Hello From Florida

[Candice4]

Hi! My name is Candice and I'm 40yrs old. I live in Florida. Even though I had a basic idea of what Celiac Disease is, I never once considered it might be my problem and sadly neither did any of my doctors. Last Feb. I had a complete physical and was found to be in excellent health. When I talked with my doctor about my worsening stomach problems (again), she told me with my history of IBS and colitis to just go ahead and take TWO prilosecs, if one wasn't enough. I did this and by August was conviced I was dying. I actually became afraid to seek further help. I wasted from 130 lbs to 100 lbs. I honestly thought I had some form of cancer and was dying. Everything I ate went straight thru within minutes and I had bouts of such severe pain that I became afraid to eat.

When I found this website and scanned thru the list of symptoms it explained my whole life. It was a terrifying sense of relief.

I learned that people (even friends) can be cruel, whether out of concern or whatever reason, I don't need to be bombarded with how BAD I look. I finally broke down and saw a gastroenterologist and had a colonoscopy and an endocsope which revealed nothing. I honestly thought I was going crazy. It was the day after the scopes that my Mom called and mentioned that a friend of my nieces had the same symptoms and was diagnosed with celiacs. When I asked the doctor about this he said it was a possiblity but that he already had the biopsy's back and were normal, but that he had not taken a biopsy from the right area to test for celiacs. (not sure how that works).

In the meantime I put myself on a gluten and lactose free diet. (lactose has always been an issue). I did manage a small weight gain, but I cannot manage to keep it on. I have not been officially tested. When I asked the gastro about testing he simply said "what good is it going to do, if its positive what are you going to do different, and if its negative, what are you going to do different?". I'll be seeing my regular doctor on the 25th and I'll see what she says.

Last week I found a new heatlh food store and an abundance of new products and got so excited, in my haste I forgot to look for "lactose free" as well as gluten free and OOPS. Have had a rough couple of days as a result.

I'm just trying to find and meet others with this condition for tips and options. Anything that will help me avoid making mistakes and that can help me regain my strength and health. I do feel better, but am still tired and very weak. I have lost a lot of muscle mass and am very wasted. I'm 5'3" and a size 0 or a little girls size 14.

I have a wonderful and supportive husband, however he gets very frustrated trying to shop for me. I'm Mom to 4 wonderful children and I raise and show miniature horses.

Thats my story and a little about me.

[Becci]

Hey there, I am Becci... I am also from FL (Green Cove Springs to be exact)...

I also lost thirty pounds out of the blue. I was kind of freaking out. I was sick everyday and couldn't make it any better. My doctor finally said that I just have to live with it, because she couldn't find anything...

And now, here I am!