Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[Jean-Luc]

Picard-What kind of dr. are you going to ? I am sorry if I missed that -I think they are playing "Jack up the bill and run as many tests as possible" with you. If you have damaged villi, shouldn't that be a clear indication of celiac and shouldn't you be gluten free regardless? Maybe I am missing a huge chunk of info here (with the brain fog I have been battling, it would not be a big surprise) Is there another intolerance that causes the same blunting of villi as celiac?

Oh my! I go away for a weekend and bam 20 pages. I'll try to catchup.

Ok, I am seeing a GI. He is concerned but careful. He completely understands the implications on insurance if the dx is celiac disease.

Evie and all:

So, my hx. I had sharp pain in my upper abdominal area in Dec. I went to see my Primary Care and he referred me because he thought I had ulcers. (I will let the cat out of the bag - I am lawyer). I have a hx of loose stools, bloating and mirganes. All of it was chalked up to being an ex-navy diver.

GI thought the same and did an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Found nothing! He did take biopsies of small intestine. No damage at the time but a stain indicative of sprue. But he did take a family hx. My mom passed away due to lupus and fibromyalga (ms?) complications. Grandparents had diabetes and rheumatod arthritis.

So, I went gluten free. Blood work negative. I was told to go back on a normal diet for 3-4 months which I did. Second, endoscopy - damage to villi, stain for sprue -- negative. Blood work negative.

What else can cause the damage -- well tropical sprue is one - this version is similar but not caused by wheat, it is caused by exposure to a baterial infection. Not sure of others yet - still researching.

EDIT - On a side note, is Rachel back on the board?

I should have read all the pages first.

Oh another symtom -- brain fog, concentration issues sometimes

[jerseyangel]

Hey--Was that Rachel's boss?? Cool!

As usual, I go to bed, and everyone comes back on!

Mango--Still helping me from "down under" I am very sensitve to tapioca! The chips that I saw in the store were only potatoes, olive oil and salt. I wonder if they are contaminated with tapioca? Sorry you are glutened or processed, but either way, I hope you feel better soon. Love to see you popping in!

Are you feeling better this morning, Vincent? I must say that I was quite impressed yesterday--you were performing your duties as R'ville Computer Tech, helping Cissie (and me) with her computer plug questions. Yup, "good googly moogly" was coined by our own Celia--my very funny and articulate twin!

Rinne--I was wondering if you were Rhonda Would you prefer I call you Rhonda? The vitamins--it's hard for me to find a vitamin that agrees with me. I thought the Centrum did, but after I stopped taking it, I realized it didn't. It's hard to pinpoint what does what sometimes! I tried Freeda--made me sick the first day! I'm forgetting about vitamins for now.

Lisa--For what it's worth, I would not see this man. He is probably a perfectly decent guy, but I know from experience that you will probably have to deal with more than you barganed for. Men can "carry a torch" for a long time. It is flattering, and the memories of being young, and with someone new and exciting and all that goes with it are wonderful. I would leave it as a beautiful memory--and away from the life that you've built with your husband and family.

Robbin--It is amazing to me, too that you can remember who said what after 3 or 4 pages of posts! I may have to start taking notes I know I forget to address people--heck, I went to write a check after having my hair cut and stared at the checkbook, forgetting for a moment what I was supposed to do with it. I seriously think that some of my brain fog is permanent--just worsens with gluten.

Judy--Susan did get to go climbing yesterday. Her dingo dogs were very happy, stinky and exhausted! When I want to read the last few pages of posts again, I go to the page boxes at the bottom of the screen and click on the previous page number. That way, you can go page by page.

Mornin' to everyone in R'ville!

[Daxin]

OKAY this is just funny, I know that I am not one to talk about typo's/spelling, when you call your self a language teacher, then misspell DIET thats pretty funny!

