Coming To Terms

[Chase From ATL]

Hello everyone. I'm Chase From Atlanta and I have come to the realization that I may be a Celiac sufferer.

It all really started in 2002 when I was living in Sandy Springs, GA. I had to make several trips to the bathroom which made me very late for work on numerous occasions. I hadn't been eating that much since my income was paying the bills and my then-fiancee was ill with ovarian cysts. Once I lost the job at the hospital, I went to work for various security companies both as a courtesy officer and an armed guard. In 2003-2004 my symptoms had gotten worse.

I figured it was lactose intolerance so I cut out ALL dairy products. It gave me only limited relief. Since that time, I was "bandaging a bullet wound" by readjusting my schedule in order to cope with my toilet trouble. It's 3 BM within two hours before I can go ANYWHERE. Due to this, I get around 5 hours of sleep on work nights. Some places in ATL make it dang near impossible to use a restroom unless you are a paying customer.

Still not accepting the fact that it may be gluten, I kept eating my favorite foods: fried chicken, burgers, fried shrimp and my Kryptonite: Glazed Honey Buns! My appetite can be ridiculous! I crave sugar, bread, fried foods and starch. I've had panic attacks recently including this irritating sensation known as globus, where it feels as though I have a knot jammed in my throat!

Other symptoms I have include brain fog, lack of concentration, mood swings, low energy, insomnia, muscle cramps, depression, bloating, and oily stools. Due to this condition, along with the chronic diarrhea, it has become VERY difficult for me to even CONSIDER a career in law enforcement! I have also dropped out of college; since it's difficult to stay in class without having to find the latrine or stay awake. I also remember being diagnosed with asthma back when I was 14.

In August 2012, my symptoms have worsened to the point I resigned from my last security job. Since then, I've been anxious, depressed, irritable, and sleepless. The elephant in the room is that since I'm no longer employed, how am I going to be able to afford treatment? I'm going to miss grabbing a pizza or a juicy burger, but lurking around here I found out that people have nearly lost their lives from gluten/celiac contamination, and there ain't a single piece of food worth dying for!

Sorry for the novel, but I need advice. How do I go about getting tested? Life is worth living and I wanna live. Thanks for reading.

-- Chase

[Skysmom03]

Find a good doctor ( not necessarily someone you would just go too on the dour if the moment for the flu)!!! Tell him/her your concerns and symptoms and ask for a full celiac panel. Go from there. You are ahead of the game with the realization that food may be making you sick! I believe once you can accept that the rest will be a piece of cake. It will be difficult at first ( you are learning how to read labels doing research) but after a month or so it will be so much easier. Start out first with food you know have no gluten.... Salads, meats, rice, orators, fruits .... Ease yourself into products that are labeled'gluten free'.

[1desperateladysaved]

. You have already come through alot. Perhaps cutting gluten will bring relief to you. Probably the cheapest test is going gluten free, but then blood tests could false negative on you. Hopefully, you can find a doctor to help. I want for you to be able to get back to work and soon. It is hard to feel not depressed and worthwhile without work. PLease keep us up to date.

Diana

[Chase From ATL]

Find a good doctor ( not necessarily someone you would just go too on the dour if the moment for the flu)!!! Tell him/her your concerns and symptoms and ask for a full celiac panel. Go from there. You are ahead of the game with the realization that food may be making you sick! I believe once you can accept that the rest will be a piece of cake. It will be difficult at first ( you are learning how to read labels doing research) but after a month or so it will be so much easier. Start out first with food you know have no gluten.... Salads, meats, rice, orators, fruits .... Ease yourself into products that are labeled'gluten free'.

So how do I do that without money?

[mushroom]

So how do I do that without money?

Aye, there's the rub! Do you have a community clinic or some such thing that provides services on a sliding scale?

[Skysmom03]

You can always try to call around about your situation and find out who would be willing to look into your situation and do the testing. Since you have no insurance, do you not qualify for any aid from the state? The only other option would be for you to go gluten free until you get a job again then reglutenize yourself and get tested.

You have to take care of yourself mentally though do you can get your life back on track. Once you do that, everything will work itself out! If you can accept that this may be what you have, you can work from there and things will improve, but you have to stick with it. Without an official diagnosis, I personally would have a harder time sticking to it since no one has actually told me I have it. You have to make the decision from the beginning that you aren't going to do that until you can get tested. It should be easier if you see improvements with the diet....... Oh and I would start with gluten first.... If you start getting rid of soy and diary and gluten all st once. You won't know what is actually doing the trick!

[Chase From ATL]

Aye, there's the rub! Do you have a community clinic or some such thing that provides services on a sliding scale?

My old job, but the service there is VERY slow and there is still animosity between me and other workers that led to my illegal termination.