Hi, Everyone!

[Courtney]

Hello all,

I promise I have not been intentionally avoiding you all! I've just been very busy and stressed out for the past month and a half or so, and I haven't had time to post, although I have been checking in periodically to read posts.

Welcome to all newbies and happy birthday to all those I missed.

Briefly, my MC symptoms are the same or worse than they were before I eliminated soy. Bummer! I'm starting to think this is never going to get better, but I am hanging in there.

I've had some dental work done recently, too. My dentist uses some kind of a tool to take bone density readings in the teeth, and guess what? I have low bone density in my teeth! I had fractured a molar, so I've got a temporary crown now, and I go back next week for the permanent. I guess this means I need to schedule a DEXA test. My insurance is going to hate me, but the feeling is pretty much mutual!

I've gotta run now, but I will check in again soon!

Love,

Courtney

[Rose]

Courtney,

Glad to see you are back and sorry to hear that you are not doing well. I also did really well once I eliminated soy for a about 2 weeks and now my d is back with a furry. I am getting up 3 to four times a night with the stuff. But on the bright side at least I am waking up instead of finding big "surprises" as my daughter would say. We will hang in there together.

That is so wild that your dentist took a bone density test on your teeth. I just had my DEXA in January and I am back to normal after being on Actonel for 2 years. I hope that you and your teeth get to feeling better real soon.

Love,

Rose

[starfire]

Courtney,
Really sorry about the continued problems. I know it has to be so very depressing when nothing seems to hlep for any length of time. Also the news about the bone density. Wow, you haven't been taking anything like Fosamax have you? I assume you would have mentioned it if you had. You probably know that some of those meds can cause jaw bone problems for some reason.

Please hang in there and please let us know how you are doing.

Love, Shirley

[tex]

Hi Courtney,

Thanks for posting. We were beginning to worry that you might have "run away from home, here".

What a bummer that you still haven't seen any improvement in your symptoms. I hope that begins to change, soon.

Shirley is correct, read up before taking any of the bisphosphonates. For an unfortunate percentage of users, that family of drugs can literally destroy the jawbone. You might want to consider strontium if you plan to take a med to combat the osteoporosis.

Please keep us updated.

Love,
Tex

[Courtney]

Tex, I can't run away from home! I don't know where the bathrooms are!

I have just been very distracted trying to make some big decisions about what I am going to be doing next year. Decisions I don't feel like I can make without knowing exactly what is going one with my health...And that's sort of impossible to know. I was admitted to a couple of great doctoral schools, but I am thinking about deferring admission until next year so that I can try to get this under control. As Type A as I am, even thinking about taking some time off is a big deal for me, and I'm so mad at myself for not getting better. I know that's stupid, but still...

And I'm very stressed out about finishing my thesis. I'm on the ball, but my advisers aren't, and one of them has been involved in some serious departmental drama. And my students are a really frustrating bunch this semester. Kids these days... Seriously, I am only ten years older than they are, but I would never have dreamed of having the whiny, lazy attitudes most of them do.

Thanks for the information about the bone-density drugs. I am not on any right now, and I don't plan to be unless there's absolutely no other option. I knew I would likely have bone issues eventually (both of my grandmothers have osteoporosis and I'm pretty thin and small-boned), but I guess MC just hastened it along. Guess I need to get in the gym and start lifting some weights.

I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow morning to schedule a bone density test and get my thyroid checked. (I think my levels are fine, but it's time to have it checked.) I've got an appointment with my GI on March 30, and I think I may ask him about taking a short dose of prednisone and then following up with entocort to see if we can knock this thing out. I'm also seriously considering the Paleo Diet, bc I think it's likely I have intolerances I don't know about and won't be able to find any other way. Any suggestions you have for other things I might ask GP or GI are welcome.

I'll keep you all posted.

Love,

Courtney

[tex]

Courtney,

I certainly agree with you about the dilemma that MC causes, concerning ambitious plans for the future. I found it almost impossible to think logically, and focus my thoughts for any length of time, when I was reacting. I couldn't trust myself to make good decisions, on many days, and my small business really suffered, as a result.

Speaking of the younger generation, since this has been ongoing for so many generations, I can foresee the day, in the not too distant future, when kids will become so lazy and "worthless" that they will probably be outlawed, and replaced by robots. Just kidding, of course, but it does make one wonder how they will ever be able to "operate" the increasingly complex world we are living in, when their time to "take the wheel" arrives. Hopefully a few are paying attention, and they are all learning more than they appear to be.

I assume that you are aware of the fact, (at least I think that I read this somewhere), that gluten-sensitive enteropathy is the number one cause of osteoporosis? That's what makes adoption of the GF diet early on, so important.

Speaking of Prednisone, have you read Bob's, (bobh), story, and his "miraculous" recovery? (Bob is a Double DQ2 - IOW, he has two copies of the most common celiac gene).

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... prednisone

Even if you've read it, I thought you might find it helpful to review his story, if you haven't read it lately.

Good luck with the bone density and thyroid tests. I agree with you that the paleo diet should, (in theory, at least), make avoiding common sources of intolerances, much easier to do.

Love,
Tex

[Rose]

Courtney,

Good luck with your tests tomorrow and let us know what you find out.

Love,

Rose

[Courtney]

I printed out Bob's prednisone success story, and I am going to take it to my GI on Mar. 30. He may be rather scornful of it, but I am going to give it a try anyway.

I've got to get my DEXA test scheduled this week. Will let you all know how that goes.

Love,

Courtney