Week 20 started off well with Mother’s Day, which translated into a movie (Iron Man 2) and dinner with the whole family. Any time I get to watch Robert Downey, Jr. is a good day. So seeing Robert Downey, Jr. and spending it with family was indeed a rare treat!!
Though I continued to have problems sleeping, I began feeling 100% on more days than not. Once the trembling subsided (presumed Prilosec withdrawal) I decided that I would stop taking it completely rather than gradually eliminating the dosage. I figured I’d rather suffer and get it over with now than continue this off-and-on thing all summer long.
On Wednesday I removed the biopsy stitches out of my arms myself. I did pretty well until the last stitch which was somewhat embedded into my skin and required a bit of digging. Started feeling queasy – don’t recommend it to others!! I’d much rather remove someone else’s stitches than my own!
No sooner had I finished pulling the stitches out, the dermatologist called. She said no sign of celiac was found in the biopsies but she was not really expecting anything to be found because the rash was no longer active—just old, chronically scratched skin-- not dermatitis herpetiformis. She said she asked the pathologist if IgA would show up and she was told that as long as the rash is still itchy it would still be present. So based on that information, she said she didn't think I had celiac. But the rash has not been itchy. In fact, it hasn’t been itchy or active since I went gluten-free. When it does itch I believe it is because of the scabbing that is trying to take place.
Regardless, the dermatologist prescribed an ointment for me which she said would make the rash go away once and for all. The prescription was for Clobetasol Proprionate USP, 0.05% which I was supposed to apply at least twice a day.
Almost all of my exercise workouts during the week were uneventful: nothing going on out of the ordinary other than some minor fluttering late in the week which felt gastric-related. I also felt some brief left-sided chest pain off and on for a day or so, but nothing alarming.
My exercise totals for the week: 100 minutes strengthening exercises, including 20 minutes of Pilates and 80 minutes weight-bearing exercises; and 14 miles on the treadmill as well.
This week was nothing much to write about.... if fact, it was rather ordinary. But do you know what? That is a good thing!
Showing posts with label Skin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skin. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Week 19 Recap: The Road Ahead
The week started out with more trembling and fluttering than I care to deal with, particularly because it worsened at night and often lasted till morning. If you’ve been following this blog, then you know that I found a possible connection between these bizarre symptoms and PPI (Prilosec) withdrawal (or any drug withdrawal, for that matter). Once I figured this out, I knew it would pass and determined not to take any more drugs for anything, if it can be helped.
I saw a dermatologist during the week with regard to the rash on my right wrist/forearm which I have had for almost six years now (possible dermatitis herpetiformis), as well as the rash near my left elbow which showed up about a year ago. She did not say what she thought of either rash, other than the one on my right wrist is clearly quite aged. She proceeded to take a biopsy of each, and I left her office with an unexpected six stitches, three in each arm. It will be interesting to see what she finds, if anything.
Toward the end of the week the night-time trembles began to die down in intensity, and other than being extremely busy sewing costumes for an upcoming talent show in which my dancing girls were participating, there were no new symptoms or return of any old symptoms. In spite of the exhaustion that comes from very little sleep and too much to do, it was a good week.
I tried to maintain my “physical therapy” even during this very busy week because it is the one thing I am not yet willing to trade-off for more time. I have to take care of my body, and the physical exercise is probably the biggest and best thing I can do right now. All of my treadmill walks went very well (walking 18.8 miles), and I feel my heart has finally reached a significant point of healing. Though I still get a heart palpitation about once a week or so, I have had none during any treadmill walks, nor have I had any chest pain of any kind.
I was not as successful in maintaining Pilates during the week (only 30 minutes), probably because it is usually the form of exercise I do last (in the evening) and all my evenings were absorbed in sewing and fitting costumes. I did, however, keep up the weight-bearing exercises on the Pilates Reformer (110 minutes)—which I know will continue to benefit my bones.
ODD THINGS THIS WEEK:
From where I stand now, the road ahead appears to be a good one. I am not even so sure I want to "test" myself with gluten because I am doing so much better now, even though it has been a long time coming. Yet I know the dreaded "test" must probably be done at some point in the future so I have a certain answer, one way or the other, as to what was/is making me sick, and so I know how to react in the future should I be "contaminated" in any way.
I can only say that prior to last year, I had never been sensitive to any foods, nor any medications whether it be over-the-counter or prescription. I do know that I suffered a traumatic event when my husband suffered a massive heart attack, and though it was the hardest thing I had ever had to deal with from all aspects of my life up until then, I felt it was behind us. And then there was the added stress of the "heart attack fallout" -- no money, no way to pay the bills, and watching my credit that I had worked so hard to build take a nosedive. As if that wasn't enough, dealing with my husband and his erratic mood swings was apparently more than my body could take. I felt I was on the verge of a major breakdown almost every week... turns out, my body did breakdown-- it just wasn't mental, it was physical.
