Mom Has celiac disease. I Suspect I Do Too

[Brittany85]

I'm 26, married, with 3 kids. My mom was diagnosed with celiac disease last year and I suspect I may have it too. I've always had gastrointestinal problems and in the past year, I've been feeling increasingly unwell. I'm so fatigued and I've been experiencing spells in which I feel faint, have a rapid heartrate, sweating, nausea, etc. Recently, I began to pay attention to the things that I eat and how they affect me and it seems like these symptoms are associated with my eating gluten. So, upon this realization, I decided to cut out all gluten. It's been 10 days and I feel better and better every day. On day 6, I ate a few Red Vines (which,to my surprise, contain wheat flour) and was sick for hours that night.

I'm beginning to adjust to life without gluten. My problem right now is the decision of whether or not to seek testing for celiac disease as I would have to return to gluten and I DO NOT want to feel sick again to do so.

I'm glad I found this forum because I need support and education.

I look forward to some advice.

Thank you.

Brittany

[AVR1962]

Brittany, how very odd her. My daughter, Brittany was also born in 85, and could have written your post with the exception of children. Welcome!

I was diagnosed, only one in my family but I feel more people in my family have it.

I think one thing you have to keep in mind for testing is that you have to stay on gluten in order to test. Not all tests are accurate so someone with celiac can have negative lab results, think they don't have celiac but will not get better. It is really your choice. If you feel you could go thru with the testing you have top be prepared to hear that your tests results came back negative and then that puts you right back to where you are right now.

For me, I went off gluten before I was tested. Gastro doc wanted me back on to test which I did but only made it to day 12. He wanted me on for 2 months. I was so sick. I went off and thought it would be the end of the road as far as getting anykind of solid answers. But my body was very imflammed and the celiac was going nuts in my system so it came out in other ways which had me running back to the doc for treatment to try and stomp out the fires. After 7 months of repeated tests and doc vists I WAS "carefully" diagnosed with celiac, not the gold seal diagnosis but it is in my records.

Of my 3 children, 2 (and their 4 children & husbands) are on gluten-free diets without any diagnosis and all are doing much better.

[Brittany85]

Brittany, how very odd her. My daughter, Brittany was also born in 85, and could have written your post with the exception of children. Welcome!

I was diagnosed, only one in my family but I feel more people in my family have it.

I think one thing you have to keep in mind for testing is that you have to stay on gluten in order to test. Not all tests are accurate so someone with celiac can have negative lab results, think they don't have celiac but will not get better. It is really your choice. If you feel you could go thru with the testing you have top be prepared to hear that your tests results came back negative and then that puts you right back to where you are right now.

For me, I went off gluten before I was tested. Gastro doc wanted me back on to test which I did but only made it to day 12. He wanted me on for 2 months. I was so sick. I went off and thought it would be the end of the road as far as getting anykind of solid answers. But my body was very imflammed and the celiac was going nuts in my system so it came out in other ways which had me running back to the doc for treatment to try and stomp out the fires. After 7 months of repeated tests and doc vists I WAS "carefully" diagnosed with celiac, not the gold seal diagnosis but it is in my records.

Of my 3 children, 2 (and their 4 children & husbands) are on gluten-free diets without any diagnosis and all are doing much better.

Thank you for your reply and for sharing your experience. The more I contemplate it, the more I feel better about living a gluten-free lifestyle without seeking testing. Now, I'm wondering if I should start cooking gluten-free for my family as well...

I guess 1985 was a good year for Brittanys! lol

[AVR1962]

Thank you for your reply and for sharing your experience. The more I contemplate it, the more I feel better about living a gluten-free lifestyle without seeking testing. Now, I'm wondering if I should start cooking gluten-free for my family as well...

I guess 1985 was a good year for Brittanys! lol

I think it was a very popular name for awhile. I live with husband and my daughter who is not gluten-free but I cook gluten-free. I have found it easier that way and actually they have no complaints about the gluten-free products I have bought and made.