Tag Archives: blood testing

Celebrating Three Quarters of A Century Young!

I’ve just had the good fortune to celebrate my 75th birthday and I must express that I’m in much better health than when I was 40. It hasn’t been luck that got me this far with great health and energy. I’m totally dedicated to a gluten-free lifestyle and have been since 2004. Having researched the ramifications of consuming gluten for years, like a full-time job with no pay (over the edge, I know), I fully understand how it can destroy one’s health and life.

I also try to get to the gym 3 times a week for an hour of stretching, cardio, and weights, and some walking outside in the good weather. Without this exercise and the GF diet I can’t imagine what shape I’d be in. I had done yoga for a stretch and need to get back to it. Yoga is another great mental and physical dimension to add to your routine. I love to garden and do most of it by bending from my back or on my knees. Love to sop up the sun by being outside, but try not to catch the strongest sunlight, and I don’t use chemical sunscreen. This summer I hope to get into the lake and swim on a daily basis.

I’m also dairy-free and stay away from soy. I’m trying to add more fruits and veggies to our diet and to eat as organic and whole as possible, including the good fats. It’s tough giving up cheese/dairy, but the consequences for me are a stiff body, lots of throat clearing, and postnasal drip; and I feel it in my lower back. Also I discovered that doing dairy in the middle of hay-fever season kicked on those allergies (that all disappeared once I got gluten out of my diet) almost immediately and furiously. Dairy can act a lot like gluten and probably about 50% of the folks I talk to who are gluten-free also need to be dairy-free.

How could I possibly be 75? Where ever did those years go? I don’t begin to feel my age! I’m most grateful for my family and friends and for the good health we as a family enjoy. You too can enjoy much better health if you really want to. You need to detect gluten intolerance if you are sensitive to it; then adhere to a 100% gluten-free lifestyle. About 30% of the population may be intolerant. Many lives have changed miraculously by attending to the trigger/s… the bottom-line as to what’s making you sick.

You will be amazed by the many rejuvenated GF success stories in the book and I spell out 4 blood tests you need to request or you likely won’t get enough testing to detect it. Too often they only give one test and often it is false negative. If negative the stool testing in Chapter 17 is very sensitive and picked it up in most of my family.

If my family and I hadn’t discovered this monster gluten protein we would all be in very serious disrepair and poor health with numerous issues affecting many parts of the body. By the end of the first year on the GF diet we were basically going for health checkups.

I know you expect your doctors would know about the hazards of gluten, after all many of you go to the best doctors, but little education is being put forth for mainstream medicine and you are suffering because of it.

Your health remains in your very own hands. You can continue to suffer with whatever ails you (from hangnails and dry skin to asthma and allergies to cancers and autoimmune diseases and on and on) or you can take matters into your own hands and change your life and your health. Find a new doctor if you have to (in functional medicine that looks at the cause).

By the time you get to the end of my book, Toxic Staple, you too will totally get it! It appears there’s not much that doesn’t get miles better if you remove the toxic staple and begin to heal your gut, and you will have comprehensive testing information at your fingertips (make copies to share with your doctors) to help you detect not only celiac disease, but intolerance to gluten that can be just as bad.

>>>>

To get an email of new posts join on home page on the upper right corner for the Free Report you can share with a friend: http://toxicstaple.com

Disclaimer: http://toxicstaple.com/disclaimer/

To get your copy of Toxic Staple visit: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Staple-Gluten-Wrecking-Health/dp/0989239217 or order from your favorite bookstore

Please read endorsements from professionals in-the-know saying doctors and patients alike should read Toxic Staple: http://toxicstaple.com/endorsements/

To share your GF success story or if you have a question contact Anne at: http://toxicstaple.com/contact/

 

 

Become Your Own Health Advocate and Change Your Life

WOW! The American people have strongly spoken for change in the United States with the election of Donald Trump.

You, too, can speak up for change in your own health and wellness!

Unfortunately, in too many cases, it is necessary to become an advocate for your own health. Over 300 symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions are linked to gluten by thousands (over 15,000) of research studies from around the world. Very little is being put forth to educate our doctors on the many hazards of consuming gluten. It appears the researchers are all on one side of the river and no bridge has been erected to connect to our doctors. Many alternative and more holistic practitioners are a bit more educated on gluten, but vast unawareness still exists in many facets of medicine.

