Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

In Need Of Help Please!


rwb9wg

Recommended Posts

rwb9wg Newbie

Hi there,

I am a 20 year old student at UVA and was diagnosed with Celiac's in September, possibly due to mono which could have affected by immune system and turned on the gene for it (since I had absolutely no issues with it for the first two decades of my life). Since then, I have stopped having gluten, I am sure at first I got it in some ways, but for the past few months I have been extremely careful. However, I am still having a lot of symptoms and I just don't know what to do, my GI says it could be just that it's taking the intestine a long time to heal, but I don't know if anyone else feels like this quite constantly:

-abdomen/flank/back pain especially on the left side (pretty constant pain)

-VERY cloudy head, hard to think

-extreme fatigue/body ache/hard to move around properly (even after lots of sleep)

-seems like my abdomen/flank has narrowed on both sides (outer skin)

I just had a colonoscopy and ultrasound this past weekend which showed everything was normal, although maybe some liquid in my right lung?

If anyone has any ideas of related conditions or anything really, it would be much appreciated! It's hard to go on like this every day which class, especially when I'm trying so hard with the diet!

Thanks a bunch


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



1desperateladysaved Proficient

Oh, so sorry you have to suffer this. All I can say is to keep giving yourself every chance to heal. I did college with a cloudy head, long ago. I am so glad that you have discovered what is wrong. Get Well Soon***

Diana

mushroom Proficient

Have you eliminated dairy for now, as well? Celiacs often are unable to digest dairy until they are completely healed - at least the heavy-lactose dairy like milk, cream, ice cream because of gluten damage to the area that makes the enzyme for it. If you haven't already done so, give that a try, and welcome to the board :)

GFinDC Veteran

HI,

If you have celiac disease you won't improve a lot until you get all gluten out of your diet. That means even small amounts like from a shared toaster or shared peanut butter jar etc. It may be difficult in a college environment if you are on a meal plan. But it makes sense to talk to your academic adviser to see if the school can accommodate your dietary needs. The safest bet is to make all your food from scratch yourself. Sharing a kitchen with gluten eaters who don't understand cross contamination issues could be difficult. You didn't tell us much about your situation and how you are eating so I am just guessing at some possible issues.

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

Get tested before starting the gluten-free diet.

Get your vitamin/mineral levels tested also.

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 gluten-free vitamins.

Take digestive enzymes.

Avoid dairy.

Avoid sugars and starchy foods.

Avoid alcohol.

Helpful threads:

FAQ Celiac com

http://www.celiac.co...celiac-disease/

Newbie Info 101

http://www.celiac.co...ewbie-info-101/

What's For Breakfast Today?

http://www.celiac.co...reakfast-today/

Lisarose Newbie

Hello,

Agreed with the above post... it takes a while to heal and its really easy to be accidently exposed, if you make your food your self, that will help quite a bit, a lot of pre made foods contain gluten and are listed in ways that make it tough to discern... as a student, I know you are really busy but when you have a second, continue to read up on celiac ingredient sites, explore all the hidden gluten and terms, eventually you will be able to read an ingredient list and know right away if you can have it... hope you feel better..

Take care and keep in touch,

Lisarose

rwb9wg Newbie

HI,

If you have celiac disease you won't improve a lot until you get all gluten out of your diet. That means even small amounts like from a shared toaster or shared peanut butter jar etc. It may be difficult in a college environment if you are on a meal plan. But it makes sense to talk to your academic adviser to see if the school can accommodate your dietary needs. The safest bet is to make all your food from scratch yourself. Sharing a kitchen with gluten eaters who don't understand cross contamination issues could be difficult. You didn't tell us much about your situation and how you are eating so I am just guessing at some possible issues.

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

Get tested before starting the gluten-free diet.

Get your vitamin/mineral levels tested also.

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 gluten-free vitamins.

Take digestive enzymes.

Avoid dairy.

Avoid sugars and starchy foods.

Avoid alcohol.

Helpful threads:

FAQ Celiac com

http://www.celiac.co...celiac-disease/

Newbie Info 101

http://www.celiac.co...ewbie-info-101/

What's For Breakfast Today?

http://www.celiac.co...reakfast-today/

Hey there,

Thanks for your response!

Well, I've been as good as I can and as the situation allows-

I'm not on a meal plan and do all my own cooking, I have bought my own pot, pans, and cutting board (not wooden) that only I use hear at school and keep in my room so no one else does. And I don't use a toaster ever. I know that cross contamination is a big issue, but I have been super careful and it's honestly easier to do so here than at home where my family all continues to eat gluten but is more careful when I'm at home.

