Mnicole1981

Thank you so much. I have also been having a lot of MS type symptoms, so there probably is a deficiency issue going on.

I don't think so. I had joint pain, stomach cramping and aching yesterday, and a massive headache and nausea today. I am really starting to suspect a casein problem. Seems every time I eat yogurt, I get hives.

Your symptoms are exactly like mine and I recently got the IBS diagnosis. I too tested negative for Celiac disease. I am afraid to try to add gluten back into my diet. How have you felt since adding it back?

Hi Sara, I'm Melanie. I don't know what to say that may be of comfort, but I definitely feel your pain. Over the weekend, I was out shopping and I got really hungry, so we stopped at the gas station. I bought Cape Cod chips. I unfortunately only had hand sanitizer and although I knew it would not work and that I needed to actually wash my hands, I ate the chips. The next day, I was so sick. Diarrhea, light colored stools, just general sickness. Luckily, I was scheduled off the next day, but I learned a valuable lesson. Always wash your hands prior to eating. I have been so good about that, but I was really, really hungry and we were nowhere near a restroom. I have been constipated for three days now. My stomach was massively bloated and I have been basically forcing food down my throat. I barely want to get out of bed, but I have to be at work. I have been gluten-free for a little over two months now, and I do feel like my energy is there, but then, as you said, you hit a roadblock and you feel like you have to start all over again. I am not diagnosed, unfortunately. The doctor officially claimed I have "IBS" today, so I will go ahead and take that as my Celiac diagnosis.

I don't know whether we'll ever have "normal" days, but we'll have NEW normal days once things get back on track.

^ Thank you for replying to me. Interestingly enough, my Father has the same problems, will culminated in a diagnosis of.....nothing. It's nothing, the doctors say. Not IBS, not Chrohn's, just a "bad stomach". He ended up going to a wholistic doctor that put him on a custom pro-biotic diet and he feels a lot better. This pro-biotic diet consists of drinking almond milk instead of regular milk, and host of other things which sound suspiciously like what like one of my friends (who has celiac disease) eats.

But anyways, are you suggesting that I don't bring this up point blank with my doctor? I think I would like to be tested, but I feel stupid asking, as again, my only proof is how I feel, and a few discussions with my celiac disease friend.

I would definitely ask the doctor to test you. There needs to be more awareness about this disease in the African-American community. If you test positive, it may influence someone in your family dealing with the same issues to get tested.