Happy10thBirthdaySouperDouperSCDer!

 

Ain'tgivin'up

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Twenty different ways of eating (WOE).  

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How in the world are we supposed to figure out which WOE works for us if we have to 

test twenty different ones?

I'm not even sure if I covered all of them.  

These are just the ones I'm familiar with at this very moment.  

Reducing your chronic inflammation to the point where your underlying condition becomes less and less apparent - maybe even as far as total absence of symptoms - is a real challenge.  

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It's committing to experimenting, journaling, 

peeling back the layers, and digging deep 

into your vessel until you figure 

out what's keeping the 

inflammatory fire burning inside you 

from ever being snuffed out. 

There a few things listed below that might make your 

journey to wellness more 

tolerable.  

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Number two: 

"What worked for your vessel three years ago might not work today."  

Meaning, don't be stuck on the idea that there's 

only one path to success.  

If your stress level goes up, or you take antibiotics for an infection, or you have 

an injury, or something changes in your environment, your body chemistry will likely 

change and that might mean your path to success needs to change, too.  

Try to be flexible 

and recognize when something that used to work is no longer effective in reducing your inflammation.  

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Maybe you have to 

"mix-and-match" the WOEs. 

Maybe you take a little bit of the dairy-free approach, mixed with a few of the low-FODMAP foods, and that combination makes you feel BEST. 

Who knows what combination it might be, but don't be afraid to dabble a little in one WOE and a little in another. 

❤,

Ain'tgivin'up

My Wake-up Call

When I found myself sitting in the bathroom at 5:30am—alone—sneaking a piece of my mom’s gluten-free birthday cake, I knew I needed help.

Sneaking food at the crack of dawn.  In the bathroom.  And no, it wasn't lettuce or brussel sprouts that I was eating; it was gluten-free cake with pink dye and likely many other ingredients that my body doesn't tolerate.  

What in the world was I doing?!?!?!?!

I couldn’t let anyone see me eat the cake because that would mean I’m human and I can’t be human; 

I have to be superhuman.

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In order to conquer this cruel disease, you have to be superhuman.  

You have to have the strength to be stronger than the bugs.  

You have to have the courage to eat steak when others around you are eating cake

for a birthday celebration—and also when there’s some of your mom’s gluten-free cake in the fridge.

You have to have the willingness to stand out and march to the beat of your own drum.

You have to be prepared to do what works for you, even if it means packing your own food, or not eating at all [if the restaurant cannot guarantee a gluten-free meal].

You have to be superhuman.  That’s the only way you will succeed in this bug-against-human war.

Right?  Right????......

But here’s the thing: I get it now.

It’s taken me six years to come to this conclusion.  Ever since I received my diagnosis of Chronic Lyme Disease in June 2013, I assumed the role of a superhuman, naturally believing that was the only way for me to beat this disease.

When I found myself sitting in the bathroom at 5:30am—alone—sneaking a piece of my mom’s gluten-free birthday cake, I realized I do not have to be superhuman any longer.

I can be human.  I can struggle.  I can wish.  I can desire.  I can want.  I can want to have cake and eat it.  

I get it now:

"You do not have to be superhuman to fight Chronic Lyme Disease."

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You do not need to be superhuman and more importantly, you shouldn’t be this way; period.

Once you arrive at this conclusion, I truly believe you can start healing.

When you’re at a birthday party and people are eating cake, or french fries, donuts, tortilla chips, spaghetti, pie, brownies, grilled cheese sandwich, or any other scrumptious food that is not considered friendly for your special gut, go ahead and allow yourself to feel frustrated.  I know I do.  ;)  But once you’ve acknowledged this emotion, kick it to the curb.  Let my voice be the voice in your head, helping you to shift gears and TAKE CONTROL of the situation.  Push that frustration aside and remember: you are worthy of feeling well and uninflamed.  Don't let the struggle win.  Beat it.  Beat the bugs.  Remind yourself that you’re only human and then shift your focus.  Pull out a container of your most favorite dish that you packed the night before the event.  If you’re home and your best options are all in the refrigerator, remember to look BEYOND the cake [or whatever is in there that's torturing you].

The secret word here is 

‘planning’. 

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When you know you’ll be in a difficult social situation with foods you want, but cannot have, prepare a super-special dish for yourself.  

Whatever dish brings you the most joy, and does not harm your insides or fuel the bacteria - this is what you should reach for when faced with cake either at a party, or in your own refrigerator.

You’re allowed to want to eat cake.  No one will accuse you of cheating, or being a bad person, or committing a crime.  

No one will judge you if you have the desire to be able to tolerate more foods - foods that most people can eat on any given day.  I repeat: no one will judge you.

You’re HUMAN.

