🚀 go-pugleaf

<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Dear List members,
This is my first post so please bear with me.  I am a newly diagnosed celiac
(approx. 6 months) and I have a few questions.  I was diagnosed with
rheumatoid
arthritis 3 years ago and I have been on meds for that ever since.  Last
spring
my iron level was found to be very low and the doctors thought I had a GI
bleed
from my medication.  I was diagnosed after biopsies were done during my
endoscopy.  By the way, no GI bleed!  I spent the summer on a GF diet and was
re-biopsied in the fall.  Celiac sprue was confirmed at that time.  One
problem
I have (or don't have) is the terrible GI symptoms after ingesting gluten.  Is
there
anyone out there like me?  In retrospect I did have alot of the other symptoms
like hair loss, thin nails, bloating, low iron, etc.
Anyway, after much research I have found that there is a connection between
arthritis-like symptoms and sprue.  I did a med-line search thru the Texas
Medical Assoc. and got numerous articles on this subject!  My most profound
symptom is the arthritis!  After a few days of cheating I feel like a 90 year
old
for the next week or two.  By the way, I am 36!  Is there anyone out there who
has arthritis associated with their sprue diagnosis?  Is there anyone out
there
who does not have the terrible GI symptoms everyone talks about?
After 6 months on the diet I have stopped taking my arthritis meds and do
great
as long as I don't cheat.  But because of lack of immediate terrible problems
(GI or otherwise) I find it hard to say no the cookies and cake sometimes!
(Just
one day of cheating does not cause me too much joint discomfort).
If there is anyone out there in my shoes please write to me.  I have had a
difficult
time accepting my diagnosis because of the lack of immediate illness when I
ingest gluten.  I have many more questions but will stop now since this is my
first post.
Thanks to all of you who participate in this list!  I have been reading your
mail
for about 6 weeks and have learned so much.  I am thrilled to be a member!

Shannon in Texas

* Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List *