The Flu

I woke up last Mon. morning with a terrific headache. I called in to work sick and stayed home thinking I would be better in the morning. About mid-afternoon I got sick to my stomach and knew that it was no ordinary headache. (as if I would know what those are!) Around 3 pm I was desperately hoping for some Saltine crackers, but they contain wheat. Then I thought chicken and noodle soup, oh wait, they have wheat too. What is a gluten free person suppose to eat when faced with the stomach flu. Not a whole lot. I really wanted pretzels, but the gluten free ones have corn, so I decided I should make my own. After three attempts I gave up and went to bed! I finally figured out that diet 7-up is pretty good, because I can't have the regular stuff due to corn syrup. I was sick Tues, but work half a day and stayed home Wed. This weekend I thought I was feeling better, but I wasn't. On Sunday, Mom finally said I should try to make Grammie's homemade noddles. She did caution me that I should wait and I was going to. Then, I thought that zucchini muffins sounded good. I didn't have all the flours that I needed, so I went to the store to get the multiple flours and chicken broth. Fred Meyer didn't have tapioca flour and I bought potato flour instead of potato starch. So much for the muffins! I got home and decided to make homemade noodles for comfort. I got the chicken broth warming, (in the biggest pot I had because that's how Grammie and Mom did it) then I started on the noodles. One egg made a puny amount of noodles, so I used three. As I was dropping the noodles, which were clinging together, into the pot I remember that when using rice (or any other non-gluten flour) you're supposed to add xanthan or guar gum for elasticity. Well it was too late, but if I had added that I might be eating noodles for the rest of the month. As it is, I got one meal on Sunday and enough left for one more.
Yesterday I called the doctor because I can still hardly eat and I couldn't even drink without being nauseous. I got an appt. today for a different doctor in the practice since mine was busy. After I signed in, I asked the ladies for a copy of my latest blood work for the insurance. I was told that I had to fill out a disclosure form for them to mail me a copy. Wierd, huh? As I was filling out the form, I noticed there was a place to mark in order to receive a copy of my entire medical chart for a cost of $15. Now, I know how thick the chart is and they even weed some stuff out. I jokingly said I shouldn't order a copy due to the thickness of it. The lady that's been there for at least the last four years looked up with a slightly horrified look and said, "Yours is one of our thickest ones. I don't think you want a copy." What do you say when the office helps says you have one of the thickest files they have? (They have 5 doctors in their practice.) I guess you just laugh.
The doctor was no help. He thought maybe I hadn't had the flu at all since I hadn't thrown up. Then, he question whether or not I really was allergic to gluten and would have done a gluten test. First, you have to be eating gluten in order to test for it. Second, it's not even an accurate test. I'm not subjecting myself to hives and a headache to satisfy his curiosity!!!! I mention to him that I have a history of stomach problems and he said ok. I could take some medicine now to help calm my stomach and if it doesn't work then we'll run tests. It could be my gallbladder,(you usually have symptoms, but sometimes not), or maybe acid reflex. Come on. To think that I paid to have him tell me something I know (meds. work) or it could be something more serious. It gets better. The meds will make me sleepy, so I should take them at night and at least eat one decent meal. I went to fill the meds and when I asked if there were any special instructions I was told to take the meds when I get nauseous. Well, I don't get nauseous unless I eat! I'm fine when I don't eat. The pharmacist said, "Well, take it a few minutes before the meal." He was as baffled as me and he's good.

At least when I got home I had a package waiting for me. I had ordered a rice cooker and a cookbook for Laurissa. I got the package. I expected it to be bigger, but when I opened it I had a wonderful surprise.


I thing they could have found a bigger box, don't you? I mean the bubble packing takes up half the box. This was my smile for the day.

Better Bread and Fun Treats

I now have a fantastic bread. Mom found the recipe and the lady has been working for 5 years to get a decent bread. The first time I made the bread I put it in the oven. The problem was the loaf was kind of small. Last Sunday I put it in the bread machine and it was fantastic. The bread is light and fluffy and reminds me of Angel Food cake. The new Sunday ritual is going to be me making bread. :-)



I also made Oreos last week in honor of Audie coming to town. The taste was pretty close to a real Oreo. However, they were a lot of work, so I'm not going to be making them too often.


I am going to try and make pizza tomorrow night. I hope it works.