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Colonoscopy Tomorrow


Teacher1958

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melmak5 Contributor

Thanks Teach.

Yes, colonoscopy. But the prep is mag/citrate so perhaps if its not golytely (sp?) it requires different pre-prep.

One week before its no NSAIDS

Three days ahead its the "low residue"

Day before is clear liquids, no red/pink/blue/purple dyes, jello, black coffee/tea

Day before - 7pm 1.5 bottles of mag/cit

4-6 hours prior 1.5 bottles of mag/cit

I guess there is more than one way to do this... it is just hard to not eat fruit. Fruit, brown rice and green veggies are kinda my world right now. I keep telling myself its only for a few days!


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melmak5 Contributor

I am becoming mildly nervous. For some reason I keep worrying that I will not maintain an appropriate level of grooming. I know that doctors probably don't care if my toes are painted or not, yet this is all I can worry about. Its kinda funny that I am not freaking out about whether or not they find something in my colon, no, its trying to allot enough time to make sure I am well groomed.

Some day I am going to look back and laugh at this.

Teacher1958 Apprentice
I am becoming mildly nervous. For some reason I keep worrying that I will not maintain an appropriate level of grooming. I know that doctors probably don't care if my toes are painted or not, yet this is all I can worry about. Its kinda funny that I am not freaking out about whether or not they find something in my colon, no, its trying to allot enough time to make sure I am well groomed.

Some day I am going to look back and laugh at this.

Don't laugh, but proper grooming would have never even crossed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I showered and put on a little bit of make-up, but that was about it. My best friend, though, would have been making certain she looked perfect. My biggest obsession was counting down the hours and minutes until I could eat again.

melmak5 Contributor

Its totally funny because I have never been fully naked in front of a doctor before.

I am worried that if I am spending the evening and morning in the toilet I might not have enough time to shave. I was worried earlier that I haven't dyed my hair in months. The doc won't even be looking at my head! I didn't even think about make up, but I am not a make-up kinda person, so I can cross that "crazy which mascara goes better with a jonny, black or brown?" worry off my list.

After my endoscopy a few months ago I was so loopy I couldn't figure out how to put my pants back on. At least I have vowed to wear a pair of elastic waste band sweats and forgo a clasp bra for a sports bra so I won't require assistance from the nursing staff.

My friend who works in a hospital told me that as long as I am showered I would be miles ahead of a lot of what doctors have to deal with on a pretty daily basis and stop worrying about such little details... but for some reason I am totally hung up on them B)

Karen B. Explorer
Its totally funny because I have never been fully naked in front of a doctor before.

I am worried that if I am spending the evening and morning in the toilet I might not have enough time to shave. I was worried earlier that I haven't dyed my hair in months. The doc won't even be looking at my head! I didn't even think about make up, but I am not a make-up kinda person, so I can cross that "crazy which mascara goes better with a jonny, black or brown?" worry off my list.

After my endoscopy a few months ago I was so loopy I couldn't figure out how to put my pants back on. At least I have vowed to wear a pair of elastic waste band sweats and forgo a clasp bra for a sports bra so I won't require assistance from the nursing staff.

My friend who works in a hospital told me that as long as I am showered I would be miles ahead of a lot of what doctors have to deal with on a pretty daily basis and stop worrying about such little details... but for some reason I am totally hung up on them B)

Your friend is totally correct -- the doc won't see the cheeks to which you apply blush. :-) They are under such a tight schedules and see so many patients in one day, you could meet the doc and nurse in the grocery store the following night and they wouldn't even know you.

darkangel Rookie

I'm sure your doctor - and any other assisting technicians - would appreciate personal cleanliness and grooming but are unconcerned about makeup and hairstyles.

I find the whole thing pretty invasive and humiliating. I had a flex sig done with no anesthesia of any kind and was really traumatized by it. Hard to explain, but I felt violated... almost like I'd been raped. I sat in my doc's office after the procedure and just boo-hooed while he was trying to talk to me. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. These procedures are so common place to them, they never give any of these things that concern us a thought.

melmak5 Contributor

darkangel, that is horrible.

