Hi guys
I'm a 32 year old newbie to the whole Gluen Free world. I had a blood test yesterday and am waiting until Monday to get the results. Got my thyroid tested at the same time, but I'm 99% sure that's not an issue. So I've been doing a tonne of research over the last 24 hours, and came across this little gem of a forum. I'm Australian, and can't seem to find any celiac forums catering to us. So, here I am![:)]()
I've been quite ill over the last 3 years or so, and have tried to get to the bottom of the problem for just as long. After going through about 7 GPs, not one had suggested a celiac test. Yesterday, I said to my current doctor "here's a thought; what if all my problems are related to what I'm eating?"
Here's how I came to that conclusion:
I've been having major issues with digestive problems, mental health (depression and anxiety), extreme fatigue (like, general dragging my feet through the day, but when an attack hits, I must sleep and I must sleep now!!!) and inability to gain weight after dropping a whopping 30 kilos in under a month after stopping antidepressants. Bloodwork has mostly come back fine, apart from low B12. Not anaemic. A few days ago, I cooked hot dogs for my daughter, and had one myself. 3 hours later I felt like I had been drugged and had no choice but to sleep. I slept for about 45 minutes before I woke up really groggy and disorientated. I really got to thinking as to why this would keep happening. I remembered that I got the exact same reaction when I was taking my B12 sublingual tablets. I had to stop taking them because I couldn't function. (My dr thought I was crazy when I told her as B vitamins are supposed to pep you up, not put you to sleep.) I got a B complex tablet instead because it had less B12, but still some. I thought it would be better. after my hot dog episode, I got out the vitamin bottles and had a look at the ingredients. The B complex said "Gluten Free", whereas the B12 bottle said nothing about being gluten free. It was a bit of an "aha" moment. I also recalled my mother once saying She took me for allergy testing and they said I was gluten intolerant, but she just fobbed it off and thought nothing more of it. This was 25 years ago or something.
Anyway, so that's when I went to my doctor the next day and she thought there was some method to my madness and ordered a celiac test. I have no idea what that involves, as the pathology request sheet just said "celiac" and "thyroid".
Here's my concern though. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket, but to find out that I can fix the hell I've been enduring for the last 3-5 years would be such a relief. I've been thinking though, I don't get the same symptoms every time I eat gluten. Like, as far as I can recall, this is the first time I've had an episode after eating a hot dog. Yet, I had a bite of my daughters McDonalds cheeseburger and a few of her fries at lunch today, and I had another attack (slept for about the same period of time too). Is this "normal" for a Celiac/NCGS/gluten intolerant/whatever person? It's it possible that being "that time of the month" could make symptoms worse?
What do you think? Could it be a gluten reaction? Am I on the right track? Can anyone shed some light?
Thanks!
Ps. Sorry for the long post. I've very overwhelmed, and scared, and confused, and needing to vent to someone who doesn't think being gluten free is just a hipster fad.
I'm a 32 year old newbie to the whole Gluen Free world. I had a blood test yesterday and am waiting until Monday to get the results. Got my thyroid tested at the same time, but I'm 99% sure that's not an issue. So I've been doing a tonne of research over the last 24 hours, and came across this little gem of a forum. I'm Australian, and can't seem to find any celiac forums catering to us. So, here I am
I've been quite ill over the last 3 years or so, and have tried to get to the bottom of the problem for just as long. After going through about 7 GPs, not one had suggested a celiac test. Yesterday, I said to my current doctor "here's a thought; what if all my problems are related to what I'm eating?"
Here's how I came to that conclusion:
I've been having major issues with digestive problems, mental health (depression and anxiety), extreme fatigue (like, general dragging my feet through the day, but when an attack hits, I must sleep and I must sleep now!!!) and inability to gain weight after dropping a whopping 30 kilos in under a month after stopping antidepressants. Bloodwork has mostly come back fine, apart from low B12. Not anaemic. A few days ago, I cooked hot dogs for my daughter, and had one myself. 3 hours later I felt like I had been drugged and had no choice but to sleep. I slept for about 45 minutes before I woke up really groggy and disorientated. I really got to thinking as to why this would keep happening. I remembered that I got the exact same reaction when I was taking my B12 sublingual tablets. I had to stop taking them because I couldn't function. (My dr thought I was crazy when I told her as B vitamins are supposed to pep you up, not put you to sleep.) I got a B complex tablet instead because it had less B12, but still some. I thought it would be better. after my hot dog episode, I got out the vitamin bottles and had a look at the ingredients. The B complex said "Gluten Free", whereas the B12 bottle said nothing about being gluten free. It was a bit of an "aha" moment. I also recalled my mother once saying She took me for allergy testing and they said I was gluten intolerant, but she just fobbed it off and thought nothing more of it. This was 25 years ago or something.
Anyway, so that's when I went to my doctor the next day and she thought there was some method to my madness and ordered a celiac test. I have no idea what that involves, as the pathology request sheet just said "celiac" and "thyroid".
Here's my concern though. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket, but to find out that I can fix the hell I've been enduring for the last 3-5 years would be such a relief. I've been thinking though, I don't get the same symptoms every time I eat gluten. Like, as far as I can recall, this is the first time I've had an episode after eating a hot dog. Yet, I had a bite of my daughters McDonalds cheeseburger and a few of her fries at lunch today, and I had another attack (slept for about the same period of time too). Is this "normal" for a Celiac/NCGS/gluten intolerant/whatever person? It's it possible that being "that time of the month" could make symptoms worse?
What do you think? Could it be a gluten reaction? Am I on the right track? Can anyone shed some light?
Thanks!
Ps. Sorry for the long post. I've very overwhelmed, and scared, and confused, and needing to vent to someone who doesn't think being gluten free is just a hipster fad.
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