Getting to the bottom of several problems

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Chrisdoug
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:24 pm
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by Chrisdoug on Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:34 pm

Getting to the bottom of several problems

Hi - any help you can offer will be much appreciated! Basically, I have a whole range of issues that could be linked, or separate, and I'm finding it very hard to sort it all out and get well!
Basically, I've had eczema since I was a child (I'm now 49), and it very rarely goes away completely, ranging from medium to serious I think. While external factors make it worse, I'm convinced that food and drink has an impact on it.
I've also got some form of IBS, with bloating and wind the key symptoms.
Allergic reactions are quite common, such as eyes running, itchy skin, not only from environmental factors but also unexplained, and probably due to something I've eaten/drunk.
I also have been getting medium-severe pain in my joints, particularly knees and ankles for the last 3/4 years.
I had allergy testing 20 odd years ago, which suggested I was allergic/intolerant to dairy, sugar, all grains, additives and a bunch of other stuff. I tried valiantly to remove them all from my diet for a long time but didn't really get anywhere and had to give up because it was too hard!
Since then I try to keep the foods I think are causing problems to a minimum, but without knowing exactly what the problem is, it's very difficult. I've tried to get further testing to narrow it down, but I've been told by GP and skin specialist that there is no link between food and eczema, and that there is no allergy testing for foods.
Basically, I'm a mess! Very tired all the time; I've just had tests for Rheumatoid Arthritis but they came back negative. I've got a feeling that this is all tied up together around my immune system, and/or stomach, but how do I progress this to find out the true cause(s) and get better?

Chris

KikiTargaryen
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:14 pm
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by KikiTargaryen on Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:30 pm

Re: Getting to the bottom of several problems

Go to your doctor and ask to be tested for coeliac disease. You have the same symptoms that I did and I wish I'd cut out gluten sooner, I feel so much better now! Be aware (because most doctors are not) that the tests for coeliac disease will not work unless you have been eating gluten containing foods regularly for about six weeks beforehand, where regularly means at least two significant portions a day.
Technically, coeliac disease is not an allergy or intolerance, rather it is an auto-immune disorder where the immune system attacks the body due to exposure to gluten in the digestive tract. Left unchecked this can do nasty things to your insides, so recovery can take serveral years after gluten has been eliminated from the diet.
Living gluten free is as expensive as you make it. Rice and potatoes are gluten free and dirt cheap - there's no need to eat expensive 'pasta' and 'bread' all the time. I eat a lot of fruit and veg! If you live in the uk, join Coeliac UK for a comprehensive food guide to most major brands and supermarkets.
Worth noting is that anecdotal evidence would suggest that people with coeliac disease are often likely to have other food sensitivities, though I'm not sure why. Also, there is a genetic component to the disease - so if others in your family have it, the chance you do too increases a fair amount.
Hope that helps.

Chrisdoug
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:24 pm
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by Chrisdoug on Fri Apr 11, 2014 7:00 am

Re: Getting to the bottom of several problems

Hi Kiki, thanks for the reply, that's much appreciated. I have just been tested for coeliac disease, and it came up negative. I wasn't aware about the six weeks stipulation that you mentioned though so I will check into that.

I'd appreciate any guidance too from any of the clinic team?

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