tiredofdoctors

US doctors will catch up with the rest of the world in about 10-15 years. That is the norm for our country.

ME, TOO, VINCENT!!!!! BTW: Tried the Peanut Butter Panda Puffs. Tymber is right -- they're delicious! Lynne

Effexor XR, according to the gluten-free drug list website someone posted on another thread IS gluten-free. Also, my MD phoned the company and confirmed that. I know that they have to list every possible adverse reaction that has ever been reported (even if it is cold/flu symptoms -- from someone who caught the flu while on it) as mandated by the FDA. The abnormal orgasm response is "BARELY" or "NONE". Trust me on this one. The reason for the increased heart rate, etc. is that not only is it a Serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, it is also a norepinephrine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, as well. Therefore, you have some extra norepinephrein and noradrenaline in your system. The worst thing to do on this particular medication, though, is stop it cold turkey -- it will give you a headache and the pukes like you can't imagine. Taper down when you doc says you're ready.

We eat at Outback more than any other restaurant simply because it's easier to order! I had a waitress who was unfamiliar with the gluten-free menu, and she was the same way -- VERY cautious, even half-joked, "I'm guessing you guys don't want bread before your meal??" She was great.

Sunday night we went to Cracker Barrell. They used to have a gluten-free menu, but no more . . . . However, our waitress understood what I was talking about, I was really worried that they had "premade" salads in the back and would simply remove the croutons. This lady went back to the kitchen and made my salad herself! It was beautiful! No dressing, of course, but salt & pepper were fine.

Isn't it nice to have such good experiences? Makes the whole thing much less worrisome.

Don't know the "norm" for passing gas! My grandmother (who just turned 100) has always used the motto "more room out than in" . . . fortunately, that sentiment has not passed down the family tree!

"Walter, the farting dog" sounds as if it is similar to the books "Everyone poops" "Everyone passes gas", etc. I still like the Walter book title better. We call our dog "Count Flatula"

I know I've posted it before, but it's the truth . . . Q: What to they call the guy who made the lowest grades in med school?

A: Doctor

Well, here goes . .. I have ADHD, my daughter has ADHD, and my son has ADD. My daughter and I used to think that he was just WAY too mellow.

Since being gluten-free, have had to adjust my medication dosage down some. Concentration has improved somewhat off meds. Have to state, however, that I scored, according to the doctor, "EXTREMELY HIGH" in all aspects of the testing. Don't you know MY parents had a great time when I was little?

Claire -- have eaten enough crow in my life -- definitely not fun. However, given his bigtime mistake of no antibiotics, you don't have to eat ANY. Interesting fact . . . Veterinarians knew 20 years ago that h. pylori caused ulcers in pigs.

Congratulations Lollie! That's fantastic! Lynne

Peter, If I knew how to do the "quote" thing, I would certainly do so! Excellent analogy -- I actually can use that -- thanks!!

I have a thread somewhere on here where I posted answers I was getting from different companies. Neutrogena gave me a HUGE list of their products which are gluten free . . . age, however, has caught up with me and I can't remember how far back the post was!!!!

Not to navigate away from the initial problem, but . . . . how do you guys navigate through whole foods? My husband and I just shopped there for the first time -- it was an absolute jumble to find things. Products which you think would be located in the same general area (Miso Soup should be somewhere in the vacinity of Asian foods) just AREN'T. We had to ask and ask and still didn't get many answers. Their brochure for "gluten-free" foods contains a lot of items -- about 60% were not carried in our store. I asked them about the magazines, "Living Without" and "Gluten-Free Living" -- One girl said, "I think I've heard of "Living Without". They had neither, and "didn't know if they could individually subscribe to it". I told them that their chain throughout the nation subscribes to it -- didn't they think they could get a few delivered to them? At any rate, going to try "Wild Oats" one day this week, and hope for a better visit. I will say, though, Whole Foods is very aesthetically pleasing from the parking area. . . .

OMG -- that is hilarious! It's always good to have options . . . . .

With regard to the Peeps issue, we let them sit out and get stale, too. There's something BETTER to them once they're stale.

Here's the skinny on the "Gluten Intolerance": A. You can be gluten intolerant without having Celiac Disease B. You can't have Celiac Disease without being gluten intolerant

It's kind of those set/subset things!

