Karl Otto

First off, I was originally diagnosed with Celiac Disease, then, my oldest son. Now, my youngest son has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease through his most recent panel of blood test at the Childrens Hospital in Denver CO. For me it was not too difficult to accept this condition. My oldest son and youngest son, are finding it very difficult to changer their eating habits around. It is also very hard to find food groups to eat from as well. Foods that do not contain gluten are very limited with them. My oldest son has and youngest son are also being looked at and examined for Hyperinsulinism Hypoglycemia as well. I have it at present time together with Celiac Disease. It is a big storm coming down on us as a family at this time. I have my diet all worked out for me but, the sons do not have it worked out for them yet. So, right now we as a family have not been coping with this disease.

I get the same old message from allot of people on boards like this one and others. They tell me constantly that people whom have Celiac Disease and Diabetes do not make it pass their 50th birtday and, then they tell me they usual die off before the age of 50. I just do not see that at all. I am currently 57 year old and, even my VA Doctor ask me how come, I am still alive today. Either I have beaten the odds or, they are in-correct in their thinking. I have had the symptoms of Diabetes and Celiac Disease sense my 21st birtday. There have been times when, I thought, I was surely dieing because I was so sick. I laid down on my living room floor in front of the television rolling around on the floor sick as a dog. Each time, I went to the doctors, they never gave me any blood tests or give me any explanation why I was so sick all the time after meals and in between meals. That is another story. So, is there any truth to the way everyone is thinking that people with Celiac and Diabetes do not live over their 50th birtday with these diseases?

I had to find my own diet through the process of elimination of different foods. At first, I tried eating the foods that the Dietician suggested. Her suggestions were totally wrong for me and, I found out the hard way. One-size does not fit all people when it comes to health. Food acts upon each individual differently. If you are truly serious about helping yourself and your health, find the foods you can or cannot eat through trial and error method. I found out that, I cannot eat spices of any kind. I cannot tolerate green leafy vegetables anymore, they just lay on your stomach and do not process very well. They do however produce bloating and very much gas. Any kinds of spices make me sick accept Iodine Salt, I can tolerate. They say you should not be able to tolerate dairy products, (Milk). I found out, I can tolerate 3 ounces of fat-free organic milk, not processed milk. I also found that, I cannot tolerate oils, grease, talen, or fats of any kind. So, I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead. I found it does not bother me at all as long as it is purely organic in nature. I use to have all manor of stomach, throat, and bowel problems before, I finally found out my diet which works for me personelly. Everyone of us whom suffer from Celiac Disease must go through this process of Elimination to come up with our proper diets.

I am so tired of feeling crappy. Usually what happens to me is I feel ok throughout the day. Then, when I wake up the next morning it hits me. Yesterday I ate completely gluten-free, but I know that doesn't always mean the food will agree with me. Can popcorn and peanuts cause diarrhea and glutened-like symptoms? What about tuna? I also ate grapes. It seems like I can't eat anything but gluten-free hot cereals, Rice Chex, rice, potatoes and chicken. Forget beans, broccoli, onions....and now it seems like I should stay away from corn and peanuts too. the other night I had a melt-down over the fact I can no longer eat Cheeze It's and Wheat Thins with my glass of wine!

I have found some comfort foods at a gluten-free bakery, but they are expensive! I love their pumpkin bread. Anyway, I am going to stop buying gluten-free sandwich bread. The price is crazy!! I've decided to eat corn tortillas and use them as sandwich bread instead of gluten-free bread.

Also, I take Lomitil but it sure makes me tired. It really helps with the abdominal pains and diarrhea.

Oh well, I need a nap now...hoping to feel better. I'm thankful to be able to come to this forum and know that people here will understand!

thanks for listening.

I feel for you about not having anything good to eat anymore. I too had to cross that bridge about 5 years ago or maybe a bit longer. I discovered that I could no longer eat the foods I used to eat daily. It made me frustrated and sick to my stomach knowing that I would never beabled to have those foods again. I really do miss bread, pastas, soups, salads, etc...... and also I miss foods with spice in the other than iodine salt. Every time, I go by the stove and smell other people's cooking it makes my mouth water and longing for that stuff cooking on the range. When, I start thinking again, I know down deep that I will never be able to eat normal food again, the rest of my natural life. My diet is bland other than a dash of iodine salt put into my small meals which, I have to eat 6 times a day. No, I do not gain pounds because, I eat that much. People with Diabetes Mellitus, Hypoglycemia, and Celiac Disease are very limited in what we can eat. Since, I have to eat the very same meal every day 7 days a week, six times a day. Nothing different just the very same foods over and over again. What is normal foods anyways now days for me ? (???????)

If you are asking if the whole family could be celiac the answer is yes.

Your blood sugar issues may resolve after you have been on the diet for a while. Have you had A1C testing done? I am not an expert but 160 doesn't sound like a real high reading after a meal. Ask your doctor about it. Getting some good protein and fats at each meal may help stabilize things a bit.

