Finally Figured Out Why I Have Been So Sick

[Genie75]

Hello All,

After wracking my brain over and over again, talking to doctors, people, and lots and lots of thinking, I have finally figured out why I have been so sick since last November, and why the previous few years I was doing so well on the gluten free diet.

I am a self-diagnosed celiac, mainly because by the time they decided to start doing the small bowel biopsy on me, I had been eating gluten free for quite a while. However, my doctors do not consider me CELIAC because I don't have an official test result that proves it. So I don't get any support from the doctors as being CELIAC, and that in itself is very frustrating. And not only that, but it makes me doubt myself at time too, and gets me into thinking that maybe I am not Celiac. However, the results of eating gluten are too devastating to start eating them again.

After wracking my brains out, and my doctor as well, as to why I have been doing significantly worse (she believes I am IBS), she thought I should go back onto my antidepressants again, as that was a significant change that happened early last year. Also, another change was that I got braces. I had actually been pondering to go back onto antidepressants as it is known that stress can worsen IBS syptoms. However, I was also reluctant because I don't like the side-effects and it was very hard to get off of them.

After much thought, and then not thinking about it, it came to me. A significant change that I made was that I stopped taking my carbohydrate digestive enzymes, right around the same time I came off of Pantaloc (reduces acid due to hiatal hernia). My logic was that now I should have more acid in my stomach so I shouldn't need the enzymes anymore.

So after talking with my bf, about going back onto the carbohydrate digestive enzymes (natural), and explaining to him that my body does not digest carbs very well (flours of any kind, veggies, even potatoes lately), the thought occurred to me to google "inability to digest carbs. The following article came up. I found several other people on forums with the exact same problem. And a doctor replied to one of them and referenced the following article: Open Original Shared Link.

What an eye opener that was !!!!! I know many of you have told me to cut down on dairy products. However, I never realized the implications of eating dairy products when one is lactose intolerant. I had no idea it would cause one's body to stop being able to process carbs!!!! I had no idea!!!!! And the doctor also replied that lactose intolerance is common in those with Celiac disease.

So I have now eliminated dairy products from my diet (and of course glutens long time ago), and I am a much happier healthier person! My pain in my left side is finally gone!!!!! (and I have not been eating any grains whatsoever for now either (Paleo diet).

I just want to say I used to be cautious eating dairy products and watching what I eat. But since my bf, I have let me guard done and seem to be easily persuaded to eat stuff I normally would not eat. So I am learning to say "please don't cook for me", or "I'll cook for us", or refusing to eat some of the stuff on my plate .

To everyone out there, never give up in your quest to figure out all of your food triggers. There is always hope! And the one big thing I want to say, is that if you are feeling really sick and tired of eating cause it is making you sick, fasting is a good way to give your system a rest.

Janet

[ShayFL]

Janet,

You may want to look into the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet). I is working for many members (including me).

[Rya]

You might think about taking a multivitamin for women. There are some vitamins that are scarce to get in a diet outside of grains. Glad you are feeing better!

[mftnchn]

Janet, I agree about looking at SCD. The science in the explanation fits what you are describing very well. If it works, it is nice because there is a lot of support, recipes, etc. to help you.

Also there are articles in Scott's newsletter that explain the carbohydrate problem really well. For example in the Winter 2003, it talks about healing. Even after 2 years gluten-free and healing, the average celiac still only has digestive enzymes for carbs 50-75% of normal. Lactose is like 55% after 2 years. And that is AVERAGE, so there will be a big spectrum among us.