How Are You All Doing On Your Recovery?

[megsybeth]

Hi Everyone,

 

I thought it might be nice to post how we're doing, especially those of us newlyl diagnosed. I haven't posted here much lately because DS and I are both well on our Gluten free way but this board was so great for me when I was first getting tested, diagnosed and dealing with symptoms that I wanted to report back. I think I've had celiac for about thirty years but it was never caught. It was only after my son started showing classic signs that I read about symptoms and realized my canker sores and infertility actually meant something. I tested positive on both blood panel and endoscopy. DS, 4, has had all the classic symptoms like small stature and finally this summer months of HORRIBLE diarrhea. But blood tests were all negative except DGP IGA and endoscopy (more than 8 samples from duodendum) was negative, reviewed by UCSD pathologist and GI and confirmed negative. Still gluten free and I tell people he has celiac's disease so they respect the diet more. Also, he has the same "low risk" DQ2 gene I have. Personally I think in ten years we'll have much better tests so we won't have to mess around with these gluten challenges and other nonsense. Clearly gluten's not for us, so the diagnosis doesn't matter as much.

 

As for me, the first few months were hard in some ways. Lots of pain, lots of D, which I hadn't had before or hadn't noticed. But I was a lot happier and remain so, higher energy, fog lifted. I also had canker sores for most of the first few months but now they seem to be gone. I had another blood test a couple weeks ago and don't recall levels but TTG IGA still high but Endo thinks that's ok . I'm starting to feel what I think is normal, but I'm not sure I would know normal! My big issue, I'm gaining weight. I was never too thin but I could always eat whatever I wanted. I'm still struggling not to do that anymore. Even though the hunger is gone that I had when malnourished, I just want to eat a box of cookies, damnit! Also my "clumsiness", which I guess was gluten brain dammage, is much improved. The other day I ran into a door and my husband asked me if I'd been glutened, he was so surprised to see me clumsy again.

 

My son is doing really well, no more D. Improved appetite. Growing like crazy. I'm not sure about total growth but at one point he grew 1/2 an inch in ten days. Therapists (occupational, he has motor delays), speech and teachers all say his attention is improved and he's talking more at school. He's definitely getting stronger and more muscular. He's also doing so well with the diet. This is a very immature, impulsive child but he's able to talk about what foods have gluten and about how they give him diarrhea. Of course he also makes recommendations to others which are pretty funny. Jane's sick? Oh, maybe she should go to her doctor so she can tell her which foods will make her feel better.

 

I know I'm very lucky, and so many of us here are suffering much worse symptoms and slower recoveries, but for our family, we are so thankful for the gluten free diet. I guess the way I see it is that I'm not unlucky to have "gotten" celiac disease. I'm so lucky to have been given a treatment. I have to cook a little more often than I'd like to. Miss some of those Trader Joes quicky dinners and takeout, but I know something about my body that is so important and I can help my little boy. So I'm very thankful.

 

Best of luck on your recoveries.

-Megan

[mushroom]

Thank you for dropping in and sharing your progress, Megan.  So glad you and your son are both doing well.  The newbies on the board need to hear stories like yours. 

[GottaSki]

This is wonderful news Megan!

 

Thank you for updating your family's progress -- it really is great to hear from folks that are improving

 

PS..took me a bit longer but I am improving each day and am healthier than I was 20 years ago.

[norman516]

How long was it until you started gaining weight and until your son started growing?