Questions, Questions, Questions!

[Heathers-garden]

I am sure you all get so many posts like this but wanted to see if I sound completely offtrack. I don't have health insurance right now...so am kind of on my own trying to figure this out for now.

I have five children and so have spent a lot my adult like being pregnant and raising small children. After the birth of my third son about six weeks after I started getting joint pain that slowly developed into full body aching and lower leg weakness. I was tested for Lupus/RA and tested negative for both. I remember feeling very depressed, anxious, and just an overall wreck. That was about six years ago. The joint pain subsided eventually to just include my feet. I also went to a Naturopath who thought I had leaky gut and told me some foods to avoid:dairy, citric acid, sugar, and I can't remember if wheat was in there.

A couple years ago the weirdness happened again but this time was more neurological. My feet still hurt, but I had some tingling, numbness, depression, and some shooting pains in my toes. I was tested for lupus, RA, AND MS this time. I did get some relief from foot pain from an osteopath and had inserts as well. I began to think maybe it was fibro although I know the dr. checked for points and couldn't find enough. I have been interested in some posts regarding stabbing pains near the belly button. I had that with my last two pregnancies above my belly button and they said they feel no hernia. After this last baby I still get it some, and it makes me sweat, freeze, swear and feels like someone is stabbing me right above my belly button. In general though symptoms disappear during pregnancy.

I had my last baby in March and have foot, ankle, and knee pain now. I am sure you understand how frustrating it is NOT to know what is going on. I have a couple friends who are gluten intolerant and started reading some about it. I have been avoiding it the past two weeks but don't notice much improvement. Growing up I had cold hives which I think someone said could be related, I have two cousins with Crohn's disease, a mother and grandmother with Schizophrenia and I have suffered from anxiety/depression. Am I crazy to think that maybe gluten is bothering me? I don't have GI symptoms at all. Why does my body have to be so weird?

[Gerri]

A couple years ago the weirdness happened again but this time was more neurological. My feet still hurt, but I had some tingling, numbness, depression, and some shooting pains in my toes. I was tested for lupus, RA, AND MS this time. I did get some relief from foot pain from an osteopath and had inserts as well. I began to think maybe it was fibro although I know the dr. checked for points and couldn't find enough. .... Growing up I had cold hives which I think someone said could be related, I have two cousins with Crohn's disease, a mother and grandmother with Schizophrenia and I have suffered from anxiety/depression. Am I crazy to think that maybe gluten is bothering me? I don't have GI symptoms at all. Why does my body have to be so weird?

Just a thought look into something called Porphyria as well as the Celiac.

Hugs

Gerri

[Heathers-garden]

That is too funny that you mention Porphyria. I remember my aunt mentioning she wondered if her mom(my grandma) had this as I think my cousin(one with Crohn's) and my aunt were tested and had the gene. At least that is how I remember it...I will have to ask her.

[RoseTapper]

Interesting....I recently attended a celiac conference, and I learned that schizophrenia is common in people with celiac. When celiac is the cause, the symptoms disappear with a gluten-free diet. You stated that you've avoided gluten lately, but do you really know exactly what contains gluten? You might consider throwing yourself wholeheartedly into following a gluten-free diet to see if you'll feel better. The easiest way to do this is to follow a natural diet (no processed foods)--and remember that seasonings can contain gluten. Also, soy sauce, beer, supplements, and medication can all contain gluten. Good luck!