Much More Aware?

[JgeorgeSCR]

Since being sick for a few months and finally getting dx of Celiac it appears I notice other problems as well.

1.) Is it natural to think all other (even minor) problems are related to Celiac?

- Dry eyes from celiac or is allergy

2.) The body aches (like most people don't belive), but how do you know which ones are related to Celiac and which ones aren't?

3.) I can see why a doctor would think a patient is crazy if they came in with all these conditions?

4.) I guess my point is how do you tell or encourage your doctor to make sure all is ok? When I asked my PCP about my back ache, joint pain, sore throat and rash on hands he said it is probably all related? Next do all these go away on the gluten-free diet or is more or different care needed?

I meet with a new doc. next week, but I don't want to "bombard" him with all these things. In my area not many dr.s seem familiar with Celiac.

[MDRB]

Hi,

celiac disease symptoms are everything and nothing. A lot of people never know they have it until it results in cancer. For those of us who do get symptoms they can differ a great deal between patients, this is why celiac disease is often so hard to diagnose.

When you go see the new doctor, give them all the information slowly and clearly, don't exaggerate, tell the doctor that you are aware that there are a lot of symptoms but that you are frustrated with feeling so bad and want an explanation. He might want to test for other auto immune disorders, or he might just want you to continue on the diet for a while to see how you improve.

[GlutenGalAZ]

JgeorgeSCR --

I would first recommend writing down how you are feeling and then any type of questions you want to ask your doctor. I know whenever I leave the doctors I remember something I really wanted to ask (I'm sure others do the same )

1.) With the Dry eyes -- Hard to tell this time of the year b/c it is allergy time.

2.) Body Aches -- People vary with their reactions and how they felt before/after going gluten free. Some people on here have mentioned they get really bad joint pain when glutened. I had body pain (back & neck) prior and then the first month officially gluten free I was really swore but then it got better. I will admit though I go to a chiropractor once every couple months to get adjusted.

3.) My mom always told me with dr appt's to keep things short and simple. The dr has other patients to see so you don't want to ramble on where you spend a lot of time on one thing and don't get to go over other stuff. I get nervous so I always ramble at appt's haha. Just keep in mind there is no stupid question.

4.) It is luck of the draw, some dr's really "listen" to the patient and some just hear what they want to hear and go from there. I would write down how many years you have felt the way you are feeling and if you notice feeling certain ways when you eat/drink certain things (some type of history).

Do you know if the new doctor you are seeing is familiar with Celiac?

I would really recommend making a list of important things you want to cover and bring a pen with you could write down notes.

Hope this helped some -- Best of luck!!

[BRUMI1968]

I actually think it's nice that your doc said those things are likely all related. Often times, they are so caught up in curing symptoms, they forget about underlying causes, and how they can be the same for many disparate manifestations.

I would consider, based just on what you said, that you might have a problem with nightshades (potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers, tobacco). They can cause joint pain and sore throat and rash - so they might be one of your issues. Just a thought.

I hear folks on here all the time noticing things they never noticed before once they quit gluten. It is probably natural - I would think imperetive to survival - that we notice what's going on in our bodies. But if it is too overwhelming, we might not be able to fight or flight or whatever...sometimes as we get healthier, we notice more and more those little things that aren't healthy with ourselves. It drives my friends nuts. I notice the smallest little thing wrong with me.

Anyway, good luck to you.

Sherri

[sneezydiva]

Since being sick for a few months and finally getting dx of Celiac it appears I notice other problems as well.

1.) Is it natural to think all other (even minor) problems are related to Celiac?

- Dry eyes from celiac or is allergy

2.) The body aches (like most people don't belive), but how do you know which ones are related to Celiac and which ones aren't?

3.) I can see why a doctor would think a patient is crazy if they came in with all these conditions?

4.) I guess my point is how do you tell or encourage your doctor to make sure all is ok? When I asked my PCP about my back ache, joint pain, sore throat and rash on hands he said it is probably all related? Next do all these go away on the gluten-free diet or is more or different care needed?

I meet with a new doc. next week, but I don't want to "bombard" him with all these things. In my area not many dr.s seem familiar with Celiac.

1. Yes, I think it is natural for people to do that, and it is a dangerous trap to fall into. I used to do the same thing with my allergies--I blamed all my health problems on them, mainly because the doctors didn't think anything else was wrong with me, until things got bad enough that I finally realized it had to be more than just allergies. While celiac can cause a lot of diverse symptoms, if you don't feel better after being on the diet for awhile, other things need to be investigated.

Dry eyes can be an allergy symptom. It can also be a side effect of antihistimines taken for allergies.

2. Body aches can also occur with out of control allergies in my experience. Now that the pollen is high, I'm experiencing them more again. It all has to do with inflammation in the body.

3. It is hard. I had a university allergist dismiss me as a whiner with "poor symptom tolerence" when I gave him my long list of symptoms.

4. I don't know how by myself. The way I finally did it was have my husband accompany me into exam rooms. Doctors are too intimidated to dismiss an man's wife when he is in the room with her.

You'll be suprised how many symptoms go away on the diet. In my case, I didn't fully realize how bad I felt until I didn't feel so bad anymore. Also, if you do have allergies, your sore throat may be caused by post nasal drip. And of course a rash, could be allergy related also. My allergies have definitely improved going gluten free, but haven't disappeared. I still take allergy meds.

[feelingbetter]

My husband went gluten-free and still had a terrible rash , lower back ache and D. He then quit dairy and all problems resolved after 3 weeks. You may have other allergies.

I have been recently tested positive for gluten and dairy myself. I also know that corn, soy and sugar are absolute no no's me. I am still keeping a vigilant eye for other food sensitivities.