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mmmSmores

By mmmSmores
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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mmmSmores Apprentice
mmmSmores
Posted

I was also diagnosed in mid-October and I am not feeling much different. I live with my boyfriend who is semi-assuming a gluten free lifestyle. We are very careful about the non-gluten-free food he eats. I never would have thought about wooden spoons.

I was diagnosed by a blood test, but what led me to the blood test was an endoscopy (done for other reasons) and they said the results indicated taht Celiac was a possibility. I read all of the info on this forum that appears under peoples name about what they have and I don't understand. All my doctor said was that I have it and I need to go on a gluten-free diet.

Help

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ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Do you have copies of your actual lab work? What it sounds like is they found damaged villi or flattened villi in your intestines (gold standard sign of Celiac), but they did the bloodwork to make sure (a few other things can damage the villi). Your bloodwork was positive also. YOU ARE CELIAC.

You need to be 100% gluten-free to heal. And most have to cut out dairy for a few months as well until symptoms subside.

You had symptoms right? Why did you have an endoscopy?

The One Apprentice
The One
Posted

Hi and welcome! This has been the most helpful website for me regarding gluten.

It's great that you finally got your diagnosis, I never got a final diagnosis but every time I eat a tiny amount of gluten I'm sick for days, that's enough diagnosis for me!

Healing your intestines is going to take a loooong time, and so will everything else, so it is completely normal that after a month of being gluten free you still don't feel a lot better, but stick to it and it wil be much worth it. A lot of people here can tell you how bad they were (and I include myself in that list) before being gluten free, and all that damage won't go away too fast, I've been gluten free for about a year and some months and I'm stilll battling symptoms and damage that will never be undone like my neuropathy, diabetes, short stature, bone issues/pain, anxiety.

Make sure to eat fresh foods those are the best at the beginning, as processed foods will put too much stress on your digestive system, veggies, fruits, grains, meats, fish and all those things are the best.

All thos things you see under people's signatures are conditions that come hand in hand with Celiac, a lot of people never understood why they had them and Celiac finally offers an explanation and hopefully a solution for many, so stick around this forums, it will be a lot of help and support and stick to the diet and you will see results ;)

AJ

sbj Rookie
sbj
Posted

Hi Smores:

You sound a bit like me - not sure because you don't give much detail. Perhaps you could flesh the first post out with some more info about any symptoms you have? At any rate, I was also diagnosed after getting an endoscopy for something completely different. I had no outward symptoms whatsoever but my biopsy showed damage and the bloodwork was positive and I have the DQ2 hetero gene, so you and I both have celiac disease.

I am following the diet and I haven't noticed any changes. But that doesn't mean you should cheat. Any gluten you ingest can damage your small intestine and that can lead to problems (eventually) all over the place. I found that my GI didn't give the best advice. Like you, he simply told me to follow the diet and that was it. (He has since reminded me that it is very important to follow the diet even if I don't have symptoms.) I got better advice from my regular intern who scheduled various tests for vitamin and nutritional deficiencies and also got me in for a bone density check.

But the best advice I got, by far, was from a nutritionist/dietitian. Depending on your health plan, I'd try to get a referral to a dietitian. He/she can explain how to follow the diet, help you with labels, give you some good, practical advice (wooden spoons, dairy, natural flavorings, etc), and explain why it is important for you to follow the diet even if you don't have many symptoms. Bring your boyfriend to listen in.

Look at it this way - I need to pop a fish oil tablet each day for my cholesterol - even though I have no symptoms and it doesn't seem to do a thing.

BTW: Wooden spoons are a no-no. Get new ones and don't cross contaminate. Dairy is fine for me but maybe not for you. Natural flavorings depend on whether I have a reaction - check with the mfr, if possible. Never overdo anything you aren't sure about - nothing to excess and don't tempt fate.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Welcome to the board. Read as much as you can here and ask any questions you need to. It can take a while to heal and you may need to cut out dairy products for a while. The villi that produce the enzymes to digest dairy are the same ones damaged by celiac. Many of us can add dairy back in after we heal. Do check your makeup and toiletries and if you BF eats gluten or drinks a gluten beverage make sure he brushes his teeth before any kissing. Also try to eat as much whole unprocessed food as you can, it will help you heal the quickest. I hope you start to get some relief soon.

sickchick Community Regular
sickchick
Posted

It takes most 2- 2 1/2 years to feel better. I have been gluten free since Oct 2007 and am not feeling much better!

hang in there toots! B)

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