going GF? test results...

[Blue Skys]

I never bothered to get tested because it doesn't matter to me if I have a diagnosis or not. I feel better that's all that matters. I am regular for the first time since I can remember, My skin has cleared up and I feel great. I also bruised very easily, but didn't realize that may have had something to do with gluten intolerance, I do not bruise as easily now.

I think for the most part most of it has to do with the malnutrition that is going on that may not be obvious. The reaction to gluten in the gut is that the cilia (sp?) that help absorb nutrients die, therefore you may be anemic but it's because your not absorbing food as you should. That's just my two cents, I'm certainly not a doctor, but I would try to tackle one thing at a time, and see if some of the ailments your experiencing may be side effects of other issues, such as gluten intolerance, which really can do an extreme amount of damage to your body.

I hope you get to feeling better!

 

[CJW]

I never bothered to get tested because it doesn't matter to me if I have a diagnosis or not. I feel better that's all that matters. I am regular for the first time since I can remember, My skin has cleared up and I feel great. I also bruised very easily, but didn't realize that may have had something to do with gluten intolerance, I do not bruise as easily now.

AWESOME...and you were probably a bit anemic which can cause you to bruise easily. (I was too!)

 

[dipence71]

I have evidentially been anemic for quit some time but not enough to be treated or show enough on regular blood work because my doctor never mentioned it. But I have never been able to give blood because my level is always just below what is allowed. Well after about a year on gluten free diet I tried again and my level was not only ok but a whole point above required.
Proof to me that I am on the right tract. As they say "the proof is in the pudding"

 

[lorihadams]

What made you go GF?

I was in tears last night....again...cause my husband was being a PITA about it. His excuse for me bruising easily...my veins are close to my skin. His reason for my lack of sex drive....mental issues. His reason for me being tired....I homeschool a 3 and 5 yr old, who wouldn't be tired. His reason for my constipation...isn't everybody? The dizziness...I probably need to go back on cymbalta.

He just doesn't get it that I have steadily felt worse for 10 years now and nothing helps me feel better. I try to eat lots of veggies but still have to take one or two stool softeners daily just to poop.

I just don't feel like I have anyone to talk to that doesn't question everything I say. I just want someone to say...yeah, I do think something is wrong.

I had tests on my hormone levels from two doctors and one showed that my testosterone was low and the other showed that I was "within normal limits"....so boom, I'm crazy and there's nothing wrong with me. I'm grasping at straws and want everyone to "coddle me" to quote my husband.

What finally was the straw that broke the camels back and made you go GF? I'm honestly scared to get the test cause I'm afraid that if it comes back negative then I'm going to go insane. I just want something to be wrong with me.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

What made you go GF?

I was in tears last night....again...cause my husband was being a PITA about it. His excuse for me bruising easily...my veins are close to my skin. His reason for my lack of sex drive....mental issues. His reason for me being tired....I homeschool a 3 and 5 yr old, who wouldn't be tired. His reason for my constipation...isn't everybody? The dizziness...I probably need to go back on cymbalta.

He just doesn't get it that I have steadily felt worse for 10 years now and nothing helps me feel better. I try to eat lots of veggies but still have to take one or two stool softeners daily just to poop.

I just don't feel like I have anyone to talk to that doesn't question everything I say. I just want someone to say...yeah, I do think something is wrong.

I had tests on my hormone levels from two doctors and one showed that my testosterone was low and the other showed that I was "within normal limits"....so boom, I'm crazy and there's nothing wrong with me. I'm grasping at straws and want everyone to "coddle me" to quote my husband.

What finally was the straw that broke the camels back and made you go GF? I'm honestly scared to get the test cause I'm afraid that if it comes back negative then I'm going to go insane. I just want something to be wrong with me.

Why not just get tested for anemia for starters? No need to tell him your getting it done either.

 

[lorihadams]

I just called my GP and left a message to make an appointment for later this week.

I also just looked up "neurological reactions to gluten" and ended up in tears. It sounds like I am reading articles about myself....it also sounds like an exact description of my maternal grandmother.

She gets into boughts of "mental fog" and it seems to hit her most when they eat out at fast food restaurants a lot. She constantly complains of vertigo. She lives on crackers. She is severely constipated and has gerd. Cannot eat more than a few bites of food at a time.

