Brand New At This

[DeniseinPa]

Please excuse any error I may commit here, I am brand new to this.
I have been battling with Fybromalgia from 10 years now. My Dr. just
told me to try to avoid gluten and see if that doesn't enhance my quality of life. I was wondering if anyone else has had a positive out come with Fybromalgia symptoms being lessened by giving up gluten foods.
Any help out be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Denise

[aklap]

Hi Denise,

Welcome to the board!!

1st things...kudo's to your doc!! He/she is VERY astute to see this connection.

I do have a story to share about gluten & fibro, but I'm running short on time. Stupid work... You'll like the outcome!!
_________________
Al

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

[aklap]

OK...I'm at lunch now...time for real work

Here's a story from about 2 years ago....

I was at a customer site a number of months back. A mental health agency... no, I was not there AS a client . Some of the gals there know my story and we were talking about it with one of the Dr's present. She was quite interested, so I shared my story with her. The reason she was interest is because she has a friend that was having a terrible time with Fibro and other issues. I told her that there was a connection between fibro and gluten and maybe her friend should give it a try. She said she was going to email her that very night and have her research it!!

Today I run into this Dr. She stops me and said that her friend had gone GF and all of ther pain has disappeared and she is feeling fantastic. But recently she went out to eat and had something that made her sick for days!

This Dr. had thanked me for helping her friend and she said her friend told her to thank me too.


Over the years, I have heard others success stories when it comes to their "Fibro" dx'es. Fibro is somewhat of a catch-all dx anyway.

Again, I am really impress that your doc suggested you give up gluten. This tells me that they have been paying attention and doing research. YAY!!!!

I wish you well on your Knowledge Quest and your GF Journey should you decide to take it. I certainly think a trial would be in order.

Did the Doc test you for CD or Gluten Sensitivity? Before you go GF, you might ask him/she to run the full celiac panel on you.

A complete Celiac Blood Panel:

antigliadin IgA and IgG (indicates gluten sensitivity, not necessarily celiac disease)
anti-tTG and/or anti-endomysial (more specific to intestinal damage known as celiac disease)
total serum IgA (rules out IgA deficiency)
anti-reticulin IgA (a very thorough doctor will include this)

Please ask your doctor to run ALL of these tests.

To save cost, they will often reduce this panel down to a single test...usuall the anti-tTG. Don't let this happen to you! The reticulin antibody no longer shows up on most diagnostic flowcharts either. This test has fallen out of favor, although a positive result can certainly be an important clue. Many "experts" are now considering the antigliadin antibodies optional as well. It is said antigliadin antibodies are not specific to celiac disease, but they are often the first to show positive in early stages of celiac disease. A thorough doctor will run them all.

More on Diagnostic Testing
_________________
Al

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

[aklap]

Just adding this...

FIBROMYALGIA: WHAT DOCTORS DON'T KNOW OR TELL PATIENTS
By: Dorothy Anne Seese
http://www.cpmission.com/main/gluten.html

One persons story and their battle with fibro.
_________________
Al

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