Sound Like Celiac?

[WifeMamaRN2be]

Hi everyone! What a helpful site! I know you all can help me as I have read many of your informative posts.

It started a year and a half ago. One night I was at the stove about to make dinner when suddenly I felt like I couldn't breathe. I tried breathing steam in the bathroom but decided to go to the ER. The dr dx me with "Bronchitis" and I went home. I knew that wasn't what I had so I moved on. For the next couple of months I felt like I was in a daze. I could function but it was hard. I kept going to the dr because I felt like I couldn't breathe, felt like I was going to pass out, and was in a fog. This eventually got better but I started having panic attacks. We found out we were expecting our third beautiful baby about 5 months into this. I finally felt better with the breathing but now I had heart racing/palps and low blood pressure upon standing. Webt to the cardiologist, all checked out fine with heart. I gave birth this past February to our third precious baby girl : ) The l&d went wonderfully and I went home after a couple days. Shortly after her birth I started having major gas (sorry for tmi) and I just made jokes about this postpartum problem. The gas turned into cramping and bloating and all of this has gone on for 6 months now. I forgot to add that I started having muscle aches off and on around January of 2009, so a year before my other symptoms started. These have become worse and more often. Now I get aches down my arms, sometimes my legs, into my fingers and toes. Some days my muscles feel achy and weak. I have no weight loss aside from my postpartum weight loss. I have read up on adrenal fatigue and this sseems like a definite possibilty, too. *Forgot to add-I feel very shaky here and there and today I have been very shaky. My blood sugar is usually just right (with the exception of once when it was 54) when I feel this way. I also have had major sinus headaches and allergies since I was about 20 (9 years or so ago).

I'm sorry this was so long, and thank you for taking your time to read my story. If you have any advice for me I would truly appreciate your input. God bless you on your own Celiac journey : )

[pain*in*my*gut]

  On 9/11/2011 at 11:55 PM, WifeMamaRN2be said:

Hi everyone! What a helpful site! I know you all can help me as I have read many of your informative posts.

It started a year and a half ago. One night I was at the stove about to make dinner when suddenly I felt like I couldn't breathe. I tried breathing steam in the bathroom but decided to go to the ER. The dr dx me with "Bronchitis" and I went home. I knew that wasn't what I had so I moved on. For the next couple of months I felt like I was in a daze. I could function but it was hard. I kept going to the dr because I felt like I couldn't breathe, felt like I was going to pass out, and was in a fog. This eventually got better but I started having panic attacks. We found out we were expecting our third beautiful baby about 5 months into this. I finally felt better with the breathing but now I had heart racing/palps and low blood pressure upon standing. Webt to the cardiologist, all checked out fine with heart. I gave birth this past February to our third precious baby girl : ) The l&d went wonderfully and I went home after a couple days. Shortly after her birth I started having major gas (sorry for tmi) and I just made jokes about this postpartum problem. The gas turned into cramping and bloating and all of this has gone on for 6 months now. I forgot to add that I started having muscle aches off and on around January of 2009, so a year before my other symptoms started. These have become worse and more often. Now I get aches down my arms, sometimes my legs, into my fingers and toes. Some days my muscles feel achy and weak. I have no weight loss aside from my postpartum weight loss. I have read up on adrenal fatigue and this sseems like a definite possibilty, too. *Forgot to add-I feel very shaky here and there and today I have been very shaky. My blood sugar is usually just right (with the exception of once when it was 54) when I feel this way. I also have had major sinus headaches and allergies since I was about 20 (9 years or so ago).

I'm sorry this was so long, and thank you for taking your time to read my story. If you have any advice for me I would truly appreciate your input. God bless you on your own Celiac journey : )

Hi! Congrats on your new baby! Yes, your symptoms certainly sound like they could be Celiac. Sometimes people with Celiac don't actually get "triggered" into full-blown disease until they have a stressful event to their body (i.e pregnancy, surgery, illness). Mine was a bowel resection in 2007 (I had endometriosis growing into my rectum....yuck). Within weeks of the surgery I was sick!! It took 4 years of bizarre symptoms just like yours before I got diagnosed.

The best place to start would be your primary care doc. Tell her you want a Celiac blood screen panel and go from there. Have you had any other testing since the birth of your baby? Sometimes pregnancy can throw your body out of whack and mess with your thyroid, so it might be a good idea to get that checked out as well. Your doc should be able to help you get the ball rolling.

Good luck! And welcome!

[rosetapper23]

I would strongly suggest that you be tested for Vitamin B-12 deficiency. Whenever I'm experiencing low Vitamin B-12, I feel as though I'm gasping to breathe, and I get heart palpitations. Many of your symptoms sound nutrient related, so your doctor should really be running a full panel on you. You may be low in Vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and/or iron, too.

