Celiac Or Wheat Allergy?

[FoxersArtist]

When I first learned that I had Celiac, Hubby was very supportive. He told me that he would be more than happy to go gluten free with me, whenever he ate at home, but wouldn't mind having a little gluten on the side every once in a while. Or - as he put it - "I thought I could have my little grainy mistress on the side."

Only days after going gluten free with me, Hubby got really sick and ended up in the bathroom for a whole day. He broke out with pimples and boils and felt sick, but he continued the diet. We both came to the conclusionthat his body was probably "purging" itself of the wheat he had consumed regularly before, and perhaps he had a wheat allergy or something. Even though he wasn't really sick before, within a months time he was feeling great. He had some problems with reflux that went away and he has always had sleep issues - by which I mean he tosses and turns and tries to mow me over in our sleep. He also sits up, frantically babbling a mile a minute but real words are absent from him. I'll be honest in saying that this has always creeped me out to a degree that I yell at him to stop and have to leave the room whenever it occurs. Aside from these things he is always tired and struggling not to fall asleep no matter what we are doing or what time of day we are doing it. When it's time to wake up, it would take God's army alone to rouse him.

Since going gluten free with me, ALL of the above issues have stopped. Hubby is losing weight and his mood has evened out a lot. I was so thankful when I realized that he was no longer babbling at me in his sleep and he hasn't been late to appointments because his alarm is actually waking him up. A few days ago Hubby had communion at church and the wafer had wheat in it. Yesterday Hubby gave in and had a doughnut at a business meeting and by the time he got home he was a walking zombie. He fell asleep on the couch right after dinner and when I tried to wake him up to go to bed, he babbled up a blue streak at me. We had already decided that whatever the case, Hubby must have some kind of issue with wheat and he swore off of eating any, even away from home. I got so mad at him when he confessed that he had eaten a doughnut that I threw and ABC block at him (purposely missing) demanding to know if it was worth it. LOL, I admit now that this was probably not a very mature thing to do and apologized later - but the fact of the matter here is WOW, what a difference.

Based on this thread, do you think Hubby just has some kind of wheat allergy or do you think he has celiac too? I have to admit that it would be a little hard to believe that he had it too. And if he does have it, I wonder what kind of chances that leaves our children with having it. We know our son has it. When our daughter was a newborn she had really watery stools which eventually turned into stools with blood in them. I stopped eating all dairy products because we assumed she had a casein allergy but it didn't help. As soon as I went gluten free her stools firmed right up to a normal tacky consistancy, no more blood. It just blows my mind to think that all 4 of us could be celiac. I suppose knowing doesn't really matter because we know what works for us, but it would be interesting to hear what you all think. Hubby doesn't want to go off the diet to get tested. Now he's afraid of wheat, even when it comes in the form of a dougnut.

-Anna

[purple]

Hi, I am only 4 months new at this and we are still learning and not yet gluten free but trying. My daughter is allergic to gluten and now I see symptoms in other relatives. Other people will be able to comment better than me but this is what I know. It is genetic. So if you have it, your children could have it and if you and your husband have it your childrens chance's increase b/c of the gene thing that I don't know much about yet. Then if you and your hubby have it, then your parents and siblings and grandparents etc. have it so watch for their symptoms too. We are a family of 4. I have been watching for symptoms in our family and the relatives. I think I see it in at least 8 people plus my family Most only have several mild symptoms like bad breath, a rash, moody, itchy, acne, bloating, can't sleep, constipation, fatigue, gas/burps, etc, just everday stuff. A couple have allergies, and one has asthma. But I am watching and teaching them as I learn Not sure about me yet b/c I don't have any noticeable symptoms. I see it like this without any testing done: A wheat allergy is like a cold. A cold could develop into the flu. Celiac is like the flu. Both mean you are sick and are susceptable to other diseases. Both (cold/flu) need a strong immune system to get well. If you keep eating wheat you will have Celiac for sure b/c the only cure for both is to stop eating gluten. If you eat gluten thinking you are only allergic to wheat then you are damaging the inside where you don't know what is going on. It must be treated like Celiac. If you go off the diet to get tested (for peace of mind) you could be severely ill. But if you already know, why go there esp. if the tests come back negative. No more gluten is the best answer unless you have the $ and the time and want the headache and want the gluten attack. I read it takes several weeks on gluten before you can be tested and you could develop something that takes months to get rid of. B/c I am new at this I could easily be wrong so if anyone out there wants to correct me it would be beneficial to all including me who read this. I read that 1 in 133 have it but that more like 1 in 10 or less have it and they don't know it. The good thing is you will eat healthier and learn how to cook new things and you will be able to help others. And your grand kids won't get all those diseases b/c they will be gluten free. I person said they were misdiagnosed for 45 years-WOW! Her list of ailments was huge and all those years of suffering...if only her doctor knew to tell her to stay off gluten!