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

[http://users.livejournal.com/doctor_k_/]

Tell him kangaroos don't hug. They'll scratch you, and disembowel you with their hindlegs. The only time they might put their arms around you is so they can scratch your back and tear away your flesh.
In my experience treating kangaroo victims, that is.

Roo is tasty, lean, humanely harvested, and so much more environmentally good than beef or sheep.

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah, I thought about making the "Kangaroos really aren't that nice from everything I've heard, and sheep/chickens etc can be pretty cuddly" argument, but decided it probably wouldn't have much weight with a vegan :) I find it more annoying from people who are willing to eat other animals.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

And really, chickens and sheep are about as cuddly as ... well, not terribly cuddly things.
:-)
I think I will stick to stuffed versions made in china if I need a hug from an animal.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I recall being bitterly disappointed when I discovered how knobbly and greasy real lambs are. Some chickens are cuddly.

[evil-megz.livejournal.com]

I've been hugged by a kangaroo. It was a hand reared pet, which will explain the lack of disemboweling, but it does back up his 'can' statement.
They're lovely cuddly friendly animals if they don't think you're going to harm them. But that doesn't stop me chowing down on roo meat at any opportunity.

And Sophie keep in mind that evidenced by this Dr's veganism he's somewhat extremist... I have no doubt that if you minimised your gluten/dairy etc intake, but didn't refuse to go out for dinner if there wasn't a gluten-dairy-animalsthatcanhug-free option, you'd still benefit without having to make a massive massive sacrifice.

[alias_sqbr]

He actually didn't seem TOO extreme: he admitted to eating some butter-fat containing chocolates himself so had sympathy for me doing the same :) And, well, my health issues are extreme, perhaps an extreme change is required :/