Did you know:

  • Too many doctors still think celiac disease is only a childhood disease
  • Too many doctors think celiac is only a gastrointestinal issue
  • Celiac disease can affect any part of your body, at any age, and can affect multiple bodily systems
  • Too many doctors have no idea that many gastrointestinal issues can get better once the irritating protein is recognized and addressed
  • Many cancers and autoimmune diseases, neurological, skin, and organ ailments are linked to gluten
  • You need to REQUEST certain blood tests or it’s very likely you will only be offered one test for celiac (that one test has a high rate of false negatives and does not detect intolerance to gluten which affects many more folks)
  • Testing negative for celiac disease does not negate gluten intolerance
  • Few doctors know of the very sensitive stool testing that saved my family

If you or a loved one has most any chronic ailment or illness please do your body and brain a favor and get educated on gluten before your life becomes worse.

Testing information to detect celiac or gluten intolerance is spelled out in my award-winning, life-transforming Toxic Staple as only a driven grandmother could.

Mainstream medicine has shifted over the decades from concern for the patient’s wellness to more interest in “controlling” and “managing” your disease with drugs instead of trying to determine the bottom-line as to what’s making you sick.

Realize that you do have control over much of your health.

I can’t imagine what shape my family or I would be in if we hadn’t discovered gluten was eroding our health, on so many levels. We are all going to meet our Maker, but some of us are going to have an easier and I expect longer ride.

Get your copy of Toxic Staple here: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Staple-Gluten-Wrecking-Health/dp/0989239217 or visit: http://toxicstaple.com/buy-the-book/ or check Home page on the right for e-book .

 

Unexplained Infertility and Miscarriage! What’s The Best Approach?

I was motivated to comment on this article on infertility because not a mention was made of how gluten can affect infertility, sterility, miscarriage, and a poor outcome in pregnancy: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/866729?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=156633BG “Evidence-based approach to unexplained infertility: a systematic review.” Gunn DDBates GW.

Below is the first paragraph from Chapter 12 in Toxic Staple, “Our Children Are Our Future.”

“Are our children being done-in by the all-American, gluten-filled diet? Some researchers think so. In fact, one study reports that ‘up to 50% of the women with untreated celiac disease experience miscarriage or an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy.’* Infertility and sterility, spontaneous abortions, menstrual and hypogonadal issues, early births, low birth weight, birth defects, and learning disabilities are some of the many issues that can be related to gluten. I’ve talked with a number of women who were unable to conceive before being diagnosed with celiac disease (CD). Once they began following a gluten-free diet (GFD) and the body replenished itself—usually within six months or so—they became pregnant. ‘Coeliac disease is considerably more common than most of the diseases for which pregnant women are routinely screened,’** yet far too few doctors are aware of the correlation between gluten sensitivity and so many fertility and pregnancy-related issues. And women are not alone in having fertility problems related to CD. For more on the role of gluten sensitivity in male reproductive function, see the section in this chapter on Male Infertility, Loss of Libido, and Impotence.”

The chapter goes on to discuss many other pregnancy, women’s, and men’s issues that for the most part are being neglected by mainstream medicine. The research is there, but in many cases begs for much more. It is criminal that more attention isn’t paid to the numerous and devastating effects of gluten. Gluten is taking a huge and costly toll on our population, especially our young folks.

Are you having trouble conceiving or maintaining a healthy pregnancy?  If so, please do not ignore gluten. When all is said and done, I wonder how many OB/GYNs or infertility specialists might think to test their infertile or problematic pregnancy patients for celiac disease or gluten intolerance? Has your doctor suggested testing (4 blood tests) for gluten issues? If not you may need to become your own advocate.

Nobody really wants to know if they are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, but gluten is affecting a huge part of our population, maybe as high as about 1/3. Many folks are in sheer denial and keep their heads buried in sand at a cost to their own health or the health of their children. Discovering gluten issues and following an absolute GF lifestyle may just lead to a healthy pregnancy, not to mention a healthy life. Toxic Staple, in Chapters 16 and 17, explains blood and specialized, very sensitive, cutting-edge stool testing your doctor may not be up on (not a lab or hospital stool test). Do not expect to get enough testing to detect a problem by just asking your doctor to test you. Too many folks are not given enough testing or they test false negative on the one test offered and are told they do not have a gluten issue.

