My doc requested one more test during my last visit. She (and my HMO PC) had previously requested that I take a bone density scan. I didn't want a test to tell me what I already knew ... that I lost bone (actually height) during those years my PCP and many other misdiagnosed my celiac symptoms as IBS and/or an eating disorder. My naturopath believed I might still be losing bone, because I was past menopause and never took any hormone replacement. I told her I consume calcium rich foods, take daily vitamin D and magnesium, do weight bearing exercise and lift weights daily. So I'm doing everything I can to keep my bones strong, short of taking HRT. My ND told me I could take the N-Teleopeptite test, which would indicate whether I'm losing excessive calcium or bone ingredients through my urine. I thought that was much easier than subjecting myself to unnecessary radiation (via bone density scan). So I agreed, order the test from my HMO lab and did the test.
Amazingly (to my ND) my results were mid normal range, which says I'm not excreting bone. Whatever I'm doing seems to be working. I believe the eating gluten (which blocked calcium absorption) and having low stomach acid prevented calcium, magnesium and vitamin D absorption. Once I resolved all that (stopped eating gluten and starting taking betaine HCl), I stopped whatever bone loss I experienced during my years of undiagnosed celiac disease.
Anyway, I'm glad my results were normal. I hope that my ND won't need any more tests to show I don't need HRT. If my HMO PCP pesters me again about getting a bone scan, I'll refer her to my N-Teleopeptide test results, which are in my HMO medical file.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Eating Disorder or Gastrointestinal Disorder
I just posted a comment on a blog in response to a 'guest post' by an eating disorder specialist. She recognized that food allergies may play a role in eating disorders, but she focussed on the emotional consequences of those food allergies, which she presumed cause the emotional/mental eating disorder. Nowhere did she consider that PAIN, DISCOMFORT or INDIGESTION could influence 'eating disorder' habits. Of course most ED specialists say that those symptoms are caused by ED habits. I think the causes of gastro symptoms PRECEDED ED habit, that ED habits are a solution, albeit ineffective solution, to gastrointestinal problems which cause those symptoms. Here's what I said in my comment:
Like "IBS" terms like anorexia, bulimia, etc. are just labels for sets of symptoms. Like "IBS" those labels do nothing to explain cause or suggest effective treatment. Like "IBS" those terms allow medical 'experts' who can't explain the cause of anorexia, bulimia, etc. to suggest that those are 'mental/emotional' diseases. Like "IBS" that 'mental/emotional' explanation does nothing to treat physical causes of those symptoms.
When I had 'eating disorder' symptoms, I talked to my traditional physician, who suggested I see a therapist. So I told my therapist that eating caused me pain and bloating, that vomiting relieved the pain and constant reflux after meals, and that I never felt physically satisfied no matter how much I ate, although I felt painfully full after eating even small amounts. That therapist told me to talk to my doctor. My doctor gave me the 'IBS' label. My therapist gave me the "anorexia/bulimia" label. Neither of those labels explained the causes of my symptoms or suggested an effective treatment.
26 years later I learned I had celiac disease and 6 other delayed reaction food allergies. Eating any of those allergens caused me cramping pain, bloating and nausea.
Abstaining from the allergens didn't eliminate the overly full feeling after eating small amounts or resolve the reflux. After more tests I learned that I had hypochloridia and needed supplemental betaine hydrochloride to digest normally (as well as absorb nutrients). Taking those supplements with meals allowed me to feel satisfied (rather than painfully full, but dissatisfied) after meals. My bloating also completely disapppeared. I was the same size before and after eating.
Finally I learned that my symptoms of fatigue and low core body temperature (as well as irregularity) were caused by autoimmune Hashimoto's hypothyroidism NOT low body weight (or anorexia as I had been previously told).
Today I weigh about the same as I weighed in my 20s when I was told I had anorexia. I eat anything I want EXCEPT my food allergens, and feel satisfied but not painfully full after eating. I'm warm, energetic and 'regular'.
I also wonder how many others who were given the 'eating disorder' really have gastrointestinal disorders, like celiac disease or food allergies, or even hypochloridia or hypothyroidism. I wonder how many therapists even consider physical causes for symptoms included in the eating disorders label.