I get panic attacks in doctors offices/hospitals, so I am hoping to really instill in these docs how ESSENTIAL it is that I not have a memory of this. I know its really important, so I am going to do it, but apparently my coping mechanisms are a little on the fritz... hence the preoccupation with grooming.

I cannot wait for Wednesday afternoon!!


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Teacher1958 Apprentice
I'm sure your doctor - and any other assisting technicians - would appreciate personal cleanliness and grooming but are unconcerned about makeup and hairstyles.

I find the whole thing pretty invasive and humiliating. I had a flex sig done with no anesthesia of any kind and was really traumatized by it. Hard to explain, but I felt violated... almost like I'd been raped. I sat in my doc's office after the procedure and just boo-hooed while he was trying to talk to me. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. These procedures are so common place to them, they never give any of these things that concern us a thought.

This didn't even occur to me, but now I realize that it was because the GI was a female and so was her assistant. I don't think I would've felt so comfortable with someone of the opposite sex.

I had a similar experience to you when I was in premature labor. I was admitted to a teaching hospital, and shortly after I arrived, I was given an amniocentesis and dye was injected into my uterus to see if my water had broken. If the dye showed up "down there," then that would have meant that the water had broken and I was susceptible to infection. Well, believe it or not, there was an entire group of medical students awaiting the results of the dye test. How humiliating. :(

melmak5 Contributor

I am leaving for this shortly.

I think something went not so well. It felt like I was passing shards of glass and lemon juice all night. I got no sleep and have been painfully bloated, distended, gassy, gurgly and an overall crank. I don't know if the prep just had a lot of sugar = the bacteria in my gut to go wild, but I have no sensation of "squeaky clean," or emptiness that people said I would.

If I didn't know any better I would say that I was in fact constipated.

I am trying to be a trouper, but right now I want to rip the eyes of the person who developed this "prep."

Just a few more hours, just a few more hours.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
I am trying to be a trouper, but right now I want to rip the eyes of the person who developed this "prep."

AH HONEY, I HEAR YOU. THIS IS SO FUNNY IF NOT SO TRUE AND SAD...

GOOD LUCK PLEASE POST WHEN YOU BET BACK SO YOU KNOW YOUR OK

AT LEAST YOU'LL HAVE SOME ANSWERS

I GOT THE PRINT OUT WITH PHOTOS WHEN I LEFT THE OFFICE.

SAYING PRAYERS FOR YOU.......NOT THAT YOU'LL NEED THEM :blink::lol:

melmak5 Contributor

Thank you all so much for your support!

I apparently had a bad reaction to the prep (mag citrate)... it is not suppose to feel like fire and shards of glass on the way out.

They found one polyp, everything else looked normal, but they took a bunch of biopsies, which I should know about in 2 weeks.

They don't know what type of bacteria are overgrowing in my guts, but I got a rx for antibiotics and 40 minutes of fighting with the insurance company later, they were in my hot little hand. (insurance only wanted to pay for 14 pills instead of the 60 the doctor prescribed.)

I feel really exhausted, so I am going sleep this stuff off.

Thanks again!

Marg Star Newbie

Hello All, I'm new here and my colonoscopy is coming up soon. I have a fear of being put to sleep (I'm already having nightmares) but seriously think being awake through this would be worse...how lucid were you during this?

Also, I just started a new job (of course) and have to take time off. When did the prep start to "hit ya"? I.e. would it be better to take the afternoon off as well as the day for the procedure or would the morning after with anesthesia hang-over be better? I'm not quite comfy enough with my coworkers to explain frequent dashes to the bathroom...

ravenwoodglass Mentor
I'm sure your doctor - and any other assisting technicians - would appreciate personal cleanliness and grooming but are unconcerned about makeup and hairstyles.

I find the whole thing pretty invasive and humiliating. I had a flex sig done with no anesthesia of any kind and was really traumatized by it. Hard to explain, but I felt violated... almost like I'd been raped. I sat in my doc's office after the procedure and just boo-hooed while he was trying to talk to me. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. These procedures are so common place to them, they never give any of these things that concern us a thought.

