mythreesuns

and other auto-immune stuff.

This is my primary dr, and he's still working under the assumption that I don't have issues with gluten. I called him today because the pain has gotten progressively worse all week, especially this morning. I could barely walk to the bathroom this morning!

What's the likelihood that all my symptoms (migraines, arthritis, diarrhea, bloating and gas, etc.) could be attributed to one of these conditions: Lupus, Lyme, RA

I'm only 40. Way to young to have that old-lady shuffle in the mornings....

Well, I'm only 33 and the dr already confirmed mild osteo-arthritis in my toe, so how's THAT for too young? LOL

You might want to check into trying a paleo diet, there are other foods linked to arthritis.

As soon as I can muster up the cash, I'm going to go through EnteroLab to test for the full range of intolerences.

I've never heard of the paleo diet...I'll look into that. I'm going to the dr this afternoon to further explore my arthritis, because I don't think he adequately checked into causes before.

This is what the report says:

No ova, cysts, or parasites seen

No Giardia antigen detected

Fats, Neutral, normal (<60)

Fats, Total, normal (<100)

Glucose, Serum, 120 (high)

IgA, 1 (0-4 = negative)

IgG, 2 (0-9 = negative)

tTG, 1 (0-3 = negative)

Um....why didn't he tell me my glucose was high when I have a family history of diabetes!?!??!?!?!?!

What does the rest of it mean? I left a lot out, either the things I knew or the things that were solidly within range.

What brand is it?

Elonwy

It's called Stirrings. They have a website (stirrings.com) where you can see everything they have. I got it at Whole Foods.

Yay!!!! It has no gluten in it!!!

I called the company this morning, a cheery young woman said, "All of our products are gluten-free."

I was like, "And you know this...how?"

And she proceeded to read a statement (obviously they've had this question before LOL) that said they use no gluten or other allergen-containing ingredients in their production facilities. Some products (not the one I was asking about) are produced in a facility that does produce things with allergens in it, but it is cleaned between products. Very sensitive individuals should be aware of the risk of cross-contamination for those products, but the martini mixes are produced in a facility that does NOT handle allergens so they're safe!

YAY!!!!

Chocolate martini, anyone?

Arthritis was the last straw that drove me toward a gluten-free diet, so in that sense it's a *new* symptom. Is it normal for it to get worse, spreading to more and more joints, even though I'm gluten-free?

Only been gluten-free 3 weeks or so.

Wow, can I go to this dr???? Not because he's asking you to do the biopsy and continue to consume gluten, but because he's willing to consider the possibility that it IS celiac!

My dr agreed it could be a possibility, but when the blood test and biopsy came up negative he said "IBS". He did find some irritation in the lower stomach and upper small intestine, but found no damaged villi or h pylori or anything....in the 4 biopsies he took on the very upper small intestine.

Umm...not happy with that answer. And now he won't return my phone calls asking for the levels on my blood test.

Aww, boogers!

I already tried that and they're closed for the night. No info on the website either.

Ah, well...guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow night for my chocolate martini!

Has anyone been able to convince a family member or friend to try the diet and actually have them stick to it.

I'm someone else's success story!

I usually post on another message board and when I started posting on the one about digestive issues, two people I knew finally talked me into going gluten free. One of them led me right to this board. Tanx!

It says it contains the following:

Triple filtered water

Cane sugar

Chocolate extract

Natural flavors

Lactic acid

Pectin

Carmel color

How do I know if there's gluten in it? I reeeeeeeally want a chocolate martini! LOL

In the beginning you need to keep looking for the things that you contaminated from.

That leads right into a question I've been trying to answer; what ingredients exactly do you need to avoid in beauty products?

I have a list of safe and unsafe ingredients from somewhere on this website, but I can't find many of the ingredients on either of these lists. Any ideas where I could get a different list?

it could be you're just still detoxing.

Any ideas how long it takes to detox? I know that's a variable thing, but given that my biopsy was negative the damage can't be *too* bad, right?

It does sound like you got glutened most likely on Friday. The symptom progression and timing are exactly like mine are when glutened.

Thanks. I guess I should keep track of the symptoms to start to discern some kind of pattern. I did have a migraine a couple of weeks ago and I did have D a couple of weeks ago, but I can't remember at this point if it happened the same way it did this time.

I feel like I have to go back to Saturday to describe my current episode. I was VERY tired all day Saturday and Sunday. Like, foggy tired, where my brain actually hurt being awake. I was very depressed as well.

Then on Monday, I got myself a killer of a migraine (wonderful experience with DH being at work last night, the boys all acting up...) and today I've had 2 episodes of D and I don't feel like I've seen the last of that. I'm not bloated, though.

I've only been gluten-free for about 3 or 4 weeks, so do you think it's more likely that I accidentally ate something I should have or that I'm still in *recovery*? I have been really careful since last Tuesday when I ate out and I think my salad may have been contaminated (it was brought out to me with a thick slice of garlic toast on the side).

Thanks for the welcome! How did you feel after the slip ups?

What are the EnteroLab tests?

Do your kids have any symptoms?

Well, first of all, I feel tired and bloated, and usually have some diarrhea when I get contaminated.

Many people here know much more about EnteroLab testing than me, but you can go to www.enterolab.com for more info.

