My Experience With Being Gluten Free

[evie]

I have just learned (from experience) that I made a mistake 30 years ago when i found I was allergic to wheat that I did not stay off it completely!! Now in my older years (BD sunday..78) it may be too late to correct the many problems. I was finally diagnosed with Celaic diseas 2/20/06 amd went on gluten free foods. spent several months more losing weight, very weak and after 3 months of struggling finally began to be slightly better, also milk free still. If I had known at least 20 years ago I amy have been able to keep my teeth in better shape (many fillings which may be causing amalgram problems).

Just last week we found I now have osteoporosis of the spine, I suspect wrists and ankles (no rhuemy arthritis). this past Sat. I was hospitalised for bit over 24hours after passing out @ home..arrythmia of heart so am now on heart meds + water pills. may not be strong enough since my feet are swelling badly!! I will be having some more heart testing next week + more bone tests.

If my 'BAD' past can help anyone avoid these major problems my slow typing will be well worth every letter.

I firmly believe my severe allergies also fit in here and that this is all inherited from grfather having hay fever, my mother had sinus allergies, heart problems, was hypothyroid (completely quit in her 60's). I have thyroid problems too, all 3 dd have thyroid problems, some osteo, sinus allergies. mid dd has been tested (does not have it), hopefully other 2 will get tested soon. oldest dd has VERY severe osteo.

In case I may be presenting a gloomy future for myself I do not plan that. My local Dr. is up on my problems and 10/04/06 I see my U of Iowa specialist for further testing. If a new med comes up to help me am gungho to use it for improvement!! Also We are celebrating our 60th wedding ann., hubbies 80th, my 78th birthdays with family here this weekend so I am upbeat about a serouis health problem. My family is behind me which is very important to all of us. Hope this all helps someone!!! evie

[nikki-uk]

Well I'm just glad you finally figured out what was making you sick Evie

I'm sorry celiac disease has left it's mark on you-and wouldn't it be good if this site stopped people from suffering needlessly and discovering what was wrong with them.

Sounds like you have alot of celebrating to do this weekend-congratulations!!!!!!

[jerseyangel]

Evie,

Bless your heart for sharing your experiences with us! I hope all of the bad stuff is behind you now, and you just keep getting better!

Congratulations on all of the happy events coming up this weekend. Have a wonderful time with your family

[gfp]

Evie.... good luck

On a personal level just when I start loosing faith in humanity I read your post and it lifts me that your first action is to help others.

On another level although osteoporosis is slow to recover from you will see enormous effects from being gluten-free.

My mother was 65 when diagnosed and looked 75 .. she now looks 5 years later 65.... she literally looks SO MUCH healthier all round.

[TinkerbellSwt]

evie.. thank you for enlightening myself as to what to look for. I hope you feel better and enjoy your weekend!! it sounds great!

[Turtle]

It's people like you that make the world a better place! Thanks for sharing!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend (without any passing out).

[Guest Robbin]

Evie, you are such a dear, sweet, kind woman to share your struggles to help others. My mother has had diabetes, high blood pressure, heart bypass, arterial stints, arthritis, and osteoporosis. This all was dx. before age 55. Diabetes at 30 and heart attack at 49. She is now 65. She takes the once-a month osteo med (forget the name of it), and is doing pretty well. She doesn't take near the care of herself that you do, and that makes a HUGE difference. You have many people who care about you and that is a great healing power and motivation to keep strong. Enjoy your day and your wonderful family and thank you for being you.

[AndreaB]

Thank you Evie!

Have a great weekend with your family!

Happy Birthday 2 days early.

[CantEvenEatRice]

Thank you Evie!

[mari-lyn]

There is a saying that life is too short for regrets and you certainly have helped me to look at that and start a new day. I would like to have the opportunity to share your story with a 50 year that I see as a patient about every 2 months. Here blood work indicates she has celiac disease, however, she is in some denial about it and says that "my doctor says that I just need to look for the symptoms - I only have Pre-Celiac". My lecture of either you do or you don't is not working. She is also has a rare blood disease and figures that this is the route of all of her problems.

If you are anywhere close to Anamosa Iowa give a reply - we have a new person every month to our support group at the hospital there - Jones Regional Medical Center. We have a good time and help each other along. We will be having our second annual potluck the third Thurday in October.

Marilyn

[All-about-March]

Evie,

First of all, Happy Birthday !!

Second, I want to say thank you. You wanted your post to help just one person....well it certainly helped me.

Just last night, I had a wee emotional breakdown. I am newly diagnosed and I have been really struggling with coping with the changes I'm needing to make and feeling guilty for the toll it is taking on those around me as well. I went through every emotion in the book last night and was ready to 'throw in the towel' and deem myself as misdiagnosed or that Celiacs is just a hoax. I do know better, just the frustration and depression got the better of me and I know I was overreacting to everything. (A thank you goes to the boyfriend for putting up with that last night!!)