Darkangel thanks for posting this. I also had a tortuous colon and they were only able to go in about 12 inches before inadaquate anesthesia and pain stopped the procedure. It might have helped if the doc had waited for the meds to take effect first especially since I had told him how fearful I was of the endo part. Instead I got to think everything was over and then was awoken by a nurse shoving a tube down my throat. I awoke with bruises and had the same mental aftereffect that you did. I have been raped and the mental aftereffects of the procedure were identical. It took me weeks to stop waking up at night in a cold sweat in the procedure room. When I talked to my doctor at the next appointment he swore I was asleep until I told him exactly how many times I told him it hurt and what he said after each time 'more versed'. He said next time they would put me under with a anesthesiologist, I told him there won't be a next time. At least with him. He also said the bad biopsy results were a mistake and to ignore them. Needless to say that doc has been fired. He made me feel like a real head case and like this sort of thing never happens and I imagined it all including the bruises on my legs, arms and shoulders (hmmm did they have to hold me down after I was finally out of it who knows after all it never happened), when I asked him for something to help me sleep until the nightmares stopped I was told it wasn't needed.

I wish you also had not had such a bad experience but I am so glad to know that I am not the only one this has happened to. I know it does not happen very often but I wish doctors would listen to us once in awhile. The whole trauma for me could have been avoided if he actually had put me under like he promised rather than using daterape drugs and trusting that I wouldn't remember anyway.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
Hello All, I'm new here and my colonoscopy is coming up soon. I have a fear of being put to sleep (I'm already having nightmares) but seriously think being awake through this would be worse...how lucid were you during this?

Also, I just started a new job (of course) and have to take time off. When did the prep start to "hit ya"? I.e. would it be better to take the afternoon off as well as the day for the procedure or would the morning after with anesthesia hang-over be better? I'm not quite comfy enough with my coworkers to explain frequent dashes to the bathroom...

The timing of your prep is going to be linked to when in the next day your procedure is. You can not work while doing the prep but most likely you will start drinking it after work hours. You will at some point be drinking and pooing at the same time. You do need to get the day of the procedure off unless you are a brave soul who is doing it with no drugs. They will stay in your system for a bit even if you feel normal you won't be allowed to drive until the next day. Do not let my horror story of my second procedure scare you, my first colonoscopy, 3 years before diagnosis with celiac, was a piece of cake after the prep was done. Didn't remember a thing except crying because even in all my pain they told me again everything was great, you have IBS here have a prozac.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast

Dear Marg Star

So nice of all the others sharing there experiences!

It seems are so many bad stories out there and let me tell you my first one was done by a-- outstanding GI and personal friend and co worker in the hosptial....He truly cared about me..BUT

HE did all the anesthesia and it didn't work at all...they couldn't put in out...colon spasmed so badly couldn't get it all the way down..i was at the max of drugs and couldn't do any more for the pain.

SO THAT WAS 7 YEARS AGO. Just went to a new women GI and they have a anesthesiologist who is control of the drugs and Dr in charge of just the scope..to me...my opinion...but it's the only way I'd go...

since I'm allergic to soy i couldn't do the drug of choice..that starts with P..can anyone remember the name that works in 15 min and you totally wake up after 15 min recovery room? Hubby just did that and did GREAT WITH IT. he's had 5 and said best one yet.

Since i have so many intolerances, they called in a special anesthesiologist Dr. and she was WONDERFUL. If i felt pain they put more drugs in..it wasn't bad this time...it really wasn't.

took me longer to get awake but who cares.. i talked all through the procedure and we 3 were laughing and telling jokes...but NOT PAIN EXCEPT SOME BREAK THROUGH..THE ENDOSCOPE WAS HARD B/C I HAVE SUCH A BAD GAG REFLEX..BUT THEY HANDLED IT.

ALSO MY PREP WAS 1/2 GO LIGHTLY..4 PILLS AT 4:OO AND THEN DRINK 1/2 GALLON EVERY 10 MIN TILL GONE...IT WAS THE EASIEST PREP THIS TIME.

PERSONALLY I THINK THE FEAR OF BEING PUT TO SLEEP WILL EASE WITH THE RELAXING DRUGS AND YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU CHOSE THAT WAY IF YOU DO....

AND...I'D CALL AND ASK TO TALK TO THE ANTHOLOGIST..IF THEY DON'T HAVE ONE...AND DR DOES IT..WELL..HUMMM...GUESS THAT'S UP TO YOU.

GOOD LUCK WHEN IS IT SCHEDULED?

HUGS

JUDY

melmak5 Contributor

MargStar

Please feel free to PM me, I think overall I had a good experience, minus the prep.

I have panic attacks in doctors offices/hospitals. So I got extra med to help relax me. They prevent some memories from forming, so I remember nothing of the beginning of my colonosocpy, but I do have memory of the middle, and then again of waking up.

If you are nervous/anxious TELL THEM. Nurses are your best allies here, they want you to be comfortable and compliant (so if they ask you to move your legs, you can).

I felt NO PAIN. Some pressure, but no pain at all (and I had a polyp removed and biopsies done). I have to credit them with being amazing at Beth Israel. I left with dignity, they allowed almost my entire body to be covered with jonnies/blankets, and I did not feel uncomfortable or invaded.

They were very liberal with lubrication, which I cannot thank them enough for.

The Prep

It took about 2-3 hours for it to "start" but start it at home. I live with 2 other house mates and I told them that one of the bathrooms was mine for the night. BEST DECISION EVER! I also slept on the couch cause it was closer to the bathroom. A few times I literally had to run to make it.

The After

You will have to pass a lot of gas, this is normal - they actually wouldn't let me leave until I did so.

You will NOT be able to go to work. I wasn't even able to do basic tasks... I spilled my lunch all over me and my shoes :)

If at all possible, do it on a Friday, so you can have the weekend to recover.

Good luck! It really isn't that bad. At least 80% of it is mental.

Cruiser Bob Newbie

Well my procedure (endo & colon) went just fine - don't remember a thing, although I think I was awake the entire time - I guess. The drugs wiped me out for the rest of the day.

Before the procedure and the delivery of the results - I have a major problem with - but that is all Doctor related -as in the PA completely mixed up my medical history and the fact that I've been gluten-free for 7 years, refused to change the medical records, and on top of that did not hear a word I said about celiacs and the need for more, rather than less biopsies.

Thus his mailed results said "call me in two weeks". I think I would have filed a complaint if he'd have included "aspirin" in that comment. The only thing he commented on was minor GERD (acid reflux) at the bottom of my esphagus.

So, a second opinion, or do nothing are my choices, I'm certainly not changing my gluten-free diet with two generations of celiacs older than me, and one set younger. That's pretty conclusive evidence itself.

Now the day before - oh boy, I don't look forward to that again. I had the half lite with the 4 pills, then the ton of flavored evacuant. At least I wasn't up all night, had things done on a Friday morning

Anyway, are we all having fun yet:)

I've said for years that it's fascinating learning all this, but it sucks being patient, and/or being THE patient.

Bob

(engineer by schooling)

Teacher1958 Apprentice

I wasn't awake through the whole thing, but I did watch the monitor at one point, and I also remember severe pain. It felt as if someone had put a knife inside me. Except for myself and some of you guys, I've never talked to anyone who remembered anything at all from it.

sg325 Newbie
I wasn't awake through the whole thing, but I did watch the monitor at one point, and I also remember severe pain. It felt as if someone had put a knife inside me. Except for myself and some of you guys, I've never talked to anyone who remembered anything at all from it.

I had endo/colonoscopy done 2 weeks ago, and I did have a horrible experience. I was awake and bawling uncontrollably during the entire procedure. My doc did not do it, he was caught up with another patient, but when I started freaking, he came in and tried to hold my hand and calmly talk to me to help me relax. I too, felt violated and freaked out after, but only this week did I find out why.

