Hi everyone!
Here is my story.
In December of 1999 I got mono and never ever recovered completely from that. After the mono officially went away I was left feeling tired, lots of infections, multiple diagnosis of things like endometriosis, pcos, ibs, post-viral infection syndrome, and something similar to fibromyalgia but I can't remember what the doctor called it.
I went off on sick leave in April 2005 and my family doctor struggled to find out what was wrong with me. I had bouts of what appeared to be diabetes but then I would be fine. I had horrible bathroom problems that ranged from constipation to severe and painful diarrhea, very bad stomach cramps and often pain so bad while using the bathroom I thought I was dying. My joints were killing me and I had bladder and kidney infections almost constantly.
I was referred to an internist by my insurance company because they didn't believe I was ill. During my consultation the doctor asked an odd question that I remember so clearly "Do you have a problem with wheat?" I said I wasn't really sure - I appear to have problems with ANYTHING I ate - but there is definately a connection between whole wheat and rye and a lot of my bathroom problems. I never got to see the report from this doctor. He said I was definately ill and recommended all sorts of tests and treatments and said with all these tests and treatments getting done right away he couldn't see me returning to work for 3-5 years. YIKES.
Nothing was ever done though. I ended up moving to a different province and getting a new doctor who is pretty young (in her 30s I suspect) SHE IS MY HERO!! I saw her once and bawled my eyes out telling her my medical history - she promised to get to the bottom of things and make sure I got the referrals I needed. GREAT! I had bloodwork done and they came back saying I had arthritis. I was in shock! How could I have arthritis?! I'm only 25! She then though it was a nutrition issue that caused the arthritis. There is a family history of arthritis - which is odd... There is also a family history - on my mother's side of allergies, psoriasis, eczema, and ibs-type issues and PCOS and painful periods.
So the next step was figuing that out - she said it sounded a lot like celiacs and sent me for the testing. I thought she said sea-kayak?! She said she wanted me to avoid wheat completely - check all the labels and to check out online about it and avoid all the things that have gluten as well as milk for at least one month. I got my bloodwork done and did what she said. IT WAS AMAZING! Within days I FELT AWESOME! Then a few days in I felt like crap - gluten-flush? and then I was right back to feeling great.
When I saw her she said my blood work confirmed her suspicions but it's often not considered a real diagnosis until a biospy is taken but she didn't deam it necessary. She said - If something walks, talks, looks, smells like a duck do you really need to take it's dna to confirm it is? I agree! After being off of gluten for 6 months she had me take a second test. I am antibody free (doesn't that mean I'm doing a good job?) and I feel so much more better.
This happened in May of 2006. I now have a life again. I can't believe how debilitating the disease had been for me and how much of my life it sucked away by not being diagnosed sooner.
The worst part of all - is during my diabetic episodes (I should also mention that I was hypothyroid with no change on medication and it cleared up ON IT'S OWN!! after going gluten-free!) I saw a nutritionist who pushed wholegrain/wholewheat like crazy and I was at my sickest during that time.
Anyhow - I am still struggling with the whole avoiding gluten and I really don't have any urges to eat gluten things because I know how sick it will make me feel but I found Christmas HARD and I did slip.
I am struggling with finding GF substitutes of food as celiac doesn't seem like it's that common here so our store is very limited in what it has - and the breads are GROSS!
