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

Could This Be Celiac's Disease?


I am Cat

Recommended Posts

I am Cat Rookie

Hi,

I'm new to the boards... what i'm hearing isn't new to me though... I've been diagnosed as anorexic... been in recovery for six years now. I'm also Bipolar I, rapid cycling... ADHD, without Hyperactivity, and on Adderall, Topamax, and Abilify... Also, Hypothyroid (taking Synthroid for 25 years now)... I've been tested for allergies to gluten, dairy, wheat and eggs...and found to be allergic to all of these... I was tested back in 1999. At that time, I went off those foods completely, dropped 40 pounds, and set my anorexia into a downhill spiral once again! It ended in a six week manic/psychotic episode that landed me in the hospital, cutting myself in 2003, and later in 2004, I ended up in the Eating Disorder Hospital for my eating disorder (of course) after going back on these foods to begin gaining the weight. My bipolar disorder went out of control, my ADD, PTSD (I'm an adult survivor of childhood molestation), and anorexia, all spiraling at the same time! Finally, all these things started settling back in... But my symptoms were added to when I started having seizures in 2008. They have since stopped, but a cause was never found by a neurologist. Tests WERE done, and I was found to have brain neuropathies... so? I'm 48 years old... so what? I have bipolar disorder... so? I also have carpal tunnel in both hands, and cubital tunnel in both elbows...

I have recently had trouble with parasthesia in my fingers... (I'm a mess...), in the past, I have had four jaw surgeries to correct TMJ.... four foot surgeries to correct bunions...

appendectomy

tubal ligation

radial keratotomy

skin grafts in my mouth to correct connective tissue problems with my gums...

through it all... I have suffered with severe clinical depression turning into bipolar disorder in 1999... Lovely...

But, I kept my sense of humor... Enter laughing...

My symptoms from gluten, dairy, eggs: Headache, diarrhea, cramps, gas, stuffy nose, asthma, (obstructed airway from swollen tongue and bronchial tubes), wheezing, eggs will go through me like spun glass, ... yeah, that's the ticket...

I'm also pretty much allergic to anything that licks itself, grows from the ground and pollinates and is a strawberry....

In spite of this stuff, I continue to "carry on", and I enjoy a nice life... two kids, four dogs, five birds, and a bunny,... (all of which I am allergic) (except the kids) :-)

I have lab slips in my hot little hands to be tested for Celiac's Disease... Seems like a no-brainer, but then I read where you should overload with gluten... now THAT seems so counter-productive... I really don't want to DO that... Do I have to? Or is that just something to assure your success on a positive reading? A friend of mine here on the boards had a positive result on his test and he was eating gluten all along... I'm sort of riding the fence at this point...

A little bit of guidance would be great.. Thanks,

Cat


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Dixiebell Contributor

If you are not consuming gluten your test could be a false negative. It is better if you are consuming it on a regular basis, everyday. But, you could just get the tests and see what happens. Did you say that you are still eating gluten? If you are, after your testing is done you could go gluten free for a few months and see if you get any relief.

Lisa Mentor

Hi Cat and welcome! It's best to be tested when a full gluten diet has been consumed for a period of a month or two (preferably two).

I have no knowledge about your history, but assuming a full gluten free diet, with multiple vitamins would not be a bad thing. But it has to be completely gluten free, to include your meds as well as anything your put into your mouth....

I don't know if that is the route of your issues, but I do wish you success. :) And I do have a little bit of knowledge about childhood violations. If you feel like sending me a PM, I would be pleased to reply. :)

Lisa

  • 2 weeks later...
I am Cat Rookie

Hi Cat and welcome! It's best to be tested when a full gluten diet has been consumed for a period of a month or two (preferably two).

I have no knowledge about your history, but assuming a full gluten free diet, with multiple vitamins would not be a bad thing. But it has to be completely gluten free, to include your meds as well as anything your put into your mouth....

I don't know if that is the route of your issues, but I do wish you success. :) And I do have a little bit of knowledge about childhood violations. If you feel like sending me a PM, I would be pleased to reply. :)

Lisa

Thank you Lisa... I have a handle on those things... ((((Lisa)))), you're a sweetheart.

Well... I had "the test" done last week.... the results came in today... POSITIVE for Celiac's Disease. :-(

I went out today and bought every book I could get my hands on... I'm a bit OCD... but in this case... better to be knowledgeable... I hope to learn a lot of things from this site.

Thank you all for your support... I just have to remember... Garbage in... Garbage out... And STOP with the gluten.

My challenges are the added allergies to dairy, wheat, eggs and strawberries... LOVELY... trying avoiding those PLUS gluten... but believe it or not... they DO have cookbooks that are Dairy, Wheat, Gluten, eggs, nut, corn, and yada, yada, yada free! LOL... Unfortunately... I HATE to cook... despise the grocery store and would rather starve... seriously... I've done it before... as evidenced by my eight week stay in the eating disorders hospital. :-(

However, my state of mind... (hopefully) is better now. (it IS better, right?) my iron is also low... my cholesterol high, and my kidney function borderline. I'm, as they say... a mess. I have some "fixin" to do... as they say in Texas.

Wish me luck... I need a company here in San Antonio that prepares meals that are dairy, wheat, egg and gluten free! I'd buy them, freeze them and prepare and serve! Seriously!

Anybody know of such?

I see a GI doctor on Friday at 10 a.m. CST.

