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

Gayle and the listserv,

I am 1 year cd diagnosed after five years of symptoms,
34 years with thyroid disease (hyper, then hypo from
partial thyroidectomy). I come from a long line of
family with autoimmune-related diseases (my father
died from type 1 diabetes, his sister from lupus), and
this year I have had vitiligo and psoraisis appearing
on my skin. I am just 45, and my almost 11 year old
daughter has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism,
and I suspect an atypically presenting cd as well.

I'm responding to Gayle's email on accupuncture for
two reasons, really.

One, I would love it if accupuncture could cure me and
mine. I use acupressure all the time to control my
neck and back problems. It would be great if
accupuncture would keep my daughter off heavyduty
thyroid-suppressant drugs with scary side effects (I
have an adult friend trying accupuncture for
hyperthyroidism).

 Two, I've been looking at all of these related
diseases in a more sinister way. What if diabetes and
thyroid disease were related to wheat eating? They are
closely linked to celiac disease. If gliadin can
affect skin (DH), and it may be affecting people who
are testing negative for cd in biopsies, and cd shows
up with atrophied villi in people with no symptoms,
could gluten also affect other organs (the pancreas,
the thyroid) as well? Scientific research is not over,
new discoveries are always happening, and our
pill-based medical establishment is so blind to new
thinking.

   Or, what if eating gluten, gliadin, or some smaller
bit of undiscovered wheat-based molecule is what
causes our immune systems to go haywire and attack us?


   Or what if it isn't? So many of us become
hyper-sensitive to other things after going gf. I have
never had allergies; this month I've had three intense
bouts of puffy, itchy red facial and arm skin. My hand
has white vitiligo patches that seem to grow
overnight, then do nothing for months. (My observation
is that when I have a gluten accident, the patches get
bigger, but I haven't actually drawn lines on them to
test it!)

    Is my immune system, hyped to attack, looking for
new enemies now that I am gf? How did it get hyped in
the first place?

    What if accupuncture is a way to calm down the
immune system? Does it really help? Does it help
people with diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease?

    Gayle, did it really help you? Or is it masking
your symptoms only, with other, silent damage
happening as you eat wheat?

        I admit, I'm scared. All my adult life I knew my
lifespan may be shortened from genetic inheritance, I
am inured to the idea. But my baby girl? What am I
supposed to do to help her, and who am I to believe?

Do I take her off wheat (miserable for a kid entering
puberty, when she does not have a definite diagnosis).

Would taking her off wheat help, or heighten her
sensitivities? Do I take her to an accupuncturist (she
is afraid of needles!) Do I put her on medicine that
has been known to destroy liver function? Do I leave
her mildly hyperthyroid, since she shows no outward
symptoms? Do I just stay in bed tomorrow morning? Do I
apply for med school (sometimes I know more than they
do!)

By the way, this listserv is wonderful, thank you to
this whole community for the daily support you give.

Fighting the good fight,
Jody
ca usa