Kristy Bullard also owns Kristy Bullard Photography, LLC
The Gluten-Free & Paleo Story
In addition to being a traveling fool, I am also a big foodie. I have recently had to make extreme changes to my diet after finding out that I had an auto-immune disease (nodular vasculitis) that is triggered by a severe gluten allergy.
Since I was a kid, I suffered from large- hot – painful – red whelps that covered my body from the waist down. Doctors didn’t seem to know what was wrong with me. In my 30’s, my condition worsened to the point that there were many days I could not get out of bed and I was in constant, severe pain. It felt like a thousand hot, pinching golf balls all inside my body. I went to every doctor and specialist that would see me with little resolution or help. Finally, I ended up in the ER where a doctor (FINALLY!) diagnosed me with Nodular Vasculitis and Panniculitis (the red whelps).
I was then referred to a dermatologist where I had a biopsy of the panniculitis cut out of my leg. Normally, people with this condition have tuberculosis, but I didn’t. Doctors were stumped as to why I had this and what triggered it since I was exposed to so many different elements on a daily basis.
I then began a long and exhausting journey where I had tons more tests and biopsy’s done with little results. I started keeping a journal with my daily activities and foods. I began to notice that I had reactions after eating and drinking certain things. When I googled “what do crackers, Chinese food, Yellow No. 6, and Ice Cream have in common”, I was shocked when the results came back with Gluten!
Now, I am 100% gluten-free and have little-to-no problems or flare-ups with the panniculitis. I have noticed headaches and joint pain when I eat dairy and sugar, so my chiropractor had recommended the Paleo diet. I try to eat Paleo as much as possible, but it has been hard for me {{ White Zinfandel and Cheese, ya’ll!!! }}. So, I am incorporating as many Paleo recipes and foods in my life as possible while staying completely away from gluten.
This blog includes our adventures as well as gluten-free foods, restaurants, and recipes. I know many people have their own food allergy issues and gluten allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances are common these days, and I hope they enjoy these restaurants and recipes as much as I do.
