Lightbulb Moment

[Scunner]

I have suffered from stomach problems for at least eight years and I'm 28 now. I went to the doctor about four years ago and was told to just eat healthily (I wasn't particularly unhealthy at the time but just kinda felt like I was wasting the doctors time).

My stomach and bathroom issues cause me to miss days out, cut short walks and generally feel pretty nervous about any time I need to be somewhere! In July, I went on holiday to Turkey. For the whole week we were there, I was unable to leave the hotel for fear of being too far away from a bathroom. Then, last week, I went out for dinner. Before the plates had even been cleared I had to go to the toilet and practically dragged my friends back home once I returned to the table.

I made a doctors appointment, which I went to today. I took a list of symptoms I had and assumed it must be something like IBS. I decided I would just list every wee niggly thing that bothers me, including things that I thought had nothing to do with my stomach problems, like tiredness, black circles under my eyes, always looking pale and drawn, bruising easily.

I am getting tested for celiacs tomorrow by a blood test but after reading over this site, I am bizarrely feeling quite excited! I can't believe there is an illness which seems to tick all the boxes for my symptoms, including things I never even thought to mention in my list to the doctor, like hair falling out easily, muscle cramps in my legs for days at a time and sore bones and joints...by the way, sometimes my skin feels sore, like if I touch my shoulders it feels bruised, is this something anyone else gets?

So yeah, the reason for my mild excitement is the thought that I might actually have an illness that I can control and I will finally get my life back. We are planning a trip to new York for five days in january and I have been really stressed that I would ruin it with my excessive toilet dependence,but now maybe I will be in a better place!

The crazy thing? My dad was diagnosed with Celiacs last year and has been gluten free ever since but he lives in another area of the UK so I don't see him more than every few months and didn't realise the symptoms extended past a rash! Too think if I had been a more attentive daughter this possible diagnosis for me could have been brought to my attention sooner...that'll teach me!

Anyway, I have been eating gluten as normal recently, since I had no reason not to. But today as an extra precaution for the bloods, I ate some bread and then a plate of pasta.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go gluten free after tomorrow's test anyway and see if it helps, so thanks in advance for all the great tips on this site

[GFinDC]

Hi ,

Really all your first degree relatives should be tested for celiac. The genes for celiac are hereditary so any family could have it. I think you have been gluten-free on and off right? So your tests have a good chance of being negative. But at least they are a baseline to compare tests with later, say in 6 months or so.

You are right, going gluten-free regardless of the test results is the smart thing to do. Our bodies are a very good diagnostic tool . If'n it makes you sick, don't eat it is a simple way to look at it.

Some starting the gluten-free diet tips for the first 6 months:

Get tested before starting the gluten-free diet.

Don't eat in restaurants

Eat only whole foods not processed foods.

Eat only food you cook yourself, think simple foods, not gourmet meals.

Take probiotics.

Take digestive enzymes.

Avoid dairy.

Avoid sugars and starchy foods.

Avoid alcohol.

FAQ Celiac com

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/forum-7/announcement-3-frequently-asked-questions-about-celiac-disease/

Newbie Info 101

What's For Breakfast Today?

What Did You Have For Lunch Today?

What Are You Cooking Tonight?

Dessert thread

Easy yummy bread in minutes

How bad is cheating?

Short temper thread

Non celiac wheat sensitivity article

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[eatmeat4good]

I am very happy for you!

I, too, remember my "light bulb moment" on this very site 2 years ago.

I had been sick with all the boxes you ticked and it was a wonderful feeling to find out that there was actually a disease that matched all the symptoms! That meant healing was possible!

I am thrilled for you that you will be watching all of those symptoms go away and you will get your life back. I know you are not yet diagnosed...but I'm with you on this one!

You will be!

And if you are not, well, you still know what to do!

Welcome to the site and to your new life!

I feel excited for you!

[kittty]

It feels good to just know. It feels even better once those horrible inconveniences start to disappear. Sorry for the TMI, but after a couple of months or so of being gluten free I could go to the bathroom like a normal person again, and I felt like celebrating. You'll be there soon!

I still get that tender-skin feeling sometimes, but not nearly as much. It used to be worse around the shoulder blades, and sometimes felt like a burning sensation.

You might want to hold off going gluten free until your doctor is done with all the tests. You might need the endoscopy too, so you should keep gluten in your system until you know for sure that you don't need any more tests.

[nvsmom]

Good luck on your tests! You seem to be approaching this from a very healthy angle so I have no doubts you'll manage wonderfully on a gluten-free diet.

I hope you feel well soon.

[squirmingitch]

Hooray for you! YES! I had the same feeling when I found out too. I was elated that I don't have to have surgery for this disease. I don't have to take meds for this disease. Meds which always have some downside to them. Being gluten free isn't bad --- it takes a little getting used to but it's not bad at all. I'm at the point now where I actually cackle to myself in the grocery store when I bypass the doughnut, pastry, cake & fresh bread aisle --- saves me a whole lot of time --- and $$$$ too! I love whizzing down the flour, cake mix aisle & just making a short stop to grab the sugar. My time spent in the grocery store diminished greatly & along with that the $$$ spent on the food bill diminished greatly in spite of having to order online things like nuts & gluten-free flours.

Life is GOOD!

[IrishHeart]

I am bizarrely feeling quite excited! I can't believe there is an illness which seems to tick all the boxes for my symptoms, including things I never even thought to mention in my list to the doctor, like hair falling out easily, muscle cramps in my legs for days at a time and sore bones and joints...by the way, sometimes my skin feels sore, like if I touch my shoulders it feels bruised, is this something anyone else gets?

Yes. I had all those symptoms you listed.

And your symptoms, plus your Dad being a celiac? Speaks volumes. Do not blame yourself for "not paying attention"---your dad's doctor should have told his family to be tested immediately. This is a genetic, hereditary disease.

I think you are one of us, hon. Welcome!... and just know this---you are going to be okay. Like you, I was so happy & excited to know I had Celiac---it was the answer to a lifetime of symptoms and a horrible decline in my health that would have killed me for sure.

[Scunner]

Thanks for all the kind words! I've been reading more of the forum and it's so useful

I went for my blood test yesterday, was about to reverse out the driveway when my partner called me and said she had left work early and would be there in a couple of minutes, so she could take me to the docs and I wouldn't need to drive after giving blood. Since I'd waited over half an hour for my appointment the day before I thought this would be fine, but when I turned up at the doctors four minutes late I got told the nurse I was there to see had left! Serves me right for being late I suppose, but I just couldn't believe she couldn't wait four minutes for me.

Anyway, looking at it as a positive... Gives me a few more days to OD on gluten

Thanks for the info about the biopsy and endoscopy, if its the sensible thing to do then I think I will keep gluten in my diet 'til then. If I do have this, I expect to see quite a bit of damage, I've been feeling ill for at least eight years and have quite a high gluten diet... I started' healthy eating' last year and so made an effort to eat cereal for breakfast and lots of pasta and sandwiches. That's probably why I've been worse recently lol.

[IrishHeart]

oh yes, I was advised to eat MORE WHOLE GRAINS back in 2009 for "IBS" and "Adrenal fatigue" and I loaded up on whole wheat, rye, barley, oats....and as my hair fell out, my brain stopped working, my muscles lost their tone and mass and I dropped 90 lbs. I thought "well, this can't be right....."

Keep us posted!