It said language teacher...not english teacher. I live and die by the little red line in word processors. Thanks Vincent. That's been there since I changed my signature and nobody ever said anything. LOL

[Camille'sBigSister]

Cissy, since our hubbies are in a time warp and fashion-impaired, we must be allowed to have a hunky Aussie man as an escort to all Rachelville functions. They must be youngish, good looking, well dressed, well-read, and funny. They are purely an accessory, like a bracelet or painting, to our lovely outfits and perfectly clean homes (thanks to the cleaning brownies, fairies, and scrubbing sprites) Hey, one can dream, can't one?

Girl, that is the best idea I've heard in 50 years!!!

Cissie

[tiredofdoctors]

Hi everyone!!!!!

I'm back in Rachelville!!! WOOHOO

My mom's computer had some technical difficulties the past couple days. I couldnt get online.

I had withdrawl and missed all my Rachelville buddies. I was coming home from work on my lunch break and it was soooo boring not being able to go to Rachelville. I actually took SHORT lunches for a change. The computer is still not fixed but at least I'm online.

Do you guys have ANY idea how hard it is to read 8 pages of posts when the only thing you can think about is "Please God, don't let anything have happened to Rachel"??????? I'm trying to read the posts, trying to be light-hearted, and at the same time, I can't breathe because my chest was so tight from worrying . . . I should have gone to the LAST posts first, so I could be relieved, then the earlier ones, and I could ENJOY them . . . now I have to read the entire 15 pages again. Sheesh.

Back to the "want to do something good . . . . " I am NOT turning this into a religious thread -- I know I would be pelted with goose poop from the geese in another town who actually poop. HOWEVER -- one day, when I was going to work (to the place that I HATED -- they were unethical, illegal, it was horrible), a man was in a purple mini-truck, and he pulled out onto a road in our neighborhood that is SO busy -- it's amazing that he could have gotten out on the road in rush-hour. I noticed something on top of his roof, and it slid off onto the road. I couldn't take it . . . it could have been something important, and it was going to get ruined. So I stop my car in the traffic, put on my flashers . . . everyone is honking, etc.!! I grab it -- it's his dayplanner. I drove a convertible, and I happened to have my top (of the car, people) down. I see him ahead of me, and I'm thinking, please God, make him have to stop at that stop light . . . and he did -- but it changed before I could get there . . . but then, he had to stop because the person in front of him was going to turn left -- and was having an AWFUL time with traffic!! I pull along side him, I'm honking my horn as much as I can, and I'm waving the dayplanner in the air. I point to him, wave it again, honk . . . he gets in front of me, points to this apartment complex to turn into the lot. I got out of the car with the planner and said, "this was on your roof and it fell off" -- without thinking, this man PICKS ME UP, SWINGS ME AROUND IN A CIRCLE, saying "God bless you. Oh, God bless you. This is my lifeline. I would have had to spend DAYS just to get this information back . . . if I could. Oh, may God bless you. You are an angel, I know. . ." I felt so GOOD that I could help him . . . I got back in my car and I said out loud, "Please God, give me something in my life that I can feel this GOOD every day . . . that I can help at least one person EVERY DAY that I could feel that I have done something good for someone . . . " It was not so long after that -that I got to open my clinic . . . and I can't tell you the number of people -- homeless people, abused kids, whatever, that I treated "pro-bono" because I knew that God let me have that clinic so that I could have that feeling . . . I'll find something else -- something will be given to me that I can have that feeling again. I know it will happen for those of you who want that, too. GOOOOOOD MORNING RACHELVILLE . . . . BOY HAVE I MISSED YOU GUYS!!!!!!! BRIDALVILLE IS OVER AND I'M BACK AND I'M STAYIN'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheDave]

Rachel's boss I presume!???

Welcome!

Thanks a lot! I'm just Rachel's friend, not her Boss though....I don't think she has a Boss, kind of her own Boss; hence, President.

Hey--Was that Rachel's boss?? Cool!

Hi....but no, just a freind

So I see everyone has a job here...what should I be? Has anyone volunteered for Village Idiot yet?

-Dave

[Green12]

Wow 300 pages, and yet we still have not had one balloon drop....