All these events may have very well served as the catalyst, the trigger that set off the illness that slammed me down late last fall. Interestingly, celiac can be triggered by just such events. Though some people will not believe I have celiac, and though I have tried to dismiss it myself, I can't -- no matter how badly I want to -- and so life moves on.
I saw a dermatologist during the week with regard to the rash on my right wrist/forearm which I have had for almost six years now (possible dermatitis herpetiformis), as well as the rash near my left elbow which showed up about a year ago. She did not say what she thought of either rash, other than the one on my right wrist is clearly quite aged. She proceeded to take a biopsy of each, and I left her office with an unexpected six stitches, three in each arm. It will be interesting to see what she finds, if anything.
Toward the end of the week the night-time trembles began to die down in intensity, and other than being extremely busy sewing costumes for an upcoming talent show in which my dancing girls were participating, there were no new symptoms or return of any old symptoms. In spite of the exhaustion that comes from very little sleep and too much to do, it was a good week.
I tried to maintain my “physical therapy” even during this very busy week because it is the one thing I am not yet willing to trade-off for more time. I have to take care of my body, and the physical exercise is probably the biggest and best thing I can do right now. All of my treadmill walks went very well (walking 18.8 miles), and I feel my heart has finally reached a significant point of healing. Though I still get a heart palpitation about once a week or so, I have had none during any treadmill walks, nor have I had any chest pain of any kind.
I was not as successful in maintaining Pilates during the week (only 30 minutes), probably because it is usually the form of exercise I do last (in the evening) and all my evenings were absorbed in sewing and fitting costumes. I did, however, keep up the weight-bearing exercises on the Pilates Reformer (110 minutes)—which I know will continue to benefit my bones.
ODD THINGS THIS WEEK:
- Stomach ache again followed by same symptoms as usual-- kind of like a huge caffeine buzz-- nervousness and inner trembling.
- Discovered vertical rows of tiny bumps on my fingernails, most noticeable on my ring fingers. They are not the vertical ridges (which I also have), but tiny oblong bumps. Since they run the entire length of the nail I am guessing they have been there for a while. The dermatologist did not seem to know what they were and was unsuccessful at getting a good photograph of them.
- During one night, I felt strong muscle tremors in neck-- so much so that it woke me up. I remember making a mental note of it.
From where I stand now, the road ahead appears to be a good one. I am not even so sure I want to "test" myself with gluten because I am doing so much better now, even though it has been a long time coming. Yet I know the dreaded "test" must probably be done at some point in the future so I have a certain answer, one way or the other, as to what was/is making me sick, and so I know how to react in the future should I be "contaminated" in any way.
I can only say that prior to last year, I had never been sensitive to any foods, nor any medications whether it be over-the-counter or prescription. I do know that I suffered a traumatic event when my husband suffered a massive heart attack, and though it was the hardest thing I had ever had to deal with from all aspects of my life up until then, I felt it was behind us. And then there was the added stress of the "heart attack fallout" -- no money, no way to pay the bills, and watching my credit that I had worked so hard to build take a nosedive. As if that wasn't enough, dealing with my husband and his erratic mood swings was apparently more than my body could take. I felt I was on the verge of a major breakdown almost every week... turns out, my body did breakdown-- it just wasn't mental, it was physical.
All these events may have very well served as the catalyst, the trigger that set off the illness that slammed me down late last fall. Interestingly, celiac can be triggered by just such events. Though some people will not believe I have celiac, and though I have tried to dismiss it myself, I can't -- no matter how badly I want to -- and so life moves on.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Symptoms of Celiac
There are so many symptoms that can be connected with CD, it seems almost impossible to diagnose. It is no wonder so many people do not receive a proper diagnosis until their particular combination of symptoms can no longer be ignored.
I found a website called Gluten Free Works, which has an extremely comprehensive list of symptoms of Celiac by body sytem. I have listed here only the symptoms that pertain to me, or to my children:
I found a website called Gluten Free Works, which has an extremely comprehensive list of symptoms of Celiac by body sytem. I have listed here only the symptoms that pertain to me, or to my children:
- Weight Gain (unexplained): I gained almost 20 pounds in a year without any significant changes in my diet. I thought it was just my age.
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Urticaria, chronic (hives)
- Eczema
- Koilonychia (Thin nails that flatten, ends progressively turning up instead of down): I have noticed over the past three months at least, that I cannot seem to grow my fingernails. They are either too soft or too brittle. Lately, the tips of my nails (not all of them) are bending upward. So I cut them and they are extremely short.
- Nails, Dry and brittle that chip, peel, crack or break easily
- Seborrhea
- Thin hair: My hair has always been thin but lately I seem to be losing even more hair.
