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

New To This And Need Advice, Thanks!


RetroGirlChicago

Recommended Posts

RetroGirlChicago Newbie

Trying not to make the post too long but want to give a quick background...I am 37 years old and live in the South Suburbs of Chicago. On May 5th I had an endo because I had been vomiting 2-3 times a week for about a year, have had reflux for many years, tried to brush it off. The gastro said I have a hiatial hernia and ulcers from the vomiting. Two weeks later the nurse called and said I needed to go for more blood tests because the biopsies came back positive for Celiac. I went for the tests and was told by the nurse 4 weeks ago that the blood tests were positive, to make a follow up appt and to "Look it up online." (The appt they gave me was 5 weeks from then.)

I have done a lot of research and haven't intentionally eaten anything with gluten since then. In my research, I found out that the University of Chicago Hospitals has a Celiac Disease Center and made an appointment with one of their doctors for August. When talking to one of my sisters about it, she said "Don't you think that's for people with more serious problems?'" Meaning, I guess that since I didn't have any of the "classic" symptoms that there's no point in going. Since I've been gluten-free, my joint problems that I've had for 4 years are gone and I haven't vomited. I feel like I will get no help or guidance from the gastro dr., he was 1 1/2 late for my 1st appt and 2 1/2 hrs late for the endo, I didn't even see him before the procedure. Also my mom is a nurse and can't believe that his nurse basically told me that I have a chronic disease and to look it up. The advice I need is what would you do? Would you keep the appt at the Celiac Disease Center? I honestly am surprised at how well I've taken the dx, I've been cooking 95% of my food at home and found a lot of stores in my area with gluten-free stuff. I just would like to know that what I'm doing is enough and that the info that I have is right. The dr and the center are in my insurance plan and with all the appts and procedures so far this year I've gone over my high deductible anyway. I wanted to see a nutritionist but there are none in my plan. What would you do?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



kareng Grand Master

I Would go to the appointment.

They have an email address on their site. Email and tell them this but make it really brief. Ask who you should see. Bring your positive blood work , procedure report & path report. They may want to change the focus of your appt if they know you are already diagnosed.

tictax707 Apprentice

On May 5th I had an endo because I had been vomiting 2-3 times a week for about a year, have had reflux for many years, tried to brush it off. The gastro said I have a hiatial hernia and ulcers from the vomiting.

When talking to one of my sisters about it, she said "Don't you think that's for people with more serious problems?'" Meaning, I guess that since I didn't have any of the "classic" symptoms that there's no point in going.

What would you do?

Vomiting 2-3 times a week for a year is a serious problem. I know it's a pain but I would probably keep the follow up as well. It's few hours gamble for some possibly useful info.

