Help wanted (Score so far related)

[Jersey Girl]

Black tea. Lipton. With 2% milk and part of a sweet n' low packet.

Nice. I have Yorkshire tea, one teaspoon of sugar, semi skimmed milk. Just got some crisps thinking ok no preservatives or added stuff. I can switch to these got home and checked and sunflower oil contains linalool. It's so confusing. Gonna eat them anyway.

Absolutely agree that it's confusing to make food choices when you are trying to avoid ingredients that might be triggers. I'm so blasted tired of examining labels but the truth is, I used to do that to avoid too much sodium even before I got sick.

Have you tried making your own crisps in the oven? I've done it and they were okay but it's not the same as opening a package and just plopping some on your plate--like any normal person would.

Don't know if this helps but here are some of the normal things I can snack on if I don't over do it.

Original Gold Fish Crackers
Original Ruffles Chips (crisps)
Snyder's Thin Pretzel Sticks

I don't eat a lot of those but I do eat them now. Funny because when my diet was so good and healthy I really didn't eat those. I was all like...almonds, walnuts, seeds, dark chocolate covered almonds, baby carrots/ranch dressing/hummus for crunchy snacks. But they make me feel like a normal person so it's kind of fun for me to pop open a bag and have those 3 that I listed!

I'm thinking of trying skim milk, too. I don't like it but I'm willing to try anything that helps.

Crisps in the oven I've made before I got sick...potato, sweet potato, zucchini, tortilla chips. Toss in olive oil, maybe a little salt. They were all good. I also did dried apples from time to time. Apples are out of the question for now.

[IWMP]

Nice. I have Yorkshire tea, one teaspoon of sugar, semi skimmed milk. Just got some crisps thinking ok no preservatives or added stuff. I can switch to these got home and checked and sunflower oil contains linalool. It's so confusing. Gonna eat them anyway.

Absolutely agree that it's confusing to make food choices when you are trying to avoid ingredients that might be triggers. I'm so blasted tired of examining labels but the truth is, I used to do that to avoid too much sodium even before I got sick.

Have you tried making your own crisps in the oven? I've done it and they were okay but it's not the same as opening a package and just plopping some on your plate--like any normal person would.

Don't know if this helps but here are some of the normal things I can snack on if I don't over do it.

Original Gold Fish Crackers
Original Ruffles Chips (crisps)
Snyder's Thin Pretzel Sticks

I don't eat a lot of those but I do eat them now. Funny because when my diet was so good and healthy I really didn't eat those. I was all like...almonds, walnuts, seeds, dark chocolate covered almonds, baby carrots/ranch dressing/hummus for crunchy snacks. But they make me feel like a normal person so it's kind of fun for me to pop open a bag and have those 3 that I listed!

I'm thinking of trying skim milk, too. I don't like it but I'm willing to try anything that helps.

Crisps in the oven I've made before I got sick...potato, sweet potato, zucchini, tortilla chips. Toss in olive oil, maybe a little salt. They were all good. I also did dried apples from time to time. Apples are out of the question for now.

The gallate means I can't have oils. But I can cook in butter. Might make my own in butter but I have made home made crisps a few times because it's the only way to get potato into my son. Making chicken and noodles tonight with very little extra stuff. I'm going to have to eat some of the allergy food because if I avoid the allergens I'm left with very little. I think I'll do the low nickel diet which leaves me with little because I don't eat half of it and about the linalool/limonene in fruits and drinks because I can feel the reaction with that and basically avoid anything that sets my face off which is basically anything with flavour lol. I'll add flavour for the kids.

I love sweet potato fries. Might have to do that tomorrow. Make home made chicken burger for me and beef burgers for the kids.

[Jersey Girl]

Absolutely agree that it's confusing to make food choices when you are trying to avoid ingredients that might be triggers. I'm so blasted tired of examining labels but the truth is, I used to do that to avoid too much sodium even before I got sick.

Have you tried making your own crisps in the oven? I've done it and they were okay but it's not the same as opening a package and just plopping some on your plate--like any normal person would.

Don't know if this helps but here are some of the normal things I can snack on if I don't over do it.

