egg free

There are many incredible things about the edible egg, but probably just not for me. Things were smooth sailing for Mr. Egg and I, until I landed in the ER last week.

It all began on Friday, May 15. Late that afternoon, I had an upper-stomach punching. I thought I was getting the flu, but then about 30 minutes later it subsided. This pain returned for about 2 hours on Sunday, May 17. It was a dull, minor version on Monday the 18th and Wednesday the 20th. And then on Thursday, May 21 it got severe. Upon eating lunch, I couldn’t shake the terrible pains. I drove myself to urgent care. They sent me to the ER. Per the usual, the local ER was horrendous. I threw up, was shaking, in severe pain, but left the hospital that night with nothing more than pain meds/anti-nausea meds, a bogus diagnosis and a prescription for something I should have never been prescribed. (I never went to pick up the prescription the day after. More on this at a different time.)

I woke up Friday morning, ate breakfast, and the pain returned. Same thing happened right after breakfast on Saturday, May 23, and the final episode happened on Sunday. It was by far the worst episode, lasting from noon-6pm, almost sending me back to the ER.

On a scale of 1-10, my pain ranges from 7-10+. This is not the bloating pain I know all too well. This is a pain unlike any that I have ever experienced before. It begins as an upper-stomach punching pain. Then it burns all over. My stomach moves and twitches like crazy. I am crampy. The pain takes my breath away almost. I get goose bumps all over, but I sweat and have the chills. It is, quite literally a pain I would not wish upon my worst enemy.

So back to the egg.

I am 189 days into working with my new doctor. During this time, I have meticulously tracked almost everything from sleep to food to supplements, symptoms and more. I am so grateful for this, and for my knowledge of food because I caught on to the common denominator immediately – eggs.

The times I had mild reactions (lasting less time), I had just finished eating chicken eggs.

The times I had major reactions (ER day + last Sunday in particular), I had just finished eating duck eggs.

For my first test, I ate minimal last Saturday, but breakfast included my new amazing protein pancake (1 duck egg + 1 tbsp. Nutiva Organic Coconut Flour + 1 tbsp. Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein). I was sick for 3 hours. I wasn’t sure which piece it was, so Ryan said the next day maybe just do the duck egg.

On Sunday around noon I ate a duck egg. I had one duck egg, nothing else. Within 5 minutes my hell had arrived – literally.

Eggs. Chicken eggs, duck eggs…..eggs. They are either triggering these attacks or are they are the main cause for these attacks.

I met with my doctor yesterday on a last-minute notice.

He suspects: gallbladder, an ulcer, a (very uncommon) reaction post-Rifaxamin (unlikely, but can’t rule it out) or an allergy of some sort to eggs.

What next? I have an ultrasound scheduled for Friday morning. In the meantime, I’m about as bland as I can be with my diet, greatly reducing fat. Since I’ve done this (2 days now), no horrible spells.

And of course, NO eggs. Like I imagine anyone with a severe allergy to a food feels, I am deathly afraid of eggs at this point.

Just when I solve one problem, another pops up. And for this reason, I am really, really, really doing my best to embrace my mantra today:

When gravel roads are all you’ve ever known, you learn to find beauty in the dust.

Xox,
SKH