Saturday, April 11, 2015

Change Brings On Chaos


Any change will create chaos...the degree of chaos is commensurate with the degree of change. Think about what happens when you change your name, phone number, address or, good grief, you change your lifestyle! Its one thing if this change is self-activated. But...what if it's someone else's idea?

This past December I started going to a Naturopath because I needed professional help with probiotics...what to take and how much. Of course, it hasn't stopped there, and that's OK. I want the best healthcare I can get. My regular doctor isn't into "natural" so much, but he understands I try to be. So, the  Naturopath takes over where my MD leaves off.

First, I was having a problem with UTIs ever since I was hospitalized for c. diff back in October. Dr. Marie had me go off sugar to see if that was contributing to my problem. No sugar made no difference thank goodness. Back to my sweet snacks.

Second, I've had this post nasal drip since my sinus infection back in October. Dr. Marie thought it might be an allergic reaction to a mold that is on peanuts and in peanut butter. I went off peanut butter for a whole month. PEANUT BUTTER IS A MAJOR FOOD IN MY LIFE! Change. Chaos. It wasn't the peanut butter. I still have PND. Phew! That was a close one.

Now...here's the big one...go gluten free to see if it's gluten that is messing up my thyroid. This is the first time I've had my entire thyroid function checked and some of its function is low. I was diagnosed with low thyroid back in 1996. Go online and read what it says about gluten affecting thyroid function.

I don't eat much bread, but I do love my cakes and brownies and cookies and pasta. Doing without these has created CHAOS in my life!!!

I won't have to go without...I'll just have to substitute. That's the problem. That's the chaos!

Gluten free sweets and snacks aren't all that bad. Bread is so so. But it's the pasta that creates the most chaos in my life...or at least it has the greatest potential. It has been my limited previous experience thus far that leftover pasta tastes pretty bad.

Warm weather is coming (honest...it is). It is my culinary habit to alternate potato salad and pasta salad all during the warm weather months. Do you see where this is going?

I recently went GF pasta shopping with my friend Elizabeth. She has no problem with GF. Elizabeth assured me that the chances are good that the pasta I bought will still be good on day two and three. I have yet to cook up the GF spaghetti or elbow macaroni. When I do, it had better taste good the next day and beyond.

Oh, and the most chaotic part...this will go on until I have my thyroid checked again IN AUGUST! And I so hope this goes the way of the sugar and peanut butter.
This a sampling of what gluten free foods I have in my pantry now.
 I also have Udi gluten free bread, but forgot to bring it out for its photo op.
 I don't do change very well.