Sunday, May 29, 2011

Restaurant Food Got Me!

10 days ago I began to experience cramping, bloating, some diarrhea and nausea. Because I ate at a local restaurant before I had those symptoms. I suspected bacteria (or other bugs) or allergens (maybe cross-contamination) from the restaurant food caused my symptoms. However, I had eaten the same entree at that restaurant many previous times and had NO reaction. So I was really puzzled.

However, I put away (froze) 2 meals from my leftovers before I got those symptoms. I decided to wait until I recovered from the symptoms to eat one of those (frozen leftover) meals. If I again experienced those (cramping, bloating, nausea) symptoms after eating the lefotver meal, I would know something in the food caused my symptoms.

Friday night (2 days ago) I felt well and decided to try the restuarant leftovers again. Saturday morning I began having the same (but more intense) symptoms of bloating, nausea, diarrhea andd cramping pain. So I know for sure that resturant meal caused my symptoms. Last week I didn't know whether a foodborn bacteria (or parasite) in the food caused my symptoms or whether I was reacting to an allergen. This week my symptoms seem more like previous allergen reactions, maybe because the symptoms are more intense. (I remembered my reactions to gluten, dairy and soy being more painful.)

Today I visited that resturant and talked to the waitress who often serves me the same entree I always eat. She reassured me that the dish containined none of my allergens. However, since we visited the restaurant on a very busy night, I suspect cross-contamination. Perhaps one of the cooks used hastily washed utensils or pans to prepare my dish. That utensil or dish could have been contaminated with wheat (from flour tortillas) or dairy (from cheese or sour cream) from other previously prepared dishes. The waitress told me that the cooks are very careful, but my body says it was exposed to an allergen.

I won't return to that restaurant again very soon. However, when I do want to eat there again, I'll go at a slower time when the staff isn't so busy. I can't risk cross-contamination. Even though I eventually recover (symptoms disappear), allergen antibodies damage my intestines and make me more susceptible to new allergies or other autoimmune diaeases. I already have celiac disease, 6 other delayed reaction food allergies, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Sjogren's disease. I don't want more autoimmune conditions. SIGH

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Better But Still Puzzled

Those intestinal cramping symptoms gradually decreased over the past 3 days. However, I still don't know what caused the symptoms. Perhaps taking extra probiotics (2 capsules for daily 100 billion live cells vs. my usual daily 50 billion) helped fight off a possible gut bug infection. Perhaps eating coconut ice cream (not just coconut milk, but actual coconut bits) helped calm my gut. I've read that coconut helps decrease diarrhea. I didn't actually have diarrhea, but I had all the urgency and cramps that accompany diarrhea. I also decreased my magnesium supplement consumption. So maybe that helped.

Possibly I contracted a bacteria or reacted to an allergen from the restaurant meal, which I consumed last Saturday night. If so, I will get the same gut symptoms when I eat my restaurant meal leftovers. I hope not, because I always order that same dish and look forward to my 2 meals from leftovers. Nevertheless, I visited that restaurant on a sunny Saturday evening. We got the last open table before a line formed outside. I've never seen that restaurant so crowded. Perhaps someone in the kitchen accidentally contaminated my entree?? However, my recent symptoms didn't feel like an allergy reaction. They did feel like a gut bug. Maybe my gut is healthy enough to rid itself of bad bugs now. I don't know what I had, but I'm glad it's gone ... at least until I thaw, heat and eat my restaurant leftovers. SIGH

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Puzzling Intestinal Cramps, Etc.

I had been doing very well physically for over a month. I had no new respiratory infections. I was tolerating well my 50mcg dose of T4 plus two 5mcg )divided) doses of T3 supplements. So my hypothyroid symptoms (fatigue, low body temp and irregularity) continued to decrease until I felt almost 'normal' playing tennis on Saturday. I had all the energy I needed to play an hour of tennis, walk around the lake for another 1-1/4 hours and then walk to a local restaurant for dinner (another 60 minute round trip walk) that day. However, I awoke the next morning with intestinal cramps and almost diarrhea. My gut felt like I would have diarrhea (cramps, queasiness, nausea), but I didn't actually have diarrhea. Maybe my gut's good bacteria level is high enough to fight off whatever caused those symptoms.

However, I still have those symptoms today. So I wonder whether (1) I consumed an allergen during the restaurant dinner (although I ordered the same entree, which I always eat without problems) or (2) I contracted some kind of intestinal bacteria (which could cause cramping pain and bloating--I've had some of that) or (3) my T4 supplement finally raised my thyroid hormone levels high enough to cause hyperthyroid symptoms (diarrhea and cramping intestinal pain can be hyperthyroid symptoms). However, I don't have any other hyper symptoms (like palpitations or overheating). So I really don't know what caused these cramping gut pains.

Meanwhile I will reduce my daily magnesium supplement, which can cause diarrhea and can also prevent thyroid absorption if taken too close to thyroid doses. Maybe some peppermint tea could relax my intestines. (I usually avoid peppermint tea, because it also relaxes the lower esophageal valve and can thereby cause reflux.) I experienced slightly less cramping pain today (or maybe I'm just accustomed to that symptom after 2 days). I really hope I don't have another gut bacteria ... been there, done that too many times already. Nevertheless, if these symptoms continue, I need to take yet another stool test for bacteria, parasites and/or yeast.

Spring finally arrived in Seattle. We had our first 70 degree day on Saturday. I plan to plant squash seed in hills on the next sunny day (hopefully Tuesday). My tomato seedlings are flourishing in my studio (south facing) window. However, I won't put those into the garden for a few more weeks. (Everything will be late this year, because we had such a cold spring.) My husband is anxious to plant green beans. We're planting some crops so late that we may be in Maui when our vegies (and grapes) are ripe enough to pick. I certainly won't stay home to harvest. LOL

I've also sewed several A-line skirts (5?) and one pencil skirt during this rainy spring. I plan to make more pencil skirts, but need to alter some old denim shorts (which are too long and too wide) and a pair of white trousers. (I'll make skinny pants from trousers which have stretch.)

I haven't done much serious computer shopping, but I decided I prefer a smaller screen (13-14 inch) notebook rather than a really small (10 inch screen) netbook (which is lighter, but difficult to see). I don't actually need a laptop until October (when we go to Maui for 16 days). I can decide later.

Last (but not least LOL) my hairstyle finally looks like a short bob with bangs (from the front). However the sideview shows that I'm growing out my 'pixie' cut, because the shortest hair is near the ears, while in front and in back of my ears I have longer hair. I'm still uncertain about whether I want a shorter in back, longer in front tapered bob or a precision arched extended bang cut (hair is shorter around my face and longer in the back). I like the precision arched style, but I may want hair off my face during hot weather. I also may want to wear a ponytail during hot weather, which I can't do with the arched extended bang style. So I'll just wait to see how I feel when my hair is longer and the weather is hotter.