Enterolab Results

[zoomers180]

Well, it sure sounds as if your thyroid might just be what's giving you problems. What does your mom think? I have heard of most of the thyroid disorders, although I am not completely familiar with them. One of the gals I teach with has Hashimoto's Disease. She is tired all the time and very frustrated. Now they have her on steroids. She's better.

I really believe in the power of prayer and I am going to go there in earnest for you, my dear. This is just awful. Although, my story is not as critical as yours is right now, I too, went through 3 years of "madness" trying to get to the bottom of my problem. It's such a long story, but I will try and do the Reader's Digest version!!

Just about 4 years ago, I was well on my way to losing 100 lbs. I had managed to shed 90. Still had 40 or so to go. All of a sudden, no matter what I did, I could not lose any more weight. My stomach blew out. I was fit to be tied. I pushed and pushed and kept working out, did everything right and continued to feel like crap. I thought it was menopause (I am now 52). Even people at school would say, "What happened to you?" and treat me like I was weak-willed and gained all the weight back.

After many months (maybe 9), I began trying to untangle the mess. Over the course of several months, I had every test known to man done, from the neck down. Upper GI, Abdominal Cat Scan, Colonoscopy, Endometrial Biopsy, to name a few. The year I had the ab scan I had it done in Feb. I played telephone tag with my doctor until May and I still didn't have the results! At one time she even denied having ordered the test! So, I switched to my current doctor. At the beginning of July she finally called me, claiming my results had "arrived" (how about they were lost??) I had gallstones and she said I should follow-up with my current Dr. She sent me for a biliary scan and subsequently last Sept. I had my gallbladder out. At first I felt great. But within 6 weeks, my stomach blew out again...worse than ever!! Then I developed excruciating joint pain where I could hardly walk. I have never felt such pain. Spent 4 weeks in physical therapy. Broke out in hives so bad once, I nearly landed in the hospital. Occasionally, I my fingertips would tingle and/or go numb. By the grace of God, would you believe I never gained an ounce back during all that? BUT, I couldn't lose either. I battled IBS...mostly with constipation.

Shortly after the first of this year, I began to feel as if I wasn't digesting my food. I kept telling my husband that I felt food was stuck up high in my abdomen. I tried all the natural and artificial laxatives. I was getting plenty of fiber and I was pushing bran like crazy (no wonder I felt like crap!)

In May I went to my doctor, feeling very ill and still very bloated (plus horrendous gas). We decided to do a stool analysis. I got the results 3 weeks later...just two days before school got out. I had bacterial dysbiosis/leaky gut syndrome. She told me, "Carole, you were right. You haven't been digesting your food. It has been sitting there, putrifying in your gut and the toxins are leaking back out into your system." By this point, she and I both were suspecting a gluten problem, but I convinced myself it was just a bacterial infection.

Throughout the summer I kept pushing the bran to try and get myself regulated. I went through what the doc called "detox". I alternately broke out, skin was dry and peeling, tingling up and down my body...for weeks. She put me on a sulfa anti-biotic to clear it up...for 8 weeks. I was still bloated and still couldn't go to the bathroom. I went back to school, with bran in tow, went back into her and she said, "I really think it's gluten. You may even have Celiac Disease."

I thought..."that's it - I'm going to try and get this crud out of my diet." By the beginning of October I got my kit from Enterolab, and the rest as they say is history...and by the way - so much for the "Reader's Digest" version.

I have been gluten-free since mid-Sept. I am no longer bloated, having lost 6 inches off my waist. I now have normal elimination. No more stomach pain and I'm beginning to lose weight again. I am so proud of myself that I kept 85 of the 90 lbs. off! I really don't know how I did it.

Now I know one of my parents carried the Celiac gene and the other passed on a gluten sensitive gene. When I got my report back, it said "it is recommended that you adhere to a strict gluten-free diet".

