Raindrops on Roses and Gluten in Wheat

A week ago today I stood shaking in a doctor's office. I sat, in the waiting room, holding both of my arms to my stomach, crying. I have a severe case of needle-phobia, which I had to get over in order to find out what kind of case of Celiac Disease I have. Celiac Disease is the disease among people who's bodies cannot digest the protein found in wheat, gluten.

Now there's a word that's been spoken in my life very frequently in the past 7 months. In February, I diagnosed myself with Candida. Something had to account for my constant headaches and fatigue. The Candida diet, which attempted to clear all fungus from my intestine (yuck), was rigorous. No sugar, pasta, bread, rice, vinegar, fruit, soy sauce, ketchup, potatoes... And after two months of that, I saw a doctor, who told me the "Western World," seldom recognizes Candida as a real condition. She thought, instead, I might have Celiac disease...or a "gluten intolerance." So, after roughly 7 months of being gluten-free, I find out I do not have the very serious disease associated with gluten intolerance. I also know, due to extensive research about my potential condition, that these blood tests can easily come up as a false negative, especially for patients who are already on gluten-free diets.

So, technically, my journey to discover what I can eat and what I can't is not over. I could eat gluten (yum!) for a few weeks and then get my blood taken again. Or I could get tested for gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy...(which must be what I have..) Or, the option I favor, I could get in my car and have the first Sprinkles cupcake in 7 months.

xoxo,

natasha