How Likely Is It?

[Guhlia]

I was diagnosed with Celiac three years ago. My husband reluctantly went gluten free after glutening me with his bread crumbs about a year ago. He has since remained gluten free in the house, but occasionally he has glutenous goodies when he goes out. He works from home so he spends the majority of his time here at home. Lately I've been getting more and more sensitive to miniscule amounts of gluten, so I've been really paranoid about it. I always ask my husband if he's eaten any gluten when he comes home so I know whether or not I can kiss him or whatever. Anyway, since I've been asking him about gluten I've noticed a pattern with his eating/mood. He gets REALLY irritable a day or two after he's had gluten. He, of course, sees no such pattern and gets angry when I try to bring it up. I really think he should be tested for Celiac Disease, but has he been eating enough gluten to produce positive test results even on Enterolab? He's really against getting tested, but I'm about ready to just order the kit and make him do it. I don't know how many more heated fights I can handle all because he's "gluten grumpy". He understands all of the perils of eating gluten with Celiac, but still refuses to even be tested.

His symptoms, if you want to call them that, include excessive exhaustion, irritability, he appears to get sick a lot more than he used to, smelly gas (but not overly frequent), ADD symptoms, horrible mood swings, NO patience whatsoever anymore with anyone, unexplainable weight mostly in belly (he doesn't overeat), NO butt anymore, horrible memory both short term and long term (maybe brain fog?)... I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any. He's also very short, 5'5", and of European decent.

What should I do? He gets really angry when I bring it up. Maybe because he knows he has a problem. I don't know. I don't want to start a fight, but I really want him to stay healthy. Any suggestions? Oh, he also says that I think that everyone has Celiac. It's going to be a tough battle if I decide to pursue testing.

[lonewolf]

Your hubby sounds very similar to mine. He can't/won't see that he might have a problem too. He KNOWS the kids got their "bad genes" from me and he also says that I think everyone either has Celiac or gluten intolerance. Funny thing is, he's always telling me about people at work that he's sure must have problems with gluten because of different symptoms, but he's blind to his own.

Sorry I have no advice for you. He's an adult and has to make those decisions. I WILL be watching this thread to see if anyone else has helpful advice though - I'd love to get my hubby (and his whole family, actually) tested at least through Enterolab.

[Kaycee]

His symptoms, if you want to call them that, include excessive exhaustion, irritability, he appears to get sick a lot more than he used to, smelly gas (but not overly frequent), ADD symptoms, horrible mood swings, NO patience whatsoever anymore with anyone, unexplainable weight mostly in belly (he doesn't overeat), NO butt anymore, horrible memory both short term and long term (maybe brain fog?)... I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any. He's also very short, 5'5", and of European decent.

Guhlia, you could be describing my husband! I like you do wonder as well, but have decided to leave it at that for the sake of peace.

I am a worry wart at best and I seem to take a big interest in his health, at times I think I overdo it, and maybe it is me with the problem, not him.

There is a chance that your husband could have problems with gluten, but it might not be coeliac, but then it could be. What I would be interested in would be whether people who have gone gluten free for support for their partner or for any reason whether when they do eat gluten do they have a problem with it? It could be your husband's body is not used to digesting gluten and that is where he has problems. I'm not sure this is the thing, but maybe someone else can enlighten you on this.

Cathy

[mamaw]

Hi Angie

I tend to agree with you about your soulmate....But I think men don't want to hear they have a problem with anything. I don't think they have very good coping skills to deal with medical stuff...And then there's the man thing-- to macho to have this or that....I wonder what the ratio men to women having celiacs?????

Another thought, do you think that he is more sensitive to wheat since he doesn't have it all the time? I know I have a problem with certain nuts when I don't have them on a reg basis but if I eat them everyday my symptoms goes away.

Hope you can get him tested & he comes around. My hubby always says this wheat & gluten thing is from my side of the family--- like his is perfect!!!!!Oh well, gotta love them as they are.....

good luck

mamaw

[prinsessa]

I also have a feeling that my DH has some kind of gluten intolerance. He denys that he has any stomach problems. After being married to someone for a while you start to notice things. Like he will go to the bathroom 3-4 times some days. And he has light colored loose stools. And he also has really dark circles under his eyes. He thinks it is normal to spend long periods of time in the bathroom several times a day. I was also spending much more time in the bathroom before going gluten free. I just wish he would consider getting tested. Diabetes runs in both sides of his family (type 1 and 2). I'm just worried about his health.

[CMCM]

Since I got a celiac gene from my mom and a gluten sensitive gene from my dad, I knew my son would be given one of these. I had him tested and guess what.....he got my celiac gene, and from my husband he got a gluten sensitive gene (a different type than the one I have). So now we don't know what my husband's 2nd gene is....but at the very least, he has the one gene.

As I said in another thread, I just read the new 2007 book "The Gluten Connection" by Shari Lieberman, and on p. 6 she notes that about 81% of Americans are thought to have a genetic disposition towards gluten sensitivity.

All the reading I've done on this and the effect of eating gluten grains, I really believe a HUGE percent of our modern health woes can be traced to eating gluten. This stuff is poison and not suited for the human digestive system.

[tarnalberry]

It sounds like he should be tested. I'd flat out ask him, "Why the heck are you SOOO adimantly opposed to being tested? There's no need to get b%$@#y about me talking about the subject, so let's have a productive situation on something that I see as a serious problem."

[Guhlia]

We can't go to our family doctor due to private insurance. Our rates are already outrageous because of x-rays and my being pregnant. They just keep raising them over and over again. Anyway, what do you guys think the chance of him testing positive on Enterolab would be? He eats very little gluten, sometimes he'll go weeks without it. When he does eat it, it's usually a very small amount like a handful of pretzels or a candy bar with gluten in it. It's not like he eats sandwiches or breaded food. He's been mostly gluten free for quite some time now, probably over a year, but I can't say for sure.

We currently have the whole kit from Enterolab for my daughter, though we haven't done it yet. Will I know from her gene test whether or not he carries a gene? I don't know how all that works.