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unknown Apprentice
unknown
Posted

Hey everyone,

I'm back. My last post explained that I found out I had gallstones and that I had to get surgery, and I thought that was my only problem. I thought that getting the surgery would solve everything and I would be magically healed. Well, I was wrong. My doctor ordered another celiac panel and it came out positive again. This time my antigliadin IGA was higher than the first 2 times. So, it's steadily getting worse (slowly, though). He suggested that I get on a gluten free diet.

This sucks so much. I LOVE all things containing gluten and I started doing that extreme couponing and I have 5 bottles of Crest Pro Health Mouthwash (which is apparently not safe). I had plans to make cupcakes for halloween at work and I know all these things aren't as important as my health, but I don't want this. I don't want to live the rest of my life like this...but I guess I don't get to choose. I'm sure a lot of you feel/felt this way, too. Any advice?

Maybe I'm just being overly dramatic...

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mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Hey everyone,

I'm back. My last post explained that I found out I had gallstones and that I had to get surgery, and I thought that was my only problem. I thought that getting the surgery would solve everything and I would be magically healed. Well, I was wrong. My doctor ordered another celiac panel and it came out positive again. This time my antigliadin IGA was higher than the first 2 times. So, it's steadily getting worse (slowly, though). He suggested that I get on a gluten free diet.

This sucks so much. I LOVE all things containing gluten and I started doing that extreme couponing and I have 5 bottles of Crest Pro Health Mouthwash (which is apparently not safe). I had plans to make cupcakes for halloween at work and I know all these things aren't as important as my health, but I don't want this. I don't want to live the rest of my life like this...but I guess I don't get to choose. I'm sure a lot of you feel/felt this way, too. Any advice?

Maybe I'm just being overly dramatic...

Halloween cupcakes? How about these? Open Original Shared Link Kinda like anything you can do, I can do bettaj :D Get out your piping attachments :)

I am sorry, that does suck to have the surgery and feel no better, but at least you know you had the stones and had a gallbladder problem. The fact that that was not the only problem is what stinks. :( Unfortunately, gallbladder and celiac often go together. Yes, positive celiac blood tests = gluten free diet., but honestly, hon, it's not the end of the world. A few changes are going to be required though, and I guess the first one is that this is the way it is..... But it definitely does not mean that you cannot make Halloween cupcakes :) The baking possibilities nowadays are practically unlimied. Check out the recipe part of the forum here and you will find the most fantabulous creations, like Simona's Challah bread, or her filled buns, or the Perfect White Sandwich Bread. And things you make at home will almost invariably be better than things you buy in the stores (except for my local Decadent Dessert bakery :rolleyes: which costs an arm and a leg and I use for special occasions when I can spare a limb (or two) :lol:

Take some time to grieve the loss of your gluteny things, and then develop the "rat poison" mentality whenever you look at them, because that is what they are to you. Then set your creativity to work to create food that even your gluten-eating friends will beg you for the recipe.

unknown Apprentice
unknown
Posted
  • Author

Thanks mushroom! Those cupcakes look really good! I'll definitely try them.

I guess I'll just have to stop looking at the glass as half empty, but I'm definitely going to need some time. It just seems like such a huge change.

Will I need to get all new hair and body products, and makeup? I get why mouthwash/toothpaste and chapstick/lipstick would be bad, but is getting rid of everything else really necessary?

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

It is hard at first but it will easier. Your not the only one who has had gallbladder issues and thought taking care of that would be the answer so your not alone in that respect. We are here to help in any way we can. Your local food pantry will gladly accept any gluteny items you need to get out of the house and you can always deduct them as a charitable deduction if you are someone who itemizes. Do feel free to vent and ask any more questions you need to.

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted

It's okay to be sad about the loss you're experiencing! Also, gluten has a bit of a morphine-like effect on the brain (so does casein in milk), which can make our love of these foods extra strong and biological in nature. Beware of the withdrawal symptoms (for me it was te worst headache of my life for several days and off and on a few weeks, but after it dissipated I felt better than EVER), but stick it out.

