National Bread Week

Hidden posted a couple of days ago that it's National Bread Week so here's my contribution. I've made Spelt Sourdough bread which is more tolerable for those with IBS.

I've been making this for a while now and find it easy to make.

[Hidden]

Hey Alicia you're a star at baking thats for sure this looks so prefessional and I wish I could eat it so I'm very pleased that you can enjoy it.

Thank you and well done for this cracking vegan spelt bread for National bread week, it's very much appreciated.

Jerry.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jerry, so lovely of you to say. I do love the Spelt sourdough and I wish you could eat it as well. I really am going to have to branch out and make some GF ones as I also use the Dove's Farm flour.

What could be better than National Bread Week.

Alicia

[Hidden]

Thank you Zoonie. It is a denser bread but it's still light enough to enjoy and I love it. It took a while for me to perfect but it was worth the wait. I've not had a problem with overproving luckily but not very good having lots of holes in it if it's overproved, bet you'd rather have the chocolate bar LOL. I love Ciabatta but unfortunately my tummy doesn't like it, I have IBS, but I'm really good with Spelt Sourdough.

Alicia

[Hidden]

It certainly sounds like you might have. I'm finding the low fodmap diet is brilliant but before you think if that you should have some tests carried out. I had a Colonoscopy, Endoscopy and a myriad of blood tests before I was diagnosed.

I hope you manage to alleviate your symptoms, it's not good.

Yes Kitten-whiskers does have it as I've seen some of her posts and replies and she's replied to my posts as well.

[Hidden]

The one up for sure isn't pleasant. Hmm good job it was the professionals carrying out the job LOL 🤣🤣

I can highly recommend the low fodmap diet.😊

[Hidden]

Its doesn't work for everyone but the figures are good as it works for 75% of people.

I cant believe the difference with my tummy since following it.

I've also got a very good GO's practice which makes a huge difference.

Yay, well done re Tramadol.

Whilst we're on the subject of treatments, do you know of any natural creams for pruritus? I've had it since last August and it's getting much worse. Thank you.

Alicia😊

[Activity2004 Administrator]

The bread looks great! Have you tried it as a sandwich?

[Hidden in reply to Activity2004]

Thank you and I certainly have. I'm addicted to toasted vegan cheese and tomatoes or red peppers. I've always loved toasted sandwiches.😋

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Sounds great! 😀👍

[Hidden in reply to Activity2004]

😋😀

[Hidden]

Thank you Hidden for that. I will save your reply so I can follow your instructions.🙏

[Activity2004 Administrator]

I will have to look at this later tomorrow morning.😀👍

[Hidden]

I bought it. I've tried making vegan cheese but with no success yet. I've printed some more recipes so am going to give it a go.

I love the Applewood Vegan Cheddar and Tesco Wensleydale style cheese with cranberries.😋

[Hidden]

Wow thank you, much appreciated 😋

[Hidden]

Here's the sourdough recipe and instructions I use.

dovesfarm.co.uk/recipes/who...

😋😀

[Dickydon in reply to Hidden]

I’ve never heard of a national bread week. But wow, great I say.

My local Spelt (only products) bread-shop closed down last year in west London, though it was expensive at £3.50 for a smallish country spelt loaf but it was so delicious; I always asked them to bake it longer for the darker look. I believe the shop had problems as the rent of 50k per year was ridiculous. But there are other Artisan bread shops come chic cafes here, that do high quality foods and coffee the San Francisco Sourdough is so delicious.

[Hidden in reply to Dickydon]

Neither had I until Hidden posted about it.

What a shame your local artisan bakery closed. Sourdough, particularly 'real' sourdough i.e. made the correct way by using the proper fermentation process, is expensive but good. There's an artisan bakery in my local city centre and it's expensive there as well. Such a shame they closed down, landlordshave a lot to answer for with the rent they charge.

The spelt flour I use isn't cheap but it's a quality product and we do pay for quality. Personally I'd rather pay and have good healthy ingredients.

[Dickydon in reply to Hidden]

Yes, the fermentation process is longer I think with sourdough. I rarely eat rice & potato, but make up for that by eating good bread and proper salt butter of course.

The rents to business properties and private in the Chiswick area are horrendous.

£1000 per month minimum just for a studio. four bed house upto £7k per month and that’s cheap for a four bed renting; usually people who work in the city or international companies who put their people up in these sorts of rental properties. Or £1.5m to £3m to buy in Chiswick.

[Hidden in reply to Dickydon]

It certainly isand that's a good artisan bed. It angers me what landlords charge for their properties.

Chiswick is ridiculous for rent. I live in Devon and although nothing like as much it's still very high for an area which the pay is low and lack of jobs.

It seems also the areas we're born in we cant afford to live in when we are older, crazy.

