February 1, 2008 It's The End of the World As I Know It

Oh my, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore...

OK, so the day started off fine. Had breakfast (Kashi, banana, and cottage cheese--remember that...), hit the gym and did 31 minutes on the treadmill--probably the last time until after surgery, since I'm very stiff and sore without the Mobic for 4 days, did some errands and came home for lunch (a hamburger, couscous and salad--remember that too...), had a lovely massage, and then...it happened.

The results of my food allergy testing arrived. And eating for me will never be the same.

For starters, the results are given a number from 0 to 6. 0 means no allergy or sensitivity. 1 means a slight sensitivity, but no big dea. 2 means sensitive, but only a problem if it's something I eat all the time. 3 is very sensitive. 4 is allergic. 5 is very allergic, and 6 is extremely allergic. Well, who knew I'd end up with a 6 for egg whites??? Yolks were only a 3, but I have been getting quite fond of my egg white omelets! So eggs are a permanent no-no for me. Not sure yet if I have to eliminate anything with the slightest bit of egg in it, or just not eat eggs. I highly suspected that milk would be on the list, and it was, at a 4. So that's more than a sensitivity. Crap! I was hoping for a temporary elimination. The odd thing is that cheddar cheese and yogurt are only 2s. So maybe I can add them back in eventually?? No mention of goat's milk, so I may get to keep my goat cheese. (of course, I really like that in salads and in OMELETS, which I will NOT be eating!!) I have no idea where to go with dairy free--there really are not acceptable substitutes for me

.At 3, besides egg yolks, we have processed cheese (like American) and BANANAS. Huh? NO ONE is allergic to bananas!!! It's what they give babies as their first food along with rice! OK, banana free is pretty easy, although I will miss my favorite fruit. The 2s that I eat all the time (and will therefore have to eliminate for a few months) include wheat bran, cheddar cheese, wheat, and yogurt. So not only dairy free, but wheat free too? Eggs, milk and wheat...what else IS there??????? Well, at least I won't have to be totally gluten-free. THAT would be a nightmare!!!

Remember I said to remember what I had for breakfast and lunch? Well, breakfast is a goner--Kashi has wheat, cottage cheese is dairy, and bananas, well, that's gone too. And lunch? Bye bye couscous. And I'll have to read labels for salad dressings. Fortunately, my 3 favorites--the organic honey mustard, my homemade raspberry viniagrette, and my homemade apple cider viniagrette, are all clean. So I won't have to give that up.

So, dinner tonight. Well, I'd been feeling icky and full ever since my snack (yogurt...), and after cooking school I came home and up came my snack, my lunch, and God knows what else. So not a big dinner night. I did eat some mac and cheese (for the last time...), and an apple. Later I will have my beloved cheerios, but I may use yogurt instead of milk. Or not....So, I've ordered some info about food allergies and eating dairy/egg/wheat free. Like it isn't already hard inough just sticking to a food plan, now I have to do it without many of my regular choices. Milk, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, couscous, bulghur, Kashi, whole wheat wraps, Cheerios (yup, they have wheat bran in them...), and even the healthy canola oil mayo I just got--all gone. I will have my phone consult with the doctor from Canyon Ranch on Monday morning. Then I will cry. I will speak with the nutritionist on Thursday, and then I will REALLY cry!!!

Well, tomorrow I'm going to Mom and Dad's and I guess I'll be making a slight detour to Whole Foods. Gotta read some labels and see what I can do with this mess. This is NOT the life I signed up for!!!!!!!