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

Happy New Me 2012!


CarpeDiem

Recommended Posts

CarpeDiem Newbie

New Year is always a time for reflection. Like some of you, I was diagnosed with Celiac just days ago. I haven't really stopped to think about it much until tonight, New Year's Eve, a quiet night of light snow falling. I handed in a thesis last week so I spent last night celebrating with family and friends and mentioned my diagnosis but only briefly (between the massage spa day and dinner and dancing). It is only in this quiet time that I am really starting to process what it means. I read someone else's post about being newly diagnosed and all your wonderful responses of hope and encouragement. Someone I know was recently married and with a new baby and was just diagnosed with MS so I am well aware that my situation could always be worse. That said, right now I'm feeling just a little bit sorry for myself so thank you to everyone who said that's ok. One person reminded me that my attitude can make a world of difference. I almost died in a van accident in college (my speech team was traveling back from a competition when we rolled our van six times) and since that day I have always lived by the motto "Carpe' Diem" so this is just another challenge in truly living that mission - taking advantage of each day and focusing on the good I have in my life and not the negative (which I'll admit will be hard at times). I lost 75 pounds with Weight Watchers years ago and have maintained most of that so I know I can focus in and be diligent about educating myself but I'm worried about cheating. However, I'm sure no more horrible pain will be a strong motivator to not cheat, right? So, I'm posting this mostly as a boost to myself to not feel like I'm starting the new year deprived but thankful finally to know what's been going on and hopeful to make changes that will help me feel good in all aspects of my life - physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional. I turn 40 in February and who knows... it may be my healthiest birthday ever! I would love to e-mail with anyone else going through this newly diagnosed coping stage so drop me a message anytime! There's a lot to learn!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



mushroom Proficient

Congratulations on your diagnosis, and your attitude toward it. Believe me, the urge to cheat soon leaves when you realize how much better you feel, and how bad when you do. We soon learn to think of gluten as rat poison, not something to desire :D

Here's to a healthier and happier New Year in 2012 - what better way to start a new year? :)

Roda Rising Star

Welcome and happy new year. Read all you can on here. There is a lot of good advice and support.

tammyrichy Newbie

My husband was too very recently diagnosed. It was only discovered through blood work for another condition. He does not have the painful symptoms that some people go through when they eat gluten. This is going to make it extremely hard to not want to cheat. He understands the severity of what cheating will do to his body (without feeling the symptoms). I think if he did hurt when he eats it, that would help, but at the same time, glad he does not hurt. After 24 years of marriage, this will definitely be a new lifestyle change for us. Keeping positive and learning all I can! Thanks to everyone who posts on here with any bit of useful information for us newbies!!

sa1937 Community Regular

Welcome, CarpeDiem and Tammy!

At first it is rather overwhelming to be faced with these dietary challenges but pretty soon you'll get a good handle on the foods we can eat, that it'll become so much easier (almost automatic). I remember well that first trip to the grocery store that took forever. But I found if I stuck to shopping the outer rim of the store and skipped trying to find replacements for gluteny foods, it was so much easier...and much healthier, too, I might add.

Good luck!

BeFree Contributor

Welcome to the board CarpeDiem and while you may struggle at times, you will be enjoying many healthy and pain-free days ahead!

I don't have a diagnosis, but after being on the gluten-free diet for four months now I feel 100% better, and I woke up this morning feeling healthy and balanced. So what a great start to 2012! Glad to be feeling better and glad to know you guys! Happy New Year 2012 to everyone at celiac.com!

MinnesotaCeliac Rookie

The excitement and trepidation of the newly diagnosed, oh we all know it well (I'm six months yesterday). You'll have good days and perhaps some bad ones, but knowing you can be healthy (and without taking meds) is such positive reinforcement that any thought of cheating will be put to the side. On my good days, I personally think living gluten free is mostly a convenience issue. I just need to plan ahead or do my homework and know what I can eat on the fly. Sometimes social situations are challenging, but you learn to overcome those challenges too. The key is to acknowledge your emotions and work through them. Allow the down moments, but find a way to the positive side (even when it appears there is not one). Believe me it has not been all roses, but how you handle it will make all the difference in the world. Please note that this coming from a person that was sometimes called the glass half empty type. The wonderful folks on this forum are not only great for getting information regarding celiac/gluten intolerance, but sometimes commiserating with like people gets you through the tough times(the I'm not alone feeling makes all the difference). Im still learning myself, but feel free to contact me if you have questions. Good luck and congrats on the diagnosis.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Bubba's Mom Enthusiast

Hello and welcome to our new posters!

Attitude makes a big difference in how you adapt to your new lifestyle. Always try to look for a positive.

Be aware that some of us feel relief/happiness when first DXed..but later have some days where we feel very challenged. It's perfectly normal, and we are here to lend support.

Happy 2012..may it be the start of a wonderful, new, healthy life!

