Introductions

[celiac3270]

I feel like I know a lot of people on the board....after these five months...when I joined I pretty quickly learned the names of quite a few that were already here....such as Richard, Mariann, Jessica, Tiffany, Dessa, Stacie, Kristina, Kathleen.....etc. (I know I've left out quite a few).....I think it would be kind of cool if everyone posted a relatively brief description of who they are, when were they diagnosed, and anything interesting they'd like to share. I don't really know a lot of the newbies....and this would be a good place to hear everyones' stories. Although this is a good support network, it's also a place where you can make....friends sorta....and the people here are not only brains to pick at, but real people.......this doesn't have to do with celiac disease, but I think it'd be interesting to hear everyone's story and have them all together under one topic.....

-celiac3270

[celiac3270]

--

[lyndszai]

hey celiac3270

Im a 15 yr old female and is from Canada.I was dx with lactose intolernt when I was a little baby .It went away for awhile...Around the start of last year I stared getting sick very tired, direeaha ,some weight loss ,vomiting ,nausea, gas,bad stomach pains and I just ignored it thinking that it was just lactose intolernt.So I took out all the dairy products and kept getting sick it was getting worse everyday. I went to the doctor.He told me I had an eating disorder which I know I dont have.I heard about celiac disease from my aunts friend and I said wow that really sounds like me.At that time I was avoiding everything I was so scared to eat and would skip most meals .I was down to a lil meat a day .So I went to a pedi. the first thing she asked me was if I was tested for celiac .I got the blood test it showed up neg. because I was gluten-free .I was sent to a dietishion so she would get me to eat .The first thing the dietishion asked me was if I was tested for celiac disease .I told her it showed up neg. becuase I was barly eating and was gluten-free .The dietishion put me on a gluten-free diet and I felt so much better I never ever thought I would feel like this again .If it wasnt for the dietishion I would still be sick she helped me so much .We even went to the grocery store and picked out gluten-free foods for me.The pedi. saw that I was improveing and she clinically dx me and apoligized to me and told me I was right that it is celiac.I can now eat dair y products with no problem .I am now waiting to see a gi doctor to get a biosy done ....hoping it will show up postive but have my doubts because I was gluten free for 4 months.

With my spare time i hang out with my friends going shoping, play the guitar,talking on the phone ,listening to music one of my fav. bands are dashboard confessional and I like acdc.I have two animals ,1 dog and 1 cat.My dog is half aridale and malimue shes 5. My cat is black with a white spot under his chin he's 15 lol he's older than me!

[strack2004]

I haven't been diagnosed with celiac as yet. Have had blood tests that showed low negative results, but have learned that these may be false results even though low. I am not sure if I will pursue getting the biopsy. I see my doctor tomorrow again . He is encouraging me to try the diet (I plan to do SCD)even without further testing. I can put the money to better use purchasing the kinds of foods I will need to use and stuff to keep the rabbits out of my garden.

My history has appeared in other places. Will repeat some of it here since this is a special spot for doing this. My first digestive problems that I am aware of began when I was 4-5 years old. Had constipation and was given enemas throughout childhood. At puberty had severe problems passing many formed stools a day that were extremely painful. I began to use something my parents had given me to use, Blackberry Balsam to stop the stools. Then harsh laxatives and/or enemas to start up again. When I started in college after teaching rural school for two years ( 12 weeks summerschool course, kind of like normal schools in pioneer days ) I was taken to a doctor who gave me a course of penicillin. This was in the late 40's. The painful stools stopped but not the alternating diarrhea and constipation, Mostly constipation by this time. This continued through marriage, 6 pregnancies and to the present. As you said , celiac3270 , some 70 years. Have been diagnosed with ibs at Mayos in the late 70's, more recently with Gerd, ( possibly only Nerd), lactose intolerance. Had gallbladder surgery last Feb. that did not relieve symptoms. From i village posts, this is not uncommon. I am more than ready to give this diet a good go. My motivation is high!

