I just spoke to the allergist's office. He had ordered some allergy/intolerance blood tests.
I tested positive (allergic/intolerant) to wheat, rye and oats. I tested negative to barley and yeast. (Note: the gluten allergy (celiac) would mean cutting wheat, rye and barley - this is NOT what I have.)
I'm going on Monday to have the skin tests done. That is when the allergist puts a drop of serum on my arm and pricks it so the serum enters my body. He then monitors my arm to see if I develop a rash. These tests are used to confirm the blood work.
So, I'm a step closer to having an answer.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Snowed In....
I went to Boston this weekend to see friends and interview.
On the way, my dad and I went to New Haven and had a scrumptious lunch at Claire Corner Copia Cafe. It's a veggie place with gluten-free options. Joseph was not pleased. Apparently his salad would have been MUCH better with chicken. Puh-lease, you don't need to eat chicken for lunch. His egg/carrot salad on top looked pretty good. He just likes to whine.
Then, we went to the Yale University Art Gallery to see the Picasso exhibit. It's a really nice museum and I'm sad I haven't gone until now.
Saturday night I met Jess as we were getting off the T. I think I scared some people by screaming....hey! I was excited!
It snowed a little overnight, so Sunday was FREEZING and snowy. I'm not used to the cold or that white stuff anymore. I complained most of the day. After a yummy dinner at Zaftig's (our favorite Brookline eatery), I went out to Steve's in Somerville. We found out early that my interview was canceled for Monday because of the potential snowstorm. Monday morning we also found out that Steve had no school (Tufts was closed). I managed to get part of the interview scheduled for Monday afternoon and the rest for Tuesday morning. Monday for lunch, I met up with Jess H. which was a ton of fun because I hadn't seen her in forever. Then, I went to the interview.
Monday, I met with the principal and the head of the team I would be working with (called the MATCH Corps). The job is a year long program where I would tutor five students throughout the school day. It's a charter school which takes kids from Dorchester or Roxbury or other lower-income areas. The students enter with lower-than-average math and English scores and those that graduate from MATCH go on to four-year colleges. MATCH makes them take AP classes and BU classes, but supports them through the tutoring program and a small-school environment.
Tuesday I had to go back and tutor two kids. One was in math....where I had to relearn Algebra 2 in two minutes. The other was in English. I also observed a class and talked to current Corps members.
Even though I wasn't thrilled about having to stay an extra day because of the snow, by staying I got to see Tina! The interview went well, but I was completely exhausted by the time I got home.
On the way, my dad and I went to New Haven and had a scrumptious lunch at Claire Corner Copia Cafe. It's a veggie place with gluten-free options. Joseph was not pleased. Apparently his salad would have been MUCH better with chicken. Puh-lease, you don't need to eat chicken for lunch. His egg/carrot salad on top looked pretty good. He just likes to whine.
Then, we went to the Yale University Art Gallery to see the Picasso exhibit. It's a really nice museum and I'm sad I haven't gone until now.
Saturday night I met Jess as we were getting off the T. I think I scared some people by screaming....hey! I was excited!
It snowed a little overnight, so Sunday was FREEZING and snowy. I'm not used to the cold or that white stuff anymore. I complained most of the day. After a yummy dinner at Zaftig's (our favorite Brookline eatery), I went out to Steve's in Somerville. We found out early that my interview was canceled for Monday because of the potential snowstorm. Monday morning we also found out that Steve had no school (Tufts was closed). I managed to get part of the interview scheduled for Monday afternoon and the rest for Tuesday morning. Monday for lunch, I met up with Jess H. which was a ton of fun because I hadn't seen her in forever. Then, I went to the interview.
Monday, I met with the principal and the head of the team I would be working with (called the MATCH Corps). The job is a year long program where I would tutor five students throughout the school day. It's a charter school which takes kids from Dorchester or Roxbury or other lower-income areas. The students enter with lower-than-average math and English scores and those that graduate from MATCH go on to four-year colleges. MATCH makes them take AP classes and BU classes, but supports them through the tutoring program and a small-school environment.
Tuesday I had to go back and tutor two kids. One was in math....where I had to relearn Algebra 2 in two minutes. The other was in English. I also observed a class and talked to current Corps members.
Even though I wasn't thrilled about having to stay an extra day because of the snow, by staying I got to see Tina! The interview went well, but I was completely exhausted by the time I got home.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Medical Update
More blood work tomorrow! I'm not excited about this one....
Today the gastro called. I tested negative for Celiac. This means that I'm not allergic to gluten. I also tested this out by eating rye crackers. (I bought ones that had rye flour and salt as the only listed ingredients.) Basically I think only wheat is my issue. This means that I don't have to keep eating wheat. To be properly tested for the gluten allergy you have to be eating it. Otherwise the necessary endoscopy will be inconclusive. So, starting today, I won't be eating wheat for at least a month. We'll see how it goes and what happens.
