1 Week And My Life Has Change

[meme2kids]

Last Friday, my Family Doctor after being worried about my lab work, sent back samples to test fof Malabsorbtion issues. Last Friday she called me and said I tested positive for some call Celiac and I would be getting a call with my appointment information.

Yesterday: I had my consulation with the GI, he asked some questions, poked on my tummy and asked what I had had to eat.....told him and he said great. He said I had a positive blood test for Celiac, all my symptoms could be caused by Celiacs, the good news it that if it is Celiacs, a drastic life change in my diet would be the treatment. He said that he would perfer to complete a biospy to confirm, before he gave a diagnosis. He said, I was lucky, and lead me to the his asst and together they talked me though the process for the biospy.

Today: I was at the surgery center at 8am, was out by 11. My positive blood test, went from possibly Celiacs, to probally. The Doctor told my husband he was able to see damage during the endoscopy, but would still like to review the slides and speak to us on Monday.

Totaly ate all my favorite foods today, I know I can have these foods in modification form, but it will the last time i can walk in to a resturant just order whatever looks good with out research before hand or speaking to the staff.

Tomorrow: Day 1 of my new life. Start Gluten Free tomorrow morning. Breakfast and lunch for tommorrow have already been purchased, tonight I've made menus of food to cook and take to work. With my work schedule and commute, I generally eat breakfast and lunch at fast food.

Any advise for on going treatment? I know the diet change, but what about exercise? What about family members? Kids testing is getting started with thier peditrians.

Thanks for listenting, just sorta shell shocked, 7 days from What is Celiac to you have visible damage and need to go Gluten Free diet for life.

[justjen]

Good Luck! While I don't have Celiac (still waiting on my blood test to come back) I to have a bad Gluten Intolerance so I know what I shock it is to have to suddenly change your whole way of eating.

Because with this, its not like you can just have a "little" gluten.

[Jestgar]

Welcome to day 1.

It really does get easier. Ask any questions you have and feel free to vent frustrations.

[okieinalaska]

Welcome, I am day on 8 myself. Just had my positive endo last week. I have the same questions as you. My GI doc told me to talk to my kids pediatricians about if he thinks they should be tested.

Figuring out what to eat is getting easier but right now we are mostly eating different things. Except for pasta, we found one my kids can't tell the difference on. I think it's Sam Mills corn pasta...

[T.H.]

welcome to the beginning of feeling better. :-)

It's scary, it can be kind of crummy at first, but when you start feeling better, it's pretty amazing in a good way.

Family members - yeah, I'd encourage every relative you have to get tested, frankly. Admittedly, that's just me, but this was my family experience:

My father was diagnosed by accident. Doctor never recommended testing anyone else, so we didn't.

8 years later, I tested positive, because I asked for the test. Turns out, I've probably had this for over 20 years. Permanent damage has been done at this point.

After a little research, we recommended everyone get tested. My brother and daughter came back positive. My son was negative, but had symptoms that resolved on a gluten-free diet (we went gluten-free as a family)

Talking with family members, we seem like a likely bunch for the disease. I have numerous cousins whose children are all suffering from odd physical problems, constant stomach pain, growth issues, organs 'giving out' too early, depression issues.

Many of them were going to get tested, but had no insurance and so stopped the process. It's a shame, because a number of their kids still complain about daily stomach aches, and they won't even consider stopping gluten, at the very least, if they can't afford the tests. Really, really a shame.

Exercise - I would take it one step at a time. Some people go through gluten withdrawal, where they crave it, they feel fuzzy headed, etc.. Some people will feel starvingly hungry for a few weeks/couple months (that was me) as their body craves the nutrients it's not quite healed enough to absorb yet. Shopping and learning to cook in new ways has a definite learning curve - it'll take a while to get the hang of things. But once you get over the 'hump,' it gets much easier.