I'll Take A Shower Later

• I'm too tired.
• It'll just make me sleepy.
• Maybe it would be better if I took it before bed.
• I don't smell bad.
• I'm too cold.
• Not right now.
• Maybe after I eat something.
• I'll do it later.
• It'll just wake me up.
• I can do it tomorrow.
• Maybe it would be better if I took it first thing in the morning.

These are some of the thoughts that can convince me to procrastinate showering or bathing.

The peculiar part is that I actually like to shower and bathe: being immersed in the warm water, the deafening white noise of the water pouring, the room filling with steam, getting the dead cells off of my skin, relaxing all of my muscles in the weightlessness, the yummy smells of the soaps, the silky feel of my wet hair. I love the idea of washing off all the bad gunk, emotions, energy, and situations. A shower or bath is a fresh start.

Then why all the procrastination?

Maybe it's a bit of rebelliousness leftover from my childhood. At the whim of an adult, I had to stop whatever I was doing; put my toys away, and go take a bath. I realized pretty early on that many bubble baths left me with hives. I sometimes had a toy or two in the tub. I liked little people and boats. I would play with the washcloth if that was all that I had. Most of the time I was being hurried though, someone else needed the room. To this day, I cannot stand the smell of that particular soap, ugh.

Maybe it's the after time. I do not like being cold. Wet is the quickest way to feel cold. I used to get those hives that look like mosquito bites but now I only sometimes have prickly heat looking hives. The first 45 minutes to an hour after the shower my skin crawls and itches. If I'm sick or stressed out, I cannot resist and scratch and scratch and scratch.

Still, maybe I need a shower. Nah, not right now, maybe after dinner.

Meatloaf

My father-in-law wanted to make meatloaf. He was distressed when he couldn't find a can of seasoning than he always used. I got a couple of employees to help in the grocery store. I don't think any of us know what he was searching for though. He bought the ground meat but asked me if I could make the meatloaf like his mother did. Quickly I clarified. I can make meatloaf. I will NOT include raisins in mine. He chuckled about that, then reminisced about how plump the raisins would get. Nope. I'm not going there.

We have so many food allergies but I'm determined to find delicious healthy foods that we can share.
We avoid:

• barley
• cashews
• dairy (from cow)
• garlic (but powdered garlic is alright)
• malt (except when made from corn)
• mangoes
• rye
• tomatoes
• wheat

So I made meatloaf that everyone in the family can eat. Here is my recipe.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 65 minutes
Serves: 8-9

2. INGREDIENTS
3. 3 pounds ground beef
4. 1.5 cup Oats (Gluten Free)
5. 2 eggs
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 1 teaspoon black pepper
8. 1 tablespoon onion powder
9. 1 tablespoon garlic powder
10. 
    
11. 2 tablespoons olive oil
12. 2 tablespoons onion powder
13. 2 tablespoons cornstarch
14. 2 cups Gluten Free beef (or chicken) broth 
15. 
    
17. PREPARATION
18. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Combine first seven ingredients; mix thoroughly. Split and form into two loaves. Bake until internal temperature in 160°F (about an hour). Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. 
19. 
    
20. Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons onion powder and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a saucepan. Heat over medium to a simmer. Slowly add 2 cups of broth while stirring. Simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon over cooked loaves or serve on the side.
21. 
    
22. For easier storage and clean-up cook the loaves on aluminum foil.

Asthma Apothecary Adventures

Xopenex® Inhaler with Spacer

My daughter and son both have asthma. In the last few years, they have had bouts with bronchitis and pneumonia treated at home and in the hospital caused by asthma triggered by environmental allergies. It has been frightening, expensive and complicated.

Luckily, my kids are both happy kids, mostly healthy. We are fortunate to be able to afford our United HealthCare self-employed insurance for $1,630.47 each month. Even with nearly $20,000.00 each year in insurance payments, the co-pay, deductibles and whatever the amount that we have to pay for the drugs is called exhausts me.

My daughter was using Albuterol as a rescue inhaler. She started having hives after each use. We used Benedryl (Diphenhydramine) to get rid of the hives. So the doctor switched her to Xopenex (Levalbuterol). Online it is described as a reverse isotope of Albuterol. Gladly, the Xopenex seems to open her airways without hives. I hate chasing one drugs side effects with another drug. i know there are times when there just isnt much of an option (like antibiotics) but as a general rule I want us to take as few drugs as possible.

I am trying to be prepared. Some of the medications are not readily available at the pharmacy. With my daughter the time from onset of symptoms to full blown pneumonia has been as little as hours so waiting a day for medication could land us back in the hopsital. The children seem to have the hardest time breathing in March (oak and pine pollen) and October (weed pollen). Today, I tried to enroll in a "Loyalty Club" to reduce our out-of-pocket cost for the medication. After much confusion it seems that the the "Club" has been discontinued. The nurse was sure that the company would not discontinue that unless there was a generic and there is not. It would have paid up to $50 towards the prescription. That would have only left another $50 for me to pay since my Insurance is paying $41. When I looked on the companies website I could only find information about the "Loyalty Club" for the inhaler Xopenex HFA which we do belong to but I could not find anything for the solutions for the nebulizer. I called the number on the card and it said that the program had been discontinued. A representative suggested that I look at http://www.internetdrugcoupons.com/ which indeed has a coupon for Xopenex HFA but none for the nebulizer solution.