Can Celiac Disease cause nerve damage to the fingers, finger tips, and cause red swollen feet? The right sides of my fingers on each hand is numb to touch and has been for the last 5 years. Also, the bottem of my toes have been numb too. Why would my eyesight improve late at night where I do not need my glasses to see the television clearly but, in the morning hours be blind as a bat. These are things caused by things other than Celiac Disease. When, I was following the VA Doctors course of eating just anything, my glucose levels keep on falling until, I darn near passed out on my kitchen floor several times. Then, 5 years ago, I discovered the real thruth about myself, Celiac Disease and allergies to chemicals in foods. I also discovered I was allergic to all kinds of spices, including black pepper. Iohine Salt only can I tolerate. I have bad symptoms when blood sugar levels get as high as 160 mg/dl. Remember, I am extremely under weight. I also have bad symptoms when under 85 mg/dl which my Diabetic Test meter is set for at present time. 85 mg/dl - 130 mg/dl as confortable range. I took a whole year to experiment on all types of foods so, I pretty much got that down pat. What I mentioned in my last post is all that my body will tolerate.

Iodine Salt is needed to help maintain a healthy Thyroid Gland. Most Sea Salt do not contain Iodine in them. Research Iodine Salts and Thyroid Gland Problems on the web search button. We do not want to get a Gorder on our Adams Apple region of our necks and have to have surgery do we?

Most doctors that I have seen in the past do not believe that the conditions of Celiac Disease and Hypoglycemia exist. I have seen allot of Veterans Addministration Hospital Doctors over the last few years. They simply do not believe that these conditions are real. So, over these past few years it was up to me to descover what foods, I can or cannot tolerate. I constantly sufer from low blood sugar levels or high blood sugar levels and everything in between. I found out that I was allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sunflower seeds and etc.... I cannot tolerate soy products as well. Products containing food additives and food processing chemicals also makes me sick to my stomach. I cannot eat any foods containing sugar or by products of sugar. Sugar substitutes do not set right with my body either. Only natural sugars found in some Natural Fruits can I tolerate. I found out through guidence from my current doctor that, I must eat pretty much a bland diet to survice on the rest of my life because, I have eat all the wrong foods all my life. Now, I am very much regretting all my decision to eat the wrong foods. The sooner you discover the foods you can and cannot eat the better off you will be further down the road in life. I just wished that I would have paid more attention to my diet in the past.

Is oatmeal allowed on a gluten free diet? I thought it wasn't, but then saw the list of gluten-free products that Earth Fare sells, and they have oatmeal listed. (I love oatmeal! I love cream of wheat too, but that's obviously out of the question.

I use to be able to eat oatmeal as a child but, I do not remember any sickness from eating them. It was not until, I reached my 21 birthday before, I took note of inter-action with this cereal. Since, that birthdate, I have not been able to eat oatmeal without re-action to it.

One of the posters said most people with celiac disease cannot tolerate this product. They would be correct as far as I am concerned. So, I stay far away from Oatmeal or other oatmeal products.

Although, I would like to be able to eat real breakfast food again but, the good lord will not permit me to eat normal food again. That is so sad for me. I would love to be able to once more get up in the mornings and have a normal breakfast but, again that is never going to happen again.

I have this disorder and all three sons have it as well. Mine is more severe than the other since I am the older one.

Blood sugar levels drop quickly after a meal 2 - 3 hours after a meal. I eat 6 small meals each day during the day and night time frame or around the clock if you prefer. For each hour, I do not eat my blood sugar levels continue to drop on down the scale. Once, I eat again, everything goes back up to around 120 -130 mg/dl range. If I eat anything containing sugary products or apples, it can shoot up to 160 md/dl easily. (Spiked) I am allergic to all spices, and food processing chemicals. I am allergic to peanuts and/or tree nuts of all kinds. I do not eat anything with sugar in it unless it is natural sugar only. My skin contantly itches when blood sugars levels are high or very low. I develope a cough when my blood sugar levels gets below 70 mg/dl. At other times when it is below 82 mg/dl. I have poor circulation in my feet and hands. Feet turn red and swell up at night sometimes but, not all the time. Finger tips have lost their touch feeling most of the time. A blood sugar levels are never stable. I can feel symptoms of hypoglycemia at blood levels below 70 mg/dl or at 85 mg/dl sometimes. I eat only natural foods not man made foods. I do not eat them by choice, they are necessary to live. Organic brown Rice straight from field (Cooked) Green Peas, Organic Lentils, Organic Chicken Breat only Ground up (Cooked). Strawberries, black berries, Blue Berries, small seedless Tangerines every other meal. I drink only filter water not from tap.

My whole family suffers from pretty much the same symptoms. My youngest son sometimes has it worse than me. Is it possible for the whole family to have the same thing? Yes, I am extremely under-weight 5 feet 11 inches tall. weight: 120 - 125 pounds, weight varies daily. Oh yes, I forgot, dry mouth, thirty, and light headed things happen to me daily to sometimes. Cramps in hands and feet muscles as well. When sugar levels are low dull pain in muscles all over body. Why?