Advice, Symptoms

[jessi]

I am a new poster here. I hadn't heard of Celiac's until recently. Two years ago, while pregnant, I experienced some neurological issues. The went away, then one year ago I had the same neurological symptoms. After an MRI, it was discovered I have a lesion on my cervical spine. No dx of MS, because there were no brain lesions. After reading more than I should, I have suspected a malabsorption problem. I have terrible gastro issues including flatulence, floating stools, constantly feel hungry, always nauseated after I eat, etc. These problems started years ago, before the neurological issues. I began eating hot cereal every day while pregnant. Oats or wheat. Recently, I have noticed my gastro symptoms are horrible if I eat oatmeal or hot wheat cereal in the morning. I also have a history of obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks. My teeth hurt for no reason. I saw a gastroenterologist who ran some tests for bacterial overgrowth and one test for celiac's. Everything was normal. But, I still don't feel normal. I was supposed to follow up with him, but I was discouraged and haven't rescheduled. He said he might want to run a gi scope. However, I am likely pregnant, so I don't know that we should do that now. But, I am nervous because my original neurological symptoms started during pregnancy. Wierdly, I had epilepsy when I was a child. My mother can not recall any details of why, but she was told not to feed me oatmeal because it would trigger my seizures? I had no idea and I don't understand why. I don't know if I should just try the gluten free diet, even if I am pregnant. I am not medicated for my anxiety because I wanted to be pregnant, and I wonder if the gluten free diet might help that anyway. It was really out of control during my last pregnancy. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[darkangel]

A gluten free diet is a very healthy diet. There's no reason not to try it, even if you are pregnant, and it certainly sounds like it would help you feel better. There are alot of folks here, myself included, who either don't have a diagnosis or have received false negatives, yet we follow the diet because we know we feel better and are healthier doing so.

[jessi]

Thank you, I don't need the diagnosis for me, but my very doubtful husband needs me to have a diagnosis. Otherwise, he believes my doctors and agrees that it is just anxiety driving all of it, without an underlying cause. Anyway, I am going to try the gluten free diet until I decide what to do about a diagnosis.

[gdobson]

Jessi,

I am so sorry for all the issues you have had to struggle with. My husband used to be skeptical. Then he saw the change in me after being gluten free...and then he saw the changes every time I had been glutened since then. He is actually more careful than I am..."are you sure you should eat that" and "did you double check the label." Maybe in time as you feel better, your husband will get on board, too.

Gina