Health Issues Of A Celiac

[ElizFost]

Hi. I've discovered I am gluten, lactose and fructose intolerant. At the same time my mom is struggling with serious IBS issues to the point where she is no longer able to eat. I have counseled her on her diet as she has the same symptoms and issues as I have. She is slowly improving but not fast enough. What kind of doctor should she go to? She is on medicaid so her choices may be limited but what type of doctor should she look for. She struggles to eat, her gums are sore, cuts and boils are not healing but getting infected and her tooth is loose for no reason. Would really like counsel from someone into the natural health medicine. Thanks.

[Skylark]

Hi. It sounds like she needs testing for nutritional deficiencies. A normal doctor can do that.

Her loose teeth, sore gums, and slow healing could be symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is completely safe to supplement so you can get some at the drugstore right away and see if it helps. Most people with celiac need B-vitamins, vitamin D, and sometimes iron too. A lot of us have thyroid trouble and that can also cause slow healing. Again a normal Dr. can check her thyroid.

Has she tried some Ensure if she's having trouble eating? It's gluten and lactose free and a lot of older people who don't care to eat much find drinking some Ensure helps them get enough calories and protein.

[sfamor]

A gastroenterologist should be able to help and will be covered by Medicaid. She may need a referral from her primary care doctor first, but shouldn't be hard to get with the symptoms she's having.

[plumbago]

I second Skylark's recommendations. Ensure is great for when I am too hurried or nervous (if there is a crisis) to eat solid food. Highly recommend it. After a while, you learn to like it!

Also, yes, a gastroenterologist is who you would see but only after getting the tests done by the primary care physician. Look up the differences between endoscopy and colonoscopy. Those getting tested for celiac disease usually get the endoscopy. But again, PCP is first.

Good luck.

[Takala]

If her "issue" is truly gluten intolerance, then actually adhering strictly to a gluten free diet is the best physician.

Hear me out.

If she is already off of gluten mostly for a significant period of time, then when the Primary Care P. tests her, the blood tests will come back negative. The PCP will then announce that Mom Dearest cannot possibly have Celiac or Gluten Intolerance, and won't refer to a Gastro.

The Gastro doc will look at it the same way. Gastro docs are not going to tell you anything other than "eat a gluten free diet" IF you are formally diagnosed celiac by a positive biopsy.

The PCP can test her for thyroid and diabetes. (sores not healing is a red flag. ) With the thyroid, you must demand that they test for the ANTIBODIES in addition to the TSH levels, as with autoimmune thyroid disease the hormone levels can go up/down - up/down, swinging back and forth, and the test can say "normal range" while somebody still has the disease.

She would be better off going to a decent dentist and getting the gum disease under control. This means a cleaning/scaling, then at home, daily flossing/toothpicking and rinsing with mouthwash and then water (alcohol solutions dry the mouth out, so a water rinse should finish the routine) in addition to brushing.

If she is struggling to eat, you can pick up a decent blender for not a lot of money, and have her put fruits and vegetables in that, along with some other liquids like fruit juice or nut milks, a little coconut milk, (or even cooked rice and water) blend it up, and drink a good serving of those a day. You can google hundreds of recipes for this on the internet.

As others have already suggested, a gluten free multivitamin and mineral supplementation is essential. Vitamins B complex is very important, as are Vitamins D (found in a lot of Calcium supplements along with magnesium).

You may have to go thru her kitchen and make sure to purge/change out any thing that still has gluten (read the labels) as she may be regularly cross contaminating herself, also, check to see the old teflon is tossed, the toaster is not full of old gluten crumbs or it has to be replaced , a new cutting board, colander, etc. A trip to the dollar store may be necessary. Make sure also all medications are gluten free.

[Skylark]

She would be better off going to a decent dentist and getting the gum disease under control. This means a cleaning/scaling, then at home, daily flossing/toothpicking and rinsing with mouthwash and then water (alcohol solutions dry the mouth out, so a water rinse should finish the routine) in addition to brushing.

I think she might have scurvy, Takala, though I'm not a doctor and cannot diagnose. I'm pretty sure it affects the mouth and gums first.

A dentist is certainly a good idea as well and so many other good suggestions in your post.

[ElizFost]

Thanks, friends. My mom is taking vitamin C and drinking fresh Orange juice and she said she is feeling much better. Enzymes are helping her as well to be able to eat some things.

[Skylark]

That's great! I'm glad to hear she is feeling a little better.