Growing up, I was always sick. Ear infections were normal. Asthma attacks were common. Ear infections turned into sinus infections, and sinus infections became bronchitis. I always had stomach aches. I was always in the doctors offices and constantly taking medication for being sick.
As I grew older, I started questioning why I constantly felt sick and I wanted answers. In December of 2010, I had my first visit at the allergist. After completing the allergy testing, I was allergic to 70 of the 72 tests I was given. I was not allergic to dogs. I was not allergic to the foods. I was highly allergic to cats, trees, grass, dust, and everything else. I started receiving allergy desensitization shots to help my body build an immunity to the long list of things that I was allergic to. After about a year, I noticed major improvements in my allergy problems, but I was still sick.
During Christmas Break in 2012, I underwent surgery for a tonsillectomy in hopes that this would improve my health. I was tired of having strep throat and sinus infections. After the surgery, my health improved; however, I was still plagued with constant stomach problems, headaches, exhaustion, rashes on my arms, and more.
In December of 2013, I became very ill. I was visiting my dad in Oklahoma and became so sick during our family dinner. I was in so much stomach pain that I believed that something had to be seriously wrong. I wanted the answers right away. I am thankful that it was not serious. After taking many blood tests, seeing three different specialists, having one surgery (for some biopsies), I still did not have the answers I needed. The doctors couldn't tell me what was wrong, but wanted me to take a medication four times a day for the rest of my life.
I didn't want to depend on medication and I knew that it wasn't the cure for my problems. My family kept researching and after much research on gluten intolerance, I decided to try it for just two weeks to see how I felt. My doctor swore that gluten wasn't the problem, and although we thought I was tested for celiac, I never was. I am healthier than ever, living gluten free, and have not been to a doctor for an illness related reason since. When I realized gluten was the culprit of all the pain and suffering I had been living with, I was quite upset. I didn't really know what gluten was and felt that I wouldn't be able to enjoy my favorite foods. Boy was I wrong! Over the past year, I have created many delicious recipes that no one would know is gluten free. I have learned so much more than I could have imagined.
If you ever have questions about my health, living gluten free, or anything else, feel free to email me at jade.a.ruiz@gmail.com.
xoxo,
Jade
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