A Newbie From Western Ny

[misskerry]

I didn't know where to post my introduction, so since this is the meeting room I thought that it might fit in here just fine. I have been lurking around the message board since the beginning of July when my gastroenterologist first mentioned the term Celiac. I had been really sick since February of this year when I came down with a stomach virus. It seemed like everybody in my office was sick this winter, so it didn't surprise me when I became sick, too. The thing that bothered me was that it just would not go away. It was horrible. Chronic diarrhea, nausea, an icky feeling stomach, gas pains, bloating so bad that I felt like I was 9 months pregnant... etc. Most of you are familiar with the symptoms that I'm describing. I kept telling myself that I was just overdoing it at work and that I would get better, but I didn't.

I made an appointment with my general practitioner. They didn't do any blood tests, but did do stool tests. I received a letter that said that the tests were normal and to please contact them if I had any further questions. That was it. Life got away from me and before I knew it out of the three people in my department one of them quit and the other one was leaving on maternity leave. So I spent April, May, and June just trying to survive one day after another. I didn't miss a single day of work (although there were mornings when I didn't want to get out of bed because I was so nauseous), and I waited until my supervisor was back from maternity leave. I was very lucky that after my first appointment and my first set of blood tests my doctor narrowed it right down and scheduled an endoscopy and colonoscopy. So, within two weeks of my first appointment I was on the gluten-free diet, and within a month I had my official diagnosis. It's amazing how much better you can feel just by cutting out gluten. I was a pasta and bread person, but I will stick to the diet as long as I am finally feeling great. You really learn just how sick you were after you finally start feeling better.

Sorry that this is so long, but I tend to be long-winded. lol. I have really enjoyed this message board and have been soaking up as much advice and knowledge that I can. My mood has been up and down trying to adjust to this new way of living and coming here helps a lot. My doctor says that they are going to try to start a support group up in my area this fall, so I can't wait to join that. It's nice knowing that you're not alone.

Thanks for letting me ramble!

[lonewolf]

Welcome! I'm glad you got a speedy diagnosis and that you're feeling better. I hope you like it here!

[queenofhearts]

Congratulations on going gluten-free, & welcome to the board! It's the greatest place. I would truly be lost without it. Great information AND moral support!

Good to have you with us.

Leah

[CarlaB]

Welcome to the board! You are fortunate to have had such a speedy diagnosis!

[ravenwoodglass]

I didn't know where to post my introduction, so since this is the meeting room I thought that it might fit in here just fine. I have been lurking around the message board since the beginning of July when my gastroenterologist first mentioned the term Celiac. I had been really sick since February of this year when I came down with a stomach virus. It seemed like everybody in my office was sick this winter, so it didn't surprise me when I became sick, too. The thing that bothered me was that it just would not go away. It was horrible. Chronic diarrhea, nausea, an icky feeling stomach, gas pains, bloating so bad that I felt like I was 9 months pregnant... etc. Most of you are familiar with the symptoms that I'm describing. I kept telling myself that I was just overdoing it at work and that I would get better, but I didn't.

I made an appointment with my general practitioner. They didn't do any blood tests, but did do stool tests. I received a letter that said that the tests were normal and to please contact them if I had any further questions. That was it. Life got away from me and before I knew it out of the three people in my department one of them quit and the other one was leaving on maternity leave. So I spent April, May, and June just trying to survive one day after another. I didn't miss a single day of work (although there were mornings when I didn't want to get out of bed because I was so nauseous), and I waited until my supervisor was back from maternity leave. I was very lucky that after my first appointment and my first set of blood tests my doctor narrowed it right down and scheduled an endoscopy and colonoscopy. So, within two weeks of my first appointment I was on the gluten-free diet, and within a month I had my official diagnosis. It's amazing how much better you can feel just by cutting out gluten. I was a pasta and bread person, but I will stick to the diet as long as I am finally feeling great. You really learn just how sick you were after you finally start feeling better.

Sorry that this is so long, but I tend to be long-winded. lol. I have really enjoyed this message board and have been soaking up as much advice and knowledge that I can. My mood has been up and down trying to adjust to this new way of living and coming here helps a lot. My doctor says that they are going to try to start a support group up in my area this fall, so I can't wait to join that. It's nice knowing that you're not alone.

Thanks for letting me ramble!

You are so lucky it was found quickly, welcome to the boards. I bet you don't come from the Finger Lakes area, it took them 15 years after I became ill with daily violent D for me to get diagnosed. It was all in my head according to GI docs, rheumys, and neurologists. Maybe we are making some headway. You found a great place for support and information. I found it hard to believe all the organs that were effected from celiac, gluten free living is a lifesaver, literally.

[misskerry]

Thanks for the welcome, everybody! I really appreciate it. Yes, I do feel very lucky to have been diagnosed so quickly. It wasn't until I was reading about Celiac that I realized that so many people go undiagnosed for such long periods of time.

ravenwoodglass- Nope, I didn't grow up in the Finger Lakes, but I did attend Keuka College. I still have friends in that area. In fact, my avatar is from a wedding that I was in that took place at a vineyard overlooking Keuka Lake. I live near Jamestown and have counted myself so lucky to have found such a great gastroenterologist.

Thanks again for the welcome!

[cmzirkelbach]

Hopefully, you have already discovered Wegman's gluten-free selections. The Wegman's have celiac in the family and are one of the first grocery chains to have a good selection of gluten-free foods.

They have a list on their website of Wegman's brand that are gluten-free, though you after to double check ingredients when you shop, but it is a good starting point.

[lorka150]

I agree - Wegman's is nice for that! There is a plethora of gluten-free places in WNY. Check out the www.buffaloceliacs.org , www.buffaloglutenfree.org and www.glutenfreeinwny.com websites for ideas/places, too.

[misskerry]

Thank you so much for the websites! The next time that I get up to Buffalo I might have to check some of those places out. The unfortunate thing is that I only get up there once a year because it's an hour and a half drive just to get there. I love living out in the country, but there's nothing out here! lol

Yes, isn't Wegman's wonderful? Since being put on the diet I have found myself going there once a week to pick up stuff like yogurt and other staples like that. Something about seeing that 'G' on the packaging makes me feel a little easier, even though I am still paranoid enough to check the label. It's out of my way to drive there, but the peace of mind is worth it. Especially after I found out that I had been accidentally glutening myself this week! I tried a new brand of yogurt and there's gluten hiding in there somewhere. My local grocery store just doesn't have the selection that Wegman's does.

Thank you all for the kind words and help.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thank you so much for the websites! The next time that I get up to Buffalo I might have to check some of those places out. The unfortunate thing is that I only get up there once a year because it's an hour and a half drive just to get there. I love living out in the country, but there's nothing out here! lol

Yes, isn't Wegman's wonderful? Since being put on the diet I have found myself going there once a week to pick up stuff like yogurt and other staples like that. Something about seeing that 'G' on the packaging makes me feel a little easier, even though I am still paranoid enough to check the label. It's out of my way to drive there, but the peace of mind is worth it. Especially after I found out that I had been accidentally glutening myself this week! I tried a new brand of yogurt and there's gluten hiding in there somewhere. My local grocery store just doesn't have the selection that Wegman's does.

Thank you all for the kind words and help.

I love Wegmans, I don't even read the labels anymore I jsut look for the G. I have never had even a CC issue with the stuff they label as gluten-free. Early on when they first started I was careful of anything that had distilled vinager but after they pulled and removed the G from a barbeque sauce and then reformulated it with corn distilled there has never been a problem.