Need Advice About Going Back To Work As A Teacher...

[Walter S]

I just read the symptoms on canlyme.com. There are definitely a list of symptoms from there that pertain to me. I think my next step may be to get a new doctor perhaps, and bring all info I have to him/her and get another opinion. I will need to do some research and find a good GI Dr.

Gluten free Brand products I have been using are:

Bread Crumbs- Gillian's Foods

Risotto- Lundberg (Organic)

Pasta- De Boles

Cereal- Glutino

Crackers- Edward & Sons

Bread- Whole Food's Bakehouse

Corn Chips- Nature's Promise

[JNBunnie1]

I just read the symptoms on canlyme.com. There are definitely a list of symptoms from there that pertain to me. I think my next step may be to get a new doctor perhaps, and bring all info I have to him/her and get another opinion. I will need to do some research and find a good GI Dr.

Gluten free Brand products I have been using are:

Bread Crumbs- Gillian's Foods

Risotto- Lundberg (Organic)

Pasta- De Boles

Cereal- Glutino

Crackers- Edward & Sons

Bread- Whole Food's Bakehouse

Corn Chips- Nature's Promise

Just some unrelated advice- Tinkyada has a much better texture and flavor, in my opinion, than Deboles. Just an idea! And there might be some cc issues with the corn chips, I don't eat them though, so I don't know. Someone else might have some experience with that.

[Nantzie]

I don't see anything that shouldn't be gluten-free. You might want to search the forum and see if anyone has any problems with any of the brands. But I agree that it could be a matter of too much processed stuff too soon.

Another thing you need to verify is your prescriptions and any over-the-counter stuff you're taking. They use gluten as a binder in some things. Here's a site to get you started on that - Open Original Shared Link

Nancy

[Walter S]

I am feeling awful tonight! All I have been doing is running to the bathroom and I do mean running! The stomach cramps I have on top of it all are almost unbearable! I am getting very upset and frustrated wit this whole thing. I feel bad enough that I maybe should get to a hospital tonight, but honestly I am sick of it!!! I have been to so many doctors, etc. in the past couple of months that I just have run out of steam for dealing with this right now. I realize tha is a ridiculous and counterproductive way to be but it's just the way I feel right now. Also, I am getting more stressed about dealing with work. I am a third grade teacher and I have been in the same school for 10 years now. I do a good job, at least in my opinion, and I work very hard. It's important to me that I be there to teach my students and help them to learn the most they can. However, the worse I feel, the more I think I there is no way I can go back to work yet, even though I've been out sick for two months!!! I It may wind up being necessary that I even have some kind of a career change, but I just don't want that! I have been doing this job since I got out of college. I am only three courses away from having my principal's license/certification, and I have the job that I want. I am well established in my job and I don't know what else I would do if I had to make a career switch. Oh, how I hate this whole mess I am in. I realize I am probably "preaching to the choir" with that one. I think it's safe to assume that everyone on this site is tired of dealing with this illness. Basically, I feel very sick to my stomach and I am very upset emotionally tonight, too.

[CarlaB]

Walter, this is all normal for healing from celiac. You've only been on the diet for a very short time, and just like the damage took time, the healing does, too.

Many people need to treat their tummies very tenderly in the beginning. Kind of like after you've had a stomach bug. I needed to eat soft meat, like tender chicken in soup, with overcooked veggies. It was all I could handle.

Be patient with it. Don't worry about quitting your job because once your intestine heals, you will feel much better and won't have these bathroom runs.

Even the emotional upset can be from the celiac.

You were recently diagnosed with something serious. That's difficult. It's especially difficult because of the lifestyle changes.

Some day all this will be second nature. I can eat now and not have to analyze it ... it's normal. My stomach doesn't bother me from gluten anymore. You will get there, too. It takes time. You won't be able to teach for this school year, but you'll be back next year and will feel good.

[Generic]

When the D gets real bad you could take Immodium, it does help.

Also in regards to your job, your principle has to make reasonable accomodations for you. You are protected under the Americans with disabilites act of 1990.

Open Original Shared Link

[NoGluGirl]

Dear Walter,

I truly feel we are kindred spirits. I cannot work due to my illness. I too, may have Lyme on top of Celiac. That does not include the possibility of Bacterial Dysbiosis, Babesia (a Lyme co-infection), Leaky-Gut, and a number of other things that are likely. I also have that stupid yeast overgrowth. Being on tons of antibiotics since birth has put my body through the ringer. It makes everything go out of whack.

One thing is for certain, you should not be eating vinegar, tomatoes, citrus, or anything else high in acid. When you have ulcers, those things will hurt it unmercifully. Anything spicy is a bad idea, too. Onions and garlic do not typically agree with people who have Crohn's. Of course, your Celiac is likely intensifying that by quite a bit. Once your Celiac improves, the Crohn's probably will as well. Fried foods and high fat foods should also be avoided. Those in any form are bad news for Crohn's and Celiac alike.