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Sneaking these foods that you desperately wish you could tolerate, though.... is NOT the answer.  If you’re going to cave, eat the food publicly with your friends and family. 

Don’t run off and sneak it by yourself in your car, bathroom, basement, or any other place where no one can find you. 

"You are worthy of trying these special foods in the presence of others."

I ate ice cream out in public with my loved one and it was one of the most fulfilling food-related experiences of my life. 

I didn’t sneak ice cream in the bathroom, at 5:30am, by myself.

I didn't get in my car and sneakily eat out of an ice cream container while sitting in a parking lot, 

by myself. 

I didn't sneak into the basement in the middle of the night and eat ice cream from the freezer, 

by myself. 

I ate coffee ice cream, out in public, 

with my loved one.

It was magical for my soul.

So, if you're reading this and feeling as if you're reading a page from your own book, I am empowering you to be human.

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I am giving you the strength to remove your mask, untie your superhuman cape, and embrace your emotions in front of others. 

Don't feel like you have to hide and keep your struggles a secret. 

It's ok to be frustrated.  

Next time you're faced with a situation that blindslides you, here's what to do:

1) Call someone.  If you're not with someone, call someone and let your feelings flow freely.  I was freaking out the other night about my swollen legs and instead of letting my frustration direct my actions, I called my dear friend and he talked me through it.  Amazingly, I felt better almost instantly, just acknowledging my frustration.  Just hearing myself acknowledge my pain felt so freeing.

  

2) P-L-A-N.  Plan, plan, plan.  Always have cooked meals or snacks in the fridge/freezer for any possible social situations that might come up with no known safe foods involved.  This way, you can pack a meal and be a part of the event, eat your own food, and be happy.  My darling friend Elana, of "Elana's Pantry," has some phenomenal gut-friendly recipes that you should check out so you can happily tackle any social situation.  

3) Meditate.  Take some time, every single day, to stop and meditate.  If you're a 'nonstop warrior' and I imagine that most of you are, it's important for you to stop and give your mind a chance to heal itself.  Here's a meditation that I absolutely love.  This is best for before bed, or a day off of work.  My mind goes a million miles a minute, thinking about how to cope with my sweaty clothes, or where my homeopathic pain pills are, or what I'm going to eat/what I have to cook, so meditation is something I have come to truly appreciate as part of my toolkit.

4) Giggle.  Go to YouTube and find a funny video clip or comedy skit.  Laughter is free medicine.  Here's one clip that brings me so much healing laughter that I can almost feel the bugs dying off under the unstoppable force of positive energy.  

5) LOVE yourself.  Love your cells.  Love your vessel.  Love your hard-working machine of a body.  Love your body for all that it does to try and beat these cruel critters.  Forgive yourself for whatever wrong turns you've made in the past.  Appreciate your efforts and success in making it to this point on your journey to wellness.  Love all that is you.  

Lots of love,

Allie

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p.s. These photos below were taken at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  What a HEALING palace!!!  Oh my goodness GRACIOUS!!!!  I'm still sorting through my photos, so keep an artsy eye out for more.  

p.s.s. I met the most magical, strong, courageous, inspiring, and darling young lady this past weekend.  She just turned 14 years old and has already been battling Chronic Lyme Disease for 10 years.  We met, we hugged, and we bonded on a very special level.  Wait until you hear her story.  Look out for that next post.

Back to My Roots

Going back to my roots: 

practicing yoga in Rocky Mountain National Park. OOOMMM!!! 

Stretch! Reach! BREATHE & stretch some more! If you manage to do this pose without giggling, let me know. ;) 

Please put this park on your list of places to visit. Please, I beg of you. The positive energy throughout this park is contagious and naturally healing!!!! 

Need a good dose of natural beauty? Take a stroll 

through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Keep an eye out for eagles, bison, prairie dogs, deer, and many other animals! 

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO: one of the most magical, most mysterious, & most historical places I've ever visited. I've visited before, but this time, I spent the night! 

A gorgeous view of the hotel grounds (including a little maze they created in 2015 as a tribute to the famous one from The Shining), Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park from inside one of the historical ballrooms of The Stanley. INCREDIBLE. 

My darling Aunt Susie, the one who is always by my side as I venture around the world. 

Cornish Game Hens for Thanksgiving!! THANK YOU, JON!!!!!!! Not pictured: my phenomenally healing family who showered me with love during my stay in Colorado this past week. :) 

If you're flying any time soon & you'd like to adhere to your healing diet, here are two of my favorite go-to snacks: Droewors beef jerky and Moon Cheese. Both made entirely of protein & fat. :D 

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Guys, I'm back!!!!

I've finally followed my heart back to http://celiacchick91.blogspot.com/. 

