New But Been Lurking

[Flasaltwater]

I am so so happy to have found to you.

I always felt so alone with all my digestive issues, rash etc.

here is some history about me

I am 5'2 weigh about 112. I have been as little as 93lbs can't seem to gain weight like a normal person even when pregnant unless I'm bloated of course then I look like I'm pregnant

always been Anemic most of my life, worse while I pregnant. Dr's always think I must be bleeding somewhere. Really??? for the last 30 years I don't think so. <<<Sarcasm well I have had a few times where there was bloody mucas in my diarrhea.

I have had diarrhea off and and on for 30 years mostly o.n I have had it for the last 15 yrs with out a break.

I have major smelly gas, bloating, stomach cramps, indigestion, horrible itchy rash on my butt and back now moving to my arms and my leg's as well. I have dental issues my hair is falling out. I have insomnia. I'm cranky most the time and depressed. I'm a walking nightmare.

I have been labeled with IBS, Depression, Anxiety, Low Serotonin. Sometimes I think we know more then the doctors. I can not get a Dr to listen to me they always want to just label me with IBS tell me to take Fiber. Wow I can't do that,Fiber kills me.

Oh and my period goes MIA occasionally, now I just don't have it hardly at all but that could be my age I am 47

My youngest child has type 1 diabetes other 2 seam to have no problems.

I am on my 4th day of gluten free diet and so far I have noticed that my moods have changed I'm not as irritable seems my indigestion is calming down and I don't seem to be bloating as bad. This is it so far but I have been going untreated for a long long time so this may take a while from what I have read.

I am seriously thinking about ordering a test from a lab online since the Dr's here are uneducated on this disease I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands If I want to be normal again. Whatever that is, not sure I remember.

Do you think my symptoms fall in line with Celiac's disease or Gluten sensitivity?

[ravenwoodglass]

You do sound very much like you could be in the right place. If you want to be tested for celiac you need to immediately go back on gluten until that testing is done. Your child with type 1 diabetes should also be tested. Testing of Type 1s for celiac is advised by the NIH.

When you are done with all celiac related testing then do give the diet a good strict try for at least a couple of months even if the tests results are negative.

[pain*in*my*gut]

I am so so happy to have found to you.

I always felt so alone with all my digestive issues, rash etc.

here is some history about me

I am 5'2 weigh about 112. I have been as little as 93lbs can't seem to gain weight like a normal person even when pregnant unless I'm bloated of course then I look like I'm pregnant

always been Anemic most of my life, worse while I pregnant. Dr's always think I must be bleeding somewhere. Really??? for the last 30 years I don't think so. <<<Sarcasm well I have had a few times where there was bloody mucas in my diarrhea.

I have had diarrhea off and and on for 30 years mostly o.n I have had it for the last 15 yrs with out a break.

I have major smelly gas, bloating, stomach cramps, indigestion, horrible itchy rash on my butt and back now moving to my arms and my leg's as well. I have dental issues my hair is falling out. I have insomnia. I'm cranky most the time and depressed. I'm a walking nightmare.

I have been labeled with IBS, Depression, Anxiety, Low Serotonin. Sometimes I think we know more then the doctors. I can not get a Dr to listen to me they always want to just label me with IBS tell me to take Fiber. Wow I can't do that,Fiber kills me.

Oh and my period goes MIA occasionally, now I just don't have it hardly at all but that could be my age I am 47

My youngest child has type 1 diabetes other 2 seam to have no problems.

I am on my 4th day of gluten free diet and so far I have noticed that my moods have changed I'm not as irritable seems my indigestion is calming down and I don't seem to be bloating as bad. This is it so far but I have been going untreated for a long long time so this may take a while from what I have read.

I am seriously thinking about ordering a test from a lab online since the Dr's here are uneducated on this disease I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands If I want to be normal again. Whatever that is, not sure I remember.

Do you think my symptoms fall in line with Celiac's disease or Gluten sensitivity?

Wow! Yes, you do sound like you have Celiac. You must go back on gluten NOW if you want an official dx! The lab tests and the biopsy for confirmation will NOT be accurate if you have been gluten free for any period of time before the tests (especially the blood tests). I was gluten free for 2 weeks before my GI ordered a scope, so now I am forced to eat gluten for a MONTH so that I can (hopefully) get an accurate dx.

And get the kiddos checked, too. The sooner you know, the quicker you can get on the right track.

[Rocketlegs]

Wow! Yes, you do sound like you have Celiac. You must go back on gluten NOW if you want an official dx! The lab tests and the biopsy for confirmation will NOT be accurate if you have been gluten free for any period of time before the tests (especially the blood tests). I was gluten free for 2 weeks before my GI ordered a scope, so now I am forced to eat gluten for a MONTH so that I can (hopefully) get an accurate dx.

