Yesterday I was asked by a woman via Twitter if my fibromyalgia (and migraines) could be caused by gluten. I just had to write this post to set the record straight since I get asked this question all the time.
Here is a photo of me in my tiny kitchen on Vancouver Island about five years ago. I had just baked my mother-in-law Lorraine’s apple pie from scratch to treat my husband with a nostalgic dessert after dinner. You can see a pumpkin behind me that my next door neighbours had grown in their garden and given to me as a present. I later used it to make my first homemade pumpkin pie. What you do not see in this photo is the journey it took to get me in that kitchen, baking those pies.
Ten years ago, my husband and I got married. Six months before our wedding I got my fibromyalgia diagnosis and knew that Ottawa was killing me slowly and making my health hell. One week after our wedding we threw whatever would fit into a tiny moving van and moved across the country to Vancouver, thousands and thousands of miles. I spent the next five years on a health odyssey. I was determined to do whatever it took to get healthy, try every trick, every diet, every ritual…
One of the first things I tried was the candida diet and even used a yeast busting kit. My doctor knew that sometimes a problem of candida (as well as gluten) can give a person the same symptoms as someone with fibromyalgia. I did not just give up gluten, I ate only certain kinds of meat and veggies and gave up everything else. I had to take this drink mixture of psyllium seeds, clay and oil in the morning, as well as radically change the food I was eating. Each and every one of those 44 days was a nightmare.
I felt horrible! And it was not just from detoxing. I got so weak I could barely move. I ended up living on homemade soup and developed food intolerances to the foods I was allowed to eat. In the end, I just starved, eating only enough to barely stay alive. I was so withered by the time I went to the doctor over a month later, she begged me to go home and get off that stupid diet. I went home and made a tea and had a cookie. I felt so much better!
I did not stop there. After living on meat for all that time, I ended up being a vegetarian for over three years but that left me weak too. I even gave up on all dairy, except eggs. I tried baking with special gluten-free flours… I did it all people and nothing helped.
I was worried about eating things like cookies so one day I asked my doctor about it. She said, “It’s what’s in packaged foods that kill people. I wouldn’t worry about eating a homemade cookie now and then.” I have lived by those words ever since. Now, I live a life of moderation. I listen to my body. Since going back on meat and baking my own treats that I eat very moderately, I am so much stronger physically than when I was on those diets. I am still frail and fragile (damn it) but in comparison to before? Much better off.
It is wonderful that some people can get off gluten or go on the candida diet and feel “born again” but what I can not tolerate is some of them become dedication to judging those who can eat foods they can’t and trying to convince them that their way is the only way. For example, when I responded to the woman via Twitter that it was not a gluten issue she wrote, “it may not be gluten. It may be sugar. It’s hard for a ‘foodie’ to see these things clearly…” Nice eh?
Few people have gone on the food and healthy journey I have been on, so back the hell off. I tried everything! Fibromyalgia is just a part of my destiny. I hate it, tried to fight it and solve it for eight years. Now, I save my energy by learning how to accept it.
Baking is one of the few things in my life that bring me any joy at all. I suffer in physically, emotional and spiritual pain 24/7 here in Nova Scotia. Don’t you dare judge me for baking cookies.
Bake on, Suzie, bake on!
So sorry you have to deal with all that mess. It is REALLY difficult when you get a different message from so many people. I too feel like I should not be restricted but knowing HOW to eat and disciplining oneself is a key. I have suffered migraines for a long time and until recently a naturopath I went to see showed my how deficient I was in many vitamins and minerals. Once I started taking them my migraines started going away. This included minimizing harmful foods that I had been ingesting too much of. (I have not stopped all together) It is all about moderation and knowing what that person’s individual body needs. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you so much Debra and don’t you worry, I will! I’m tired of foodie guilt.
Noelle, thank you so much for your support! I am so glad that the naturopath helped and that you are now getting the vitamins and minerals you need. My naturopath in Vancouver helped me so much after I had issues with cancer, they can be so very healing and full of wisdom. Yes, moderation is key and the body is so much wiser than we are.
Every body is different, every journey is different. Sometimes we hope that when we see something that works for others that it will work for us or that something that worked for us will work for others. Sometimes people just want to be Dr Phil and have all the answers (not that he does but you get my meaning). And sometimes, it just takes being in the right place at the right time with the right person to find the answer you need. You and I have run more health marathons than I care to remember. But every day, all that matters is that you can smile and feel good about something you’ve been, done or created. And you, my fried, have cookie power! 🙂 Shine on, bake on, live on!
