August Roll Call~

[jccgf]

Umm...so it is a little late..no fault of our own...

What has everybody been up to???

Let's see. Last roll call in July, we had just lost our Golden Retriever. We still miss her terribly, but are beginning to think toward the future.... we are thinking of a smaller and non-shedding dog. Top runners are a poodle, bichon frise, or wheaten terrier. The bichon and wheaten only rank about 40th on the dog intelligence scale, where as poodles are 2nd, and golden retrievers are 4th. We are trying to figure out how important that is!

August...besides missing this place, I celebrated my 25th Anniversary with my husband, and I made a new generation of The Gluten File. Thanks for the nudge, sleepingbean! Oh...my daughter was in a little musical theatre production~ and she did a super job on her solo voice and dance part. Much of our summer was wrapped up in that.

My youngest doesn't start school until the after Labor Day, and we are going to Colorado for my niece's wedding on Sept 2.

Otherwise, I've actually been enjoying summer...we HAD ONE this year!!

I'd love to hear what everyone has been up to during our absence.

Cara

[rachelb]

We have had a busy busy summer. Oh my!

First Colin: He's had a lot of summer half-day camps which have kept us both hopping. He did some rock climbing and just really loved it. I think it's pretty amazing to see my ataxic child up climbing on rocks (harness or not!) and feeling happy and confident about it! :D :D He's struggling with some tough changes though. His favorite cousin has joined the army and who knows when we'll see him next. And two of his closest friends (sisters) are moving away at the end of this week. He's just heartbroken about it.

Now me: I did a trial of Armour thyroid and had awful insomnia and other symptoms on it. My doc blew me off and I decided I would change docs as soon as summer was done and things had settled down and I went back to synthroid in the meantime. Then I started having some leg pain and called my doc (since I hadn't switched yet) only to find out that she has suddenly retired (she's younger than I am). So I saw a nurse practitioner who checked for a DVT (since I had one while pregnant) and ran some blood tests. And now I've heard nothing more from her. Sigh. So I have an appt with a new doc next month and I'm just trying to make it through until then. Very frustrating!! I hope to try Armour again and this new doc will supposedly help with that.

More in another post when I track down my blood test results that I want to ask about.

Overall, things are good. I'm loving seeing Colin do a lot of new things and I really think 9 is a great age. Soooo much easier than 8 which consisted mostly of "NO!". LOL! We actually have intelligent conversations and he's just a delight to be around!

Rachel

[aklap]

Roll Call? What's roll call?!? heheee

Things have been busy here at the Al n Peg household...

-Do Video scrapbook for my niece's wedding.
-A Trip to CO for the wedding.
-Play photographer at the wedding. Peg was the offical wrangler - getting people where they needed to be for pictures. Kinda like herding squirrels. I must say everyone was great to work with!
-Stained glass projects
-Home Movie conversions
-Weed thru 600 pictures to assemble an album for the Bride & Groom [I think it would've been easier to buy them a present LOL!].

Man...it's a wonder I find time to work!! LOL!!

EDIT - I almost forgot...Peg starts a new full time job on Sept. 11th. It's at a memory clinic [Alzheimer's], 1 of 3 in the state, so she's pretty excited about it. She's not sure about working full time tho.

Al & Peg hard at work
http://webpages.charter.net/aklap/wedding/photogs2.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/aklap/wedding/photogs.jpg


We did manage to do something other than "work" in CO. We stopped at Deby's for a great GF lunch!! Met up with some people from another board.

http://webpages.charter.net/aklap/Celiacforums%20Pix/deby's/CF%20board%20meeting%20at%20Deby's%20-%209.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/aklap/Celiacforums%20Pix/deby's/CF%20board%20meeting%20at%20Deby's%20-%208.jpg

Monica is the gal in the black shirt in front of me. If you want to see a few more pics of Deby's, look here (http://www.celiacforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3299&start=45) and here (http://www.celiacforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2293)

[JudyLV]

Wow, I am glad we can all get back together. We went on a family vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina the first 2 weeks of August. Now we are getting ready for school to start next Monday.

My yonger son is doing a great job on his gluten, dairy, soy, egg, legume, citrus fruit, pineapple, peanut and tree nut free diet. My York test showed that I had a high (off the chart) reaction to most of these same foods. I am pleased to report that after removing them from my diet and adding a digestive enzyme (recommended by my son's nutritionist) that I have had a substantial decrease in the tingling in my legs and feet.

My daughter just made the JV field hockey team despite still being anemic. She has an appointment with Dr. Fasano later this week because she really has not responded to iron supplementation.

My older son has been away most of the summer. He comes back today so I guess it will be time to get another computer. He will be a senior in High School and can't put off researching colleges any longer.

--Judy

[annelb]

Good to hear that everyone so far has had a good summer.

