
TestyTommy
Advanced Members-
Posts
130 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Celiac.com - Your Trusted Resource for Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Living Since 1995
Everything posted by TestyTommy
-
ARCHIVED How Long After Being Gluten Free Did Your Sleep Improve
TestyTommy replied to a topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I had lots of sleep problems before going gluten-free. It took a few months til it got significantly better. I'm 8 months gluten-free and still having problems sleeping. I haven't slept through the night in over nine years, but it's getting better. So be patient. Especially if you've been damaged for many years like a lot of us, it will take many months... -
Extreme thirst was one of my celica symptoms. Other people too --- there are several threads about it on this site. After about 8 months without gluten I'm drinking a lot less, but still more than normal. One caution: drinking lots of water can actually make you thirstier! i ended up in the hospital with hyponaetremia, which is what happens to you if...
-
ARCHIVED Is It Possible To Drink Too Much Water?
TestyTommy replied to covsooze's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
Carla's right. Iodine is not part of salt naturally; it is added to most salt as a supplement. Years ago, people were not getting enough iodine in their diets, so someone came up with the idea of adding it to salt. It's similar to milk having added vitamin D in it. It's not naturally there; the govt just decided that's a good place to put it. If by... -
ARCHIVED Is It Possible To Drink Too Much Water?
TestyTommy replied to covsooze's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
Drinking too much water can lead to a condition called "hyponaetremia", which literally means "not enough sodium". I know because it put me in the hospital a few years ago. I didn't know what was wrong and went to the ER, where they diagnosed me with the flu, gave me some liquid (!) and sent me home at 3:00 am on Sunday morning. I was still miserable... -
ARCHIVED First Cause Of Autoimmunity?
TestyTommy replied to SurreyGirl's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I've often wondered about the relationship between the explosion in vaccines and the increased number of people with allergies, asthma and autoimmune disorders. My own symptoms started shortly after completing the HepB series. It makes sense that flooding a person's body with lots of different vaccines, all of which are supposed to stimulate the immune... -
ARCHIVED Can Someone Have Dh And Not Have Celiac Disease?
TestyTommy replied to ktneal's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
If you have DH, you have celiac. Period. Many people with DH do not have any GI symptoms. About 20%of people with DH have a negative intestinal biopsy. Like Fiddle-Faddle said, the real test for celiac is whether you get better when you quit eating gluten. -
ARCHIVED Only Symptom Is Dermatits Herpetiformis
TestyTommy replied to Parrot's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Hi Parrot! Yes, absolutly you can have DH without any GI symptoms. For some people, the GI symptoms start later (like me, for instance), and some people never get any GI symptoms. You might want to check out the book "Celiac Disease - a hidden epidemic" by Peter HR Green. (He's some big shot at Columbia medical school) He says that not only do many... -
ARCHIVED Waking Up Every Hour To Pee
TestyTommy replied to wilbragirl's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I'm not going to tell anyone NOT to get tested for diabetes or to eat a lot of sugar (I eat virtually no sugar besides what I get from fruit), but my experience has been that doctors will immediately test you for diabetes if you tell them that you are urinating frequently. Then, when you test negative (as I did --- eight times!) they dismiss your symptoms... -
ARCHIVED Where Is Your Stomach Pain Located
TestyTommy replied to gointribal's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Mine is low, too. Below the bellybutton; I usually describe it as the front of the pelvis. Any speculation on why we feel it in different places? -
ARCHIVED New - More Symptoms
TestyTommy replied to pir8ped's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Oh yes, I also forgot to mention the unquenchable thirst. When I first got sick, I said that it felt like all of the water had been sucked out of my body. Since going gluten-free, my thirst has definitely diminished. Since I've had the skin problems for so long, I expect it will take a long time to heal. But you folks have helped make me feel more optimistic... -
I've had 'chronic idiopathic urticaria' and 'chronic idiopathic pruritis' for 8 years. I know exactly what you're going through --- try to imagine living with it for all those years! A few months ago, a new doctor suggested this (and my other problems) may be celiac. I've been gluten-free for about 6 weeks, and I've felt significant improvement with...
-
ARCHIVED New - More Symptoms
TestyTommy replied to pir8ped's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
I've had extremely dry skin, eyes, mouth, etc. for years. I don't know if it's connected to celiac, but I hope so. I've been gluten-free for about 6 weeks. My stomach problems and sleep problems have improved a lot over that time, but I've seen no change in the dryness. It was the first symptom I noticed --- almost 8 years ago now --- so I figure it may... -
ARCHIVED I Can't Get Enough Sleep
TestyTommy replied to lizjay's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I had a similar experience. I think it takes time for the gluten (or the effects of the gluten) to work its way out of your system. I went gluten-free for about 6 weeks (after a long-term low gluten diet) and was feeling much better, including sleeping better and waking up earlier. Then I went back on gluten for a week and felt miserable. I'm at about... -
ARCHIVED My Blood Test Results.
