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

I'm So Happy!


Poppi

Recommended Posts

Poppi Enthusiast

I don't know if this belongs in "Coping With" but there is no "Celebrating" section so I'm putting this here.

2 1/2 months ago I could not walk my youngest son to school. 6 blocks was too far for me. My arthritis was crippling, I had no energy, every part of my body hurt. SIX BLOCKS was beyond me. I was terrified at the thought of living another 60 years in this body becoming more and more crippled.

Today I completed my intro level sea kayak certification. 6 hours in a kayak paddling against wind in ocean swell. Wet exits, eskimo rescues, using my upper body strength the lift and turn kayaks in the water and climb in and out of the boats. It was exhausting but I am so proud of myself. I was the only woman in the course and the other 3 participants were military men in great shape (my husband and 2 coworkers). I kept up with them all day and did everything that they did. Occasionally it took a couple of tries but I did it.

The 2 coworkers and the instructors were horrified at lunch when I was telling them what I can't have because of celiac but it didn't phase me at all. Go ahead and eat your sandwich, drink your beer ... being gluten free has given me a life I always envied in others.

I'm so happy right now. Exhausted and sore but happy.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



bigbird16 Apprentice

How awesome, Sara!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!:D

kareng Grand Master

Super Woman!

psawyer Proficient

Awesome!

glutenfreegirl Enthusiast

I am so proud for you....you give me hope and inspiration.....please share all of your success stories that are to come....I look forward to hearing the next one.....

Harpgirl Explorer

Awesome job! Kayaking is not easy! Keep it up! :D

Lisa Mentor

Very Cool! You are an inspiration for all women, challenged with health issues or not! And, I'm sure, an inspiration to those looking for the light at the end of tunnel. :D


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Greenling Newbie

Wow, that's really cool. Congratulations on the certification! And how amazing to feel soooo much better in such a short time. :)

IrishHeart Veteran

WHOOHOO! You go, girl!! Major kudos!! :)

Poppi Enthusiast

Thank you so much. Every part of my body hurts right now but it was worth it. We're looking at doing our level 1 skills certification in August and that is two 8 hour days in a row.

Newtoitall Enthusiast

wow that's exactly what I want!

congrats!

lol beer+fitness = lolol

teach them how to be healthier =D

lizard00 Enthusiast

This makes me so happy! Congrats! :D

wheeleezdryver Community Regular

That is totally AWESOME!!!!!! You go, girl!!!! B):D

11475 Apprentice

Congratulations - that's amazing and you should be so proud. Great for us all (members new AND old to the boards) to read about such successes! Really happy for you :)

YoloGx Rookie

Amazing! You are indeed an inspiration.

Good luck in August, I am sure you will do well!

love2travel Mentor

Wow - good for you! I'm glad you went ahead with it and did not allow your pain, etc. to control you. You have taken such a big step and now I bet you feel as though you could do anything. It is thrilling that you were able to do this so early into your gluten-free lifestyle after such horrible crippling! Amazing. :D

Poppi Enthusiast

Thanks again everyone. I feel so blessed to have recovered so quickly. I read about so many of you who are still dealing with crippling health problems even after years of being gluten free and my heart breaks. My life isn't all sunshine and roses yet, and I'll never get the cartilage back in my feet so there are high impact things I probably will never be able to do but I'm so happy to be on my way.

I am thinking that we will push the level 1 course back to October or even next year. I had the most intense and painful muscle spasms/burning pain in my neck, arms and hands last night. Everything from the base of my skull to the tips of my fingers was on fire. It was awful. The only time I can remember being in that much pain was when I was in the hospital with meningitis last summer and after 14 days on constant high doses of dilaudid a doctor decided I was a drug addict and cut me off the drugs cold turkey and sent me home. Withdrawing from that was the worst 3 days of my life and the pain last night was very similar. I have a lot of work to do on my stamina and fitness before I'll be ready to do two days of hard paddling. I'm happy to have a goal though and I look forward to achieving it.

Thanks so much for your kind words and support, I means a lot coming from people who understand how deep people like us have to dig to do things that feel normal to most.

IrishHeart Veteran

I am thinking that we will push the level 1 course back to October or even next year. I had the most intense and painful muscle spasms/burning pain in my neck, arms and hands last night. Everything from the base of my skull to the tips of my fingers was on fire. It was awful.

Thanks so much for your kind words and support, I means a lot coming from people who understand how deep people like us have to dig to do things that feel normal to most.

Your courage and determination is inspirational!! I am just so happy for you!!!

Sara, this "burning fire" you describe??--is exactly what I live with --right up through my skull, too--down my arms, spine, pelvis, hips, legs and feet..and it IS awful, isn't it. arrgh! :blink: HOWEVER!! The good news is... you can use your muscles & joints now that you are healing your gut (as they should be used) and you will recover from your heavy workout!! Baby yourself for a few days. It will subside. Use ICE at first, then heat. The inflammation will die down. If you can tolerate them, OTC (gluten free, of course) NSAIDs will help. ( I can't do those myself)

You DID IT and that is so amazing!!! :)

By sharing your success, you gave me a shot of renewed hope and "push" and I'll continue my grueling daily physical therapy exercises to regain lost muscle mass with your accomplishment in mind!!