Don't be so hard on yourself about the casein. Most people do not think of it. I had wondered in the past why digestive enzymes did not help me. That was why! I was glad there was an answer to this. I thought "Why does my body have to be so strange?"

Your emotional state is not uncommon. I get anxious about going to doctor's appointments and stuff because of the constant worry of stomach issues. You are not alone! As you said, it just plain sucks. Everyone else gets to go out and have a life, eat, and be happy, while we suffer. This gets you down.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Hey, Walter, how are you doing? Any improvement today?

[Mtndog]

Walter- I saw this thread and immediately wanted to post. I taught middle school (and high school) for 10 years before I went back to school (for doctorate in education so now I'm teaching college) BUT the worst thing about teaching (which I truly loved!) was the lack of time to go to the bathroom- supposedly teachers get more urinary tract infections than any other profession

But what I was thinking was this- what about parent volunteers if you need to go back? I know in my 7th grade class I had a parent volunteer who came in once a week because he wanted to eventually become a teacher. He stayed all day! He was amazing. I'm wondering if you can enlist the help of your students' parents. Especially at the elementary leve, parents are pretty eager to get involved (depending on the community). I'm assuming they know you're on leave of absence. Do they know it's for medical reasons? If not, maybe you could send out a letter or email that you're coming back and would like to get the parents more involved???? Just a thought. I'll keep thinking.

[Walter S]

I'm doing a little better today, but not great. I think I'm more down than I am physically sick. I don't know. I feel like I never know quite what to expect. I would like to fast forward to a time when I have been dealing long enough with this that I have it all under control and figured out. I like the suggestion of getting parent volunteers in the class. I am going to try it, but unfortunately I teach in a community where it is difficult to get much parental involvement, but I like the idea. Are depression and fatigue both common with Celiac? I get those everyday and I get dizzy spells also.

[Nantzie]

Absolutely. Depression, fatigue, dizzy, sleeping problems, concentration and memory problems... It feels overwhelming at first, especially when you're just trying to figure everything out. But believe us when we say that it does get easier. It won't be long before you'll be here giving advice too. I promise.

When I joined the board a couple years ago the common story was someone who happened across celiac while they were doing a search on the internet trying to figure out what could possibly be wrong with them. Then we had to wait for a doctor's appt so we could get a referral to a GI specialist, wait for the specialist appt, and then wait for the endoscopy. All while eating gluten so the test results would be accurate. In my case, I first saw the word celiac Sept 2, 2005. I got my endoscopy in Feb 2006. (Went gluten-free in Jan though - I couldn't stand one more minute. So I'll never know if I had the intestinal damage.) By the time I actually went gluten-free (four months after I found out that celiac even existed), I already knew what I was doing.

My point is that up until the last six months or a year, most of the people here had at least a couple months while waiting for doctor appts and tests to come here and learn everything. Recently though there has been a whole lot of people who have a diagnosis when they get here. It's great because it shows that doctors are getting much better at recognizing the signs of possible celiac, but it also puts you in the position of just having to jump in with both feet.

Please don't feel like you're ever asking too many questions. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we're happy to be able to help you through this. Just put one foot in front of the other and you'll get the hang of it.

Nancy

[Walter S]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention it, but I am also experiencing some really bad memory problems, too. (lol- that sounds funny- I forgot that I am forgetting. But it's true!) Thank you all for the help and advice you are offering. I'm off to sleep. So exhausted...

[Nantzie]

LOL! Yea, It's kind of like finding your home planet here isn't it? Forgetting that you forgot... Yep. Been there.

Nancy

[NoGluGirl]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention it, but I am also experiencing some really bad memory problems, too. (lol- that sounds funny- I forgot that I am forgetting. But it's true!) Thank you all for the help and advice you are offering. I'm off to sleep. So exhausted...

Dear Walter,

We totally get it! As Nancy said, you should feel free to ask questions. You may be feeling dizzy due to being anemic. Have you been tested? Many Celiacs are anemic. Since you have Crohn's and have had an ulcer, chances are you are. All they need to do is a blood test. Don't feel bad about the memory issue! I think many of us have had that trouble, too! Of course, I may have forgotten.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

P.S. The not knowing what to expect is often the hardest part. You never know how you are going to feel. I avoid making plans with anyone for that reason. I never know. Some days my stomach is alright, but other times it is miserable! It makes you worry constantly.

[Mtndog]

Dear Walter,

We totally get it! As Nancy said, you should feel free to ask questions. You may be feeling dizzy due to being anemic. Have you been tested? Many Celiacs are anemic. Since you have Crohn's and have had an ulcer, chances are you are. All they need to do is a blood test. Don't feel bad about the memory issue! I think many of us have had that trouble, too! Of course, I may have forgotten.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

P.S. The not knowing what to expect is often the hardest part. You never know how you are going to feel. I avoid making plans with anyone for that reason. I never know. Some days my stomach is alright, but other times it is miserable! It makes you worry constantly.

This is what I like least about celiac (or despise most) is that you never know how you're going to feel. But it does get better....really, it does. It's like anything chronic, you hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

I'm still thinking on ideas for you about school.