Several things here: 1) I didn't know that my kids and I were the only people in the world who made a habbit out of biting the heads off Marshmallow Peeps Chicks. That is frightening. 2) I was REALLY glad when the dietician told me that Peeps were gluten-free 3) I have NEVER heard of microwaving them, didn't think about them getting bloated, and I can't WAIT to get to the store to buy SEVERAL packages!!!!!

Thanks for the GREAT idea, Richard!

I have it. I think it's still useful -- the dietician I just saw studied under Shelley Case, and she recommends the book, as well.

Yes. I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, so I've had a LOT of them rupture. My MD explained that the fluid inside the cysts is toxic to the peritoneum of the gut. Hence, when one ruptures, it caues a lot of inflammation throughout the abdomen. The biggest concern with that, is that it can cause peritonitis, the same condition you get when your appendix ruptures. Just keep check on it. If after 4-5 days, you don't have some significant relief, I would go back to your MD, just to be on the safe side. Good luck to you . . . . Lynne

Hi Claire

I almost hope that your celiac biopsy is positive, too. I hate to say that, though. At least you would get some definitive answer. Did you read about the MR Spectroscopy in gluten ataxia patients? It was really interesting. It said that, even though they did not show significant cerebellar degredation on a traditional MRI, this test showed marked decreased signal and decreased activity almost throughout the cerebellum -- all due to the gliosis and the destruction of perkinje cells. It was on one of the Neuro forums . . . I'll try to pull up the site.

I think the only question would be, where in the US do they have a MR spectroscopy machine???

Sending you many more ((((((HUGS)))))) and I hope you start recovering from what sounds like a disappointing and borderline traumatic experience. Take care of you, Lynne

Q: What do you call the guy who graduated at the bottom of his class?

A: Doctor

Claire -- I agree completely. My mother, she's a gem. The only problem that I have with her is that she continues to say "I know you're going to get better. I know you're going to walk again." I feel this implied pressure to hurry up and get well, because she can't stand watching it. My daughter, on the other hand, resents the living daylights out of me. She doesn't want to talk about the disease, doesn't ask if I've heard anything new, doesn't ask how I am (she lives away at college). She has been like this since I started getting sick, and since she has become engaged, it's even worse. It feels as though she's only concerned if my husband is going to be able to pay for the wedding. My health is of no concern whatsoever. I do think it's mothers and daughters, or daughters and mothers. You may have hit the nail on the head.

Claire -- I am so sorry. What a jerk. When I had my endoscopy, the GI doc said that I had mild inflammation, but it wasn't anything to worry about, and didn't need further follow-up. He also told me that, given the meds I had been taking, it was an appropriate amount.

I think that guy should have at least taken 1-2 samples -- he was RIGHT THERE. Those kinds of "blow-off" indicents give doctors the reputation that they don't care. Did he mention his initial impression of the intestinal villi? I'm sure he would have been able to at least see if they were flattened, plump, etc. ..

I'm hoping you'll get a definitive result -- in the meantime, take care of yourself. You deserve better than how you were treated. (((HUGS))), Lynne

I'm glad you got some positive results! Good luck to you . . . Keep us posted as to what the findings are!

I'm sorry you had a marginal (nice term) visit with the dietician. My thought with the intolerance to nuts is that your gut is probably so inflamed -- nuts are REALLY hard on your intestines. People with Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis (inflammation) of the large intestine are FORBIDDEN to eat nuts because they're so hard on the intestines.

With regard to your mom -- I think that's age-old. I'm a physical therapist -- my dad has this horrible hip pain -- but he listens to his "best friend" who is 80+ years old -- a retired urologist -- and has cortisone injected into his hip WAY too much. Of course, he doesn't do the stretches I told him to do to prevent it from coming back. I'm just his daughter! In one of our most heated debates, I turned to him and said, do you realize that people PAY ME for this exact advice -- AND THEY TAKE IT!!! AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE CORTISONE SHOTS!!! DOES THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING????? Wasn't well-received! I don't think that any parent is going to consider their child an "expert" on anything, sometimes!

Good luck to you . . . . I'll be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers . . . . Lynne

ChelsE, you did GREAT! Way to go!!

Aveda lipstick. I love it, and because it contains peppermint oil, would lick my lips, because it tasted good!