I have no idea why I am finding this so hard to cope with and I feel guilty for not being able to just accept it, make the changes and move on... that is part of why I joined this forum. And your post is exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thank you again!

I hope that you have a wonderful day of celebrating!

[AndreaB]

Happy Birthday Evie!!!

[Rusla]

Happy Birthday Evie!

Now I like you was told I had a wheat allergy 25 years ago at least. However, trying to force other doctors to look into things is futile. So like you I have a host of problems from this and the major one is losing more than ten teeth in less than five years. I just hope that people think back to you and many of us others when they don't think this disease can cause a lot of damage. May others benefit from what we all have lived through.

[Guhlia]

Thank you for sharing, Evie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[Ursa Major]

Evie, you're great, I hope your story will help many.

Happy Birthday!

And I hope there are many more to come.

[Guest nini]

Evie, thank you for sharing, I too am on a mission to help others through my experience. I hope that I can help even one person recover from morbid obesity by going gluten-free... after losing 110 pounds I feel so compelled to share this with everyone I see, sure not everyone that is obese is because of gluten intolerance or celiac, but I hope if I can just help ONE person, my experience will have been worth it.

[jukie]

Evie-

Thanks so much for sharing! Being newly dx'd after watching four generations of my family suffer, your words give me hope for ALL of us.

And nini, consider your mission a success! My weight nearly kept me (and the doctors) from figuring this thing out. But thanks to people like you who have shared so much of your experience, I didn't fall through the cracks and am now on my way to recovery...THANK YOU!!!

[CarlaB]

Happy Birthday Evie!!! Happy Anniversary, too!!

[Guest nini]

Evie-

Thanks so much for sharing! Being newly dx'd after watching four generations of my family suffer, your words give me hope for ALL of us.

And nini, consider your mission a success! My weight nearly kept me (and the doctors) from figuring this thing out. But thanks to people like you who have shared so much of your experience, I didn't fall through the cracks and am now on my way to recovery...THANK YOU!!!

thank you for saying that! it means a lot

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Happy birthday, Evie! And--we have the same birthday!

Also wanted to let you know that, pretty much because of you, Nini, and Lynne, I have been gluten-free since finding this board in January--even though I have no diagnosis, just a really high IgG (which the dermatologist said meant nothing, even though I had a positive dietary response) on top of Hashimotos's and GERD. I have lost over 20 pounds of fat, several inches of bloating, been reminded what normal poops actually looked like (hadn't seen them in a couple of years), and eaten healthier than ever before (since I make everything from scratch now).

You guys have probably saved me from multiple autoimmune disorders, and have definitely saved my kids from countless tummy aches (they will get blood tests next week).

From the bottom of my heart--thank you!

[daffadilly]

Happy Birthday Evie, AND Happy Anniversary - how wonderful !!!!!

[marciab]

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary. 60 years is quite an accomplishment.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is a good reminder for us all. Marcia

[evie]

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary. 60 years is quite an accomplishment.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is a good reminder for us all. Marcia

Was so occupied here with family visiting I have hardly been on my coputer for 2nd day until tonight!! came on tonight to a lot of NICE messages!! Want to THANK you all so very much!! Seems I have a second family on here!! We had a wonderful day with much family, friends & pastor here to share cake and ice cream with us. All except our younges dd, hubby and ddog are gone and they will start back home mon. am.

So of course i am on the tired side..g'nite dear friends.

[Ursa Major]

All except our younges dd, hubby and ddog are gone

Evie, the ddog just about killed me, you're taking the dear everything to the next level, I think.

I am glad you had a good time!

[gfp]

Was so occupied here with family visiting I have hardly been on my coputer for 2nd day until tonight!! came on tonight to a lot of NICE messages!! Want to THANK you all so very much!! Seems I have a second family on here!! We had a wonderful day with much family, friends & pastor here to share cake and ice cream with us. All except our younges dd, hubby and ddog are gone and they will start back home mon. am.

So of course i am on the tired side..g'nite dear friends.

Who wouldnt be!

I spent last night listening to a legend .. a man of 81 (as of the day before yesterday) who tackled his illnesses and walked on stage (though he had to be helped on and off)

“A lot of people would like to have the actual truth. Some people don’t believe that diabetes is life threatening. But it is. I lost a sister and a niece who had diabetes. I tried to beg them to do what they should, but they’re not with me anymore.”

His message about the importance of diabetes management and blood glucose control is clear. “Make sure you check your blood sugar and see your doctor. Try your best to go with the diet you’re given— and don’t cheat by eating foods or quantities you’re not supposed to, or by doing things you’re not supposed to,” he says. “I’ve lived a pretty long time. I’m not sick today, and I haven’t been sick for a while.”

Just thought I'd share this in case anyone is feeling old... (and because the whole concert was so amazing and moving)

If its not clear already its obviously the great BB King!