<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> The discussion continues ... ---------------------- I realized that you didn't write that *list* but I knew that you found it really interesting enough to post it. Somehow, even falling over half-dead most of the time toward the end, I managed to work over three decades as a psychotherapist! Now I don't know how I did it in retrospect......I have found the two (maybe three) missing components in my journey toward wellness btw. I am taking growth hormone daily injections (did I tell you that before, sorry if I am repeating); I was making less than 20 % of the minimum so I qualified as having hypopituitary disease. this is evidentally very common, but extremely underdiagnosed amongst celiacs. Also, just two weeks ago, I starting taking these amazing B vitamin/ magnesium injections that a REALLY incredible endocrinologist concocts. Apparently the B vitamins bind with the growth hormone and I feel like a new person! No one can believe the difference in how I look and how much energy I have (they remember the *old* me). ----------------------- In response to the person who suggested Type A people may be more apt to stick to the gluten diet. I am definitely NOT a type A personality, and I adhere to the diet. It makes me feel so much better! I stick to the diet because once I went guten free I realize it affected far more than my digestive problems. It was an all over body disease, sapping my energy, giving me headaches, controlling my mood, etc. If it was just a digestive issue, I don't think I would be so strict on the diet. Michele -------------------- in regards to the thoughts on nursing homes -- I think that all of us Celiacs will have to write out something for when we get older... Heaven forbid we have to go to a nursing home. We need to have something that tells what we can eat and what we can't... Maybe give a list of things that we normally eat during a normal day... Maybe give directions on where to get the food that we need to eat.. Have it be in a safe place where "they" can find it... Have the resources be nearby so that they aren't a big job having to be sent away for.. Have a good stock on hand to be used in an emergency...Rotate it.. I always try to keep at least 6 loaves of brown rice bread in the freezer.. Maybe it would be great for some of us to start planning on shared housing.. We could help one another out... Maybe delay or avoid having to go into a "nursing home" - it's a thought.. or, for those of us who can afford it -- make arrangements with a younger relative who is into care giving... have a fund set up for our care, etc... have a care giver come into our home and give them instructions on our diet...maybe exchange part of the pay for room and board.. There are always alternatives out there -- we just need to think of them.. We need to stay as healthy as we can.. That means taking good care of ourselves, sticking to our diets, etc.. Some of us have allergies to other foods -- I know that I do... We need to get exercise, etc.. My Mom lived to be almost 97 years old.. My Dad 89... I'm 59.... For the last 3 years of both my parents lives -- they were in nursing homes... I was in my 20's, and had babies at home when my Dad was in one (he was 61 when I was born), and my Mom had moved off to Idaho from California -- so my sister's were directly responsible for her -- it was their decision... I wanted to bring her back to California, but she had given power of attorney to my older sister...she said "No." I think that we need to chose wisely who will be responsible for our care... These are just thoughts that your discussion brought to mind for me.. I don't expect you to post this, but you could edit it and post any part of it that you think would be pertinent for the others to see. These are things that we need to discuss with one another and our friends and family. Let's not be caught off guard. We need to prepare for tomorrow before it comes.. Among other things, I have been a part time care provider for the last 5 years. I have helped with terminal Cancer patients, etc. They stayed at home right up to the last of their mortal existence. If they can do it - so can we.. The only time that it would be to the contrary would be if we had a medical emergency, or needed around the clock medical care -- and that would be in a hospital. Jerri ------------------------ After reading your summaries, I want to say that I too stay totally gluten free and have since diagnosis. There is plenty of other foods in the world. I have learned to cook way too many good things. lol Now I need a gluten free diet to lose weight. I never want to go back to the poor health I experienced. I felt like I was 90 years old at 57. I could look back over my life and see that fatigue, anemia, poor memory, joint pain, muscle pain, horrible stomach pain, skin rashes had plagued me since birth. I feel fortunate that my son and daughter were even born. They both follow the GF diet, as well as both grandchildren and two nieces. Some are stool tested and a couple are just gluten free because they understood and didn't see the need for testing. I'm grateful that my family has been so receptive. It took a couple years after my diagnosis for them to see the improvement in my health. There are still others who don't want to know and we keep nudging them along. One great-nephew has had two bouts of out of control diarrhea this summer. He is super thin and has always had problems. He may be almost ready to admit that gluten is the problem since the last bout. We'll see. Never give up on educating them!!!Sue in MD ------------------------ Oh my gosh, Valerie!! I answered YES to every single one of those characteristics!! Leslie in Atlanta ------------------------ I loved the Type A stereotype. I sometimes feel like I'm a D- . I stick to the diet religiously because I also have an allergy to grass (which contains wheat, barley, and rye depending on the type), and the doctor pretty much said you probably don't want to eat any of it. I said "Amen" and as a result also felt much, much better. No more stomach aches, nausea, or moodiness, except for the bit of depression that manages to creep in occasionally. So, I have 2 degrees and half of another, overly messy home that I'm always working on, work with my doctor on everything, some depression, change jobs as often as I can, etc., etc. I like a bit of change/adventure/chaos/;) in my life, but won't eat wheat, barley, or rye. By the way, I've also traveled the world and enjoyed as many foods as possible. I'm just careful!! The diet hasn't stopped what I've wanted to do. I think the one concept that I've tried to remember is that I won't find a food that tastes like wheat, just as I won't find another food that tastes like Brussels sprouts. I look for different tastes and enjoy them. Yes, I do miss the taste of wheat pizza and cherry pie made with a wheat crust, but my stomach remembers what the results felt like and it's not worth it. Mary in California ------------------------------ * Please carefully compose your subject lines in all posts * Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC