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I wrote several weeks ago about my 89 year old mother who had been on a gf
diet for over 30 years and decided to abandon it about two years ago. (she
had been diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic in the sixties).

Your comments were extremely helpful as I've not been aware of many of
these problems associated with Celiac disease.

Some of you mentioned depression and increase in dimentia as being
associated with CD.  Also some of you mentioned increase in hearing loss
which is what happened to her.

In addition, several of you wrote about the tachycardia that sometimes
occurs. A couple of you suggested that the body goes into shock and the
heartbeat becomes irregular.

There also seems to be a connection with the low thyroid problem which she has.


Many of you commented also on the extreme fatigue syndrome, and
osteoporosis which has increased.

I forgot to mention when I first posted the notice that my mother has
always had terrible teeth.  I have a lot of dental problems and so does my
son, so I'm wondering if that could also be a CD symptom.

She lives in a retirement community with assisted living and communal
dining. One of the challenges is that mother wasn't remembering that she
was supposed to be on a gf diet.  There have been scenes at her table with
her friends withholding cake and cookies!!  After this last month, though,
she's remembering some of the time and  we've been working the food out
gradually and she is much better.

  We were referred to  a wonderful gastroenterologist  who is quite
knowledgeable about CD and had a consultation last week.  He was extremely
helpful, wise, supportive, and communicative.  He agreed that every symptom
that I mentioned either is or could be associated with CD.  He did not feel
that it was necessary to retest her since we had the results of the test
from years ago and it's been pretty obvious that the gluten has affected
her.  We agreed to proceed without the testing. He suggested that I should
have my family tested. I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to find a
geriatric specialist in our area who has knowledge of this condition.


What has helped us the most is trying to keep a sense of humour about all
of this while taking it seriously.  Especially since we (my mother
included) also eat only kosher food and my husband is on the Dean Ornish
diet for heart patients (very, very low fat, lots of carbohydrates).  So
when we all get together, we just cut out pictures of food and sit around
and sigh!

Thanks again for your help.

Anna Belle Panish


Panish Associates
Paul Panish
Anna Belle Panish