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I was born with Phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU is the inherited inability to metabolize (process) the essential amino acid phenylalanine due to complete or near-complete deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase.
In layman’s terms, growing up I was unable to eat anything with high amounts of protein. Protein is made of amino acids, and my body cannot process phenylalanine, one of those amino acids. While growing up I drank a “formula” (powder and water mix), which contained the proper amounts of amino acids I needed to grow up healthful.
Basically my diet consisted of a lot of fruits and vegetables, some rice and that is it. No grains, no dairy, absolutely no meat. Nothing normal.
Eating has been an issue my whole life. I was always the exception at the birthday party who couldn’t eat the pizza or the cake. When friend’s parents took me to dinner, it was always “can Traci find something she can eat on the menu?” I hated being a problem, all I wanted to be was normal.
When I went to college, I began to break the rules of my diet. I figured, I am over 18 and have stopped developing for the most part, what’s the harm?
I am about to turn 27 and just got married. Children are in my future (but not until I am at least 30) and now I have to start being realistic again. I have to get back on my diet if I want to carry a healthy baby.
Going back on diet is going to be a strange and challenging journey. I am hoping to share with you all and I hope you can encourage me as I try to better my health, for my future child’s sake.
Fun PKU fact: Ever read on the side of a Diet Coke can that said Phenylketonurics - Contains Phenylalanine? Well that message is for me. Many sugar substitutes are made with phenylalanine and I can’t consume them.
– Traci Hatling (small-time journalist trying to write about anything else but what she is paid for) Check me out at http://tracihatling.blogspot.com
