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Hi, I just noticed that the white spot on my fingernail has disappeared. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
That can be a sign of the malabsorption of minerals, so perhpas the disappearance is a good sign that I am absorbing a little better!!!! I still have a white spot on a toe nail, and small nail ridges but the latter seem to be improving a bit too. One down, one to go.
I have vertical ridges. This is from the Prescription of Natural Healing.
"Ridges can appear in the nails either vertically or horizontally. Vertical ridges indicate poor general health, poor nutrient absorption, and/or iron deficiency; they may also indicated a kidney disorder. Horizontal ridges can occur as a result of severe stress,either psychological or physical, such as from infection and/or disease. A horizontal indentation in the nail (Beau's line) can occur as a result of a heart attack, major illness, or surgery. Ridges running up and down the nails also indicate a tendency to develop arthritis."
The book has a full page on disorders that show up in the nails. You can find the book in almost any health food store (p. 534 if you just want to look at that page), or maybe at a library. It's actually a terrific resource book on natural health.
I am obviously not Polly or Tex but I have had a small bowel exam with biopsies of the villi. This was one of the first tests I had - my Gastro Enterologist thought it was necessary at the time to determine if the cause of my explosive diarrhea was Celiac Disease. In my case the test showed no damage to the villi; IOW, I tested negative for celiac disease. However, the test results raised more questions than they answered - and in my case it turned out I was/am gluten intolerant even if I don't have Celiac Disease.
The Exam was done under complete anestesia - I didn't feel anything at all during the procedure as I was asleep. I did not suffer any kind of damage done during the procedure as far as I know. Wayne, is right that the test is invasive and expensive (consider this if you have a high deductable). Given what I know now I would probably have declined the test. It simply didn't answer any of the important questions in terms of how to manage your symptoms and how to heal. Those questions were answered on this board with the same group of people you are now communicating.
I know it may seem strange to decline a test that an Enterologist recommends but sometimes we have to do what is right for us; sometimes what is right for us is what the Doctor says and sometimes it is not. Only you know what is right for you - it is not an easy decision.
If you test negative for Celiac Disease you might think that you have the proof that you don't need to be on a gluten free diet - this is one of the pitfalls of taking those tests. You can be gluten sensitive w/o testing positive for Celiac Disease - thus you have to be on a strictly glutenfree diet. If you have experienced healing and a hightened sense of well being on a gluten free diet odds are that you are gluten sensitive - we definitely need to learn to listen to our bodies. I do however understand your need to KNOW - to have a piece of paper or an official test that prooves it is not all in your head. I used the test results from Enterolab to satisfy the need for official validation of what was in my head.
I am now rambling but hey, I can't hide that I am strongly in favor of a gluten free diet since it has been the way to healing for myself. The difference in the way I feel with gluten and without is like the difference between night and day.
To your continued recovery
Love,
Karen
Inspired by the paleolithic diet and lifestyle -
living w/o gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and yeast.
Something you wrote in another post taken from a book............
"A horizontal indentation in the nail (Beau's line) can occur as a result of a heart attack, major illness, or surgery."
I had to go look up Beau's line. My nails don't look exactly like the picture - I guess they are more horizontally wavy rather than ridged. 3 or 4 of them have definite "dips" in the surface. They look normal otherwise. Any ideas?
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
Interesting about the nails Celia. I have vertical ridges on my nails & that is supposed to be an indication of psoriasis, which I do have. By the way, I don't think I welcomed you to our happy group. I know that you will find lots of support & probably more information on what ails you than anywhere else. They are a great bunch & you have come to the right place.
Love
Liz
A smile is a light in the window of your face that shows that your heart is at home
I'm with you about trusting your gut! I'm trying to cultivate that ability more and more.
Thanks very much for this post. It really helped my thinking on the matter, although I haven't decided for certain yet. Real D. has never been a big symtpom for me after the initiating event, just periods of loose stools and bowel urgency previous to determining my triggers. But I would also get constipation. The early morning stiffness (sometimes excrutiating) did completely disappear after I stopped wheat. I slowly stopped all gluten after that and have been off it for a good 9-12 months. My symptoms didn't miraculously diasappear because I have so many other triggers (sugar in any forms, all fruit, all starches including starchy vegetables and grains, probably gluten and lactose as well.) But I don't know for sure if the trigger is gluten or starch. Guess Id' better get Dr. Fine's test!
I was incredibly inspired by your story! You are one amazing woman!!!! I really admire your determination. And thanks for letting us know about the ups and downs.
Like you I can control my simptoms through diet, but the range of my triggers is so broad and if I make one little slip up it can effect me for 3 days. So like you, I am on a very simple diet of mostly low carb vegetables and meat. No processed foods for sure!
Thanks again for pointing me to your story. And thanks for taking the time to share it for all us newbies wondering what to do.
I really admire your determination. And thanks for letting us know about the ups and downs.