TestyTommy replied to lemonade's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Lemonade, Check out the FAQ on the mainpage of this website. There is a section addressing the question of how much gluten you need to be eating in order for the blood tests to be valid. As I read it, it works out to a slice of bread for every 18 pounds of bodyweight for 2 months before the tests. There are many 'self-diagnosed' celiacs on this... -
Right --- whey protein is made from milk. Most protein powders are made of a blend of whey and casein. So if you are sensitive to casein (as many celiacs seem to be) be careful. Even if the name of the product is 'whey protein', read the ingredient list (I'm guessing we all have practice in label reading!) "Whey Protein Isolate" is pure whey --- not...
-
ARCHIVED Are You Dreaming More Since Being gluten-free?
TestyTommy replied to chestnut's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I'm dreaming significantly more since going gluten-free. I, too, was one of those people who never dreamed. Now I dream most nights. I am sleeping more deeply and getting more rest, too. I think the increase in dreams is related to spending more time in deep sleep, which is the only time you dream. I've used melatonin in years past, with no increase... -
ARCHIVED Did Anyone Have To Give Up Citrus?
TestyTommy replied to WGibs's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
Same here! It seemed like the strangest thing, but apples and orangesdefinitely disagreed with me. I thought I was just being paranoid, but I guess I'mnot. -
ARCHIVED Endocrinologist Appt From Hell
TestyTommy replied to slpinsd's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Sorry to hear about your appointment. I suspect alot of us have alot of stories like this. But we underdstand. Whenever I've complained about idiot doctors to my (healthy) friends, they just patronize me and say, "Well, if the doctors says there is nothing wrong with you, then there must not be anything wrong with you." But keep trying. Doctors are... -
ARCHIVED Question About Antibody Tests
TestyTommy replied to UzairH's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Check out the FAQ section on this website. For the blood test to be accurate, the patient should be eating 0.3 of gluten per kilogram of body weight for 2 months before the test. That works out to about one slice of bread for every 18 pounds of bodyweight. If you're on a gluten-free diet, the test will probably be negative. That's why so many people... -
For years and years, I never had any dreams while I slept. After going gluten-free, I started having dreams again/ Some were 'nightmares', some were just weird. For those of you post, have your dreams changed and gotten scarier, or are you just having/remembering more dreams. My guess is that I'm sleeping more soundly, so I'm (happily) spending more...
-
ARCHIVED Waking Up Every Hour To Pee
TestyTommy replied to wilbragirl's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I have this problem, too. I get up 2-4 times per night to urinate. I also need to urinate every 60-90 minutes during the day, couple with an unquenchable thirst. I was noticably less thirsty and needed to urinate less after about 6 weeks gluten-free (where I am now), both during the day and during the night. Anyone else notice less thirst/less need... -
ARCHIVED Why Does Gluten Keep Us From Sleeping
TestyTommy replied to a topic in Related Issues & Disorders
How long did it take until you noticed a difference in your sleep patterns? -
ARCHIVED How Much Gluten To Consume Beffore Testing
TestyTommy posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
I'm a newbie, and I've been going through the message board archives to learn more about celiac. One of the things I've read in several places is that you are supposed to eat about 3 slices of bread for 3 months in order for the celiac test to be accurate. Does anyone know the origin of the "3 slices for 3 months" rule of thumb? I ask because on the... -
ARCHIVED Help! Still Suffering From Hives After 4 Weeks!
TestyTommy replied to a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
Kim, I hope you're still reading the boards, because this sounds a lot like what I've had for the last 7+ years. Only recently have some of my other problems indicated that I have celiac disease. But I have lots of experience dealing with itching! First, use a lotion with lanolin and NO fragrance. My favorite is Vaseline Intensive Care "Advanced... -
ARCHIVED Why Does Gluten Keep Us From Sleeping
TestyTommy replied to a topic in Related Issues & Disorders
I've never read any theories as to why gluten affects our sleep, but it certainly does. I'm a newbie, but after about 3 weeks gluten-free, I'm definitely sleeping better. Instead of getting up 3 times a night to go to the bathroom, I only need to get up once or sometimes not at all. And my sleep seems 'deeper' somehow. My experience with gluten is that...