And get the kiddos checked, too. The sooner you know, the quicker you can get on the right track.

Do we really need an official diagnosis though? Can't we just go off gluten for the rest of our lives? For as absolutely horrible I was feeling, I don't ever want to eat gluten again even to get an 'official' diagnosis!

[sa1937]

Do we really need an official diagnosis though? Can't we just go off gluten for the rest of our lives? For as absolutely horrible I was feeling, I don't ever want to eat gluten again even to get an 'official' diagnosis!

I don't blame you for not wanting to feel ill! The question I would have is would you be willing to stay on a strict gluten-free diet for the rest of your life without an "official" diagnosis? That's not saying there's a guarantee you would get a diagnosis even if you went through all testing. But a few months or years down the road are you going to regret not going through with testing? It's a question only you can answer. You'll find there are a lot of folks here who are self-diagnosed and feel so much better after going gluten-free.

Personally I went the whole nine yards as I knew my daughter had a problem with gluten. So if I didn't take it seriously, would she? She just had the celiac panel (the newer DGP test, which was positive) and went gluten-free as soon as she got her results. Skipped the endoscopy. She's fine with it as am I.

[ravenwoodglass]

Do we really need an official diagnosis though? Can't we just go off gluten for the rest of our lives? For as absolutely horrible I was feeling, I don't ever want to eat gluten again even to get an 'official' diagnosis!

Whether to go for the official diagnosis or not is wholly up to you. If you can stay strict with the diet without it then go for it. For some of us the reaction our body has when we consume gluten and the way we feel off it is enough proof.

[Flasaltwater]

I don't blame you for not wanting to feel ill! The question I would have is would you be willing to stay on a strict gluten-free diet for the rest of your life without an "official" diagnosis? That's not saying there's a guarantee you would get a diagnosis even if you went through all testing. But a few months or years down the road are you going to regret not going through with testing? It's a question only you can answer. You'll find there are a lot of folks here who are self-diagnosed and feel so much better after going gluten-free.

Personally I went the whole nine yards as I knew my daughter had a problem with gluten. So if I didn't take it seriously, would she? She just had the celiac panel (the newer DGP test, which was positive) and went gluten-free as soon as she got her results. Skipped the endoscopy. She's fine with it as am I.

I will probably order the test, as far as the endoscopy I doubt ill put myself through that. I can do the diet if it makes me feel better which it does. I am sick of being sick and trying to cover that there is really something wrong. I have had coworkers at my job say to me oh I wish I was as small as you. Please! if they only Knew. I use to lie and say it was my over active metabolism. I know where every public bathroom is in my town I would love to live life and not have to think of these things. I hate the fact that I have to eat gluten again to be honest it scares my. My indigestion has gone I was taking 150 mg of Zantac 2 times a day before starting the diet. I still have the running to the bathroom and the rash and for whatever reason I am breaking out more. GO figure!! But the gas and the bloating has calmed down a lot this is huge for me. Not to be gross but I could run my family out of a room with my stinky gas. I just want to be normal this is no quality of life for anyone. I am happy to have the diet its better then having to live with the pain.

Sorry if I ramble I have lot of anxiety built up : )

[beebs]

Do we really need an official diagnosis though? Can't we just go off gluten for the rest of our lives? For as absolutely horrible I was feeling, I don't ever want to eat gluten again even to get an 'official' diagnosis!

I was talking to the Coeliac society here in Oz about this very thing the other day - basically they are very close to a vaccine - 5 years maybe less, only those who are officially diagnosed will be elligible for it....I haven't got an official diag - doh!!!! I think people should keep that thought in their mind when deciding on an official diag vs gluten free without one.

[Rocketlegs]

My aunt, who has gluten issues, said that if you get diagnosed with celiac you'll have a hell of a time getting health insurance. I pay for my own policy now and they're already cranky about sinuses (had sinus surgery in 2004 but anything to do with the head now they won't pay for if it could remotely be sinus related). So I think I may just do elimination and if I feel better keep avoiding gluten.

[beebs]

My aunt, who has gluten issues, said that if you get diagnosed with celiac you'll have a hell of a time getting health insurance. I pay for my own policy now and they're already cranky about sinuses (had sinus surgery in 2004 but anything to do with the head now they won't pay for if it could remotely be sinus related). So I think I may just do elimination and if I feel better keep avoiding gluten.

Every time I hear about your insurance issues in the US I always feel like "What tha"? You are paying them tonnes of money and they are cranky at you??? So unfair!