Wish me luck.

Thanks!

Cat >^^<

Emilushka Contributor

At least wheat and gluten will keep you from eating roughly the same foods! That's sort of like getting one off the list.

Check out Open Original Shared Link, especially their Open Original Shared Link (to avoid the dairy). It's more expensive than cooking, but could potentially save you time and effort. Having a backup is always nice.

I am Cat Rookie

Thanks, I did and I ordered a package... Can't wait to get it... I'll let you know!

shopgirl Contributor

Good lord, you're a warrior. I dealt with about 8 months of Celiac symptoms and completely crumbled into a weepy puddle of helplessness.

You like reading? I read Stephen Wangen's Healthier Without Wheat right after I was diagnosed and really liked it. It was eye opening, to say the least. And Shauna Ahern's Gluten-Free Girl is cute, inspiring book about being diagnosed with Celiac. I got both of them at the library but they're available at that large Internet book retailer that I don't think can be mentioned around here. You know the one I mean. :)

Good luck with your GI doc. :)


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



BoydBT Apprentice

I am Boyd, and I am the friend "I am Cat", lol.. has referenced as the one that ate gluten right up to the test. My count was 32. What was you count Countess Cat?

Yes you really need to learn to cook. Too bad I am not your chef. You know I'd whip you into a gluten warrior. OWWWWWWW!

Boyd :rolleyes:

I am Cat Rookie

I wish you were my chef.

I don't know my count. They didn't tell me... guess I'll have to ask that one. The biopsy is tomorrow. my mother will be there... Guess that will have to do.

Skylark Collaborator

Hey, Cat. You will feel a lot better off gluten. I used to be bipolar and going gluten-free and taking high potency vitamins fixed it. My carpal tunnel stays a lot better off gluten too.

You also may find your allergies less troubling in six months to a year. The celiac gut is "leaky" from the damage and lets bits of food through to the bloodstream that you can react to. Once your intestine heals and has a normal barrier, some of those allergies can become less severe or even go away entirely. I used to react to soy, dairy, and shellfish and I can eat all those foods now.

Good luck, and don't be too upset about the diagnosis. You may have found the root cause of a lot of your health problems.

BoydBT Apprentice

I used to react to soy, dairy, and shellfish and I can eat all those foods now.

Good luck, and don't be too upset about the diagnosis. You may have found the root cause of a lot of your health problems.

[/quotE

Hello Skylark.

It is very possible. I am usually very allergic to shellfish. I can eat a a few shrimp. Crab and lobster have always been off limits.

Usually if I eat any amount of shrimp I get a medium head ache. I had a half pound last weak and found I felt

very little discomfort. I even had Alaskan king crab, no trouble at all.

I am not sure but I was thinking the same as you.

BBT

BoydBT Apprentice

I wish you were my chef.

I don't know my count. They didn't tell me... guess I'll have to ask that one. The biopsy is tomorrow. my mother will be there... Guess that will have to do.

Good luck. I will be thinking of you. Hugs. XOXOXO

BBT

I am Cat Rookie

I had the biopsy, very little trouble... I have an appt on the 23rd to see the results.. They did tell me I have gastroesophegeal Reflux Disease. Lovely... Of course, half the things they say I can eat on that diet, they aren't taking into consideration my allergies, and I've been pretty miserable trying to stay on it... I wish they'd get their sh*t together and get the results and just get me a diet already... I see my therapist (Eating Disorder) on Friday... she's going to set me up with my former nutritionist... so that should help.

The sooner the better... I'm over this Purgatory thing. I feel like I'm on a hump or something. I feel irritable and antsy.... and taking me off caffeine didn't help anything. :-(

  • 1 month later...
vontar Newbie

Hi Cat. I'm new to forums, been gaming online for years though. Don't really know anything about posting, so have no idea what this will look like! I found out I was celiac in '84 when I almost died of starvation even though I was eating a "normal" diet. I've been there, done that to just about every thing related to Celiac.

The main points I've learned are;

NO CHEATING. This article sums it up nicely; https://www.celiac.com/articles/22237/1/Better-Education-for-Celiac-and-Gluten-Sensitive-Patients/Page1.html

Also, find a good Naturopathic clinic for the AMA still doesn't have a clue about celiac.

Then follow a rotation diet until your gut heals some or you risk losing the foods you are eating now.

Lastly, find a local support group. Both for celiac and for mental health. NAMI has many good programs for those with neurological problems.

Good luck to you.

possiblyglutensensitive Explorer

Good lord, you're a warrior. I dealt with about 8 months of Celiac symptoms and completely crumbled into a weepy puddle of helplessness.

You like reading? I read Stephen Wangen's Healthier Without Wheat right after I was diagnosed and really liked it. It was eye opening, to say the least. And Shauna Ahern's Gluten-Free Girl is cute, inspiring book about being diagnosed with Celiac. I got both of them at the library but they're available at that large Internet book retailer that I don't think can be mentioned around here. You know the one I mean. :)

Good luck with your GI doc. :)

I' m reading Gluten Free Girl right now, I love it! and it gives you so much hope. she really shows how you are not loosing, but gaining, from being gluten free. and it is a great book, I love how she writes. it is very inspiriong too because to be a writer was her dream and the whole celiac diagnosis and gliuten free journey set her on her path to writing for a living.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,548
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Lunaluv
    Newest Member
    Lunaluv
    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

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.