Thank you, honey! :)

You're one brave kiddo!! ;)

Lori2 Contributor

I am thinking that we will push the level 1 course back to October or even next year. I had the most intense and painful muscle spasms/burning pain in my neck, arms and hands last night. Everything from the base of my skull to the tips of my fingers was on fire. It was awful.

My son does long-distance bike riding. He has found that additional magnesium has eliminated all his muscle soreness and cramps. There is magnesium available that is manufactured to be almost 100% absorbable so that is doesn't cause diarrhea. I use it for the leg cramps I get at night. This might help you.

IrishHeart Veteran

My son does long-distance bike riding. He has found that additional magnesium has eliminated all his muscle soreness and cramps. There is magnesium available that is manufactured to be almost 100% absorbable so that is doesn't cause diarrhea. I use it for the leg cramps I get at night. This might help you.

That's great!! Would you mind sharing the brand name, please!?? The big D is a common complaint for many on here after taking Mag. supps. :unsure:

love2travel Mentor

That's great!! Would you mind sharing the brand name, please!?? The big D is a common complaint for many on here after taking Mag. supps. :unsure:

Sorry to jump in here but my chronic pain management surgeon highly recommends magnesium glycinate. He said nearly all magnesium available is only absorbed about 20-30% EXCEPT for mag glycinate which absorbs 85-90%. He also recommends that those with chronic pain need to gradually take up to 900-1800 mg per day (at night time)!! I am currently at 750 mg and soon will be at 900 mg. I do notice a definite decrease in leg cramping and spasms, especially at night so am getting up less often to walk around at night - am guessing it is due to either the magnesium, other supplements I am on, and/or being gluten-free for four months.

IrishHeart Veteran

Sorry to jump in here but my chronic pain management surgeon highly recommends magnesium glycinate. He said nearly all magnesium available is only absorbed about 20-30% EXCEPT for mag glycinate which absorbs 85-90%. He also recommends that those with chronic pain need to gradually take up to 900-1800 mg per day (at night time)!! I am currently at 750 mg and soon will be at 900 mg. I do notice a definite decrease in leg cramping and spasms, especially at night so am getting up less often to walk around at night - am guessing it is due to either the magnesium, other supplements I am on, and/or being gluten-free for four months.

That's great news!! I use the glycinate form myself-- but have been reluctant to "up it" too quickly as I do not wish to see if the D will reappear :lol: ...maybe it's time for me to "boost" it :)

How soon did you notice a reduction in the muscle spams?? a few months? Thanks!!

love2travel Mentor

That's great news!! I use the glycinate form myself-- but have been reluctant to "up it" too quickly as I do not wish to see if the D will reappear :lol: ...maybe it's time for me to "boost" it :)

How soon did you notice a reduction in the muscle spams?? a few months? Thanks!!

Just in the past week or so. I realized I wasn't complaining about my pain as much. At first I thought it was my attitude (hee hee) but then I realized it was physiological as well. I thought it was a teeny tiny difference so was wondering if I was imagining things but then it hit me the other day. My calves are spasming a lot less. My back/hips/shoulders/myofascial pain still sucks but I am sure that will gradually improve over time. Even if it improved 30% - seriously. That would even help! I, too, have been increasing my magnesium super gradually. Irish, I really hope it works for you very soon! :)

YoloGx Rookie

Another related thing that helps me sleep better at night and have less spasoming is to take a hot bath with a couple of handfuls of epsom salts in it. Given I now have out and out salicylic acid sensitivity, for some reason I can't use as much epsom salts as I used to, but boy is it effective for helping me detox now as well as smoothing out my nerves and muscles.

IrishHeart Veteran

Just in the past week or so. I realized I wasn't complaining about my pain as much. At first I thought it was my attitude (hee hee) but then I realized it was physiological as well. I thought it was a teeny tiny difference so was wondering if I was imagining things but then it hit me the other day. My calves are spasming a lot less. My back/hips/shoulders/myofascial pain still sucks but I am sure that will gradually improve over time. Even if it improved 30% - seriously. That would even help! I, too, have been increasing my magnesium super gradually. Irish, I really hope it works for you very soon! :)

I'm with you--any reduction in pain is a good thing! ;) Thanks for posting!!

