not feeling well. Those that are close to you can see it because the time you spend with them is usually compromised by having to lie down or sharing time with the zombie form of what used to be their loved one. My supporting husband Brandon Steen can attest to this.

In May 2011, I asked my doctor for one final blood test to see if I had a gluten allergy. One of the other blood tests my doctor had me do was a condition that fed off gluten. I stopped consuming gluten and began to feel somewhat better. However, the test was negative and the $75.00 I had to pay for the test was gone. Seeing as I supposedly wasn't allergic to gluten I continued to consume various whole grains as part of my healthy diet.

Here I am months later with the same issues, trying to experience what little of life that I can. In my first meeting with my new Naturopath, Jen Newell ND http://newellnd.ca/ we discussed gluten allergies and celiac disease. A week later which is this Thursday I will be tested for celiac disease, begin a detox and be treated with accupuncture. I believe greatly in preventative medicine because treating the symptoms will begin to heal the whole body.

It should be noted I stopped mindfully eating gluten for 6 meals and I felt significantly better. However, to accurately test for celiac I must have gluten in my system. When I began eating gluten on Saturday night, I began to ache immediately, developed mucus, joints became sore, eyes got blurry, energy drained, exhaustion set in. I spent the next day and a half in bed. I had taken 2 days off work to try to gain enough energy to make it through the rest of the week teaching. The truth is I am so irritable from the constant discomfort I can't even begin to think of tolerating children and other adults around me. If I sat at a desk job it would be better but I am certain I would fall asleep.

I have accepted that no matter what my results to my test, I will not eat gluten probably for the rest of my life. This is a whole other blog which I am sure I will write about one day. Being Gluten Free can make it very difficult to socialize with people and eat out at restaurants, however it is a small price to pay to have my life back.

Some of you may wonder why I share this on Jane Trains. The answer is simple. If you don't have your health you don't have life. Most people don't understand what it is like to try to find enough energy and willpower to make it through a day of work, just to go home in utter exhaustion. Someone might say to me I should exercise and it will give you energy. The simple truth is I don't have the energy to exercise. I barely have the energy to stand up out of bed in the morning, walking like an 80 year old woman with my plantar faciitis and force myself to go to a job that requires my constant attention.

I write this to all those who want to exercise daily in the worst possible way. You know how great it makes you feel and look but simply don't have the health to do it. Make sure you take care of your health first, once you have your health then your can have your exercise too. I will share my results with you and my journey back to health in the next coming days all with the hope that I will be sharing training tips with you again soon.

I suppose in reflection "Be Strong" had a significantly different meaning for 2011 than what I had planned for it to mean.

It's a Newell day for Jane

For months I have been focused on trying to feel just well enough so that I can get some training back into my life. Last weekend I woke up and my focus changed. My perspective was altered and I decided I needed to get my health back, period.

How do I get my health back? Simple answer, I found a new Naturopathic Doctor. My former ND moved out of province and I moved to the city of Mississauga, leaving me without my most valuable health care provider. Since moving, finding a new ND has been on my list of things to do. Last week I decided I had to finalize my decision and I did that by settling on the ND who knows food sensitivities best! 

Jen Newell ND, was chosen to be my new most valuable health care provider. http://newellnd.ca/ Thursday of this week I met with my new ND, who will be working with me to regain my health. If you have never been to an Naturopathic Doctor, it is like nothing you have ever experienced. Your first visit is at least 1 and 1/2 hours. Prior to your visit you will fill out an extremely detailed questionnaire focusing on your whole medical history. Seeing as I am so in tune with my body I was able to connect with my ND prior to our initial consult to let her know my symptoms as well as shedding some light on who I am with my blog. 

The more in touch you are with your body the better as you will give greater insight into what is really going on inside your body. It has come to be my belief that people need to learn how to read their bodies. Too many people go to their family doctor, come away with little to no answers and simply accept what the doctor says.

After countless trips to my family doctor this past spring, 5 blood tests later and no clear diagnosis of what was wrong with me, my doctor said he was "stumped". He didn't know what was wrong with me and there was no more that he could do for me and  9 months later I am still unwell.

If I chose to ignore what I was feeling or if I was simply not in touch with my own body to realize that there was something wrong, I believe this could have turned into a disease that could possibly become terminal if left diagnosed or untreated. It is my belief that most people end up going to the doctor to late when the health issue is at its worst as opposed to early on when the health issue is in the initial stages and highly treatable. When my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer he was already at stage four and it had gone into his bones, it was believed he had probably had his cancer for several years. He was not in touch with his body like I am and didn't go to see his doctor until he was really feeling unwell. Unfortunately he lost his fight with cancer in March 2011.

By being preventative with our health and in touch with our bodies you can catch a health issue before it becomes more serious and potently fatal. My health issue is now being treated and I will restore my body to its strong balanced state in a matter of time. I truly recommend that if you are unwell you should find a local Naturopathic Doctor to assist you in your journey to better health. 

Once my health is strong I will be back on the Jane Train. I look forward to sharing that journey with you as we go into the New Year.