GottaSki Mentor

Just an opinion...your immune system is still trying to fight something. I apologize that I read your post quickly -- when did you have mono? Did the docs run the test that can detect it well after you are feeling better?

I do agree that if you have been gluten-free -- carefully for several months -- you should remove dairy minimally -- possibly some other foods -- but if you have recently tightened your diet to eliminate all sources of gluten, give it a bit more time.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Hala Apprentice

Hi there,

I am a 20 year old student at UVA and was diagnosed with Celiac's in September, possibly due to mono which could have affected by immune system and turned on the gene for it (since I had absolutely no issues with it for the first two decades of my life). Since then, I have stopped having gluten, I am sure at first I got it in some ways, but for the past few months I have been extremely careful. However, I am still having a lot of symptoms and I just don't know what to do, my GI says it could be just that it's taking the intestine a long time to heal, but I don't know if anyone else feels like this quite constantly:

-abdomen/flank/back pain especially on the left side (pretty constant pain)

-VERY cloudy head, hard to think

-extreme fatigue/body ache/hard to move around properly (even after lots of sleep)

-seems like my abdomen/flank has narrowed on both sides (outer skin)

I just had a colonoscopy and ultrasound this past weekend which showed everything was normal, although maybe some liquid in my right lung?

If anyone has any ideas of related conditions or anything really, it would be much appreciated! It's hard to go on like this every day which class, especially when I'm trying so hard with the diet!

Thanks a bunch

I don't have any advise for you because I'm experiencing the same thing, I just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

I was diagnosed 11 weeks ago (to this day!) and am in constant discomfort! I feel like I have far more symptoms now than before going gluten-free, although they are different ones and it may be just that I'm more conscious of them....

I have a constantly tender abdomen, occasional chest pain, sharper stomach and back pains, cloudy head, worrying weight-loss, constantly FREEZING COLD body temp, facial swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and lack of energy/momentum, nausea and a narrowed flank on both sides (but could be reduced bloating/weight-loss?) and also GI symptoms. I feel like my insides are really...'raw' all the time and can't deal with anything at all!

I am also a student and have also done all I can to avoid cross-contamination....(which is a challenge when living in a student house with gluten-loving fellow students....I don't think anyone loves cereal and toast as much as these guys!)

I hope we both start feeling better soon. Take some comfort in knowing there's others out there feeling the same way. I also am getting no answers from my doctor besides "recovery takes a long time". None of the doctors round here know anything about celiac disease either...

GFinDC Veteran

Hey there,

Thanks for your response!

Well, I've been as good as I can and as the situation allows-

I'm not on a meal plan and do all my own cooking, I have bought my own pot, pans, and cutting board (not wooden) that only I use hear at school and keep in my room so no one else does. And I don't use a toaster ever. I know that cross contamination is a big issue, but I have been super careful and it's honestly easier to do so here than at home where my family all continues to eat gluten but is more careful when I'm at home.

Hi,

It really can take months to a year or more to get better on the gluten-free diet. However you should start having some improvement in the first 6 months of being 100% gluten-free. If you still have symptoms after 6 months, it makes sense to consider other possibilities, including removing other foods from your diet or even other medical conditions. It is not uncommon for people on the forum to have other food intolerances show up after going gluten-free. But really you haven't been on the diet very long, so if you can stick with the tips I listed earlier that may help. It can take a while to sort out how your body reacts to different foods. But after you have been on a whole foods diet for a while and a simple diet things start to make more sense. A simple diet is a good idea for lots of reasons. But especially as you can identify problem foods easier if there are not as many of them to consider. It is easier to figure out a problem food if your diet has 20 items in it than it is if your diet has 1000 items in it. The good thing is that with celiac disease you can get better just by changing your diet. And the diet gets easier the longer you have been on it. After a while it is just the way you eat, not anything unusual.

frieze Community Regular

I don't have any advise for you because I'm experiencing the same thing, I just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

I was diagnosed 11 weeks ago (to this day!) and am in constant discomfort! I feel like I have far more symptoms now than before going gluten-free, although they are different ones and it may be just that I'm more conscious of them....

I have a constantly tender abdomen, occasional chest pain, sharper stomach and back pains, cloudy head, worrying weight-loss, constantly FREEZING COLD body temp, facial swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and lack of energy/momentum, nausea and a narrowed flank on both sides (but could be reduced bloating/weight-loss?) and also GI symptoms. I feel like my insides are really...'raw' all the time and can't deal with anything at all!

I am also a student and have also done all I can to avoid cross-contamination....(which is a challenge when living in a student house with gluten-loving fellow students....I don't think anyone loves cereal and toast as much as these guys!)

