Getting the bad news

[sqbr]

So I FINALLY got to a recommended chronic fatigue specialising GP today. He started by asking what the "Dr" was for, and then when I said maths his whole face lit up and he started fanboying maths (apparently he seriously considered majoring) which was a nice start. He took my history and unlike all the vague handwaving I've gotten from other doctors was all "Ah, I know what's wrong with and how we can fix it" which was both encouraging and discouraging (I'm not sure anyone can be that sure with chronic fatigue)

Anyway, he gave me some vitamins and stuff to take, and suggested a gently increasing course of walking, and then said "Hmm. You say you're intolerant of dairy. Well, you should cut that out completely and also cut out gluten"
"Really? Are you sure? Because it never seems to affect me"
"Trust me"
"And..you mean cut them out completely? Not even skim milk?"
"Yes, sorry, even a little bit can set it all off again"
"But! But!! ...man, this is going to suck, I'm hard enough to feed as it is"

And I went to the supermarket, and it does suck. There do not appear to be any cake or bread mixes (or actual cakes or breads) which don't replace wheat with soy and or milk powder. All I could find was plain flour and rice cakes :/ Are there any high fibre gluten-free grains apart from brown rice and amaranth? I eat a lot of whole grains. Any other gluten-free-living advice would be nice, I may have specific questions after I have a chance to rest and think about it more (shopping was TIRING)

He was fairly understanding, since he has trouble finding gluten free stuff himself. I'd fight it more but afaict it's pretty much the first thing everyone suggests for chronic fatigue :/
Also he said I should try to make sure my meat is organic
Me: "Does kangaroo count?"
Dr (with pained expression) Kangaroo?
Me: Why, is that bad?
Dr: How can eat something that can give you a hug?

Heh. That is SO not my first consideration with food right now :) (And yes, it turns out he's vegan, though he made no attempt to get me off meat or eggs and pretty much implied I should keep eating lots)

Oh, and if you want the doctors details it's Dr. Alastair Nuttall, 6 Burgess Street Midland, 9250 6977.

Comments

heh

[thanners.livejournal.com]

Apart from the finding-you-should-avoid-even-more-foods part, it actually sounded like a pretty cool doctor visit. :P

Re: heh

[alias_sqbr]

If it makes me even slightly better it will have been a VERY cool doctors visit :)

[paperishcup.livejournal.com]

Hallo...

Stumbled upon your entry when clicking on a friend's friends page, and since I happen to be checking my email after work whilst still on the premesis of work*, thought I'd look at the packets on the shelves for you.

Let there be cake, she says! The following things by the brand 'Orgran' (which can sometimes be found in supermarkets) are gluten, dairy and soy (and nut!) free: chocolate cake mix, vanilla cake mix, chocolate muffin mix, lemon poppyseed muffin mix, chocolate mousse dessert mix, custard powder, pancake mix, and apple & cinnamon pancake mix. Some do require milk in the mixing-up of them, but there's always rice milk or almond milk**. There is also bread mix but I haven't tried it so don't know how it tastes.

In other exciting news, a new local producer has started making DAIRY AND GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CRACKLES and FUDGE, using mostly coconut oil, cocoa and honey...and they are SOOO GOOD.

On the next question.. Quinoa is a fantastic gluten-free grain (it's got heaps of protein, and is the only non-animal product with a complete set of amino acids..)..similar consistency to cous-cous but I think much tastier, and you cook it much the same as white rice. I'm also going through a year-long phase of making whole buckwheat, which is actually gluten free (it has no relation to wheat at all, but is in fact a techically a berry..) and is yummy.

Okay, that's the end of my I've-worked-in-an-Organics-shop-for-way-too-long spiel for now! Good luck with it...and even though the lack of cakes is sad, hurrah for potential getting-better-ness :)

* By 'work' I mean The Earth Market, Organic wholefood shop and cafe, 14/375 Hay St Subiaco. It is The Win for having good allergen-friendly food (and also has organic meat)! Is not always the win price-wise compared to supermarkets due to being a small shop and also having to pay Subiaco rent, though..

** Almond milk is yummy. Almond milk is very expensive. Almond milk is also easy to make, though, by putting almonds on to soak overnight, blending them up the next day, and letting the product strain through muslin.

[indescribble.livejournal.com]

Ooooo you work at the Earth Market?! i love that place :)

[grahame.livejournal.com]

Oh man, fudge!? This "vegan as a diet" thing was just completely destroyed :-) I really should go by the earth market and buy some deliciousness soon!

[alias_sqbr]

Hey thanks!

I am unfortunately also intolerant of coconut (though thankfully NOT other nuts) so that's the fudge out. Probably for the best. Will definitely keep an eye out for Orgran mixes, my birthday's coming up and I want cake dammit.

