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Dear Friends,

Well, here I am again, hope you don't get tired of the digestive enzyme
issue but when I saw so many postings about those still having symptoms
even though they are on a gluten free diet and the question about their
gluten free status I thought it was worth posting again.  That was me
too!  I went gluten free in December but continued with difficulty when I
ate just about everything except meat.  Some of you may not be that bad but
I am 50 and have had a lot of gluten for a very long time.  I kept posting
and others said I had a leaky gut or that I need to just be patient and
time would heal all.  But, I was losing weight and started out pretty thin
to begin with.  After getting a new G.I. doctor that was not able to help
me much and trying a naturalpathic doctor that wasn't helping much either I
set out on my own research path.  What I found information that said
celiacs have been found to tollerate proteins better than other things and
carbohydrates the least.  Elaine Gottschall's book Breaking the Vicious
Cycle is all about that.  I have not finished it yet but have scanned it
pulling out the finer information. I am not recommending her diet, although
it might help some.  I was so sensitive to everything but meat that it
would not have been very beneficial for me.  I knew the problem for me had
to begin in my stomach.  If I could eat meat fine why couldn't I eat other
things?  From the e-mails that I have received and the postings that I have
seen on this list there are a good number of us with the same trouble!  I
was gluten free but not able to eat and digest things properly, even after
so many months.  In my phone calling to obtain information I contacted Ness
about their digestive enzymes.  The information that I have already posted
gives you the information about them.  Upon taking the first one I could
eat fruits and vegetables again!  This makes complete sense to me after
reading about celiac and our inability to handle carbohydrates. Its not
just me! It seems we need additional help beyond our gluten free
diet!  That is why I posted my story to the list, in hopes that others
could find the wonderful help that I did.

As far as the enzymes being derived from wheat: What the doctor at Ness
told me is that all enzymes come from 2 sources both being in Japan.  So,
if enzymes are derived from wheat that means "all" enzymes that anyone in
the world ever takes are derived from wheat (which I am not really sure is
the case but...).  I don't understand the chemistry either if they are
derived from wheat but the doctor said that celiacs take their enzymes and
that they are gluten free, indeed.  I have had no trouble with them at all
and I have instant gluten reactions as I am incredibly sensitive.  I
drilled the doctor in 2 lengthy phone calls because I had to be very
convinced that there was no gluten in them before I would even think of
putting one in my mouth.  Poor Ness, they may be getting 3000 phone calls,
but then again that is what they are there for, right? I hope they have
lots of bottles of those wonderful little digestive enzymes!

As far as only being able to be ordered by a practitioner and them
monitoring you, how many of us are monitored closely by our G.I. dr? Oh,
dear, he told me at his first visit (when I was sitting there steak in hand
not being able to go without food for more than 20 minutes, knowing I was
going to starve to death if I didn't get some immediate help) that he would
have help for me within 3 days.  I went home with a prescription for a
nutritional drink that when I called the pharmacy I found to be based in
corn.  I had told him I could not have corn and then I did not hear from
him for 3 weeks!  Then when he did call he said he didn't have any answers
for me and had never heard of anyone that couldn't eat fruits and
vegetables.  How about if we all e-mail him and show him how many of us
there are that are having trouble eating after going gluten free?!

When I talked to the Ness dr she gave me pretty simple instructions...i.e.
each digestive aid lasts for what you eat within 1 hour of taking the
capsule and drink plenty of water.  The reason that I am sharing these
things is that we are talking about the seemingly large numbers of us that
although have gone gluten free we can't eat without great problems!!  If we
can't eat we won't be able to stay alive.  I am learning more and more that
we must reach out and seek or where else are the answers going to come
from?  I want to call each and everyone of you and see how you are
doing!  You all have been so kind to me while I have been so very sick, if
I can help even one of you as my friends I surely would!  What I know now
and want to share is that there is help beyond going gluten free for us in
these enzymes!   Truly your friend Nancy in Texas