ChgoGuy thread

[Amonges]

Chgoguy, how has it been with the gluten free diet? Have you adjusted to it?

[ChgoGuy]

I was doing okay with sticking to it, then as I got closer to the 2 wk mark, it started to fall apart. It didn't happen intentionally, but there were a few situations that I wasn't paying attention to, and couldn't control. It just happened. I think it doesn't help that I have some other personal stuff going on right now where my mind isn't always focused. I'm going to take another stab at it at another time when I can be more focused. So I am not sure if I can attribute that I have been feeling better because of the diet, or because I have been doing other things right. However, I can say that I have cut back on many of the carbs that may have gluten since I tried. For me, even though any gluten, should be a no no, cutting out carbs is still a plus for me also. It wasn't very easy for me. The other thing, is that if I go gluten free, I may have to substitute some of those carbs for meat, and at my age with my BP and Heart Disease in my family, that's not going to help. Eating fruit and vegetables will never be a problem, but unless I became a vegetarian, eliminating gluten, really leaves me with less choices of what I could eat. Fish? I can't eat the stuff. And yes, I have nobody else to blame, but generally I eat pretty healthy anyway.

[webslave]

The other thing, is that if I go gluten free, I may have to substitute some of those carbs for meat

Why? There are excellent substitute breads available now, some of them indistinguishable from gluten breads. I eat a lot of carbs, and no red meat. Look for breads that have the main ingredient "Modified Tapioca Starch" sometimes called Cassava flour. Second ingredient rice flour. These are just like gluten bread.

[ChgoGuy]

Although you make a valid point Webslave, I've been eating a lot of chicken for 3 years and I'm really tired of it. I don't eat a lot of red meat like I used to. I'm not saying gluten free isn't still an option, I just don't feel it's going to be an easy turn around for me. I'm still trying to find a decent gluten free bread source. I've tried a few over the years, and haven't found one yet that 1) tasted good 2) was worth the added price. I'm not saying they don't exist, I just haven't found one, don't want to buy stuff, find out I don't like it and throw it away after I paid for it. Which is what I have done in the past. I start therapy next week and I will soon be paying for it out of my pocket. I'm not strugging, but at times this has been very expensive for me. I know it's not going to be easy for me to make changes very quickly.. I admit that. Any good brands of gluten free bread sources you can recommend?

Also - The past couple of times I used the therawand, I really couldn't find or even hit most of the usual trigger points. How can that be? No way that they just disappeared in that short amount of time. Maybe at about 9 or 10 oclock, there was a little bit of pain and tightness, but that's it. There was also no pain after the last episode of sex. and the past couple of days, I've gotten these small zingers of pain to the urethra that last a few seconds then disappear, as opposed to a flare up. I'm not sure what this means?

[webslave]

You can't afford to try a few different brands of gluten free bread, even after I told you the vital ingredient that makes them palatable (tapioca starch)? Come on, take this seriously. Most of the Whole Foods gluten free baked goods are made with tapioca. If you don't like the brand of bread, use it as toast. And then try another brand.

Trigger points getting harder to find. Good! That's progress. No pain after sex, good again.

[ChgoGuy]

Webslave - I'm doing the best I can. I cut out many of the extra hours I was putting in at work. That came at a significant cost to me just in the last 2 wks. But my job is still the obstacle here when it comes to diet. I can't always predict how my work schedule will affect how I eat 100% of the time. There are going to be times I'm not prepared, which opens a door to gluten sneaking in. I used to be able to skip meals if needed to. Since this happened, things get worse if I don't eat something. So without getting into every specific pertaining to me or my job, there will come times where I have to choose between not eating (not a good idea) or risking I may eat something with gluten unexpectedly. I think I did very well for 2 wks, without eating any bread, but I know I will have to find a smart way of introducing gluten free options into the diet.

If you notice, I never say you are wrong. I tend to agree with for the most part. But there are going to be certain details I may not discuss here that may better explain it. I'm sitting somewhere about a block from Whole Foods as we speak. I will head over there afterwards and try another GF bread, although I would have preferred a suggestion. I also was prepared to eat some GF pasta for dinner today, whether we were having this conversation or not. I'm trying brother! I must be doing something right, as my complaints seem to be diminishing for now.

Either way, I continue to appreciate what you do and say, and I wouldn't expect you to change. I know you mean well and what you say is for everybody's well being.