[strack2004]

Since you were asking to get acquainted with some of us, I should also post some other information about myself. I have 6 children , 3 boys and 3 girls in that order. I have 18 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter whose parents live near enough to me so I get to enjoy her. She just turned one. One daughter and her family live 8 miles from me. Granddaughter Rachel mows my lawn each week. The others live far away. I am a widow since 1979. My husband died of a rare type of liver cancer, called carcinoid. We lived in Papua, New Guinea in the Western Highlands for five years at the beginning of his ministry. 3 of our kids were born there. That was during the 1950's. I have taught in a Lutheran School for 18 years. Retired in 1993. Like to do tutoring, read, listen to classical music, garden.

[Canadian Karen]

Hi celiac3270,

I am a newbie here. My name is Karen and I am in Canada. I am 41 yrs old and have four children, 10 yr daughter, 5 yr daughter, and three year old twin boys. I have been married for 12 years.

I was first diagnosed with Celiac in my early 20's, but after 2 years on the gluten-free diet with no improvement, the gastro specialist changed his diagnosis to Crohns. It wasn't until 1 1/2 years ago that the blood test indeed confirmed I have Celiac. I have been on gluten-free diet since then, but still no results thus far. I have basically had permanent diarrhea for over 20 years now, painful abdomen, unbelievable cramping and gas. I have recently decided to try to go dairy free as well thanks to the many replies and suggestions from the very knowledgeable people here at this forum. I have obtained very valuable information and also this forum has given me the reassuring feeling that I am not alone in dealing with these symptoms. I was amazed when I read so many posts about exactly what I was dealing with, Celiac Disease, Hypothyroid Disease, chronic Anemia, fatigue.

I have had my two daughters tested and both results came back negative. I am taking my boys in the fall to be tested. So far, I am the only person that I know of in my family that has Celiac Disease, and I come from a very large, Irish, Catholic, Newfie family (I have 102 first cousins!!!!)

I am finding it harder and harder to keep up with the day to day activities of my life. I work full time, come home to four children, cook, clean, laundry, etc. etc. I honestly don't know how much longer I can keep up this pace. I feel sometimes like I am just going to drop with the fatigue. My husband is a saint though - he helps so much.

That is all about me.

Karen

[XoHeatherxO]

My name is Heather, I am a 21 year old college student in Philadelphia. I am a model and I am in a sorority, I am also a deans list student and I want to go to grad school to earn a masters in public health communication and raise awareness about things like celiacs....The most important things in my life are my mom and my sister Jayme who is 20 as well as my boyfriend of 2 yrs Anthony and my 2 roomates/best friends Jen and Jenn....I was diagnosed about 3 months ago after being terribly sick for about a year and a half, I had pancreatitis and was diagnosed with IBS and reflux. My doctor here at college suggested celiac and ran the panel I showed high positives in every category, IGG IGA and ttg, my biopsy was inconclusive but my insides appeared very smooth, I have been gluten-free for about 3 months and I feel a lot better, I have my days and my accidents, but Life is just now beginning again for me and I finally have hope for everything in my life!!

[Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~]

Hi everyone!!!

My name is Jill, I'm 21 years old (like Heather and Wish ), and my blood test from 7/2/04 came back positive for Gliadin antibodies. I have been healthy my entire life aside from this past year, and lately I've been fatigued and experiencing profound short term memory problems. I guess I'll brief my medical history at this point.

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was four years old, which explains the memory problems. Before I became sick, I could control my ADD/attention span and remember things as well as the average person. At this point, I'm so tired and brain-fogged that I can't remember what someone told me five minutes ago.

