July 4th, Burlington, VT will officially open their first Marijuana Dispensary on the waterfront. Sliding scales too! So I can afford it!

July 4th, Burlington, VT will officially open their first Marijuana Dispensary on the waterfront. Sliding scales too! So I can afford it!

Vermont

Vermont

Surgery

During my cancer surgery, a great deal of scar tissue was created. Gives me blockages, particularly Pyloric Valve blocks. On Monday, a simple Upper GI with a balloon on the end will be inserted near the valve to stretch it. Worked at Cleveland Clinic and Dartmouth. So...once again I go for surgery Monday (maybe Tuesday, maybe this weekend). But it will help. Good thing. Hurts to eat. A lot! Wish me "break legs!" — at 174 Maple Street #8.

Bad days...

Even the most careful people will, once in a while, accidentally eat Gluten. Remember. Celiac is NOT Lactose Intolerance. You can have cream In your coffee if Lactose Intolerant. Any trace of Gluten (say cooking breaded Chicken tenders in the same oil as French Fries or Chips), and you react. Migraines. Nausea. The works. It is more like a bee sting allergy. Unforgiving yes but also why you have to talk to chefs. (Luckily, McDonalds only cooks fries with fries. Safe there).

So bad days happen. Try to just get through the day. Know it will pass. Also know you have one of the least understood and under diagnosed diseases on the planet. Even if its frustrating "they" don't get you're tired. They will. Takes time. Be well. Stay warm.

One of the first things a Celiac has to do is learn to speak to chefs.  "Secret ingredients" will become a nightmare for you if you don't.  Most are okay with it, they don't have to disclose their secrets, just tell you whether or not there is Gluten in the food they serve (some places don't know honestly what is in their food...so be careful of that!)...

http://www.celiac.org is a helpful site.

I've decided to try to help both those with Celiac Sprue (aka Gluten Intolerance) and the people who know and love those who suffer from this difficult to diagnose and potentially deadly disease. I will publish papers I find helpful, help dispel myths (like the one that the Irish have "more celiac" when it was simply their physicians were better at diagnosing the disease. I will gladly answer what I can, and try to be as thorough as I can.  There are assets to help you, and maybe, just maybe, together...well, we can at least commiserate!

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