[Hidden]

Thank you, much appreciated 🙏😋

[Kai--]

.

B e a u t i f u l loaves 🍞 🍞 , crazyfitness.

Look delicious 🤤 😋 .

.

Aside:

Am aware of prescription topical cream Triamcinolone Acetonide ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri... a corticosteroid) for extreme itching [such as from ‘poison ivy’ — urushiol-induced contact dermatitis ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uru... )].

Oral tablets Diphenhydramine (an antihistamine en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphe... , aka ‘Benadryl’) & prescription Prednisone (aka ‘the devil 😈 drug’ 😯 🤭 🤣 ) ( healthline.com/health/predn... ) can provide itch relief (anti-inflammatory) if progressive, troublesome itching.

Don’t know if any of these would be suitable/ appropriate for your particular itch, crazyfitness. (Merely itch-relief ‘medications’ I’m aware of.) Think each can be ‘relatively safe’ for SHORT-term use, but if seriously considering dipping 🤏 into the medicine chest 🧰 , best consult with medic 🩺 . . . 👍👍]

.

Aside, aside: Merely lighthearted, fun tune for us to hum 😚 🎶 upon any future ‘up-scoping’ ☝️ visits:

Robert Klein...I don't like getting older [4+ minutes]:

youtube.com/watch?v=U8lObCT...(Not working as expected?)

(You might enjoy singing 🗣 🎵 along, Hidden . 🤣 🙃 🤦‍♂️ )

.

[Hidden in reply to Kai--]

Thank you so much Kai, much appreciated, I love the bread and I can eat it, bonus.

Also, a big thank you for the names of the anti itch creams. I'm under a doctor and he's taking a raised spot out this week for testing, I just need something to help with the itching whilst I wait.🙏🙏

Well the video has a new take on a Colonoscopy 🤣🤣

[Kai-- in reply to Hidden]

.

[Very welcome, crazyfitness. 🙏😌 ]

Hope you 🩺 can find a topical cream appropriate for you. (The Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA) cream was truly ‘miraculous’ for poison ivy.) Depending upon what skin condition you have, likely determines what doc can prescribe. (The TA was a tiny tube °🤏 & we’re only allowed to rub a small amount on effected areas a limited number of times a day. Unbelievably potent/ effective. 😯 ("Better living through chemistry": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bette... 😂 🤣 🙃 )

[Aside: I really try to hold off using such potent, prescription meds unless I really have to. TA facilitated the ‘healing process’ remarkably. Don’t know what I would have done without it. 😳 ] Hoping it, or something comparable to it, can provide you with same degree of speedy relief. 🙏 ]

[Oh, & of course the Prednisone is a potent, ‘miraculous’ ✨ tablet (of ‘last resort’) for itch over widely affected areas where a ‘dab of cream’ wouldn’t do. 😳 . . . And, depending on dosage & length of time, Prednisone can be a bit tricky (& can even have a ‘backlash’) if we don’t use it judiciously/ manage it carefully. 🙃 ]

Good luck 🍀 at the doc’s 🩺 , crazyfitness. Fingers crossed 🤞🤞 you’ll return home with good news — as well as all bits ( 💪 🦵 👁 👃 … ) ‘intact’, . 😁 ☺️

.

[Hidden in reply to Kai--]

Thank you Kai.

I've had a look at the links and noted down a couple of them and will speak to a Pharmacist today. The infected areas I have is all over the bottom of my legs, all of my arms, both shoulders, parts of my back and my trunk. This is why I've been finding it hard using any kind of harsh cream i.e. hydrocortisone as I cannot just cream one small area.

I would rather hold off the potent meds and I really hope that the doctor can find a reason and then treat it. Other than that I think I may have a histamine reaction to food but the doctor didn't think that when I saw him last time, he said it only tends to happen to younger people but I'm not sure about that.

Once again, thank you for all your help, much appreciated.

[Kai-- in reply to Hidden]

.

Oh my, that’s awful, crazyfitness. 😔

Just some layman "guesses": You could be reacting to a food and/or a medication (if you’re taking any meds) and/or stress and/or you could be manifesting an ‘autoimmune (disease) reaction’ or something else. Doctor’s are good at running though the possibilities with us & figuring out a logical way to deduce what a likely cause is (& running appropriate diagnostics tests as needed).

For example, if it (the itch) isn’t caused by an external source (like a poison ivy ), then a topical cream may be inappropriate.

.

____________________________

Further thinking aloud blathering:

Smart cookie 🍪 ! I think you’re on the right track 🛤 , crazyfitness.