Michelle, between the two of us, we really have the world of special diets, cleanses, approaches covered! If only it was so simple that all cures are the same cure for everyone, but, it is not the truth.
Cookie power! I LOVE that! I embrace the power of the cookie in my life. 🙂
Good for you Suzie! What a lot of people(especially those that prescribe to a strict diet) don’t get is that it is not about what you eat(this does not include overly processed foods, which I generally think are just bad all around), but how much you eat.
You seem to have found a healthy moderation for yourself and I honestly think that is key.
Being a foodie is a wonderful adventure and you know better than anyone else whether something is causing you pain. So sod off to the haters, I say.
I’m glad you have found something that makes life just a little easier for yourself, everyone needs something like that.
And on a personally agitating note: The fact that she put foodie inside air quotes is sort of offensive. People, I swear*eyeroll*
It’s got to feel good a bit to share your story! I’m glad you have written this so that people may understand a bit more what you have been through, and continue to go through. I like what Michelle said – you have cookie power 🙂
Suzie,
Thank you for sharing your health journey. I find it helpful to see what works/doesn’t work for different people as I look for ways to improve my health and quality of life.
Enjoying delicious food, including cookies, definitely improves my life’s quality.
Cindy
Wheatless Foodie
Aria, as someone with a sensitive tummy, I know how important it is not to over indulge. My stomach won’t even let me! Yes, I want to be an adventurer with food, I am tired of limiting what I eat. It never helps. Sod off to the haters indeed! 🙂 Thanks for the support. I felt like she was using the word “foodie” as a kind of slur which I am glad you picked on as kind of mean.
Tammy, thanks for supporting me sharing my story! Yeah, that Michelle, what a creative thinker, going to carry cookie power with me.
Cindy, I hope you find much empowerment in your healthy foodie journey! I support you 100%.
Kudo’s to you, Michelle, for taking the “back off” stance to people who like to tell other people how to live. Judgers. And mostly judgers who can’t possibly know what’s right for another individual.
As someone who is dealing with the many disconcerting side effects of breast cancer treatments, I find myself regularly biting my tongue as well-intentioned people tell me what to do or what not to do or how to feel, etc. even though they can’t possibly have any idea what any of this is all about – that this is chemical for me and not just normal aging.
Everybody and ever BODY is different. Know your own. I’m so glad you do and I wish you improved strength and stamina. Me, too. Thanks for sharing your story and for speaking out.
Now … time to go have a good, old, low-sugar, oatmeal and dark chocolate chip and dried cherries cookie. Mmmmm …
COOKIE POWER! Indeed!
Understand what you are saying. Everyone is different and we all have to figure out for ourselves what works. I think though, that when a person does discover something that works for them…well the relief must be overwhelming and it must be very easy to think that this must be the solution for everyone else too. I’m sure it’s frustrating but I also think the advice is probably well intentioned.
You know what works for you, so just keep doing what you’re doing and don’t let it get to you. 🙂
Heather, that must be absolutely overwhelmingly annoying! Here you are trying to do your best to take care of yourself and all this info is being thrown at you. No, they can’t know. Now those treats sound fabulous, I hope you enjoyed those cookies!
JC, it is awesome when someone finds something that works for them and I applaud them, hug them and am thrilled for them too. I wish it was the case for everyone but you just gotta let go sometimes, realizing it isn’t for everyone.
Bake away Suzie, bake away. Have you seen The Matrix (movie)? In the words of the Oracle speaking to Neo. “You’re in control of your own life, remember? Here, take a cookie. I promise, by the time you’re done eating it, you’ll feel right as rain.” I’ve always taken that scene quite literally.
I’m with you, cookie power and cookie therapy can’t be beat, and I always feel right as rain when I smell those cookies baking in my oven. You know what’s best for you, that’s quite evident, so try to ignore the static and noise from strangers who don’t know you or your situation. You are a super smart foodie, so trust in yourself to find the answers you need for your health and well being. And yes, it’s important to listen to your body, because you and only you knows what’s best at the time.
BTW, you’re the Queen of Pies in my book as well, they always turn out so amazing.
