Lately, I’ve been rather lax about dairy in foods that I eat. Last Tuesday, it was the cheese in the Sultan’s Favorite at the Olive & Grape. It wasn’t listed in the menu, so I thought it was safe. By the time it arrived at my table, I was starving and pressed for time, so I ate it. Besides, I love cheese and have really missed it since starting my diet restrictions last August. Last night, it was a sweet lassi because I was craving it when I put in the order for Indian food delivery. Just those small amounts of dairy in my diet have played havoc with my digestive system and joints. My stomach has been upset to the point of vomiting (but never quite that much), making it difficult to sleep well. Dairy also causes severe inflammation in my joints…and since I have severe arthritis in both knees, that inflammation makes for constant pain (it feels like a stake is being hammered into my knees). This also makes it difficult to sleep soundly. So, I’m cranking from lack of sleep, gassy and uncomfortable, and wanting to cry from the joint pain.
Lesson learned: Unless I want to deal with the constant pain and nausea, I need to be more diligent and not eat anything containing dairy.