I Would Never Have Known!

[emcmaster]

My grandmother passed away last month and my family and I were in Boston for the wake and funeral. During the lunch following the funeral, my uncle, whom I don't see often, and I were talking about my food intolerances. He mentioned that when my grandma was in the nursing home (she had been in several for the last 6 years due to intense Alzheimer's), they had to feed her gluten-free bread (I guess they figured out based on symptoms that she had a problem with gluten - I doubt they would have blood tested her). Since no one else in my family (that we know of) on either side has had any symptoms that could be celiac-related, this was a huge surprise!

Of course, my mother who thinks I'm a hypochondriac had to mention that it was odd that the nursing home never mentioned this to the rest of the family. Well, Mom, they never told us how many times she pooped a day, either! I'm sure they didn't think it was worthy of mentioning and my Uncle just happened to be there when someone casually mentioned it.

Regardless of my Mother's denial, I'm pretty stoked to be able to trace it back somewhere...

[Susanna]

Hey, Ellizabeth--yeah, I bet it feels good to have a positive family history of celiac now validate you. I'm sure my celiac came from my mother--she has chronic digestive complaints, is hypothyroid, is short in stature, and has had breast cancer. I've told her all of these are associated with celiac disease, and they all run rampant in her family. But she is Cleopatra, queen of denial, so she's not gonna look at the elephant in the room.

Susanna

[happygirl]

Wow, Elizabeth, that is great that you found that out! Its amazing how these little "tidbits" of information get passed along.

I am sorry for the loss of your grandma.

[rsm]

My daughter figured out the celiac connection, undiagnosed, through her own health problems as well as mine, my mothers, my grandfathers and many other relatives. It was well known that my grandfather had severe digestive problems as did all of his children and about half of the grandkids. We just lived with our problems and thought there was nothing that could be done. Symptoms ranged fro the big D and C to alopecia, one aunt loses all of hair every few years, pernicious anemia, anemia, dizzy spells, bruising, the list goes on.

In just a couple of months of gluten free life my little off-shoot of the family tree feels better. The other parts of the family don't want to accept celiac or even try the gluten free but at least it works for us.

Families really can help each other if they share data.