I'm wondering if she is sensitive too....could explain a lot of her problems. After a recent blood transfusion for unexplained blood in her stool she made the comment that she felt "better than she had in YEARS"

 

[Woodland Woman]

When you feel miserable enough you will do it. I was tested by my doctor and was told the test was not very accurate and would probably need to have the probe test which basically scrapes the cilia from your intestine wall. Very unpleasant and he recommended not to bother with that test. He told me just go gluten free immediately to see how I feel as this was really what would make the difference. Before I realized I had to go gluten free I was having muscle aches in my legs and pains in my tummy and was becoming more and more lethargic and sleepy all the time. I had an mri for my legs, tests from the gynocologist, and my primary physician. No one could find anything at all wrong. I thought I had some strange disease and was going to die I felt so awful. When I went gluten free I started to feel better after 24 hours and my muscle aches were gone after a month. That is enough motivation for me to stay gluten free. Really it is not a big deal you don't need wheat to survive. I hope you get enough support from your family.

 

[Dace]

I am sorry that you are feeling so frustrated right now.

The thing that popped into my mind, reading about your Hubby, is that men are fixers....we bring them a problem and they feel that they have to fix it. Perhaps he is just as frustrated as you are because he does not know how to fix this?

A good strategy may be to just stop talking about it and go GF. It can't hurt and it may very well be the solution to many of your problems. Yu dont even have to announce it just keep it on the down low and do it!

I think I recall you saying that you could not handle kefir, I would strongly suggest that you reconsider. Hide it in a smoothie. It will significantly help your constipation AND your overall health!

Edited to add.....I have always suffered from brain fog and constipation. I am off gluten for two reasons, one is that I just don't eat many grains ( for weight management) and two because my 2 DDs and Hubby do not do well on it. But once I got off of gluten I felt sooooooo much better! I really did not realize how crappy I felt everyday, I just thought it was normal.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

After much research & seeing the symptoms in DD & DH, we decided to try it for about a month just to see if it would make a difference. We were unable to afford the testing, it would have taken a regular doctor's apppointment, a referal to a doc almost 2 hours away and several visits to them... well, we just gave it a shot. We homeschool DD, so lunches aren't a problem.

After that month, she wasn't bruising as easily, her food intake slowed down a bit and she actually put on a bit of weight. She starting being more alert when we cut out all processed (boxed) foods and starting eating more fat & got the goats (raw milk woot!), but once we really cut out the gluten (almost all grains really, except a little masa cornmeal & rice) there was a marked difference.

Now, she's a little more quiet (not hyper) and more there, if you get me. She can focus and isn't nearly as distractable.


A little along Dace's line, why don't you show him some of the studies & documentation. Maybe print them out, circle the symptoms that apply to you & ask him to help you cut it out? Tell him that you really do think this has something to do with your problems and a month of trying should tell.

 

[lorihadams]

I'm going for fasting bloodwork Thursday morning....I just tried to mop the floors and I feel like I'm gonna pass out.

Still gotta process a deer tonight and start on the next batch of meaties in a couple days....don't even know what I can fix for dinner. I'm gonna have to do a major clean out of my kitchen if I do this. I'm reading labels and everything has wheat or gluten or soy or msg in it.

I ate some cereal the other morning that I thought was just rice and corn and looked on the back....malted barley extract.

Made tacos the other night...looked at the back of the seasoning packet...first ingredient wheat flour....wtf? In taco seasoning?

This makes me want my goats sooooo much more now so at least I can make my own cheese, yogurt, and yummies and know they are okay. I can't afford to finish the housing and fencing AND buy the goats but hopefully I can get some in the spring. I'm trying to let everything in the fridge and cupboards get really bare before I go grocery shopping again so I can do a clean out. It isn't going to do any good for me to go off it and everyone else in the house to keep eating it. Too many chances for mistakes.



Hubby is just trying to be "reasonable". He wants a doctor to tell him the truth and he refuses to believe that doctors don't know EVERYTHING. This is a man that refuses to go to the doctor for anything cause he figures everyone should just "suck it up and deal".

I think he thinks that if I read it then I think I have it. I don't think he realizes that I'm talking to people that have the same issues and this is something that is real, even if my doctors don't know about it enough to make a diagnosis. I cried last night and told him that "I have no one in my life that supports me and doesn't make me feel like I'm a complete idiot. I can't talk about it to anyone...I can't wonder out loud....I can't read a book to learn more about something without everyone thinking I'm crazy."

I have made a list of symptoms and things I want to be tested.

I want my iron and B levels checked out and I want the gliadin antibody blood test. If she won't do it then I'll see if I can find someone else or have her refer me to a specialist.

Thank you all soooooo much....I have been in tears all day cause I am just praying that they find something, anything wrong with me so I don't feel like I'm insane anymore.

I can't begin to tell you all how much your support and encouragement means to me....I don't have a lot of friends, never have, but I feel like everyone on here has my back.

Thank you.....I'll keep you posted.