Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Resentful, and Food

So I'm sure you're all deeply curious about my FEELINGS.  Especially about suddenly being unable to eat anything, and therefore sounding crazy.

Well, how I feel is !@$%^& ANNOYED.  I have to cook frigging everything because the only things we ever have around that are snack-like (that I can eat) are raisins, sunflower seeds, and cashews.  Sometimes chocolate chips, but then I eat them with gloom-filled rapidity.  Also oranges.  These are all things that rapidly get old.  Sometimes I bake things with weird rice flour and stuff, but 1) it's a lot of work; 2) we are moving and I have zero time; 3) about half the time they turn out just one step above compost quality, i.e. really strange*; and 4) if they aren't strange, all the other people in the house eat them too.  They'll have what Mama's having.

Anyhow.  Annoyed!  And tired!  And about twice as tired of that whole 'coming up with dinner' as I was before.

*I can't eat tapioca flour or soy or dairy, so most commercial EVERYTHING is off-limits.  Also  no 'modified food starch' or 'tapioca maltodextrin.'  (Read your labels some day and be amazed how many things those are in.  Gatorade!  Rice crackers!) 

14 comments:

  1. Though I don't suffer from allergies, I have recently developed dysphagia (inability to swallow well) and it gives me a tiny window of empathy on your frustration. YES!! I am finding that eating is one of the most basic pleasures of life, and when it isn't fun, it permeates everything. I wish you blessings and peace- small large, expected and surprising.

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    1. ACK! That also sounds extremely frustrating. I hope it might resolve eventually!

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  2. Anonymous10:42 AM

    I don't know how I missed that first post I am SO. SORRY. Having to cook everything sucks balls. Especially when you know it's not going to be particularly tasty. Still no news on what exactly the problem is? Incidentally, I know someone who also, practically overnight, couldn't eat anything. She is also without an answer. That doesn't give hope obviously, but at least you aren't alone?

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    1. I mean, it's within the reported range for Oral Allergy Syndrome. Way off to the right side, but still. That's probably it. Exacerbated by (insert list of guesses here).

      Here's to having company in misery!

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  3. Anonymous11:43 AM

    That blows.

    I just bookmarked this recipe because it sounds yummy- and it might fit the snack-food bill for you:
    http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/cereal-bar-recipe/

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    1. That does look delicious! I'll have to think what I could put in instead of bananas (off-limits: apple, banana, pear!). Hmmmm....

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  4. ivfcycler12:00 PM

    non tapioca-flavor ricecakes? sadly lo-cal when starving from not being able to eat anything.

    Furikake
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furikake
    makes rice less boring if you can find one without no-nos like soy sauce. i think i usually get one that's bonito flakes, seaweed, and sesame if that is safe for you.

    after food poisoning etc when rice and toast are about it for foods, and rice is so boring, i find i can tolerate this on top.

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    1. I was overexposed to plain rice cakes in my youth (old-hippie parents; see also: Vegetarian Nut Loaf Surprise). The caramel kind are good when I can find non-dairy ones.... bleh.

      Furikake! I'll have to go find one (or some bonito flakes). Delicious on rice, I'm sure; thanks!

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  5. Anonymous1:10 PM

    I think you are absolutely right to be annoyed, because HOW APPALLING. I have this fantasy that after you move, you will be magically cured of your newer ills. For no logical reason at all. Speaking of food, can I beg you to write a scientist post on whether soy is BAD for young children? I am too lazy to pubmed this topic, but have these weird qualms that came from who knows where. But if that sounds too hideously boring, I understand.

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    1. Bunny, the latest data suggests that, except in children with 'poorly controlled atopic dermatitis', i.e. really allergic kids, there's no good evidence for delaying any potentially-allergenic foods. However, I will actually LOOK IT UP. For yooooou.

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    2. P.S. Er... bad in what way? Phytoestrogens and the fear of feminization? Allergy-wise? A deep and abiding loathing for Monsanto?

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    3. Anonymous3:46 PM

      I don't know what phytoestrogens are, but I can tell that's more the direction of the weird qualms. Definitely not allergy-wise. I think, shamefully, it's that I hear people being all like SOY IS BAD, and even though they are crazy, I wonder...

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  6. EarAche27:27 PM

    As someone with allergies (no food tho) your situation is what I fear most. Maybe when you move, the allergies will change, and you'll stop being allergic to those things? (of course then you'll have new things you'll have to find out if you're allergic to them.) As someone who works in bio research, I realize how much doctors and researchers don't know about allergies, which makes it annoying when you need answers and relief.

    Have you seen this website? Sometimes it has good info about allergies and related problems:
    http://allergynotes.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yes, well, I hope so too, but you know what's extremely abundant in the mountains of Virginia? BIRCH.

      The summaries from the AAAAI meetings are really interesting. The rest, either I need to read an immunology textbook first, or I did know (I also have asthma. Of course).

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