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I'm Back -- Osteopenia Is Reason Enough!

moonunit

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moonunit Apprentice
moonunit
Posted

Hi everyone! I went away for a while, because doctor after doctor all said NO, you do NOT have celiac disease, you do NOT have a gluten intolerance, stop asking because we are not going to answer that question again. (I'm paraphrasing... the actual quote was "we're done pursuing that.") :)

I went gluten-free for three months (AGAINST a "celiac expert" doctor's advice, I might add). For the first two months, no real change, nothing I could point to and say AHA. Third month: a world of difference! I actually felt better! Symptoms that had gone on for YEARS were finally going away. Amazing!

But the scientist in me had to do a control. I went back on gluten. First two weeks, still healthy. Hmm, must not have been the gluten... but wait. BANG, sick again. Beh, enough was enough! I went back to the gluten-free diet.

I had asked my doctor for a bone density scan, just in case. She said no, I don't need one. So when the bone scan guy came to our local tree-hugger grocery store, I went and paid out of pocket to have him scan my finger. My bones are normal... for an 80-year-old! Osteopenia, he says. Go give this paper to your doctor and tell her to give you a proper scan.

I went back with paper in hand. She agreed to test me, to shut me up. Didn't want to even look at the scan I brought with me. Said those things aren't accurate at all. Okay, good, then my scan should be normal. Right?

Got the call just now, osteopenia in hip and spine! She's baffled. What could it be? It must be my Crohn's, which was diagnosed by one lab tech in `93 and nobody has ever found any evidence other than that paper of its existence. Doctors all say the diagnosis is absurd until they see that shining golden document, then I couldn't possibly have celiac or gluten intolerance, because there it is in black and white: Crohn's. No reason to question the hospital who not long after that diagnosis lost its accreditation. It has been written, therefore it is truth.

Whatever. I'm done. I've had three lab tests now, and all came back positive for gluten intolerance. I've had more than three doctors and they all say nope, not gluten intolerance, no way, the test isn't "positive enough"! But at least my current doc humors me and says condescendingly that "if gluten-free is working for you, keep doing it." That's more than the others said. They asked me to stop the experiment. Even the expert guy.

Point is, my "Crohn's" is going to be "in remission" forever, once I stay gluten-free. I just know it. I'm going to repair my bone loss, if that's even possible, and get rid of the symptoms that have plagued me, and be healthier than I've ever been. And everyone except me will be mystified as to how it could miraculously happen all by itself with no medical intervention.

Yeah, I don't need no Krispy Kremes, not now, not ever. I'm finished with gluten forever, and I just wanted to tell my silly little story so that if anyone else feels the same way, they will know that sometimes doctors don't know best. Maybe THEY're on drugs. There's no other SCIENTIFIC explanation for their behavior! :)

-moonunit

P.S. -- gluten-free pancake mix isn't half-bad... :)

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CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Welcome back! My docs told me I didn't have it, too. I was tested by Enterolab, it's the only test that was positive, very positive, but I was gluten-free when they did the traditional blood test, so how could it have been positive? Hopefully, as time goes on, the medical profession will catch up with what we're all learning on our own ... we are the gluten intolerance pioneers!

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

good for you moonunit... it's quite the revelation when we realize that Dr.s don't know OUR bodies as well as WE do, go figure.

Anyway, gluten-free pancake mix can also be used to make onion rings and as a batter for fried chicken! YUP!

moonunit Apprentice
moonunit
Posted
  • Author
good for you moonunit... it's quite the revelation when we realize that Dr.s don't know OUR bodies as well as WE do, go figure.

Anyway, gluten-free pancake mix can also be used to make onion rings and as a batter for fried chicken! YUP!

:o ONION RINGS?! I could have ONION RINGS?! You just made my day. I'm going to try that as soon as possible! :)

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Welcome back moonunit! That's hard to believe, that you had THREE positive blood tests, and your doctors, including that clueless GI, claim you can't have celiac disease? What is wrong with them?

Good for you, to just take your life and health into your own hands now. What are you doing about the osteopenia? You should be tested for your levels of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium (amongst others), to find out how much supplementation you need. Just supplementing with calcium and magnesium won't help. Without vitamin D your body can't absorb the calcium and magnesium, and you're probably deficient in it.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted
:o ONION RINGS?! I could have ONION RINGS?! You just made my day. I'm going to try that as soon as possible! :)

yep! I just made onion rings the other night and they were awesome! I used 1-2-3 gluten-free pancake mix, mixed in two eggs, milk until the consistency I wanted, (you just have to play with it), garlic powder, pepper, paprika and salt... then I sliced up a big ol sweet onion, dipped the rings in the batter and fried them in my fry daddy! (had to do a bunch of batches cos I have a small fry daddy but hey) oh and they were awesome.

queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted
yep! I just made onion rings the other night and they were awesome! I used 1-2-3 gluten-free pancake mix, mixed in two eggs, milk until the consistency I wanted, (you just have to play with it), garlic powder, pepper, paprika and salt... then I sliced up a big ol sweet onion, dipped the rings in the batter and fried them in my fry daddy! (had to do a bunch of batches cos I have a small fry daddy but hey) oh and they were awesome.

