Long Time No See

I feel like I've failed my site. 

This is the first blog post I've written in over a month.  And, fuck has it been a crazy month.  While on my gluten free diet, my health started to deteriorate.  The returning symptoms were primarily neurological in nature.  Pain, asymmetrical numbness, but very little issues when it comes to my digestive system.  I thought that maybe I would introduce gluten back into my diet, and see if I was truly gluten intolerant, or if it was merely a coincidence. 

After eating gluten continuously for the last two weeks, I have noticed an occasional stomach issue.  The biggest difference I can tell is psychologically.  I am much more stressed out and depressed now than what I was before.

Last week, I saw an allergist.  They did a series of tests for food allergies.  Of the 82 foods I was tested for, I was allergic to none.  Not allergic in the least to wheat, barley, oats, malt, or rice.  The doctor wants to do another blood test for Celiac, but is saying that it will almost definitely come back negative.  It is extremely rare for someone to be allergic to gluten, without having even a hint of another food allergy.  I had a number of vials of blood taken to be tested for every auto-immune disease under the sun.  I am scheduled to see my doctor tomorrow for the results.  I don't know what makes me more nervous, finding out that I have an auto-immune disorder, or hearing that I'm fine.

In other recent news, I have been putting a number of hours into the animal rescue.  It's easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done.  I love helping these little guys find homes.  There are days when it is extremely stressful, though.  Not because of the dogs, or the work that I do.  But, because of some of the cunts that I have to deal with, and the drama they tend to create.  If we could only boot some of the egos and the arrogance from the group, life would be much easier.  As it is, there are some days when it's not even worth trying. 

I'm tired.  It's as simple as that.  I'm going to try to schedule out my life, as I have been neglecting some of the things that are very important to me.  Dedicate so much time per week to my site.  So much to helping my friends with their adoption blog.  So much toward my political activism.  So much to my family.  And, so much to the rescue.  It all sounds great in theory.  It will be interesting to see how the logistics work themselves out.

300

THIS.....IS.....AWESOME!!!!!

Tomorrow will be six weeks since I started a gluten free diet.  In that time, I have lost 22 pounds.  When I weighed myself this morning, I came in at 300.

Today is the first time in my adult life, 22 years to be exact, that I have been at this weight.  The last time was during my sophomore year of high school in 1990.  It's crazy to think that very soon, within the next day or so, the digital scale will have the number 2 as the first digit of my weight.  I have never seen that before.

This is really hard to believe.  And, all because of gluten.  Wow...

My Fourth "Twitch Day"

On June 25, 2009, I was officially diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome.  Since then, every June 25th has been deemed my annual "Twitch Day". 

Life has undergone so many changes since I started exhibiting symptoms of TS.  If not for Tourette's, I wouldn't have started writing.  1,149 posts later, I'm still at it.  Granted, it's not as often as I would like to publish.  As I have been feeling better, I've been spending less and less time online.  But, nearly 1,200 blog posts is quite an accomplishment (for my ADHD ass, anyway). 

Because of Tourette's, I am also currently on Social Security Disability.  I'm making less than half of what I did, working technical support for Verizon Wireless, but we get by.  Some months, it requires one hell of a juggling act to make ends meet.  But, if it weren't for TS, I wouldn't have become a stay-at-home dad.  I would likely be working 10-12 hours a day, and my little girl would spend most of her week in daycare.  There is nothing better than sitting on the couch, having her walk into the living room, staggering and sleepy eyed, and getting the first hug of the day.  I am so incredibly lucky to be able to stay home, do some chores around the house, and spend time with my baby.

In the last 4-6 weeks, I have doubted the possibility that I have Tourette's Syndrome.  Since starting on a gluten free diet, my tics have all but disappeared.  Up until today, I have only had one tic in the last month.  I have read in a couple of places that, for unknown reasons, Tourette's and Celiac disease tend to go hand in hand.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that if you have Tourette's Syndrome, odds are you have some type of gluten intolerance.  

So far today, I have been ticking like mad.  They're complex tics, meaning that I'm having motor tics and vocal tics simultaneously.  My "go to" tic has always been where my head cocks back violently, and I, well, bark.

I have been stressed out today, and I didn't sleep very well last night.  Pair that with the fact that I'm exerting myself more and more each day (physically speaking), and I tend to overdo it.  I forget that, just six weeks ago, I couldn't walk.  Now, I'm spending more quality time with my daughter.  I'm doing dishes, and laundry, vacuuming, and taking out the trash every day.  I've started to add some type of physical activity to my day.  I have also stepped up my volunteer work in recent weeks.  I have to remember, "baby steps".  I need to pace myself, so that I don't die from exhaustion before the end of the month.

I thought my Tourette's had completely gone away with the start of the gluten free diet.  Turns out, I was wrong.  It's no big deal.  I can handle this. 

I've said it before...the twitching, the stuttering and jerking and shouting have all become part of who I am.  To be honest, I can't picture myself without it anymore.

I am Twitch, as much as I am Adam. 

Video Diary - Two Weeks Gluten Free

I have been gluten free for 14 days now.  The difference in the way I feel is unbelievable.  I will post details later (hopefully tomorrow), but I wanted to record a short video to show the improvement in my psychological state and tone of voice.

My wife hates these video diaries for a number of reasons.  The lighting sucks.  The audio isn't all that good.  I say "um" a lot...and I tend to ramble.   She's right....about everything.  Sorry.



Update:  34 "um"s in four minutes and twenty seconds.  If you were playing the "Adam Says Um" drinking game, you'd be dead.  :)

Video Diary - Episode One

I'm starting to believe that all of my medical/neurological issues may be caused by Celiac disease.  So, I recently started myself on a gluten free diet.  I thought it would be interesting to begin a video diary to document my progress. 

Please excuse the poor quality of the video.  It's the first time I have used this webcam.  I'm still working out the bugs.  Also, the constant itching of my nose is a Tourette's thing (in case you were wondering).