sqbr | Getting the bad news

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.

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Dr: How can eat something that can give you a hug?

That made me smile, such a cute way of putting it. Not that kangaroos are often nice about their hugs.

Oh also, find and make friends with your nearest healthfood shop store. They can do a lot more for you than a supermarket, as supermarkets are restricted in a lot of ways which makes getting (whatever) friendly food in difficult (particularly Coles, I know, we have a really hard time trying to balance, space with what head office tells us to stock, and what our customers are yelling at us for stocking/not stocking).

And don't expect readymade food as anything other than a treat. Unless you like baby food (apparently a lot of that is at least gluten free). That way you don't build up for as much disappointment.

These are the tactics I got told for avoiding gluten and being vegan (not relevant to you but was interesting to me at the time) in a country town though, people tell me its a bit different up here, but I still found this advice useful when I moved. ;P

And don't expect readymade food as anything other than a treat

Yeah, I reached that stage a while ago with all my other food issues :/ (Though pasta as one of the few things I could eat out, dammit. At least I can still have steak and salad :))

I will definitely check out health food stores, thanks. I know there's a biggish one in Morley, will have to do some digging.

Getting the bad news

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Actual food thoughts. Don't know if it'll help though.

Re: Actual food thoughts. Don't know if it'll help though.