Celiac And Work

[DoriGates]

Hi everyone,

How do you all do it to live a normal life? I am having a hard time keeping a job because I am always "sick". The big "D" has gotten in the way so much, my self esteem has gone down the drain. It seems I cant eat anything but fruits, veggies, and fish. No meat, high cholest., no dairy, lactose, no soy, intolerant, and obviously no gluten. I am so sick and tired of being dizzy, tired, and anxious. I have gain weight, which is good, but I still feel yucky!!!! I was diag. in 1999 and have been gluten free since then. thanks for letting me vent.

[Kaycee]

Dori, sorry you have been feeling so bad.

Are you eating enough? It sounds like you might not be getting enough iron. Can you not manage your cholestrol if you eat meat? Surely a tiny bit won't be too bad, if all fat is cut off.

I don't know how I live a normal life and work and bring up a family as well. But I do. Sometimes it is so hard, and I wonder how long I can keep on doing it. I keep telling my husband we should go back to the farm and I can give up work, but I know it will be harder work on the farm. I am lucky coeliac has not been debilitating for me, and keeping a job was not been a problem either before or after going gluten free. But I do feel for you Dori and wish I could say something to make you feel better.

Cathy

[codetalker]

I would second Kaycee's comment about getting enough iron and would extend it to include all vitamins and nutrients. I spent most of 2006 on elimination diets to figure out that I had developed new allergies to soy, chick peas, corn, diary and nuts. Just over a month ago, I happened to assess my vitamin and mineral intake and realized I had no regular intake of iodine or B12. Using info from this board, I got some hypoallergenic supplements which have made an amazing difference.

My diet is very similar to yours. I've found that I've needed to reduce fruit intake. The amounts of sugar it introduces into my gut causes problems. One thing I've realized it that fruit can be a sweet treat. I tend to overeat fruit simply because there is nothing else that is satisfying to eat.

In regard to fish, be careful how much you eat. There are documented problems with contamination with mercury, heavy metals, even radiation. Aquaculture fish is a problem too because the fish feed used is sometimes contaminated. Depending on the type and amounts of fish you are eating, you may be putting yourself at risk.

I eat mostly fish and have discovered that it is necessary for me to be careful what I eat it with. As I've mentioned in other posts, fish and nuts are a deadly combination for me. The nuts don't even have to be eaten with the fish. They can be eaten hours before or after and can still cause serious problems.

Best of luck.

[darlindeb25]

I'm sorry Dori, I know it can be rough. I fight with other intolerances all the time. Try to eat simple, nothing processed. I too, cannot eat beef or pork, I can eat some fish and chicken breast, only white meat--too much fat in dark meat. I can't have soy, corn, rice, nightshades, and of course, gluten. My diet is very simple, I eat the chicken, fish, green beans, peas, rarely carrots, and some fruits. I can still have cheese, yogurt, that kind of think though. Have you had a blood test recently--maybe you do need vitamins. I have to take 2400mcg of B12 daily, I also take a good multiple vitamin. I recently was diagnosed with depression/anxiety and am taking Celexa and the doc I work for tells me that a chemical imbalance or as he puts it, my wiring is misfiring is my problem and the Celexa will rewire me, then maybe I can have some of these foods back.

[blueeyedmanda]

My energy took a dip before the diagnosis and so did my work performance. I stayed at my job (they worked with me because they knew I was ill and not "Faking" it) A year after going gluten free I took a new job and I am doing a lot better. Thankfully I only have to watch gluten, but I do stick to a healthy diet as much as possible. I do the greens, and fruits. I am not a big meat eater, usually chicken if anything. I like other meats but I don't seem to eat them at all.

I would get your vitamin levels looked at, your energy might be hurting because only of them is low.

[DoriGates]

Thanks so much for the replies, it means so much to me. This site is great. Reading all the other questions and answers from all of you have helped me so much. I have definately learned that we have to be our own advocates with our health and our lives. No one else can understand unless they are going through the same road.

Thanks everyone.

[Mtndog]

Dori- I'm so glad you started this thread. Today I was questioning my ability to ever work full-time again. Right now I am part-time faculty although I taught a full-load last semester. But, I got glutened pretty severely last week which gives me mood swings and makes me doubt everything.

I had a rough first year gluten-free but it got a little better....I hardly noticed it. Finding out that I couldn't tolerate legumes- soy, peanuts, beans- was the final kicker for me. That and eating a LOT less processed food and restaurants (of course, last week's horrific glutening was a result of eating out).

I also just found out I'm anemic too which contributes to the fatigue and lack of motivation.

My hubby and i were talking about this tonight. I think the key, as with anything, is to just keep going and do the best you can. YOUR best maybe different from my best.

[happygirl]

This is a great thread, and I think applicable to many on this board who have "other" problems beyond gluten. Gluten is just the tie that binds us....literally

Bev---I love the quote you have in you sig about enjoy/endure. I needed to see that one today.

[blueeyedmanda]

This is a great thread because sometimes when you feel as if you can't go another day to work or don't know how you will even finish the one you are in, it is nice to come on here and know that others understand.

[AllysonBrightMeyer]

I have this problem a lot....I only work 30 hours each week (three 10-hour days) and I still have trouble. For the last few months especially, I was calling in sick almost 1 day a week or asking to leave early....it was getting very hard.

They have been very understanding, though of course I'm sure there were times they thought it was "all in my head" - heck, there were times I thought that, too.