My life underwent some ENORMOUS (and entirely P-O-S-I-T-I-V-E) changes last year and I needed a minute to get myself back on my feet before posting anything here. 

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I'm now working full time at NOAA(the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration), preparing to go back to school for a Master's Degree, and continuing to try to manage my stubborn health to the best of my abilities with enthusiastic energy and N-A-T-U-R-A-L foods. 

I'm delighted to be back and I'd love to hear how you are doing on your journey. It's a day-to-day battle for most of us, so know that you are not alone. 

Please stay tuned for new stuff!!!! 

I've got LOADS and LOADS of exciting things to tell you! 

Lots of healing love, 

Allie

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Guys, I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!!!!!!!!

Before I get to the REAL reason for this post, let me just say that I almost deleted that last post. Almost...

I thought deleting the post would be a good idea until I realized it has a purpose. 

That brutally honest post should stay on my blog forever so that I can be reminded of my story and how far I have come over the years. ❤︎

I run away from my story sometimes. It's hard for me to accept what has taken place over the last fifteen+ years. It's hard for me to understand why certain things have happened and keep happening regarding my health, and it's even harder for me to accept the fact that none of it can be undone or rewritten. My whole journey is just too hard to comprehend at times, but when I wrote that last post, I ran toward my story instead of AWAY from it. 

And guess what? It felt frighteningly marvelous. Writing that post was almost like the written equivalent of jumping off of a diving board into the deep end of a pool: completely scary at first, and then totally satisfying in the end. I have actually never been a huge fan of jumping off diving boards, but after writing that post, I think I know what it feels like now. ;) 

I'll be first in line to jump off of the diving board next summer.❤︎ Not into a Word document, but into an actual pool. :) 

I should probably also mention the real reason for this post, which is the fact that I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE. I freaking did it!!!!! After seven long years of hard work, relentless dedication, countless speed bumps, a stubborn refusal to quit, and an unwillingness to let my body win...

 I finally reached the finish line on December 18, 2016, at exactly 8:36 pm. 

I hit the "submit" button and then I immediately broke out in tears. I was flooded with a sense of relief. It was the most magical sensation in the world. Reaching the finish line hit me harder than I ever anticipated. I was so emotional. Actually, the whole process of completing my senior project (AKA having to re-do the entire thing over the course of the last TWO days of my college career) affected me physically as well: it sent me into a horrific flare. 

My pain levels were THROUGH THE ROOF. 

However, submitting my final project essentially put out the raging fire in my body that was triggered by the stress of it all at the end. It was like flipping a switch. I submitted my project and then BAM: my body suddenly stopped putting up a fight. Hall-le-freaking-lujah.   

{Who knew that stress could have such a powerful impact on our symptoms, eh?? It's a good thing for us to keep in mind when our stress levels rise to unhealthy levels!}

The reason I am sharing this ENORMOUS piece of news with you now instead of sharing it with you on the evening of December 18th is quite simple: I was literally left without words or the strength to come up with any after I submitted my project!!❤︎ Seriously!

I was too overwhelmed with joy, relief, shock, disbelief, blissfulness, denial, euphoria, peacefulness, contentment, and numbness to come up with the right words for such a monumental announcement. 

Now that I have had a chance to wrap my mind around this mind-blowing event, I do not feel so tongue-tied anymore. :)  

In actuality, I feel inspired and ready to embrace this new MAGICAL phase of my life! 

I'm ready to make the transition from student to college graduate.  

I'm ready to shift my focus from homework back to my health, blog, and fight against Chronic Lyme.❤︎ 

I'm ready to show myself that I can continue to do WHATEVER I put my mind to, no matter what my body has to say about it. 

I'm ready to accept the fact that I earned my Bachelor's Degree and I beat Chronic Lyme at its own game, despite all of my body's vicious attempts to hold me back.

I see that being a Lyme warrior does not mean that you cannot graduate from college Magna Cum Laude. 

I see that I can BEAT LYME now, if I refuse to give up on my dreams; I don't need any more proof. 

Basically, now that I have my Bachelor's Degree under my belt, I am ready. ❤︎

I'm ready to reconnect with myself and my hobbies, such as reading, coloring, baking/cooking, spending time with loved ones, watching movies, swimming, skimming through nature books, practicing yoga, and countless others.

I'm ready to take what I learned in college and apply it to a job. 

I'm excited to see what will happen NEXT.  

