Healing Episode or Just a Fluke?

I mentioned in my 8 month update post (here) that I really wasn't feeling too great in January. It seemed like everything I ate, and I mean EVERYTHING seemed to cause bloating, pain, etc.  In addition to the digestive problems, my skin broke out like crazy - Like it has never done before on this diet. Luckily, I was in California visiting Kathryn and her family so they were the only ones who got to see the horror of my skin flare up.  I am being dramatic, I know, but it really was distressing.  The other strange thing that happened was that my chest broke out in the same rash I have been having since April 2009 when all of these food problems started.  There were so, so many days in between 2009-2012 that I would have to change what I was going to wear to work in order to cover up my skin with a high necked shirt. One of the great things about the GAPS diet was that the skin 'rash' totally disappeared once I started the following the protocol. This January was the first time it has been back in 8 months.

To top it all off, the last week in January I woke up covered in tiny pin-prick bruises from the chest down.  Known medically as petechiae, it is tiny hemorrhaging of blood vessels bleeding into your skin. I have had petechiae before - in fact, I usually have it almost constantly on my calves - or rather it showed up approximately 3-4 years ago or so (some sort of connection to this food issue? I've never thought about it, but maybe).  It tends to show up when I exercise and I've never thought much about it other than being hopeful that it would be one of the things the GAPS diet curred.  I asked a dermatologist about it in 2011 and he didn't know what they were and didn't seem to be concerned so I just figured it was one more oddity.

Well, like I said, I'd had them on my calves before, but I've never had hundreds of them all over my body.  Google, WebMD, the Mayo Clinic, even Wikipedia said that unexplained petechia is not a good thing.  Basically it could be a sign of a bunch of different auto-immune disorders, a bunch of crazy infectious diseases, and some other unmentionable things.  Needless to say, I was a little freaked out and decided to do what the websites told me to do - seek medical attention.

The doctors I saw were freaked out too.  Not outwardly of course, but anytime a doctor turns your blood work around in less than a day, you know they are freaked out. My blood work was all fine and dandy so they did a biopsy too and kept going over 'medications' I take (none, of course) to see if that could be a cause. I just got the biopsy results back earlier this week and it was fine too - the dermatologist said she didn't see signs of inflammation and that she wasn't concerned.  I mentioned that maybe the bruises could have been caused by drinking cranberry tea - which I was drinking on and off for about two weeks.  Cranberries contain salicylic acid - an active ingredient of aspirin. Aspirin can cause petechiae.  Tumeric root - something I was adding to my smoothies  in the morning is also a blood thinner.  So maybe the combination of them both caused an all-over response? I wouldn't think that I was taking a high enough dose of either to have a reaction and the doctor agreed, but that seems to be the only likely explanation.  The only other thought is that maybe its some sort of healing response?  Who knows. The doctor just said to pay attention and see if they come back.

Oddly enough, yesterday I saw some on my back, along my spine after taking Pilate's class. I get my stitches out tomorrow so I'll have to let the dermatologist know.  The good news is that despite exercising I haven't had any on my calves - so maybe its fixing itself? Or maybe I'm being naive.

Blizzard of 2013 - Banana Nut Bread

Have you noticed a trend in all of my baked goods?

That's right, they all contain banana. That's because bananas are the easiest source of sugar for me to digest so I use them any time I need to sweeten something.  Thankfully, I don't even notice anymore that every dessert I make tastes like bananas.

I mentioned a few posts ago that I feel as though I probably have candida overgrowth in some way and even though my tests didn't show this. In doing some more research on how to get candida back in line, I downloaded a candida diet food list from WholeApproach. Do you know what fruit is on the list to avoid? Bananas. And mango.  The two fruits I eat the most of. Hmmm... surprising? I think not.

Well until the day comes that I decide to give up bananas I am going to enjoy eating them! Feed the yeast I guess.

We had a big snowstorm on Friday and into Saturday. It was the perfect excuse to bake something. Typically, when I bake, I tend to throw a little of this and a little of that together and see if it works. Of course, sometimes it works great and other times I end up wasting ingredients.  This time, I decided to let someone else do the work.  The recipe I used can be found here at Small Foot Print Family.  I kept the recipe the same except for omiting the arrowroot flour/starch and the extra sweetener.  I also added vanilla extract and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger).  Though my pictures don't do it justice - these came out really well.  They were even approved my the grain and sugar eating husband - which is equal to success in my book.

This blog is one of my new favorites too - she has lots of great articles and ideas worth reading if you have the time.

 

Chocolate Banana Pancakes (Grain Free)

I hate to brag, but I may have mastered the art of grain free, sugar free pancakes. I know. That is saying a lot.  Oddly enough, chocolate (in the form of cocoa or cacao powder) is allowed on the GAPS diet although it is not allowed on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) which is very similar to GAPS.  Cocoa/cacao is suppose to be for those individuals in 'advanced' GAPS.  Whether or not I fall into that category is debatable, however, I am not willing to live without chocolate in some form! 

See information below from Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride on the GAPS diet FAQ page.

"Cocoa is SCD illegal. However, I find that many people can start having it occasionally on the Full GAPS Diet, once the digestive symptoms are gone. Find pure organic cocoa powder. Mixing the powder with some honey and sour cream makes a delicious dessert, and you can add it to your homemade ice cream or cakes. After trying it for the first time, observe your patient for any reactions. Cocoa is very rich in magnesium and some essential amino acids and, unless your digestive system is not ready for it, there is no need to avoid it."

Enough said.

Chocolate Banana Pancakes (Grain Free)

1 medium banana (approximately 230 grams)
2 pastured eggs
1/4 c. raw organic cacao powder
1/8 c. almond flour
1/4 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
1/16th teaspoon baking powder
pinch of sea salt

Blend all ingredients in a blender/food processor until smooth.  Heat a little coconut oil/butter/ghee in a saute pan over medium-low heat.  Cook batter until edges firm and bubbles appear. Makes approximately 4 fluffy pancakes.