Run Down Immune System

[Rachel--24]

I feel like so much is getting better on the diet but at the same time I'm still sensitive to alot of things around me. Chemicals or foods sometimes bother me but some days are better than others. I feel like my immune system is not up to par. If I get stressed or angry (like I did yesterday after my crappy doctor appt) my body just doesnt handle it well at all. I get terrible headaches after the tiniest amount of stress and I'll feel like I've taken a huge step backward in my recovery. Is it normal for my body to be easily run down or should I worry about other causes? I've only been gluten-free a few weeks so does it take awhile for my immune system to bounce back?

[ianm]

You need to give it more time. I used to get colds and the flu frequently prior to going gluten-free but that doesn't seem to happen anymore. I would get very fatigued in stressful situations but now what I experience would probably be considered normal for anyone. Like I and others have said it will take a good year to really be healthy. You didn't get sick overnight and your body won't heal overnight either.

[Rachel--24]

Thanks Ian,

Sometimes I just need to be reminded.

After the stress of my doctors appt. yesterday I just felt like I had been run over by a truck. I hadn't taken a pain pill in 5 months but really needed to last night. The only thing that stopped me was not knowing whether the meds were gluten-free or not.

So I just dealt with my pain and massive headache and I'm feeling better today. I'm just not going to see any of the docs at my HMO anymore. They all suck and just bring me down. They're never going to get any better. The specialists on the other hand are pretty decent..most of them anyways. The GP's must have all gotten their liscences out of cracker jack boxes...don't know jack and they're all arrogant jerks.

Hmmm....maybe I should post on the "come and rant" topic.

[Lisa]

Rachel:

My new Dr. has perscribed a B-12 short for once a week....see how that goes and then maybe once a month.

I have only had one on Thursday of this week, but I do seem to feel a large difference. It is sort of a calming, more regulated feeling. I talk to my husband in a more "regulated" manner, I worked today and had no issues with "brain fog" and just feel calmer and more in control. I guess more at ease with myself.

I don't know if it is the B-12 shot or the continued gluten-free diet. But, perhaps you could look into that if you feel tired and down.

The Mom in me says....You are young and what are you doing on the site, when you should be out at the movies with friends. From an old lady (51 in October) and mother of 21 and 24 year old's.........go out and have fun. There are plenty of things that you can do and eat with friends that are "safe" for you.

Have you every heard of "Veni, Vidi and Vici".........latin for " I came, I saw and conquered" We all have our "crappy times" (pardon the pun). We all have to

conquer and eventually we all will........

My best advise for you is to inquire about vitaimin shots, it sure made me feel better and also, do go out and have some fun, I do.

Lisa B.

[Rachel--24]

Thanks for the advice Lisa

I know the docs I have wouldn't give me B-12 shots. They havent done one thing for me in 3 years and also my B-12 tests are normal so if I asked them for that it would just give them another reason to ridicule me.

As far as going out with my friends...I wish. Unfortunately I live about an hour and a half away from all my friends and family so since I was sick and off work so long its been kinda lonely. Thank God I got diagnosed by Enterolab last month and I'm finally getting better because coincidently the same week I got my test results my health insurance ran out as well as my disability. Now I'm paying for my own medical and my roommate and family are helping with the rest...plus the gluten-free diet isn't cheap. So...now that I'm finally well enough to go do things I can't afford it...the gas prices are too high for such a long drive. I had to pass on a movie invite for tonite and I'm kinda bummed.

I'm returning to work in one week and then hopefully things will start returning to normal for me. I'll be around my friends again and I'll be getting a paycheck.

[Cory]

My girlfriend and I have found some great products that have helped her stay healthy. If you want contact me direct and i will be glad to forward on the info that we have found to you.

My email is pharmanexca@twcny.rr.com It has helped her and it is gluten-free.

[Lisa]

Sorry that things have been so tough. Hopefully, you will feel better soon and things will begin to look up again. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, even though it may be a long one.

I'll be thinking about you.

Lisa B.

[tarnalberry]

Ya know, there are times when that happens to me, and most of the instances, I eventually figure out that I've been fighting some sort of "low-level" bug in my system for a while. Not that you notice any major symptoms, but it's just way easier to get run down. Kinda like having a mild case of the flu that your body is working on for a few weeks, and if you expend to much energy in the rest of your life, your body just kinda goes "blegh... I've got nothing left, here, you deal with this bug for a bit". I don't know if it's particularly a weakened immune system specifically, but it could be.

I've found, in situations like that ("situations like that" being times that can last one to four weeks!), taking naps after work and taking echinacea, and being much more careful about my eating (I don't mean "making sure it's all gluten-free", because that ought to be a given, but in the "nutritionally balanced, healthy meals/snacks that provide enough, but not too many, calories that don't include any wasted calories" sense) and absolutely getting *some* exercise. That exercise might be nothing more than half an hour of light yoga (at least getting those muscles a bit stretched to help blood flow) or walking (even if I'm tired).

