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Kate333

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Celiac.com - Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Support Since 1995

Everything posted by Kate333

  1. Kate333
    I can SO relate! Diagnosed with celiac disease in late 2019. Went on strict gluten-free diet. Finally got my blood tests to normal range. But with all that has happened in the world (Covid fears) and my life (job loss and inability to find any work since 2022, dwindling life savings while I search), my physical and mental health has also been badly affected...
  2. Kate333
    Hi grossi. Your comment about feeling better during summer vacation and low stress is very revealing. Fatigue and brain fog are among the many classic physical symptoms of chronic stress and depression (celiac disease issues aside). Chronic sleep problems and poor diet also affect the body and brain functions, so you might want to assess whether...
  3. Kate333
    Congrats, Madmom!! You are right to be proud of yourself!! Adopting and maintaining a strict gluten-free diet (including avoiding the risk of cross-contamination) is one of the biggest challenges you will likely encounter in life, esp. in a culture which promotes almost 100% packaged, processed, unhealthy food. BTW, I also had TTG antibody levels...
  4. Kate333
    Hi Tyler. Severe chronic depression/anxiety alone--aside from the issues of celiac disease, gluten sensitivity and/or vitamin deficiency--can cause the physical symptoms you described. And from your comments about the many recent losses in your life, plus the stress of the ongoing pandemic, it's no wonder you and your body are feeling so crummy! It...
  5. Kate333
  6. Kate333
    Honestly, when I go grocery shopping, I am far more worried about inhaling airborne Covid (or cold or flu) particles/droplets than airborne G residue or particles. That said, I do tend to avoid packaged bread aisles, mostly because I SOOOO MISS the smell--and taste--of pumpernickel and cinnamon raisin bread and seeing those items (all while knowing I can...
  7. Kate333
    I was diagnosed in late 2019. At the time my first TTG/IgA test, the number was 224 (at its highest). After 2 years on STRICT gluten-free diet, the numbers finally reached normal range in May 2022 (13). The last TTG reading was even lower normal (around 3), so I am celebrating, and hoping the TTG stays normal as I continue to maintain a STRICT gluten-free...
  8. Kate333
    Get the labs (TTG/IgA) and endoscopy your GI recommends. That is the only way to confirm for sure whether (or not) you have celiac disease and your symptoms are due to ongoing G exposure for the last 2 years. I would start with that before speculating or considering other causes for your symptoms. And I would not worry about the result BEFORE you get...
  9. Kate333
    They ONLY way to get a definitive celiac disease diagnosis is via TTG/IgA blood test and endoscopy. Otherwise, you are just asking non-medical laypeople to speculate. I wouldn't rely on that if I were you.
  10. Kate333
    Adhdgi, I hope it helps to realize you are not alone in your suffering. So many others have struggled with lifelong or more recent depression and/or anxiety, sometimes related to celiac disease, often not. And those issues have understandably been magnified by this awful pandemic. If you do have a celiac disease diagnosis, ask your GP or GI doc to...
  11. Kate333
    Hi Cristiana, Aside from G exposure/celiac disease, what other medical conditions can affect and/or result in positive TTG blood test results? Just wondering.
  12. Kate333
    I recommend trying acupuncture. I had really terrible "tennis elbow" tendonitis several years ago. Tried PT, braces, ice, meds, steroid shots. Nothing really worked. After all that failed, ortho was really gung-ho about surgery. Elbow is such a complex joint I wanted to at least try AC before I let him cut me up. Although I was squeamish about needles...
  13. Kate333
    Yes...you need to keep eating G before your endoscopy to ensure its accuracy.
  14. Kate333
    Don't be discouraged that your blood test level isn't yet in the normal range after less than 2 years of a gluten-free diet, esp. if your highest numbers at time of diagnosis were well over 100. Many people (esp. older folks) take a bit longer to heal and flush the G antibodies out their systems. Just keep in mind the trend (the numbers should show consistent...
  15. Kate333
    Just call the PCP back and request the detailed test results again. If that gets nowhere, follow up and schedule a gastro consult and ask the GI for an updated TTG/IgA blood test and to share the detailed results with you. If the GI won't do that, then get a home TTG/IgA test kit. They cost $100 in the US and the results are very detailed. But you MUST...
  16. Kate333
    Hi Katerific. Given your extreme symptoms if you eat a slice of bread, improvement with some diet changes, plus your family medical history, you probably don't need medical confirmation of the obvious: gluten is poison, and you need to avoid it. However, your body won't heal by avoiding ONLY a few items like oats and smoked nuts. celiac disease requires...
  17. Kate333
    Katkits60, I also forgot to mention how important it is to become familiar with "hidden" gluten ingredients sources. I say hidden because so many food companies and restaurants routinely use G as a "filler" substance and it not always clearly labeled. For example, G is used in many canned soups, restaurant and canned soups and even scrambled eggs (to make...
  18. Kate333
    Hi Katkits60. I share your frustration, but Cristiana's and Trents' encouragement are spot on. It's the overall trend (downward) that really matters, so try to not get discouraged! It can take awhile to reach the "sweet spot" of normal range, esp. for older adults. Your name mentions 60, so I assume you are over that age? What was your TTG level...
  19. Kate333
    So I purchased a box of Lactaid "fast acting" pills to ease any GI issues after consuming dairy. The first thing I noticed (after returning home) was the lack of the typical "gluten-free" label on the package. I didn't really look closely at the store package because in the past I recalled they had a gluten-free label. Per the package, Lactaid pills...
  20. Kate333
    If you are regularly eating out, even at so-called gluten-free places/restaurants, or buying packaged foods labeled gluten-free (not certified gluten-free), you are likely still regularly consuming gluten. Unfortunately, even restaurants that advertise themselves as having gluten-free menus, and packaged food manufacturers with gluten-free labels, still...
  21. Kate333
    Going gluten-free and DF are good suggestions but if you continue to eat highly processed/packaged foods high in sugar/salt/artificial colors/flavors/filler ingredients, you are not promoting healing. I would recommend avoiding all that for a few weeks and eating only fresh, natural food (meats, veggies, fruits) and seeing how you feel on that kind of diet...
  22. Kate333
    Without seeing the exact biopsy report, my comment is pure speculation. That said. from your description, it sounds like your gut damage is thankfully relatively minimal and you should heal quickly if you adopt a STRICT gluten-free diet. So that is a good thing! If the report said severe or extensive villous blunting etc., you would have reason to be stressed...
  23. Kate333
    An updated TTG/IgA blood test is a good starting point for pinpointing the cause of your recent symptoms. (And as you move forward, you should be getting that test at least once a year to ensure your continued healing and return to and maintain a "normal" level of gluten antibodies for the rest of your life.) If you recently had one which showed normal...
  24. Kate333
    So glad you recovered and are feeling better! Since celiac disease is linked to a higher risk of heart conditions, including A-fib, I completely understand your reluctance to resume eating gluten. You could just order a home lab blood test kit to assess your current level of gluten antibodies. If it's abnormally high, then you have your answer without...
  25. Kate333
    Sounds like you are getting CC from eating out. Many restaurants offer gluten-free menus/items (along with gluten food) as marketing strategies to be trendy, boost sales. IMO, they don't really understand the strict protocols required to ensure safety for diners with celiac disease. The only safe way to eat out is to avoid restaurants altogether or find...
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