Hey Nini, I've been pondering getting a Fry Daddy... what I want to know is whether it eliminates the "fry" smell hanging in the air for days. That's my main objection to deep frying... always used to indulge the urge for fry outside the home... now that's become problematic, so I'm questing. Think it was a worthwhile investment?

Leah

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Nic Collaborator
Nic
Posted
Anyway, gluten-free pancake mix can also be used to make onion rings and as a batter for fried chicken! YUP!

My son loved onion rings before going gluten-free. How do you make them using pancake mix?

If anyone is looking for a very good pancake mix look up Gluten Free Naturals on line. They are a small company here in Cranford, NJ and they only sell to our local health food stores around this area but also on line. They actually taste better than aunt Jamima's.

Nicole

My son loved onion rings before going gluten-free. How do you make them using pancake mix?

Nicole

Sorry, got so excited when I saw onion rings that I didn't continue reading the rest of the replies before I replied. Just ignore that last one.

Nicole

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted
Hey Nini, I've been pondering getting a Fry Daddy... what I want to know is whether it eliminates the "fry" smell hanging in the air for days. That's my main objection to deep frying... always used to indulge the urge for fry outside the home... now that's become problematic, so I'm questing. Think it was a worthwhile investment?

Leah

I think it was a good investment, although I don't fry stuff that often, and when I do I wish I had gotten a bigger one! But for small batches of fried food it's perfect. (I made up large batches and froze what we didn't eat, I can then heat it on a cookie sheet in the oven later)...

sparkles Contributor
sparkles
Posted
Welcome back moonunit! That's hard to believe, that you had THREE positive blood tests, and your doctors, including that clueless GI, claim you can't have celiac disease? What is wrong with them?

Good for you, to just take your life and health into your own hands now. What are you doing about the osteopenia? You should be tested for your levels of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium (amongst others), to find out how much supplementation you need. Just supplementing with calcium and magnesium won't help. Without vitamin D your body can't absorb the calcium and magnesium, and you're probably deficient in it.

and don't forget the B Complex panels..... not having your B vitamins causes lots of nuerological symptoms!!!!

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted
and don't forget the B Complex panels..... not having your B vitamins causes lots of nuerological symptoms!!!!

Thanks for the reminder! I just wondered today why I have started all those neurological symptoms again (a vibrating feeling all over, hands feel like they're falling asleep)...................I haven't been taking my vitamins for a while, because I was too overwhelmed with everything else! I usually take a good B-vitamin complex, but haven't taken it all summer. I find that when too many things are going on (visitors all summer), I get so overwhelmed emotionally that I can't cope with taking care of myself as well as taking care of everybody else any more. Of course, eventually I fall apart in every way, and will be no good to anybody (I am close to that state right now).

sparkles Contributor
sparkles
Posted

If there is too much damage to the villa, the B12 shot will be necessary (for the rest of your life) though it seems the other B vitamins can be absorbed.

mle-ii Explorer
mle-ii
Posted
If there is too much damage to the villa, the B12 shot will be necessary (for the rest of your life) though it seems the other B vitamins can be absorbed.

From what I've read a sublingual (under the tongue) B12 would work fine as well. The Methyl version is the best absorbed.

Here's what I take every once in a while:

Open Original Shared Link

Though don't take it too late in the day as I've found it can interfere with sleeping sometimes.

Mike

jcc Rookie
jcc
Posted
Hi everyone! I went away for a while, because doctor after doctor all said NO, you do NOT have celiac disease, you do NOT have a gluten intolerance, stop asking because we are not going to answer that question again. (I'm paraphrasing... the actual quote was "we're done pursuing that.") :)

I went gluten-free for three months (AGAINST a "celiac expert" doctor's advice, I might add). For the first two months, no real change, nothing I could point to and say AHA. Third month: a world of difference! I actually felt better! Symptoms that had gone on for YEARS were finally going away. Amazing!

Great story. Kudos to YOU for being smarter than your doctors.

Cara

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