VERSED- While not considered an allergic reaction, in some patients it causes combativeness, excessive emotions (crying), and heightened awareness. It is in the valium family, but doesn't relax me at all...I thought I was losing my mind, even after I went home. My doc said next time the anestheiologist (sp?) would give me a completely different med and that would make it a lot better...

Joni63 Collaborator
I wasn't awake through the whole thing, but I did watch the monitor at one point, and I also remember severe pain. It felt as if someone had put a knife inside me. Except for myself and some of you guys, I've never talked to anyone who remembered anything at all from it.

Oh My! I just read this thread and had a whole different experience. I was in a hospital as an outpatient for the procedure. There was an anesthesiologist who I dealt with instead of the GI doctor and I remember NOTHING! I went to sleep covered nice and neat all in a blanket and woke up in the recovery room covered back up in the same blanket. Whatever they did to me I felt or remember nothing at all. I had no pain after and couldn't tell that anything had been done to me.

I can't believe so many of you have felt pain and heard talking, watched the monitor and all. That must be awful! And why would the GI Dr. be the one who administered anesthesia? Was it an in-office procedure?

I know my sister had it done about 10 years ago with nothing at all except throat spray. I doubt she will ever go back because she said she panicked and gagged and it was terrible. They should make sure people are out more than most of you were!

Sycamore Newbie
I know my sister had it done about 10 years ago with nothing at all except throat spray. I doubt she will ever go back because she said she panicked and gagged and it was terrible. They should make sure people are out more than most of you were!

I know how your sister feels. I'd say its very likely I have celiac disease but I doubt I'll ever have it checked out again. I had all the symptoms as a child, including very stunted growth and severe weight loss, but my doctor gave me the diagnosis of 'failure to thrive' - meaning social services should keep an eye on me. At a second hospital a few years later I had every test under the sun, who knows how many incompetent blood tests over the years, and an endoscopy without anaesthetic. They didn't finish the endoscopy, apparently it was too difficult due to my size and my gagging, all that achieved was me refusing to talk to my parents for several weeks and panic attacks if I ever have to go to a doctor. I went on a gluten free diet anyway and my symptoms lessened and finally went, I grew (a bit) and am fine now provided I stay away from gluten.

Despite my experiences, I think (I certainly hope) its changed a lot in most places in the last 15 years since I had mine done. My mum went for a biopsy a couple of years ago, and even though they didn't offer anaesthetic once she told them about taking me as a child they were happy to give it to her and she was fine. My sister was also recently offered an endoscopy with anaesthesia at a different hospital again, though she decided like me she's happy just knowing the cure even if not the definate cause. Good luck to all about to go through any of these procedures, I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine :)

Joni63 Collaborator

I know how your sister feels. I'd say its very likely I have celiac disease but I doubt I'll ever have it checked out again.

Despite my experiences, I think (I certainly hope) its changed a lot in most places in the last 15 years since I had mine done.

Yes, she was diagnosed about 10 years ago and I do agree that it's probably changed a lot in the last 15 years. I'm sure there are still some doctors who would do it that way as my sister's still does, but there are plenty of other doctors who wouldn't think of doing a test like that while a person is awake.

My family doctor couldn't believe they tested my sister like that, but then I told her it was several years ago. She said that anesthesia is so much better today than it was years ago and there is no reason to put someone through a test today with that much discomfort when it's not necessary.

