Celiac Disease

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 5:28 pm

My great-niece who is 13 has been having stomach issues for several years. At one time her condition was so bad she was hospitalized. Sometime ago my sister-in-law (her grandmother) told me that it wasn't gluten, it was sulfites that were causing her issues. Today at our Easter gathering I found out that she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. My SIL said that they had been trying to reintroduce foods but she became so ill again that she has been home schooled for the past two months. (My great-niece doesn't live with my nephew and I'm not sure how often he sees her.) My brother who at one time had D so badly that he developed an anal fistula self-diagnosed himself with Celiac Disease and totally avoided it for seven years. He is now eating gluten again as he pops some anti-gluten pill that he purchases at CVS. I heard him telling my great niece about it. I didn't know whether I wanted to scream or bang my head against the wall. I didn't say a word because I know that they would think that I'm a know-it-all and they're looking for a quick fix. In the meantime this beautiful 13-year-old girl is suffering with really no end in sight. Thanks for listening, I really needed to vent.

Post by **tex** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:28 pm

That's really a sad story. Your brother must really be addicted to the stuff if he's willing to go through all that and he still eats gluten. I think you're right though that there's not much you can accomplish by nagging them. If they want to ruin their lives they're not going to take what you say seriously anyway.

Tex

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:14 pm

So true, Tex. I have to accept that it is what it is and let it go at that.

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:04 am

Being someone who would do just about anything not to be chronically ill it is hard for me to understand people who can't give up the things that are making them sick. I agree that there is nothing you can do to change people's minds if their minds are not open to change. I feel so bad for your niece.

Jean

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 5:05 pm

Your niece is none the wiser for it too....as young children we tend to believe our parents as they are the last person who would hurt us intentionally....

I could cry hearing this because after all I have gone thru this same type of ignorance happens in my family life too. The scientific person in me can't seem to get the logic across to members of my family, I'm looked at as the crazy mom/grandma so I haven't said anything in a real long while and at the same time I wait and watch and feel like the shadow that isn't paid attention to.

Knowing something this important still doesn't make us any more the wiser even when we have proof that what we are doing is healing us, and for that I wish your family the best as I hope the light bulb comes on and it happens soon.

Hugs
Erica

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:07 pm

Thanks, Jean and Erica. I feel so badly for my great-niece. She lives with her mother about 1.5 hours away from the rest of us but I keep thinking that there has to be something that I can do to help her. I'm so disappointed in my brother who suffered for so long and now he's back to eating that poison. I just don't understand it.