The gastro said that my ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) level was elevated. It's an indicator for a whole bunch of auto-immune diseases (including Lupis) and other stuff. So today I had a physical and saw a rhemetologist. He's ordering more blood work, but doesn't think anything is wrong with me. The ANA can show a "false-positive."
So, I have some results, but I'm still waiting on Wednesday's blood tests...
Today the gastro called. I tested negative for Celiac. This means that I'm not allergic to gluten. I also tested this out by eating rye crackers. (I bought ones that had rye flour and salt as the only listed ingredients.) Basically I think only wheat is my issue. This means that I don't have to keep eating wheat. To be properly tested for the gluten allergy you have to be eating it. Otherwise the necessary endoscopy will be inconclusive. So, starting today, I won't be eating wheat for at least a month. We'll see how it goes and what happens.
The gastro said that my ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) level was elevated. It's an indicator for a whole bunch of auto-immune diseases (including Lupis) and other stuff. So today I had a physical and saw a rhemetologist. He's ordering more blood work, but doesn't think anything is wrong with me. The ANA can show a "false-positive."
So, I have some results, but I'm still waiting on Wednesday's blood tests...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Allergist and Blood Work
Last night I went to the allergist. He said that wheat allergies are rare and don't usually cause most of the symptoms I'm having...however, he also thought that if anyone could develop an asymptomatic allergy to wheat it would be me. I'm allergic to so many things that he wouldn't be that surprised if the tests came back positive.
Now to the tests...
I was going to drive myself to the lab/blood center. It's only 1.5 miles away and I usually wake up early. Luckily, my mom decided she would wake up and take me. I went online and made an appointment for 10:15. It took a while to get the insurance all straightened out and the nurse had me start drinking water because she wanted a urine sample for one of the test. In the time I was drinking the liter of water, my body temperature started to decrease, which wasn't that big of a deal because I had a sweater with me.
There were six tubes that I had to fill. That turned out to be a huge challenge. When the nurse inserted the needle into my vein, nothing happened. No blood flowed out of my body. Apparently the tubes have suction, so they're supposed to help the blood flow quickly as to fill the tubes as fast as possible. This wasn't happening with my arms. Yes, my blood pressure is really low, and yes, I was probably somewhat dehydrated from fasting for the blood work. Even so, the tubes were not filling fast enough and I started to tremble and shake because I was getting colder. The nurse had to switch arms and try to find a better vein. She did, but it still took 1/2 an hour to fill the tubes. She would fill one part way and then start another. Then she would go back to the partially-filled tube to try to top it off a bit more.
When we finally left, I ate a cereal bar and drank more water. When we got home I couldn't eat anything so I got on the sofa and covered myself with four blankets because I was still really cold.
I made it through the afternoon, then my mom called to see if the gluten test results had come in...they hadn't. So, I had some pretzels after dinner and now I'm sitting on the couch with a stomach ache and a headache.....and so goes another day of this torture.
Now to the tests...
I was going to drive myself to the lab/blood center. It's only 1.5 miles away and I usually wake up early. Luckily, my mom decided she would wake up and take me. I went online and made an appointment for 10:15. It took a while to get the insurance all straightened out and the nurse had me start drinking water because she wanted a urine sample for one of the test. In the time I was drinking the liter of water, my body temperature started to decrease, which wasn't that big of a deal because I had a sweater with me.
There were six tubes that I had to fill. That turned out to be a huge challenge. When the nurse inserted the needle into my vein, nothing happened. No blood flowed out of my body. Apparently the tubes have suction, so they're supposed to help the blood flow quickly as to fill the tubes as fast as possible. This wasn't happening with my arms. Yes, my blood pressure is really low, and yes, I was probably somewhat dehydrated from fasting for the blood work. Even so, the tubes were not filling fast enough and I started to tremble and shake because I was getting colder. The nurse had to switch arms and try to find a better vein. She did, but it still took 1/2 an hour to fill the tubes. She would fill one part way and then start another. Then she would go back to the partially-filled tube to try to top it off a bit more.
When we finally left, I ate a cereal bar and drank more water. When we got home I couldn't eat anything so I got on the sofa and covered myself with four blankets because I was still really cold.
I made it through the afternoon, then my mom called to see if the gluten test results had come in...they hadn't. So, I had some pretzels after dinner and now I'm sitting on the couch with a stomach ache and a headache.....and so goes another day of this torture.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Doctor Update
Gastro: doesn't think anything in wrong with me. checking for parasites (because I asked) and gluten....I'm waiting for blood results.
Gyno: doens't think anything in wrong with me. More blood work. Did another pregnancy test.....didn't really trust the Spanish one. No, I'm not pregnant. Put me on some hormone pills.
Allergist: going tonight, update to come.
Gyno: doens't think anything in wrong with me. More blood work. Did another pregnancy test.....didn't really trust the Spanish one. No, I'm not pregnant. Put me on some hormone pills.
Allergist: going tonight, update to come.
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