Introducing Myself And Thank You- Everyone!

[PopcornSally]

I just started a gluten-free diet at the beginning of Sept. 2011. It was an act of desperation at the suggestion of a co-worker who had dramatic health benefits from going gluten-free. She said, "Just try it for a week and see what happens." My goodness, that was excellent advice. I am feeling much better than I have in probably the last 8 or 9 years. Still having the occasional semi-bad day, but overall MUCH better.

I am a 43 year old professional woman. I think I probably suffered from gluten-intolerance most of my life, most severely before puberty. No one ever thought to run tests on a kid who would be up all night with v. and d. after certain meals. We thought it was beef setting me off, or fatty foods, or broccoli, or, or, or. I somewhat outgrew the severe symptoms, but stress and one incredibly stupid crash diet brought it all crashing down around me a few years ago.

I have had "stomach problems" for so long, I pretty much accepted it as normal. I don't know how I thought having diarrhea every day, stomach pain, etc. was normal or ok, but I did. It wasn't until my arms and legs started feeling numb and achey all the time that I started to really worry. I suffered with this for, oh maybe 3-5 years off and on. My regular MD said my back and leg pain was sciatica and offered to rx a muscle relaxer. She said my concurrent diarrhea was probably just from taking ibuprofen. Sounded logical to me.

Anyway, I'm not going to go in to the whole, long history-- suffice to say I had a list of symptoms that seemed fantastical for many years. I started the gluten-free diet about 2 months ago. I found a good naturopathic doctor about a month ago. She ordered a bunch of blood tests on me, including a "celiac panel." At the time of my blood draw, I had been 99% gluten-free for 6 weeks, so I know the results are inaccurate. It still came out with the tTG antibody IgA at 17.75, where less than 20 is normal. I don't really care about a diagnosis as long as I feel better!

My naturopath had me start massive doses of sublingual vit. b12 and vit. b complex and vit. d3. Within a day or two the tingling in my arms and legs had diminished greatly. I can tell that stress makes things a LOT worse, so I'm trying to really take it easy. The other thing the blood test showed was a very low a.m. cortisol level and borderline low thyroid hormone. I'm on supplements for those, too. Let me tell you, in two months, I've gone from someone who struggled through each work day in a bad mood, alienating all my coworkers, sleeping away my days off; to someone who is not a complete crab all the time and actually have some energy to do a few things on my days off! It's great, hope my progress continues.

Just wanted to share my story in case it helps someone else. Thanks to everyone here for sharing. It makes me feel much more hopeful to hear of other people's experiences. All these years I just thought I was lazy and mean!

Tabitha

[domesticactivist]

I wonder how many of the "lazy and mean" people out there are really just in poor health! I'm glad you have found your answers and can begin to heal now. Welcome!

[adab8ca]

what a great story!!!

may you continue to heal!

[AVR1962]

I am really glad you found your answers. It is wonderful you have been able to get the medical attention you need in connection with your symptoms, many of us here struggle for proper care. Feel blessed!

[Tom2]

Thank God for family, friends and coworkers that care about our health and I am thankful you were wise enough to follow good advise.

[T.H.]

Congratulations on feeling better! :-D It's really amazing to feel like a completely different person just after changing the diet, isn't it? I couldn't believe it myself!