Yay! Dad Is Finally Seeing The Light!

[frenchiemama]

My dad almost certainly has celiac. Not only do I have it, but his first cousin does and I suspect that my grandma does as well (she used to always have to get B12 shots because of fatigue and had severe osteoporosis by the time she was in her early 60's). He has symptoms, and has been to the doctor numerous times for testing and they never found anything.

After I was diagnosed in April I told everyone in the family to get tested. He was living in Spain at the time, but when he got back to the US he made an appt to get an endoscopy. Here's where the denial comes in. He started eating gluten-free or mostly gluten-free right away, about 6-8 weeks before his endoscopy, despite my warnings that it would skew his test results. He kept telling me "I don't feel better yet, so I must not have it". I honestly believe that subconciously or otherwise he was sabotaging his test results on purpose because he didn't want to have celiac disease.

He had the endoscopy done a short time ago, and initially told me that the doc said right away that it was negative. I tried to tell him to please have the bloodwork done as well, because I think there is a distinct possibility that he has it. Well, he wouldn't listen at all because as far as he was concerned he just didn't have it. (This is typical of is very stubborn "I don't want to believe it, so it's not true" general behavior. I love the man but he can be an ass at times)

WELL, yesterday he got a letter from his GI saying that while he didn't find obvious villous atrophy, there were abnormalities in the biopsies that could be mild celiac disease damage and that he recommends the bloodwork as a confirmation! YES!! So dad is going to have it done and is now able to admit that he may have celiac disease.

What a relief. I was so worried that he would just let it go and end up with cancer. Whew!

[ianm]

My brother has finally started to try a reduced gluten diet and says he feels much better, less fatigue and brain fog, and has lost weight. His wife, who stays healthy and in shape, finally forced him to do it because of how much my health has improved.

I still can't get my dad to do it even though he is really overweight and starting to get some serious health problems as a result. The fact that I was in my mid 30's and having serious health problems and probably dead by 40 doesn't seem to be enough to convince him. Both have the same problems I did, fatigue brain fog, serious weight gain, high blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.

[Rachel--24]

Ian...I've been meaning to ask you. Obviously the diet is the best thing thats happened to you..its given you your life back. You don't seem to have struggled with it. Was this an overnight change for you or did you experience some down time first? I realize its only been a couple weeks for me but I get ups and downs. When I read your posts sometimes I wonfer if I'm on the wrong track cuz I don't seem to notice a "dramatic" change yet. I'm definately better than I was when I was eating gluten but I'm not anywhere near saying "I have my life back"....I *can* say I'm working toward that but I get frusterated still. How long did it take you?

[ianm]

I actually found out when I tried the Atkins diet in January 2004. I did not even know about celiac disease or gluten intolerance and neither did the dozens of doctors I went to either. There is a chapter in the Atkins book and it mentioned wheat as one of the most problematic foods. I started feeling better within a few days but it was a good year before I could say I was healthy. I was so sick that "better" for me is still really sick for someone else. My problems were brain fog, fatigue and weight gain and all of the other problems that go along with being obese. I did not have a lot of gut problems. I was feeling so much better on the Atkins diet and had probably reduced my gluten intake by 95% but was still eating some.

It wasn't until early 2005 that I had a good grip on what the real problem was and went completely gluten-free thanks to this website. I have to watch every bit of food I shovel into my mouth because I gain weight real fast and easy. No starchy carbs at all for me. Yeast and soy can be a problem but only in large quantities. I also have to vigorously exercise everyday or the weight piles back on. Fortunatley I am not super sensitive to gluten and can get by okay if I get nailed with a small dose.

I think you are on the right track and you have to give it more time. I was so sick and probably near death that even just a reduction in gluten was the relief my body needed. As far as sticking to the diet I was so desperate that I was willing to do anything to get better that it has not been a struggle for me. It has really only been in the last 4-5 months that I can really say that I truly have my life back. It requires hyper-vigilance but that is a small price to pay.

[Rachel--24]

Ian...thanks for the encouragement. I needed that

Back in April I thought I was dying too...I was in really bad shape. I went on the Candida diet..not knowing what else to do. Within a week I was like a new person (like you said..."better" for me yet still sick) but since I wasnt worried about gluten..it was still sneaking in. Now that I'm gluten-free I feel like my body is so much more sensitive and I just go up and down. I had alot of dairy last week after not having it at all for 4 months...and I think it might be causing problems similar to gluten. Oh well...I'm still learning.

Thanks again

Frenchiemama...I'm glad you're dad is coming around...hopefully he will be more diligent with the diet now .

[ianm]

I don't think I have any dairy sensitivity issues but if I eat a lot it will get my guts churning. All things in moderation.