Suzie,
Thanks for sharing a bit more of your story! Balance – it’s all about balance, isn’t it? & knowing your own body & what works for you.
It was sweet reading “I am so much stronger physically than when I was on those diets. I am still frail and fragile (damn it) but in comparison to before? Much better off.” I hope you continue to make progress, & find what works for you! It would be lovely if it happened quicker, wouldn’t it??
As you & Noelle commented, finding which nutrients we’re deficient in & getting those back into the system can help so much. I take a handful, & am intrigued at the things that continue to change (for the better – most recently, noticing that my ‘sway back’ has straightened out!)
Blessings as you continue to heal, & enjoy your treats!
Dia
GF Foodie
Blessings
I’m glad you are finding what works for you. As someone recently diagnosed with celiac disease, I wonder why anyone would give up gluten unless it makes you as sick as it does me.
For me, one of the added benefits of being gluten free is that I’ve had to eat more at home, and less processed too. I’ve probably become more of a foodie because I have to be more aware.
Since I’m one of those folks who gets nauseous and sick for a week when I get gluten, I am so relieved that I’ve found the thing that works for my body and keeps me healthy.
Thank you for sharing I know someone who also suffers from candida and fibronyalgia thanks for sharing and I’ll be glad to share this with her.
Wow, so many fabulous responses, thank you!
Ava, not to worry, I will continue baking away and wow, love the Matrix analogy! I will carry that with me too, thank you. Oh wow, the Queen of Pies, what a title! It took me a long time to figure out how to make a pie so that means so much to me, thank you.
Dia, yes, balance and knowing your body! I would love to see more progress faster too but am grateful for the strength I do have. I can now hold a yoga post for more than five seconds which is a big stride for my strength.
History Geek, I am so sorry to hear about your celiac disease, oh that is so tough. Eating less processed is key to good health for me, so important! I am so happy to hear that you have found a way to make you feel better and keep you healthy!
Susie, sometimes well intended individuals will hastily give advice without considering to the possible impact our words will have on the person. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could all learn to just listen more, be less judgmental, and simply respect the individual’s right to self determination?
I for one am glad you are happy to have found the middle road that best meet your needs. I would have hated to miss out on all your wonderful baked goods’ recipe posts.
Anna, the world would indeed be a better place if we all could “listen more, be less judgmental, and respect an individual’s right to self determination”. It’s great to help and suggest but it should be just that… another possible path for you to determine for yourself if it’s a good one, or one that’s not for you. Good intentions should be non-judgemental ones! Nicely written – you summed it up very well!
Now I want a cookie…. sigh. Suzie, you need to start mailing out your baking… every thought of starting a cookie chain?
Thank you so much Anna! It is nice to know that my baking posts would be missed had I walked the gluten-free path, LOL. I’m just kidding, I know you can bake and be gluten free! 🙂 Listening and judging less would make this a much better world.
Michelle, I haven’t had much luck mailing out my treats to people! I will test it for my Mom, making her those Baileys cookies for her birthday. If that goes well, maybe we could start a cookie chain?! Let me know if others are interested!
Suzie, the others have made great comments, too. It’s intriguing to hear more of your story and learn about what keeps you healthy. I enjoy hearing advice from all the different foodies who think about health, because I think it gives us lots of ideas to draw on. Blessings to you as you manage your illness with joy. 🙂
Oh, I also meant to ask you about Nova Scotia. I have only been following you a few months, so apologies if this question just shows my ignorance. What brought you to NS? And do you feel that living there improves your health?
We moved here so we could finally buy a house since BC is so expensive. I had no idea how bad the weather could get here and it has been very damaging to my health. As soon as we can leave, we are out of here.
Hey Suzie! I remembered you wrote something about your fibromyalgia and thought of you when I saw this article:
http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2010/08/tai_chi_appears.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried Tai Chi, but it’s worth a shot. 🙂
Hi boobookitty! Actually, my husband Reg has been a Tai Chi instructor. Unfortunately when I have attempted Tai Chi it makes me very hostile and uncomfortable. It’s the weirdest thing. Yoga on the other hand, really helps me with my fibromyalgia. It doesn’t hurt my knees as much. With Tai Chi your knees have to be bent the whole time and you have to have a good memory and is just too frustrating I’m afraid. But thanks for thinking of me!