My Sister Has It

[laurelfla]

hi, y'all --

my sister just called a half hour ago and had gotten her bloodwork back.... guess what... positive. i feel a lot of different things... somehow guilt, like i brought this on all of us (which i know isn't true!), and sadness for her that she will have to give up foods she loves, and some relief (which i feel guilty for) about the holidays coming up and not being the only special dieter in the group.

i just can't believe it. my family is all getting tested just to check, but somehow i never thought she'd really have it.

i think she sees me as a sort of pioneer in our family for learning all about the diet and coping on my own. (she lives in north Mississippi, btw, parents are in AL.) i'm glad to be able to help out and i also couldn't believe how much i'd learned... for instance, she asked me if my brother-in-law could kiss her after he'd had a beer. i was like, "NOOOO!" and then i smiled bc i remember asking questions like that that now seem so obvious to me. i've come a long way!

she's going to eventually get a biopsy, but with positive bloodwork and me to boot, there's no way she doesn't have it, i guess.

just think about us.

thanks!

[skoki-mom]

Wow! You are just like me and my sister, except it was my sis who was Dx first and I got screened and have it too. Personally, I'm a little suspicious that she is very happy I have it too, cuz now she's not the only one swimming in the shallow end of the gene pool!!! I have to admit I was a tad pissed at her (totally irrational I know), because she seems to have a knack for wrecking things for me! LOL

Did you sister have any symptoms?? I didn't have any, I never thought I actually had celiac disease! But, you are right, when more than one person in a family has it, it makes family functions more gluten-free friendly. For instance, I'm making gluten-free stuffing for my Thanksgiving turkey and the rest of them are going to have to eat it! How is your sister coping with it so far??? My sister at first tried to police what I ate and I finally had to say to her "shut up! I'm not stupid!", lol.

Well, I'm sorry your sis has to deal with this too, but I'm glad you aren't alone! I can really relate to the mixed feelings. ((Hugs)) to you both.

[taweavmo3]

It's great that your family took your advice to heart and got tested. You really did them all such a huge favor, if they don't realize it now, they will. I wish my family would be as receptive to the idea. My brother, who is 27 and has always been sick as a dog, isn't very keen on getting tested or going gluten free. He said he tried the diet, but it is too hard. He and his wife have been trying to get preggo for two years, but he still won't stick to the diet. Then there's my mother, who also has alot of symptoms.....but would rather take pills than try a diet because she doesn't want to give up her sweets, UGH.

Anyway, don't mean to vent on your post! I just think it's great they listen to ya and take it seriously. That's such a blessing, and not that you'd wish celiac disease on anyone, but it will make family functions much easier! I've gone on the diet with my celiac daughter, and although I didn't have testing, I feel better than I can ever remember. I had gluten a couple of weeks ago, and felt miserable, physically and emotionally. The emotional part was worse....I felt so depressed. I've tried telling my family how much better they could feel, and that once you feel healthy, it's very easy to turn down any and all gluten filled treats. But, no one listens! Oh well, maybe they will one day.

Congrats on having someone else to share your gluten free experiences with, a little support goes a long way!

[laurelfla]

Personally,  I'm a little suspicious that she is very happy I have it too, cuz now she's not the only one swimming in the shallow end of the gene pool!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

haha! you made me laugh. it's really weird bc i never would have thought anything was wrong with me until D, nausea, etc. started to happen in May. if any of us had ever heard of this, we would have had my sister tested, bc she's had stuff going on digestively for a while. so it's strange that i was the one who found out first.

she seems to be handling it really well. when she talked to me, she sounded a tad overwhelmed but cheerful. she said she'd cried about it earlier, though. i sent her a bunch of links and some recipes, but i don't want to overwhelm her more, so i'm going to hold off until she asks for anything.

her doc seems to be up on things (he admitted he'd done some research since she'd asked for the test) and he tested her vitamin levels yesterday.

i still can't believe it, though. now my dad has to get on the ball and get tested! i think he's the guilty party!!

taweavmo3, vent away! i'm all in favor of venting. i hope your family gets tested soon! i can see how that would be very frustrating for you. so yes, i do feel blessed that my family took my diagnosis to heart. my boyfriend -- not so much... i think he should get tested bc he has plenty of the symptoms... but he said last night -- "as long as i don't get tested, i don't have it!" aaaargh!!!

[SharonF]

That's an interesting comment about the mom who doesn't want to give up her sweets--I guess you mean baked goods?

Because I sure haven't given up candy since being diagnosed! Twix bars, sure, but M&Ms are still okay.

[LLCoolJD]

I have a sibling with Celiac disease as well. Both of us went on the diet around the same time and had similar remarkable turnarounds in health. I think it helps you cope with something when a sibling is also dealing with it.

[laurelfla]

I have a sibling with Celiac disease as well.  Both of us went on the diet around the same time and had similar remarkable turnarounds in health.  I think it helps you cope with something when a sibling is also dealing with it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i think you're right... we're already close, but this is bound to bring us even closer! i talked to my mom today and she remarked on how it was going to make the holidays interesting. i told her i'd already found a recipe for stuffing here! thank you all for your replies -- it helps to know someone is out there listening!