Xopenex® HFA Loyalty Club Card

It reminded me of a Discount Prescription Drug Plan card that my friend Dawn got in the mail. I got that card and a few others. I am a little wary of these cards. I don't like that I cannot see who is paying for the websites, the actual printing of the cards, the television ads and the mailings. I am suspicious. My friend's recommendation and I found two additional that allow me to use them without anything from me: www.rxassist.org RxAssist Patient Assistance Program Center Discount Prescription Drug Plan; www.rxrelief.com RxRelief Pharmacy Discount Card; yourrxcard.com Your Rx Card Free Prescription Drug Card.

So next I call pharmacies to get the prices. I never get through to Walmart, it just rang and rang. Walgreens was very helpful but the lowest cost was $153 and I would have to buy a "Walgreens Card" for $20.00. Publix is the lowest price at $100 out-of-pocket.

I went to Publix armed with my cards and prescriptions of all types. The assistant told me that the Discount Prescription Drug Plan cards that I had printed out only help for generic drugs. Of course there is no generic of Xopenex.

When I got home I looked up generic Levalbuterol. It seems the initial patent expired on January 2010 but still there is no generic. The website asthma.emedtv.com/xopenex/generic-xopenex.html says "Sepracor will allow the generic companies to make a generic version of Xopenex 'early' in 2012 or 2013." That would explain why the "Club" has been discontinued. It says this information is from "settlements between Sepracor and generic manufacturers" which looks like litigation and that could explain the delay.

Emergency Room List: Plan Ahead for Your Visit to an Emergency Room

Medical Records - Proper ID for patient and if minor responsible adult, health insurance card, primary doctor name and phone number

Medical More - Bring all medicines and devices (for us that includes inhalers and spacers)

Toiletries - bring tooth brushes, toothpaste, contact lenses case and solution, brush/comb, mouth guard, stuff for period

Comforts - fav. blanket, a book to read, art set, favorite DVDs

Electronics - bring phone & cord, ipod, headset & cord, (gameboy, cord & games)

Clothes - PJs

I wrote this to my mom. She and I both live without Gluten. She is planning a trip to New Orleans.
-------------------------------------------------------
I was thinking, have you traveled Gluten Free (GF) yet? Maybe you have, maybe you have not? Here are some of my tips.

I know you'll be staying with family but you will also have car trips etc.

I always bring trail mix. A handful substitutes for a light meal and it doesn't need refrigeration or cooking. I used Aldi's Fit & Active Trail Mix. It has raw pecans, almonds, hazel nuts, walnuts & a splash of raisins & craisins.

I like to carry my spray bottle of Braggs.

I try to find what I can eat of what others are eating, sandwiches can be rolled in one piece of lettuce or ingredients can be eaten separately. Two servings of peas instead of a roll. I know you do this well.

Most restaurants have something but some are VERY tricky.

Bunny told me breakfast is usually safe but I found out many restaurants add pancake batter to their omelets. So I ask. IHOP does but also has a healthy choice egg substitute omelete that is GF.

I have ordered sandwiches at fast food restaurants sans bread. They all accommodate thinking I am on the Atkins Diet. They'll allow doubling the lettuce & tomato too.

Popeys - red beans & rice are GF so is the french fries and coleslaw. Green beans are crazy. They have wheat flour & wheat gluten added.

McDonalds - an easy cheap meal, 2 side salads & a cup of H2O. It'll cost $2 + tax. I use 1 Caesar dressing for both salads. Fries are GF. There are more expensive salads but I wasn't really impressed. They also sell apple slices but I don't usually get them. Got a really nice fruit smoothie there for another $2.

Wendys - chili, fries & baked potatoes are all GF.

Taco bell -stick with hard shells, yummy.

Cracker Barrel - it was one of aunt annie;s favorites. They say these items are GF safe: bacon, sausage, grilled catfish, grilled chicken tenders, hamburger steak, rib eye & sirloin steaks, apple sauce, carrots, corn, green beans, pinto beans & turnip greens.

I never heard of anyone who thickens their jambalaya. Gumbo will be thickened but some families always used corn starch.

Many big chains have GF menus but I sometimes get frustrated trying to figure it out when I am hungry. PF Changs, Ruby Tues., Chilis, etc.

I don't know what to do about beignets & muffallattas. I am leaning toward ordering a muff without bread or handing them GF bread to make the sandwich on.

Hope this helps.

Going Gluten Free

It seems that maybe I should go Gluten Free. It seems to run in my family as well as other allergies. I have already proven allergies to dust, cashews, mangoes, some milk products, and penicillin. My dad has serious poultry allergy and pretty severe sinus allergies to hay, pollen and dust.

My mom mentioned that some of the things that I was working around may just go away without Gluten. An example, I had already "figured out" that if I ate pizza and spaghetti with red sauce in the same day, I would be awakened with heartburn. What I didn't realize was that it was the bread that gave me the heart burn. I thought it was the tomatoes, I never dreamed it was the gluten. I also thought that I was becoming allergic to soy, because it seemed that some soy products caused me either heartburn or diarrhea. Well the soy products I was using had wheat and Maltodextrin in the ingredients list.

So I gave it a try. The first day, I just ate things I already have in my home: grapefruit, rice and beans, salad with home-made dressing. When I woke up on the second day, not only did I not have heartburn or diarrhea, I woke up with very little pain. I had been waking up with more and more pain. I used to describe it as "you know that feeling that you were hit by a bus yesterday" but no one seemed to understand that. That pain that I had when I woke up had been becoming more and more frequent over the last 15 years, until it was a daily feeling.