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    • Dora77
      Sorry for the long post. I’m 18, and I was diagnosed with celiac disease and type 1 diabetes (T1D). My transglutaminase IgA was >128 U/mL, EMA IgA positive twice, and I’m HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 positive. I’ve been completely asymptomatic since diagnosis, even when I cheated with gluten sometimes in the past and used to eat out(2-5 years ago) I don’t get the typical celiac reactions, which makes it really hard to know when (or if) I’ve been glutened. But for the past year, I’ve been the most strict with my diet, and that’s also when a bunch of new issues started. I eat completely glutenfree, never eat out, dont eat food that says „may contain gluten“.   Current Health Problems • Floating, undigested stools for over a year now. Dont think its related to celiac as it was like this since im 17 and not 13-16( i got diagnosed at 13). • Chronic back pain started gradually, worsens with movement, lots of cracking/popping sounds. Been ongoing for a year now. First noticed in the gym. • Abdominal bulge on the right side, not painful but seems to be getting slightly bigger. Doctor didn’t find a hernia on ultrasound, but it was done lying down (I’ve read those can miss hernias). Noticed it like 6 months ago, couldve been there longer. • extremely dry and mildly swollen hands (this started before I started excessive hand-washing), and bloated face. • Signs of inattentive ADHD (noticed over the past 3 years), now combined with severe OCD focused on contamination and cross-contact. • Growth/puberty seemed to started after going gluten-free. Before that I was not developing. Dont know if any of these are because of celiac as my dad doesnt have those and he is a lot less strict gluten-free then me. I also had pancreatic elastase tested four times: values were 46 (very low), 236, 158, and 306 (normal). Gastroenterologist said one normal value is enough and I don’t have EPI. Family doctor prescribed Kreon anyway (after I pushed for it), and I just started taking 1 capsule (10,000 units) with meals 2 days ago, but couldn‘t see effects yet because I’ve been constipated the last few days. Maybe because of thyroid. I don’t have Hashimoto’s. No thyroid antibodies. But I took levothyroxine for slightly low FT4 levels. My thyroid levels fluctuated between borderline low and low-normal. And recently lowered my dose so that may have caused the constipating. I probably didn’t need it in the first place, and am thinking about stopping it soon.   Current Diet Right now, I only eat a very limited set of “safe” foods I prepare myself: • Gluten-free bread with tuna or cheese • Milk and cornflakes • gluten-free cookies/snacks • Bananas (the only fruit I trust right now) I rarely eat other fruits or vegetables, because I’m scared of contamination. My dad, who also has celiac but doesn’t care about CC, buys fruits, and he might’ve picked them up right after handling gluten bread. That makes me feel unsafe eating them. Even fruit at stores or markets feels risky because so many people with gluten on their hands touch them.   My Home Situation (Shared Kitchen) We’re a family of 5. Only my dad and I have celiac. He eats glutenfree but doesn’t care about CC and sometimes (but rarely) cheats. My mom and siblings eat gluten bread at every meal. My mom is honest (so if i ask her to be cautious, she most likely would try to), but doesn’t seem to understand how serious celiac is. She: • Stopped using gluten flour • only cooks gluten-free meals (but they still heat up gluten bread and also cook gluten noodles) • Keeps separate butter/jam/jars for me • Bought me a stainless steel pan Bu we didn’t replace old wooden utensils, cutting boards, or other pans. The new they bought me pan was even carried home in a shopping bag with gluten bread in it, which triggered my OCD. It also has a rubber handle and I’m scared it might still hold onto gluten. Even if it’s washed well, it’s stored next to other pans that were used for gluten food/bread. Our kitchen table is used for eating gluten bread daily. My mom wipes it but not with soap. I’m scared tiny particles remain. If she made gluten-free bread dough on a board at the table, I’d still worry about cross contmaination contamination even with something under the dough and on the table as at one point the dough would probably touch the table. So I stopped eating anything she makes.   I know OCD is making it worse, but I can’t tell how much of my fear is real and how much is anxiety. Examples: • I wash my hands 20–30 times a day — before eating, after touching anything at home or outside, after using my phone/laptop. • I don’t let others touch my phone, and I’m scared to use my laptop because friends at school or my brother (who eat gluten) have touched it. And it annoys me a lot when others touch my stuff and feels like it got contaminated and is unsafe instantly. • I stopped eating while using my phone or laptop, afraid of invisible gluten being on them. • I wash my hands after opening food packaging (since it was on store cashier belts where gluten food is placed). • I avoid sitting anywhere except my bed or one clean chair. • I won’t shake hands with anyone or walk past people eating gluten. • At school, when switching classes, I wash my hands before getting out my laptop, again before opening it, etc. • I open door knobs with my elbows instead my hands   Job Concerns (Powder Coating, Sandblasting, Etc.) I’m working a temporary job right now that involves: • Powder coating • Sandblasting • Wet spray painting • Anodizing There’s also a laboratory. I don’t need this job, and my OCD makes me believe that dust or air particles there might contain gluten somehow. Should I quit?   