Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Need Assistance For My Daughter


karenmahoney

Recommended Posts

karenmahoney Newbie

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


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



scorpionco Newbie

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 Collaborator

does she take any vitamins?

karenmahoney Newbie
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 Collaborator

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

Daxin Explorer

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 Newbie

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!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



eKatherine Apprentice

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 Collaborator

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 Enthusiast

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 Explorer

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 Proficient

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 Newbie
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 Proficient

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 Newbie
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 Enthusiast
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 Enthusiast
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 :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      32

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

    2. - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      32

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

    3. - SamAlvi replied to SamAlvi's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

    4. - trents replied to SamAlvi's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,844
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    donnawebb265
    Newest Member
    donnawebb265
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      I made it through the holiday w/o being glutened. I had my brother cook with gluten-free breadcrumbs and I didn't get sick. I baked cookies with gluten-free flour and had dry ingredients for cookies in ziplock bag. I also made gluten cookies as well and guess I did good washing to avoid CC. My wife also went to a french bakery and bought a gluten-free flourless chocolate cake dedicated gluten-free it was out of this world. 
    • xxnonamexx
      What do you mean it would not allow any celiac to eat gluten again. I think if this helps cross contamination when eating out at a non dedicated gluten-free restaurant this would be nice not to encounter the pains. But is their a daily enzyme to take to help strengthen the digestive system? 
    • SamAlvi
      Hi, thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, no other antibody tests were ordered. I am a 32-year-old male. About two months ago, I ate pancakes and then developed severe diarrhea that lasted the entire day. At night, I became unconscious due to fluid loss and was admitted to the ER, where I received IV fluids. Two days later, I ate bread again and once more developed severe diarrhea. I ended up in the ER again and received IV fluids. In my country, Pakistan, doctors are unfortunately not very thorough, so they treated me for a stomach infection. I visited three or four doctors, including a gastroenterologist, but it seemed like they just wanted to keep me on medications and IV fluids. Eventually, I did some digging myself and started connecting the dots. For years, I’ve had excessive gas buildup and frequent loose stools, but I never paid much attention to it. I also cannot easily digest dairy products. Two years ago, I had a CBC test that showed iron deficiency. My doctor told me to eat more meat and said it was nothing serious. However, for the past five years, I’ve also had severe motion sickness, which I never experienced before. Whenever I get on a bus or in a car, I sometimes lose consciousness for 10–20 seconds and wake up sweaty, and occasionally I feel the need to vomit. After more research on the internet, I came across gluten and celiac disease, so I got two related tests (TTG-IgA & TTG IgG) done along with a stool test and another CBC. The stool test showed weakly positive blood. Ever since eating those pancakes and bread, I’ve had a burning sensation in my gut. My doctor reviewed my tests, he told me to completely stop eating gluten and started me on IV fluids for 20 days, saying that I had severe inflammation in my gut. It has now been two months since I quit gluten, and I’m still not sure whether this is celiac disease or gluten intolerance. I don’t really trust doctors in Pakistan, so I thought I might get some help here.
    • trents
      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @SamAlvi! Were there any other antibody tests ordered? Particularly, was there a "total IGA" test ordered to check for IGA deficiency. When people are IGA deficient, celiac panel IGA test scores, such as the TTG-IGA, are likely not valid. If a total IGA test was not ordered, I would request such to be done. Note: "Total IGA" goes by other names as well. I will include a primer on celiac disease antibody testing which does a good job in covering the nomenclature variations connected with the various tests. Elevated IGG scores can certainly indicate celiac disease but they are more likely than elevated IGA tests to be caused by something else.  
    • GlorietaKaro
      Thank you— yes, valid and essential— The issue either doctors is that every one I have tried to talk to about this has essentially rolled their eyes and dismissed me as a hypochondriac, which gets discouraging. I believe a diagnosis would help me to be taken seriously by doctors as well as being validating, but can carry on without it.    There are many, probably most people in my area of my age and gender, who avoid gluten, but many just avoid it casually— eating the occasional plate of wheat pasta or a delicious-looking dessert, or baking cookies with wheat flour for gatherings.  That is not an option for me. I don’t eat other people’s cooking or go to restaurants that do not have strict cross- contamination procedures. It can be boring and lonely, and people do look at me as if I am being a bit dramatic but weeks of symptoms after a single small exposure has taught me to respect my experience.    Thank you very much for your response— sometimes I just need to hear that I am not crazy—
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.