I Beg To Differ (1 of 2)
I have come a long way in my journey with Celiac Disease. From a misdiagnosis in October of 2007, to spending two years in the trenches (more like hell) trying to figure out why my body was betraying me, and then finally knowing the answer and then spending the following several months working on my recovery. Needless to say, it has been something I never want to go through again.
This trip into the dark abyss was like no other I had ever taken before. It was like being on a roller coaster, but not like that in an amusement park. You see, this ride was out of control and didn’t stop for some time, and when it finally did, it left me severely ill. Sadly, this happened because no one was in control.
As logical as I am, I was clueless about what was going on with my body because I have always been healthy. I eat well, exercise and take no medications (knock on wood). I put my challenge in the hands of a well-known Gastroenterologist. Sadly, he failed me because he treated me for a condition I do not have. He thought I had Crohn’s Disease. The medication he gave me I was allergic too, and he would have known this if he looked at my chart with more than just a cursory glance. (BTW: I hold no ill will against this physician. He doesn’t speak for all. I would guess that he is a knight in shining armor for many. Unfortunately, I am one of those individuals who fell through the cracks because he is swamped with an overload of patients, and in this type of environment you can’t tell me that someone isn’t going to be overlooked. Sadly, I happened to be the one, and I doubt I was the first.)
I spent two years fatigued, depressed, bleeding to the point where I would periodically have to go to the emergency room to be hydrated. My electrolytes were everywhere, except where they needed to be. The cramping, bloating and irritability was more than I could handle. (I now understand why some women are challenged during a certain time of the month, and I’m surprised they don’t emulate the traits of a female preying mantis and eat the head of their mate. I guess some do, but not literally.)
I offer you a glimpse into my health history because I want you to know how precious wellness is and how important it is for each of us to do all we can to keep ourselves in the best shape possible, which includes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Each of us is the primary caregiver for our body. There are people out there helping us do positive things that make our journey a bit easier. Those individuals include government branches like the Federal Food & Drug Administration, nutritionists, doctors and nurses, chefs, and the list goes on and on.
Some of the most challenging food allergies are to gluten and nuts, and I am happy more companies are detailing their ingredients and spelling out those products that contain gluten. I am even happier to find restaurants catering exclusively to people with allergies, especially those who suffer with Celiac disease.
Which leads to me to talk about one of my best friends, Sweet Sin. I love this little bakery/café. It has been my port in the storm. It truly has! There is so much I can say about this wonderful little bit of heaven on earth.
During the past few months, Sweet Sin has been branching out into more than a bakery. They are now tempting and teasing me with other incredible tasting foods. Some of the best soups I’ve had to date are coming from their sensational little establishment, and I demand you check them out and report back with your good fortune.
More recently, Sweet Sin has tried to expand their business with a full fledged restaurant that would also sell alcohol. Sadly, there is opposition from a repressed neighborhood association who is more concerned about this restaurant's effects on parking than that of an entire community in peril.
This part of lower Charles Village, which happens to connect to Remington, is riddled with seedy bars and an over abundance of methadone clinics. Those who get public assistance are spending their grand government dollars in these neighborhood dives. I know this because I hike though the community and witness individuals going from bank to bar. I have friends who work in some of these establishments and are appalled by their customers. There is not a day I don’t see a used condom or a dirty needle lying in the street. Still, I remain hopeful that change will come.
I don't see this change occurring anytime soon, especially with Joan Floyd of the Remington Neighborhood Alliance making idiotic comments about parking. She is merely creating excuses and instigating fear. She is doing Remington and Charles Village a disservice.
Can someone please explain to me why we are opposing progress? Why are we choosing a hole-in-the-wall over a quality business like Sweet Sin?
Many of the bars in this community cater to the obnoxious type, which creates the majority of confusion, loud noises and volatile disturbances sure to leave any resident terrified and scared of yet another business.
FYI: The majority of people (if not all) who go to gluten-free restaurants care about their health, eat well, and are what I consider quality patrons. We are not looking to be more challenged that we already are. We are looking for the same benefits as our gluten-loving counterparts. Like most people, from time-to-time we want to enjoy an adult beverage with our meal. For me it’s a glass of red wine, which has proven to be healthy. (Wine is gluten-free, unlike typical beers and hard liquor.)
