New To The Forum And To Coeliac Disease

[Sinead]

Hi folks!

I just joined the forum. I was just diagnosed with coeliac disease 2 weeks ago. I've been having all sorts of random symtoms including dizziness, some kind of depressive symtoms, stomach and bowel symtoms of all sorts you can think of. I got the blood test taken in the end of May which was positive, and then had to wait quite a while for the biopsy. I got worse during the summer with severe fatigue attacks and nausea. I'm amazed i've been able to work all this time!

I got a quick appointment then for the gastro in mid July, and two weeks later went to Italy in holidays....and guess what was my main food there...pasta and pizza. After a week the nausea got much worse, and on Wdnesday the 2nd week in Italy My mother-in-law called from our house, she was there to check our mail, and letter finally had arrived from the hospital saying The biopsy showed I have coeliac disease. I was nearly shouting with joy, finally having an explanation for all this stuff. Someone of you said it so well, about being happy that all seemingly random symtoms could be caused by one disease. I so agree with that. I've bern thinking all kinds of things including colon cancer, IBS, whatnot. It didn't cheer me up that I'm a nurse studying for the specialist degree in oncology nursing and thus I know too much about that stuff. I was also doing clinical studies in a hospice at the time.....and heard about a young man who had heartburns and it turned out he had stage 4 stomach cancer. So, coeliac disease was great news to say the least.

I know quite much about it already, since I'm a nurse and during these months of waiting I've studied a lot. Now I'm studying all about gluten free food, about hidden gluten in food and what to watch out for and so on. I've also started learning gluten free cooking and baking. I'm still waiting to see the dietician.

I was thinking it would be nice to get in touch with other people with this disease, and found this forum. I recognize myself so much when I read your posts, and somehow feel relieved that I'm not the only one having such "weird" symtoms. In the spring (after having stomach problems for a few months) while I was in the hospice, i felt very stressed, couldn't concentrate on my studies, and then one evening nearly fainted when I was with a patient. Shortly after that I started having attacks with severe dizziness, I thought I was too stressed and took a break from my studies. I thought it was weird though...

Coeliac disease feels like such a "simple" solution (compared to cancer and ulcerative colitis) and even if it can be troublesome, especially since I travel a lot, it's worth it. I already feel better, the nausea is gone and I can eat better. I'm so happy about that, but I know I have a long way to go.

Well, sorry for my rambling! I'm looking forward to getting to know some of you.

Cheers

Susi

[ravenwoodglass]

Welcome to the board and the gluten free family. If there is anything we can do to help with your transition to the gluten-free lifestyle feel free to post a question. It can be tough at first and many of us have ups and downs so do feel free to vent if you need to.

I hope you are feeling much better soon.