Very New To This.lots Of Questions

[dragonsrebel]

I am very new to this site only being diagnosed two days ago(april 7,2008).I have to say i am very scared and very frustrated. Scared cuz I know nothing about celiac and frustrated because I have been misdiagnosed for 23 years. I have been through surgeries and test I know i probably could have avoided had i been properly diagnosed. I have suffered from the following > Insomnia, acid reflux, severe muscle pains, siatica, headachs, neck pain, numbness and tingleing in my face and arms, depression,anxiety, constant yeast and bladder infections, and skin irritations. I have no idea how many of these are caused by wheat. Altho im sure alot of them are. I have seen doctor after doctor anly to be told either nothing is wrong with me or sent for more tests which only come up negative. Finaly i was sent to the right doctor who only had to do a simple blood test.The blood test was postive. The doctor told me that normal levels are 4.0 mine were 99.2!!!!! I have been reading this forum non stop and have had a few questions answered but have many many more. I go for biopsy on april 28 and have no idea what is involved. If there is anyone who can help me with my questions please reply to this

[MELINE]

welcome to the forum!

It is actually a pitty that you had to wait for 23 years but unfortunately that is the case for many others in the forum. For me it was only 12 years....any way

You are going to have a biopsy.That's good. Your doc has to see yor intestine and see the damage. I promise you will not understand any thing. You are going to fall asleep and when you wake up the doctor will tell you it is over. Some feel a pain in the throat. I did not. But do not start the gluten free diet before the biopsy cause this will have an effect on the results.

You are scared cause you now nothing about celiac .Well the most important is that you have to stick on a completely gluten free diet for the rest of your life and if you do so all the symptoms will disappear as time goes by. If they are going to leave in 1 month or in 2 years no one can tell you. But they will eventually go away. The gluten free diet sound scary in the beginning but it is not.....there are so many products (chocolate, pasta, cookies) and so many recipes that you are going to have no problem at all. It is very important that you are very careful not to eat hidden gluten (cosmetics, shampoo, mouthwash, tooth paste, food that you consider to be innocent). You can get a lot of help in the forum as far as hidden gluten is concerned.

I don't know what else you need to know......What are your questions???

Meline

[happygirl]

Post your specific questions---I'm sure that many members will be happy to help in any way they can.

[jmcbride4291]

Unfortunatly you must stay on gluten for biopsy. However your choice since blood positve, the only 100% test is the gluten free diet. Biopsy and other tests can come up negative and are very wrong. Once you do go gluten free be very careful with foods. Make sure you speak to the manufactures. Some state glute in ingredients, some do not and it could be in natural flavorings or citric acid, or coloring. It is not as hard as it sounds. The biggest hurdle is shopping in the begining. Yes Celiac can cause a great many other health problems. Bone, thyroid, diabetes, cancer, neurologic, etc. You name it. When in recovery if you accidently ingest, you will know, becausse your body becomes more sensitive. You might also crave the exact things that make you sick. This will change in most cases. Once gluten free your likes and dislikes can change. Infact your head will clear and its almost like you never got to meet the real you due to your whole life you been basically poisoned and it affects your brain. I am not an expert but have done extensive research and it was not too long ago when I went gluten free. Many doctors do not have extensive knowledge. Becareful of medicines. Tylenol, iboprophen, and prescription. Many can contain gluten. Im sure many in this forum can verify this and all our members are very helpful. Do not hesitate to contact me, even by personal message. If I can help I will. Good luck!