I forgot about Quinoa. Must buy some more, Kakulas brothers has it in bulk (no offense to your fine employer :))

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you have found a very awesome doctor who actually listens to you though and I know that they are worth their weight in gold!

How can eat something that can give you a hug?

Can I use this as a quote?

As for gluten free/dairy free stuff I know that Leda (purveyor of vegan timtams) do alot of gluten free/dairy free biscuits and cakes (they also do chocolate free stuff too, I know you can't have chocolate either). Woolworths also has their own "Free From" brand and there is also "freedom foods" which you can get in both Coles and Woolies. Many of them are also free from soy.

High fibre gluten free grains, also check out quinoa (which, aside from soy, is the only plant that is a complete protein as well).

t turns out he's vegan, though he made no attempt to get me off meat or eggs

I find it a concern that there is an assumption (in general, I mean, not at you in particular) that vegans are unable to keep their personal beliefs and professional lives separate. I mean people don't jump up and down when an omnivore doctor tells you to eat eggs/dairy etc

[alias_sqbr]

Can I use this as a quote?

Go ahead!

Thanks for the suggestions.

And yes, sorry, didn't mean to imply that a vegan doctor would push their ideology, but given the kangaroo comment(*) I thought someone else might make that assumption so I should clarify.

(*)Which in context wasn't pushy, he was just genuinely shocked into saying what he really thought :)

[baby-elvis.livejournal.com]

I am so glad that he took you seriously. My brother is also coeliacs, so I'll ask him about brands etc.

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks!

[auntpol.livejournal.com]

I made a DELICIOUS cake with almond meal once. But I think it may have had milk. Maybe not. Don't know what you'd replace the chocolate with though (http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2007/10/03/cake/).

I'm glad you're getting somewhere with CF. It must be really frustrating.

[alias_sqbr]

Ooh! Your comment reminded me of these hazelnut biscuits. Now I have excuse to make them again :D

That cake looks bizarre but interesting.

[seaya.livejournal.com]

I guess y'all don't have the healthy food superstores we have here (at least in areas near or in cities, anyhow). But it seems there are things you can do. My friend from Germany had an autoimmune something or other that involved her being both vegan and gluten free, and she really liked meat a lot (being German), but if she ate anything beyond that, her skin practically sloughed off. So, she made do. I think that if this makes you feel a lot better, you will quickly get over it. I know I personally have had a hard time jettisoning the food as convenient source of pleasure model, but I don't have a compelling reason beyond the "it's a good idea". I have faith that you can do it!

[alias_sqbr]

No indeed we do not, at least not in Perth, I spent some time in awe of the one I saw in Chicago. We do have smaller health shops with a similar but smaller range. Then again, if my brief experiences in Ohio are anything to go by, our regular supermarkets are much more healthy :)

I've already had to give up so many of my default comfort foods that I'm kind of used to it by now.

[flyingblogspot.livejournal.com]

Everything Jen said, and also seconding the suggestion to try quinoa. NOM. :) And polenta! And the San Remo gluten free pasta, is always in the ordinary pasta section instead of being with the other gluten-free pastas in the Weird Food Section.

The Earth Market in Subiaco (in the little shopping complex behind Nandos on Hay St) also stocks an interesting selection of alternative foods and has a cafe attached, but these days it's pretty easy to get gluten-free and dairy-free foods from IGA or even Coles/Woolies.

I'm not particularly up-to-date on what's dairy-free and good, but I'll keep an eye on labels from now on and let you know if I come across anything you might like.

(What's your soy tolerance like? Or sheep's milk/yoghurt tolerance? I have a banana bread recipe that tastes like Delicious Ordinary Food even though it's gluten-free, but I need to think of something to swap in for the sour cream to make it dairy-free.)

[grahame.livejournal.com]

Quinoa is for the win! Everyone should eat it :-) Where do you get polenta though?

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks for the specific rec, the gluten free pasta I had last night was kind of blah.

I am definitely going to have to try the Earth Market, I think.

My soy tolerance is actually worse than my dairy tolerance :( Also he said to cut out ALL dairy. But afaict dairy isn't as chemically important to baking as gluten, so the recipe might be salvageable.

Yes, I forgot all about Quinoa but it is win.

[meljane.livejournal.com]

Finding gluten free stuff is hard to find when you first go searching but like others have suggested you just have to know which shops to go to and what sections of shops usually carry the items .

It easier finding gluten free foods and sauces than is trying to find food for a person that has a Candida imbalance .

They have gluten free bread in the bread section , the annoying thing is its frozen before it gets but into the bread section and doesn't keep long and I'm not sure whether it has milk in it or not.

