It's more than two years since my last post on this blog. The Covid-19 pandemic was not even on the horizon and I had not had my second hip replacement which did not go as well as expected.
I continued to have many issues with Celiac and DH. In August of 2020 I my rash began breaking out once again. I thought it was cross-contamination from somewhere. I was obsessed with re-cleaning everything in my kitchen in an effort to try to find the source. Nothing worked.
I had read about the AIP diet and after discussing what to do with my doctor I finally decided that it was the only way I could find out what the problem was. On Jan. 4th I started the diet. It eliminates ALL grains, dairy, coffee, sugar, coffee, nuts and seeds, eggs, nightshade vegetables, and caffeine. It was also suggested that it was best to do that for 30 days before re-introducing a food.
The first time around it did give me some relief and I began re-introducing food. Eventually, the rash came back and once again I couldn't figure out why. I happened to read about a book that suggested eliminating ALL grains, because they all have some form of gluten, even though some of them are supposed to be okay for those with Celiac disease. That was the aha moment.
After going AIP and then NOT re-introducing foods with corn or rice, in other words any grain, I was able to re-introduce everything else. I was also able to stop taking dapsone. A first.
That was in April 2021. By June 2021, I had it figured out. I have had several instances of cross-contamination and breakouts, but for the most part, they don't last long. A couple of days. I try to not take dapsone during those episodes.
As for my rash, it has started to fade on my legs, but not anywhere else. I have lost even more of my hair and my scalp is still trying to recover. It looks to me that it will be at least another six months before some of the rash is really gone. Maybe some of it will never go away.
My issue now is to try to get to a balanced healthy diet. I am still eating too much sugar and any baked goods are now loaded with even more calories than one would eat on a gluten diet. How do I get there?
I know I have willpower because it takes a lot of it to stay GF and grain-free. I am trying to track my calories and food eaten on My Fitness Pal. I am also trying to get back to walking every day as exercise.
Things have changed since the pandemic. I used to go to the health club, but the woman who held the strength/aerobics classes is no longer there. The club no longer seems to be an option for trying to stay fit, which is something I miss.
I need to keep trying to find a way.