Very important: you need to keep eating gluten until you have the blood tests. Do not jump for joy if negative on the blood tests (as were most of my own family). It is crucial you follow through with stool testing (Chapter 17).

Please send your gluten-free success story via contact info above to share as an anonymous testimonial to the benefits of living GF.

* Martinelli, P., R. Troncone, F. Paparo, P. Torre, E. Trapanese, C. Fasano, A. Lamberti, G. Budillon, G. Nardone, and L. Greco. “Coeliac Disease and Unfavourable Outcome of Pregnancy.” Gut 46, no. 3 (2000): 332–35.

** Ibid.

 

 

Is Colon Cancer Linked To Gluten?

Colon Cancer

Daniel has been cancer-free for 4 years after a colon resection and 6 months of chemotherapy. His doctor thought his inflamed colon might have been due to gluten, but testing for both Crohns and celiac disease were negative. This can be a common experience as too often not enough testing is offered to detect a problem with gluten. The patient may be told, “Gluten is not your problem,” when in reality it is. I spell the blood and stool testing out in chapters 16 & 17 that will very likely detect an issue with gluten if there is one.

About a month prior to surgery his naturopathic doctor tested him for antibodies to gluten and wheat protein. He was high on both and began giving up gluten, which most likely affected the negative outcome of the celiac testing he was offered.

He claims, “I didn’t know I had a problem. My only symptom was leaky gut, a symptom that I had had my whole life. I was diagnosed with leaky gut in college because of chronic abdominal cramps and constipation. Taking psyllium fiber helped, but never completely relieved the symptoms.” That’s because it was a band-aide and didn’t address the main issue: What was causing his symptoms?

Leaky gut is not a symptom; it is a disorder caused by something and can lead to huge illness. Too many patients (and their doctors) underplay abdominal pain and constipation. They come to believe it is a normal part of life. Had Daniel been given adequate testing for celiac disease and gluten intolerance and adhered to a GF lifestyle he might (probably would) have avoided the colon cancer.

Daniel “tries” to stick to the GF lifestyle, but finds it difficult when traveling, especially abroad. If he gets hit with gluten he immediately, within 30 seconds, becomes congested and begins clearing his throat. Digestive issues ensue: constipation and gas. These symptoms appear to be a clear sign of gluten causation. They are a reaction to a foreign body that his immune system recognizes as a threat.

I’m hoping when Daniel gets to the end of my book, Toxic Staple, he will realize the necessity to be absolutely gluten-free wherever in the world he may be if he cares about his future health. Restaurants can always come up with something GF. Yes, it’s a bother to ask too many questions, but it is most important to keep yourself safe from mini-hits of gluten that can continue to do internal damage. Restaurants are coming more on board, but travel with fruit, nuts, and GF crackers and bars, just in case.

There is no way I would ever consume gluten and I am not overly sensitive. That’s because I do have a handle on the devastating and degenerative diseases linked to gluten (a decade of research – 2000+ studies, writing, collecting success stories, and going to conferences). Do you? Please educate yourself on the myriad symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions linked to gluten by thousands of international studies, many of which you will find in my book, Toxic Staple. I wrote this book to empower you and your loved ones. Only an over-the-edge driven grandmother could spell it out as I have. And please read the endorsements at http://toxicstaple.com/endorsements/ suggesting doctors read my book.

Celiac disease is associated with a difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat form of lymphoma called enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL). Anyone with celiac disease needs to be diagnosed early and live a 100% gluten-free lifestyle to avoid this and other serious complications of celiac disease. It is suggested “that EATL should be regarded as part of differential diagnosis in any patient presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption because delay in treatment can result in an irreversible clinical outcome.”*

EATL: Patients with this form of cancer may not have a good prognosis; they may have abdominal pain due to “a hole in the wall of the intestine,” or ulcers or a blockage. EATL can travel to the colon, gallbladder, liver, lymph nodes, skin, spleen, and stomach.** Thus, the need to detect gluten issues early and pay strict attention to the GF lifestyle.

