Surpise! It Runs In The Family!

[quietmorning01]

Hi, I'm new here - and this week has been more than a relief in so many ways!

I was seen for a bleeding ulcer a month ago - had the CT scan, it was negative. Then I had the upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy last week - then wow, pain sent me back to the doc trying to figure out what went wrong. The gastro doc said that my colon was fine, but the endoscopy came up with a positive biopsy for extreme inflammation. He said he thought it is Celiac Disease or another disease that I can't for the life of me pronounce or remember, but it wasn't something that was fixable, curable or treatable . . . think I took the road of a mental block from there. **laughs**

At least it's not cancer.

Any way. . .yesterday I did my first Gluten free day, figuring it couldn't hurt, and at least maybe it would get me on the way to getting everything FINALLY straightened out . .. and wow. . this is the first day I haven't been just dying in pain. There are a lot of symptoms he talked about that are still hanging around, but this is such an improvement all in its lonesome that I'm ecstatic. Doc will not confirm anything until the blood work comes back - but I'm hopeful.

He asked me if Gluten allergies run in my family. I knew lactose allergies do - but never heard of Gluten. Last night my Dad called to wish me a happy birthday, and I mentioned that I didn't have an ulcer after all, that it might be a Gluten allergy. He exclaimed, "Yeah, I've had that allergy for years."

Well. .. gee . . .Dad. . .would'a been nice to know about it, since it tends to run in families!!

Heh.

This would answer so many questions since I was a kid.

Any way - there's my start off, hope to get to know you all!

QuietMorning

46 - in process of diagnosis - am so very tired of always being so ill to my stomach, tired of the headaches, the fatigue, my bones hurting, the sleepless nights, and the anxiety.

[ravenwoodglass]

Welcome to the board and the gluten free world. Sounds like your body is already giving you your answer as many find when they go gluten free. Please do not stop the diet if the doctor says the biopsies were negative. Hopefully the doctor warned you that is a possibility even if you are celiac. Give the diet a good couple months even if the test results are negative.

[quietmorning01]

Welcome to the board and the gluten free world. Sounds like your body is already giving you your answer as many find when they go gluten free. Please do not stop the diet if the doctor says the biopsies were negative. Hopefully the doctor warned you that is a possibility even if you are celiac. Give the diet a good couple months even if the test results are negative.

Good morning, Ravenwoodglass!

Yes, I think I'll stay on the diet despite any test results. It's just such an obvious difference! Both my husband and I are so relieved! I read your signiture - wow, that sounds soooo much like me!! I've had intestinal 'issues' all my life - doc's have always patted me on the head, said I'm just nervous and sent me on my way. Several have suggested that I donate my body to science!! **chuckles** I told all three of my children about it, but I'm really concerned about my middle child (me eldest son) - he's small, and nearly died as an infant - no lactose, no soy - and even then, never really thrived. He has anxiety that goes up the whazoo!

My bone structure never developed past the age of 12. My hips never matured, and bones break very easily - only one doc out of my whole history has suggested that there might be something wrong with my bones. I've ALWAYS been in a tremendous amount of bone pain. I'm the smallest in a family of five tall large boned kids. I'm the only small bone structure and am shorter by six inches to a foot (depending on which kid you're looking at!)

So this is such a relief to finally possibly have at least a good part of the answer. The endoscopy biopsies were positive, but the doc wants to rule out the other possibilites it could be to make sure. (I'm glad he's doing a rule-out protocall, I've been misdiagnosed (dangerously) so many times it isn't funny. I completely respect him for this. He's a very good doc!)

I think your suggestion is spot-on - and will follow. Thank you, very much!