Biopsy Necessity

[ravenwoodglass]

I am sorry she is without health insurance. That can make things tough. How old is your daughter? Since she is in college if she is 26 or under she may be able to go onto your health insurance. This is one change in the health care laws that I think is now if effect. Check with your insurance company to find out. Also there are low or no cost health insurance plans, including but not limited to Medicaid, that are available in some states especially for those suffering from health conditions. If you check with your local DSS you may find that she is able to access one of them. I don't know if they will be able to help her but it never hurts to try.

[Skylark]

Wow, I can see why you're so upset. Please feel free to vent. That's part of why the board is here. I feel really bad for having upset you. Going without even COBRA is really hard. As Raven said, isn't there new legislation where she can go on your insurance if she is under 26?

Remember that she has to eat gluten for 2-3 months for the celiac panel. The antibodies go away on a gluten-free diet, which is part of why the diet works. If she's been gluten-free for a few months there is no point in doing them. The only tests that might give a little info gluten-free are the genetic tests, and all they do is assess risk. You already KNOW she can't tolerate gluten and what if she's one of the DQ1 or DQ9 celiacs? Instead you might consider buying vitamin D and B12 levels, and maybe a CBC (complete blood count) to check for anemia. If she still has malabsorption, these are often borderline low.

I can't answer the question about adrenal issues, but I do have one friend who suffered from adrenal exhaustion after a period of extreme stress. I don't know how she was diagnosed or treated. I have been doing tons of research on celiac and thyroid because they affect me. I haven't looked much into adrenal issues.

[beefree11]

Thank you. Thank you soo much. It means so much to just.get.it.out. I am near tears.

The painful joints complaints are beginning. Could just be anything. But its haunting me now. I so fear arthritis...ms?

She is 25. She left home/college/insurance status , at 19 to marry THE love of her life. As parents we did everything but tie her up in the cellar until "he" went away. We caved. Threw them a decent wedding party after the destination wedding in Cape Cod. It was beautiful. He was military. They had to move to a new location over 900 miles away from us within the year. (Beautiful part of the US, I must say - absolutely gorgeous!). The location was a huge tourist town but the nicest - and quite expensive, considering her home town was not and not ever being on her own--she just didn't know how much it really costs. They could afford just one car on his earnings which meant NO COLLEGE and very part time work for her. But she was so happy. So in love. (So young and all alone)

Within three years, he pretty much abandons her. New orders were coming up and he wanted to go to Iraq/Afghanistan--he volunteered. So he has his pay directed to a NEW account and moves in with buddies leaving her with a $1200+ rent, utilities, insurance, etc. She had JUST signed up for full time classes, too. This is when she became very, very ill. Two years after the thyroidectomy (sp), and the Hashi/hypo dx. Weight was getting packed on and he didn't like it. They tried a little bit of counseling but his mind was made up - he was leaving the country, she could just go back home.

She persevered at my insisting. We helped financially to get her out of the condo, into a bed/bath addition on one of the nicer homes close to school/work. It seemed nice and a woman she worked with lived across the street. It was all good. (Or so we HOPE) Her things were put into storage that automatically charged our card. She was on a FULL scholarship for classes, we paid for books. Soon to be ex was ordered to give her a monthly maintenance sum of money - $600 of which he claimed "your bleeding me dry" oh how I wish I could have literally. (But before the court ordered soon to be ex to pay a minimal amount of her bills, she racked up over $7,000 in charges for rent, school, auto, clothing, new place, etc. Sometimes meds, food, etc.) It was rough on ALL of us during that time.

She finished a two year Associate in Arts Degree (while on the Dean's List/Who's Who as well), and $2500 later she is back home. WHEW. (I never flew out to see her once they separated--it was a full year she stayed--it was also a stipulation for an absolute divorce. We flew her home as much as possible. Her schedule was erratic and for me there was that what I don't know won't hurt me, sort of thing. I really didn't want to see. I just knew it was bad. The homeowners/landlords were "messy" There was a family of mice in the closet. Lizards. Large bugs from being near a coastal area, is what the landlords claimed. Hurricanes. Landlord guy smoked like a chimney and the patio shared vents with her living space. He threw crazy parties all night long and his guests would use her car as a table for drinks)

But she is home now. Hit the ground running. Home three days and finds a position at the same company - a bit far away - they pay part timers well and have MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION benefits. Thank you Lord. We helped with gas, car repair and those darn tolls -- I have not figured out what the total of that was...another thing better left unknown. Now she has one more year of classes and I just discovered she is a Marketing major with a minor in Finance. Oh. No more accounting. But still Dean's list at this university for the past three/four semesters. I am so proud. (She left that job to work locally. Now we are just trying to find even the basic of health coverage for her, but is she considered risk due to pre- existing conditions?)

I am not going to let some proteins get in the way of her life and her dreams. So here I am questioning everything. Leaving no stone unturned, so to speak. And sometimes I just don't understand it at all. Still scratching my head over Hashimoto's. I am at the WHY stage, I suppose. What happened? EpsteinBarr? (She left healthy, thin, energetic and FULL of life). Not in order to undo what is happening but to be prepared for the next step, or to try to eliminate one all together. I worry that she is going to have a very full list of autoimmune diseases. These three she has now are enough. I want to search and find if there is something that can be done to stop new ones from developing. But first I NEED to find why they began in the first place? Just luck of the draw? The trigger of a total life changing event? She was never prepared to have him just up and walk out on her. There were no outward signs as far as she could tell. She loves him still.