So, that's it. I don't know what the trigger was that popped it out. Could have been the gallbladder surgery, or the leaky gut, or the emotional stress I was under at the time. Who knows? All I know is I don't miss it at all. The hard part is that it takes quite a bit of planning, reading labels, etc. Gone are the days of "grab and go" meals. But, it's pretty much just my husband and I anymore. Our youngest son, 20, is pretty self-contained. We plan for the grand kids when they visit :^)

I don't know if any of this will help you...or anyone else for that matter. Sometimes it's just good to know somebody cares and they have suffered the long road to diagnosis, too.

Hang in there and don't give up! I hope you have a doctor that you like and that will help you get to the bottom of this thyroid thing.

I'm here for you!!

[Mommy2Ky]

Thanks!! I have IBS but severe to the point that I have no muscle contraction barely left. I did have a colonoscopy years ago due to bleeding and other things. I have to use suppositories all the time now because it just doesnt work up there. Some days I do get diahreah. Bloating and all that. I get flare ups that are so painful. Anyway I have been gluten free for a week so I am hoping or was hoping to see changes. My mom thinks I probably have celiac like she does. As for the thyroid thing it shows I have an autpimmune disease which is attacking my thyroid and killing it.. first thing they thought of was hashimotos but my doctor believes it might very well be celiac. I am such a mess and have been praying and praying and hoping for some strength to get through this because I dont know what else to do.

[Mommy2Ky]

FOrgot to mention I have lost a ton of weight............I weigh 110 right now and cant seem to gain.

[duchessisa]

Looking over all of your post certainly points (while jumping up and down and waving arms) at celiac. It sounds like you are very reluctant to accept the dx. Please don't be, it really isn't a life sentence. Well it is in that it is a "rest of your life" change. Life is simply SO much BETTER once you are gluten free. You will enjoy life again, realize how little you have been happy, and how nice it is to smile again. I have the unique point of view of watching my baby suffer, being noted in her medical chart as an over reactive parent, and feeling the frustration and grief when no one could "fix" her and no one really seemed to want to. I was ertain she was dying. I can't tell you what it was like watching her waste away in constant unexplained pain. I was thrilled to have an answer, one that wasn't taking her away from me if I didn't let it! Embrace the dx, the stress of having to figure out a new diet is so much less than the stress of believing you are dying from a disorder no one has caught or cares enough to find. My daughter is so healthy and "normal" now. She is thin but that is normal for our family, and no one could say she is frail or sickly, just thin and so tall! Best of luck.

[zoomers180]

I wish you all the best with your little one :^) Wow...I was just so pleased to read she is doing well. You are a good mom.

You are right...I was in a "season of denial" for a time, but no more. I my heart I was just struggling with giving up all those foods I love...numerous Chinese dishes...grabbing a pizza for dinner, etc. My life is already so spread thin, and I knew now I would have to take even more time to plan ahead, etc. Yesterday I was in the kitchen from 3:00 until 9:00 fixing dinners, etc. for the week ahead. I now know that is the only way I can "grab and go".

We went out with friends on Saturday night. I ordered prime rib and a salad...no croutons, no cheese (milk casein problem, too). Brought my own dressing, skipped the dessert. I sucked on a lemon drop while they had dessert and you know what? Didn't miss it!! Chinese was a little hard the beginning of the week, but I know the owner well and she gave me extra stir fry (no sauces, etc) so that I would have enough for my lunch the next day.

People (especially at school) keep saying, "Oh you poor thing, etc. HOW can you do this? Oh, my gosh, etc." Now that I have nearly 8 weeks under my belt and I know my insides are healing, I tell them..."When I am momentarily tempted, I go back to that 3 year period of suffering and think NO WAY. I don't even want it. Nothing is worth THAT!" I am concentrating more on what I can have, not what I can't...and my health most of all. Treat it like an experiment and it takes the pressure off. I am fortunate that I love to "create" and I love to cook and I know I will get this "scheduling" thing down eventually.

I heard a saying once..."Be kind to everyone you meet, for everyone is fighting a tough battle". I know I am not alone. Many people have all kinds of problems. Having a place like this to talk to others, is such a God-send.

Oh, and guess what???? Weighed myself this morning.

Down 98 lbs. from the day I started this journey nearly 4 years ago. Now I know (God willing), I'm gonna make it :^)

Have a great day, and thanks for the post.

Carole