Which blood tests? Update: An incorrect diagnosis :)

[Lady Henevere]

The doctor has diagnosed me with a major and potentially deadly disease based on a blood test that may or may not indicate the presence of this disease. It doesn't seem to matter to him that I don't exhibit any of the symptoms except "brain fog," which can be a sign of anything. I think it's pretty clear that I don't have it. I'm seeing a specialist next week.

Farmfresh, the naturopath also thinks I have absorption problems due to long-term wheat issues. Does the intestine ever heal, or can the damage be life-long? (I suppose it doesn't help that I have been accidentally eating gluten -- last night I discovered that one of my favorite sushi places uses gluten in its rice. Arrgh!)

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

LOTS of fermented foods, bone broths and probiotics will do the trick for absorption.
GAPS is probably the very best at really doing the job properly.
Check out www.cheeseslave.com for her day 1 and day 2 menus for an idea as to what is involved.

 

[Farmfresh]

The doctor has diagnosed me with a major and potentially deadly disease based on a blood test that may or may not indicate the presence of this disease. It doesn't seem to matter to him that I don't exhibit any of the symptoms except "brain fog," which can be a sign of anything. I think it's pretty clear that I don't have it. I'm seeing a specialist next week.

Farmfresh, the naturopath also thinks I have absorption problems due to long-term wheat issues. Does the intestine ever heal, or can the damage be life-long? (I suppose it doesn't help that I have been accidentally eating gluten -- last night I discovered that one of my favorite sushi places uses gluten in its rice. Arrgh!)

As I understand it if you are gluten sensitive the gluten basically mats down the cilia in the intestines causing them to no longer function. Depending on how much damage there is and how long you have been damaging those cilia, sometimes it IS possible for the intestines to heal. On other occasions so many the cilia have been destroyed the absorption problems are just going to be there.

But knowledge is power! If you know you have absorption issues - you just eat better and provide plenty of good nutrients to absorb and counter that. Wheat and gluten hide in many many forms. Soy sauce, vinegar (not real ACV - the other kind), modified food starch and others. Do a little research. The Celiac Disease Foundation is a great place to start.

I hope that the naturopath can prove that regular doctor wrong and that you feel better very soon.

 

[Wifezilla]

it will heal...some. the degree that it heals depends on your genetics, age, and how much damage has been done.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Would the possibly deadly disease be an autoimmune disease?

 

[abifae]

The doctor has diagnosed me with a major and potentially deadly disease based on a blood test that may or may not indicate the presence of this disease. It doesn't seem to matter to him that I don't exhibit any of the symptoms except "brain fog," which can be a sign of anything. I think it's pretty clear that I don't have it.

And people wonder why I don't bother with doctors for all my wacky issues. *laughs*

I'll just stick with trying to eat healthy and hope I heal it myself. Doctor sure as heck won't fix what's wrong either. I might stay sick in either case, but this way I don't have the financial strain or frustration.

 

[Beekissed]

A co-worker came up to me today and wanted me to interpret her lab results and was asking me all kinds of questions about what to do about this or that. She is about 25 years old and in normal health...little high on cholesterol though.

She was working herself up into a hypochondrial tailspin over these results and finally asked me once again what to do????

I told her that I take a preventative approach...I just don't have labs done. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy!!

 

[Lady Henevere]

Abi and Bee, that's how I feel about it most of the time. I have very little faith in the ability of the medical profession to help just about any physical disorder. If I had a sudden traumatic injury, there's no other place in the world I'd rather be than a modern hospital. For symptoms as general as mine -- I doubt there's much they can do.

(So wait a minute...why did I go? Oh right, I was afraid I had a brain tumor or Alzheimer's or something, and I needed blood tests. I need to keep reminding myself of that because so far this process is frustrating and I kind of wish I had never opened this can of worms.)

At the moment, I'm very concerned that this probably incorrect diagnosis will greatly impact my ability to get health insurance, life insurance, etc. So I'm frustrated with the process and I'm hoping the specialist will see it the way I do.

Bubblingbrooks, I had not heard of GAPS. I will have to check that out. Thanks.

 

[Lady Henevere]

Would the possibly deadly disease be an autoimmune disease?

Yep.

But the specialist says I don't have it so to the other doctor.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Would the possibly deadly disease be an autoimmune disease?

Yep.

But the specialist says I don't have it so to the other doctor.

Just work on healing, remembering it takes lots of time. But you will get there.
I still struggle physically. But my good days outnumber the bad ones now. Used to be all bad days!