Hi Mango, sorry you are not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon!

Rhonda=rinne? I had no idea I thought Celia was just talking to her imaginary friend again!

Ok...I need some advice if anyone out there knows. There is a goodpossibility in the next 6 months or so that I wll be sent to Greenland for a year!! This is part of my Military Air Traffic thing, but I am not sure how the American Forces deal with celiacs. I know here, arrangements can be made (with difficulty) even for our guys in Afghanistan, but Greenland is so much more remote. After a year up there, I will be sent to Colorado Springs (YEAH!! ) The other lousy part about Greenland is I have to leave my wife and kids HERE for the whole time. I will get to come home twice while I ma away, but that is still going to suck.

Any thoughts?

Ryan, I don't know about how the military deals with celiacs. The idea of Greenland being "remote" worries me, it might just be all standard issue rations- but who am I and what do I know? I can tell you Colorado Springs has its very own gluten-free bakery called Outside the Breadbox, and I believe there is a Vitamin Cottage, my favorite healthfood store, small locally owned that has lots of gluten-free things to choose from.

Welcome back Lynne!

Welcome Isonic!

Welcome Rachel's friend Dave!

Rachelville Vocablulary Update:

fun new words=3

1. Relevation

2. Spinach/Spinached/Spinaching

3. Good Googly Moogly

[Green12]

Mommagoose, I can definitely identify with you and the feeling of a lost past. I would be so tempted to see him again, but as Vincent said, men do not think the same way and you need to really judge carefully what his intentions/expectations of the meeting are. One scenario I thought might be a sad one, though, perhaps his health is not good or something like that. I hope not, but if that would be the case, I would want to go see him.

Robbin, you bring up a good point about his health. Or maybe he is trying to resolve something in his past with you Lisa?

I also wanted to add that sometimes women carry a torch for a long time. I know that one of my mom's hs friends never fell out of love with her first boyfriend and later in life when they both were divorced they tried to pick it up again, he went another direction and she was devestated. She married again but still is in love with the guy, always was always will be.

[Guest Robbin]

Good morning R'villians.

Ryan--GREENLAND!!Wow. I have heard/read a few interesting facts about Greenland. One, that everyone has probably heard before, is that even though it is called Greenland, it is more like Ice-Land, and that Iceland is more green. Maybe that is a rumor, lol . I also remember seeing many moons ago on some scienc-y program (always watch those type things) that there are a lot of genetic-type illnesses in Greenland because of the isolation and I bet celiac is more recognized than we might think (this is a guess from a brain-fogged nut, so take it with a grain of salt, ) I also recall that Greenland is a major airstop and very busy with air-traffic, but I am sure you already am aware of THAT one!! Ok, all Greenland knowledge -drained. I would so hate to have you away from your family for that long, though. Any chance on them going with you?

Vincent, thanks too btw. We had serious lightning last night and I implemented all your suggestions. You may have saved many a computer's life with your advice. Once again, our hero .

Hey, The Dave-Are you The Boss? Well, sir, on HERE, Rachel is our President and Resident Scientist!!! Welcome Come and visit anytime. You can help us find Rachel when we lose her- .

Lynne, So glad the wedding went well. What a relief, huh?

Cissie-Such a nice dream... Decorative men, clean house.....

I must get to work and get this messy house clean and wash some clothes to make reality a little better lol.

btw-Patti, Judy, Meredith, Rhonda---Good morning sweet friends! Check back much later!!

Susan and Celia--Hope you have a good day and can visit later too!

Edit--took too long typing and see you are not her boss! Tavi is our town bum, but you could be Idiot, lol.

Julie, Hi! I agree with you-the more I think about it, the more I suspect this guy (mommagoose's old flame) may be carrying a torch, esp. in light of the fact that he never married.

Donna and Andrea-can't forget you two. I bet you are tired today Andrea. Donna, how about some earrings to go with those bracelets?!

[penguin]

Has anyone volunteered for Village Idiot yet?

