New & Going Crazy

[mollycat]

Hi, I'm new. My name is Kim and I'm 25 years old. If another post comes up saying basically the same things as this, sorry. I think I pressed "Preview" instead of "Submit" last time I tried to post.

Anyway. I've had stomach problems my entire life. Cramping, bloating, acid reflux, you name it. I had every test done when I was a teenager and they came up with nothing. This summer has been bad for me - my symptoms seem to have gotten worse. I have the normal stuff (times ten) along with some pains at the bottom of my ribs and random abdominal pains that seem to be in different areas every time and come and go without sticking around for too long. I've seen the doctor - he put me on Protonix for acid reflux. Someone suggested that I may have Candida - I did research and self-tests and I'm not convinced that it's what I have. This (wheat allergy) is the next thing I'm looking into. I read somewhere that dark undereye circles are also a symptom of wheat intolerence (Is this true?? If so, it will be a lifelong mystery solved for me.) I've had dark circles under my eyes since I was a child and no one has ever known why. This summer I've pretty much eliminated sugar from my diet, which has helped a lot. I have also eaten very little processed foods. (I also started getting headaches this summer, which I've never really gotten before.) It's been a strange and frusturating three months.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to live symptom-free. Reading some of the long-term effects has really started to freak me out (cancer, etc., especially since I've become quite the hypochondriac this summer) so I know I need to relax for the moment. I greatly appreciate any and all help, encouragement and advice. I hope this makes sense - I've been staring at the computer for hours doing research and everything is starting to get blurry. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Julie]

Well, I don't know if you have celiac's, only your doctor can tell you--if it is a wheat allergy you would have allergy type symptoms.

As for celiac's, I have had a sensitive stomach along with female cramping, cysts etc. since I was 13 years old. I had the H pylori bacterial infection 2 years ago and then it was downhill since then! I lived on pretzels, water, tea and toast--little did I know I was poisoning myself. I had numerous gastro. tests and nothing ever showed but I was horribly ill all the time--diarrhea, cramping, sweating, nausea, which continued. I dropped 20 lbs. in 4 weeks and felt and looked horrible. Little changes in my diet seemed to help, but not completely cure my symptoms. It wasn't until I could not get out of bed and my stomach was so much worse and my hair began to fall out, my nails peeled off and my skin was so dry I was embarrassed by its appearance as well as to shake someone's hand. I also developed a mysterious rash on my face that came and went.
Finally they took blood in search of an answer and it came back positive for celiac's--I began a wheat-free, gluten-free diet right away and then had an endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis--although the biopsy came back negative, my doc did not care because for once in 2 years I felt good, had energy, NO stomach pains and actually began to gain some weight.
So don't self-diagnose--I KNOW how frustrating it can be, but you need to go to a gastrointologist to get a correct diagnosis. Patience is all I can offer to you. Julie

[mollycat]

I was just tested for H pylori and it came back negative. My doctor doesn't seem to think anything is wrong except for acid reflux. Next time I go, though, I will bring this up to him. In the meantime, I started the diet today. I know it's not good to self-diagnose but no one else seems to be helping me with it, and what can it hurt to try the diet? I'm not sure if I have Celiac's either, but I do think I have a wheat allergy at the least. And with so many negative test results that people have, why go through all of that unless absolutely necessary?

[aklap]

Hi Mollycat,

If you've been thru all the tests and the docs aren't getting you any answers, you have nothing to loose! I orginally went to the doc for reflux and abdom pains (very noisy, gassy, & churning). Had trouble for several years, I finally had had enough. Went thru a bunch of tests (upper gi series, scopes, reflux meds) - they could find nothing wrong other than "mild inflammation in my stomach". The dx - Chronic Reflux. I was told to say on my meds. One would explain all the other issues going on either (feeling hung over all the time, "bee stings" or "sparks" all over my body, BRAIN FOG!!. I finally decided to experiment with the GF diet. Ulitmately, I went GF and have not looked back.

No it will not hurt you to be on this diet! Make sure you get enough fiber. Possibly a good GF multivitamin. Maybe some B12, Fish oil too.

I think fish oil helped a great deal in helping the stomach to settle down. I still take it today!

Good luck in your quest! Let us know how it goes!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Nikster57]

I have a wheat allergy also and have for a couple of years. The doctor never said "Stay away from wheat" I thought I could just have white bread, it's enriched, nothing left in it, right? Wrong. So after anaphylaxic and 2 years of saying to myself, I'm just having an allergic reaction to something I went to the doctor because the pain, and all the gastro symptoms and loss of weight and no energy etc., my gliadin came back 78 which means I could have CD but I went GF ASAP and when I had my biopsy, it came back neg because the doctor's nurse said it didn't matter if I was GF or not. that was a big mistake. Anyway, we do whatever it takes just to feel good and my family and my fiance are glad to have the ol me back again. Diagnostic neg. or pos. It makes no difference. I know this is what makes me feel good and I'm stickin to it. Although I am going back to allergist next week to talk about being food allergy tested since all of the sudden I am allergic to soy and dairy. Good luck.

Nikki

[aklap]

[aklap]

[mollycat]

Thanks Al,
I need some suggestions for fiber. Do you have any?? I'm really lost on this one.

Also, what about flaxseed oil instead of fish oil? I'm a vegetarian and don't do fish products.

[maria1223]

molly cat where in pa r u. I can point u in the right direction with some good Dr's If u r in my area. I'm from SE PA 20 min outside of philly. let me know maybe I can help u

[mollycat]

maria,
I'm in SE PA as well, about an hour from Philly. I'm willing to travel. I'm familiar with the Philly/West Chester area. Thanks!!

[maria1223]

you can make your own food just as easy. there are outback steak house in springfeild pa. that is on baltimore pk ( rt 1 ).
super fresh has a g/f isle. walmart has G/F things. and the are plenty of natural health food stores in our area. just ask me I know all of them. are u north of philly or south?

[mollycat]

I wish there were others besides Outback as I don't eat meat so I'm sure all I'd be able to have would be an iceberg lettuce salad. Oh well. I'll check out the various healthy restaurants in the area.

Yeah, I have no problem making my own food, I love to cook. But I also *love* to go out to eat, especially when I'm in Philly. I'm sure I'll be able to find stuff at places like Essene and Whole Foods.

I live North of Philly in Reading. Thanks for the suggestions!

[aklap]

[mollycat]

Thank you for the information! Luckily I have been eating a lot more brown rice, beans and vegetables this summer.

Thanks for the info on the flax seeds, too. I have been meaning to start taking them for awhile.