Stress Causes Symptoms Post-diagnosis, Anyone Else?

[meliss-is-here]

Hi everybody,

My fiance (age 24) has been on a gluten-free diet (or as close as we can get) since Oct 2006. The frequent trips to the bathroom, stomach pain, frequent (but normal) stool started shortly after his business started to pick up earlier that year (and after we were engaged ) Once he was diagnosed, the diet has helped a lot, but there is still a pattern.

1) The morning of a big meeting, or family event that requires a couple hours travel, he returns to his pre-diagnosis frequent bathroom-trip state. -OR-

2) If stressed and he is not in the bathroom, he has abdominal pain instead, in severe cases, nausea.

3) It seems this also happens when he has less than 7 hours of sleep. Sunday mornings, he is a wreck and needs to stay in bed as well, sometimes he is so weak, he has chills.

4) As soon as he cancels the event he has to be at, symptoms disappear within an hour or so!

On a side note, we are getting married in August, and moving into our new home this June 15th. Thank goodness, because his younger brothers are noisy with their late-night parties, and I can take care of my fiance properly without worrying about excessive obligations to parents, etc. Not to mention after the wedding, things should get a lot less stressful...

Is this normal of a celiac patient? Are there other diseases I should be looking for? Other blood work seemed to be normal at time of diagnosis. Is stress-reduction the only thing I should be looking at? Or perhaps the diet isn't completely gluten-free and we're missing something...

Thank you

[cdfiance]

Just wanted to say my fianc

[NoGluGirl]

Hi everybody,

My fiance (age 24) has been on a gluten-free diet (or as close as we can get) since Oct 2006. The frequent trips to the bathroom, stomach pain, frequent (but normal) stool started shortly after his business started to pick up earlier that year (and after we were engaged ) Once he was diagnosed, the diet has helped a lot, but there is still a pattern.

1) The morning of a big meeting, or family event that requires a couple hours travel, he returns to his pre-diagnosis frequent bathroom-trip state. -OR-

2) If stressed and he is not in the bathroom, he has abdominal pain instead, in severe cases, nausea.

3) It seems this also happens when he has less than 7 hours of sleep. Sunday mornings, he is a wreck and needs to stay in bed as well, sometimes he is so weak, he has chills.

4) As soon as he cancels the event he has to be at, symptoms disappear within an hour or so!

On a side note, we are getting married in August, and moving into our new home this June 15th. Thank goodness, because his younger brothers are noisy with their late-night parties, and I can take care of my fiance properly without worrying about excessive obligations to parents, etc. Not to mention after the wedding, things should get a lot less stressful...

Is this normal of a celiac patient? Are there other diseases I should be looking for? Other blood work seemed to be normal at time of diagnosis. Is stress-reduction the only thing I should be looking at? Or perhaps the diet isn't completely gluten-free and we're missing something...

Thank you

Dear meliss_is_here,

Stress can make any illness worse. Your fiance may still be getting a hold of gluten, too. Cross-contamination is a huge problem. When you live in a house with others and must share a kitchen, that makes avoiding gluten very difficult at times. I share a kitchen, and have gotten glutened because of it, despite being extemely careful. Everything from condiments, to cookware, utensils, toothpaste, hair styling products, shampoo, lotion, your cosmetics (you can accidentally gluten him by kissing him from wearing lipstick that has it), if you eat gluten and kiss him, and so much more can be sources. I would recommend you get cookware for his use only and utensils and measuring cups, I know a great place you can get them at for a good price, e-mail me! The cookware and other things that are his should be in an airtight container such as a Rubbermaid tub so no gluten dust can get in them or on them. Also, get some Ziploc or Glad food storage containers that should be used only for his food! They are inexpensive, dishwasher safe, and easy to close.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[meliss-is-here]

First I must say I am overwhelmed by both your responses. I really appreciate your ideas, and your concern, as we are both pretty new to this situation.

One way we are dealing with the stress is to try and get more exercise. We are walking now -eventually we'll get to a jog. As far as work goes for him, the hard days are still there, but I am trying my best to be supportive, and to also give him the meals that he needs. We both live with our respective parents at the moment, but I come over to help him out. I think we need to move into the new house sooner than we realized!