Like "IBS" terms like anorexia, bulimia, etc. are just labels for sets of symptoms. Like "IBS" those labels do nothing to explain cause or suggest effective treatment. Like "IBS" those terms allow medical 'experts' who can't explain the cause of anorexia, bulimia, etc. to suggest that those are 'mental/emotional' diseases. Like "IBS" that 'mental/emotional' explanation does nothing to treat physical causes of those symptoms.
When I had 'eating disorder' symptoms, I talked to my traditional physician, who suggested I see a therapist. So I told my therapist that eating caused me pain and bloating, that vomiting relieved the pain and constant reflux after meals, and that I never felt physically satisfied no matter how much I ate, although I felt painfully full after eating even small amounts. That therapist told me to talk to my doctor. My doctor gave me the 'IBS' label. My therapist gave me the "anorexia/bulimia" label. Neither of those labels explained the causes of my symptoms or suggested an effective treatment.
26 years later I learned I had celiac disease and 6 other delayed reaction food allergies. Eating any of those allergens caused me cramping pain, bloating and nausea.
Abstaining from the allergens didn't eliminate the overly full feeling after eating small amounts or resolve the reflux. After more tests I learned that I had hypochloridia and needed supplemental betaine hydrochloride to digest normally (as well as absorb nutrients). Taking those supplements with meals allowed me to feel satisfied (rather than painfully full, but dissatisfied) after meals. My bloating also completely disapppeared. I was the same size before and after eating.
Finally I learned that my symptoms of fatigue and low core body temperature (as well as irregularity) were caused by autoimmune Hashimoto's hypothyroidism NOT low body weight (or anorexia as I had been previously told).
Today I weigh about the same as I weighed in my 20s when I was told I had anorexia. I eat anything I want EXCEPT my food allergens, and feel satisfied but not painfully full after eating. I'm warm, energetic and 'regular'.
I also wonder how many others who were given the 'eating disorder' really have gastrointestinal disorders, like celiac disease or food allergies, or even hypochloridia or hypothyroidism. I wonder how many therapists even consider physical causes for symptoms included in the eating disorders label.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Soyed By Labelling Error
A week ago I bought a deli item at my local, organic grocery coop. I've eaten their other deli items,which were labeled free of my allergies, and never had reactions. However a week ago, I saw an item which was originally free of soy (tamari or gluten free soy sauce). However, the deli began adding tamari to their recipe and correctly labeled that ingredient on their ingredients card. So I didn't eat it as long as I saw soy on the label. Nevertheless, during my last visit I saw that item with ingredients free of soy. I read the label twice and asked my husband to verify that he didn't see soy either. Then I asked the deli counter person if the label was correct and she said it was. So I bought a pound of the vegan rice casserole and mixed it with a few other vegies and sunflower seeds for 2 meals' worth.
As I ate some that night, I felt the need to recheck the label on the carton. To my horror, soy (tamari) was plainly listed in the 2nd line of the ingredients. I was absolutely certain that the deli case label had omitted the soy ingredient. So I called the deli department of that deli. The person who answered the phone said the they always use tamari in that recipe. Then I asked why that ingredient wasn't included in the deli counter label. The person in the deli department checked the counter label and sure enough that sign had omitted tamari (soy). Of course I learned all that AFTER I had eaten about 1/3-1/2 cup of the soy laced casserole.
Next I talked to the manager who told me to come in the next day so that they could refund my money. She also wanted to offer me a gift certificate to compensate me for the pain and suffering I would endure, because I'm very allergic to soy. I was so angry at the point that I asked her if chewing and swallowing the gift certificate was supposed to relieve my pain. GRRRRR!!! My husband later told me that the gift certificate was all they could offer me. I told him that made THEM feel better, but not me. What I needed was a guarantee that their labels would always be accurate. Instead I decided that I will never again buy food from their deli department.