[nettiebeads]

If I get stressed or angry (like I did yesterday after my crappy doctor appt) my body just doesnt handle it well at all. I get terrible headaches after the tiniest amount of stress and I'll feel like I've taken a huge step backward in my recovery. Is it normal for my body to be easily run down or should I worry about other causes? I've only been gluten-free a few weeks so does it take awhile for my immune system to bounce back?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm so sorry to hear of your crappy dr appt. Why do they forget that they are in the healing profession? And are supposed to help, not hinder? Your body has been through quite a lot, so give it lots of time to get better. I sometimes have problems with stress still. Maybe it's just a by-product of celiac disease. So when I get through with the stress (like my annual audit at work) I make sure I take care of me with plenty of rest and my favorite hobbies (sewing and beading) But as time goes on and you continue to heal, you will be able to bounce back faster. Hope that helps.

[Rachel--24]

I'm so sorry to hear of your crappy dr appt.  Why do they forget that they are in the healing profession?  And are supposed to help, not hinder?  Your body has been through quite a lot, so give it lots of time to get better.  I sometimes have problems with stress still.  Maybe it's just a by-product of celiac disease.  So when I get through with the stress (like my annual audit at work) I make sure I take care of me with plenty of rest and my favorite hobbies (sewing and beading)  But as time goes on and you continue to heal, you will be able to bounce back faster.  Hope that helps.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That does help...thanks Nettiebeads

I don't why the doctors would rather bring me down than try to help me.

I'ts been 3 years and I'm just fed up now...I filed a complaint after my last appt. Probably should have done that along time ago. I do have a wonderful doctor outside my HMO who really is helpful and she's even given her time over the phone several times but I'm not covered to see her so instead I have to deal with idiots.

I quit smoking 3 years ago. For some reason I got sick the same month I quit...I'd never been sick previously. In the book "Dangerous Grains" it says that smoking delays diagnosis and allows the disease to progress...quitting will bring about a reduction in health until the gluten intolerance is diagnosed and treated. I think this is what happened to me since I had no symptoms until I quit.

I quit cold turkey and the only time I want to smoke is if I'm really stressed which only happens after I go to my doctor visits. I think its ironic since when I'm sitting in the office I'm surrounded by posters, fliers, phamplets...even pens all talking about how they would like to help you quit smoking!

All I know is doctors are the only ones who push me into craving a cigarette...I don't think its suppossed to work that way at all. The docs are just as hazardous to my health as the gluten grains!!!

[skoki-mom]

Sorry you have been feeling so crummy. My sister (who also had celiac disease), was dx with allergies to msg and sulphites long before her celiac disease diagnosis. She was always feeling unwell, misses tons of work, tired, stuff like that. Maybe you could try avoiding some of those chemicals as well??? It's hard, her diet is extremely limited, but you'd be surprised where sulphites are found! They are even found in bottled water!

[Rachel--24]

Sorry you have been feeling so crummy.  My sister (who also had celiac disease), was dx with allergies to msg and sulphites long before her celiac disease diagnosis.  She was always feeling unwell, misses tons of work, tired, stuff like that.  Maybe you could try avoiding some of those chemicals as well??? It's hard, her diet is extremely limited, but you'd be surprised where sulphites are found!  They are even found in bottled water!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm pretty sure I don't eat anything with msg. I'm curious about the sulphites though...I have no idea what foods contain sulphites.

I'll have to look that one up.

I do have a friend who's sick (no cause has been found) and she told me just the other day that she can't drink bottled water for some reason. I think lots of foods bother her but she doesnt seem interested in gluten-free.

thanks for the info.

[skoki-mom]

I'm pretty sure I don't eat anything with msg. I'm curious about the sulphites though...I have no idea what foods contain sulphites. 

I'll have to look that one up.

I do have a friend who's sick (no cause has been found) and she told me just the other day that she can't drink bottled water for some reason.  I think lots of foods bother her but she doesnt seem interested in gluten-free. 

thanks for the info. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not the expert, but sulphites are in lots of things, and there is no law in Canada, anyway, they they must be listed in product labels. Bottled water has sulphites in it. ALL grapes have sulphites on them, it preserves them because grapes go off so quickly after harvest, so my sis doesn't eat any grapes, raisins, grape juice or any kind of wine. Anytime you order salad in a restaraunt, it will definitely have sulphites on the lettuce, again, to keep it fresh. I think a lot of people are sensitve to sulphites and don't know it, it's part of the red-wine headache a lot of people get. I have to look at myself and think how lucky I am that it is only gluten that affects me (and even that gives me no symptoms!), some people have much more restrictive diets than I do.

[Rachel--24]

I have to look at myself and think how lucky I am that it is only gluten that affects me (and even that gives me no symptoms!), some people have much more restrictive diets than I do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have to say...some days I envy those of you who get no symptoms. I guess it would be hard to know whats going on though.

I looked up sulphites and it was saying typical symptoms are asthma or wheezing type symptoms. I don't know if thats accurate but I don't get those type of symptoms. I'm sure the info. could be false and everyone reacts differently.