Original Gold Fish Crackers
Original Ruffles Chips (crisps)
Snyder's Thin Pretzel Sticks

I don't eat a lot of those but I do eat them now. Funny because when my diet was so good and healthy I really didn't eat those. I was all like...almonds, walnuts, seeds, dark chocolate covered almonds, baby carrots/ranch dressing/hummus for crunchy snacks. But they make me feel like a normal person so it's kind of fun for me to pop open a bag and have those 3 that I listed!

I'm thinking of trying skim milk, too. I don't like it but I'm willing to try anything that helps.

Crisps in the oven I've made before I got sick...potato, sweet potato, zucchini, tortilla chips. Toss in olive oil, maybe a little salt. They were all good. I also did dried apples from time to time. Apples are out of the question for now.

The gallate means I can't have oils. But I can cook in butter. Might make my own in butter but I have made home made crisps a few times because it's the only way to get potato into my son. Making chicken and noodles tonight with very little extra stuff. I'm going to have to eat some of the allergy food because if I avoid the allergens I'm left with very little. I think I'll do the low nickel diet which leaves me with little because I don't eat half of it and about the linalool/limonene in fruits and drinks because I can feel the reaction with that and basically avoid anything that sets my face off which is basically anything with flavour lol. I'll add flavour for the kids.

I love sweet potato fries. Might have to do that tomorrow. Make home made chicken burger for me and beef burgers for the kids.

After I read your post here I got an idea that anyone looking in at all this food exchange type stuff would think we both were crazy. I had NO idea how much you were needing to tweak foods. I don't know how I could have missed it because I read everything you write.

I'm sad you can't have olive oil. I guess I would melt some butter and brush some on whatever type crisps you want to try making? I've learned to get creative and I am sure you have too!

[Jersey Girl]

UPDATE: It's good news!

All my lab work is returned. I do NOT have pancreatic insufficiency so far as I can tell. The things that pinged on the Gastro labs are identical to the routine labs. All roads lead to thyroid. I've discussed in portal with my Primary and offered that I think the next step is to increase the Levo (tablets) like we did the first time I had antibodies tests. At that time I went from 7 pills per week to 9. If she's going to increase again, I'm going to request a follow up antibodies test (she'll probably do that anyway) and see if I can get follow up tests every 6 months and if not, with every annual routine blood work. This has showed me that it needs to be monitored before I fall into another Hashimoto's abyss.

Feeling good about all of this! I have not taken Creon and I'm not going to. I'll probably try some lower level enzyme supplements of the same type and see how that goes. Discuss with Gastro at the late March follow up.

Weight: I pulled out my notes that had weight over time from my Gastro folder and it was somewhat comforting. I'll just jump in where I started this thread which was Aug 2023 when my weight was 92 pounds and went down to size 4. I'm approx. 8-10 pounds down from that depending on where my weight seems to be hovering on any given day. I'd say the average is 83-84 pounds and size 2-4. So...not as horrible a loss as I thought! Low end of normal BMI. I just look like total ISH.

But recall I was slowly losing weight over time and as the Gastro doc said, this was a long time developing and will be a long time turning around. I get that. Still having VERY good days and getting things done! Nights are kind of ick but nothing nuclear any more.

Goals: Increase muscle mass. Eat at Red Robin for my birthday and see The Chosen Season 5 IN the theater! I have not been able to go see any of the episodes in the theater due to illness but I think I can do it now. I'm going to try!

Good things: I've finally got a hair appointment scheduled for Thursday of this week!

[Jersey Girl]

Note to folks: I see your messages I just haven't gotten to them yet. Sorry! <3

[msnobody]

Yay!!! Enjoy getting your hair cut.

[Jersey Girl]

Yay!!! Enjoy getting your hair cut.

Thank you!! I absolutely will! Told her I look like a cave dweller.

[IWMP]

Yay!!! Enjoy getting your hair cut.

Thank you!! I absolutely will! Told her I look like a cave dweller.

[msnobody]

Thank you!! I absolutely will! Told her I look like a cave dweller.

Captain cave man came to mind.

[Jersey Girl]

Captain cave man came to mind.

Hey. She's crawling out of the cave tomorrow! Lord willing and it doesn't snow too much so I can get there. Hair matters and a good cut is almost as good as ice cream for dinner!