jemms Apprentice

Keep the appointment. I am in the Chicago West Suburbs and was thinking of going to U of C but my insurance is nil. I have emailed them and they are super helpful. Definitely take advantage of the center and keep us posted. Also, you need to be an advocate for yourself...try not to listen to naysayers who cloud what you know you need to do for your own health. Good Luck.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,952
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    SY8
    Newest Member
    SY8
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jacki Espo
      This happened to me as well. What’s weirder is that within a couple hours of taking paxlovid it subsided. I thought maybe I got glutened but after reading your post not so sure. 
    • Mari
      Hi Tiffany. Thank you for writing your dituation and  circumstancesin such detail and so well writte, too. I particularly noticed what you wrote about brain for and feeling like your brain is swelling and I know from my own experiences that's how it feel and your brain really does swell and you get migraines.    Way back when I was in my 20s I read a book by 2 MD allergist and they described their patient who came in complaining that her brain, inside her cranium, was swelling  and it happened when she smelled a certain chemical she used in her home. She kept coming back and insisting her brain actually swelled in her head. The Drs couldn't explain this problem so they, with her permission, performed an operation where they made a small opening through her cranium, exposed her to the chemical then watched as she brain did swell into the opening. The DRs were amazed but then were able to advise her to avoid chemicals that made her brain swell. I remember that because I occasionally had brain fog then but it was not a serious problem. I also realized that I was becoming more sensitive to chemicals I used in my work in medical laboratories. By my mid forties the brain fog and chemicals forced me to leave my  profession and move to a rural area with little pollution. I did not have migraines. I was told a little later that I had a more porous blood brain barrier than other people. Chemicals in the air would go up into my sinused and leak through the blood brain barrier into my brain. We have 2 arteries  in our neck that carry blood with the nutrients and oxygen into the brain. To remove the fluids and used blood from the brain there are only capillaries and no large veins to carry it away so all those fluids ooze out much more slowly than they came in and since the small capillaries can't take care of extra fluid it results in swelling in the face, especially around the eyes. My blood flow into my brain is different from most other people as I have an arterial ischema, adefectiveartery on one side.   I have to go forward about 20 or more years when I learned that I had glaucoma, an eye problem that causes blindness and more years until I learned I had celiac disease.  The eye Dr described my glaucoma as a very slow loss of vision that I wouldn't  notice until had noticeable loss of sight.  I could have my eye pressure checked regularly or it would be best to have the cataracts removed from both eyes. I kept putting off the surgery then just overnight lost most of the vision in my left eye. I thought at the I had been exposed to some chemical and found out a little later the person who livedbehind me was using some chemicals to build kayaks in a shed behind my house. I did not realize the signifance  of this until I started having appointments with a Dr. in a new building. New buildings give me brain fog, loss of balance and other problems I know about this time I experienced visual disturbances very similar to those experienced by people with migraines. I looked further online and read that people with glaucoma can suffer rapid loss of sight if they have silent migraines (no headache). The remedy for migraines is to identify and avoid the triggers. I already know most of my triggers - aromatic chemicals, some cleaning materials, gasoline and exhaust and mold toxins. I am very careful about using cleaning agents using mostly borax and baking powder. Anything that has any fragrance or smell I avoid. There is one brand of dishwashing detergent that I can use and several brands of  scouring powder. I hope you find some of this helpful and useful. I have not seen any evidence that Celiac Disease is involved with migraines or glaucoma. Please come back if you have questions or if what I wrote doesn't make senseto you. We sometimes haveto learn by experience and finding out why we have some problems. Take care.       The report did not mention migraines. 
    • Mari
      Hi Jmartes71 That is so much like my story! You probably know where Laytonville is and that's where I was living just before my 60th birthday when the new Dr. suggested I could have Celiacs. I didn't go on a gluten challange diet before having the Celiac panel blood test drawn. The results came back as equivical as one antibody level was very high but another, tissue transaminasewas normal. Itdid show I was  allergic to cows milk and I think hot peppers. I immediately went gluten free but did not go in for an endoscopy. I found an online lab online that would do the test to show if I had a main celiac gene (enterolab.com). The report came back that I had inherited a main celiac gene, DQ8, from one parent and a D!6 from the other parent. That combination is knows to sym[tons of celiac worse than just inheriting one main celiac gene. With my version of celiac disease I was mostly constipated but after going gluten-free I would have diarrhea the few times I was glutened either by cross contamination or eating some food containing gluten. I have stayed gluten-free for almost 20 years now and knew within a few days that it was right for me although my recovery has been slow.   When I go to see a  medical provide and tell them I have celiacs they don't believe me. The same when I tell them that I carry a main celiac gene, the DQ8. It is only when I tell them that I get diarrhea after eating gluten that they realize that I might have celiac disease. Then they will order th Vitamin B12 and D3 that I need to monitor as my B12 levels can go down very fast if I'm not taking enough of it. Medical providers haven't been much help in my recovery. They are not well trained in this problem. I really hope this helps ypu. Take care.      
    • knitty kitty
    • DebJ14
×
×
  • 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.