Doctors Haven’t Helped My family doctor told me: “Asymptomatic celiac isn’t serious, if you have no symptoms, your intestines won’t get damaged, so you don’t need a gluten-free diet.” I knew that was wrong, but he wasn’t open to listening. I just nodded and didn‘t argue. My gastroenterologist (who’s also a dietitian) said: „If your antibodies are negative, there’s no damage. It might even be okay to try small amounts of gluten later if antibodies stay negative.“ Also said, pepper that says “may contain gluten” is fine if it only contains pepper. She was more informed than my family doctor but didn’t seem to fully understand celiac either.   Questions I Need Help With 1. Is it realistically safe to eat food my mom cooks, if we get separate pans/ and boards even if gluten is still used in the same kitchen? There will always be low risk of cc chances like that she will still touch stuff that was touched by her and my siblings after they ate gluten. And as there are gluten eaters in the house and she also prepares and eats gluten. So would opening the fridge then getting the food and touching the food be okay? So basically what i am doing, washing my hands multiple times while preparing food, she would only wash it once before, then touch anything else (for example water tap or handles) that were touched with gluteny hands, then also touch the food. I dont know if I ever could feel safe, I could try telling her how important cc really is. And I trust her so she wouldnt lie to me then be careless about cc, but idk how safe it really can be if she and everyone else keeps eating gluten and touching stuff in the house after eating. 2. Do I need to worry about touching doorknobs, fridge handles, light switches, etc. that family members touched after eating gluten? What about public places like bus handles or school desks? Or like if i went to the gym, I would be touching stuff all the time, so there will be small amounts of gluten and those would get transferred on my phone if I touch my phone while in the gym. But I want to knos if it would be enough to do damage. 3. Is an endoscopy (without biopsy) enough to tell if my intestines are healed? I’d pay privately if it could help and if i dont get a refferal. Or do i need a biopsy? 4. Could my job (powder coating, sandblasting, etc.) expose me to gluten or damage my intestines through air/dust? 5. Do I need certified gluten-free toothpaste, hand soap, shampoo, or moisturizer? (For example: Vaseline and Colgate don’t contain gluten ingredients but say they can’t guarantee it’s gluten-free.) 6. Is spices like pepper with “may contain traces of gluten” safe if no gluten ingredients are listed? Or does everything need to be labeled gluten-free?  7. Is continuing to only eat my own food the better choice, or could I eventually go back to eating what my mom cooks if she’s careful? 8. is cutlery from dishwasher safe if there are stains? Stuff like knives is used for cutting gluten bread or fork for noodles etc. I often see stains which i dont know if its gluten or something else but our dish washer doesnt seem to make it completely clean. 9. I wash my hands multiple times while preparing food. Do i need to do the same when touching my phone. Like if i touch the fridge handle, I wash my hands then touch the phone. I dont eat while using my phone but i leave it on my bed and pillow and my face could come in contact with where it was.  10. Do i need to clean my phone or laptop if theyve been used by people who eat gluten? Even if no crumbs fall onto my keybaord, i mean because of invisible gluten on their fingers. 11. Does medication/supplements have to be strictly glutenfree? One company said they couldn‘t guarantee if their probiotics don’t contain traces of gluten.  12. I had bought supplements in the past, some of them say glutenfree and some of them dont(like the brand „NOW“ from iherb). I bought them and used them when i wasnt washing my hands so often, are they still safe? As I touched and opened them after touching door knobs, water taps etc. It was like a year ago when i bought those and even though i was eating gluten-free, I never worried about what i touch etc. I know this post is long. I’m just extremely overwhelmed. I’m trying to protect myself from long-term health damage, but the OCD is destroying my quality of life, and I honestly don’t know what’s a reasonable level of caution anymore. Thanks for reading.
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