Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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

Reading Dr. Green's Book And Feeling Angry


Sarah8793

Recommended Posts

gfp Enthusiast

The situation that progressive doctors are in is a little like someone in aincient Rome coming up with the idea that lead water pipes are bad for health.

People just don't want to know and it goes against much of what is viewed as being a 'civilised' society.

Of course we can look back now and be horrified that the Romans not only thought lead was harmelss but necassary for civilisation.

Our society has grown up with sandwiches and burgers buns etc. and most convenience food being wheat based so we view the all-night deli or drive through fast food as something we define as a standard of civilisation.

Whenever someone suggests, hey 1/3 of people might actually be adversely affected by a common protein like gluten there is a huge backlash .... Dr. Fine and others face an uphill battle largely due to peers who choose not to read the studies that have been made and instead seek to maintain the status quo.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



  • Replies 52
  • Created
  • Last Reply
mle-ii Explorer

Just started reading this book and it's been pretty darn good so far. Only through chapter 2 though.

I really got a lot out of his talk about how the GI system is supposed to work and how gluten affects it. What's funny is that after that explanation and him talking about celiac being autoimmune I'm questioning that it is really an autoimmune reaction. Immune reaction for sure but autoimmune I'm thinking not.

Here's my line of thinking that I posted elsewhere.

What's interesting is that I'm now having thoughts that there is no such thing as Autoimmune, well I was before, but even more so now.

For example, the bacteria in the colon, even though it is a part of the digestive system it is indeed not part of self, so in that regards attacking the bacteria is not an autoimmune response. I'm even thinking that it's not even an "incorrect" response. It is a real response to a part that isn't part of the body therefore it is the correct response. My guess is that something set off the immune response and that something or some other mechanism is not letting it stop; it is continuously protecting itself even at its own demise. The body is on high alert protecting itself from all matter that it thinks doesn't belong.

Related to this, I just read the first two chapters of Dr Greens new book "Celiac Disease, A hidden Epidemic", where he describes celiac as autoimmune and describes the sequence of events that lead to the distruction of the villi. What is odd is that reading the response made sense, and didn't sound at all like an autoimmune response. It sounds like the system is working perfectly well in protecting itself from an attack.

Look at what it does:

1) Body sees something that doesn't belong, doesn't belong in that it's trying to get into the body via the mucosa, the thing is made of protein much like other invaders (virus) or perhaps even has a pathogen along for the ride.

2) The body starts an immune response to regect and attack the object.

3) Part of the immune response is to create antibodies (which do no good) and to creat inflamation.

4) This inflamation destroys the villi. But this is a bad thing right? Well look at this way. The body is reducing the attack surface (destroying villi), making itself impenetrable (inflamation) and sending in the troups to attack (hormones, chemicals, etc).

How was any of that autoimmune? The body did not attack itself, it protected itself and does a pretty damn good job. If only the brain attached to that body would listen and stop ingesting the object it's trying to attack/repel.

Isn't the human body absolutely amazing?

Mike

queenofhearts Explorer
Since you mentioned looking for a good book, I can't help but recommend Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" which I'm in the middle of right now. Just a an unflinching look at what has happened in this country with our "disconnect" from nature in terms of the "food" we grow and everything else! It is, at times, painful to read, even though I've been aware of these things, his research is painstaking. Anyone interested in eating well and supporting a return to "whole foods" ought to read it. Very illuminating and thought-provoking! Celiac or not!

lisa

Hm, I just saw that on the shelf at the library & almost picked it up, but didn't because I'm more of an herbivore! I really like his writing though.

Leah

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,138
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Mamaof3
    Newest Member
    Mamaof3
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • jeriM
      It seems like eye inflammation comes at the same time as digestive upset.  My system still hasn't completely settled despite adhering to a strict diet, and eye inflammation seems to coincide with celiac attacks. 
    • Zuma888
      Thank you for your response. You are right, this is not worth the damage to my thyroid since I know gluten is bad for me anyway. I stopped the challenge and did the IgA and tTG-IGA tests and am waiting for results, although I know it is likely they will be false negative anyway. I figured since I wasn't ever really strict about cross contamination, they might show positive if I do have celiac. I did the genetic testing a few months ago and was positive for DQ8.
    • Scott Adams
      I’m so sorry you’re going through this—it sounds like your body is sending a clear signal that gluten is a major trigger for your Hashimoto’s. The dramatic spike in your anti-TPO (from 50 to 799!) and the severe symptoms you’re experiencing suggest a strong immune reaction, even if celiac testing wasn’t done earlier. While a formal diagnosis would clarify cross-contamination risks, continuing the challenge may not be worth the damage to your thyroid and quality of life, especially since you already know gluten worsens your antibodies and symptoms. If you need answers, you could discuss genetic testing (HLA-DQ2/DQ8 genes) with your doctor—this can rule out celiac predisposition without a gluten challenge. For now, prioritizing your health by quitting gluten again (strictly, given your sensitivity) and supporting gut healing (like probiotics, L-glutamine, or zinc carnosine) might be the wisest path. Your thyroid will thank you!
    • trents
      Well then, I'd say he's making excellent progress. It can take some time for antibody numbers to normalize. Even though new antibodies are no longer being produced, it takes a while for the old ones to be disposed of. Make sure you keep an eye on the alkaline phosphatase levels. It is probably true that is tied to his adolescent growth spurt but it's worth tracking. Thirteen years of elevated liver enzymes was what eventually led to my celiac disease diagnosis. But I was 50 years old by that time and it was my ALT and AST that were mildly elevated all that time, not my alk phos. I just found out last week from an ultrasound that my liver is 20% larger than normal and I'm hoping that is a legacy effect. I have more testing lined up. 
    • CeliacMom79
      Hi. Sorry, his previous levels were >250 and we do not know how high they were. So yes, "off the chart". By 'detectable' I just meant that at 234 we now actually have a number as a baseline that we can measure future labs against. All his other liver test functions have been normal.  Just the elevated ALP. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...