And make gluten-free Halloween cupcakes! I went gluten-free right before my partner's birthday and I always make cake. I made gluten-free cupcakes (admittedly the first batch was inedible), and no one could tell the difference. It gave me some confidence that I could keep up with this gluten-free thing. :)

I STILL have unopened stuff I can't use or eat in the house and it's been a few months. I donated a lot of unopened foodstuff but still have health and beauty stuff and some

Frozen and junk food I'd stocked up on. My family may use them but if they're untouched next time I get an urge to purge, I'm going to see about donation to an organization, or freecycle/craigslist. There's a lot of folks in dire straights right now who could use stuff like your extra mouthwash but can't spare the change. Folks can be really sweet and kind about accepting stuff on CL or freecycle.

As someone here said to me when i joined: Welcome to the greatest club you never wanted to join! ;)

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Maybe make some microwave peanut brittle instead of cupcakes? There are easy recipes on the web for it. Add some dried fruit chunks or sunflower seeds etc.. Coat the top with melted chocolate and sprinkle shredded coconut on it. Tamp the bottoms in powdered sugar or carob powder. Or do the gluten-free cupcakes, so boring by comparison IMHO...:D

Eating gluten-free is much easier than being sick all the time and getting sicker every day as you go too. Bodies that don't like gluten just don't do well when fed it. Your habits of food eating can adjust like they did all your life. When you were a baby you wanted nothing but mommie's milk, but you totally changed your diet and started eating solid foods. Even babies can make severe diet changes. People are flexible and adaptable and can learn new things even as old farts. Not saying you are old... :D It just plain gets easier after a while to do this diet. You can do it.

unknown Apprentice
unknown
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone! I don't feel as sorry for myself as I did before. I'm realizing that life isn't over and I have all of you to help me!

I've been doing a lot of research and I'm starting to think that I've had this for a long time. I used to experience a very sharp, stabbing pain that alternated with a weird pulsating/at the verge of exploding feeling almost every month and it lasted for a week. My doctors all just told me it was probably mittelschmerz, but I it was very painful and I knew they were wrong. After 3 years of this happening over and over again, I switched doctors and he assumed it was a cyst, but when he checked, there wasn't one. Then, due to my hair falling out as well, he did some blood tests and found out I wasn't even ovulating. So, it wasn't mittelschmerz for sure. He diagnosed me with PCOS. Then, I found out my vit D level was really low (I think it was 7 or 9) and that's when they finally started testing me for celiac disease. The first blood test was in the equivical range, which my doctor said was high, but that no GI would want to see me with such a low score. Then the chest pain started and I finally found out I had gallbladder disease (and foolishly thought everything would be awesome after surgery).

During the surgery, they also looked for endo (thinking that maybe the pain was from that). No endo was found, but they did find a free floating mass that was just chillin on my uterus. When I got the pathology report, I found out it was an infarcted epiplioc appendage. That is what has caused my pain this whole time and it happened so many times that it actually killed itself! Epiplioc appendages are the fat-filled sacs that are attached to your small intestine and colon. They each have their own blood supply and can contort and cut off their own blood supply causing intense stabbing pain.

I have pics from the surgeon if anyone's interested. It's cool looking, like a pearl.

The appendage: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c336/h2jianna/weirdthingyfoundonuterus.webp

The appendage and my gallbladder:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c336/h2jianna/gallbladderandweirdthingyfoundonuterus.webp

And why not share a pic of all my stones while I'm at it:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c336/h2jianna/gallstones.webp

But my point of all of that rambling...according to the 300 symptoms of celiac, your intestines can loop causing stragulation. I wonder if celiac may of caused my epiplioc appendage to strangle itself? It also lists gallbladder problems, too. As well as vit D def and hair loss. Even infertility. Sucks.

I do have autoimmune diseases in my family, but no celiacs. I guess I'm the first. My mom died at 36 of lupus, my grandma has rheumatoid arthritis and her sister has lupus and endo, so I consider myself somewhat lucky to have celiac...at least I can control it now that I know. :)

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