During my Freshman year of college, I decided to donate blood. At the time, I only weighed 109 lb., and since the minimum requirement had been lowered to 105 lb., I thought I was safe. The following day, I was sitting in my 8 am class when, as I had for most of the morning, began to feel dizzy and hot. I left the room, but couldn't make to it the bathroom to get water. I laid on the floor until a professor walked by and ask me if I was ok. She called Campus Security, and that particular officier called the nurse, who in turn called for an ambulance, which I'd requested since there was no way in h*** I was going to stand up. I was in the emergency room for two hours before the ER doc (with horrible bedside manner--he also wouldn't let me use the phone to call my parents) announced in front of my ex-roommate( who had stolen my check card from my wallet and was stealing my money at the time [i caught her two weeks later], another friend of mine, and my ex-boyfriend (who dumped me the day before I gave blood) that the reason why I had not had a period for three months was because my hemoglobin count was 10.

Two weeks later, one side of my throat began to hurt and I had difficulty swallowing. I went to my family doctor and found out I had Mono (and the Epstein-Barr virus, which I will carry in my system for the rest of my life), and I was sick and weak for eight months.

Two years later, in March of this year, I began to vomit and become nauseated, which lasted (on and off--some weeks I wouldn't puke). I would go for days eating very little, because I'd throw up anything--but every meal that I would at first expel had some gluten product--blue cheese dressing on a salad, pasta, etc. I never considered that until my Gastroenterologist's receptionist gave me the results of my bloodwork.

At first, I thought this was all in my head. I was stressed out the week I became sick--it was almost finals week and I was shoooting a package for my Intro. to Broadcasting class--which kept getting ruining due to technological difficulties--and was worth 500 points.

*Sigh*, anyway, on a much happier note...

I'll be a Junior in college this year. I'm a Communication Major/English Minor looking forward to a broadcasting/journalism career. At my college I run cross country (a sport in wich I've participated for 9 years), write for the school newspaper, and try to study as hard as possible. I love to spend time with family/friends, write poetry/prose, my boyfriend James very, very much, dogs (especially dachshunds and golden retrievers, like my two very spoiled, lovable dogs, Cami and Tootsie Roll. Hint: the dachshund looks exactly like Tootsie.), tennis (especially Andy Roddick--talented and HOT!), running, and life in general--although I've been depressed/anxious about my endoscopy/diagnosis.

I love to listen to music--everything except country. My favorite boy bands (HAHA!!) are 311 and Korn.

But most of all lately I love interacting with my Gluten Free friends who have all been extremely helpful and supportive. I can't thank you enough

[Guest sickrunner]

Hi All! My name is Amy and I am 30 years old and currently live in Ohio where I have been taking care of my Mother who has liver cancer for the past year. I have not been officially diagnosed with celiac but have self diagnosed myself and just recently started a gluten-free diet. I have already noticed quite a difference. I have always been extremely athletic throughout my life and it wasn't until recently that I noticed a significant drop in my energy levels. In a long round about way I figured out that I had celiac.

I was born in Northern Cali and stayed there until college when I went off to the East coast to go to Columbia for undergrad where I studied finance and economics. I then spent the next 9 years as a consultant traveling throughout the US and abroad. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in some amazing places including Japan, Italy and England. I recently decided to go back to school and get my MBA because I would like to make a shift from middle-management to senior management and stop traveling so much. I will be moving to Philadelphia and attending Wharton in the Fall. I have a great boyfriend who is a wonderful support along with his sister and husband who all live in the Philadelphia area. I also love to play sports, paint and play piano and guitar (both of which I have been doing since I was 5).

I am looking forward to getting to know more people on this forum as everyone so far has been very nice and helpful!