And, yes, you sound like a perfect candidate for celiac disease.

[WifeMamaRN2be]

  On 9/12/2011 at 1:07 AM, pain*in*my*gut said:

Hi! Congrats on your new baby! Yes, your symptoms certainly sound like they could be Celiac. Sometimes people with Celiac don't actually get "triggered" into full-blown disease until they have a stressful event to their body (i.e pregnancy, surgery, illness). Mine was a bowel resection in 2007 (I had endometriosis growing into my rectum....yuck). Within weeks of the surgery I was sick!! It took 4 years of bizarre symptoms just like yours before I got diagnosed.

The best place to start would be your primary care doc. Tell her you want a Celiac blood screen panel and go from there. Have you had any other testing since the birth of your baby? Sometimes pregnancy can throw your body out of whack and mess with your thyroid, so it might be a good idea to get that checked out as well. Your doc should be able to help you get the ball rolling.

Good luck! And welcome!

Thank you so much for your response and advice! I have been playing phone tag with my drs office this morning to try and get the panel done. I have requested a vitamin/mineral panel as well, thanks to the second posted who responded to me! They said I should look into B12. Wow, your symptoms sure sound like mine. I have almost every one you list below your signature. How long does it take to get results? Thanks again! : )

[WifeMamaRN2be]

  On 9/12/2011 at 2:12 AM, rosetapper23 said:

I would strongly suggest that you be tested for Vitamin B-12 deficiency. Whenever I'm experiencing low Vitamin B-12, I feel as though I'm gasping to breathe, and I get heart palpitations. Many of your symptoms sound nutrient related, so your doctor should really be running a full panel on you. You may be low in Vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and/or iron, too.

And, yes, you sound like a perfect candidate for celiac disease.

Hello! Thank you so much for your reply! I am waiting on a call back so I can get a panel done. I pray I am Celiac (does that sound weird?) so I can get these crazy symptoms under control. Although I LOVE gluten filled foods, I can do without if it means feeling better! Thanks again, and I'll let everyone know how I make out. I think even if the test comes back negative I will try gluten-free for a while.

[WifeMamaRN2be]

  On 9/12/2011 at 1:07 AM, pain*in*my*gut said:

Hi! Congrats on your new baby! Yes, your symptoms certainly sound like they could be Celiac. Sometimes people with Celiac don't actually get "triggered" into full-blown disease until they have a stressful event to their body (i.e pregnancy, surgery, illness). Mine was a bowel resection in 2007 (I had endometriosis growing into my rectum....yuck). Within weeks of the surgery I was sick!! It took 4 years of bizarre symptoms just like yours before I got diagnosed.

The best place to start would be your primary care doc. Tell her you want a Celiac blood screen panel and go from there. Have you had any other testing since the birth of your baby? Sometimes pregnancy can throw your body out of whack and mess with your thyroid, so it might be a good idea to get that checked out as well. Your doc should be able to help you get the ball rolling.

Good luck! And welcome!

I forgot to mention (is major forgetfulness a symptom of Celiac? LOL!) that I have recently had my thyroid tested and all is fine. I was so hoping it was that because I have so many symptoms that go along with hypothyroid. I'm praying for a positive Celiac panel...

[pain*in*my*gut]

  On 9/12/2011 at 2:48 PM, WifeMamaRN2be said:

I forgot to mention (is major forgetfulness a symptom of Celiac? LOL!) that I have recently had my thyroid tested and all is fine. I was so hoping it was that because I have so many symptoms that go along with hypothyroid. I'm praying for a positive Celiac panel...

Yep, I already forgot what I was going to post.... ! But seriously, memory problems/brain fog are big symptoms for a lot of us.

It took about 3 days for my labs to come back, but I think that would vary a bit depending on where you live and what lab you use. Some people have to wait a couple weeks....

[WifeMamaRN2be]

  On 9/12/2011 at 4:22 PM, pain*in*my*gut said:

Yep, I already forgot what I was going to post.... ! But seriously, memory problems/brain fog are big symptoms for a lot of us.

It took about 3 days for my labs to come back, but I think that would vary a bit depending on where you live and what lab you use. Some people have to wait a couple weeks....

LOL! : ) Over the past couple of years I have noticed that I can't think of relatively simple words. I will be in the middle of talking to someone and I'll have to stop and try and remember a certain word. Often I even have to say "What's that word that means...?" It's CRAZY! I work for my dad and my uncle and...I just had a phone call that lasted about 3 minutes and I totally forget what I was going to type...

Anyway, thanks for the replies. Hopefully my results will be in sooner rather than later! : )