Celiac Friend Advice

[tiadhani]

A friend of mine who is a celiac recently moved in with me, my boyfriend and myself had been trying to be very careful with gluten foods but after her getting sick a time or two I decided to just start cooking completely gluten free when we ate together. After having switched from eating mostly gluten free I found myself to be feeling a lot better. I have had reoccuring stomach problems, as well as other health issues for what feels like my whole life. After having spoken to her she seems to think that maybe I also have celiac but she says it about a lot of people, maybe shes right or maybe shes wrong but I was just trying to get some ouside advice on the topic. Just for some info on myself, Im 21 and have had reoccuring stomach issues for the last few years, its progessively gotten a lot worse and I had known about Celiac before but I didnt fit a lot of the symptons.

Current Symptons

:Bloating

:Very Gassy, Become gassy almost every single time I eat

:Massive Stomach Cramps

:Irregular Periods, sometimes its so light almost non existant, sometimes its extremely heavy

:Massive Migraines

:Always tired but never able to sleep, more lazy and unmotivated

:Sometimes I have insomnia, followed by boughts where I can sleep like 12+ hrs

:Extreme mood swings, go from happy to sad to crying to laughing like nothing,i its very annoying, my boyfriend is almost to understanding, hes so supportive, I have no idea why he hasnt just up and bolted yet.

One thing I have to mention however is that Im actually over weight, about 5 ft 7 and 220 lbs, where Ive read that alot of celiacs are under weight, and Im not constipated, nor do I have diarhea that often. I do however have BMs probably 4+ times per day, which Im assuming is not normal. Sometimes when I eat noodles, I have a hard time to even climb the stairs to my room to lye down or even sit comfortably in a car. I have a very high pain tolerance so to me maybe a stomach ache is a lot more to someone else, Im really not sure. Im thinking of being tested for Celiac diesase but have read on this forum that there are PLENTY of times that people come up with false negatives. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[The Fluffy Assassin]

Celiacs are not necessarily skinny. All your symptoms could be consistent with celiac disease, but of course they could be consistent with other things, too. I think you're going the right way. Go gluten free with your roommate and see if your symptoms get better. If they do, you can always go back on gluten if you feel the need to get an official diagnosis (have to be eating gluten both for blood tests and biopsy) or just stay off gluten and consider yourself self-diagnosed. Regardless, good luck to you, hope you find your answer, and welcome to the board.

PS Celiac symptoms per the Mayo Clinic: Open Original Shared Link

A friend of mine who is a celiac recently moved in with me, my boyfriend and myself had been trying to be very careful with gluten foods but after her getting sick a time or two I decided to just start cooking completely gluten free when we ate together. After having switched from eating mostly gluten free I found myself to be feeling a lot better. I have had reoccuring stomach problems, as well as other health issues for what feels like my whole life. After having spoken to her she seems to think that maybe I also have celiac but she says it about a lot of people, maybe shes right or maybe shes wrong but I was just trying to get some ouside advice on the topic. Just for some info on myself, Im 21 and have had reoccuring stomach issues for the last few years, its progessively gotten a lot worse and I had known about Celiac before but I didnt fit a lot of the symptons.

Current Symptons

:Bloating

:Very Gassy, Become gassy almost every single time I eat

:Massive Stomach Cramps

:Irregular Periods, sometimes its so light almost non existant, sometimes its extremely heavy

:Massive Migraines

:Always tired but never able to sleep, more lazy and unmotivated

:Sometimes I have insomnia, followed by boughts where I can sleep like 12+ hrs

One thing I have to mention however is that Im actually over weight, about 5 ft 7 and 220 lbs, where Ive read that alot of celiacs are under weight, and Im not constipated, nor do I have diarhea that often. I do however have BMs probably 4+ times per day, which Im assuming is not normal. Sometimes when I eat noodles, I have a hard time to even climb the stairs to my room to lye down or even sit comfortably in a car. I have a very high pain tolerance so to me maybe a stomach ache is a lot more to someone else, Im really not sure. Im thinking of being tested for Celiac diesase but have read on this forum that there are PLENTY of times that people come up with false negatives. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[Ahorsesoul]

tiadhani,

You sound just like me when I was in my 20s (long ago). I wish I had a friend/roommate/doctor who would have told me I was celiac then. I have spent 40 plus years suffering with what doctors told me was 'nervous stomach', IBS, colitis and that I just needed to relax.

I think once you are totally gluten free you will be amazed at how well you feel. Being underweight is not mandatory for being a celiac. Just as many celiacs are overweight. You have already done the most important test to see if you are celiac/gluten intolerant--you know you feel better if you do not eat gluten.

I would like to commend you on helping your roommate by cooking gluten free for her.

[txplowgirl]

Tiadhani,

I have had the same kind of symptoms you describe and diareha also. A am also overweight.

I am 5 ft 2 and weighed in at 205 lbs. Have been that weight for nearly 20 years. Couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried. Have been gluten free for almost 5 months and have lost 30 lbs with out even trying.

My fibro and RA have gone into remission and stomach problems, anxiety and depression are gone.

I believe you will feel like a new woman in a few months. Go for it and don't look back.

[JillianLindsay]

In my opinion you should go to the DR and get a celiac blood panel done, as well as discuss your symptoms and see what other tests s/he thinks might be necessary. Personally I don't think it is worth making a huge life change if you don't know what you have. Also, if you self-diagnose with celiac disease and don't work with a DR then you could miss something else that could be wrong.

Your symptoms do sound like they could be celiac-related, but nothing beats the advice of a good (and I mean good) medical professional. A lot of celiacs are overweight and you don't have to be skinny to have celiac disease.

Good luck!

