Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Introducing Myself


THernandez

Recommended Posts

THernandez Newbie

Hi! I'm new to the forums here, but not new to the site. I've used the resources here for the past 3-1/2 years. Well, almost 4 now. I have three kids, a daughter, aged 10, and twin boys aged 7. All have been diagnosed with celiac disease.

One of my sons was 3 when he began having symptoms. Subtle at first, occasional vomiting, stomach aches, etc. The vomiting became more common, he lost considerable weight, to the point that he was just skin and bones. At the age of 3-1/2, he weighed 25 pounds, then 24, then 23, and finally 22.5 when we finally got our diagnosis.

Our pediatrician ran test after test and could find nothing wrong with him and even told me that he was now at least in a healthy weight range whereas before, he'd been trending towards being heavy. He was a toddler! Give me a break, all toddlers are a bit chubby. I found a new pediatrician but did my own research. The first time I met with her, I asked if it could be celiac and she agreed to test him. Because of the genetic component, she recommended we have his identical twin brother tested too, who I didn't even realize had symptoms because they were mild by comparison. when both tested positive, she recommended my daughter be tested too and that also came back positive.

So, three kids with celiac and neither my husband nor I have it and to our knowledge, no one in either of our families does either.

While we've been dealing with this a lot longer than it looks like some of you have, we really don't know that much about it. We've been unimpressed with the medical professionals we've dealt with here locally. I mean, their ped has been great, but she clearly doesn't really know much about it and the experts we met with at Children's Hospital were so unhelpful, I never went back.

I know all three are doing really well now, but I also feel like we need to learn more about the disease and long-term issues to be made aware of.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Dixiebell Contributor

Hi and Welcome! I have learned a lot of valuable information here. Have all of your immediate family members been tested for celiac? I wish my family would all get tested, they are just so stubborn. Have you tried a R.O.C.K group? (raising our celiac kids) Just fire away with questions, someone will know the answer.

THernandez Newbie

Hi and Welcome! I have learned a lot of valuable information here. Have all of your immediate family members been tested for celiac? I wish my family would all get tested, they are just so stubborn. Have you tried a R.O.C.K group? (raising our celiac kids) Just fire away with questions, someone will know the answer.

Thanks for the welcome! I feel like I should have been posting here for years; I'd be way ahead of where I am if I had.

No, I can't get them to get tested. It's driving me nuts. Of course they think I'm the Celiac Tyrant because anytime anyone even has a slight symptom that my be related to celiac, I dive into that. They all just roll their eyes at me.

I have not tried a ROCK group. Are they like local support groups or an online thing? Might be cool to meet in person. When my twins were little, I'm not sure I would have made it without the Mothers of Twins Club,

psawyer Proficient

Click here to read an article about ROCK.

After the article there is a list of local chapters. The contact info is probably out of date due to the age of the article.

THernandez Newbie

Click here to read an article about ROCK.

After the article there is a list of local chapters. The contact info is probably out of date due to the age of the article.

Thanks!

THernandez Newbie

I checked it out and it turns out the founder of ROCK lives in my area. That bodes well for an active local chapter!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Rogol72 replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      3

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

    2. - ShariW commented on Scott Adams's article in Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease
      4

      What are Celiac Disease Symptoms?

    3. - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      3

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

    4. - Scott Adams replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      3

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      1

      My only proof


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,908
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    ebrown
    Newest Member
    ebrown
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rogol72
      @klmgarland, My dermatitis herpetiformis didn't clear up until I became meticulous about cross contamination. I cut out gluten-free oats and all gluten-free foods, dairy and gluten-free rice. Additionally, getting the right amount of protein for my body weight helped significantly in my body's healing process ... along with supplementing with enough of all the vitamins and minerals ... especially Zinc and Magnesium. I went from 70kg to 82kg in a year. Protein with each meal 3 times daily, especially eggs at breakfast made the difference. I'm not sure whether iodine was a problem for me, but I can tolerate iodine no problem now. I'm off Dapsone and feel great. Not a sign of an itch. So there is hope. I'm not advocating for the use of Dapsone, but it can bring a huge amount of relief despite it's effect on red blood cells. The itch is so distracting and debilitating. I tried many times to get off it, it wasn't until I implemented the changes above and was consistent that I got off it. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is horrible, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  
    • klmgarland
      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.