In the meantime, I am cherishing this "limbo". I'm enjoying the absence of any and all deadlines. I'm loving the fact that I can be fully engaged in any fun activity with Hon, family, or friends because school is not on my mind anymore. I'm appreciating the chance I now have to refocus on my fight against Lyme. I'm embracing this part of my story, even if it's completely uncharted territory for me. :)❤︎ 

This is what I have worked toward since I began my college career back in 2009. This is something I thought I would never be able to achieve because of Chronic Lyme. This is what I have dreamt of since I was young. This is it!!! This is the moment I have been waiting for, and I am sure as heck not going to let it pass me by without... 

FULLY EMBRACING every sweet second of it. 

Before I go, however, I would like to thank you all for helping me reach this sparkly finish line. I would not have graduated from college without you, so, thank you from the bottom of my heart❤︎. 

You made one of my most PRECIOUS dreams come true and I will always be grateful for your support.

Love and healing vibes, 

Allie 

XOXOX

Caged Animal: Part 1

For this post, I’m going to do something that is completely out of character for me. I’m going to tell you how I REALLY feel instead of how I want to feel. It’s never easy for me to disclose what’s really going on with my health; I’d much rather paint a pretty picture and leave it at that. I don’t want to be judged for having bad days. I’m supposed to be a superhero, and superheroes don’t have bad days, do they? But, I want to be honest this time. I don’t want to hide behind another pretty picture. I don’t want to be a superhero if it means I can’t be honest.

A caged animal. That’s literally what you begin to feel like when you have to live your life within such tight boundaries. I mean, I guess it’s OK in the beginning, when you’re still oblivious.

I was tested for food allergies way back in elementary school. After the test results confirmed an allergy to dairy, I immediately stopped eating dairy. I remember having sushi for lunch sometimes and all the other kids were like, “EEEEWWWW. What IS that????” Yeah, I was that weird kid who ate something unusual for lunch. BIG DEAL!!!! It bothered me a bit, but I didn’t have the capacity to consider having to be that “weird kid” all the way into adulthood. Despite our efforts, eliminating dairy from my diet wasn’t enough. It didn’t stop me from throwing up ALL of the time. In restaurants, out in the parking lots of restaurants, in public bathrooms, malls, shopping centers, in our friends’ cars, friends’ houses, family outings, anywhere in our house all night long…EVERYWHERE. Of course, this was in addition to chronic pink eye, chronic strep throat, endless trips to the school nurse, bizarre rashes, chronic stomach aches, the mumps, tons of absences, cyclic vomiting… The whole nine yards. There were even times when my family and I would get into our car to go out and once we reached the intersection at the end of our neighborhood, I would tell my mom to turn around because I was going to be sick. BUT, I was too young to see the big picture. My world was still so tiny. I only saw what was two feet in front of me. Then came middle school. More broken bones. More chronic stomach aches. A wicked case of pneumonia. A cough so serious that I was forced to get help from a speech therapist. I needed someone to help me stop coughing because the principal was angry about my disruptive coughing. Double ear infection. Sprained ankle. RSD diagnosis. Tick bite (that would not be acknowledged or addressed for another 10 years). Pain. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of pain. Humiliation. Misunderstandings. Frustration. Sadness. Anxiety. Confusion. Disbelief. Dropping out of the eighth grade due to the unbearable amount of pain I was in, plus the fact that it was hard for me to even walk. Homeschooling. No friends. Moving to Philly. A month spent at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in an inhumanely rigorous and intense physical therapy program (in an effort to squash my relentless RSD that was spreading throughout my body like wildfire). I remember my very first day. I was answering basic questions from some gentleman, and I remember telling him that I was so excited/happy to be there because it meant I could get better. The guy gave me a strange look and said, “It MUST be your first day.” I thought, why would he say that? What’s so wrong with me feeling happy about being here…? There were times during the program that I wanted to die. The pain was so intense that I couldn’t stand being alive. RSD is pain, so basically I worked out whilst in excruciating pain. I would tell my PT I was having my period so that I could get off the treadmill, but what I really did was run to the bathroom and call my mom. I lied on the floor of the bathroom and called her, telling her to get me the hell out of the program. And my PT would come to the bathroom, pull me out, and put me back on the treadmill. When I would come home in the evenings to our little row house in downtown Philly, my mom would have to basically carry me up the stairs because I was in too much pain to put one foot in front of the other. Every day was filled with EIGHT long, never-ending hours of hardcore, hellish, militant-like physical and occupational therapy. Every night ended in tears. Every morning began with tears and dread. Kids at my middle school thought I was dead. Food limitations? HA! Those were the least of my worries at the time. I was too worried about losing my ability to walk since the RSD had spread from one ankle to the other, as well as up my legs to the rest of my body. The pain was debilitating. I’d say it was almost paralyzing. It was like I was spending my life in a torture chamber, and there was no way out. 
*To be continued* 
Love and healing light, 
Allie 
XOXOXOX