[alias_sqbr]

They were out of gluten free bread in the woolies I checked out yesterday, I see a long evening of checking ingredients ahead of me on Thursday :/

[loic.livejournal.com]

I've had pet kangaroos, sheep, cows and chickens. Let's eat dog!

[aquaplanage.livejournal.com]

Nasty oily taste, at least the roast dog I had in Vietnam, not fab. (Reminded me a bit of a whaleburger I had once in Japan but less fishy - the fishyness made it yummy, but I felt vaguely guilty afterwards)

Glad I ate both meals, but still prefer beef pho, or okonomiyaki for that matter.

My mum had a pet chicken, but her dad made her eat it. Farmers, hey?

I had a pet kangaroo but she grew up and had to go to a wildlife refuge. She was sweet, and had no interest in disemboweling people, at least as far as I noticed. But maybe disemboweling cats. Our cat was terrified of her.

[aquaplanage.livejournal.com]

A couple of nice, easy gluten-free breads:

Farinata and socca - chickpea flour fried breads from Southern Europe. Super yummy with onions and herbs baked in. Try it, it's easy - especially good when you're at the end of your tether and need something quick and easy - and it stores well in the fridge too. http://www.chow.com/recipes/11011

Tapioca flour with buckwheat (not actually wheat!) works pretty well with baking powder.

And like one of the other posters said, your local healthfood shop should be able to help out.

And perhaps you've already heard about the "spoons theory"? A couple of links about it follow, one of which was written by a friend of mine:

http://viv.id.au/blog/?p=517

http://stanford.wellsphere.com/lyme-disease-article/energy-and-spoons/333850

Good luck - do remember to ask people for support if you need it!

[alias_sqbr]

Oh wow, thanks. My mum's gotten really into chickpea flour recently for feeding my vegetarian siblings, so I've been meaning to try it anyway.

Oh yes, I know all about spoons. I am currently answering email to build up the physical spoons for lunch :)

[rabbit1080.livejournal.com]

Orange and almond cake (http://www.recipezaar.com/Orange-and-Almond-Spanish-Cake-75916)?

Quinoa is expensive compared to rice, but it also has quite high protein content for a grain. So it's not "just" a rice substitute.

Kangaroo meat tastes yum :)

[alias_sqbr]

That looks tasty, thanks :) (I think all the acid might set off my reflux, but I'm sure there's other almonds+syrup recipes out there)

[nessbrain.livejournal.com]

I recall getting some corn pasta from Woolies once, I didn't check the ingredients list though so I'm not sure if it was wholly wheat-free. It was in the health foods section I think. There are also rice noodles which come in various types, maybe try an asian supermarket and see what their range is like?

Good luck with it, gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free is just nasty.

[alias_sqbr]

Ooh, yes, there's an asian supermarket just near my house, I should totally check them out.

[tevriel.livejournal.com]

It's annoying to get there (I discovered this because I was living there at the time) but Woodvale Boulevarde shopping centre (cnr Whitfords Avenue and Trappers Drive) has a disconcertingly excellent selection of food for those with intolerances.

First, there's a shop called Weigh'n'Pay, which sells various ingredients by weight; they are very good about allergens, and everything in the shop has been marked for gluten status with the assistance of the Coeliac Society.

On a related note, they're my primary source for quinoa, a high-fibre, high-protein grain that's gluten-free and quite tasty.

The staff are very nice.

I think either Basco or Orgran bread-type mixes *might* have a soy-free variant, I'm not sure. Failing that, googling might find you some recipes. I know you can do nifty things with rice flour.

Also at Woodvale Boulevarde is a Woolworths with a damn good range in their health food section - look for "naytura foods" in the aisle markers.

Finally, if you like pineapple, it makes many gluten-free options much, much more delicious.

[alias_sqbr]

Orgran bread mix is soy free, I made some last night and it's not too bad.

Pineapple and I are unfortunately not friends :(

[i-palimpsest.livejournal.com]

Kangarroo is YUMMY!!!! Just for the record.

Coles seems to have a surprisingly large amount of gluten free product. (I was intollerant as a kid and there used to be Nothing)

I recommend the San Remo rice & Corn pasta - that is quite good.

[alias_sqbr]

Yes, I get the feeling things have improved dramatically recently.

Kangaroo is indeed yummy. I just had some with smoked garlic, red wine, fish sauce, soy sauce, and lots of salt and pepper. YUM.

[timtek.livejournal.com]

Nice! I went to look for this doctor online though and it turns out it's 6 Bur*g*ess Street. I will definitely keep him in mind for our next appointment. Thanks!

[alias_sqbr]

Oops, thanks *edits*