The Journey goes on

by Lesley
(Wellington)

Hi

Im a soon to be 46 year old woman who has, I suspect, had a gluten problem for many years.

I can remember most of my teenage and adult life being very tired. I am by nature, a very high energy person, and have risen above being tired, but it was there just the same.

About 10 years ago, after years of seeing a doctor for exhaustion and other strange goings on, I was diagnosed Hypothyroid and put on medication. This was a huge relief to me and certainly went a long way toward giving me back to myself. Three years ago, I had an emergency gallbladder removal, as I became very sick. Through all this time, I was under a haze of distant memories, and bloatedness. I thought I had finally cracked it with the gallbladder thing, but the tiredness came back on occassion. I didnt really realise it was related to food.

Last year, on a trip to the Gold Coast, I developed a really dry, rough tongue, and lots of sores in my mouth. In fact the sores were so bad my mouth started peeling, painfully. I also had bloating and exhaustion with this.

We had been eating at Wholly Bagel quite regularly before this time as we had become HUGE fans. Through the process of elimination, I kind of worked out I might be intolerant to wheat. I hadnt heard of Celiac so I just gave up wheat. It got better, the fog lifted, although I did notice my fingernails were peeling and brittle. I had at that time also developed some incredible anxiety problems. Again I had no idea why, and put it down to life.

This year I forgot the wheat thing, and started eating it again...boy was I sorry. My tongue swoll and is still trying to come right, more sores in the mouth, swelling...I had to wrench my rings off my fingers. Oh the exhaustions, depression, and again, the anxiety.

I cant even eat a lolly that has wheat in it now without my tongue going dry. My stomach is tender still, and Im still a bit bloated. I cant eat enough wheat to take the Celiac test but Im eating gluten free, and boy what a difference.

Im sure there is more to come, but that whole mouth thing has me baffled. I hope someone can explain it to me. Im also hoping that by eating pure, I can begin to lose weight. This has been such a struggle. I think I know why now.