PS..As my Engineer hubby says..some people say the glass is 1/2 full, some say the glass is 1/2 empty. Engineers say..the glass is the wrong size! :D

Debbie48 Rookie

[PS..As my Engineer hubby says..some people say the glass is 1/2 full, some say the glass is 1/2 empty. Engineers say..the glass is the wrong size! :D

CarpeDiem Newbie

Thanks, everyone! I'm hoping for a healthy 2012 and am so happy I stumbled onto this community last night!

Dena

clohmean Newbie

Hi CarpeDiem,

I've been recently diagnosed with Celiac's and I found your post inspiring as I'm struggling with the diagnosis and have been

prolonging the inevitable (My GI said I could start gluten-free after the holidays if it helped). I've been reading the posts and

in between my pity party :unsure: , I find glimpses of excitement in the thought of feeling better, so I'm try to hang onto it !

My husband has been so supportive and said he would go gluten free too (until he has a guys night out ;) ) and has

been encouraging me to get started on this diet! I just turned 41 and have been getting iron infusions for iron deficiency anemia, which

at first they thought was attributed to heavy cycles, but after two years of infusions, they ran the celiac blood panel and even though it came

back negative (with the exception of an elevated TTG-IGG antibody test), an endoscopy confirmed blunted villi and Celiac's. But, I wanted to thank everyone who posted such

positive comments ! I need to continue to learn more about Celiac's, not get too overwhelmed and be thankful for

a disease that can be controlled via your diet.

Happy New Year ! Best of luck to you !

clohmean

IrishHeart Veteran

PS..As my Engineer hubby says..some people say the glass is 1/2 full, some say the glass is 1/2 empty. Engineers say..the glass is the wrong size! :D

I say...1/2 empty, 1/2 full?? either way, it's time to go back up to the bar... :lol:

Welcome to the Forum and to your New Life!

Do not fear the gluten free lifestyle. It's not as complicated as it seems at first.

It saved my life. :)

I lost years of my life to this disease, but I am coming back. :)

Anything we can do to help, just ask!!

I have a "Newbie cheat sheet" --a file of articles, menu ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a shopping list, a list of dedicated facilities, safe snacks, safe foods, foods to avoid, cross contamination info, etc. that I compiled for my friends and family, if you want it.

Happy, healthy New Year!

Cheers,

IH

red island Newbie

I don't usually enjoy New Years Eve - I've always found it depressing to see another year gone by but this year I found myself full of hope and anticipation for what 2012 will bring. I am 4 months into my diagnosis and things are finally clicking for me. So don't get discouraged, I found I had alot of ups and downs early on but now I see glimmers of my old self, the self thats been gone for years and that gives me great joy.

hspichke Apprentice

I also just found out last week that my celiac panel was all positive and now am waiting on a biopsy. I have been sick for years so I totally understand how you feel about ridding yourself of the horrible pain even though you may want to cheat. I have been researching quite a bit, but so far have not started a gluten free diet.

Archived

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

  • 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 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    2. - Wheatwacked replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      8

      Related issues

    3. - NanceK replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    4. - Wheatwacked replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      4

      Feel like I’m starting over

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Kirita's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      Recovery from gluten challenge


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,291
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    DottieLyn
    Newest Member
    DottieLyn
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped.  It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition.  Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here.  Malnutrition can cause SIBO, and SIBO can worsen malnutrition. Another possibility is side effects from any medication that are taking.  I was on Metformin 3 months before it turned me into a zombi.  I had crippling side effects from most of the BP meds tried on me, and Losartan has many of the side effects on me from my pre gluten free days. Because you have been gluten free, you can test and talk until you are blue in the face but all of your tests will be negative.  Without gluten, you will not create the antigen against gluten, no antigens to gluten, so no small intestine damage from the antigens.  You will need to do a gluten challange to test positive if you need an official diagnosis, and even then, no guaranty: 10 g of gluten per day for 6 weeks! Then a full panel of Celiac tests and biopsy. At a minimum consider vitamin D, Liquid Iodine (unless you have dermatitis herpetiformis and iodine exasperates the rash), and Liquid Geritol. Push for vitamin D testing and a consult with a nutritionist experienced with Celiack Disease.  Most blood tests don't indicate nutritional deficiencies.  Your thyroid tests can be perfect, yet not indicate iodine deficiency for example.  Thiamine   test fine, but not pick up on beriberi.  Vegans are often B12 deficient because meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are the primary souces of B12. Here is what I take daily.  10,000 IU vitamin D3 750 mg g a b a [   ] 200 mg CoQ10 [   ] 100 mg DHEA [   ] 250 mg thiamine B1 [   ] 100 mg of B2 [   ] 500 mg B5 pantothenic acid [   ] 100 mg B6 [   ] 1000 micrograms B12 n [   ] 500 mg vitamin c [   ] 500 mg taurine [   ] 200 mg selenium   
    • NanceK
      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well.  I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given this info before taking more of it. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
    • Scott Adams
      Hopefully the food she eats away from home, especially at school, is 100% gluten-free. If you haven't checked in with the school directly about this, it might be worth a planned visit with their staff to make sure her food is safe.
×
×
  • 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.