Family Members And Testing

[lilypad23]

I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance through Enterolab in September. Since then, I have tried to get my aunt on my dad's side to get tested because she has been told for years that she has IBS. She has many stomach problems, she is overweight, has diabetes, and has heart problems. When she was about my age, she got the skin prick allergy testing done and was told that she was allergic to wheat, milk, and many other things. However, she still consumes foods containing these things and still has many problems. Yet, she absolutely refuses to get tested. I've pretty much dropped the subject, but I really worry about her. Has anyone else ever had problems like this with family members? Is there a way to convince them that it might be a good idea to get tested?

[Gemini]

I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance through Enterolab in September. Since then, I have tried to get my aunt on my dad's side to get tested because she has been told for years that she has IBS. She has many stomach problems, she is overweight, has diabetes, and has heart problems. When she was about my age, she got the skin prick allergy testing done and was told that she was allergic to wheat, milk, and many other things. However, she still consumes foods containing these things and still has many problems. Yet, she absolutely refuses to get tested. I've pretty much dropped the subject, but I really worry about her. Has anyone else ever had problems like this with family members? Is there a way to convince them that it might be a good idea to get tested?

This is a very common problem for many compliant Celiacs.....stubborn family members who refuse to believe they may have it also and think they will die if thy have to give up gluten. My own family all have symptoms and many autoimmune diseases amongst them but have gotten petty nasty at times when I tried to press the issue. So now I am patiently waiting and watching as some of them get sicker and sicker and when they become sick enough, they'll probably ask for advice or help. When you hit the wall, denial is no longer an option. Be patient but try not to bite your tongue too hard!

[dandelionmom]

I've encouraged all of my family members to get tested ever since my daughter's diagnosis. We've all got a crazy history of "stomach problems." So far, it looks like only two people have taken me seriously and the others just roll their eyes. I'm hoping that each family member who gets a diagnosis will encourage a couple other family members to get tested. It is slow going, try not to get frustrated.

[babygirl1234]

in my house im not the only one with celiac disease my 9 yr old has it, my 6 yr old has it my 3 yr old has it, and my 1 yr old has it, thanksgiving is going to be hard with my family, but i'll take something for us that has celiac disease something that we can have, my hubby asked me "are you sure the other children dont have it" im like they havent showed smt of it, Sean said to me "we should own wegmans or the heath food store lol" but they are handleing it pretty well,

[SillyBoo]

I am very sympathetic! My family members are also very resistant.

I spent decades feeling borderline sick and got labeled as a hypochondriac by my family. Now that I know what caused all of that, and am finally starting to feel better, most of my family dismisses my celiac as my latest diet fad. Except for one brother, who took my advice and put his 2 year old autistic daughter on a gluten-free/cf diet, with amazing results! Even though the rest of my family sees what this has done for her, they still dismiss what I say.

So, the only thing I can suggest is that you aim to help the youngest members of the family. There may be more openness to hearing what you are saying, and maybe eventually others will be willing to hear and act.

Good luck!

[bookworm]

I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance through Enterolab in September. Since then, I have tried to get my aunt on my dad's side to get tested because she has been told for years that she has IBS. She has many stomach problems, she is overweight, has diabetes, and has heart problems. When she was about my age, she got the skin prick allergy testing done and was told that she was allergic to wheat, milk, and many other things. However, she still consumes foods containing these things and still has many problems. Yet, she absolutely refuses to get tested. I've pretty much dropped the subject, but I really worry about her. Has anyone else ever had problems like this with family members? Is there a way to convince them that it might be a good idea to get tested?

My daughter was diagnosed 2 weeks ago, and I really want my college-age son to get tested. I am going to insist, but I am really sort of afraid of the results. He will not want to take care of himself the way my daughter does. It is hard with him living so far away.

[lilypad23]

Thank you guys for the advice. I really appreciate it.

SB, my family basically labeled me a hypochondriac, lazy, etc... for years and my mom still thinks I'm a hypochondriac. But, anyways, that's awesome that you were able to help your neice.

[ryebaby0]

I think there is nothing as annoying as a newly-diagnosed person who feels they "know" what other people have. When we were dx, all I did was email all our family in a blanket email, explaining the heredity factor and suggesting that if they were getting other bloodwork done, adding tTgs in would be wise. I don't know who followed that, and who didn't, because they are grown-ups and their health is their concern, not mine. (and the opposite is true as well. I don't much care if Aunt Edna "believes" that my son can't have toast or not. Not her call, not her problem, so she's just background noise to me...)

[tarnalberry]

there's not really anything else you can do. it's her decision, whether you support it or not. it's the same thing we want from people who don't believe us - for them to accept that it's our decision, whether they support it or not. you've let her know of your concern, and then backed off. that's all you can do.

[loco-ladi]

I have simular issues with my family, I have intollerance at the least my cousin (maternal)is a diag'ed celiac disease altho i hear she cheats quite frequently on the diet...

I have tried to get my mother and sister to at least concider the possibility and so far my sister just ignores me and my mother now is "thinking about it"

Patience is a virtue and it is their health not mine so........ I will be patient and SWEAR I will NOT say "I told you so" when they find out their results.

[Tazzie]

I just got diagnosed and I am convinced my husband has it.. bloated stomach, ( looking 9 months pregnant, bloated stomach ) stomach problems, bleeding ulcers.. rheumatoid arthritis.. so on and so forth and I cannot convince him to get tested or to try to go with our gluten or wheat for a week..

He already thinks since I have it he is going to starve to death..

I can help him to be gluten free with the food I cook at home, but I can't control the junk he eats when he is at work

[psipsina]

I'm in a unique situation because I am a medical student so friends and family actually come to me for medical advice alot. I never push it but if I think they have possible symptoms I always mention it and offer to elaborate more if they are interested. One of my best friends tried to do my candida diet with me for moral support two years ago and couldn't stick with it because her cravings were soooo bad which was proof positive for me that she needed it as badly as I did. About a year later she asked if there was any test she could do and I told her about the spit test which came out positive but she still didn't do anything because she is so intimidated by giving up bread. I haven't pushed it at all and yesterday she called me and asked more about the diet and for advice and discussed some of her fears with me. She is going to see a naturopath to get tested. DH is definitely gluten intolerant but doesn't want to admit it. He did a gluten-free/CF diet for about a month and really had improvement with his GI symptoms but decided in his head at some point that it wasn't worth it. My house is gluten-free but he has beers and sandwiches and pizzas at work and with his buddies (he works in a microbrewery so its sort of hard to blame him lol). I don't push it with him either and only say something when he asks me for advice. Just the other day he admitted that his GI symptoms had started up after having a beer and said that he's going to go gluten-free/CF again. I don't think you can push it or they just get defensive. I have a cousin who has severe autoimmune disease and I suggested that she see a naturopath but her mom won't take her for whatever reason. That one bothers me the most because her disease is killing her and she's in the hospital all the time but I don't say anything unless they ask for my advice. It is frustrating though.