Symptoms And Waiting For My Test Back!

[MrsC]

Hi there, not sure where to start...

I am waiting for blood tests back that were drawn yesterday for Celiac Disease. Since my baby was born last year in June these are some of the symptoms that I have been having:

Muscle Pain

Muscle Weakness

Fatigue/Exhaustion

Pins and Needles in Arms and Legs

Burning in Shoulders and Hips

Extreme Joint Pain at Night

Really BAD Rashes that are SOOO ITCHY

Dry Skin

Frequent Bowel Movements every day

Painful Belly Gas

Here is what I HAVE been diagnosed with: Thyroiditis (At first Hyperthyroid, then Hypothyroid. So Now I am on Synthroid everyday.)

I have gotten the run-around from my bloodwork for so many things being negative: Lupus, Lyme Disease, Rhuemetoid Arthritis, Sed Rate, ANA, etc.

I have also been to the Neurologist every month since January and had Brain MRI scans, and a negative EMG study on the arms! I can't take this anymore. My primary doctor and neurologist both are basically stumped.

My sister is an Emergency Medican Technician on the ambulance here and suggested that I see a doctor in the ER that she knows is quite good - he is the one that suggested the tests for Celiac Disease, and also put me on Prednisone to see if it would help with the pain that I am in and clear up any inflammation (that's not working by the way!) Can that alter my blood test? I really hope it doesn't.

My primary care doctor appointment after the ER visit was when she told me to go on gluten free while we wait for the bloodwork. So I started this morning.

Anyway - thanks for reading if you still are - I know this was long....Does this sound like Celiac Disease to you?? Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks.

[MrsC]

I should also add that when I was 6 months pregnant, my father died of a sudden heart attack at 57 - I went into pre-term labor 4 weeks later, and was on bedrest until my son was born via emergency C-section in June.

Could stress have brought out the storm here?

[mouse]

Yes, stress can trigger the storm. So can operations. It sounds like it could be Celiac. I am glad that you found someone who would run the tests on you. Let us know how the diet goes for you. Remember you need your own separate toaster and do not cross contaminate. No letting the husband put his knife in the jar several times while putting something on his bread. The diet is not bad once you get the hang of it.

[nettiebeads]

I should also add that when I was 6 months pregnant, my father died of a sudden heart attack at 57 - I went into pre-term labor 4 weeks later, and was on bedrest until my son was born via emergency C-section in June.

Could stress have brought out the storm here?

Oh yeah - mine showed up after a really really nasty sinus infection. And lots of everyday stress. Anyhow, how are you while gluten-free? Some show improvements almost immediately. You might want to exclude dairy also, for now. If it is celiac, then the villi are damaged and that makes it really hard to digest dairy. You'll be able to reintroduce it in about three months. As Armetta said, watch for cross-contamination. That seems to be the bigger issue than the diet itself in trying to stay healthy. Keep us posted!

Annette

[MrsC]

Thanks for the replies!

I have been on gluten free now for 2 days and I actually feel a slight improvement in my energy. I hope it all gets better from here!

[nettiebeads]

Thanks for the replies!

I have been on gluten free now for 2 days and I actually feel a slight improvement in my energy. I hope it all gets better from here!

Glad to hear that! Don't mean to scare you, but you need to check toiletries (nasty old wheat starch and wheat germ oil and aveno (oats)) run rampant there. Also any otc - I was being healthy, I thought, by taking vitamins. Turned out when I finally read the fine print on the label that they had gluten in them! Sheesh! Don't be surprised if it takes you forever now to do the grocery shopping. All that label reading.

Anyhow, keep up the good work and here's to more improvement!

Annette

[MrsC]

I have been starving between meals since going gluten free on Weds. Is that normal?

[Lister]

yeah its pretty nomal what i had to do is instead of eating 3 meals a day i eat 6 small meals a day, well right now im only eating 2ice a day but thats just because i am not getting hungry, but either eat small meals or snack on lite foods like carrots