Need Assistance For My Daughter

[karenmahoney]

Hi, My 17 year old daughter was just diagnosed with celiac disease and hypoglycemia. She is also a vegetarian and I could use some help in sorting out some of the essential do's and don'ts, but primarily, I am wondering if anyone knows how long it will take to make her feel better. She has been so fatigued for such a long time, has no energy, a lot of weakness, muscle and bone pain and bloating and pain in her right side of the abdoman. She also has suffered with diarrhea and kindof greasy stools...she can deal with most of this right now, but the extreme fatigue has me concerned...she sleeps so much and is finding it hard to work at her job. I'd appreciate any advice or help, thanks so much.

Karen

[scorpionco]

As far as the recovery goes, I started to feel some improvement after 2-3 weeks on the diet, but I didn't really feel back to 100% until after 3 months or so. It varies quite a bit person-to-person how long the recovery period takes, the only thing I will tell you is to MAKE SURE SHE STAYS ON THE DIET, now matter how she may feel initially. Stick with it, be really careful about being completely gluten free, and be patient.

Good luck!

Chris

[lorka150]

does she take any vitamins?

[karenmahoney]

As far as the recovery goes, I started to feel some improvement after 2-3 weeks on the diet, but I didn't really feel back to 100% until after 3 months or so. It varies quite a bit person-to-person how long the recovery period takes, the only thing I will tell you is to MAKE SURE SHE STAYS ON THE DIET, now matter how she may feel initially. Stick with it, be really careful about being completely gluten free, and be patient.

Good luck!

Chris

THank you, that gives me a bit of a ballpark idea. It has been such an adjustment already, especially with reading all the labels. For example, she drinks silk soymilk and it is fine, but the little boxes of the same thing are not fine--they have gluten in them, go figure! things like that are making me take a long time at the grocery store!

does she take any vitamins?

yes, she takes a multi vitamin with calcium and iron, b-100's and acidophilis

[lorka150]

try getting in a calcium and vitamin d - i would highly recommend it. i noticed a difference once i started that.

[Daxin]

I'm 6 weeks into receovery, and you can tell her it gets better every day. I have "glutened" myself by accident twice, but it's not the end of the world.

I am glad you are doing your research though. Support from family and friends can be very important in teh beginning.

It's not the end of theo wold, and IMHO, a vegitarian would have an easier time with celiac because they already eat a lot of whole foods and legumes etc, so there should already be a low risk of cross contamination.

It does get easier with time. And tell her, like my dw has to tell me from time to time that she's not alone!

[karenmahoney]

Thank you so much. She accidently glutened herself today. She works at Subway and was starving and didn't bring enough protein with her (because she is also hypoglycemic) so she ate one of their veggie patties. She coulnd't find the ingredient listing but ate one because the ones we have at home are safe...believe it or not, I found the ingredient listing online and sure enough, wheat gluten was about half way down. I have her drinking a ton of water right now--I hope she will be okay. SHe gets home tonight around 9, so hoepfully she won't have too much trouble.

okay, I will pick some of that up as well--thank you!

[eKatherine]

Do you desperately need the cash she's getting from that job? I think she should stay home, regain her strength, and learn how to live gluten free this summer, not burn herself out over some job that pays almost nothing.

[lorka150]

I agree with eKatherine. When I got really ill, I quit my job at a market/bakery because I was ingesting like crazy. I kept getting 'sicker' and quit all jobs, and found one online where I make my own hours. It really has helped, in that sense.

[CarlaB]

I, too, would recommend her getting lots of rest to get better more quickly in time for school in the fall. I also would NEVER work at Subway ... not because of the temptation to eat the gluten, but because of the high chance of cross-contamination.

[Daxin]

I would have to agree. The recovery can be tough, and working at subway can make that even tougher.

There is a thread here about how we all hate pizza hut and subway just because of their commercials. I can't imagine working there after being told I had celiac disease.

Not trying to rant. Sorry. I hope she feels better soon, and unless she really needs the money, I would also recommend taking the time to heal and maybe find a different place to work a little later.

[jerseyangel]

Under the circumstances, I agree. If it is necessary for her to work this summer, why not a retail job where there is no food involved at all.

[karenmahoney]

I would have to agree. The recovery can be tough, and working at subway can make that even tougher.

There is a thread here about how we all hate pizza hut and subway just because of their commercials. I can't imagine working there after being told I had celiac disease.

Not trying to rant. Sorry. I hope she feels better soon, and unless she really needs the money, I would also recommend taking the time to heal and maybe find a different place to work a little later.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions about her quitting her job at Subway. She is working to save money for college, pay for her car, insurance, etc--but I agree that this is probably not the best place for her to work at all. We are going to talk to her about finding another job so she doesn't get sicker. For now, I am having her bring food and make her salads from fresh ingredients in the back. The veggie patty was my fault--I assumed she could eat it...I feel like I poisoned my own daughter, I really feel bad. We are trying to let her sleep as much as she needs when she is not at work--at least she is only part time, so she can get rested during her off hours. I think she will be better off in retail rather than in food service though!

[jerseyangel]

Karen--Don't feel guilty about the glutening. It happens to all of us in the beginning--it will pass, and she will be fine. Do you have a mall in your town? The one here has openings all the time in the various stores. You could even call around, to save time and gas--it's just that it will be easier for her to stay safe (gluten-wise) not surrounded by bread and rolls all the time. I definately understand the need for a teen to work--mine both started at 16.

[karenmahoney]

Karen--Don't feel guilty about the glutening. It happens to all of us in the beginning--it will pass, and she will be fine. Do you have a mall in your town? The one here has openings all the time in the various stores. You could even call around, to save time and gas--it's just that it will be easier for her to stay safe (gluten-wise) not surrounded by bread and rolls all the time. I definately understand the need for a teen to work--mine both started at 16.

Thank you Patti, You made me feel better about unintentionally giving her gluten...I called her at work and she has been doing okay...I told her to drink a ton of water. we do have a mall about 20 minutes from here, I am going to have her call tomorrow. thanks for the idea

[CarlaB]

Thank you Patti, You made me feel better about unintentionally giving her gluten...I called her at work and she has been doing okay...I told her to drink a ton of water. we do have a mall about 20 minutes from here, I am going to have her call tomorrow. thanks for the idea

Yes, don't feel guilty ... mistakes will happen, just be sure to learn something from each one! I just made one myself last week! Water is good, also watch the blood sugar ... the only time I have a problem with mine is when I get glutened.

[Green12]

Hi, My 17 year old daughter was just diagnosed with celiac disease and hypoglycemia. She is also a vegetarian and I could use some help in sorting out some of the essential do's and don'ts, but primarily, I am wondering if anyone knows how long it will take to make her feel better. She has been so fatigued for such a long time, has no energy, a lot of weakness, muscle and bone pain and bloating and pain in her right side of the abdoman. She also has suffered with diarrhea and kindof greasy stools...she can deal with most of this right now, but the extreme fatigue has me concerned...she sleeps so much and is finding it hard to work at her job. I'd appreciate any advice or help, thanks so much.

Karen

Hi Karen,

I agree what the other posters suggested. I just wanted to add that when your daughter does get to feeling a little better it might be a good idea for her to connect with other's her own age (or even just celiacs of all ages) that are living a gluten-free lifestyle to get information and support. There is a teenager category here on the board for starters. It's definitely challenging when all of this is so new to figure out hat to do and what not to do, and to be so sick on top of that, it's nice to have a resource to reach out to.

I hope your daughter is doing better