An Emotional Week: Searching for Answers

As many of you are aware, when we lived in Oregon, over the course of a few months, I developed a severe allergic reaction to gluten.  It became serious enough that my doctor referred me to an allergist who preformed a skin-prick test.  My results were minimal and we continued on with life being cautious of the amount of wheat gluten I came in contact with.  When I had none, I didn't react.  When I did, the reaction grew in severity with each exposure.  Finally, after an ER visit to pump me full of epinephrine, I was prescribed an Epi-pen and sent on my merry way.

That was 7 years ago.  I miss bread (especially killer submarines masterfully created by He-Man).  I miss donuts.  I miss my cinnamon rolls.  I miss cereal and oatmeal.

In the beginning, I would only react after consuming gluten then accelerating my heart rate with running or other aerobic activity.  Now, if I consume it, within a half an hour, my hands and feet start to itch and burn, my skin crawls, my eyes and lips swell to the point of looking like Quasimoto.  I scare small children and make dogs and cats leave their homes.  I can't even touch it.  When I make playdough, my hands break out into hives.  UG!

The days following, my body essentially mimics the joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis and it takes nearly a week for the swelling in my face to clear.

My last reaction occurred a year and a half ago.  I attended a work party and ate a hamburger that I took off the bun and cut it up like steak.  That night, I went running and after a mile, I felt the symptoms beginning.  By the time I got home, my body was going into shock.  He-Man is medically trained and is also familiar with this drill so he knew what to do.  The scary thing was that it was more intense than I had ever experienced.

So here's the clincher...

When we were traveling through Texas, some friends of ours made the most AMAZING gazpacho.  I had two gloroious, tomatoey bowls.  The next day, I found out that our hostess, unaware of my allergy, made the soup with the fluffy innards of 2 loaves of French bread!  Amazingly, I had absolutely no reaction.  My eyes didn't even twitch once!

I noted this and even hoped that perhaps with my pregnancy and subequent birth of our darling, tooty little RP, my body's chemistry had changed and I could tolerate wheat gluten.  It was suggested that I test the idea.  I sat on it for a couple of months, too afraid to try anything.

The, Sunday came and I made Cinnamon Rolls for my family.  I decided to make like a test tube and conduct the experiment...

I bit into the fluffy, soft treat and instantly remembered why I love Cinnamon rolls so much.  I tried to savor every bite and licked every bit of frosting off my fingers.  It was divine.

Unfortunately, my body disagreed.  Within a half an hour, my hands and feet started to itch, then my legs and arms, my torso and neck came next.  My body became covered in welt-like hives that burned and itched.  My lungs began to fill up with fluid and it felt like someone was standing on my chest.  My mouth and eyes began to swell and my body went into shock.  Well, I guess that answers the question. 

It was more terrifying than before and I ended the evening feeling like a complete idiot.  All of this for a stupid Cinnamon roll.  And no, it wasn't worth it. 

The next day, I could hardly move.  My body ached and my bones hurt like they were broken.  Yesterday, I felt well enough to run again.  Four days after eating something I probably shouldn't have.

So, I'm  back to Square One, wondering what is going on.  Why was I able to eat the gazpacho in Texas but not a Cinnamon roll in Florida?  UG!  Atleast I'm certain of one thing:  I'm not going to make myself a science experiment again anytime soon!