Relatives Are Stubborn!

[angellove839]

On my test results it shows that my dad also gave me a Celiac gene. Of course, he denies anything that has to do with Celiac even though he has several symptoms. His brothers and sister and mother all have the same symptoms but they are all too stubborn and hard-headed to get tested! I dont know what to do!!

[Carriefaith]

I know it can be hard to get them tested when you know they should. The best thing to do is provide them with the complications of having untreated celiac disease. Just say that you care about them and you don't want anything to happen to them. Ultimately it is their decision but you can provide them with the facts to help them make the right decision.

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Complications in adults

Adults who have celiac disease may develop:

* Refractory disease, which means symptoms persist even if a person eats a gluten-free diet.

* Blockage or sores (ulcerations) in the small intestine.

* Iron-deficiency anemia and folic acid deficiency anemia.

* Osteoporosis.

* Infertility.

* Recurrent miscarriages.

* Absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea).

* Anxiety and depression.

* Lymphoma of the intestine and possibly cancer of the esophagus.

* Autoimmune diseases (in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues), such as thyroid disease, or Sjogren's syndrome.

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Complications of Celiac Disease: Damage to the small intestine and the resulting problems with nutrient absorption put a person with celiac disease at risk for several diseases and health problems.

* Lymphoma and adenocarcinoma are types of cancer that can develop in the intestine.

* Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak, brittle, and prone to breaking. Poor calcium absorption is a contributing factor to osteoporosis.

* Miscarriage and congenital malformation of the baby, such as neural tube defects, are risks for untreated pregnant women with celiac disease because of malabsorption of nutrients.

* Short stature results when childhood celiac disease prevents nutrient absorption during the years when nutrition is critical to a child's normal growth and development. Children who are diagnosed and treated before their growth stops may have a catch-up period.

* Seizures, or convulsions, result from inadequate absorption of folic acid. Lack of folic acid causes calcium deposits, called calcifications, to form in the brain, which in turn cause seizures.

[KaitiUSA]

You can't really force it on them. You can present them with information and tell them it is genetic. After you give them the info then it is in their hands and they choose how to deal with that info.

My extended family is very stubborn and even though stomach problems are in the family they will not get tested.

[christtheking]

I did not feel better until I had eliminated all my allergy related foods, yeast being on of them. Most people with an allergy to gluten most certainly have other allergies. Check here for more info.

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[ianm]

You can lead people to knowledge but you cannot make them learn anything. I am convinced my dad and brother have it but they don't want to know anything about it. Even after losing a lot of weight and seeing so many positive changes they just aren't interested. Nothing you can do except get healthy and stay healthy.

[Guest nini]

I'm convinced quite a few of my relatives have it too. My sister denies having any symptoms, however, she has severe eczema and other not so typical symptoms. My mom did well on the Atkins Diet until she started adding gluten containing foods back into her diet... she refuses to acknowledge she may have this... she's had IBS for years. My dad is the only one that seems to be willing to look into this. His Dr.s suggested he try the gluten-free diet for his symptoms and he admits he feels a ton better when he stays gluten-free. He's becoming more and more convinced now that he sees that me and my daughter are doing so well on the gluten-free diet.

[cmom]

When I was at the doctor last week, I got orders for both my sons to be tested. I have told the younger one who is getting ready to leave for college but not the one who is already there. Thought I'd break it to him when he comes home this weekend. Getting them to follow the gluten-free diet will probably be quite a challenge if they end up being positive.

[jenvan]

This can be a hard situation. You can encourage them, but they may never choose to get tested, so at some point, if you have no success with them, you may need to try and move on. My dad is very stubborn as well, and finally got tested last week. We are still waiting on the results. Unfortunately, knowing how my dad is, if he tested positive, he would not go on the gluten-free diet. That would be heart-breaking to me, but at some point I have to let go and allow him to live with that choice and the consequences. It would only damage our relationship to continue to push and push him. I hope your family listens to your input, sees how you are improving, and get curious for themselves!

[printmaker81]

I'm positive my mother and one of my brothers have it. They have a long list of celiac symptoms. Neither of them will even listen to reasoning that they should get tested. Another of my brothers has no symptoms at all and has already scheduled to get tested in a month. Funny. I'm hoping whatever results Jeff gets will help persuade the other two to get tested. I think when your relatives refuse to get tested, it because part of them sees that theycould have it and all they can see from there is the trouble of the diet not the benefits of it. Going gluten free sounds a whole lot scarier when you're not used to it.

I'm just hoping my continually improving health will be persausion enough one day whenever that may be.

[PrincessLEah]

Thank you for putting up this question of how to convince relatives to get tested. I'm sure that my mom, sister and brother have it. My sister has gone so far as to have her hemorroids banded but won't ask the doctor to test her for celiac. They are so afraid that their lives will be drasticly changed that they won't even hear of it. They make me angry and sad at the same time. They would feel so much better.

[Corrine]

PrincessLeah is my daughter. I didn't know that she hadn't logged out.