Celiac And Stomach Viruses

[rafunk]

Hi everyone.

I was so releived to find this site.!

Has anyone out there discovered that acquiring a stomach and intestinal virus can be devastating?

I am recently diagnosed (mostly self-diagnosed), and have had 2 blood tests returned positive from 2 different labs. But the symptoms and complications are what convinced me. When I saw an article about celiac in a magazine, and noticed that a distended stomach was the main clue, I couldn't believe it.!!! Why hadn't any of the several doctors I had been seeing for several years, even MENTIONED this disease?? I had no idea it even existed!!! I was ANGRY. I had to pursue this myself. Do all the research, request the testing, etc. etc.. Everything that we pay the doctors to do!!! I had been complaining for at least 2 years about the stomach and pain and thousands of symptoms, only to be shuffled around to different specialists and undergoing lots of useless testing. I almost feel like they were just buying time, waiting for me to die!!! My stomach is so big I look like I am 12 months pregnant with tripletts!!!! and the rest of my body is normal size. Would that not be a clue to any doctor-in-training who had a brain????

Sorry I got a little carried away there. Anyway, I got a stomach and intestinal virus last week and thought I was going to DIE. Of course, I have LOTS of other physical conditions, too. And I am not gluten free yet, either. I had the colonoscopy and endoscopy both at the same time, but that was before I suggested celiac to the doctor, so she didn't take a biopsy of the SI. Now they want me to do it again. But I think I will just pass and try the diet, because of the pure H E DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS I went thru to have it the first time, (and for days thereafter).

I think I have it so bad though, that lots of damage has been done to my body, from what I read. Does anyone out there have it that bad? Is there even hope?

Sorry again, to carry on so.

Prayers to all

momma

[plantime]

I do not have it bad. Mine was caught early because of a family history of allergies. I also suffered less damage because my family was too poor for bread and pasta all the time when I was young. In February, an intestinal virus (after having influenza at Christmas, I will never again confuse the two!) went through our community. Every one that got it was over it in 24 hours. It took a full week for me. I don't know if it took so long because of Celiac or not. It is something to think about.

[Karina]

Momma,

First I might encourage you to do the endoscopy again. If you had both the endo and colonoscopy at the same time last time, it was most likely the colonoscopy that was what made it so bad. There is no prep for and endoscopy, and they knock you out for it. It is very quick. I have no recollection of mine--it was a breeze. Maybe you had other issues like with the meds or something, but the pain from gas and the horrible prep are really colonoscopy issues not endoscopy ones. Just food for thought. Now about the stomach viruses. I hadn't had one since childhood, and then when my first child was 9 mos. old I got a doozy. Let me tell you I thought I was going to die. I was alone, and it hit suddenly, I was at my sisters house out of town, my family was an hour away at a picnic (I chose to stay home), and I started having explosive stuff come from both ends. I was passing out, and I couldn't even stay on the toilet. My family couldn't get back to me soon enough and told me to call 911. It was CRAZY! Since then I have had several stomach viruses, but none quite as bad as that one. Still, if there is a virus going around I am likely to get it. I don't know, but I find myself more susceptible to colds and stuff too. Do you?