- Anxiety
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Depression
- Headaches
- Inability to concentrate
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Migraine
- Tremors
- Nightblindness
- Urinary Tract Infection (Kidney infections in my case)
- Amenorrhea
- Late Menarche (I was 15 years old)
- Complications during pregnancy: During my first pregnancy, I lost more weight than I gained. By my fourth pregnancy, I was so extremely ill I was very nearly ketotic. I could not tolerate either food or water.
- congential anomalies
- Autism and learning disorders
- ADHD
- Gums bleeding/swollen (red in children)
- Lactose intolerance
- Asthma
Gluten-Free: Seeing the Benefits
I have found it amazing that my mental energy seems to be through the roof these past couple of days. If it weren't for some slight stomach soreness, I'd be buzzing around the house like I'm on some kind of caffeine high. Is mental clarity a benefit of a gluten-free diet?
I'd also like to say I'm in a much better mood because I have been so irritable in the past (attributing it to stress and age-related problems). Perhaps my mood is elevated because I am finally feeling like I might have some answers. Or perhaps it is because I am not feeling sick and miserable and like my life is coming back, little by little.... or maybe I never really had control of my health in the first place, and so this is a new feeling. For lack of a better description, my insides feel like they are at peace.
The more I have researched Celiac Disease, the more various little bits of information throughout my life are beginning to fit into the picture. When I was a child, for example, I was always the scrawny one in my class. I was so skinny, I was usually one of the smallest. I was horrible at P.E. and the last picked for any team, because I had no muscular strength. I was not only the scrawniest kid, but also the weakest kid-- so much so, that my classmates often poked fun at me.
As a young adult, I was always told that my skin problems were a vitamin deficiency-- the skin on my fingertips would peel, or there would be some sort of rash on my arms or legs. I went to a dermatologist once to get a definitive answer once and for all. He came in to the room greatly bothered for some reason or other, took one look at my fingers, and said "wear gloves" and left.
During my pregnancies I was always on prenatal vitamins, but still had trouble keeping my iron levels up. And at my post-pregnancy checkups, I was told to continue vitamin supplements because I apparently still needed the folate and the iron. One doctor retested my levels and asked if I was taking supplements. When I told him yes, he told me to go back on prenatal vitamins because they were in larger amounts. Over the years, I have been told from one doctor to another to take iron supplements. To the best of my knowledge, I have not been tested for other vitamin deficiencies.
Some may wonder, what are you going to do if you get tested and it turns out you don't have CD? Well all I can say is that I know what works for me at this time in my life, and that is a gluten-free diet. Perhaps it is simply an allergy to wheat: the treatment is pretty much the same-- going gluten-free. If it is another kind of stomach disorder, at least I still know what makes it feel better-- at least for now. And I will continue my daily life, one ailment or symptom at a time, just as I always have in the past. I've always believed we must learn from our life, and live. Look for the bright spots, no matter how small.
I'd also like to say I'm in a much better mood because I have been so irritable in the past (attributing it to stress and age-related problems). Perhaps my mood is elevated because I am finally feeling like I might have some answers. Or perhaps it is because I am not feeling sick and miserable and like my life is coming back, little by little.... or maybe I never really had control of my health in the first place, and so this is a new feeling. For lack of a better description, my insides feel like they are at peace.
The more I have researched Celiac Disease, the more various little bits of information throughout my life are beginning to fit into the picture. When I was a child, for example, I was always the scrawny one in my class. I was so skinny, I was usually one of the smallest. I was horrible at P.E. and the last picked for any team, because I had no muscular strength. I was not only the scrawniest kid, but also the weakest kid-- so much so, that my classmates often poked fun at me.
As a young adult, I was always told that my skin problems were a vitamin deficiency-- the skin on my fingertips would peel, or there would be some sort of rash on my arms or legs. I went to a dermatologist once to get a definitive answer once and for all. He came in to the room greatly bothered for some reason or other, took one look at my fingers, and said "wear gloves" and left.
During my pregnancies I was always on prenatal vitamins, but still had trouble keeping my iron levels up. And at my post-pregnancy checkups, I was told to continue vitamin supplements because I apparently still needed the folate and the iron. One doctor retested my levels and asked if I was taking supplements. When I told him yes, he told me to go back on prenatal vitamins because they were in larger amounts. Over the years, I have been told from one doctor to another to take iron supplements. To the best of my knowledge, I have not been tested for other vitamin deficiencies.
Some may wonder, what are you going to do if you get tested and it turns out you don't have CD? Well all I can say is that I know what works for me at this time in my life, and that is a gluten-free diet. Perhaps it is simply an allergy to wheat: the treatment is pretty much the same-- going gluten-free. If it is another kind of stomach disorder, at least I still know what makes it feel better-- at least for now. And I will continue my daily life, one ailment or symptom at a time, just as I always have in the past. I've always believed we must learn from our life, and live. Look for the bright spots, no matter how small.
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