Rachel, hooray for Colin! Hope you find the answers to your continuing problems.

Cara, again, sorry about the loss of your beautiful dog. If you are going to get another dog, I was going to suggest a Cairn Terrier cause I have one and I think she is great. But a CT is only 35 on the list of intelligence - I really think she is smarter than that. Terrier's can be very stubborn. Of course all the dogs will probably come up a notch or two in intelligence when they are fed a GF diet. :rolleyes:

This summer I have visited my younger son in WI. On the way to his home, I stopped by to see Cara and Al & Peg. It was a great trip. Then I headed out to TN to my DH's family reunion. I think the only reason he took me was to take pictures of everyone for him. Then off to New Jersey to see my sister. I still have to find a time to go to Seattle to see my older son and his wife.

I am going to the International Conference on CE in Nov in NYC!!! Both Linda and I will be heading there. This conference will be awsome. http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu/symposium/index.html# Take a look at the programs. :cool:

Yup, so far it has been a good summer. :)
Anne

[aklap]

I am going to the International Conference on CE in Nov in NYC!!! Both Linda and I will be heading there. This conference will be awsome. http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu/symposium/index.html# Take a look at the programs. :cool:

Sure...rub it in why don't ya...

LOL!!!

You gotta take good notes...that a requirement!! Oh...and share them!!

[RathyKay]

I've missed lurking over here. We took our first GF vacation in July, and BrainTalk crashed sometime while we were away. We had a mini-family reunion in Colorado. It was the one thing I was worried about when we started the GF diet. I bought a toaster oven for the trip (never owned one before, so I didn't feel guilty about throwing an old one away). I made bread mix so that we could have sandwiches. Of course, I forgot to actually *bring* the mix.:rolleyes: Fortunately, one of our hotel stops was on the trendy side of town and we were able to buy the various flours I needed. Anyway, things went very well, although I did get tired of peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.

When we returned from our trip, Tom started summer school. (He missed the first week and a half, due to our trip.) I saw his teacher's aide from preschool. She told me her 4 year old dog was not doing well, with a swollen abdomen. Her dog had surgery that week. I sent her to DogtorJ's site. She seemed very interested. Maybe I'll have an update for you next year at this time.

After 4 months :eek: I finally received my "Garden of Eating" cookbook from Amazon. I have been enjoying it, as I try to cut back on some of the grains we are eating and branch out in our fruit and vegetables choices. The girls actually shocked me the other day by arguing over who got to eat the last of the leftover squash! (I've been cooking double for supper, so that we have plenty of leftovers for lunch. There was no need to argue, as there was plenty to eat.)

[annelb]

After 4 months I finally received my "Garden of Eating" cookbook from Amazon.

Guess I did not wait long enough. After 4 months I cancelled my order.
Anne

[bizi]

took spme cajun dancing lessions with my hubby, really enjoyed them alot!
Joined a health club intown and am so impressed with the services they offer.
time to get in shape!Hope to wear a bikini by next year and be proud of how I look. 15 pounds to loose...not bad.
still happily working my foot care job. School started up again for my hubby, he teaches classical and jazz guitar at ULL here in lafayette, louisiana. love it here even though it has been HOT HOT HOT!
bizi

[lmb3]

I can't believe that we are back online (kind of anyway!). It is so great to hear from everyone!

Things have been hectic for us. I will try to be brief. We ordered Michael his first wheelchair this week - he's very excited about it! The girls, ages 4 and 13, are both being tested for Celiac. They took their blood just yesterday so we should have some news next week. The 4 yr old is constipated and has not gained any weight in 1 year. The 13 yr old is lactose intolerant, ADD, mild hypertension and has a fast heart beat. She was in the hosp this summer with high blood pressure (162/85) and her heart racing.

I also pressured them into doing the CeliaGene testing since we know for sure that Michael is a DQ2. I would really like to know if the girls have either gene.

We just finished a bathroom remodel. Those are always fun!! :p The finished product is nice though since we made it handicap accessible for Michael. For those people that haven't heard yet, the docs were not able to confirm Michael's Celiac Disease through bx. However, they did confirm Gluten Intolerance and Gluten Ataxia. We will try again in 3 years with a 6 month gluten trial and then bx.

I feel like I am missing something. That might be the big (medical) items that have happened to us since we have all spoken last.

I hope everyone is doing well. I sure have missed 'talking' or 'listening' to everyone here! Glad to be back!! :)

[NancyM]

Hi everyone! Glad to have found a nice substitute. A lot of us hooked up over at glutenfreeforum.com and so happy to have The Gluten File online. Thank you for that work, it is gorgeous.

I'm still struggling with Ankylosing Spondylitis. And the meds I have been taking for it don't seem to be working quite as well as they were. I need to follow the paleo diet very strictly for awhile and see if that helps me out. It is always one of those "next week I'll start" things.