My oldest son has Asperger's, and has had problems in the past with constipation/diarrhea, but Asperger's and celiac seem to be related somehow, at least a little bit, so it's worth the testing since I'm having so many problems.

My middle son has had chronic diarrhea for a couple of years, and he has neurological *differences* as well (Tourette's and OCD).

The 2 y.o. has some mild neurological issues (a neurological speech disorder and mild SID) but so far his digestive system seems to be ok. Again, it's worth the testing given the whole family history.

But since, I have had problems with my stomach bloating. (that was my major symptom). My stomach has beel bloated w/ out rest for 3 months straight now. I didnt even have it this bad when I ate gluen.

I have had terrible problems with bloating due to milk products. That was actually my first stab at trying to feel better--eliminating all milk from my diet. That has helped tremendously with the bloat.

And now that I'm gluten free as well, I no longer look "pregnant" LOL

Actually, most gum IS gluten free. Of course you always have to check but I know for a fact that Bubblicious, Trident Sugarfree, and Orbit Sugarfree are all gluten-free.

Oh, halle-freakin-luja!!!!! lol

I guess you can't always believe what you read, huh?

I am gluten and casein free, and I'm so glad I didn't have to give up marshmallows and soy lattes!

Oh, and Ian, you're a pig!

Welcome! I'm new too. Gluten free for about 3 weeks or so...with some slip-ups already.

I don't know anything about support groups, but I am thinking about having my children tested as well. I'm waiting to get some EnteroLab testing done to be sure, because my blood tests and endoscopy came up negative.

Good luck with the diet. This place is a GREAT resource for info and support.

Celiac changes everything. Maybe we could have a rendition to Cindy Lauper's Money Do you know the song?

No, I don't know the song, but I like the idea of writing a celiac song! LOL

I am still struggling with other intolerances.

Thanks, I'm wondering if this might be the problem with me as well. As soon as I can get some money together (DH is holding out for a FT job) I'm going to go through EnteroLab to get tested for the full range of intolerances.

I find the simplest diet works for me and often I will eat only one food at a time.

I was going to say "hand in there" but I think I'll change that to "hang in here". In the midst of our misery we often find ways to laugh together and that really helps.

Thanks for both pieces of advice. I think a previous poster may have been correct in noting that going "ging-ho" with gluten-free alternatives may have "shocked" my system, and maybe its best for me to eat simple, whole, fresh foods for a while. Heck, it couldn't make me feel worse, eh? LOL

Trust me, I will be sticking around here! You guys have ALL been fabulous, and a tremendous resource in the midst of a world that just doesn't relate. My mom was joking (but I didn't think it was funny) when she said, "Are you a hypochondriac?" when I was relating all the things I have been going through that could be related to a gluten intolerance. So much for understanding...

Now, if you noticed ANY improvement at all when you went gluten-free, even a small improvement, that is significant, and the fact that you've had reactions from cross contamination shows you are sensitive to it. So, I would say, give it more time.

Thanks so much for the perspective. I'm just so sick and tired of being sick and tired! I do believe I'm intolerant to milk, and I haven't had any of that since about a month BEFORE I went gluten-free.

Sigh...nose back to the grindstone!

Hang in there

Thanks, that's just what I needed to hear!

"I read somewhere" is pretty vague.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be vague. I read it in an online article. I think I saved it on my work computer so I'll have to look for it on Monday.

I didn't know chewing gum had gluten!!!

I read somewhere that they use wheat starch to keep it fresh. Ever notice how a piece of gum out of the package is powdery?

This has been a long journey for me (though admitedly not that long compared to some of you) and I thought I was finally at the end of it. I thought I had finally figured out what was making me sick, but maybe I was wrong? Maybe it's not a gluten intolerence...or am I giving up too soon?

When I first went milk-free I had such success...for about a month. Then it all came back IN SPADES. That, combined with the discovery of my arthritis, prompted me to go gluten-free as well as milk-free.

Well, it's only been about 3 weeks, but I'm not sure I see significant improvement in my symptoms. I've had a sum total of 2 "normal" BMs, and 3 days of feeling "good." Admittedly, I could have glutened myself twice over those 3 weeks (cross-contamination), and it did take me over a week to realize that chewing gum had gluten in it.

I'm not expecting miracles, but I was hoping for SOMEthing positive. Something to indicate that yes, I'd finally found my answer. But as I sit here in front of the computer, bloated and feeling like I'm 5 months preggo, recovering from Friday's D-fest, more tired than I've ever been...I wonder if I still need to go looking for answers.

Banana Daquiri --- I'll take that medicine

I think it's worth taking as a preventative measure.

For those who have irritating or downright hostile coworkers/ church members/ etc – just look them straight in the eye and say “steatorrhea” – when you start to define it, and they start to look ill, just laugh and walk away. If anyone DARES to hide wheat/oats/ barley and feeds it to you purposely, I’d bring them a Tupperware container with the results!

ROFLMAO!!!!! I love your attitude!

I have not been officially "diagnosed" as my blood test came out negative and the biopsy was negative (besides, it's just too rare to be likely, according to my dr.) but I have put myself on a gluten-free trial. Arthritis was the LAST STRAW FOR ME!

Welcome to the board. I look forward to feeding off your hard-earned experience!