-Dave

Looks like you have! I'm not on the interviewing committee though, so I don't know the requirements

Welcome Rachel's friend-but-not-boss, Dave!!

[Guest Robbin]

Picard, the tropical sprue you are speaking of -is this what is common in developing countries? Does it ever heal and resolve? I was wondering if you have had the gene test - It sounds so familiar with the family history. Many of the auto-immune illnesses have common genes. Sorry I sounded so negative/skeptical regarding your dr., I am extremely wary of them sometimes. I am glad you have a good one. Take care.

NOW, I really have to get back to work-I gab waaaay too much sometimes.

[Green12]

I drove a convertible, and I happened to have my top (of the car, people) down.

Lynne, great story!!

[tiredofdoctors]

Okay, haven't read all the posts (come on guys, I've been through a traumatic experience, here!), but I'm gathering that Mommagoose has a past love interest that wants to see her? Hmmm.... I have kept in touch with the first boy I ever kissed, my first boyfriend ever, and we still see each other once a year to have lunch. He has met my husband, I know his wife, and the reason we have lunch is to catch up on each other's lives. I dated him off and on until I married my first husband ( ) -- I always feel that when I say my first husband, it sounds as though I've been married 15 times -- only two. Anyway, we both do have a "love" that is there, but is so much different than when we were younger. We always laugh about the "what if", and say that we would have driven each other CRAZY!!

I still tell him that I think he's wonderful, and when we met for lunch after I got married, he said, "So tell me about the luckiest man on earth. Does he treat you well?" We will ALWAYS have that bond . . . we have too much history NOT to have it. But, we're adults, we know that we had NO BUSINESS spending our lives together, and we're really happy with our lives. It's just a nice addition to have him still there. We go to the Derby with him and his wife, my DH Dave thinks he's great --probably because he thinks Dave's wife is great, and thinks Dave treats her like a queen! (had to add the third person in there . . . made for a good finish!!)

I think sometimes you can separate that. If he's single and fishing, though . . . . I'd be careful . . . .

[rinne]

Morning everyone. Patti, I'll answer to either. I must admit I like Rinne, sort of a self-nickname and I always wanted one, that is one that my brothers didn't give to me.

Rhonda=rinne? I had no idea I thought Celia was just talking to her imaginary friend again!

Lynne that is a wonderful story but more than that it is a wonderful way to live a life.

[VydorScope]

Great story about that day planner!

[jerseyangel]

Yes, the day-planner story was great! As was the thread about the wedding. Lynne--writing that post must have exhausted you *almost* as much as the event, itself So happy that the day was wonderful and that everyone had a good time. Gotta love families--

Rinne it is, then!

Ryan, How do your wife and kids feel about you being gone for a year? Years ago when my kids were in elem. school, my husband was transferred to Charlotte NC--we lived outside Atlanta at the time. Our house took almost a year to sell, and since the boys were in school, he lived in an apartment there, and the boys and I lived at the house. He, at least could come home every other weekend or so. Still, it was tough on the boys. We got through it, with no lasting effects, and lots of phone calls I wish you luck with your decision

[DingoGirl]

Who you rollin' your eyes at woman?

OH MY GOSH is this Rachel's boss....The Dave.....

I could die laughing....

premature post...reaidng on now..............

OKAY this is just funny, I know that I am not one to talk about typo's/spelling, but when you call your self a language teacher, then misspell DIET thats pretty funny!

Ryan - Greenland for a whole year - - - away from wife and kids....is there any other choice? nuttin' to go in Greenland except hike, I'm pretty sure... but what do I know......

feeling like utter spinach today - - have a headache that could kill a small farm animal.......

JUDY!! you could have just pm'd me instead of go to all that trouble! we never like to go back in R-ville....very scary..........The dingos and I had a short hike into a beautiful semi-alpine lake, and we're fine!!!

