Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Never Let Anyone Tell You This Isn't Serious

bonnie blue

By bonnie blue
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

bonnie blue Explorer
bonnie blue
Posted

Hello to my friends,

Last year in September after being ill for sometime I was diagnosed with Celiac. We took everything very seriously and began our gluten free life. All was well until December when I started losing weight again and feeling really bad. To make a long story short I saw different gastros, I was told it was all in my head, that I must be cheating and eating gluten, and my personal favorite, that I had worms. Finally after months and months I found a gastro who took me seriously. He did start me on Entocort to control the big D and I did feel a little better, however the weight loss continued, fatigue, and then it became hard to eat, and I began to have trouble swallowing. He decided it was time for another endoscopy, well the results came back yesterday, and I was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of my stomach. It is not my intention to scare anyone but to let anyone who has any doubts that Celiac disease is not serious that it is, it defenitely is.

In just 3 short hours we are off to the medical center to meet the with doctors so that they can stage my cancer, and come up with a plan to beat this. I guess I just wanted to share this with my friends who really understand what it is like to have Celiac, and the obstacles that we face everyday. I will keep you all in touch, take care of yourselves, and God bless.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

So sorry to hear this. Please let us know how you are doing.

(((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))

navigator Apprentice
navigator
Posted

Really sorry to hear your news. Thinking of you.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

I'M SO sorry to hear about your DX. I can't for the life of me understand why Dr.s don't take us seriously when we tell them something's wrong! We know our bodies better than anyone.

I had colo-rectal cancer at the age of 46, stage 1. I knew something was wrong, even though they say most people have no idea they have it. It took me going to two different Dr.s and several visits with each before I was finally given the scope I needed for a DX. :angry:

Good luck to you in your treatment. I hope it's just stage 1. I found that once I had a DX they moved pretty fast in treating it, so be ready for a bit of a whirlwind.

(((hugs)))

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Oh, Bonnie! Thank you for sharing this. Good luck with the doctors today.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I'm so sorry to hear this. Good luck today, and let us know if we can help.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I'm so sorry to hear of your illness. Please don't hesitate to ask for support here if you need it. ((( hugs )))

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


domesticactivist Collaborator
domesticactivist
Posted

I hope it goes well for you now that you have a diagnosis! As for those other doctors, I hope someone can call them on your behalf and inform them of the cause they missed so they will be better informed of the possibilities in the future.

lynnelise Apprentice
lynnelise
Posted

Sorry to hear of your diagnoses! I'm glad you were able to find a doctor who took you seriously!!! Good luck at the doctors!

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

I'm so sorry for your diagnosis. Best of luck to you!

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Oh Bonnie, I am so sorry about your diagnosis. Stay strong and fight, and yes, please let us know how you are doing. {{{hugs}}}

AVR1962 Collaborator
AVR1962
Posted

Best of luck to you! Thank you for sharing and keep us informed.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

That really stinks! But it seems like you have a good attitude. Maybe all of us who have had to stand up to people who "think it's all in our heads" have learned to be stronger than the average person. And that strength will see you through. You'll be in my prayers.

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

Hugs and hugs and hugs for you! I pray that it is at an early stage and you get healed fast. There is so much they can do for cancer nowadays. It's not like before where there were just a few treatments. My dad has cancer and they are doing amazing things to treat him. Hang in there and come here for support when you need it.

We celiacs have to stick together and lift each other up.

bonnie blue Explorer
bonnie blue
Posted
  • Author

Just an update, home finally. The cancer is in the early stages and has not spread to any other parts of my body. I will have two months of chemo, then surgery to remove my stomach, they will make me a new stomach from my small intestine, then after I have healed from the surgery two more months of chemo. The doctors are very optimistic about a full recovery. I did find out from the doctor today that they will not do any radiation, because of the Celiac disease, they told me it would be too hard on my body, because radiation causes the Big D, wow you learn something new everyday. I go into my surgeon on Friday so they can put in a port in my chest for the chemo, and then the chemo will start next Tuesday. I am in a very positive mind set at this point, and I will beat this cancer!

Thank you all so much for your support, this forum is like my second home, thank you again and I will keep in touch.

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Geez L'weez. So much to deal with. :(

Stay strong and I hope everything goes smoothly and you recover quickly.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

That's great news!

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Wow, that sounds like an ordeal but I'm very glad to hear it hasn't spread. Thank you for updating us and I hope you have a compete remission and recovery.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

I'm so glad to know you're in the early stages. Treatment will still be a tough thing to go through, but at least they have a treatment plan worked out for you.

Please keep in touch when you feel like popping in? We're all rooting for you!

lynnelise Apprentice
lynnelise
Posted

So glad to hear it was caught in the early stages! It's so amazing what modern medicine can do! Good luck with your treatment plan! I hope it's not to uncomfortable for you!

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Just an update, home finally. The cancer is in the early stages and has not spread to any other parts of my body. I will have two months of chemo, then surgery to remove my stomach, they will make me a new stomach from my small intestine, then after I have healed from the surgery two more months of chemo. The doctors are very optimistic about a full recovery. I did find out from the doctor today that they will not do any radiation, because of the Celiac disease, they told me it would be too hard on my body, because radiation causes the Big D, wow you learn something new everyday. I go into my surgeon on Friday so they can put in a port in my chest for the chemo, and then the chemo will start next Tuesday. I am in a very positive mind set at this point, and I will beat this cancer!

Thank you all so much for your support, this forum is like my second home, thank you again and I will keep in touch.

Bonnie...you are one tough gluten-free cookie! I wish you all the best and know you will be here years to come, posting on Celiac.com.

Keep in touch with us so we can cheer you on! :D

sahm-i-am Apprentice
sahm-i-am
Posted

Hooray for you for getting second opinions!!! Hooray for listening to your body and trusting your instincts!! Boo for cancer!

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

Wonderful news that it's in the early stages and there is treatment for you. You advocated for yourself and got answers quickly.

You can beat this. Cancer is treatable these days.

Do everything you can to support yourself nutritionally too. I started juicing lots of green veggies and then adding apples, carrots and oranges to flavor it up. It is helping me a lot.

Hang in there and keep posting when you need us.

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Wow...very tough road...but good that there is a winning plan. You are in our family's prayers tonight and in the days to come...keep posting...so important for the rest of us to hear your story -- more important for us to support you and your family too!

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Fight like a girl, bonnie blue! B)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,327
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    dnamutant
    Newest Member
    dnamutant
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.