I hope we both start feeling better soon. Take some comfort in knowing there's others out there feeling the same way. I also am getting no answers from my doctor besides "recovery takes a long time". None of the doctors round here know anything about celiac disease either...

Get tested for hypothyroid.....like, yesterday!
Hala Apprentice

Get tested for hypothyroid.....like, yesterday!

I get regular blood panels and my thyroids are supposedly fine...?

mushroom Proficient

The complete thyroid panel is seldom run. It consists of the following:

  • Hypersensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • free thyroxine (fT4)
  • free triiodothyronine (fT3)
  • reverse T3 (rT3)
  • anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG)
  • anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO)
  • fT4/fT3
  • fT3/rT3

It would be very rare for this to be run in a regular blood panel; normally they just check the TSH, and even for that they often use the wrong range, so unless you have a raging thyroid imbalance, thyroid problems are seldom picked up without the other tests. Your doctor will probably tell you you only need those if your TSH is off, but your doctor, IMHO, would be wrong.

Hala Apprentice

The complete thyroid panel is seldom run. It consists of the following:

  • Hypersensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
  • free thyroxine (fT4)
  • free triiodothyronine (fT3)
  • reverse T3 (rT3)
  • anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG)
  • anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO)
  • fT4/fT3
  • fT3/rT3

It would be very rare for this to be run in a regular blood panel; normally they just check the TSH, and even for that they often use the wrong range, so unless you have a raging thyroid imbalance, thyroid problems are seldom picked up without the other tests. Your doctor will probably tell you you only need those if your TSH is off, but your doctor, IMHO, would be wrong.

Thanks Mushroom, I suspected as much! My local doctors are awful though, and very financially-constricted. They don't offer allergy/intolerance testing at all and when I asked about thyroid testing they basically shot me down, and said regular blood tests would be adequate. I will go and see my GP on monday to do some begging. I can't live feeling this ill all the time. It's an effort just to walk up stairs. I used to be so very fit and healthy.... :(

frieze Community Regular

Thanks Mushroom, I suspected as much! My local doctors are awful though, and very financially-constricted. They don't offer allergy/intolerance testing at all and when I asked about thyroid testing they basically shot me down, and said regular blood tests would be adequate. I will go and see my GP on monday to do some begging. I can't live feeling this ill all the time. It's an effort just to walk up stairs. I used to be so very fit and healthy.... :(

You may need to pay for appropriate testing. At least get your last TSH and share with us. If they refuse, demand that they give you written reason why.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - knitty kitty replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    2. - Wheatwacked replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      8

      Related issues

    3. - NanceK replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    4. - Wheatwacked replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      4

      Feel like I’m starting over

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Kirita's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      Recovery from gluten challenge


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,289
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    SarahZ
    Newest Member
    SarahZ
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped.  It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition.  Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here.  Malnutrition can cause SIBO, and SIBO can worsen malnutrition. Another possibility is side effects from any medication that are taking.  I was on Metformin 3 months before it turned me into a zombi.  I had crippling side effects from most of the BP meds tried on me, and Losartan has many of the side effects on me from my pre gluten free days. Because you have been gluten free, you can test and talk until you are blue in the face but all of your tests will be negative.  Without gluten, you will not create the antigen against gluten, no antigens to gluten, so no small intestine damage from the antigens.  You will need to do a gluten challange to test positive if you need an official diagnosis, and even then, no guaranty: 10 g of gluten per day for 6 weeks! Then a full panel of Celiac tests and biopsy. At a minimum consider vitamin D, Liquid Iodine (unless you have dermatitis herpetiformis and iodine exasperates the rash), and Liquid Geritol. Push for vitamin D testing and a consult with a nutritionist experienced with Celiack Disease.  Most blood tests don't indicate nutritional deficiencies.  Your thyroid tests can be perfect, yet not indicate iodine deficiency for example.  Thiamine   test fine, but not pick up on beriberi.  Vegans are often B12 deficient because meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are the primary souces of B12. Here is what I take daily.  10,000 IU vitamin D3 750 mg g a b a [   ] 200 mg CoQ10 [   ] 100 mg DHEA [   ] 250 mg thiamine B1 [   ] 100 mg of B2 [   ] 500 mg B5 pantothenic acid [   ] 100 mg B6 [   ] 1000 micrograms B12 n [   ] 500 mg vitamin c [   ] 500 mg taurine [   ] 200 mg selenium   
    • NanceK
      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well.  I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given this info before taking more of it. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
    • Scott Adams
      Hopefully the food she eats away from home, especially at school, is 100% gluten-free. If you haven't checked in with the school directly about this, it might be worth a planned visit with their staff to make sure her food is safe.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.