Archived

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

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

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





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - cristiana replied to sha1091a's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Issues before diagnosis

    2. - chrisinpa commented on Scott Adams's article in Skin Problems and Celiac Disease
      2

      Celiac Disease and Skin Disorders: Exploring a Genetic Connection

    3. - knitty kitty replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

    4. - trents replied to sha1091a's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Issues before diagnosis

    5. - trents commented on Jefferson Adams's article in Other Diseases and Disorders Associated with Celiac Disease
      6

      Celiac Disease Patients Face Higher Risk of Systemic Lupus

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,692
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Ali Zaib
    Newest Member
    Ali Zaib
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      I agree, it so often overlooked! I live in the UK and I have often wondered why doctors are so reluctant to at least exclude it - my thoughts are perhaps the particular tests are expensive for the NHS, so therefore saved for people with 'obvious' symptoms.  I was diagnosed in 2013 and was told immediately that my parents, sibling and children should be checked.  My parents' GP to this day has not put forward my father for testing, and my mother was never tested in her lifetime, despite the fact that they both have some interesting symptoms/family history that reflect they might have coeliac disease (Dad - extreme bloating, and his Mum clearly had autoimmune issues, albeit undiagnosed as such; Mum - osteoporosis, anxiety).  I am now my father' legal guardian and suspecting my parents may have forgotten to ask their GP for a test (which is entirely possible!) I put it to his last GP that he ought to be tested.  He looked at Dad's blood results and purely because he was not anemic said he wasn't a coeliac. (This was the same GP who said Dad didn't have dementia, when months before one of his colleagues suspected it and told me Dad must be diagnosed).  Hopefully as the awareness of Coeliac Disease spreads among the general public, people will be able to advocate for themselves.  It is hard because in the UK the NHS is very stretched, but the fallout from not being diagnosed in a timely fashion will only cost the NHS more money. Interestingly, a complete aside, I met someone recently whose son was diagnosed (I think she said he was 8).  At a recent birthday party with 8 guests, 4 boys out of the 8 had received diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, which is an astounding statistic  As far as I know, though, they had all had obvious gastric symptoms leading to their NHS diagnosis.  In my own case I had  acute onset anxiety, hypnopompic hallucinations (vivid hallucinations upon waking),  odd liver function, anxiety, headaches, ulcers and low iron but it wasn't until the gastric symptoms hit me that a GP thought to do coeliac testing, and my numbers were through the roof.  As @trents says, by the grace of God I was diagnosed, and the diet has pretty much dealt with most of those symptoms.  I have much to be grateful for. Cristiana
    • knitty kitty
      @xxnonamexx, There's labeling on those Trubar gluten free high fiber protein bars that say: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, milk, soy, fish, WHEAT, sesame, and other tree nuts." You may want to avoid products made in shared facilities.   If you are trying to add more fiber to your diet to ease constipation, considering eating more leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.  Not only are these high in fiber, they also are good sources of magnesium.  Many newly diagnosed are low in magnesium and B vitamins and suffer with constipation.  Thiamine Vitamin B1 and magnesium work together.  Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine has been shown to improve intestinal health.  Thiamine and magnesium are important to gastrointestinal health and function.  
    • trents
      Welcome to celiac.com @sha1091a! Your experience is a very common one. Celiac disease is one the most underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed medical conditions out there. The reasons are numerous. One key one is that its symptoms mimic so many other diseases. Another is ignorance on the part of the medical community with regard to the range of symptoms that celiac disease can produce. Clinicians often are only looking for classic GI symptoms and are unaware of the many other subsystems in the body that can be damaged before classic GI symptoms manifest, if ever they do. Many celiacs are of the "silent" variety and have few if any GI symptoms while all along, damage is being done to their bodies. In my case, the original symptoms were elevated liver enzymes which I endured for 13 years before I was diagnosed with celiac disease. By the grace of God my liver was not destroyed. It is common for the onset of the disease to happen 10 years before you ever get a diagnosis. Thankfully, that is slowly changing as there has developed more awareness on the part of both the medical community and the public in the past 20 years or so. Blessings!
    • knitty kitty
      @EndlessSummer, You said you had an allergy to trees.  People with Birch Allergy can react to green beans (in the legume family) and other vegetables, as well as some fruits.  Look into Oral Allergy Syndrome which can occur at a higher rate in Celiac Disease.   Switching to a low histamine diet for a while can give your body time to rid itself of the extra histamine the body makes with Celiac disease and histamine consumed in the diet.   Vitamin C and the eight B vitamins are needed to help the body clear histamine.   Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?
    • sha1091a
      I found out the age of 68 that I am a celiac. When I was 16, I had my gallbladder removed when I was 24 I was put on a medication because I was told I had fibromyalgia.   going to Doctor’s over many years, not one of them thought to check me out for celiac disease. I am aware that it only started being tested by bloodwork I believe in the late 90s, but still I’m kind of confused why my gallbladder my joint pain flatulent that I complained of constantly was totally ignored. Is it not something that is taught to our medical system? It wasn’t a Doctor Who asked for the test to be done. I asked for it because of something I had read and my test came back positive. My number was quite high.Are there other people out here that had this kind of problems and they were ignored? 
×
×
  • 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.