My Diagnosis

Today I am thankful for Dr. Frank.

 

 

I've been fainting a lot. 

 

It usually happens when I exercise. 

 

For years, I was told that I had exercise induced asthma.

 

I've had trouble keeping down my weight due to my inability to exercise.

 

Dr. Frank is sharp. 

 

He's young.

 

He's fresh out of medical school.

 

He asked me one question no one ever asked before.

 

Where do you exercise?

 

Well.....I like to hike in the mountains.  I have a home gym and like to crack open the windows so I can feel the breeze through the windows.  When I raise my heart rate, I start to have trouble breathing and then I faint. I thought it was because I was overweight and out of shape but soon realized that dieting didn't help the problem.

He asked me to talk about when and where I faint.  I faint when the windows are open.  I faint in my home town (which is near the mountains) and I faint when I'm near a lot of trees.

Oh......

Well....long story short, I'm allergic to all sorts of trees, grasses, dust, dogs, cats and just about everything one would find in the mountains on a hike.....and in and around my home.

I'm also highly allergic to the diet food I've been eating for years.  I can't eat wheat, soy, milk, eggs, cheese, bananas and peanuts anymore. 

I guess that explains why I always felt better not eating.  Eating made me dizzy and I struggled with anorexia as a kid. This explains it. The stuff I ate made me sick. 

So.....

I stopped eating the dietetic and protein bars.  I've lost 5 pounds and my blood pressure has returned to normal.

I thought I'd share just in case any one else is in the same boat. 

I think the only things I can eat now are oats, rice, chicken and green veggies. 

If I drop a lot of weight by avoiding the stuff that makes me sick, I'll let you know.

Love ya,

S

Edit: I am losing about one pound per week since abandoning the foods to which I am allergic.  I'm lucky to live in these times of fake eggs and gluten-free foods.  I have alternatives.

I've hired another doctor to guide me through an elimination diet to help me work through the allergies.

I'm told that, with time, I may be able to eat most of those foods without the inflammation and weight gain I experience while eating soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and dairy.