[plantime]

Hi everyone! I'm Dessa. I am 40 years old, happily married, with three kids. My husband works as a civilian contractor in Kuwait, he will be home for R&R Oct 8. My oldest daughter is 21 and lives I don't know where, my son is 16 and works at Sonic (this is significant for me), and my youngest daughter is 15 and learning to drive. I have one dog, a yellow lab, and four cats, three inside and one outside. I was diet-diagnosed in Feb 2004, and have been glutenfree since. I have had mistakes, caused by not reading labels before eating. I did not get the severe symptoms, my family was fairly poor, so money for bread and pastas did not exist. We ate what grew in the garden, or what grandpa butchered. When I got married, however, it was a different story. DH was raised eating grains, and he wanted to continue. I would get sick, but then medical bills forced us back to meats and veggies with little or no bread. I guess being poor was a blessing in disguise! When my mom died from her colon rupturing, I started paying more attention to my body. Her doctor said it was caused by eating foods she knew she shouldn't eat, so I started eliminating foods to find the culprit. The article in Woman's Day came out around then, so I went to talk to my doctor. She accepted the diet, saying that going back on gluten would cause damage, and since it was caught so early, it could easily be prevented. Sometimes I get frustrated when it comes to grocery shopping, and sometimes I get depressed about having to cook from scratch everything I eat, but I know the consequences, and so I make do. Now, my son working at Sonic is significant to me. He went in and explained to the people he works with about celiac disease and gluten. While I cannot have fries because they are cooked in the same oil as the onion rings, I can now safely eat a cheeseburger with no bun, and have a shake or ice cream. They make a special effort to keep the crumbs and such away from my food. It limits what I can eat there, but I can eat there. All because my son cared enough to educate them about it.

I like this thread, I think it is a good idea. It gives us a chance to know the people that are part of our celiac family. Thanks! And people can send me messages any time, I love talking to everyone! If you think I'm blowing smoke, look at how many posts I have. I love to talk!

[jaimek]

I am 27 years old and was diagnosed in February of this year. I had been to all sorts of doctors for migraines, tingling in my appendages, and finally saw my gastro dr. about horrible indigestion and he suggested an endoscopy. So, here I am, living in the Philadelphia area, and still learning new things about Celiac everyday. I have a great boyfriend, who just became my fiance last month. He does not have Celiac and is wonderful about everything. Our house is almost 100% gluten free and we are very careful about the couple things that are not. I still have a very hard time going away on vacation, out to dinner or just out with friends. It is a long, stressful journey but my family/friends, along with this board really help me through those rough days. I am very thankful that I found this site.

[Pegster]

I am 47, married with two daughters. I was daignosed with DH in April which explained the unpredictable GI symptoms I've had since I was about 12 years old! I don't seem to have any relatives with celiac disease although any time anyone complains about some sort of symptom (headache, rash, hangnail...ANYTHING) I tell them to go gluten-free. I am amazed at all the bright young people on this site. I never would have guessed celiac3270 was not an adult! I live in Southern California, travel a lot and love Pamela's chocolate chip cookies!

[sunflower]

Hi,

I'm also new here and I'm so glad I found this site! I guess one day I will have to thank the guy who has made this stupid comment about my diet, which gave me a bad day and for the first time in my life has made me search for gluten-related sites.

I'm 28, gluten-free and lactose-free since I was born, and up till now I was sure I am leading a normal life, keeping my diet, working and travelling like anyone else (though it does require so much planning and creative thinking at times ) and I never really thought it was such a "disease", more like a nuisance. The only time I feel I have a "problem" is when eating out or when explaining my diet to a new person. Really, it is mostly other people who sometimes remind me I'm "not normal" (whatever "normal" means in any case ).

I have a wonderful boyfriend, who helps me a lot, a full-time job, I am Polish and I live in Poland. My major at the university was Japanese, so I lived for 1,5 years in Japan, which was a great experience as well as interesting/painful study of the Japanese food (yes, soy sauce is not only made of soy, and yes, soba is not made of buckwheat only, but wheat flour also, and whose idea it was to add lactose to ham??? etc. You live and learn...).

It was only from this site that I learned about some of hidden gluten sources which I was having for too many years I am very thankful and quite scared. I have to rethink my diet! And I loved my Nestle corn flakes (flavored with malt, as it turned out...).

