dlp252

Hi. I am newly diagnosed within the past week. What do you do if a spouse is unsupportive? He seems to think cross-contamination is not possible (by the way, does it affect everyone?). He also seems to think I am overexaggerating and I am blowing it out of proportion. We have fought so much this past week. Needless to say I am hungry and tired and depressed, as I figure out what I can and cannot eat. I am trying to educate him, but he does not want to listen. I told him my colleagues are being more supportive and he laughed and tried to change the topic. He is complaining about how his life is going to change. HELLO?! We did not eat out that often, but he is saying we cannot go out to eat, esp. at nice restaurants any more. What about me? Also, he seems to think it is funny that I am suggesting separate cookware in the house. Please give advice....I know I am venting, but desperately seeking advice from people who have been in similar situations with their spouses. THANK YOU!

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Some people are just kind of clueless. All of my friends and family are supportive of any new thing I try because they all know and understand how sick I've been over the last few years. But, I have an example from this weeked of cluelessness. I told my mother that I was going to go gluten-free to see if it would clear up my many symptoms. She is absolutely supportive of any dietary change because she knows medications and doctor's appointments have not made me well. She asked me what exactly gluten was, and I explained it, and told her that I bought some Millet bread which was gluten-free. Then she turned around and asked, so what kind of bread can you have...white, sourdough, wheat? I had to laugh because I know she just doesn't get it...she thinks white bread doesn't have wheat because it's white and doesn't say "wheat" on the label (honestly! ).

So all that is to say that perhaps your husband just doesn't really get how serious this really is. I can say that HIS life will definitely change if you don't get well.

And I thank you too!

Thank you both!

How are the tests shipped? I'm not home during the day and would want to have them delivered to my workplace, but only if the box doesn't give away the contents, lol. Thanks in advance!

I'll also take this opportunity to say hello. I've been lurking for a couple of weeks. I found this site through a co-worker who is Celiac diagnosed. I've suffered for years with digestive, tummy and bowel problems and in the last 3 years, severe sinus problems which have lead to sinus infections about every six weeks.

I worked with a wonderful ENT/Allergist (now retired) who thought at first it was just my allergies, but after so long, we started discussing alternative reasons for so many infections, and just generally feeling crummy. We thought candida or maybe low thyroid (I have some classic signs of it even though blood tests at my annual exam with GP were normal), and possibly diet (I was also tested for food allergies, but only had mild reaction to 4 foods). Finally, about this time last year I became very sick with a stubborn sinus infection that wouldn't go away.

We ended up switching antibiotics and discussed food sensitivities. He suggested I try a rotation diet. So, I went on an anti-candida/anti-yeast diet rotation diet (which coincidentially was pratically gluten-free), and before that had a lower carb diet (also low on gluten) that I had been on for around a year. I felt wonderful for 4 whole months--that was a record--although my nasal congestion did not totally go away (wasn't careful about glutenous foods).

What got me started thinking it might be gluten-related was that at the 4-month mark (August 2005) I took a vacation, where I started getting careless about what I ate, eating bread, pasta, etc. I was bloated and miserable, but couldn't seem to stop myself. When I got back from the cruise, I started my rotation diet again, and again felt good once more losing the weight (about 10 pounds) I had gained on the cruise...but I still had that desire to eat toast, lol, and did so.

Then, at the beginning of October I got a very bad case of strep throat, which led to an ear infection and then a sinus infection which I am still trying to get rid of. I decided to look up celiac symptoms, then remembered my co-worker who was able to direct me here and to a few other sites.

I have started my rotation diet once more (just a couple of days ago), and surprisingly only had to eliminate 3 items--rye, teff and oats to fit the gluten-free lifestyle. I was eating one of those every 4 days which is probably why my symptoms didn't go away completely. This time I'll be reading labels much more thoroughly!

So, I'm sorry that was so long, but I'm excited to finally possibly have found a solution to years of discomfort and pain and sheer exhaustion.