If you or your child have been suffering from stomach pain and intestinal issues or any one of the over 300 issues linked to gluten you will get the full picture from Toxic Staple, especially the testing you need to detect intolerance or celiac disease. Make a copy of the testing info for your doctor, and do not keep putting it off. You need to keep eating gluten until you have the blood tests. Low or no gluten can skew blood test results. Some doctors don’t even ask about this.

Celiac disease is only a fraction of the gluten problem. What really matters is whether you are gluten-intolerant. If intolerant you should never consume this nasty destructive protein. It can do you in over time. Even the littlest bit can keep the internal damage happening if you are sensitive to gluten.

There is a strong message here for the reader. If you are suffering from any one or more gastrointestinal issues please address it by getting thoroughly tested for gluten issues (4 blood tests). You will need to advocate for yourself as there is still huge unawareness of adequate testing to detect a problem with gluten. Keep eating gluten until you have the blood tests. And if negative on blood testing don’t stop until you follow it up with Dr. Fine’s stool testing. I have no financial interest in his lab; I just strongly believe in his very sensitive testing. My whole family, except the really sick grandkid, was negative on blood testing yet positive on stool tests. Everyone’s health turned around once we got on a GF diet/lifestyle.

A fair bit of research exists on colon cancer and gluten.

Do you have a colon cancer/gluten or cancer/gluten story to share for the benefit of others. If so please send via my contact button above.

The next post will address gluten issues in Daniel’s family.

*Onco Targets Ther. 2016 Feb 22;9:863-8. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S96745. eCollection 2016. Type I enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in the colon of a 29-year-old patient and a brief literature review. Zhang JC1, Wang Y1, Wang XF1, Zhang FX1.

**Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Enteropathy-associated T-cell Lymphoma http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/types-of-nhl/enteropathy-associated-t-cell-lymphoma/?region=on

 

 

Testing Children And Adults For Celiac Disease And Gluten Intolerance

After a short talk on my journey in writing my book, TOXIC STAPLE, within 10 minutes of each other, two different people told me of their friend whose child had been diagnosed with celiac disease. I took a minute to explain that sometimes doctors neglect to inform them that other siblings and the parents should also be tested due to the genetic component of celiac disease. The general answer I get is “Oh, the child (or other children or themselves) was negative.” In which case I inform them that quite often not enough testing is given to detect an intolerance.

I can vouch for this myself with just about everyone in my family except for the grandchild that was very compromised and was off the charts positive for celiac. The rest of us all tested negative on the blood tests, and I had read enough to even request 3 tests. I hadn’t discovered the specialized stool test until a few months later. We were all positive on those. If we hadn’t done Dr. Fine’s stool testing I shutter to think how much more our health might have slipped down the tubes.

It seems mainstream medicine is setting the bar too high and too often they give only one test and by the time someone tests positive for celiac they have a full-blown case or near to it with very damaged villi (hairs that absorb nutrients)…..and quite compromised health.

Testing negative on blood testing to celiac disease or if positive on blood testing, but  negative on the endoscopy does not negate gluten intolerance which can also have devastating and degenerative consequences.

Be thankful you or your other children did not test positive for celiac disease (yet), but that is not the end of it until you make sure you have received enough testing to detect intolerance to gluten. It’s kind of like preventative medicine.

You will need to become your own advocate as few doctors are giving a panel of 4 blood tests, few are recognizing they should also be looking at the lower antibody numbers, and most of them are unaware of a very sensitive stool test that will pick up intolerance in nearly 100% of the cases.

If you can catch gluten intolerance before your body becomes so compromised, you are ahead of the game of life.

As always, please share my information with your doctor.

I spell it out in TOXIC STAPLE with research to back it up. The real story is not just about celiac disease, it’s also, and more so, about whether one is intolerant to gluten. It seems to be a progressively worsening continuum, according to some experts.

 

 

Poem: A Degenerative Conduit

Over the last several years I’ve written many poems on the hazards of gluten with hopes the reader will become motivated and empowered to really look at their symptoms and diseases and face up to the fact that they may well be linked to gluten. Ignoring them may make matters worse over time.