So much for now.

Take care!

Anna

[terri]

Hi everyone,

I'm Terri and in my early fifties (ouch!). I'm married with 2 children, one grandchild, 1 cat, 1 dog and assorted fish. I grew up with horrible skin rashes on my arms, buttocks, sometimes chest , and often legs which they attributed to chocolate. However, even without chocolate they were still there! I "seemed" to grow out of it in my twenties, then got eczema pretty badly. That all seemed to calm down when I hit my forties. I am kinda of a health nut, really into execise and eating right so it was whole wheat and barley and you name it, everyday! I lost 26 pounds and kept telling my husband something wasn't right. Too many trips to the potty, like 9 or 10 a day! After a while it got really bad. One day I took my mother in law to the doctors for her appointment after having eaten a tortilla salad. On my 6th trip to the rest room, my doctor appeared and asked if I was there to see him. I said no but I probably should, and told him what was happening. He immediately said Celiac and ordered the blood work and it was positive. So, here I am. I wonder though if my years of rashes were DH? Guess I'll never know. It's been tough as I travel a lot for my job but thankfully I love to cook and have always made stuff from scratch. Unfortunately I am not a baker, which I guess is good as I love keeping the weight off. Bless my doctor for picking up on it so quickly! I love this forum and it's been my lifeline.

[Niteyx13]

Hi, it's Deanna, and I decided I would share too. I am 27 (very soon to be 28, eek!) and I live in Mesa, Az. Oh boy is it hot and humid here right now during monsoon! Anyway...I have two children a girl who is 9, and a boy who is 3. And, I also have a wonderful husband. We are very involved in church activities, I love to read, swim, eat (haha), listen to music, and I am addicted to movies. I am a licensed massage therapist, but I am not practicing anymore. I sew and sell clothes for E-bay, and I work in a church nursery a few days a week. There isn't really too much else that goes on in my life...guess we are pretty boring people...but in a good way.

I am undiagnosed by a doctor, but self-diagnosed. I have all the typical stuff. I was diagnosed with JRA at 2, and had a milk allergy also (that I kinda grew out of...but think is still there somewhat. I am in denial about it right now...one thing at a time is all I can handle, hehe). My symptoms really started when I got pregnant with my daughter, and was then diagnosed with thyroid disease. I have had stomach problems since I was young, gradually getting worse as I have gotten older. I was diagnosed with IBS about a year ago. I have been put on a few meds that only made me feel sicker. Celiac came to me when I found out my cousin was gluten intolerant and I started doing re-search. By this time I was exhausted all the time, had gas, distention, constipation, and pain constantly . I decided if I couldn't get a doctor to take me seriously then I would go on the diet and see what happens. It has been so good for me physically, although, often emotionally hard. I was glad when I found out about the disease, because finally there was an answer! Anyway, you all have heard most of this blah blah from me before, so I will end it.

Thank you all for being here. I am so glad I found this forum, it has been a great blessing!

Deanna

[chasefamily]

Hello All

Pretty new here also. Don't have deffinate diagnosis yet but will have endoscopy on July 26th, have had any of the blood work. I have had so many of the health problems that everybody else seems to have had. I am married and have two children. A 16 year old girl who is currently in drivers education and makes me nervous when she drives with me ha ha. I also have an 11 year old son who will be 12 on August 10. I live in central Illinois and employed at Nestle Usa for the last 19 years.I don't think that changing to a different diet will be to much to adjust to in our family, my daughter is Insulin dependent diabetic since she was 8 years old, she has to follow strict diet all the time. I am really glad to have found this web site and look forward to communicating to each and every one this is a great site for support of this disease.

Thanks All.

[judy04]

Hi,

My name is Judy. I'm a little older than the rest. I'm 62 and

a retired registered nurse. I'm so glad to have been diagnosed

because I was so sick for so long. I have had environmental

allergies but my symptoms worsened after I had thyroid surgery

(autoimmune disease). After that my eyes started to burn, itch,

had stabbing pains, and shimmering pools in my field of vision.