[webslave]

Gluten may be of zero significance for you, or you may be one of the men for whom it is the key factor promoting and maintaining your pelvic nerve dysfunction. You (and all members) owe it to yourselves to trial at least a month or two of gluten free living. Make it happen, overcome the problems. Have some gluten-free snacks with you at work so you can say "no" to the gluten-containing foods on offer.

[Amonges]

Amen to that webslave. I can’t agree enough that it is important to try it to see how you feel. You have nothing to lose but all to gain. In the beginning, it was total chaos for me trying to figure out what was going on with me. It was until months later that I figured out the gluten and dairy was bothering my bladder to the point I was going to the bathroom so many times during the day. It was horrible!! The burning and stinging, trying to squeeze every drop because it felt like the urine was stuck. That urgency frequency and burning is gone now only until I have dairy or the gluten!

I just recently went on vacation so I decided to have some pizza and bread and all of a sudden it started to burn. I was cursing myself but the pain wasn’t what I felt in the beginning to the point I felt like I was pissing razor blades. Really research the foods and gain the knowledge of the foods. When I go out with the family I look to see what I can have and I just eat that, or I’ll go to places with the family that they know I like and just eat there. It’s all compromise.

[ChgoGuy]

Once again I had a really nice long reply. I submitted it and it just disappeared. Only happens when replying by phone - Ugggh!!!

I'm hearing you guys loud and clear. Its going to take a bit more to teach this dog new tricks, but I'm trying. I went to Whole Foods like I said I would. Bought 2 different types and brands of GF bread and skipped the GF pasta for dinner. Instead I had an asparagus omelette (no cheese) with potatoes, and sampled both breads as toast. I was surprisingly pleased. If I can find decent replacements for gluten bread, that may end up being the easy part. I'm more concerned with gluten entering my diet by means I may not otherwise think. For that 2 wks I tried, I stayed away from bread which is probably the #1 thing for me to avoid. I know me, and know its not going to be easy for me, but I'm still willing to try. Its just going to take me time.

[webslave]

I was surprisingly pleased.

They have improved amazingly in the last few years.

I'm more concerned with gluten entering my diet by means I may not otherwise think.

Read all labels. Also avoid the other gluten foods: rye, barley, oats (often contain gluten from other grains)

[ChgoGuy]

Is there really any truly safe oats? I love oatmeal. I know companies like Quaker claim to be gluten free, but even I know that is meaningless if the oats are processed in the same facility as other gluten containing grains. So any recommendable oatmeal or alternatives?

Bye bye beef barley soup!

[webslave]

Is there really any truly safe oats?

https://www.glutenfreeliving.com/blog/n ... t-oatmeal/

[Amonges]

Yes you can get oatmeal from Traders Joe’s it’s called Steel Cut Oats gluten free. Your welcome.

Admin comment: Trader Joe's, my favorite store!

[ChgoGuy]

It's an annoying thing because how the hell am I suppose to not have an erection? I'm freakin asleep, I can't help it!

Let me tell you the responses I have gotten from the Doctors for this:

1) Aren't getting erection's a good thing? Lucky you...
2) You're married! Wake your wife up!
3) (My Favorite) Go to the ER!

My answers:

1) Constant prolonged erections hurt, so not lucky me!
2) Sex all night every night? Who is going to kill who first?
3) So I should just get a room at the ER, because I'm going to end up there most nights. And when I get home and go right back to sleep, It probably is going to return.

NO! I can't make this shit up! Recently my urologist told me to take Pseudoephedrine when it happens. Supposedly this works. But if you're having urinary issues and possible prostate issues, that drug is a big no no! Why is it I know this and not the doctor? All I know is that things were looking up, and now I am frustrated again. Missed work all week. Changed my diet, which hasn't helped yet. Talked to a nutritionist yesterday who told me to halt sugar, dairy and flour and gave me enzymes to take. I have taken enzymes before early on and found that they had an adverse effect on my bowel movements. I figured I would try this again with some different enzymes. With only chicken, eggs, a little pork, and vegetables in my diet yesterday, it didn't end well this morning. But that is what I deal with. That and all the trips to the bathroom all day. And of course the pain flareups that come and go like a fart in the wind.

[ChgoGuy]

Webslave - If perhaps you want to chime in on the comment above, I have been sticking to the gluten free diet. So I am kind of lost here. I kind of feel like every food I am eating is turning on me. In fact I think I am losing weight again, because eating is becoming nothing but a problem for me. I feel like my whole system is shot, and I'm going back down the same road I was on at the beginning where I lost 60 lbs in the first 3 months of this.

Just ranting!