Thanks again. I really do appreciate you putting up with me.

ETA: Husband's major medical is through a privately owned insurer? The law that is in effect does not affect this particular union/local until June 2011. A month after she turns 26. It is always like this for us. Always.

Open Original Shared Link

Epstein-Barr virus infects the epithelium of the upper airway, B cells and a few T cells. On B cells the viral receptor is the Complement Receptor, Type 2, also known as the CR2 receptor. Infected B cells are able to present antigen, though the virus has recently been found to produce inhibitors of antigen processing (Levitskaya, J. Nature 375:685–688 (1995)), and to synthesize a molecule similar to Il-10 which has profound local effects (Suzuki, T. et al J. Exp. Med. 182:477–486 (1995)). Depending upon what genes are expressed, latently infected B cells may not respond to stimuli in the usual way and may not provide the signals, either qualitatively or quantitatively, that would otherwise be provided. Such aberrant influences upon the normal immune response may provide the basis for subsequent autoimmune disease in some people.

[ravenwoodglass]

Is she still legally married to the guy? If she is she should contact the military as she is entitled to not just health insurance but also the military gives a higher pay rate to those that are married to support their spouses. I was married to a man in the service who did the same thing to me. When I went for a divorce a few years after we seperated I found out I was legally entitled to all the money he had not been sending me for support in a lump sum. If she is not yet divorced she may want to contact the military and get the money she is owed.

About the arthritic pains, yes celiac can cause that. I was thought to have RA and do still have some deformed joints but I have been in remission and pain free now since a couple of months after starting the diet.

I am so sorry she is going through so much and wish when I was going through the same sort of stuff I had someone like you to help me through it. I hope she knows how lucky she is to have you.

[beefree11]

The divorce was final June. 2010. She is doing so much better. Better food, a few supplements here and there. I even surprised her with a room re-do. Something very cheery, yet not over the top.

I am making certain she takes very good care of herself. I have ordered extra Chiral Balance for the PCOS, some extra Vitamins and supplements for overall health, doing some glycolic peels for the acne (PCOS) and she does go to a weight clinic for the weight issues. We do morning walks at the local community center and we can't wait for spring to get biking the trails again.

School is starting up again next week and I want her more than ready for the new semester.

Thanks so much.

[beefree11]

UPDATE --  She graduated *with honors.   Actually was chosen to represent school in a sales competition in another state and she truly enjoyed it.  Had to hire a cab to get to a store to buy some gluten-free foods since the school did zilch - but they reimbursed her the cab fare and food bills so all is ok.  I am just upset there is still NO change as far as food sensitivity goes in many schools/universities, etc.  Sad.  She did well and found a great job a couple months after graduating. YAY. 

 

She is still on the thyroid meds:  Cytomel and Synthroid.  She does supplement with Iodoral *iodine and her doc is fine with that.  He has been treating/medicating for yeast overgrowth.  No actual test to diagnose tho.  The only sugar she does eat is what is in the apples or berries.  Very rarely does she have any type of sugary gluten-free treat like cookies/cakes, etc.  I think it might be a good idea to test those with sensitivites for any type of yeast issue.  Just a hunch.

 

She is still fighting weight issues.  She works so hard on diet and working out.  So I am dieting to help her, too!  Can't hurt.  We are sooo close to going RAW it isn't funny.  BUT we are still dealing with a family member that insists on eating as much GLUTEN as possible and leaving  a trail of crumbs wherever he goes    The more he is told to clean, remove, cut down, the MORE items he purchases.  We have noticed one of the dogs may be allergic too.  Not tested.  He turns bright pink (hes a hefty bichon).  Itchy.  Even the brain issues.  As if he is trying to claw out of his own skin!  Then, the stomach noises.  Must be painful for he takes off as if he was pinched.  Oy.  Gluten bad!!!

 

I have filed for separation from him last August.  Not just because of his total unwillingness to acknowledge his own daughter's health issue by at least cleaning up crumbs, spills, etc - or hey, give gluten-free a try for a little bit, but just the overall lack of empathy.   He DOESN'T CARE.  Can't be bothered.  She can just move.  (Gee, thanks Dad).  It is what it is.   :* (

 

Daughter and I are going to try to keep the house since we have alot of organic veggies and fruits-- and trying herbs this summer -- started as seedlings now.  Our first attempt at organic gardening last year was amazing.  We just walked in the back yard and grabbed fresh lettuce, eggplant *thought it was a cucumber plant , carrots, leeks, tomatoes -- strawberries and raspberries.  I was shocked I could get them to grow at all!! 

 

It's all good.  Hope everyone is feeling great.  We are enjoying the return of SUNSHINE and normal temps finally!  Happy Spring to all

 

~~Bee

 

 

[mommida]

Thanks for the update!

 

Sounds like things are going to be better for the two of you.  Happy Spring!