[tiredofdoctors]

That wedding post took FOREVER. I kept typing wrong -- the apraxia has kicked in big time -- and I was getting really frustrated at the end. You guys said DETAILS . . . so my answer is, CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!!!! Just kidding . . . it was great reliving the experiences. Didn't even care about what Ash was doing . . . except for the cake cutting, etc. and I would stop and ask her -- are you having fun -- remember, you're supposed to have fun here!!!, when she would start looking stressed. Otherwise, I was a wheelchair-dancin' fool!!!

As far as the day-planner . . . that was a life-altering experience. Seriously. I know that happened for a reason . . . nothing is random . . . and it was a truly beautiful experience. What more can I say???

[DingoGirl]

So I see everyone has a job here...what should I be? Has anyone volunteered for Village Idiot yet?

-Dave

okay this just STOPPED me in my tracks and gave a snorting guffaw.....VILLAGE IDIOT ha ha ha ha

YOu'll fit in just fine, Dave, and yes, I"m sure the job is yours.............

Rolling on floor laughing my ARSE off.........................

fun new words=3

1. Relevation

2. Spinach/Spinached/Spinaching

3. Good Googly Moogly

don't forget:

scientifness

and

wordage

I think most of these are from Celiac............ edit - oops I mean Celia or Cecile as we like to call her!

[AndreaB]

Ryan,

That's a tough call. I know the military does things like that alot. I wouldn't want my husband to be gone that long if it could be helped. Especially with the challenges with your son. I also echo Patti I think, how does your wife feel about it?

Picard,

Have you thought of going through the expense of enterolab. It costs $369 for the whole gluten panel which includes the gene test. Much more sensitive than blood tests and more reliable than biopsies. Open Original Shared Link

Lynne,

I loved the day planner story too. Glad the wedding went well....from your other post.

Susan,

Major headache....bummer. I always used ice packs for the worse ones I used to get.

Robbin,

I go to bed later than I should but I get up with the baby (between 7:30-8:00). The other two are usually up between 7:00 and 7:30

Rinne,

I like that name.

okay this just STOPPED me in my tracks and gave a snorting guffaw.....VILLAGE IDIOT ha ha ha ha

YOu'll fit in just fine, Dave, and yes, I"m sure the job is yours.............

Rolling on floor laughing my ARSE off.........................

don't forget:

scientifness

and

wordage

I think most of these are from Celiac............

I thought it was scientificness.

[Guest BERNESES]

Good day Rachelvillians- Yes, I have accepted my post at (is it UCCF?What do it stand for?) of English professor with full instant tenure (can't get that anywhere else!!!!!!!) but my stipulation is that I get to run the Rachelville Mountain Activities Center where I bring IN the climbing guides, ski instructors, ski patrol who are all single, handsome gluten-free men..... see that's how we get more men in here!).

I LOVE the idea of the Altoid trophy!!!! I think it should be a statue of Candian karen holding a tin of Altoids

My hubby wants to come live with us too but he had a request. You guys would like him- he could be part of the town band or he could be the town computer geek. He's pretty much gluten-free except when he eats out. He actually had a special request though. If there could be a KFC outside the city limits. I said "NO WAY" but then I though if it had a special decontamination chamber that removed all offending substances from you before you left so you couldn't come back into R-ville and contaminate anyone, MAYBE it wouold be OK. I'll let the town vote. On the KFC.

To everyone who is feeling yucky- I hope you feel better. It's been three weeks for me and i still feel poopy. First it was C diff, then the flagyl and now I don't know what the heck is going on. The big D, headaches, neck aches, chills, nausea. Can't get my butt out of bed before 11 am because I'm so tired and achey. I'm actually getting scared. I'm wondering if it's my thyroid or Lyme's or some dengue fever. Yuck! i'm trying to make the best of it but as I tell my husband I'm F-I-N-E FINE. (which at this point stands for frustrated, impatient, neurotic and emotional). Don't know what to do.

I did have fun yesterday though. I've been MAKING myself do something every day even if I feel crappy because if I sit home doing nothing I just get depressed (I'm on summer break from school). Hubby and I went up to visit friends who are at a beautiful lake about an hour from us so we went up there and just hung out by the lake and swam (the water was so warm- for here anyway where the ocean is freezing!).

