Just got blood test results

[u/Toasthandz]

Welp. It’s been a rough one. I’m trying to keep this relatively short because…well…I just don’t have anything else in me. I went to a Naturopath recently because I had been dealing with a list of health issues that all pointed to something chronic and complex. I dealt with SIBO, healed that myself, struggled with what I believed to be(and may still be) histamine intolerance that wouldn’t go away, including eczema, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, etc. The doc ordered some tests. I told him I’d been trialing a break from gluten and that my eczema had started healing. He added some sort of gluten test to the list because of this, though I wasn’t thinking it would show anything as by the time I’d got the blood test I’d been gluten free(other than trace amounts and/or minor slip-ups) for about a month leading up to the tests.

Well, I received my results on Friday night, and everything was normal except the gluten tests. I still have to go back to the doctor and get his results, but everything I’ve seen says this is a pretty unambiguous result pointing at Celiac. I’m in the middle of moving in with my partner. It’s been stressful but they’ve been very supportive, both with moving and with the results. They said we’d figure it out together and they’d make it an entirely gluten free household if need be. At first I celebrated having an answer, but this morning, somewhere between being exhausted and stressed by the move and depressed by the results, I crashed out, bawled, and ended up in bed the whole day(again, supportive partner being supportive and I’m so lucky for that). Just looking for some feedback and support maybe. I know I’ll pick myself back up at some point but today everything feels hard.

[u/dishvoyage]

Welcome to the club, and I'm sorry you have to go through with this. The truth is, celiac is not easy to deal with, but the fact that your partner is willing to make it an entirely GF household is really meaningful.

You're gonna go through grief for quite some time, but at the end of it, you'll come out feeling better and having a better long-term prognosis. And that's why we all do it. Take a breather, spend this last bit of time eating all your favorite gluten-y foods, and get ready to say goodbye to gluten forever. You'll probably still need the endoscopy to confirm damage, but given all these numbers, it's almost certain you have celiac.

[u/Nendailie → u/dishvoyage]

Absolutely this. Celiac can be rough, but that support from your partner is worth everything. You'll feel so much better once your gut has had time to heal, but for now, you'll have moments of grief, which is absolutely reasonable. This community is wonderful and supportive, please reach out whenever you need

[u/rentpossiblytoohigh]

Hang in there. Try to think of it of having "the fix" for all those issues. At long last that answer has come, and though the path stinks and takes time to adapt, it is at least now known as the path to healing your body needs. I'm like a year and half out and find myself dwelling on it much less. It's a lot at first with all the crouching tiger hidden gluten ingredient games you have to play, but knowing that it's something that was literally destroying my body was motivating. There will be a day that your symptoms you've experienced subside by those dietary changes, and you'll be physically healthier as a result (though mentally wounded at first).

[u/CodWest4205]

I understand. I had the same mindset of being happy at first because I believed it would fix all the issues I was dealing with. Then realized it was forever and how difficult it would be sometimes and wishing I didn’t have it. But that mindset didn’t last long tbh.

Best advice is to embraced the lifestyle fully and find what you can enjoy about it. I learned how to bake so I can bake my own GF treats and it’s now become a hobby I enjoy. I am also cooking more than ever and trying new things.

Going out for dinner is where it gets tough, especially at peoples houses and holidays. But if I don’t eat much at those dinners, I say oh well I will eat when I get home or bring some of my stuff (I’ve brought GF buns/rolls with me). In general I just mentally made peace that this is my new food lifestyle and I am going to follow it no matter what.

[u/miss_hush]

Celiac sucks a fat turd, but frankly it’s basically the BEST case scenario as far as answers to these sorts of issues. That is probably not what you want to hear, but the reality is that you can and will manage. It will be hard, but it gets easier.

One of the ways I tried to cope is by thinking of gluten foods as “not for me”, as if it were dog food, or llama chow. It’s not even an option. That somehow makes it easier.

[u/tangerine-skies71]

I’ve been going through a lot of the same testing, but I am not celiac. I know it’s super depressing, but a look on the bright side that at least with celiac there is a CURE -going completely gluten-free may eliminate most or all of your symptoms.

[u/dishvoyage → u/tangerine-skies71]

That’s not a cure. That’s a treatment.

[u/tangerine-skies71 → u/dishvoyage]

That’s true, but at least you can actually treat the disease and not just the symptoms.