I had an allergist who could see no further than the end of his

nose. I told him I thought I had a problem with wheat so he

agreed to a skin scratch which was negative. He didn't follow thru

with a celiac panel, which would have been the next step

according to research. I didn't know about the new tests because

I was a psychiatric nurse and although I had heard of Celiac

through the years, but had never met anyone with the disease.

Anyway last year March 2003 I developed GI symptoms, pain,

bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc. My physician referred me

to a gastroenterologist, an Indian gentleman who narrowed

down my symptoms because of one blood test. My biopsy

was negative and there was no villi danage. At my last visit

he said that he couldn't prove Celiac and he couldn't disprove it.

I tried to eat wheat bread and I could feel the eye symptoms

starting again. I called him back and said that I was going to

go gluten free for life. I never want to be that sick again.

On the personal side I have 2 children ,boy and girl,and my

husband of 12 years who has stood by me all the way.

He cooks and shops for me and gives me all the support

one would ever need. We moved to W.Pennsylvania from

Delaware to take care of my 93 year old mother who is currently

in a nursing home. I plan to bring her to my house this fall

Hope I am better by then. God bless you all, I might not

contribute a lot, but I'm usually here every day.

[dana-g]

celiac3270, this was a very good idea--I've enjoyed reading all the postings so far. I was going to wait until all my tests results were in next week, but I'm just going to go for it! I have a good news/bad news story. My new GI decided, just this week, that my diet-dx'd celiac disease, is not celiac disease at all, but likely a severe allergy to wheat. I won't go into his reasons here. My allergist has already done bloodwork, in fact, I am having extensive skin tests next week because I have had ridiculous reactions to just about everything I eat that isn't fruit, vegetables or brown rice and beans. Fun! The good news is that because of my initial celiac disease dx, my 11 year old daughter was dx'd via biopsy, and is well on her way to being happy and healthy for life! So I will still be gluten-free by way of avoiding wheat, and my diet will be even more restricted by the new allergies we are likely to uncover. BUT I am a happily married 46 year old, living in Southern California, mothering my Silly Yak and her brother, age nine. I homeschool my son, and it's great! My daughter is going to start middle school, and it's scary! My husband has been a real rock through all this, me being desperately ill, the kids in side by side hospital rooms for back to back biopsies, me breaking out in hives every other day...I bake him lots of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies! We all support each other through the trials and tribulations of being a wheat-free, gluten-free family. Uncharted territory, made much less frightening by all the wonderful people I've come across on message boards like this one. Really nice to read about your families!

[AmyandSabastian]

Hi my name is Amy. I am 25. I live in Louisiana. My son was dx'ed 2 months ago and has been gluten-free since. He is 8 months old right now. My husband Bryan (26) and I are in the mist of getting tested too. I just love this place too!! As for me I own a website for mothers and pregnant women. I stay at home with my son. My husband is an engineer. And we are going to start trying for number 2 soon.

[kalo]