I would really like to work full-time again (and financially it would help things, of course) but I just feel like I wouldn't be able to handle it. So for now, I stay where things are. It's hard because I think that only my husband really understands how I feel all the time, a lot of people are like "suck it up & get over it"

I have only been gluten-free for a month now so I'm hoping things get better soon.

[anemic]

Hi everyone,

How do you all do it to live a normal life? I am having a hard time keeping a job because I am always "sick". The big "D" has gotten in the way so much, my self esteem has gone down the drain. It seems I cant eat anything but fruits, veggies, and fish. No meat, high cholest., no dairy, lactose, no soy, intolerant, and obviously no gluten. I am so sick and tired of being dizzy, tired, and anxious. I have gain weight, which is good, but I still feel yucky!!!! I was diag. in 1999 and have been gluten free since then. thanks for letting me vent.

Have you had some blood work done recently? Might be an idea to get the iron checked-

[simplicity66]

Awesome thread......for me this whole forum is to vent thats how we all become informed and understand why things are happening learn more tools we can use to keep oursleves healthy .....we all have good days as well as very day.....i work 12hr shifts on a 28 day rotation days and nights.....i have been" glutenized" twice in the past 2wks.....once self-inflicted and the other is still a mystery ....however i still drag myselft to work and toughed it out for a 12hr night shift.....the idea of call in sick was a nagging thought.... some days are alot rougher then others...but some way some how we all seem to get through the rough spot and look to tomorrow and know that it will be alot better then today ....chin up think positive and always remember your not alone and here you can vent .....better days ahead!!!!! *cheers*

[DebbieInCanada]

Hi everyone,

How do you all do it to live a normal life? I am having a hard time keeping a job because I am always "sick". The big "D" has gotten in the way so much, my self esteem has gone down the drain. It seems I cant eat anything but fruits, veggies, and fish. No meat, high cholest., no dairy, lactose, no soy, intolerant, and obviously no gluten. I am so sick and tired of being dizzy, tired, and anxious. I have gain weight, which is good, but I still feel yucky!!!! I was diag. in 1999 and have been gluten free since then. thanks for letting me vent.

Since you have been gluten free for so long, it is disturbing that you have not stabilized. The first thing I would think of is other intolerances are still bothering you. I see that you are aware of several other intolerances that you have, so you are looking for those as well.

Is it possible that you are still getting contamination from food or other products? Cross contamination from home or work?

I just think that if you are gluten free for so long, you should be healing up and feeling better. If you are not feeling better, then maybe there is still another problem to identify. I think there are some other people on the board here who have experience with multiple problems - Lyme disease, thyroid problems, candida overgrowth...

I hope you can get some advice on what to look for, continue on the road to feeling well again.

Debbie

[gfp]

Since you have been gluten free for so long, it is disturbing that you have not stabilized. The first thing I would think of is other intolerances are still bothering you. I see that you are aware of several other intolerances that you have, so you are looking for those as well.

Is it possible that you are still getting contamination from food or other products? Cross contamination from home or work?

I just think that if you are gluten free for so long, you should be healing up and feeling better. If you are not feeling better, then maybe there is still another problem to identify. I think there are some other people on the board here who have experience with multiple problems - Lyme disease, thyroid problems, candida overgrowth...

I hope you can get some advice on what to look for, continue on the road to feeling well again.

Debbie

I gotta agree with debbie.... either the CC or an extra intolerance or something on top....

Regarding your diet though... you don't say why you can't eat cholesterol and unless you have been told so by a doctor and being tested regularly you might want to reassess this. Depending what fish you are eating you could be not getting anytihng like enough cholesterol and lean red meat really isn't so high in fat or cholersterol. I'm not suggesting you eat it 3 meals a day... but perhaps 3 meals a week might be beneficial ?

When you hear advice for people eating too much cholesterol its usually aimed at the Standard American diet not you.

Also all the fat soluble vitamins are in that fat... these are also the hardest ones to suppliment effectively... because they are the easiest to overdose on... C and B are both so soluble if you take an excess it more or less just get's peed out... but the fat soluble ones are a delicate balance.

Constant D? hardly supriosing if your living almost from fruit.... beleive me I did the same at one point... I also have a friend who is a cancer patient and got told to eat more fruit and stuff... he was rushed into hospital due to eating too much fruit for so long..

because he took the Dr's word to eat more and ate almost nothing else.

[kbtoyssni]

I am also concerned that something else is going on - either CC or another medical issue. Because once you go gluten-free, you should be able to lead a normal life. And eight years is too long to have not made a complete recovery.

[JNBunnie1]

Also Dori, you might want to double-check any medications you take. I just realized the probiotic I've been taking has glutened me twice in the past year.

If you still feel dizzy and fuzzy in the head, it might be time to rethink the way you treat high cholesterol. High cholesterol is NOT due to the causes most people think

it is. I recommend going to the Weston Price foundation website and doing some reading. They talk about foods that feed your brain and the real facts about cholesterol.

When I found out I had celiac disease, I had basically been on the 'toaster strudel' diet. I had two jobs for a long time and I survived on processed baked goods that were

easy to toast and transport in a paper towel. I always ate pasta and fried meat from the freezer. So you'd think my cholesterol would be through the roof, right? When I was tested before we figured out the Celiac, I had a cholesterol level of 75. MY doctor had never seen one so low. That's a number typical of a person with a wasting disease like cancer or something. People are usually dead before it gets that low. So your body actually needs a great deal of fat and cholesterol, it just needs to be able to digest it. Try that website, it helped me so much!