Re: Immune Systems

[Guest guest]

Most likely, you're just in the process of healing from CD and dealing, perhaps, with the resultant nutritional deficiencies. However, keep in mind (and your doctor's mind, if you don't get better soon) the possibility of a second autoimmune disease. Those of us with one autoimmune disease -- CD being the most common -- are at higher risk for having others.

You mentioned having mono; my daughter thought she did, for a very long time. Eventually she learned she had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome instead, which is another autoimmune disease. This probably isn't your situation, but look into CFS or other autoimmune diseases if your current symptoms drag on.

Best wishes.

Harper

In a message dated 9/16/05 4:20:23 PM, ngrace222@... writes:

Hi everyone,

     I'd appreciate your advice / input.  I'm a celiac

and have been for about 1 year and 3 months.  I'm

pretty strict about my GF diet.  I'm sick (with a cold

or something else) a lot; this is the fourth time I've

been sick in four months.  Also, in the spring, I had

a terrible case of mono and had to miss a bunch of

school.  I was wondering if anyone knows if our immune

systems are compromised due to the disease or the new

diet or whatever.  I used to be healthy (before

getting diagnosed!); now I just get sick a lot, even

though I try to get balanced meals, eat well, and

exercise regularly.  If anyone has any ideas or

suggestions or advice, that'd be great.  Thanks! 

     Nalani

[Guest guest]

Nalani,

The CD compromises your immune system by preventing you from absorbing lots

of nutrients - the major ones of calcium and b vits. You need to be on

gluten free vitamins and minerals. You may also need to be eating some good

probiotics like kefir and raw sauerkraut which both have loads and loads of

lactobacillis which are the good guys in the gut. Just substituting GF

baked goods for wheat/rye/barley/spelt/kamut ones does not give you an

optimum diet. One needs to be eating lots of fresh vegetables, cooked or

not, lots of fresh fruits, good, high quality meats and some carby veggies

and perhaps some GF grains. But adding vitamins and minerals can really

make a difference.

Also have you just started college or changed the group of people you hang

out with or do you have young children who just started school? If so, you

have drastically changed your " microbiology " environment and it just takes

some getting used to - which stresses the immune system.

Also, when you were eating gluten, your immune system may have been so

stressed by the gluten that it was just plain worn out and did not react to

the more ordinary assaults like the cold virus - it just did not fight it

off and when it recovered by not having to work on the gluten, became more

sensitive to the environmental stressors.

Connie

-----Original Message-----

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Nalani Grace

Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 4:20 PM

Subject: [ ] Immune Systems

Hi everyone,

I'd appreciate your advice / input. I'm a celiac

and have been for about 1 year and 3 months. I'm

pretty strict about my GF diet. I'm sick (with a cold

or something else) a lot; this is the fourth time I've

been sick in four months. Also, in the spring, I had

a terrible case of mono and had to miss a bunch of

school. I was wondering if anyone knows if our immune

systems are compromised due to the disease or the new

diet or whatever. I used to be healthy (before

getting diagnosed!); now I just get sick a lot, even

though I try to get balanced meals, eat well, and

exercise regularly. If anyone has any ideas or

suggestions or advice, that'd be great. Thanks!

Nalani

__________________________________

- PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

http://mail.

[Guest guest]

Liquid vitamins and liquid calcium are absorbed better than pills or powders, a key concern for celiacs who may not have recovered all their absorption capabilities or have intestinal scaring that reduces absorption. Sublingual (pills dissolved under the tongue) vitamins are also absorbed better. I like Liquid Health vitamins, which are GF.

Eating dark, leafy, greens (kale, chard, bok choy) every day will also help keep you healthy.

Pam Newbury Santa Cruz Celiac Support Group 831-423-6904 pknewbury@...

-----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ]On Behalf Of Connie HamptonSent: Friday, September 16, 2005 5:59 PM Subject: RE: [ ] Immune SystemsNalani,The CD compromises your immune system by preventing you from absorbing lotsof nutrients - the major ones of calcium and b vits. You need to be ongluten free vitamins and minerals. You may also need to be eating some goodprobiotics like kefir and raw sauerkraut which both have loads and loads oflactobacillis which are the good guys in the gut. Just substituting GFbaked goods for wheat/rye/barley/spelt/kamut ones does not give you anoptimum diet. One needs to be eating lots of fresh vegetables, cooked ornot, lots of fresh fruits, good, high quality meats and some carby veggiesand perhaps some GF grains. But adding vitamins and minerals can reallymake a difference.Also have you just started college or changed the group of people you hangout with or do you have young children who just started school? If so, youhave drastically changed your "microbiology" environment and it just takessome getting used to - which stresses the immune system. Also, when you were eating gluten, your immune system may have been sostressed by the gluten that it was just plain worn out and did not react tothe more ordinary assaults like the cold virus - it just did not fight itoff and when it recovered by not having to work on the gluten, became moresensitive to the environmental stressors.Connie -----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ]On Behalf Of Nalani GraceSent: Friday, September 16, 2005 4:20 PM Subject: [ ] Immune SystemsHi everyone, I'd appreciate your advice / input. I'm a celiacand have been for about 1 year and 3 months. I'mpretty strict about my GF diet. I'm sick (with a coldor something else) a lot; this is the fourth time I'vebeen sick in four months. Also, in the spring, I hada terrible case of mono and had to miss a bunch ofschool. I was wondering if anyone knows if our immunesystems are compromised due to the disease or the newdiet or whatever. I used to be healthy (beforegetting diagnosed!); now I just get sick a lot, eventhough I try to get balanced meals, eat well, andexercise regularly. If anyone has any ideas orsuggestions or advice, that'd be great. Thanks! Nalani __________________________________ - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.