This is interesting. I was on vacation for a week and I'm WAY behind on this board. I was 55 in June and have been searching since birth. Constipated SEVERELY since birth up to 20 years ago when I came down with IBS and since then I've been to you know where and back with my intestines. Sick all the time growing up with everything under the sun. Colds, flues, sore throats, fevers, low grade infections. In fact I used to get the stomache flue comming out both ends at the same time 24/7 for 3 weeks. I missed a month of school every year with that alone. By the time I was a teenager I was sleeping 10 hours a night and taking a 2 hour nap every after noon. Facial pallor (I had no color), lethargic, restless leg syndrome which started in 6th grade after an illness. I was the penicillan queen of the 50's and 60's. I also had a below normal temp. My mother was convinced that I was anemic and kept trying to prove it. They would prick my finger and tell her "There is NOTHING wrong with her. QUIT! wasting our time and yours". I do remember the use of supposetorys. Left home at 18 and my temp would drop to 96 and leave me flue like and fatigued. Many other things over the years after I got married. Fast forward to 20 years ago when I gave up on doctors and started researching on my own. At this time I had my first full blown sinus infection without knowing that's what it was. After that I got much worse. I would drag myself out of bed in the morning and collaspe on the couch unable to even stand and do my dishes. Finally found a doctor I like who ordered tons of tests. Diagnosed me with chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia (which went ballistic in 96 a year after I totalled my car and got a compression fracture in my neck)/low thyroid/low adrenal (took cortisone acitate low dose for a while) etc. I allready knew about sinus/allergy/IBS. Long story short, I'm on 6 grains of Armour thyroid (through a different doctor) and taking allergy shots. Went back to my main doctor to bring him up to date and tell him I was still not well and still searching. He looked at my records and saw that my father had chrons disease and recommened celiac testing and the diet. I thought he was NUTS as I thought I new something about it. Little did I know. He told me to search and I did and WOW! Both my father and my grandmother probably had it and I'm trying to get my brothers tested (it's up to them). The blood work was negative (including some that my allergist ordered) but the stool test from Enterolabs was positive for gluten sensitivity, milk casein allergy and I have the gene. gluten-free for 2 months, CF for a month. I AM noticing small improvements. Nails are stronger (they've always been brittle), hair grows faster, more energy. NOT 100% by anymeans but I'm on the right track and will stick with this YEA! I'm thinking of doing the SCD diet (scd.org) for a month to see if it helps. Many who haven't gotten well on gluten-free alone did so doing the SCD diet. I'm also saving for the Elisa food allergy test from york allergy. Sorry this was so long. This is a great board.

[kalo]

I forgot to mention that the TOP DOC I saw for thyroid read my 7 page health history which begins at birth. He told me I was CLASSIC low thyroid/adrenal. The ONLY thing that treating my thyroid has done was to cause me to loose 40 lbs. That was good but it wasn't the magic pill I was looking for. Going gluten-free caused me to loose an additional 5 lbs. I'm 5'1 (I used to be 5'2) and was up to 160 lbs at one time. I also have osteopenia.

[CindyK]

Hi everyone! I am brand new and very happy to have found you. I was thankful for responses to my post about the biopsy. I have learned so much reading all of your messages. I am 35 yo and have suffered with this as long as I can remember. I have always felt very alone and misunderstood. It has been so nice to know I am not.

I am a psychologist in NC. I have struggled with missing too much work due to the gastrointestinal symptoms. My current employer is wonderful and has been very good to me. However, I have not always been so lucky. I feel very fortunate to have learned what is wrong with me and how to get some relief! I have been gluten-free for about 2 weeks. I certainly feel better. For the first time in years I have been going to bed without a stomach ache!

I am happily married but we do not have children. We have two dogs and two cats who we treat like children!

I have had an IBS diagnosis since my teens. I have suffered with all the typical IBS symptoms with no response to meds. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid this year. I had the gluten intolerence blood work after a close firend read an article about it and pushed me to get tested. She had to push me because I had asked a previos MD to test me and she actually laughed at me! However, my current MD was very responsive and did the test for me. The blood work came back positive and well here I am.

The timing was perfect for me. I am starting MBA classes in mid August. I do not think I could have taken this on while working full time if I had not seen some symptom relief on the gluten-free diet.

Otherwise, I enjoy reading, I run 20-25 miles per week, I watch The Bold and The Beautiful on my lunch break, and I love animals! My husband is a carpenter and he plays lead guitar in a heavy metal band.

It is so great to know you all! You all have had to deal with some tough symptoms, mistreatment, and misunderstanding yet have been real survivors. I look forward to keeping in touch.

