Need Help (very Sick) Have Questions

[Ander3223]

Hello everyone. I am having a serious problem. I figured the best place to come to is here. Since gluten intolerance could be a possability. A few years back I started to get nausiated at my stomach for about 4-5 days. This would occur about ever month to a month and a half. I was thinking that maybe I had the flu or something. But I didn't think much of it, until it started to happen several times per month. My husband thought it might have been stress. So I ignored it and delt with it. Last summer I had the same episode, but it lasted a week or two. I had lost about 20 pound because of this. As of now, I have off and on nausea every day just about. And I have horrible episodes sometimes every 4-5 days. I am so sick to my stomach that I can not even drink water during these times. Now for the past 4-5 months there are times when I do eat the food gives me diarrea. I am run down and also have muscle aches. My hair has been falling out as well. I finally took my self to a GI doctor. She ran a stomach empting test, and found out I have gastroparesis. But I fell so horrible. My body feels like it is out of control. I had to go to the ER rescently do to dehydration. I don't think slow stomach emptying could cause all this. Something is seriously wrong. I have just in the last month- month!/2 lost close to 20lbs. I had mentioned the gluten intolerance possability, but she did not want to test for it. She said that gluten intolerance does not cause slow stomach emptying. But she turned around and told me that she is not sure what is causing my gastoperisis. I am confused!!!! I decided to take it upon myself to see if it is a gluten problem. I have been on a gluten free diet for going on 5 days. My nausea is not lasting quite as long. But still have diarrea, nausea and the aches off and on. I don't know if it takes months to see a big differance or what. But I am going to try this for about a month to see what happens. I just need your input on what you guys think.

[darlindeb25]

It would be better if your doctor would test you for celiac before you are gluten free. If she refuses to test you, maybe you should see another doctor. 2 weeks gluten free isn't long enough for you to have seen too much improvement yet. If you just want to feel better and don't really care about a celiac diagnosis, then continue eating gluten free and see what happens. You must be totally gluten free though! A little bit of gluten will keep you sick, you must read all of the labels and eat NO GLUTEN! If I were you though, I would get tested first, and see what they find out, if you get a negative response, then go gluten free anyways, and see what happens. Being gluten free can not hurt you, and you may just feel so much better.

[RiceGuy]

In addition to what has already been stated, there is a fair chance that other foods will bother you at first. Most likely is dairy, but also eggs, soy, corn, nuts, nightshades, and perhaps other things can be a problem for awhile. Do be sure to also check skin and hair care products for ingredients which contain gluten, throw out wooden spoons, cutting boards, and any other wooden utensils, as they will be contaminated and cannot be cleaned. If you want to use a toaster/toaster oven, the best advice is to purchase one to use for gluten-free foods only. Things like cast iron pans are also something to avoid. Even non-stick pans can harbor gluten in tiny scratches. Watch for gluten in dish and laundry soaps, pet foods and litter. Use only self-adhesive postage stamps, and never lick envelopes.

Yes, gluten is all over the place, but you can avoid it. After awhile it will be second nature. This board is a great resource, and the members will always be eager to help you get through. It can take time to begin to feel better, but well worth the effort.

Don't hesitate to ask questions whenever you need to.

Welcome to the board!

[Ander3223]

In addition to what has already been stated, there is a fair chance that other foods will bother you at first. Most likely is dairy, but also eggs, soy, corn, nuts, nightshades, and perhaps other things can be a problem for awhile. Do be sure to also check skin and hair care products for ingredients which contain gluten, throw out wooden spoons, cutting boards, and any other wooden utensils, as they will be contaminated and cannot be cleaned. If you want to use a toaster/toaster oven, the best advice is to purchase one to use for gluten-free foods only. Things like cast iron pans are also something to avoid. Even non-stick pans can harbor gluten in tiny scratches. Watch for gluten in dish and laundry soaps, pet foods and litter. Use only self-adhesive postage stamps, and never lick envelopes.

Yes, gluten is all over the place, but you can avoid it. After awhile it will be second nature. This board is a great resource, and the members will always be eager to help you get through. It can take time to begin to feel better, but well worth the effort.

Don't hesitate to ask questions whenever you need to.

Welcome to the board!

Are you serious about the laundry soap and other thing? Wow!!! What does it do? Absord through your skin?!! Does that mean I cant come in contact with food that have it as well?? I decided to do the diet because I was feelin soo sick. I need to try something. My visits to the doctor is about every month to a month and a half. My situation was turning into a big problem. And when your doc doesn't want to do anything, you feel that you have to do your own research and experiments. So I have to pretty much get my own utensils and plates. Can I share glass plates and medal utensils? All I have is non stick and cast iron. Does it really make that much of a differance? I am new to this and do not have a clue. My symptoms are to a tee. What else could it be? And thank you for all the help. I really apperciate it

[home-based-mom]

Are you serious about the laundry soap and other thing? Wow!!! What does it do? Absord through your skin?!! Does that mean I cant come in contact with food that have it as well??

Some people have skin issues such as dh. Others do not. Touching anything that contains gluten - soap, clothes, shampoo, pets who have eaten and then"bathed" etc. will leave molecules on your hands which will eventually end up in your mouth. Gotcha! Everyone has gotten shampoo in their mouth at least once in the shower.

Think of gluten as dog poop and do not touch anything gluten has come in contact with. You will learn to freak out watching people eat finger food and then touch things without washing their hands first. No exaggeration. Picture crossing your arms in front of your self and backing off as if they were a vampire or something.

Gluten gets into nicks and crannies of wooden and plastic utensils. It will work its out and make you sick. There was a thread somewhere about cleaning cast iron in the oven during the self-cleaning cycle. Toss the Teflon.

It appears to work OK to wash dishes contaminated with gluten in the same dishwasher as your stuff, but do not hand wash contaminated dishes and your dishes with the same cloth/sponge/scrubber/whatever.

Yes, it makes that much of a difference.

Welcome to a world obsessed and infested with gluten.

[Ander3223]

I'm trying to make sense of things. Can a problem like this cause a pregnant woman to give birth to an over sized baby. I was asked about a dozen times if I was diabetic. I am not diabetic. My problems became noticable after I had my son.

[purple]

I read somewhere that being allergic to gluten lies dormant in some people until a major event then it comes out in the open. Symptoms may have been there all along but you didn't notice them. Then after giving birth you noticed them. Major events like a car wreck, death of a loved one, pregnancy, stress, etc, can bring on the symptoms so you would notice them now. Watch your relatives they could be allergic and not know it, they say its genetic. If your baby gets sick alot, it could be allergic too.

[Ander3223]

Thank you for your response. my mother informed me that before she had a gastric bypass surgery, she had alot of problems with her stomach and just feeling ill, like she had the flu all the time. And I guess her dad goes through bouts of diarea problems. But none of them had symptoms as severe as I have been having them. I also have one more question. How do you know if your child has it(3 years old) He complains alot about his tummy hurting, but he hasn't lost weight or anything. But what throws me off is the fact that he hardly eats. Don't ask me how he maintains the weight. He looks like a very health kid. He is growing like a weed. Is it something that can become a big problem later in life?