Because it’s manifesting over large segments of body (legs 🦵🦵, arms 💪💪, shoulders, back, trunk 🐘 ), it sounds like an ‘allergic reaction’ (histamine reaction verywellhealth.com/histamin... ) to a food and/or medication and/or stress and/or an ‘autoimmune response’ . . . — not a reaction to an outside agent (like contact with a poison ivy). Unless, it’s something like a reaction to a ‘soap’ 🧼 or a laundry detergent (coming from your 👚 👖 …) ? [Merely thinking aloud "layman’s speculations".]

If it’s an internal agent (food, meds, stress, disease …) causing the reaction, your doctor works with you to deduce the likely (probable) cause. 👍👍

Questioning if aforementioned topical cream (TA) would be appropriate in such an instance. 🤔 And, slathering "hydrocortisone cream" over such large swaths of your body (& hard to reach spots like your back) doesn’t sound sensible. 🤔

I know you need itch relief, but if it’s emanating internally, an anti-histamine tablet such as OTC (Over The Counter/ non-prescription) ”Benadryl"-type medication (Diphenhydramine: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphe... ) might be more appropriate/ effective? 🤔

I’d definitely consult with your doctor BEFORE taking anything. Especially if you’re on any other meds (want to avoid drug interactions), dealing with a ‘condition’, or trying to deduce the SOURCE of the reaction. Taking an antihistamine can temporarily "mask the problem" by providing immediate relief, but might obstruct you’re figuring out the root cause? 🤔

Definitely consult with your doctor. [Merely my opinion, crazyfitness.]

.

[Couple sample scenarios: • If it’s a med 💊 reaction, doc can have you stop med immediately & get you on antihistamine (such as a ”Benadryl") immediately. And, then figure out a ‘substitute med’ for whatever you were taking the original med for. . . . • If it’s a ‘food reaction’, doc can have you do an "elimination & reintroduction protocol" . . . . • If it’s a ‘bacterial 🦠 overgrowth’ for example caused by excessive ‘probiotics’ (encouraging growth of ‘bad bacteria’) that can be worked through by ceasing ingesting probiotics to restore balance ⚖️ to the gut microbiome. And/ or they can "roll out the big guns" 🔫 — ’antibiotics’ 💊 . (They can test for overgrowth of suspected ‘bad bacteria’ & target an antibiotic to that problematic bacteria.)

LOTS to examine & work through. Your doc will have your ‘medical history’ (records) in front of them, & you’ll be able to answer their questions directly. Together you’ll be able to narrow down the possibilities & begin with a process of elimination & appropriate "testing". You’ll work from the "most obvious" (most likely) cause to the least likely cause. And, through "trial & error" be able to resolve it. 👍👍 [Again, merely my laymen’s perspective.]

Very best wishes for speedy relief & resolution, crazyfitness. 😌 🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

.

[Hidden in reply to Kai--]

Thank you very much Kai for your excellent comprehensive response. I'm only taking a anti histamine at present, one which I bought today, but nothing else.

Yes I honestly do think it's a histamine reaction to food and I do eat a fair bit of peanut butter and I know that's high in histamine. Problem is I've been following a low fodmap diet and by looking at the lists the foods I am able to eat for my tummy are high in histamine! I'm going to have a go at cutting down on the peanut butter but I have to say that this started last year in August and although I did eat peanut butter it wasn't any significant amount as I used it for making my raw fruit bars and I had 2 of those every day but the recipe made 18 bars so I wasn't eating it in large quantities. The condition has got worse over the past couple of months. It really is confusing me and if I start to cut out foods high in histamine I will be eating very little and my diet will be depleted.

I would have thought anti histamines would have helped, their name says it all.

I only use sulphate free shower gels and shampoo and once I've finished my washing powder I will be looking for a much gentler one and one that's better for the planet. I have been using the same one for a very long time and I didn't react to it before so I'm doubtful that is the problem.

Yes I'm definitely off the hydrocortisone cream as it's not good to use it in large quantities because of the thinning of the skin.

I'll speak at length to my doctor this week about medication but I have to be careful with any side effects as it could scupper the results from following the low fodmap diet.

I'm not taking probiotics because of the low fodmap diet as it would scupper the results. I really hope it doesn't come to antibiotics as I don't want to take those as they can really upset the gut microbiome.

Thank you once again Kai for your help, it's very much appreciated.

Alicia

[Kai-- in reply to Hidden]

.

Merely a ‘look-see’ for you & your doc 🩺 to see if any of these potential additional food options (‘baseline’ foodssuch as pseudograins: quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth …) are ’safe’ for you to incorporate into the FODMAP protocol you’re currently following:

. . • healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

. . • doctorklaper.com/diet-arthr... (Scroll down to list "… Reintroduction Sequence".)

