Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

I Am Back

Ursa Major

Recommended Posts

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Well, I got back last night. The day after I arrived in Ottawa two weeks ago I got dreadfully ill with the stomach flu. My daughter said that she had never in all her life seen anybody as violently ill with the stomach flu as me. I was throwing up with accompanying severe D all night that night, and was in bed with a fever all day the next day. So, I couldn't take my granddaughter visiting that week.

The following week we were supposed to be visiting relatives in the area, but then all the kids got sick with the flu (even though none of them did more than throw up a couple of times, but they'd feel bad and have a fever for a day). So, needing a break from the chaos of a household with five little children I went visiting on my own.

I am still recovering. I have had bad stomach aches for the past two weeks since I was sick, and the D is finally getting better. I had the first solid bm today in two weeks. It felt like I'd never get better! I am still quite weak, and will be shaking with utter exhaustion from doing the smallest bit of physical work. I am getting a little disgusted with that.

I expect that I reacted so much worse to getting the stomach flu than most people because of permanent damage to my stomach and bowels from fifty years of undiagnosed celiac disease. I am seriously considering asking my doctor to send me to GI doctor for an endoscopy to see what kind of damage there is. And no, I certainly have no intentions of going back on gluten for that, I just want to know what it looks like in there now.

On the bright side, my grandchildren love seeing me, and I enjoyed them, they are very sweet. And I got to see my daughter sing in a Cantata at her church, and went to an amazing concert a cousin was singing in. She is in a university choir with a very high standard of excellence, and they sang music by Mozart with a string orchestra and several soloists. It was heavenly, I took my daughter to that, and she loved it as well. It gave her a much needed break, too.

There is still a lot of snow in Ottawa, the snow banks are just starting to get smaller. Yesterday on my way home I drove through the Algonquin Park, and most lakes are still completely frozen. I stopped a few times to take pictures of ice breaking up, and small waterfalls off the rocks by the roadside from melting snow. I was hoping to see a moose, but didn't see any animals at all, which was a little bit of a disappointment. Still, it was a pleasant drive, albeit long (five hours).

Today I slept until early afternoon, which I needed desperately, I am exhausted. I saw my chiropractor in the afternoon, which helped me feel somewhat better, my neck and back have stopped aching now.

Anyway, just thought I'd fill you guys in. Obviously, I managed to check in a few times and answer some questions while I was gone, but still missed a lot.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted

Welcome back UM,

Sorry to hear you were so ill. I too have had a couple bouts with the devil recently, and so think I can sympathize a little. We are all fellow Celiac sufferrers afterall.

best regards, lm

Ridgewalker Contributor
Ridgewalker
Posted

Ohh, Ursa that sounds miserable!!! Sounds like when I got the Norwalk virus a few years ago... I was pregnant at the time, too ugh. Lucas was a toddler and he got it too. Utterly awful!

I'm glad you did have some good times on your trip, though!

Give yourself some time to recuperate-- some of those viruses reeeeally take a toll!

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Welcome back, Ursa :D We missed you, too!

Ugh--sorry you got so sick, it sounds awful. Now that you're home, get as much rest as you can. :)

OBXMom Explorer
OBXMom
Posted

I just posted a question to you on another thread that you answered here . . . So sorry to hear about your miserable time. It does seem like an injustice, though, that people who already have to deal with celiac issues also get struck with the bugs the worst. Very unfair. I would have loved to see your ice breaking up - here in the South we haven't had any snow at all in a couple of years. Can you post a picture? (When you get your energy back, of course.)

Green12 Enthusiast
Green12
Posted

Sorry you got so sick Ursa. Hope you get rested up now that you are back :)

Cheri A Contributor
Cheri A
Posted

Welcome back! Sorry to hear that you were so sick for some of it, although it sounds like you were able to have some fun in there too. :)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

Welcome Back Ursa!

ksymonds84 Enthusiast
ksymonds84
Posted

Sorry you got so sick Ursa. We had it at our house too and my husband was the one that got it very violently like you. He's not celiac but is hypothyroid. Glad you got to see grandkids though!

kevsmom Contributor
kevsmom
Posted

Ursa - I've been wondering how your trip was going. I'm glad you're home safe and sound.

Cindy :rolleyes:

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted

Glad you made it to Ottawa, Ursula! So sorry to hear about that vicious bug. Take care!

Glutenfreefamily Enthusiast
Glutenfreefamily
Posted

I agree with ridgewalker it sounds like norwalk virus. I had that and I must have thrown up over 20 times even the tiniest of liquids and had D so bad that I had horrible cramping in my legs. It took weeks for me to feel really good. Our whole family had it over Christmas two years ago.

Im sorry you have been sick and Im glad your back on the mend. I would get the scope done anyways, its a good idea to get a peek around there just to make sure everythings okay.

bluejeangirl Contributor
bluejeangirl
Posted

Welcome back Ursa ..... I get worse symptoms then anyone in my family when I get the flu. It knocks me down pretty hard.

I'm glad you were able to enjoy the choir music. It sounds like you really appreciate music which I find relaxing and a great stress reliever. Someday I hope to do what you've done and learn to play an instrument. <_<

Gail

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everybody. I am slowly but surely getting better. It's been almost three weeks that I had the stomach flu. But I still get dreadful stomach aches, and on and off D.

I saw my naturopathic doctor last week, and I am now taking powdered pro-biotics several times a day in water. I am sure it is helping, as the D finally started letting up the day after I started those.

I talked to my daughter in Ottawa today, and she STILL has nearly a foot of snow in the lower part of her backyard! We only have some patches of snow in the shade now, but there aren't many left.

But only a two and a half hour drive south of here the tulips, daffodils and crocus are blooming, a friend just told me. Mine are coming up, but likely won't bloom for another two weeks.

My naturopath agrees that a parasite cleanse sounds like a good idea for me (I said in the Humaworm thread that I want to try it), but not until I am better. I am seeing him again in two and a half weeks.

Gail, yesterday my husband and I went to a live performance of My Fair Lady. It was fabulous! I don't know if you have ever seen the movie with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in the main roles? This live musical production was every bit as good, maybe even better! And these actors weren't even professionals. Henry Higgins was played by a friend's brother, who is a policeman. But theatre has been his hobby for a very long time.

Well, I need to go and practice my recorder, my teacher wants me to do my grade eight recorder exam this fall, and it won't be easy!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,330
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    klkarius
    Newest Member
    klkarius
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.