My one year anniversary of being GF and how I'm doing

[Stanz]

First off, I apologize for not being more active here of late, this is the busiest time of the year for my business and I also have had house guests for the last week. I hope you are all doing well, I see some are not, however, and it is sad to see the bad advice we continue to get from our MD's. Gabe posted a link to the recent Dr. Hyman article about how Dr.'s are taught to work, we've all been there and I'm just thankful that I refused to take all the poisonous drugs that I'd been prescribed over the years to treat symptoms that have all turned out to be gluten related.

So, that said, I was 1 year GF as of August 6th. I wasn't dx w/MC - both CC & LC - until mid Oct. '09. I had done the usual gluten blood tests that are notoriously inaccurate in 2/08 and finally heeded my ND and my daughter's advice and quit eating gluten. I was genetically tested immediately upon finding this site and through it, Enterolab. I ordered the full spectrum of tests and got my results in mid Dec. '09. I am a double DQB1, as are so many others here, who have all been through the mill of symptoms that couldn't be dx with any test and who thought we were nuts, who had been prescribed numerous drugs to treat those symptoms we didn't test positive for and some of us took them and some didn't.

So, I have treated my MC without any drugs, I have used L-glutamine and probiotics, Vit. D and E and various other vitamins and nutrients that help with the joint damage that occurred while I was still eating gluten. I've been doing this since mid Nov. '09. Two weeks ago I decided that my upcoming jobs and "houseguest stress" would be a good test to see how I would do w/o the L-g, as I had no idea how long I'd need to keep taking ever smaller doses. I was inspired by Polly's recent test results that maybe this MC thing could really be cured by diet alone, that maybe our intestines, our villi would come back to life and do their job.

I am happy to report that I have had NO D, no intestinal issues of any kind and I guess I am just going to stay off the L-g until if and when I ever have ANY symptoms of MC, but currently I have none. I know I am one of the lucky double DQB1's as I don't appear to have multiple intolerances, but I just wanted you guys to know how I'm doing.

Stress has always been a major trigger and I have loads of it right now besides my work and having houseguests til the 16th. My DH is also leaving his job at the end of Sept. and with that eventually goes our health insurance. I've gotten pretty independent during his 5 years working for the City w/o a single vacation, so I'm also going to have to learn to adjust to having him here more often. We were virtually newlyweds when he took this job that he has done so well, but the job is literally killing him. Nobody should be expected to work the hours he does on salary. The only time he has taken off has been to care for his aging parents, through both of them having cancer, and then 2 wks ago his Dad had his leg amputated - diabetes. It's been just one thing after another and I know we all have stress, but...this last year especially has all just been too much.

I've never claimed a cent for Ins. coverage for my MC other than my colonoscopy, but I imagine I am on the upper edge of the risk pool and don't imagine anyone will touch me for health insurance and at my age that is scary. So in spite of all this, I'm doing good, just wanted you guys to know.

I'm only on here now at 11:30 PM because I want to stay awake until my DH is home. He's at a wrap party for a TV series that his hard work really made happen and will film here for a third year - it's 4th season - next year, and again will grow our economy. He's letting them know tonight that he's not going to "apply" for his job now that the City is finally making it a permanent position. They're adding even more responsibilities and a huge salary bump, but the reality is that no one human can do the job and all of us in the industry will miss his dedication. I hope he's getting some well deserved kudos for all he's done to employ over 120 local crew people and a cast that is 80% local actors - virtually unheard of for a Hollywood production.

And he's home now, so good night all.

[Bifcus16]

Hi Connie.

Great to hear from you. Know what you mean about gluten being at the root of so many other health issues. Pity we can't easily teach people that.

Fantastic that you are doing so well. Well done on getting to this stage.
Hope your visitors are a pleasure and not just a stress.

Best wishes,
Lyn

[Polly]

Hi Stanz!

It is terrific to hear your success story..... it will definitely inspire others!

Let's hope the stress level for both you and DH lessens soon. Congrats to him on his TV series!

Love,

Polly

[mbeezie]

Hi Connie,

Glad to hear things are going well for you and that you are able to manage symptoms with diet and not drugs.



Mary Beth

[JLH]

Congrats on your anniversary (although we know you'd rather not have it at all) and doing well without drugs. I certainly wish I were doing so well. I think I made it to remission but have some rough patches. I was thinking of trying L-glutamine........

I hope everything improves for you, Connie.

[tex]

Connie,

Congratulations on your anniversary, and your successes, and thanks for a super update. That's an inspiring story.

I certainly hope that you won't need any insurance in the future, and that your health will remain stable for many, many years to come.

Thanks,
Tex

[Joefnh]

Connie that's great news! It certainly brings hope that this disease can be managed with diet.

Thanks for the positive update

--Joe

[Stanz]

Thanks to all of you for your responses here. I'm certain that I wouldn't be where I am with this now if it weren't for the advice and support of all of you guys during this last year. I cannot express how grateful I am for all of you.

I am enjoying my visitors. My DD, SIL & his Mom and my now 8 month old grandson are here. He will always represent the beginning of the end of my illness. I started treatment just a month before he was born. He's adorable.

[Rosie]

Connie, good to hear that the past year has brought healing. I hope that your husband can find a less stressful, but satisfying job!

As for having him around more, at least for a while, I can identify with the mixed feelings. My DH is "semi-retired" but thank goodness he's a golf fanatic. My friend had a good saying: "I married him for better or for worse, but not for lunch......"

Rosie

[Stanz]

"I married him for better or for worse, but not for lunch......"

Yeah, well, we'll see. At my age I have less patience every day with everyone. I can go from mildly irritated to attack in about 3 seconds. Should be an interesting transition should we survive it.

[grannyh]

What a fantastic anniversary story.. such a hopeful message for all of us and especially folks new to this site.
grannyh

[Gabes-Apg]

Connie
from when i first joined this family you have been (and still are) an inspiration to me and making sure that MC does not own your life, and not to give into MC

congrats on the one year! and congrats on what you have achieved in your life regardless of MC

Keep smiling!
take care, big hugs



Gabes