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Can I Get A Little Help Here?


Silly Yak 08

1,131 views

I am a new diagnosed celiacian ( yes I made that word up) and am having trouble coping. I was diagnosed the first week of November 08 after my first ever adult hospitalization. I am almost 33 years old and have had several GPs, 2 Neurologists, 2 GI "specialists" and a psychologist tell me I had no reason for my chronic illness and that I was just a over anxious women with IBS. Even after I told 2 of my doctors that my dad was diagnosed with Celiac 2 years ago. I know by reading several books and blogs that this is not unusual, but that does not make it any less maddening. What makes matters worse is that it is affecting my marriage. I have been married to a WONDERFUL man for 13 years who has been sick maybe 3 times in our whole relationship. He is understandably confused and frustrated by my chronic illnesses/ infections. When I was in the hospital a doctor came in while I was sleeping ( at least they thought I was asleep) and started asking my husband questions. My husband stated that in 13+ years he could not remember a week going by when I was not sick at least 1 day of the week. He wanted to know why his young wife was always sick and said that it sometimes like living with a elderly woman not a 32 year old. This is a recurring theme now since I am still battling chronic infections, weight gain, and a severe lack of energy. I know it must be frustrating for him, but I still get upset that he does not understand. After a conversation the other evening we decided maybe to see a marriage counselor, but I want to know if there are any that specialize it people with Celiac. Overall we have a good marriage and love each other very much, but I think the years of my illness have taken a toll on us and we need help with how to cope with this before it causes damage we can't fix. So in short (ha), does anyone know if there are therapists ( in Tennessee ) that deal with Celiac patients and their spouses. Please respond. I do plan to continue to blog as time allows. God bless all you fellow Celiacians ( feel free to use that word).

5 Comments


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Julie anne

Posted

hi i am also a "celiacian" (lol) you have mentioned u wanted to see a therapist. i was not exactly diagnosed because the doctor that my mom took me too when i was younger thought she was crazy and he actually kicked her out of his office so my mom ended up reading medical books for hours and hours.

mood swings might occur because ur body was depleated of its nutrients and couldnt handle gluten. my mom always made me take multi vitamins and calcium everyday to help this problem and heal my body faster.

weight gain is probably from the fact that since ur body went into "starvation mode" because ur body couldnt handle the gluten ur body takes this as that ur starving(hence "starvation Mode") and either enlarges the fat cell in ur body or like what happend to me is that since i was so small then i got super skinny and very frail.

losing energy is that ur body is depleated of all "that good stuff" like certain minerals and vitamins, and if ur not getting enough sleep that could also affect ur body's energy.

so many people do not know that they have celiac until they become so sick. around 1 out of 133 people have celiac disease.

i hope i have been helpful enough. i am not sure about the therapist part of it but i know that once u start eating gluten-free foods your body will start feeling better.

p.s. i am not sure if u knew but 1/2 of celiac patients are also allergic to milk.
nikkilea

Posted

I dont know of any Therapists in Tennessee but when I read your blog it touched me. I have and 8 year old son and he was diagnosed with Celiac in October of 2006. He has been Gluten Free since and he still strugles with his health. He is still sick at least once a week. It is hard for other people to understand Celiac. I feel like I have been repeating myself for the past three years. I wish you well it will get better.
Good luck!!!
bugs

Posted

Hi there
I wsa DIagnosed the first week of Janruary after being sick, since Thanksgiving. It's alot to deal with going from eating junk and fast food my whole entire life and now having to watch everything so closely that you could scream.
I'm not a therapists but if you ever want to talk about this let me know. I have a good ear, and I can relate.
If you attend a church, alot of the time they will have someone on staff or someone they can refer you to, That what my husband and I did we talk with our mother church pastor. It was a great help. Beside dealing with Celica I have to deal with interstitial cystis. WHich is a bladder condition so my husband has been putting up with this crap for 20 years of me constantly being sick. Guy are pretty understanding. Have faith and pray
there is help there.
I'm bugs is my name. Or you can e-mail me at wbonnie37@yahoo.com
God Bless You
playin-d-fiddle

Posted

I just wanted to wish you luck with it all, even though I have no advice on Tennessee-ian therapists (move to Seattle, it seems most of the city is gluten free!).

As your body recovers (and believe me, it's going to take a spell) hopefully your husband will be able to see the changes in your body, mind, spirit, and emotions. He will see the toll this has taken on your body as it makes its way to a normal he's never seen before, and maybe understand a little better how hard this has been for you to deal with. The guilt of always being "that sick person" is something I think a lot of us feel. I've been gluten free for nearly 2 years now and I'm still "the sick one" all the time, and get picked on for it. Unfortunately, our bodies are just very different from everyone else in their reactions to seemingly normal stimuli.

So, I wish you luck. It's only been 3-4 months. You WILL start to feel better!! And I am a firm believer in counseling :). Just be anally vigilant about your food, be "better safe than sorry" ALL of the time, eat your veggies (hee), and you'll see that even your head will feel clearer than it ever did before.

-Tianna
Seattle

hcg

Posted

Hello,
I understand, it is hard to be the sick person for so long and it for sure takes a toll on ALL relationships. What I would suggest is focus on being well, there is not much you can do or say to change the last 13 years. I found that people end up thinking you are making it all up and the only way to redeem yourself is not through words but action. When your husband and your family and friends see you feeling better, they will understand and quickly forget the pain of the last 13 years. So keep futrure focused because trying to change the past is a dead end street..that is what I have found anyway. It is really hard for others to understand but in time..the past fades and the future of being happy, healthy and well takes over, Thank Goodness!!

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