Jillian

A friend of mine who is a celiac recently moved in with me, my boyfriend and myself had been trying to be very careful with gluten foods but after her getting sick a time or two I decided to just start cooking completely gluten free when we ate together. After having switched from eating mostly gluten free I found myself to be feeling a lot better. I have had reoccuring stomach problems, as well as other health issues for what feels like my whole life. After having spoken to her she seems to think that maybe I also have celiac but she says it about a lot of people, maybe shes right or maybe shes wrong but I was just trying to get some ouside advice on the topic. Just for some info on myself, Im 21 and have had reoccuring stomach issues for the last few years, its progessively gotten a lot worse and I had known about Celiac before but I didnt fit a lot of the symptons.

Current Symptons

:Bloating

:Very Gassy, Become gassy almost every single time I eat

:Massive Stomach Cramps

:Irregular Periods, sometimes its so light almost non existant, sometimes its extremely heavy

:Massive Migraines

:Always tired but never able to sleep, more lazy and unmotivated

:Sometimes I have insomnia, followed by boughts where I can sleep like 12+ hrs

:Extreme mood swings, go from happy to sad to crying to laughing like nothing,i its very annoying, my boyfriend is almost to understanding, hes so supportive, I have no idea why he hasnt just up and bolted yet.

One thing I have to mention however is that Im actually over weight, about 5 ft 7 and 220 lbs, where Ive read that alot of celiacs are under weight, and Im not constipated, nor do I have diarhea that often. I do however have BMs probably 4+ times per day, which Im assuming is not normal. Sometimes when I eat noodles, I have a hard time to even climb the stairs to my room to lye down or even sit comfortably in a car. I have a very high pain tolerance so to me maybe a stomach ache is a lot more to someone else, Im really not sure. Im thinking of being tested for Celiac diesase but have read on this forum that there are PLENTY of times that people come up with false negatives. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[haleym]

OMG story of my life.

I have a similar story! My MD suspected celiac back in feb but blood tests were negative, so I didnt really give gluten free much thought until my symptoms became a bit much. When the you-know-what hit the fan with my symptoms and I had had enough, I decided to give my MD's advice to try the diet seriously a shot.

Well, what do you know, its been two weeks and I feel great!

My advice to you: tell your MD that you went gluten free out of respect for your room-mate and found that a lot of your own symptoms were resolved and that you wonder if this means you are gluten intolerant. BUT no matter what, the rule is this: you know what is good for your body, and you have to be the steward of your own health. If gluten makes you not feel good, dont eat it!

You may be overweight because of thyroid issues, which are often autoimmune in nature and can run together with gluten intolerances (like in my case).

Good luck!

[MightbeCeliac's]

A friend of mine who is a celiac recently moved in with me, my boyfriend and myself had been trying to be very careful with gluten foods but after her getting sick a time or two I decided to just start cooking completely gluten free when we ate together. After having switched from eating mostly gluten free I found myself to be feeling a lot better. I have had reoccuring stomach problems, as well as other health issues for what feels like my whole life. After having spoken to her she seems to think that maybe I also have celiac but she says it about a lot of people, maybe shes right or maybe shes wrong but I was just trying to get some ouside advice on the topic. Just for some info on myself, Im 21 and have had reoccuring stomach issues for the last few years, its progessively gotten a lot worse and I had known about Celiac before but I didnt fit a lot of the symptons.

Current Symptons

:Bloating

:Very Gassy, Become gassy almost every single time I eat

:Massive Stomach Cramps

:Irregular Periods, sometimes its so light almost non existant, sometimes its extremely heavy

:Massive Migraines

:Always tired but never able to sleep, more lazy and unmotivated

:Sometimes I have insomnia, followed by boughts where I can sleep like 12+ hrs

:Extreme mood swings, go from happy to sad to crying to laughing like nothing,i its very annoying, my boyfriend is almost to understanding, hes so supportive, I have no idea why he hasnt just up and bolted yet.

One thing I have to mention however is that Im actually over weight, about 5 ft 7 and 220 lbs, where Ive read that alot of celiacs are under weight, and Im not constipated, nor do I have diarhea that often. I do however have BMs probably 4+ times per day, which Im assuming is not normal. Sometimes when I eat noodles, I have a hard time to even climb the stairs to my room to lye down or even sit comfortably in a car. I have a very high pain tolerance so to me maybe a stomach ache is a lot more to someone else, Im really not sure. Im thinking of being tested for Celiac diesase but have read on this forum that there are PLENTY of times that people come up with false negatives. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

I self diagnosised almost the same way you did.

I had been sick with adrenal fatigue for several years and I wasn't seeing much improvement with the regimen my doctor had put me on. After a while I began to get worse. Then my best friend (who was suffering from chronic faituge) was advised to go gluten free. It seemed a pain in the a@@ to me. But once she started to educate me I decided to go reduce the gluten in my diet to protect myself from developing gluten intolerance. Little did I know I would feel better than I'd felt in about 10 years. Just four days after I began avoiding gluten the brain fog that had bemused for nearly two years lifted, my ability concentrate improved and I've only began getting better from there.

Research into gluten intolerance and my family medical history as well as a few accidents confirmed the diagnosis.

To me this a no-brainer: "If a food makes you ill don't eat."

My younger sister self-diagnosised the same way you did based on being my supportive roommate.

[kera87]

It can't hurt to get tested, it's hard to go by symptoms because they vary so much with Celiac. My friend has it and only had acid reflux. And I was never skinny, never lost weight or anything - it really effects everyone differently. Even if you are tested and its negative, if the diet makes you feel better, stick with it! It's not so bad

[OptimisticMom42]

The newest numbers say that 1/3rd of the human population is gluten intolerant. Or maybe it's just that nobody should eat that stuff. I agree with your friend, everyone has celiacs! Nobody should eat grains.