Tuesday, January 6, 2009

So, I have a totally faulty body. We knew this. YOU knew this... I've told you like a hundred times already. Needless to say, it's looking like the faulty is even faultier than we previously thought. My poor mom has Behcet's, go ahead read about it, it's super! Not. Well, seems like I have this lovely little plague too. I have some blood tests to complete, which will not really be able to confirm the diagnosis, but they should help.

A diagnosis is made based on a collective of symptoms, there are some genetic blood markers, but no actual test for Behcet's. That list of symptoms... oh it's good stuff and I can check off way, WAY too many of them. I can check off all of the short list and two-thirds of the long list. That recent eye issue I was having, remember that? Uveitis, it's on the list and I've now had it a few times. The medication for my eye was a form of Prednisone which had a dramatic effect on my entire body (strange for a low does topical form) and it was the calming and irritating of symptoms caused by the Pred. that really raised a red flag for me about the possibility of Behcet's. Prednisone, BTW, is the most common method of treatment for Behcet's.
I'm certain this is what I have. It's been a conscious fourteen years of symptoms with the possibility of Behcet's being at the root of everything since my mom was diagnosed twelve years ago. As I sit here with my mouth full of sores, and my body aching, I just want to move forward. I want to have a name for this auto-immune beast that keeps knocking me down time and again and I want to know what to watch for as time goes by.

On that note, lets celebrate food- um k? There are SO MANY wonderful things to enjoy in this life, but food has to be way up there at the top somewhere- don't you agree? This is a very simple meal that Hans and I totally fell in love with and I thought I'd remind everyone how yummy chickpeas can be... I also like to defy my mouth ulcers by attempting to eat tomato based products on only one side of my face. Take that lame-ass body.


East Indian Stew, a new favorite meal.
This recipe was featured in the December issue of Everyday Food and it's even better the NEXT DAY, and the next and the next...

Cook 1 cup of long-grain white rice according to package instructions; cover and keep warm.
(Or, steal some of Lucca's already-made-rice which is hanging out in the fridge, ready to go!)
While the rice is cooking, heat 2Tbls of oil in a medium skillet. Add 1 medium minced onion and 2 cloves of finally chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is tender, 4-6 minutes. Add 1Tbls curry powder (I used more!) and 1tps ginger; cook, stirring until fragrant about 1 minute.
Add 3C homemade or best quality store bought tomato sauce, 2 cans (15oz each) of chickpeas and 1 1/2C water. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened about 8-10 minutes.
Stir in 1Tbls lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
Serve stew over rice, garnish with lime wedges and plain low-fat yogurt.

Yum! Healthy! Vegetarian! Cheap! Need! I! Say! More?!?!

4 comments:

See Sherm Blog said...

Wow. Behcets sounds like a real party. I'm so sorry to hear that it looks like you have it too. But I guess diagnosing is the first step towards helping you out, which is a step forward. So is it something that with treatment, you can potentially shorten the list of symptoms?

Please keep us posted. I'll be thinking of you!

mendedheart said...

Am so sorry to read that you are touched with these wearying and painful symptoms. Was worried about your eye, and now it sounds like Behcets may be the likeliest cause. Ouch and ouch and ouch.

Sidney Ann said...

That's POOP! So sorry to hear. You should get addicted to pain killers or something. That's the secret.

sarah marie p said...

Man, I had never heard of Behcets, but it sounds so horrible. I'm so sorry you're going through this ... I hope you soon find some relief and treatment.

That east Indian stew looks SOOOO yummy!