Newly Cursed (blessed?) By The Sprue

Hello all, my name is Dawn and live in North Carolina. I'm 31 years old, married 4 1/2 years to an excellent guy and couldn't be happier- until recently. I have been cursed (blessed) with the Sprue genes my mom has. She was diagnosed 12 years ago. Mine just in the last couple of weeks has decided to make itself known and I am reeling from it. I have had symptoms here and there for the past several months but in the last few weeks it has hit me like a hammer. I have never felt so crappy in my life!!

I just chaulk it up as another ailment to add to my social anxiety disorder which I have been living with all of my life. I guess I'll have to see this as a blessing since I try to see the positive in everything that happens. When I was finally officially diagnosed with SAD (1999) and put on meds (Paxil) I thought my life was over but I have recently been able to help someone also with SAD to see that life does go on after all. I hope that I can do the same with The Sprue. There is not a support group for Celiacs in my area but I know there has to be more than just me with this here (I live just outside of Fort Bragg, NC) and I hope to find a way to get something going here. It will be interesting to see how that goes being as I am terrified of meeting new people, but maybe this will give me the push I need to do something about that. Hit two birds with one stone!

I hope this finds you all well and that we can have some good board chats.

peace...
jeepgirl
'95 Wrangler

Hi jeepgirl, my name is Stacie and live in Georgia, I am 32 with 2 children and married to a wonderful man too, that has been very supportive during my sickness (since August 2002).

I am sorry you are not feeling well but it does sound like you are on top of things. Since your mother has the disease I am sure you are familiar with it, which is a blessing! Most people have never even heard of this strange disease, I mean, allergic to gluten?!?!?! Heck I had never even heard of gluten and had no idea that it was a lot more involved than just looking for the word "gluten".

Have you been tested for Sprue (celiac disease) or are you on a gluten free diet?

I found a list of support groups in NC from this site, I don't know if they are pretty close to you or not but it's worth a shot. I have to drive over an hour to get to the one here in GA but I'm sure it will be worth it!!

Anyway, I do hope you being to feel better soon. Here is the list:

North Carolina
Asheville - - Resource:
Contact: Leah R. Karpen
518 Ox Creek Road
Weaverville, NC 28787
Tel: (704) 645-9067

Boone - Resource:
Contact: Ernest Lane
827 Blairmont Dr.
Boone, NC 28607
Tel: (704) 264-4618 or (704) 262-2380
E-mail: epl@math.appstate.edu


Chapel Hill - Resource:
Contact: Connie Margolin
908 Kings Mill Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Tel: (919) 967-9954
E-mail: ThirdEar0@aol.com

Charlotte - Support Group
Contact 1: Caroline Herdle
Charlotte - Mecklenburg Celiac Support Group
14314 Harbor Estates Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28278
Tel: (704) 588-6842
E-mail: Katahdin1@pipeline.com
Contact 2: Daphne Ledford
3947 Abingdon Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28211
Tel: (704) 366-3493
Contact 3: Marsha Beers
9038 Gray Birch Court
Charlotte, NC 28215
Tel: (704) 597-0826
E-mail: EWOKSMOM@aol.com

Durham - Fayetteville Support Group
Contact 1: Ruth Thomas
North Carolina Celiacs (CSA)
Tel: (919) 542-4030
Contact 2: Susan Black
Tel: (910) 875-3186

Forest City - Resource:
Contact: Lisa Sievers
141 Greenbriar Dr.
Forest City, NC 28043
E-mail: sie@blueridge.net

Greensboro - Resource:
Contact: Phebe W. Erdman
3205 Oak Ridge Rd.
Summerfield, NC 27358
Tel: (910) 643-1365

Raleigh - Support Group
Contact: Sally Davis Comer
129 W. Park Drive
Raleigh, NC 27605
Tel: (919) 932-7285
E-mail: SComer3470@AOL.COM

Raleigh-Durham - Support Group
Contact 1: Sally Davis Comer
Triangle Celiac Support Group
129 W. Park Drive
Raleigh, NC 27605
Tel: (919) 932-7285
E-mail: SComer3470@AOL.COM
Contact 2: Diana Clarke
E-mail: DeBucket@aol.com
Contact 3: Connie Margolin
E-mail: ThirdEar0@aol.com

Summerfield - Resource:
Contact: Phebe W. Erdman
3205 Oak Ridge Rd.
Summerfield, NC 27358
Tel: (910) 643-1365

Winston-Salem - Resource:
Contact: Pam Brown
6295 Lochinvar Drive
Rural Hall, NC 27045
Tel: (910) 377-2687

Thank you Stacie for your welcome. I had a better day today but am still feeling bad. I have an appointment with a GI Doc on 26 Feb. I had blood drawn last Friday but have not heard the results yet.

This thing is frustrating the heck out of me and my poor husband is not taking it well. He hates the idea of me not being ME. Fortunately I have no kids to run after while feeling this bad or else I'd definetely check myself into the nearest rubber room. I am feeling the anger part of the process coming on, which I knew would happen, but doesn't really help. I've been through worse though so no worries (I hope!)

Thanks again for the welcome.