Experiment

I suffer from mild to dibilitating migraines 3-5 days a week. I do get time off from them though, so I am very sorry to those of you who do not. Anyway, I have other problems too... sensitive stomach, depression, anxiety, and extremely irregular menstrual cyles and weight shifts. I also get sick easily (strep, flu, colds), and have seasonal allergies. Despite the fact that I have gone to multiple doctors multiple times, there is no answer as to why these things continue. I am 23 years old and have to take 4 kinds of medicine everyday in addition to a regular shot every three months. Some medicines help, some I don't think do. My 55 year-old father and 52 year-old mother take the same amount of medicine as I do--combined. I have to sleep more than my 72 year-old grandma. I want to be 23--Not 60!

That's the description of me, but that's not why I'm here, that's just the background info. I'm here because I typed in all of those symptoms along with Celiac into a search engine (i.e. Celiac AND migraines)--and with every one of them there is some link. People with migraines are ten times more likely to have Celiac disease than people without migraines (according to one study). Let me back up--Celiac disease is a food allergy to gluten. The only cure is a strict diet including NO gluten. So, I'm trying it. I'm cutting out wheat, barley, rye, and oats. At first I didn't think I could do it, but then I found a list of foods that are Gluten Free (GF) at http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/nav/start.asp? webtag=celiac

I'm taking on this challenge for one week--a week, that may I mention is very stressful (finals, projects, papers, big event at work, flying home, friends' graduation... ah!)--and I'm going to see how I feel without gluten in my diet. I did about 12 hours of research yesterday, and my brothers girlfriend is a Celiac. Besides that, I knew nothing. Things I've learned:

Many people think that everyone has some degree of allergee to gluten, just some are more severe.

Gluten can affect your attention span.

Frito Lay, Kraft, Coke, Giant brand and WalMart's brand are very conscience of Gluten free products.

Many restaurants offer GF menus

Most drinks at Starbucks are GF

It's estimated that 1/133 have Celiac disease and 97% are not diagnosed

If anyone else wants to start this journey with me, I'm sure it would be great to have the moral support! Also, if you want to read how things are going, I'm going to try to post in my Diary often. You are not suppose to self-diagnose, and I'm not, I'm just trying a lifestyle change to see if I can start to feel better. I will check with my doctor before I stop any medication even if I feel cured.

Please do not take anything that I said as fact. I have gathered this from research that I have done and I just wanted to let you know what I am doing.

Post edited by: proudbird, at: 04/25/2008 17:20

I have to say that self diagnosis is one of the few ways to get a good answer. (And it's certainly quicker than waiting on hold). We don't have insurance so I try to make sure that the doctor's tests are relevant and necessary. Usually they seem to rattle off stuff to do like throwing darts at a board.

Melanie's mom

Jonathan.

Oh yeah, Welcome to the group! I forgot to say that!

Post edited by: MaryR, at: 04/27/2008 22:03

So hope it works for you, will be interesting to see.