As if diabetes weren't enough.
Lately, it seems like everything I eat sends my stomach into some weird, horrible feeling torrent of yuck. It turns and gurgles and hurts. It's particularly bad when I eat something higher in carbs.
And I won't share the other gastrointestinal issues that accompany the sick stomach. It's just plain gross.
So, after about a month and half of this, I called the endocrinologist. I know what the symptoms indicate. And I knew what he'd ask. And I knew what he'd probably say.
What kind of stomach issues?
Are you doing your business (read: more grossness not for print)?
Any history of Celiac in the family?
And there isn't any history of it. Not one, not even a far-distant relative.
So, he drew my blood. And he explained that the next step would be seeing a specialist should the antibodies show up in my blood.
And he talked about how Celiac can lead to colon cancer and other permanent damage to the instestine.
And he talked about the colonoscopy and the other test with a tube that goes from my mouth to my small instestine to check for other damage.
And he talked about how the only real fix is a gluten free diet.
All the while, I kept thinking, "isn't diabetes enough?" as visions of cupcakes and buttery toast gone uneaten danced through my head and the idea of colon cancer spread itself among the complication and balance worries already in my brain.
Apparently, it might not be.
Diabetes, celiac disease and - you did not mention it - dairy intolerance: There you have all three problems that plague those who eat the Standard American Diet (also called SAD).
Truth is, most people are so much healthier without sugar/starches, most grains (especially milled) and milk/milk products. It need not feel like deprivation - it can feel like freedom from overweight, gastrointestinal troubles, arthritis, depression, heart disease and, of course, diabetes (to name a few).
All the best to you!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.
Gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free for many years - and happy.
Celiac is no fun, but there are so many gluten-free products these days, even in regular grocery stores, and there's an excellent magazine called Living Without which has articles and recipes and lists of substitutions for dairy and for gluten-containing foods. I bought it because I thought my problem was gluten; then my blood test came back negative. They had an article about sesame allergy as a growing problem. I stopped sesame (especially hummus, which I was eating just about every night!) and the grossness not for print stopped. Good luck with your test, Nicole!
Good luck with your tests, Nicole. Let us know what you find out. I really hope it's not Celiac. That's one of my biggest fears is that Riley will get it. Because, like you said, isn't diabetes enough?
Ugh! So sorry to hear the news, Nicole. If it is in fact celiac, it sucks. There is no denying that. However, Susanne has had it for several years and through much trial and error, she'd be happy to put together a list of gluten-free foods for you that actually don't taste like wet cardboard. Also little glutenous land mines to look out for like the waxy film on red apples. Let me know if you'd like a list. Take care.
I've had type 1 diabetes since 1967. I attended x-ray school and when I started taking call and working overnight I started drinking more coffee and diet sodas. I never thought they would have caused the same symptoms you are having. I've been on all kinds of medication for nausea and vomiting and gas and diarrhea. Nothing helped. I stopped drinking diet sodas because the carbonation destroys calcium. I stopped drinking coffee because one morning I woke up and the thought of drinking coffee that morning made me sick. I stopped drinking coffee and the diet sodas and have had very few "flare ups" in the few months I've been off. Wish I knew this 36 years years ago when these symptoms started. I could have saved much money, tests, medications, emotionsal anguish, etc. Hope this helps you in some way.