I am new to join this forum, though I have been look at your posts since I was diagnosed in September (it's now end of October). Just wanted to introduce myself.
My name is Lori. I'm 43, female, and have had stomach issues for my whole life. As a child, I was ALWAYS tired. My doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and just told my mom to get me into sports to help tire me out at night. I missed a lot of school because I was sick quite a bit, but got good grades so no one seemed to be bothered by it. Over the past 2 years my symptoms were consistently getting worse. Just before I had my gallbladder removed (gall bladder attacks that were getting longer), I started vomiting on a regular basis. Didn't seem to matter if I had an empty or full stomach or if I felt okay. I would be vomiting at least 2 times a week and chewing on ginger tablets constantly. Diarrhea also got worse but I didn't think much of it because I had been diagnosed with IBS when I was 20 and the celiac biopsies came back negative. I was taking 2 to 4 Immodium gel pills every day just to get through work. My doctor did numerous tests to find out why I was so sick all the time but no positive results for anything. She decided to send me for another gastroscopy and colonoscopy since it had been over 20 years since my last one. There, the doctor found out that I have a sliding hiatus hernia, ulcers, and bile reflux. He also did some biopsies which came back "blunted villi" so he recommended that my doctor send me for celiac blood tests. Sure enough, they both came back positive. This after a psychiatrist told me I should be tested again - years ago when the depression medication didn't work and my inflammation levels were through the roof.
Today I also found out I have osteopenia. I thought I had worked through the anger that I hadn't been diagnosed years ago (when it wasn't too late to prevent a lot of the issues I have now), but it has raised it's ugly head again.
My question to all of you is, how did you get past the anger at all the missed/wrong diagnoses over the years? I would have gone back and insisted on the doctor doing something if I hadn't assumed I had IBS for over 20 years. Maybe I could have had children. Maybe I could have prevented the bone loss and hair loss.
Also, did anyone find that their hair grew back? How long did it take?
Happy to have found all of you!
Lori
Here are my symptoms/related illnesses:
Depression (diagnosed at 19 with intermittent success with medication combinations)
Chronic inflammation
Joint pain
Skin rashes
Chronic fatigue
B12 and Iron deficiency anemia for years - I have had to take strong supplements for over 20 years.
Hair loss
PCOS (but I still ovulate so I'm wondering if this is true)
Insulin resistant/pre-diabetic
Very overweight beginning in 20s with difficulty losing weight for years (except the time I eliminated ALL grains)
Anger?
in Coping with Celiac Disease
Posted
Hello everyone,
I am new to join this forum, though I have been look at your posts since I was diagnosed in September (it's now end of October). Just wanted to introduce myself.
My name is Lori. I'm 43, female, and have had stomach issues for my whole life. As a child, I was ALWAYS tired. My doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and just told my mom to get me into sports to help tire me out at night. I missed a lot of school because I was sick quite a bit, but got good grades so no one seemed to be bothered by it. Over the past 2 years my symptoms were consistently getting worse. Just before I had my gallbladder removed (gall bladder attacks that were getting longer), I started vomiting on a regular basis. Didn't seem to matter if I had an empty or full stomach or if I felt okay. I would be vomiting at least 2 times a week and chewing on ginger tablets constantly. Diarrhea also got worse but I didn't think much of it because I had been diagnosed with IBS when I was 20 and the celiac biopsies came back negative. I was taking 2 to 4 Immodium gel pills every day just to get through work. My doctor did numerous tests to find out why I was so sick all the time but no positive results for anything. She decided to send me for another gastroscopy and colonoscopy since it had been over 20 years since my last one. There, the doctor found out that I have a sliding hiatus hernia, ulcers, and bile reflux. He also did some biopsies which came back "blunted villi" so he recommended that my doctor send me for celiac blood tests. Sure enough, they both came back positive. This after a psychiatrist told me I should be tested again - years ago when the depression medication didn't work and my inflammation levels were through the roof.
Today I also found out I have osteopenia. I thought I had worked through the anger that I hadn't been diagnosed years ago (when it wasn't too late to prevent a lot of the issues I have now), but it has raised it's ugly head again.
My question to all of you is, how did you get past the anger at all the missed/wrong diagnoses over the years? I would have gone back and insisted on the doctor doing something if I hadn't assumed I had IBS for over 20 years. Maybe I could have had children. Maybe I could have prevented the bone loss and hair loss.
Also, did anyone find that their hair grew back? How long did it take?
Happy to have found all of you!
Lori
Here are my symptoms/related illnesses: