<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hi everyone,

When I posted my request,  I ask about congenital malformation and also if
people felt more assertive since GF.  Two subjects that had nothing in
common, except that they both preoccupied me at the same time.

From your answers, I understand that I am not the only one to have
experienced a change in my way of dealing with others.  Someone pointed out
the link between autism and CD, and that is true that sometimes I felt that
I was hiding or trapped inside, especially as a kid.

As for the congenital malformation, I wonder.  It is now proven that a lack
of folic acid before and during pregnancy can cause some malformations.
Could it be something like this, or is it completely a coincidence?  If any
of you encounters more information on the subject, please let me know.

So here are the summary of yours answers:

_________________________
Hi- you sound like you have a great attitude.  Yes, I found my mood changed
when I went gf.

I was just thinking about it today, that people take me more seriously.   I
think it was because I was depressed before, and now have a more positive
attitude that people are more likely to respond to.  Does that connect with
what you've experienced?

Best Wishes,
_______________________
I don't think celiac disease has anything to do with congenital
malformation.

They are each separate.  Celiac disease is genetic.  We have this gene when
we are born and something triggers it.  In my case, I think it was a virus,
plus stress.
________________________
Johanne,

I have a 22 year old daughter who is congenitally deaf in one ear. She
is outwardly normal, ie her ears look ok but she is totally deaf in one
ear since birth.

The doctors could not say what had caused it and she has grown up,
probably like you, compensating for it and leading a normal life, as
long as you are not on the wrong side of her in a car where she finds it
particularly difficult.

I am a lifelong coeliac, diagnosed at about seven years old, I am now
55, and your e-mail interested me because my daughter has recently had
some problems with sores on her hands and arms which got really bad.
When she went to the doctors I told her to mention that I was coeliac,
thinking, of course, of DH but a blood test came back negative.

This is probably all co-incidence but unless someone collates all the
information, the facts will never emerge.

Good luck to you and stick with the diet. I only get bad tempered with
people who say things like "just have a little then it can't hurt"
_____________________
my son gets very aggressive if he eats gluten, so I guess different people
are affected in different ways! Good luck.
_____________________
Dear Johanne:
Thanks for your message.  I, too, have a congenital deformity, though mine
is of the spine.  Since discovering that cd is in my family I suspect it is
the cause of the problem.

Both my daughter and I have also become quite different "personalities"
after being gf for 4 years.  It is no accident that people with gastric
distress feel distressed all the time, and cannot assert themselves without
fear.  This is a terrible side-effect of this disease, but one which has to
be counted among the more destructive.
______________________________
I have CD. We don't yet know if anyone else has it. My niece was born with no
cartilage in one ear (it is floppy). She has gas and other stomach problems.
Maybe there is a connection?
___________________________
I don't know about congenital problems--unless your mother too may have
celiac disease.  However, I agree with you that I have become more assertive
now that I feel better.  Also calmer and nicer--used to be irritable around
my family; hid it from others as well as possible.
_________________________
You wrote:

>Also, I am now gluten-free since 11 months and I saw change in my temper. I
>feel that I am more assertive than ever before.  I fight for my own right
>and I don't avoid conflict like I used to do.

See my page:

  Autistic Spectrum and Diet:  http://www.PaleoDiet.com/autism/

Autism is the extreme of someone that is shy. I see these all related, just
to different degrees and presentations.
____________________________
I think you are right, I just wanted peace so I gave in , and probably
still do with family,but am more assertive  also. It takes a lot of
energy , why sweat the small stuff.
____________________________
Hello Johanne -

I am a very assertive, sassy (say what I mean) kind of person.

When I became anemic and ill (and didn't know why) -
people DID notice a difference in me, my husband and my
boss especially. My sister thought I was mad at her
(and just not speaking to her)

I didn't want to go anywhere, I didn't want to do ANYTHING
I didn't care how the clean the house was, or who didn't invite
me to a party - etc., etc.

My doctor said that anemia is when you don't have enough red blood cells
If the red blood cells are low in number, automatically you'll have LOW
HEMOGLOBIN. This means that that the blood will not be able to carry enough
oxygen to the body parts - (your brain - therefore, you just don't think as
much).

You'd rather let it go then fight for what you believe in.

Hope I helped!
__________________________
Johanne,
I do not know of the congenital malformation but I do have temper problems
and also give up quite easily (maybe because I don't want to expend the
energy to argue my point)  I don't know - I have only been GF since
September , still fatigued all the time.

I look forward to your summary!
__________________________

Thanks a lot again to all of you.

Johanne
Montreal QC Canada