Thanks for the new utensil-purchase idea, Noglugirl, fortunately our wedding shower is soon, so the new cookware is on the way. Ryan, I most likely will go gluten-free also. Not only is it easier to plan meals and keep cross-contamination down, but I don't like eating donuts in front of him, etc. He has not cut out dairy from his diet. I saw it mentioned a few times before, and I had wondered if it was related myself.

We do need to go to the doctor soon, hopefully that works out well. Everyone here knows they don't have all the answers, but now I have some ideas to work from.

Thank you so much, good luck to you both, and if anyone else has something, I'm still listening.

Melissa

[NoGluGirl]

First I must say I am overwhelmed by both your responses. I really appreciate your ideas, and your concern, as we are both pretty new to this situation.

One way we are dealing with the stress is to try and get more exercise. We are walking now -eventually we'll get to a jog. As far as work goes for him, the hard days are still there, but I am trying my best to be supportive, and to also give him the meals that he needs. We both live with our respective parents at the moment, but I come over to help him out. I think we need to move into the new house sooner than we realized!

Thanks for the new utensil-purchase idea, Noglugirl, fortunately our wedding shower is soon, so the new cookware is on the way. Ryan, I most likely will go gluten-free also. Not only is it easier to plan meals and keep cross-contamination down, but I don't like eating donuts in front of him, etc. He has not cut out dairy from his diet. I saw it mentioned a few times before, and I had wondered if it was related myself.

We do need to go to the doctor soon, hopefully that works out well. Everyone here knows they don't have all the answers, but now I have some ideas to work from.

Thank you so much, good luck to you both, and if anyone else has something, I'm still listening.

Melissa

Dear Melissa,

I am glad you will be able to get cookware soon! That is wonderful! It is so supportive of you not to eat doughnuts in front of your sweetie! I wish my parents were that supportive.

The dairy is a common culprit. I can get away with eating milk chocolate, and cheese, but not pudding or yogurt. I get very sick from the lather two. I guess I can tolerate just a bit of lactose. It is amazing how tempermental your body can be!

Also, here is a list of things you may not know your fiance could have. It is my little present to you as a gift for joining the forum. I have a list that should really help. This is overwhelming. I went through this with myself six months ago. You spend most of your day cooking and cleaning obsessively. The rest you are on the phone with reps from companies trying to find out what is safe. I decided to save you the trouble!

1. There are a number of things in the regular grocery that are safe. Some things are labeled already. Wal-Mart's Great Value brand has numerous things you can eat.

2. For the love of God use Coupons on items you are allowed to eat. People can get them and print them out online even. Call some of the local stores and ask if they accept online coupons.

3. Check the ads online and in the newspaper. You would be surprised how many people do not do this.

4. Some items like rice flour and rice noodles are safe to buy at the Chinese or oriental market. The merchants are more than happy to help you if you cannot read the label.

Now, here is my list of great things to get you started:

Condiments:

Smart Balance Margerine*

Crisco Shortening

Crisco Oil

Pompeiian Olive Oil

Great Value soy sauce

Heinz Ketchup

Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce (all Lea & Perrins Products are safe)

Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce

Kraft French Fat-Free Salad Dressing

Kraft Thousand Island Fat-Free Salad Dressing

Pace Picante Sauce

Ortega Salsa

All Classico Red and *White sauces

All Jif Peanut Butters including Smooth Sensations

Welch's Grape Jelly

Cool Whip*

Philadelphia Cream Cheese*

Miracle Whip

Daisy Sour Cream (fat-free, low-fat, regular)*

Snack Foods:

Utz Potato Chips (Found at Sam

[meliss-is-here]

WoW! I'll take this as a wedding present too for both myself and Jason. Forget wedding registries, this is GREAT! Thank you so very, very much!

NoGluGirl, you rock.

Melissa

[NoGluGirl]

WoW! I'll take this as a wedding present too for both myself and Jason. Forget wedding registries, this is GREAT! Thank you so very, very much!

NoGluGirl, you rock.

Melissa

Dear Melissa,

You are so welcome! I am sure you guys are on a tight budget as well. It is nice to know there are things at the regular store you can get! I was surprised at what we could eat, too! I feel it is important to make this as easy as possible for others. I do not want everyone else having to exhaust themselves calling manufacturers and fretting like I did in the beginning.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl