Celiac Disease: Turns Out, I’ve Been Poisoning My Husband
One of the times my husband loves me most is when I cook for him. He thinks I’m amazing in the kitchen. I think he’s amazing for playing along and pretending that everything I cook came straight out of a five star restaurant.
Little did we know, I was poisoning my husband on a daily basis. Every time I made him Greek pasta, homemade pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, quesadillas or chicken cordon bleu to name a few, I was slowly killing him – a slow, painfully, declisous death.
Back in January/February, after Steve had been eating PB&J twice a day everyday while on the road (trying to save money) for work, he broke out in rashes that continued to get worse and worse. His knees, elbows and back were the worst. He was miserable.
He had these rashes in the past, but never this serious. The would randomly come and go. About a year ago he was getting irritated with the constant itching and not being able to sleep at night, so he went to the doctor. The doctor prescribed some hefty cream and determined that it was Eczema.
One night in February, Steve called me from Miami one night completely infuriated. He had had up to his chin (literally) with the rashes and something had to give. He was threatening to spend the rest of his life in the ocean in hopes that the salt would dry up the rashes.
Having no idea what to do, I Googled the issue.
I know that self diagnosing on the Internet is dangerous. No matter what you search for it’s going to tell you that you’re pregnant, or that you are going to die from some life threatening disease that only patients on House are infected with.
Knowing very well that Google could tell me that my husband would only have minutes to live if I searched for his rash on the Internet, I threw caution to the wind and clicked the search button.
Google said Celiac Disease. I have searched for all kinds of bizarre things on the Internet, and never once had it come back at Celiac Disease. Kind of amazing since the list of symptoms for Celiac Disease includes every symptom known to man. With my chronic pain and exhaustion, who knows, I could have it too.
The more I read, the more it made sense. The location and appearance of the rashes matched. Some of the other symptoms matched up with things Steve has complained about in the past. Also, his rash began to appear shortly after the PB&J marathon began.
As soon as Steve returned from Miami he went to the doctor to be tested. Naturally, the doctor looked at Steve sideways when he told him what we thought the problem was. He looked even more skeptical when Steve told him I found it on the internet. Can’t blame the doctor for his disbelief. He probably wouldn’t have been shocked if Steve told him that Google said he was pregnant.
A few days later the blood test came back positive for Celiac Disease. On one hand, we were trilled that we had answers, and that the internet doesn’t always lie. However, on the other hand we knew that meant a complete lifestyle change.
Celiac Disease is basically an allergy or intolerance to gluten. Gluten is found in breads, pastas, baked goods, frozen foods, almost anything processed. Wheat, barley rye and modified food starch are some of the most prevalent ingredients containing gluten. The complete list is about a mile long. Modified food starch is the tricky one. It’s in everything: frozen French fries, taco seasoning, salad dressing, ice cream, potato chips, frozen vegetables, everything.
Steve has had to eliminate a lot of his favorite foods (pasta, pizza, cookies). I have changed the way I shop and cook. We have to be very diligent and plan ahead when going out to eat, on vacation or to a friend’s for dinner. When the Holidays come, Steve isn’t going to be able to eat many of the traditional foods.
A few days after the blood test confirmed what we already assumed to be true, I had an emotional meltdown in the grocery store. Everything I thought was safe, had some hidden unnecessary form of gluten in it. When I found the teeny-tiny shelf of gluten free foods I nearly fell in the floor. $3.00 for 8oz of rice pasta. $3.00! Not only do I have to change the way I cook and shop, but my grocery bill is going to triple.
I really shouldn’t complain. I’m not the one who has had to give up the foods they love, or eat really crappy alternates to pizza and pasta. I just can’t believe that all this time I’ve been poisoning my husband when I thought I was being a good little wife cooking my him the foods he loves.
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I can’t even imagine what it must be like. I don’t know what I’d do if I was allergic to gluten. Though thanks to your post I’m going to mention this to a coworker who’s been breaking out in weird unexplained rashes.
Steve’s rashes started on his knees, elbows and back. When it got really bad it spread to his neck.
I was diagnosed with celiac when I was 17, right in the middle of my freshman year in college. It was definitely a lifestyle change, and at first it can seem like you have a life ahead of you with expensive gluten free versions of foods you used to be able to eat. 7 years later, I can’t even remember what real bread tastes like. Instead of buying gluten free bread (which is scientifically just never going to be the same as bread with the gluten protein to make it chewy) I use lots of corn tortillas which are cost effective and pretty yummy. I have also learned how to make all kinds of gluten baked goods, but for the most part I just have eliminated those things and stick to completely unprocessed foods. Rice instead of pasta etc.
Good luck to you and Steve as you move forward in this path! And for that its worth, there have been some recent studies about the connection between fybromyalgia and celiac.
I know! I’ve read a few things about FMS and Celiac being mistaken for each other and related. I’m going to see what going gluten free does for me, but I can’t do it until I have time to plan my meals at work. We’re going to have Moanna tested soon, mostly because of her constipation issues that never go away no matter what we feed her.
My niece has just gone gluten free. She too had constipation issues, as well as some unexplained behavioral issues, which was attributed to sugar (crazed and undirected energy after she would eat things like cake etc…but all things with gluten). Since she has been gluten free the constipation has cleared up, and her behavior is MUCH more even-toned.
I think I would have a serious mental breakdown. No pasta? No pizza? NO COOKIES?! My life would be over. Done. Kaput. And the pricey alternatives? Nope, I don’t think I could do that. Poor Steve. And poor you, feeling guilty about feeding him gluten in the past. I empathize with you.
It’s a pain, but it’s sooooo much better to know.
I learned I was gluten intolerant in December 2008 and have been gluten free since. I blogged on it recently, and the post might be helpful for you: http://bravingivf.blogspot.com/2010/04/going-gluten-free.html Also, please email if you want tips or have questions — we eat extremely well both at home and in restaurants these days.
Heh, just put two and two together, and I think you found that post last week. Anyway, the offer to help with more tips still stands.
That post was really helpful. We found a great pasta made from soy, corn and potato by Bionature (I think). It’s actually really good, but $5.00 a pound buddy.
Oh man, that sucks! Im glad that you found the answer to his rashes and bad health. I hope that eventually it wont be so hard, and that the food will get tastier!
Try Amazon for more gluten-free stuff and Google for tons of recipes. In college my dentist was CONVINCED I had Celiac Disease (something about white lines in my teeth) and encouraged me to treat myself until I could get it confirmed. I did a ton of research, got really depressed and then made some amazing gluten-free brownies. Luckily it turned out to be a false alarm – my doctor promises me I don’t have it but will retest in a few years.
Best of luck to your husband and to you in your new cooking adventures.
Had you been eating gluten free for awhile prior to your test? Unfortunately, you have to eat gluten for blood tests and biopsies to be accurate. If it’s not in your system, the test can’t detect if you are intolerant to it.
Renee,
Jonathan is also gluten intolerant so I have many many tips and cookbooks if you ever need them. When you come up to DC, I reccomend stocking up on Beth’s Gluten Free products: http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Pantry-Purppose-16-Ounce/dp/B001SB4GNM
Inexpensive grocery items/foods for gluten intolerant folks:
Beans (Lots of options, use a slow cooker)
Rice crispies, corn cheks, rice cheks (Make rice crispie treats for Steve, he’ll love you!)
Oatmeal (great for breakfast..or make some homemade granola to go)
Rice cakes (Sandwiches, snacks)
Potatoes (mashed, baked, fried…delicious)
Unprocessed green veggies, fruits, yogurt, and lunch meats will always be safe.
P.S. Its genetic so there is a real chance Moanna could develop or already have some form of food alergy like Steve…keep watch and good luck!
Hey Meghan, we’re going to have Moanna tested soon.
Funny Rice Krispy story… Steve broke out in a rash for a week or so in March and couldn’t figure out why. Finally, we read the ingredient list on the Rice Krispies and realized that they had Malt in them!! UGH – now we get gluten free versions when we go gluten free shopping… I DO NEED TO MAKE TREATS THOUGH…
We live off of Mexican at the moment because it’s easy and mostly safe. I have to make my own seasoning and we can only use Daisey Sour Cream (which is best anyway), but Mexican has become our staple.
Also, he eats lots of jello for dessert!
Hi Renee! I saw this update on Facebook and came over to read it. Wow–so sorry! I don’t know if you’ve talked to Rachel H. at church yet, but she also has celiac and, since she lives here, she may be able to help out with what is best to buy where, etc. Best wishes!!!
My mom has celiac disease. If you have any questions, ask away! My grandma makes her all the bread and dessert stuff