Bad News

To make a long story short.....
I was driving to the grocery store this time last year when black fluid shot through my vision.
I immediately called the eye doctor since it stayed fixed in my sight.

I learned that I was suffering from a hemorrhage in my eye.
Basically, my retina was suffering from so much inflammation it just bled out.


At this point I was the lucky recipient 
of a Steroid shot right into my eyeball.

Since then I have been tested for everything from Leukemia,
MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, yaddy yaddy, yadda!

After a year, a couple steroid shots, and a million tests later the swelling has not gone down too much.
The bleeding is under control but the swelling can't stay or I will suffer another hemorrhage incurring even more permanent damage to my vision.

I'd really like to keep my eye sight. 


Finally, after ruling out every terrifying disease and condition it has been determined that I, most likely, have some very bizarre allergies.

Today I learned what those allergies are and it's still sinking in.

Cottonseed Oil (Margarine, Mayo, chips, chocolate candies)
Annatto (additive found in most cheeses, butter, rice, desserts, etc.)
Sodium Propionate (found in pizza, pie crusts, baked goods, frostings, jams, jellies, cheese)
Peanut (ARGH, I love peanut anything!)
Apples (so very sad about this one)
Red Grapes/Raisins (also super sad)
Olive (How one earth will I live without olive oil???)
FD&C Red #3 (In pretty much everything, makeup, hair products, soap, lotion, pretty much any food that has any hint of color)
Along with some other lovely molds that naturally occur in any environment.

I'm feeling soooo discouraged.
We are talking about a COLOSSAL life change!
Basically I can not eat any single thing that is prepared by friend, family, restaurant, food manufacturer.

I'll be taking some time to research what all of this means for me on a daily basis.
I'll be back next week with some fun finishes.


But please, if you have any experience with this kind of thing 
do share!