My gut still isn't 100% great. It might be the small amounts of dairy I'm still consuming occassionally, or perhaps I've got other intolerances. I've already nixed soy and most dairy (occassionally getting wee bits on things like cheetos, which I eat maybe twice a month). I know I am gluten free. Or it might be legumes or nuts causing the problem. Like I said, I really need to get stricter with the diet.

[diamondheart]

Wow, I'm so glad Brain Talk is back up, even if just temporarily. It crashed during a time of crisis for me, so I was bummin' not being able to ask questions of the BTers. I was getting increasingly frustrated with my digestive problems. I found Laura from the Gluten Challenge website, and at least e-mailed her. I started on the SCD diet out of desperation to try to help my digestive problems, and joined a couple of SCD forums. The SCD diet made gluten-free, dairy-free, & corn-free look like a cake walk. I lost 5 pounds on that diet in about 6 weeks, and I'm not someone that needs to lose weight. I also got tested for parasites - nada.

Then, I did a food sensitivity test (IgG) through Metametrix Lab at the end of July. The results came back: moderate sensitivity to lamb, soybeans, almonds, and sesame; mild sensitivity to peanuts, cashews, and sunflower seeds. Not convinced that these sensitivities were my problem, I started eating other carbs (except for my other know sensitivities) and drank New Grist beer, in an effort to induce diarrhea. I haven't had any since I stopped eating these foods I tested sensitive for. I even ate a whole box of Pamela's chocolate chunk gluten free cookies on day (hey, I was celebrating my 40th b-day and my hubby wasn't going to bake me a gluten free cake!), with no diarrhea! I'm soooo happy to be able to eat more food and not be hungry all the time.

My doc still wants me to do a colonoscopy, but I don't want to do it if it doesn't change my treatment, i.e. leaving foods out of my diet.

Hey Al, I wish I'd know you were coming through Colorado. I live in Boulder. You're welcome to stop in anytime.

So besides starting to resolve my digestive problems, I hope, I turned 40 and my cat that I'd had for 14 years passed away, or I should say, she got carried away. She made a nice snack for the local fox. Her hearing was going, and she got nabbed one night when I didn't bring her in. All I found was a pile of fur in the neighbor's yard. Sad, but true :( .

Claire

[Mrs. Bear]

Thank you Doc. Hope to see John around soon.

We have been busy.

We got married and it was wonderful. The rest of life is a total blur right now, but I am so happy about finally marrying this man. My kids are happy too. They love calling him dad. :)

http://myspace-938.vo.llnwd.net/01051/83/92/1051962938_m.jpg

[jccgf]

Hey Al, I wish I'd know you were coming through Colorado. I live in Boulder. You're welcome to stop in anytime.


Claire

Claire,

We will be in Superior/Louisville, Colorado, over Labor Day weekend for my neice's wedding. Pretty sure that is just outside of Boulder. We should exchange phone numbers at least. I'm not sure how hectic things will be, but we might be able to sneak away for a quick meeting. I don't want to promise before we get there, though...as my days might be planned for me already!

Cara

[jccgf]

Thank you Doc. Hope to see John around soon.

We have been busy.

We got married and it was wonderful. The rest of life is a total blur right now, but I am so happy about finally marrying this man. My kids are happy too. They love calling him dad. :)

http://myspace-938.vo.llnwd.net/01051/83/92/1051962938_m.jpg


I LOVE THE PICTURE...happy, happy!!!!!

Congratulations, Mrs. Bear, teehee!

Cara

[aklap]

We got married and it was wonderful. The rest of life is a total blur right now, but I am so happy about finally marrying this man. My kids are happy too. They love calling him dad. :)

Hey Bear...Contrats!!

It's the bear family...Mama Bear, Papa Bear & Baby Bears.... :D

[aklap]

Hey Al, I wish I'd know you were coming through Colorado. I live in Boulder. You're welcome to stop in anytime.

Thanks Claire!!

Like Cara, it was a family trip with a pretty tight schedule. I'll remember that for the next time. Maybe for a really vacation...now there's a novel idea LOL!!

[NancyM]

So besides starting to resolve my digestive problems, I hope, I turned 40 and my cat that I'd had for 14 years passed away, or I should say, she got carried away. She made a nice snack for the local fox. Her hearing was going, and she got nabbed one night when I didn't bring her in. All I found was a pile of fur in the neighbor's yard. Sad, but true
Oh no, that's terrible. :(

Hey, the IGg test sounds interesting. I'm still having issues with diarrhea. Is there any sort of testing I could order outside of my doctor?

I heard Dr. Fine speak in San Diego a few weeks ago and he mentioned they're going to be doing a much more exhaustive intolerance panel once they work out a few more glitches. I will definitely have it done, I'd like to get beyond this diarrhea.

