TexasJenn

  On 6/30/2011 at 7:17 PM, ERR said:

No I probably need the lecture. For me, the question is, "just how sensitive am I?" I've been telling people for the past few years that I was one of the lucky ones who just has to avoid bread, or flour, but cross contamination is no big deal. I'm re-thinking that now. Vigilance.

My mother could have written this (as well as your original post), as I've heard her make these exact comments many times. She is one of the "lucky ones" (as am I) who don't have the GI symptoms so she thinks she is less sensitive and doesn't have to be as careful about cross contamination. After being diagnosed four years ago, she has reverted back to being tired and sore all of the time. After seeing her be less viligent, it would be easy for me to follow in her footsteps (I was just diagnosed with celiac last month), but I don't want to make light of it only to feel terrible again like she is. I am going to take her with me to the intro GIG meeting so I can learn more and she can have the refresher. The one thing that I keep reminding myself is that even if I don't FEEL the effects of being glutened, it is still wreaking havoc on my body, and increasing my risks for other certain autoimmune diseases, cancers, etc, and I not only want to feel good, but I want to truly be healthy, too. I have a husband and kids that I want to be around for for a long, long time!

I hope you start feeling better again soon!

Jenn

Thanks, everyone. I may try the Lactaid milk and see if that helps. I never thought about the lactose symptoms and the celiac symptoms opposing each other and cancelling each other out. Perhaps that is what I had going on, so now that I'm gluten-free the lactose symptoms are more severe. Interesting...

Thanks again! I'm so new at this, I have much to learn!

Has anyone had a bigger problem with dairy after going gluten-free? I have been gluten-free for 2 1/2 weeks after being diagnosed with Celiac, and dairy has my stomach more upset than ever. My Celiac symptoms were not GI related, but I have been lactose intolerant since about age 10. I stopped drinking straight milk at that time, but still cook with it, eat cheese and yogurt daily, and occassionally would have a glass of milk or milk in my cereal. The straight milk sends me right to the bathroom (sorry if TMI) but it was easily dealt with, and I only considered it a minor problem. Now it seems any milk whatsoever brings on more stomach pains and bathroom issues than I'm used to dealing with. I was just wondering if it had to do with going gluten-free.

I guess I'll give up dairy for now, too (except yogurt and cheese... can't live without those!). I know that Celiac causes lactose intolerance, and that after my intestines have healed I can probably reintroduce dairy. I was just curious if it is normal to have MORE problems after going gluten-free.

Thanks!

There is another blood test that is very specific for Celiac that you could ask for so you wouldn't have to do a biopsy. It is the EMA (endomysial antibodies) test. My tTG IGA was 92, and with the + EMA test my doctor said that the diagnosis is definitive even without a biopsy.

Good luck!

Jenn

I don't have any insight about what to expect and when, as I have only been gluten-free since 6/3. I am young, like you (32 years old) diagnosed 6/2 with Celiac. My only symptoms are chronic fatigue and muscle pain, and I'm not sure when to expect to notice a difference, either. But I wanted to encourage you to hang in there! From what I have read on here, GI symptoms seems to resolve more quickly, but the overall blah feeling can take quite a while longer. I guess maybe that's because damage done to the small intestine takes time to heal, and then you need to start absorbing nutrients properly for a while before nutritional deficiencies are corrected. It makes sense that it would take some time, but I imagine it will be frustrating to not feel better after a while of this drastic diet/lifestyle change.

Hang in there!

Jenn

Thanks everyone. I think I will eliminate oats for now. One week gluten-free, and I am feeling no different. If this continues, I may eliminate corn, as well, just to see if it makes a difference. I don't want to limit what I can eat more than necessary, but I want to feel better, too!

Jenn

I was diagnosed last week with Celiac by a positive EMA and a tTG-IGA level of 92.

Question #1: My doctor keeps telling me I can't have corn. Everything I've read says that the gluten in corn is totally different than in the "gluten grains" and that it's just called the same name. I can still have corn, right???

Question #2: I had just bought a giant box of Quaker Old-Fashioned oatmeal at Costco. I love oatmeal! The package does not say gluten-free or anything about being processed in the same facility as wheat. Do I need to take this back, or can I eat it? I wasn't sure about cross-contamination during processing. Any idea if Quaker oats are ok? If not, what oatmeal do you recommend?

And a bonus question: How do you afford to eat gluten-free??? It's all so expensive! My husband and I have sticker shock!

Thanks,

Jenn

Thanks, Mattie-Jack! I am terrible at planning meals ahead of time, so suddenly everyone's hungry and I have nothing prepared to cook. It all boils down to poor planning and time management on my part (although I like to blame all of our away-from-home activities and my husband's work schedule- 2nd shift). Maybe this is God's way of giving me an incentive to work on that. It's certainly going to make my meals healthier! Thanks for the encouragement. I KNOW I can do this, it's just so overwhelming right now that I don't know where to start. I'm working on it one day at a time, but eventually I need to stop eating day-to-day and actually plan meals for grocery shopping, etc. I guess I'll start by cleaning out the pantry!

Jenn

Thanks, Mushroom. I guess I'm still just getting used to the idea. I was ok until I really started looking into all of the things that contain gluten, and what really gets me is how careful you have to be because of cross contamination. As a mom of four, we are constantly on the go, and with my husband's crazy work schedule (and my lack of enthusiasm in the kitchen), we eat out a ton. A diet change is doable, but the lifestyle change that will be required is overwhelming. My mom adjusted really well when she was diagnosed four years ago, and I think that gives me a false sense of ease about it. She refrains from ingesting gluten in obvious ways, but doesn't worry too much about cross contamination and hidden gluten, so she makes it look so easy! She, however, doesn't feel good much of the time and I suspect it's because she's not careful enough. I don't want to fall into the trap of eliminating the gluten when it's easy and convenient, but not completely. And I figure that if I start off that way, it would be easy to continue that habit. So I'd like to be super careful from the get-go, and thinking about all that that involves is when I find myself getting so overwhelmed.

I'm not trying to have a pity party, I promise! I'm just verbalizing (or writing) my feelings about it to people who have been where I am. Reading about others' improvements is encouraging! I don't know what it's like to wake up without limping, in pain, and feeling rested, and it would be wonderful to have the energy and motivation to tackle my day with enthusiasm!

Thanks!

Jenn

I have been seeing a new doctor for various symptoms (the big ones being chronic fatigue and pain) after my previous doctor said I was depressed, and did no exam or testing. She ran a Celiac Panel at my request because my mom has Celiac, and I just wanted to be able to for rule it out. I was in no way even concerned about it. She called with the results and said I did in fact have Celiac. She said I tested positive for the tTG-IGA and EMA tests. I thought a biopsy was required to confirm diagnosis? I'm just shocked with the results, and I guess in denial. I mean, I feel pretty crummy, but not as sick as I would expect to be with Celiac. I'd like some opinions of others who have been there, done that!

BTW, she also diagnosed me with mild hypothyroidism, some severe vitamin deficiencies, and is testing me for adrenal fatigue.

Thanks!

Jenn