But then I wake up at 3 am today crying because I had a horrible night mare and then I wake up at 5 am with D and a headache. Kinda at my wit's end.

Yes- suggestions are greatly appreciated as are hugs, love and anything else you care to send my way. I'm going to drag my butt into the shower and try to wake up (yes- I know it's noon here, but it's a start).

[DingoGirl]

okay. stopped laughing now from The Dave. Looks like a fun friend, rachel, and if you ever go missing again we'll know whom to email.

Ryan - hope my post didn't sound flippant...am just wondering if there's ANY chance family could go. And Robbin - you could be right - a cold, isolated country with - don't remember my history but I'm sure the Vikings invaded centuries ago, meaning strong Scandinavian influence and possibly lots of Celiacs. Who knows......and the American military diet, I thought I read can't work for Celiacs, BUT living in Co. Springs would be a different story, and a wonderful experience. beuatiful city.

LYNNIE - - so good to have you back and will read your long wedding post when I have teh strength!

Picard - an attorney AND a Navy Diver - lots of stress and clearly a very driven personality! Whoever suggested Enterolab had a good idea, I think. Interesting that it could be tropical sprue, but your mother's history sounds indicative of Celiac.

I am so blurry this morning, can't even remember what I wanted to write. Hi to everyone.....welcome back Tavi.

And yes, Rachel is in her Office again (I don't think it's oval in R-ville) and all is well with our little town. I think.

have a great day, dear ones!

I thought it was scientificness.

oops - - you're right - I am really spinached today...

[AndreaB]

So I see everyone has a job here...what should I be? Has anyone volunteered for Village Idiot yet?

-Dave

Welcome Dave.

I have the application that our esteemed president has put together. To be a permanent member of Rachelville, it is only 3 questions.

Are you gluten free?

Do you promise to never infiltrate Rachelville with gluteney foods?

Do you promise to never bring gigantic Auxigro ridden produce into R-Ville?

OK...Thats about it.

If you answered yes to all of the above....the job is yours.

Oh...the purple glittery bats are our friends...so please do not hurt them.

If you anwered no to any of the above.....then you would need to promise to be gluten free while here and shower, brush teeth, and wear a fresh clean set of clothes so as not to make any of us sick. Many of us here are very sensitive.

We would also need a more permanent position than town idiot if you're going to be spending a lot of time with us. Any other job interests, can be based on interests, experience or dreams.

Any questions about the application or the process of getting a job in R-ville, please ask.

[DingoGirl]

Bev - - so nice to see you and sorry you're not feeling well! I am out of ideas but maybe you're right - Lyme or something like that? have you had any tick bites? ugh - I pulled one out of my own back one day in Monterey, hiking at Garapatta all the time - that means tick - they were everywhere. But Lyme is more of an east-coast thing....I do hope you soon find out what's going on.

The KFC outside of town - - I don't see why not as long as we have that de-glutenizing chamber - - and the spouses can take organized day-trips to contaminate themselves, but go through teh chamber upon returning, should not be a problem.

I forgot to mention how impressed I was wtih the scientificness of CEcile's corn posts - good info and scary stuff.

[jerseyangel]

Beverly,

I'm really worried about you. This has gone on far too long. I know you've had lots of tests and are great about going to the doctor--are you eating/drinking/taking anything new? I'm sure that you've gone over everything with a fine tooth comb, just trying to think out loud here.

I think I told you that my husband was dx with Lyme a couple months ago--the bloodwork was neg, but two doctors diagnosed him on the symptoms. (He also had the distinctive rash) One of the 'red flags' was a stiff neck--another one was fatigue. He just wasn't himself--actually a lot like you describe. Have you spoken to your doctor about this possibility? He had to take Doxycycline for 3 weeks--after the first week, he began improving dramaticly.

You need to get better and really enjoy what's left of your summer vacation!!!