My book, Toxic Staple, goes above and beyond testing information, both blood and stool, to help you, along with your doctor, track down the insidious gluten intolerance or celiac disease…even if you already tested negative for celiac.

A Degenerative Conduit

Been feeling a health deficit?
Energy level is quite unfit?
Any part of the body it can hit
It is a degenerative conduit
For illness

Been living in “discomfit”
You think it’s a passing skit
But the symptoms never quit
You’re on an endless circuit
Of unwellness

Before your final exit
Your life may need an edit
You must come to admit it
If you relish a healthy benefit
From decrepit decline

Adopt a new lifestyle spirit
To which you fully commit
The GF diet is legit
You’re in the cockpit
To recapture health

Your body needs lifetime respite
From gluten you must omit
Let me be most explicit
On the GFD you must git
To renew your health

Keep a focused wit
Your strength has no limit
Allow yourself to commit
With a GFD good health is implicit
Believe in yourself

© 2013 Anne Sarkisian

Kindly share this website and blog with your sick and tired friends who are exasperated trying to recoup their health… www.toxicstaple.com Please download the “Free Report” on this site…top right.

Not Enough Testing!

dreamstimefree_164004Until there are mandated conferences for doctors in all facets of medicine (dream on), since gluten can affect any part of the body, you may need to become your own health-seeking advocate. You need to know the blood tests to REQUEST. All too often not enough testing is given to detect celiac disease or gluten intolerance and the patient is told she/he doesn’t have a problem, can still eat gluten, and meanwhile is still having troublesome health issues.

TOXIC STAPLE will provide testing information that will very likely detect a gluten issue if there is one. Sorry, but the one blood test often given may be negative and the patient may be quite gluten sensitive. By the time you test positive on the one blood test you most likely have full-blown celiac disease with very damaged villi and a very compromised body. Even if the panel of four blood tests is given you may still test negative, but be quite gluten intolerant.

This is when it would behoove you to read and “absorb” the stool testing information in Chapter 17. This testing saved my family, as we were all negative on the blood tests except for the baby (not old enough to test), and one grandchild with full-blown CD.

The book will empower you with the knowledge to get to the bottom of what’s ailing you or a loved one, if gluten sensitive, to find greater health, energy, and vitality just as my family and I have. It is not rocket science. It is about removing the toxic staple that is making you sick and tired, and jeopardizing your health in a myriad ways!

Although I wrote the book for the masses that are so sick and tired of being sick and tired, or misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or over-dosed, it is being recommended for health care practitioners by medical professionals up on gluten. So please do consider loaning a copy to your doctor.

Kindly share this site with family and friends who may have chronic health issues.

 

“Gluten Is Not YOUR Problem!”

You may have tested negative on the one blood test often given and been told, “Gluten is not your problem.”

Unless your blood test is positive, denoting full blown-celiac disease, the one blood test you may be given is very likely not enough testing to track down the insidious gluten sensitivity. It is important  to REQUEST a panel of four blood tests (there is more likelihood to detect it with more than one blood test), and if negative on blood testing it would behoove you to follow up with stool testing.

I met a woman recently whose life is miserable with stomach/intestinal ailments and fatigue. She tested negative on the typical one blood test her doctor thought to give her and was told gluten was not her problem. The doctor didn’t know what was making her so sick. The woman’s granddaughter has so many food sensitivities that there is not much she can eat. The child’s mom has Crohns. I urged the gram to read my book (testing info that will likely detect a sensitivity/intolerance to gluten) and to look further into the more sensitive stool testing. I expect gluten is at the root of most of their issues and I expect they all could have a much better life with a bit of gluten detection and a gluten-free lifestyle. This is a common scenario: doctors unaware of the hazards of gluten and adequate testing.

Please do not postpone getting screened for celiac disease/gluten intolerance if you are suffering, especially from stomach/intestinal issues (but there is so much more). Life seems to only get worse over time. It could take decades for serious ailments to evolve —ailments you don’t ever want to deal with. If you are already dealing with serious health issues you may be able to turn many of them around. It’s never too late to detect the cause, delete the “toxic staple,” and realize better health, as exemplified by the numerous success stories in my book, TOXIC STAPLE.