Meet the Administrators
We felt it important to share our personal stories. It
gives a bit of insight as to why we do this.
For
more stories, check out
Our Diagnostic Journey
Forum
Al aka AKLAP
Another Wisconsinite here. I
have a fantastic wife [Peg] that spoils me
rotten
with lots of GF
baked goods! My passion is helping people navigate this
gluten polluted world.
I started my knowledge quest back in 2002. I had gastro and
neurological issues. I stumbled across a post of JCC's
concerning Peripheral Neuropathy [PN] and gluten. I was
searching for the cause of my PN. At the time I didn't
realize my neurological issues were connected gluten. Heck
at this point, I was ready to try anything. I was reading
people's stories that were very similar to mine. They had
issues with gluten - what ever that was!
My health was continuing to decline. I was still feeling
like garbage all the time, I lost about 40 pounds. Test
after test turned up nothing. After getting no where with
the doctors for a year and a half on my gastro issues, I
decided to do a dietary trial and see how it went. After
several months of on again off again trials, I suspected
gluten was my problem. My neurologist was the only doctor
that took me seriously, he was willing to do "whatever I
wanted". I started the gluten challenge, but called it off
after 5 days. My symptoms started to worsen, I wanted no
part of it. I just wanted my life back again. If removing
gluten was the key, so be it.
I've been gluten free since May 2003 and I have not looked
back. I have enjoyed many health benefits. All of my gastro
issues have resolved; no more GERD, no more "feeling hung
over" all the time, no more "gas", no more
grinding/churning stomach. Many, but not all of my
neurological issues have resolved. Sadly, my PN still
exists but it's not as painful as it once was. I was able
to cease the neuropathy meds I was on. A detailed account
of my journey can be found here.
Good luck to those of you conducting your own knowledge
quests. Keep searching, the answers are out there.