Cindy

[FadedManx]

Hi all, not necessarily new here...have visited a few times researching

info. for my son...diagnosed as insulin dependant diabetic (Type1) at 17 years old after a case of mono...diagnosed as celiac disease just 2 years ago after I questioned his doctor about doing a malabsorbtion test..I've really had to push these doctors for answers. Son has been on gluten-free diet but still having extreme problems with diarrhea and extreme weight loss...He is scared...I am scared...His father is obsessing...life around here has been pretty awful.

I've been doing some recent research on gluten-free medications and ingrediants in foods...not taken into account before...the whole family has adopted a gluten-free life style as much as possible in a show of support for our son.

Guess I just needed a place to vent.. I've read some really great suggestions here and will continue to check back often.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, brain storming...etc.

[flagbabyds]

Not new here at all, but still going to post!

At 15 months of age I stopped eating, walking, playing, smiling, EVERYTHING! After about 2 monthst of doctors visits I was so sick I was in the hospital 3 times on and off for 3 months. Tested me for everything on earth, leukemia, crohns, CF(3 times!!!) brain tumors, Everything you could possibly think of except Celiac. I was finally diagnosed at 20 months of age and the nurse had givven me 3 wks more to live before I would have died of malnutrition. So I was diagnosed everything was going fine LF for the first year and then slowly eased it back into my diet and I didn't react. Jump ahead, Preschool had a couple of accidents but everything was really fine. Missed 2 days of School in elementary school total! Diagnosed with thyroid in 4th grade starting takin levoxxyl Then when I went to middle school thigs changed. 6th grade was fine not a day missed of school. In 7th grade, they upped my thyroid medication in like november the day after thanksgiving I endend up in the ER hyperventillating and throwing up, It passed and they gave me IV bennadryl and was taken home, then the same thing happened on the wednesday afer, instead of ht ER I went to Urgent care and saw this doctor who said I was doing it to myself and to go home. It never happened againg but then we ran to get smoothies in P.E. class and I thought they were gluten-free but boy was I wrong, I got severly sick but it didn't go away and changed from celiac symptoms to loss of appetite. I was so tired and didn't want to eat. Finally after seeing mucho specialists and having 2 out-patient IV treatments (which helped because I was severly dehydrated) I was checked into the hospital, more blood tests and IV fluids later, I had another biopsy which showed my celiac disease was compleltly under contorl, I also had an upper GI, which was the most disgusting theing I have ever had to do. They FINALLY tested my thyroid, which was mega high and they stopped the medication immediatley. Then I got horrible pains in my feet and couldn't walk and was checked into the hospital again. They diagnosed me as having Osteoporosis and to take calcium. That was basically that year. Now last year was another story. I became so tired and could barely play soccer, but I did and in the last game of the tournment I tore my PCL in my knee and couldn't walk for 2 weeks. Then I got braces and started sleepwalking a lo, diagnosed w/ sleep apnea in Jan. Had my tonsils out in May and was supposed to havejaw surgery right about now today but they postponed it to last summer.

That's about all my health history in a breif. About me. I am a happy "healthy" 14 year-old girl, i live in Stanford, CA. I play goalie on my soccer team and I am hoping to make the high school team next year. I am stating High School in August(YAY). My mom is a writer and has written a book anbout me, When Molly was in the Hospital, a book for brotthers and sisters of hospitalized children, by Debbie Duncan. My oldest sister is in the proccess of being diagnosed and is doing the challenge as i type, my middle sister is vegan. My dad is light on the carbs, and my mom is vegetarian, (aren't we a fun family to feed???) I also like to act in my local children theatre, My favorite subjects in school are math and science.

That's all me! sorry this is so long

Molly

[Carriefaith]

Hey, I am 23 years old and from Canada. I was diagnosed this past winter (2004) with a combined biopsy and blood test. I have been on the gluten free diet since the day of the biopsy! I am also lactose/dairy intolerant and have also been trying to be on a dairy free diet as well.

-Carrie