Thursday, June 16, 2011

(Almost) Two years

A few weeks ago, someone asked me how long I've been gluten free.

I had to think.

Thank goodness for this blog!  I just went back and found this post where I gave you possibly too much information about my health history, and realized that it will be two years this next week!

So, the other day, Dave and I were talking.  He asked me what I've noticed about being gluten free, and I asked him what he noticed in me.

Here's his answer:

- I'm no longer irritable all.the.time.
- I'm off the couch.
- The house is clean(er).
- I'm cooking real food.
- I'm thinking clearly and remembering conversations.
- I have more energy.
- My allergy shiners (black around my eyes) have decreased.
- My libido has increased (sorry, tmi...but worth mentioning)
- My patience with others' and the boys has increased ten fold.
- I'm active with the boys again.
- I'm more ambitious with goals.
- I stay on top of the grocery shopping.
- I have more desire to connect with friends

Here's a few things I've noticed:
- I'm not in pain all.the.time.
- I sleep SOOOOO good!  No more insomnia for me!
- I HAVEN'T HAD A MIGRAINE IN TWO YEARS!!!
- I've had 6 colds in 2 years (instead of 6 colds in 2 months.)
- I haven't had a canker sore in my mouth for 2 years!  (instead of 3-4 at a time all the time)
- I only go to the bathroom twice a day (instead of 20 times a day - no exaggeration either!)
- I have zero swelling in my joints.
- I can think clearly.
- I don't get break outs on my face the way I used to.
- I don't crave bread.
- I don't get winded at the smallest activity.
- I haven't had a power-surge in two years (women in menopause will understand this)
- I don't dread leaving the house.
- I haven't had an eczema flair up in two years.
- My gums don't bleed anymore when I intermittently floss.
- I haven't had a UTI/kidney infection in 18 months.
 - I haven't had an allergy attack in 2 years.
- I don't always want to hunch over with abdominal pain
- I no longer have a "lump in my throat" feeling like I'm suffocating


And you know...I'm sure there are more in there too that I haven't noticed!  I had no idea that something like an autoimmune response to gluten could affect so.many.things.

Wow - what a difference 2 years makes!

4 comments:

TIFFANY said...

You know, I've heard people talk about being gluten-free but never really knew why...didn't really pay much attention to it. But after seeing your lists of the changes you've had, I think I need to look more into it. I have a lot of those same issues. Thanks for sharing!

mrsmarkdave said...

WOW! I am amazed - I mean amazed - reading the list of differences you've noticed. I can't imagine having to put up with all of those things.
And how sad is this? I had to google libido. HAHA! I know. Maybe I need to start giving myself vocab tests. When you said "TMI" I thought "Hmmm - interesting. If it's TMI then I must know what she's talking about."
Glad you're feeling better.

Mama M. said...

Um...I could list so many of your "haven't hads" as "do haves". Yikes...um, perhaps I need to look into this...

Lyndsay said...

That is amazing! I just went to the doctor for depression and she put me on a drug and she's pretty confindent that I will only need to be on it a short amount of time, but I'm wondering if going gluten free would help too. I might have to look into this. Thanks!