One week later I'm still suffering soy reaction symptoms. For the first few days I had more and more cramping intestinal pain and bloating. By the 5th day I had loose stools which turned into outright diarrhea for the past 2 days preceded by excruciating gut cramps and bloating each night. This was my first soy consumption incident in about 5 years or so. The longer someone abstains from a delayed reaction allergen (soy is an IgA mediated allergen for me), the stronger (more intense) and longer lasting reaction symptoms will be. That's exactly what I've experienced. I've been reacting to soy for over a week now. I hope it ends soon. I used to spend 5-7 days reacting to soy. The past 2 days (6 and 7) were the worst. Usually my symptoms are most intense in the middle of the reaction period and then taper off toward the end. So I may spend the next few days still reacting. I hope not!!
The good news is the DHEA seems to be working to improve my immunity (or all the T-cells activated by soy are attacking cold viruses LOL). I've had less sleep lately (because cramping gut pain keeps me awake), but I haven't had any cold symptoms, despite being out in public, touching and possibly picking up germs, for the past week. I'm still taking a tiny bit of arabinogalactin (less than one teaspoonful each night), but that amount previously did not prevent cold symptoms. Also my hair doesn't seem to get so dry between shampoo/conditioning treatments.
I've developed a rhythm to taking my daily sublingual DHEA dose each morning. I wait about 15-30 minutes after taking my thyroid supplements so that I'm fully alert to measure out the 2.5 mcg dose in the oral hypo. After taking that dose I wait 10-15 minutes until I no longer taste the cherry flavored solution (under my tongue) before drink or eat anything. So I know I have absorbed as much as possible.
I hope I can enjoy my improved immunity after I stop reacting to the soy. SIGH
As I ate some that night, I felt the need to recheck the label on the carton. To my horror, soy (tamari) was plainly listed in the 2nd line of the ingredients. I was absolutely certain that the deli case label had omitted the soy ingredient. So I called the deli department of that deli. The person who answered the phone said the they always use tamari in that recipe. Then I asked why that ingredient wasn't included in the deli counter label. The person in the deli department checked the counter label and sure enough that sign had omitted tamari (soy). Of course I learned all that AFTER I had eaten about 1/3-1/2 cup of the soy laced casserole.
Next I talked to the manager who told me to come in the next day so that they could refund my money. She also wanted to offer me a gift certificate to compensate me for the pain and suffering I would endure, because I'm very allergic to soy. I was so angry at the point that I asked her if chewing and swallowing the gift certificate was supposed to relieve my pain. GRRRRR!!! My husband later told me that the gift certificate was all they could offer me. I told him that made THEM feel better, but not me. What I needed was a guarantee that their labels would always be accurate. Instead I decided that I will never again buy food from their deli department.
One week later I'm still suffering soy reaction symptoms. For the first few days I had more and more cramping intestinal pain and bloating. By the 5th day I had loose stools which turned into outright diarrhea for the past 2 days preceded by excruciating gut cramps and bloating each night. This was my first soy consumption incident in about 5 years or so. The longer someone abstains from a delayed reaction allergen (soy is an IgA mediated allergen for me), the stronger (more intense) and longer lasting reaction symptoms will be. That's exactly what I've experienced. I've been reacting to soy for over a week now. I hope it ends soon. I used to spend 5-7 days reacting to soy. The past 2 days (6 and 7) were the worst. Usually my symptoms are most intense in the middle of the reaction period and then taper off toward the end. So I may spend the next few days still reacting. I hope not!!
The good news is the DHEA seems to be working to improve my immunity (or all the T-cells activated by soy are attacking cold viruses LOL). I've had less sleep lately (because cramping gut pain keeps me awake), but I haven't had any cold symptoms, despite being out in public, touching and possibly picking up germs, for the past week. I'm still taking a tiny bit of arabinogalactin (less than one teaspoonful each night), but that amount previously did not prevent cold symptoms. Also my hair doesn't seem to get so dry between shampoo/conditioning treatments.
I've developed a rhythm to taking my daily sublingual DHEA dose each morning. I wait about 15-30 minutes after taking my thyroid supplements so that I'm fully alert to measure out the 2.5 mcg dose in the oral hypo. After taking that dose I wait 10-15 minutes until I no longer taste the cherry flavored solution (under my tongue) before drink or eat anything. So I know I have absorbed as much as possible.
I hope I can enjoy my improved immunity after I stop reacting to the soy. SIGH
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