These may note 📝 food options you hadn’t already thought of & might even fit into the FODMAP protocol. 🤔 . . . Hopefully 🤞🤞 to expand the choices of what IS safe for you to eat. [A steady, limited diet of rainwater 🌧 💦 ‘n grubs 🐛 ‘tries our soul’ 👻 after too long a time. 🤦 ]

No fun 😔, when we run out of safe food options. 😓 😞

Another possibility (for you & doc to maybe consider) — "if worse comes to worst" — is a water fast: healthunlocked.com/fasting-... [Merely thinking aloud ‘ideas’ 💡💡. ] It "clears out" our system & gives us a chance to repopulate the gut with desired bacteria 🦠 . The critical "re-feeding" re-seeds our gut with the good pre- & pro-biotic foods.]

These gut/ digestive troubles can be a tough b🐞gger to resolve & can take an irritating 😣 amount of time 🕰 📅. 🗓 to set right. 😖 ☹️ 🤦 . . . And, can be even more arduous if we’re slender (or underweight) & can’t afford to drop any more weight. We have to somehow keep our food (caloric) intake up ⬆️ so we don’t disappear 💀 . . . . [Sometimes "resetting" through some type of ‘fasting’ restores gut balance ⚖️ if we’re not placing ourselves in harms way by not ingesting enough calories.]

It’s a tricky balancing ⚖️ / juggling act 🤹 . . . A lot of ‘trial & error’ self-experimenting to work though. 🤦 [I feel for you, crazyfitness. 🙏 😔 . . . Keep hanging in there, dear lady.]

.

[A sad, fond adieu 👋 to Mr. Peanut 🥜 🧐 🎩 ( giphy.com/gifs/3oKIPCY9mCqN... ). Perhaps, when normalcy returns, an occasional 🥜 or two may be OK? 🤔 . . . But, returning to ‘routine consumption’ ( giphy.com/gifs/1e0vutdujEoY... ) might instigate a backslide ↩️ toward high 📈 histamines. 😳 😯 🤦 ]

.

[Hidden in reply to Kai--]

Thank you so much Kai, I'll have a proper look at your reply when I'm on the PC rather than my phone.

I bought some Chlorphenamine today after talking to a Pharmacist and have so far taken 2, not keen on the side effects though even though they seem to be helping. They are making me feel light headed and a bit of a headache but it could be a virus as my throat doesn't feel right, I'm looking forward to speaking to the doctor.

Once again, thank you, really appreciate your help.🙏

[Kai-- in reply to Hidden]

.

👍👍

Chlorpheniramine* —> ”Talk with your doctor 🩺 if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever 🤒 with a headache 🤕 or skin rash ☄️ ." [* drugs.com/mtm/chlorpheniram... .] 😳 🤔

I know you’ll be careful, crazyfitness. 🙏 😌 . . . [Side effects can be ‘disconcerting’ 😯 . As long as we’re paying attention 🧐 (& have a loved one 👩‍❤️‍👨 in the house 🏠 ‘keeping an eye 👁 on us‘), we‘ll do well. 👍👍 ]

.

[Hidden in reply to Kai--]

Thank you Kai. I'm taking the tablets with me to see the doctor tomorrow. To be honest I'd rather not take anything.

I have a lovely caring husband, he's so lovely when I'm not well and looks after me. In fact he's lovely to me all the time and compliments me.😍

I'll have a look at the link you shared now.🙏🙏

[Kai-- in reply to Hidden]

.

We are indeed blessed 👼 ✨ , crazyfitness, to have loved ones 👩‍❤️‍👨👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 in our lives who care about us (& for us). 🙏 😌

[I guess we’ll keep ‘em around . . . 😂 🤪 ☺️ ]

.

[Hidden in reply to Kai--]

We certainly are and my hubby is very caring.💏🤗

[Hidden]

Because if I cut that out as well my diet will be limited even more and fermentation is better for IBS, its working for me. The Spelt flour is an ancient grain so not interfered with and it's made the proper way I.e. slowly fermented unlike the supermarket sourdough.

[Hidden]

I've always loved bread and mainly bread with seeds although I've yet to introduce those into my sourdough. It's also fine with my tummy which is good. I'm following the low fodmap diet and there is very little I can eat as I'm Vegan as well. My favourite foods are the sourdough bread, pulses, vegetables, if I could I'd have a playful if red cabbage. What I'm saying is the rest of my diet is very healthy and I make all my own food.

I've not heard of the natural ways for combatting IBS so would love to hear about those, thank you.

[Hidden]

Thank you so much Hidden , I really appreciate the time you've taken to look into this for me.🙏

[Hidden]

Oh wow, the cream sounds amazing. It's good also it's natural.😊

[Hidden]

Thank you very much Hidden , really appreciate that🙏

[Hidden]

🙏🙏💞💖