Scarlet Fever

[skurtz]

How many people have had scarlet fever?

[sillymomx3]

My 7 year old, who has celiac, had it about a month ago. One minute he was fine, the next minute one very sick little boy.

Christi

[skurtz]

Im guessing you knew he was celiac before the scarlet fever? So is ist true that sickness & stress can trigger the outcome of celiac? Was your son colicky when he was a baby?

[jaten]

How many people have had scarlet fever?

I had a severe case of Scarlet Fever as a young child in the mid-60's. GI problems most of my life. Celiac dx Dec. '05. Not sure there would be a correlation, but guess anything is possible.

[ianm]

I had it when I was 3 or 4.

[jenvan]

I had it when I was a baby.

[sillymomx3]

Im guessing you knew he was celiac before the scarlet fever? So is ist true that sickness & stress can trigger the outcome of celiac? Was your son colicky when he was a baby?

Yes, I knew. He was dx in Nov. of 04. He was very colicky as a baby! He had RSV at 13 months which is a real health set back for any baby. Then he was hospitalized again at 18 months and at about 2 1/2. He's just never been much at fighting infection. He also has asthma and chronic ear trouble (including, ear infections and tumors). He started in with tummy aches and diarrhea not long after he had surgery to make a new ear drum, his had been completely destroyed from all the infections. It was a pretty traumatic surgery for a four year old. He has had a total of 5 surgeries.

I had health woes all my life but mine "triggered" after having my youngest child. I had an emergency c-section and a week later was back in the hospital with a septic infection. Then we knew something might be going on with the baby which was confirmed at his 2 month check up. So surgery, illness and stress, not sure which was my breaking point. I lost 17 pounds in 7 months & lived in fear of being too far from a bathroom. I didn't go to the Dr. right away because I thought it was nerves & didn't want to take meds (nursing). When I finally did go I remember telling the Dr. "even toast makes me sick" HA HA! My dx was in Oct. of 04. Both my other children have the genetic markers.

[Neicee]

How many people have had scarlet fever?

I had scarlet fever when I was 6 years old. I am now 38 years old and have lupus, relapsing polychondritis and was DX with celiac disease in feb of 2006. I am finding it hard to do this diet. I do really well most of the day and then I sneak a fig newton or a cookie and that means I ruined my whole good part of the day. How did you get your mind set to this new change of diet?

Neicee

[kristing]

I had scarlet fever when I was 6 years old. I am now 38 years old and have lupus, relapsing polychondritis and was DX with celiac disease in feb of 2006. I am finding it hard to do this diet. I do really well most of the day and then I sneak a fig newton or a cookie and that means I ruined my whole good part of the day. How did you get your mind set to this new change of diet?

Neicee

go NOW and buy "The Gluten-Free Bible" by Jax Peters Lowell. you'll find lots of enouragement, tips, etc. i don't know where i'd be without this book.

i know it's hard to stick to this diet, but you need to know that it's not a choice. you already have serious illnesses, why would you want to hurt your health now? you WILL NOT HEAL if you keep cheating. even a little bit here and there will hurt you. you said it yourself, it ruins your day. think about that the next time you want something as small as a fig newton. does it mean that much to you? it doesn't to me. that's how i got my mind set to a huge lifestyle change. like i said, i know it's hard, but unless you want serious complications, you can do this. besides, there are lots of gluten-free products out there that are just as good if not better than the real thing. checked out your local health food store or organic section of your grocery store? you'll be surprised at what you find. this is a disease that takes a lot of self-education and restraint. but like i said, YOU CAN DO THIS!

[Guest jhmom]

I am finding it hard to do this diet. I do really well most of the day and then I sneak a fig newton or a cookie and that means I ruined my whole good part of the day. How did you get your mind set to this new change of diet?

Hi Neicee,

It wasn't hard for me to change my eating habits after being dx with Celiac because I didn't want to get cancer, be chained to the toliet or be in pain for the rest of my life. After 3 days of being gluten-free the abdominal pain I had every single day for over a year, WAS GONE! I knew this HAD to be done if I wanted to have a productive life. Now I am not saying that certain foods don't tempt me because they do but I am SO scared of what would happen that I don't cheat AT ALL! I also have a 10 year old daughter that has Celiac and I don't want her to think "cheating" is ok, because it's not. You increase your chances of possibly getting cancer and other autoimmune diseases.

I also have Lupus and only wished there was a diet I could abide by that would make my symptoms disappear! Don't get me wrong Celiac is terrible but it is manageable with just a change in diet, no pills, no shots, NO ER visits, no regular visits to the doctor, etc.

There are a lot gluten-free foods that are out there to replace donuts, cookies, brownies, etc all you have to do it look for them. If you can't find them in the stores you may be able to buy them online. There are only certain brands that I like and they are "the gluten free pantry, Mi-Del, Enviro-kids, Kinnikinnick, Mrs. Leapers, etc

I don't mean to sound harsh, I do wish you luck and hope you find some "gluten-free sweets" to replace the poisonious ones you are eating.

Take care

[tiredofdoctors]

I think I had scarlet fever when I was a really little kid. . . .

I agree with Stacie -- there are a LOT of good gluten-free treats out there! My husband and I like to go on shopping expeditions to see what we can find. He is much better than me at finding the good stuff! Once you get used to that kind of shopping (and that kind of price), gluten-free is pretty easy. Also, when the MD says go gluten-free or die, you pretty much decide that gluten-free sounds MUCH better!!!!

I also have additional autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto's -- but had my thyroid removed because of it -- Sjogren's, Psoriatic Arthritis) -- if a diet changed those, I'd do that, too! I read a thread ovamed.com -- they're using lab harvested, then cleaned and sterilized 10x pig whipworm eggs to treat celiac - and evidently having some success. Now they're starting it for gluten ataxia - and possible other autoimmune diseases -- I told my sister that if taking pig whipworm eggs (you don't get the worms) would get rid of all this, I'd take those suckers!

[jenvan]

go NOW and buy "The Gluten-Free Bible" by Jax Peters Lowell. you'll find lots of enouragement, tips, etc. i don't know where i'd be without this book.

Neicee-

Be careful! Eating even a minute amount gluten occasionally will keep you from healing and keep your rate of cancers, autoimmune diseases and premature death at a very high level. The only way to do the gluten-free diet as a Celiac is zero gluten. Get all the gluten out of your house, out of your desk as work, wherever it may lurk. And as jhmom mentioned, finding some good gluten-free treats can help you make the transition. Have you found any yet? I'm sure we could name a bunch for you.

Also, I want to challenge the recommendation on the Gluten-Free Bible. There has been much discussion around here on the book and the general conscensus with most is that the book can give out incorrect information, and may not be the best book for beginners. IMO, the best book on lifestyle, support, gluten-free diet etc. is Wheat Free Worry Free by Danna Korn. Very good...

[tiredofdoctors]

I agree with Jen. I bought the Gluten-Free Bible, and I have found numerous errors throughout. I'm wondering if it is because it hasn't been revised, and new information has been coming down the pike through research much more than it was when the book was originally published. Wouldn't recommend it for someone new at this stuff, either. I learned (the hard way) most of what I know NOW about gluten-free lifestyle and things to be cautious about, etc., from this site (Particularly, Jen, Karen, Claire, Shirley, Beverly . . . . . ) I think I have asked more rediculous questions that they have answered, but they have done it with kindness, empathy and patience!

[Awol cast iron stomach]

Old thread , but scarletina as a kid.  Check.