[diamondheart]

Guess I did not wait long enough. After 4 months I cancelled my order.
Anne

I got my copy of "Garden of Eating" in 10 days to 2 weeks. You have to order directly from their website. It's a huge book with a lot of reference info. I like a couple of the recipes from it. I wonder how much of the book I'll really use, but my husband thought some of the information was really interesting. Now that's saying something!! Here's the link:

http://www.thegardenofeatingdiet.com/

Claire

[mistofviolets]

So besides starting to resolve my digestive problems, I hope, I turned 40 and my cat that I'd had for 14 years passed away, or I should say, she got carried away. She made a nice snack for the local fox. Her hearing was going, and she got nabbed one night when I didn't bring her in. All I found was a pile of fur in the neighbor's yard. Sad, but true :( .

Claire

I'm sorry to hear about your cat :(

But congratulations on your birthday and the expanding diet :)

We went on our first family vacation...I drank a ton of soup and ate rice cakes. (Yes, I know, thats not really enough...but on that limited diet I felt pretty good and managed to do Disney with a 4 year old :) ) I'm more certain than ever that absorption is at the root of my problems.

My dd got tested (Yay!) but her ped only ran the Ttg and total IgA and gene test. I think he ran the wrong gene test, but don't want to call him on it. The ttg and IgA were normal, yay! She still complains of tummy aches pretty frequently though, so we're planning to take dairy and probably gluten out of her diet. We're working on the dairy...wanted to get through Disney first.

I think thats everything. Somedays I still feel generally icky...but when I take the time to look over how I used to feel, I can't believe how far I've come. Maybe I do just need to be patient and let my body heal from gluten. (And corn)

[jccgf]

Claire,

I am so sorry to hear about your cat. I missed reading that the first time through this thread. I know how difficult it is to lose a pet you love. I'm really sorry to hear about HOW you lost her :(. A similar thing happened to my aunt's small dog~ they live on a wooded lake and the dog just disappeared. They believe some predator got her, too. You just don't really think of those things happening, but sadly they do.

My thoughts are with you.

Cara

[valeriemates]

It's good to see Braintalk (or something like it) back up again.

Just like everybody else's life, it's been pretty busy here. We went on 3 vacations this summer: NYC, Boston, and northern Michigan. (Josie's Restaurant in NYC did an awesome job of feeding us safe food that matched the allergy requirements of everybody at the table.) I'm 4 months pregnant, in my first gluten-free pregnancy -- a much easier pregnancy than any of my four previous ones. And our (gluten-free) teenage exchange student arrived from Germany, right in the middle of heightened airport security that caused her to miss a flight connection and unexpectedly get stuck in Chicago overnight. But she's here now and we all already adore her. Now we're learning how to register a kid for high school -- a surprisingly complicated process that we've never attempted before, so we are learning a lot about how to do it.

Congratulations to everybody with good news -- especially to Mrs. Bear, who got married. And condolences to everybody with bad news, especially the folks who mentioned lost pets.

-Valerie

[Leslieand]

Yipee! Everyone is back together again. I worried about all those people who needed direction and encouragement and hoped they found it while our site was down.

All is well here. I am off all asthma medicine. Not asthma afterall-just gluten. Sometimes I want to eat wheat (uck-poison) just to see if I still react. That would be crazy right? My heart doesn't double beat. My asthma and throat swelling and reflux and yeast infections are completely gone. Pain in belly and digestive symptoms are all gone. What more do I need to prove I am gluten intolerant? And to be honest the thought of eating wheat or drinking beer is disgusting to me. I would rather eat glass. I did change my flour mix for breads and cakes to 100% brown rice flour and with the addition of 1 tablespoon of xanthum gum, methycellulose, and yeast and the usual egg and sugar I have a perfect bread with great fiber and nutrition.

Husband hasn't had a thyroiditis or autoimmune ear disease attack in 1 and 1/2 years now even though he occasionally gets a bit of wheat. He will eat soy sauce and corn flakes... He won't check the little things. But it seems to work for him.

My daughter went to a summer camp at University of Alaska at Fairbanks and lost 5 pounds in two weeks becuase she didn't eat meat or gluten. This actually worked for her and now we know she won't gain the freshman 15 next year!

Good health to all,
Leslie

[Llonghair]

That is great news Leslie! I have my daughter read your posts for encouragement as she is also weaning from her asthma meds. She totally stopped her accolate and is using the serevent every other day.

The doctor put her on prenatal vitamins and it seems to be giving her more energy.

I bet your daughter is excited about college. Is she going to live on campus? My daughter will start college next year. She is debating on commuting or staying on campus.

Congratulations to everybody with good news -- especially to Mrs. Bear, who got married. And condolences to everybody with bad news, especially the folks who mentioned lost pets. ditto and congrats Valerie on your pregnancy!