RE: Sol - celiac's ?

March 31, 2008

Helen,

Hello, and thanks for thinking of me. I'm putting my answers below:

Helen deHavilland wrote:

> In thinking about your digestive problems, have you checked out the symptoms

etc for celiac's disease (also spelt coeliac). I have symptoms identical to the

ones you posted, and mine fit and exact profile for celiac's. I had the blood

test last week and am awaiting the results.

Yes, I am well aware of celiac, an aquaintance of mine died of it

several years ago--basically she went undiagnosed for most of her life

because she was overweight, and by the time she did get diagnosed she

had liver damage, and she died while waiting for a transplant--she was

only 51. Many people don't know that celiac doesn't just damage the

intestines, but can cause other organ damage, liver and I think kidneys too.

I've never had the blood test, but I have gone gluten free for long

periods, then challenged with gluten. Have tested it several times. I

honestly do not think I am celiac. In fact, some gluten free foods

cause me more problem than gluten. Maybe because of the fake crap in

them to mimic gluten, I'm thinking particularly of the gums used in

mixes, xanthan, guar, etc. plus gluten free mimic baked goods have even

more sugar than regular ones (seems like to me).

> Please have a look at it. I never for a moment would have considered

cealiac's. I didn't even know what it was, but I can promise that its a

wonderful relief to think that you might have found the cause of something that

is cheap and relatively easy to treat.

>

Yes, I agree, it would have been nice to have one answer. Unfortunately

it wasn't my answer. But, I investigated whether my eczema/hives could

actually be dermatitis herpetiformis, which is the skin reaction form of

celiac. But that turned out not to be the case either. My skin reactions

are plain old histamine reactions, IgE, and antihistamines help. DH is

an IgA reaction and antihistamines are completely ineffective for it.

The reason I personally suspected DH is that it is often triggered by

iodine, and so is my eczema.

Celiac is a very interesting " disease " , and it is found more frequently

in people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, thyroid and adrenal

problems, than in the general population. I do think the existence of

celiac shows that humans aren't designed to eat grains. I'm reading a

book now that claims that early humans would have eaten wild grains, and

beans. Which seems to me utterly ridiculous, as grains are not

digestible unless cooked, and neither are dried legumes. Before cooking,

no human ancestor would have eaten those things.

Anyway, I digress........

Please post the results of your blood test, but be aware it is not 100%

accurate---it is possible to have celiac and still have a negative blood

test result.

There are several celiac email lists too. I found the one I joined to

have far too much focus on replacing baked goods with gluten free baked

goods, very high in sugars and carbs. Recipes for breads, biscuits,

pancakes, desserts, were the focus. Of course most of the people on it

were dealing with celiac children, and wanted to give them foods that

would look just like the foods the other kids were eating. I decided

after a while that if my elimination diet and challenge showed me to

have celiac (it didn't) I would be much better off just eliminating all

grains, sugars, and baked goods. It was disappointing to me to learn

that most celiacs (those on that list anyway) still eat a very high

carb, very high sugar diet, which I personally think is still unhealthy,

even though gluten free.

sol

April 3, 2008

Hi Sol

I think you know a lot more about celiac's than I do.

My tests came back negative which really surprised me. If I eat cakes, or a

hamburger, my heart rate will speed up and become very prominant in an hour or

so. This seemed to happen with so many foods. I got some gluten free cake and

found that there's no reaction. Also no reaction with other gluten free

products. (albeit it contained sugar).

Any ideas what might be going on.

I definitely picked up a urinary tract infection when I was in hospital - I'm

guessing from the catheter. When I came home there was bladder pain, urgency

etc. But blood tests also came back negative. I was really sick and got hugely

better when I had my amalgams removed. But the blood tests showed negligible

mercury levels. Had I taken notice of the test I'm sure I would have died - as

it was I had cancer which I was lucky to get out of with surgery. I dont know

whether I should take notice of the celiac test or not. I take colostrum

specifically to heal the gut. If I go off it for a few days I get really sick.