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leadmeastray88

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  • JillianLindsay
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About Me

I'm 20, but I guess you could say that I've experienced more in those 20 years than some people see in a lifetime.

I've been struggling with my health since I was in tenth grade. I've had 9 hernias and 7 surgeries over 4 years, and I'm still going through the healing process, physically and mentally. No doctor I've been to yet can tell me why I keep having recurrences. One said it was a birth defect, another said it was genetic, and another said that my stomach wasn't developed properly because I was born 2 months early.

I had the most horrifying experience at the Shouldice hernia hospital in Toronto, where they performed a hernia repair on me without giving me general anesthetic. I assume you can only imagine the pain and agony. I still have nightmares from it.

They repaired 2 hernias using stainless steel wire, which 2 months later snapped into a dozen pieces each and had to have yet another 2 surgeries to remove the wire and repair the damaged tissue (at a different hospital)

Since my last surgery I had some severe abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, bloating, fatigue, vitamin B12 deficiency, and constipation.

My GP tested my tTG levels for Celiac which came back negative (tTG =1, +>5) and the GI I saw absolutely refused to perform an endoscopy because "you have already been through too much"

I tested positive through Enterolab for active dietary gluten sensitivity, and have 2 gluten sensitivity genes.

I also recently found out that a cousin of mine has been diagnosed with Celiac, so now it's in the family.

I've been gluten-free since July 2008. I had a rough start, but I keep getting better and better everyday. :)

One thing I've learned from all this is that life can throw you some curve balls but with faith and the support of family and friends you can get through anything possible. That's probably the biggest life lesson I've learned so far.

Enough about that...

I am super laid-back and easy going. I love music, travelling, going to concerts/festivals and being with family and friends.

Anything else you want to know...just ask :)

  1. leadmeastray88
    ^^ What they said Who would spend $400 on a test 'just because'? Not me. Unless you have that kind of money, of course Clearly, those who go through Enterolab have a sneaking suspicion that is what is making them sick. I was one of those people. I was confident even before using Enterolab that I had a problem with gluten because I started the...
  2. leadmeastray88
    If you read the Enterolab FAQ's on their site, it will say something like, it doesn't matter what your numbers are, if you're positive then you're positive. A higher number does not necessarily mean more damage, and a lower number (but still positive) does not necessarily mean less damage. Its like being pregnant, you either are or you're not. I scored...
  3. leadmeastray88

    Happy birthday and may God bless you today!

  4. leadmeastray88
    Thanks Bea, I think I'll stop eating it from now on!
  5. leadmeastray88
    Hey Jillian! This particular Sobeys was the one on Taylor Ave., though the one on Dakota also has a gluten-free section. That's too bad that yours doesn't! It's very convenient, may be worth the trip. I absolutely love the Gorilla Munch by Envirokidz People at work make fun of me all the time for eating "5-year olds cereal" lol! I've had the...
  6. leadmeastray88
    This has happened to me so many times Even just last night my boyfriend and I went out for supper and he had a chicken club sandwich...and I made him use mouthwash before I'd kiss him goodnight It's just a habit that you have to get into! And if he's worth it he won't mind
  7. leadmeastray88
    So I was grocery shopping at Sobey's a few days ago and passed through their gluten free section... I was so excited to see oatmeal there - Glutenfreeda's Maple Raisin with Flax oatmeal. This was the first time I've tried oats since going gluten-free a year ago. I've had it every morning for the past couple days for breakfast...and I've been noticing that...
  8. JillianLindsay started following leadmeastray88
  9. leadmeastray88
    Going gluten free for any period of time is not a good idea when you're planning on getting a biopsy. The biopsy is valuable for many reasons, the most important being determining how much damage you may have, as well as ruling out any other conditions. Then if you have a negative biopsy, you may always wonder "what if I hadn't gone gluten free", and be...
  10. leadmeastray88
    I have never had a problem with fresh, store-bought raw meat before. Cold cuts, on the other hand, is a totally different story. I know Freybe's and Grimm's packaged meats are gluten free - it says right on the label. Those are the only ones I buy.
  11. leadmeastray88
    Unfortunately, there isn't a concrete answer to that question. Personally, I am self-diagnosed gluten intolerant and have significant physical health improvements to prove it. I haven't been able to find a consistent doctor who will take me seriously, so I pursued it myself and have never looked back. Any doctor I see has no problem making sure the medication...
  12. leadmeastray88
    Before I went gluten-free, my B12 level was at 80. One doc told me I should be on shots, another that I should just be on sublingual supplements. I stuck with the supplements. After going gluten-free and supplementing for about 6 months, my B12 was up to 800. As for how I felt, I started both the diet and the supplements around the same time so I can...
  13. leadmeastray88
    Sure, it's possible! Reactions are different and vary in intensity and duration from person to person. If you ate gluten for every meal for 2 straight days, then I'd say that's a reasonable amount of time to be sick. If you feel better gluten free, then why not just stick to it? You have nothing to lose but your nausea, and you don't need a doctor's...
  14. leadmeastray88
    At this point, I would wait and see what the biopsy says. The doctor can't always tell if you have Celiac until they look at the slides from the samples. I'm not sure if 4 weeks was long enough to affect the intestine...I would think it depends on how much damage you had in the first place. But you're right - your doc should never have told you to go gluten...
  15. leadmeastray88
    In my opinion, a month-long gluten free diet is not long enough to be able to determine that it isn't an issue for you. I would suggest giving it another go, except for a good solid 3 months. You said you noticed mild improvement, that's still something! It took 2 months for all of my symptoms to start going away, about 6 for them to be completely gone...
  16. leadmeastray88
    This is incorrect - if you are diagnosed with DH, then you are also diagnosed with Celiac Disease. DH is the skin manifestation of Celiac Disease, that's why the "treatment" is the same: the life-long gluten free diet. With the removal of gluten, the DH should clear up as well as any digestive issues you have. Here is a link to more info on DH: https:...
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