All is not lost.....

I spoke to the Nutritionist allocated to me by York Test today. He asked me about what had led me to taking the York Test. I described the symptoms I had had for years and how, although I was eating what most people considered to be a healthy, well-balanced diet and was also exercising regularly etc, I was actually feeling worse and succumbing to viruses which would have never affected me before.

I also said I was really more concerned about what had led to the long list of 'avoid' foods, rather than the list itself.

His suspicion is that there is possibly two things going on here. One, that I am one of the very few (1/2 a percent) who have so many antibodies - or was it antigens? - in my blood that the test picks up almost everything. This is not common - but does occasionally happen. The second thing he suspects is that I am suffering from 'Leaky Gut Syndrome', especially as one of my symptoms is very uncomfortable bloating.

Like my doctor, he has suggested I only cut out the foods that have been graded as 3 or 4, but also all wheat and dairy, as these can exacerbate the condition. I am also to avoid sugar, limit fruit to 2 portions a day and avoid alcohol. As well as this, I am to take 2 probiotic capsules a day - first thing in the morning and last thing at night - and 2 capsules of glutamine per day, a half hour before meals. These are to help with the repair of my gut. I am to do this for six weeks, then get back to him to report how I have got on.

I called my doctor and passed on this information to her, so she is aware of how I'll be handling it. She has asked me to call her in a few weeks.

I must admit, I am feeling much cheered by this, as I can now do something practical which makes sense. I felt rather overwhelmed before by the long list of 'avoid' foods and quite worried about what it might mean. I am still not sure why I have got to this stage and what makes me in particular susceptible to such things, but here goes.........

Recently, I have been given a new programme to work at by my trainer, Eric, and managed to get down to the gym today. I was really pleased that I did all that he had put down for me to do. I think it really helped that for the first time I took my new MP3 player with me (a birthday present from my lovely husband!) and used it while I did all my moves. I had weights work to do on the gym ball, as well as some treadmill stuff and usually I don't like doing all the repetitions, but this time having the music to listen to distracted me enough for me to keep going. The earpiece wires didn't get in the way either, so all in all a very satisfying session.

Now I need to address my tiredness by getting some quality sleep - so sitting up writing this doesn't really help!