Sadly, there are no restaurants in my community that totally cater to a Celiac. One World Cafe is the closest, but even they are more about the vegetarian. They do their best as much as any one restaurant can to service any Celiac.
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This trip into the dark abyss was like no other I had ever taken before. It was like being on a roller coaster, but not like that in an amusement park. You see, this ride was out of control and didn’t stop for some time, and when it finally did, it left me severely ill. Sadly, this happened because no one was in control.
As logical as I am, I was clueless about what was going on with my body because I have always been healthy. I eat well, exercise and take no medications (knock on wood). I put my challenge in the hands of a well-known Gastroenterologist. Sadly, he failed me because he treated me for a condition I do not have. He thought I had Crohn’s Disease. The medication he gave me I was allergic too, and he would have known this if he looked at my chart with more than just a cursory glance. (BTW: I hold no ill will against this physician. He doesn’t speak for all. I would guess that he is a knight in shining armor for many. Unfortunately, I am one of those individuals who fell through the cracks because he is swamped with an overload of patients, and in this type of environment you can’t tell me that someone isn’t going to be overlooked. Sadly, I happened to be the one, and I doubt I was the first.)
I spent two years fatigued, depressed, bleeding to the point where I would periodically have to go to the emergency room to be hydrated. My electrolytes were everywhere, except where they needed to be. The cramping, bloating and irritability was more than I could handle. (I now understand why some women are challenged during a certain time of the month, and I’m surprised they don’t emulate the traits of a female preying mantis and eat the head of their mate. I guess some do, but not literally.)
I offer you a glimpse into my health history because I want you to know how precious wellness is and how important it is for each of us to do all we can to keep ourselves in the best shape possible, which includes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Each of us is the primary caregiver for our body. There are people out there helping us do positive things that make our journey a bit easier. Those individuals include government branches like the Federal Food & Drug Administration, nutritionists, doctors and nurses, chefs, and the list goes on and on.
Some of the most challenging food allergies are to gluten and nuts, and I am happy more companies are detailing their ingredients and spelling out those products that contain gluten. I am even happier to find restaurants catering exclusively to people with allergies, especially those who suffer with Celiac disease.
Which leads to me to talk about one of my best friends, Sweet Sin. I love this little bakery/café. It has been my port in the storm. It truly has! There is so much I can say about this wonderful little bit of heaven on earth.
During the past few months, Sweet Sin has been branching out into more than a bakery. They are now tempting and teasing me with other incredible tasting foods. Some of the best soups I’ve had to date are coming from their sensational little establishment, and I demand you check them out and report back with your good fortune.
More recently, Sweet Sin has tried to expand their business with a full fledged restaurant that would also sell alcohol. Sadly, there is opposition from a repressed neighborhood association who is more concerned about this restaurant's effects on parking than that of an entire community in peril.
This part of lower Charles Village, which happens to connect to Remington, is riddled with seedy bars and an over abundance of methadone clinics. Those who get public assistance are spending their grand government dollars in these neighborhood dives. I know this because I hike though the community and witness individuals going from bank to bar. I have friends who work in some of these establishments and are appalled by their customers. There is not a day I don’t see a used condom or a dirty needle lying in the street. Still, I remain hopeful that change will come.
I don't see this change occurring anytime soon, especially with Joan Floyd of the Remington Neighborhood Alliance making idiotic comments about parking. She is merely creating excuses and instigating fear. She is doing Remington and Charles Village a disservice.
Can someone please explain to me why we are opposing progress? Why are we choosing a hole-in-the-wall over a quality business like Sweet Sin?
Many of the bars in this community cater to the obnoxious type, which creates the majority of confusion, loud noises and volatile disturbances sure to leave any resident terrified and scared of yet another business.
FYI: The majority of people (if not all) who go to gluten-free restaurants care about their health, eat well, and are what I consider quality patrons. We are not looking to be more challenged that we already are. We are looking for the same benefits as our gluten-loving counterparts. Like most people, from time-to-time we want to enjoy an adult beverage with our meal. For me it’s a glass of red wine, which has proven to be healthy. (Wine is gluten-free, unlike typical beers and hard liquor.)
Sadly, there are no restaurants in my community that totally cater to a Celiac. One World Cafe is the closest, but even they are more about the vegetarian. They do their best as much as any one restaurant can to service any Celiac.
Continue Reading
