Tuesday, January 29, 2013

#January Joy 29: Set a home spa... or a home lab!


 Alternative titles to this post could be "Am I crazy yet?", "Playing mind games" or "Being a well-learned hypocondriac". Anyhow, for this January Joy prompt (they are almost over... what will I do?) a home spa was suggested. The thing is I already did the home face treatment and the mani-pedicure.  And if I must be totally honest (which I like to be) I have never been to a SPA and have no urgency to do so, even if they paid me to. I hate people touching my body, and rubbing oily stuff into me (regardless of the nice smell), umm no thanks. Maybe later I'll ask the boy, one of the few persons whom I will allow to get close to me,  to massage my back or my feet, how about that for a home spa?

In the meantime I will let you in into the craziness that goes on inside my head all the time. Welcome. You see, I should probably stop reading, and I should probably not think (or talk) at all. Then I would reach the zen. But it's not going to happen any time soon. When you have been trying for a baby for so long, when not even the doctors have the faintest idea what to do with you (well, they do the same as with all of us in this boat), when you appear to be perfectly healthy and still you are not able to complete the second most primordial and primitive of biological tasks (the first being net survival) you start going nuts. You play games. If I get pregnant this month, my mom will be able to see the tulips in bloom. If it happens next month, baby will come at the same time as the boy's birthday, what a great surprise. If I get pregnant now, what will I wear to my brother's wedding? Oh, but I already got a (supertight) dress for it. Then you start believing everthing you read. I am taking vitamin D (highly dosed, in oil capsules) because I read in the slideshow that accompanied an article on infertility that it seems to help. If someone told me that by licking frogs I would get pregnant I would do it. Or that eating 7 green gummi bears every day would do the trick, I'd give it a shot too.


 So when a dear friend told me she'd heard silent (asymptomatic, undiagnosed) coeliac disease (gluten allergy) could be the cause of some cases of unexplained infertility I started reading into it. And I found all kinds of scientific literature* suggesting  a higher prevalence of celiac disease (CD) among infertile women compared with the general population. As well as a case of a woman who went on a gluten-free diet and almost immediately got pregnant. I of course started obsessing and went on a gluten free diet for 6 days or so. Before taking such a decision I went on to ask my gynaecologist about it, but the answer I got was: "Well, there seems to be a link, but the evidence is not conclusive yet. It could be that, and it could be a million other things (like thyroid disease) but we will not go check you up and down (since the treatment protocol will be the same anyway)". I know it is NOT thyroid disease because I already self-prescribed myself that test a year ago. My thyroids are functioning perfectly thank you very much.

Getting tested was going to prove complicated as I would first have to go to my general doctor, convince her that this was needed (this is not difficult, I would simply have studied all the symptoms and told her I had them), had her send me to the gastroenterologist and then have him approve the test. Such a loss of time. In my frantic searching I found out there is a home blood-test for IgA (antibodies) against tTG (tissue transglutaminase, the primary test ordered to screen for celiac disease). As someone who would very much like to work at a biochemical clinical analysis lab, I went on and did the test. (Part of my motivation was that I was dying to have some shortbread wafers we got as a present, as well as some pita bread and a croquette). But at this point I also just wanted to know. It was lots of fun doing the test. And for once a test gave the results I wanted: it was negative. I don't have coeliac disease. Yet another perfect test to add to our mysterious list. I can go on with my cookies and cake addiction. Dear God, if you are reading this, could you please grant us a miracle soon?


*Celiac disease: an underappreciated issue in women's health. Shah S, Leffler D.Womens Health (Lond Engl). 2010 Sep;6(5):753-66. doi: 10.2217/whe.10.57.

 Primary infertility as a rare presentation of celiac disease. Rajput R, Chatterjee S.Fertil Steril. 2010 Dec;94(7):2771.e5-7. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.04.032. Epub 2010 May 26.

 Prevalence of celiac disease in a cohort of women with unexplained infertility. Jackson JE, Rosen M, McLean T, Moro J, Croughan M, Cedars MI. Fertil Steril. 2008 Apr;89(4):1002-4. Epub 2007 Jul 26.

 Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with unexplained infertility in the United States. Choi JM, Lebwohl B, Wang J, Lee SK, Murray JA, Sauer MV, Green PH. J Reprod Med. 2011 May-Jun;56(5-6):199-203.

 Women and celiac disease: association with unexplained infertility. Pellicano R, Astegiano M, Bruno M, Fagoonee S, Rizzetto M. Minerva Med. 2007 Jun;98(3):217-9.

29 comments:

  1. Hi Amanda,
    I'm so sorry the test didn't give you the results you wanted. I just wanted to let you know that I'm still reading, albeit silently because I'm at a loss for words. I wish you all the best though, and the January Joy series is awesome.

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    1. Thanks :) I am also reading you :) Sometimes I read the posts a bit late though.
      I am really liking the January Joy series, I think I will just make it a thing fr the year.
      And well, I kind of wanted the test to be negative, in a way, I mean I am glad not to be coeliac. But of course another part of me wants an "easy" solution and answer and "magic" cure. We'll just see what happens...

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  2. I'm sorry you didn't get the results you want, it must be horrible not know whats wrong and so not knowing. I really hope it works out for you soon, atleast in the mean time you don't have to to give up cake!

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    1. Thanks so much. I am definitely glad I don't have to give up cake (though there are definitely ways to bake gluten-free, some flours are available.... and I kind of want to try those just for the sake of a more varied diet).
      And thanks for your support... it is hard not to know. Specially for me, as in, I am a science freak who is actually fascinated by everything biological or medical. But I am slowly coming to peace with the fact that we will probably never know, as long as science works its magic, as long as we manage for a miraculous baby to come our way...

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  3. Ay mi querida Amanda...ojalá el milagro ocurra muy, muy, muy pronto!

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    1. Mil gracias, ahora, y por el apoyo constante :) Yo creo que sí, al menos tenemos esperanza y nos mantenemos positivos.

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  4. Lo siento yo no voy a decirte "so sorry" y aunque primero aclaro que por supuesto que me uno a la lista de desear que lo que más quieres ocurra, espero que ocurra pronto, porque lo que lograste con tu post fue que me riera durante un rato en la biblioteca en la que estoy trabajando, una cosa es auto-recetarse un estudio de tiroides, otra sería lamer al sapo o comer gummy bears, pero sacar fotos de cómo te haces a ti misma una prueba para celiacos, bueno, quedó claro mi punto??!!!!

    Sólo por añadir un dato más a tu lista: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472648312001459

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    1. Gracias :) Me alegro que te haya hecho reir, la verdad trato de aplicar lo de aquella canción: "es preferible reir que llorar", porque cuando ya ni llorar es bueno, mejor encontrarle el lado chusco.
      Jaja, si , tu punto quedó bastante claro, era un poco el punto.
      Voy a leer el artículo ! Y nos tenemos que ver ! Tal vez en Francia?

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  5. I'm sorry this is all so hard. I think you are astonishingly calm when you write - I go over and over and over much less important stuff in my head until I feel it's about to spin off! Keep trying, my fingers are crossed for you both.
    Claire

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    1. Thank you so much Claire... I try to be calm about it. To understand that our journey is not the same as anyone else's. At first I would compare myself to others but comparisons really are the devil, and jealousy is a monster. I won't be losing to those. So I forced myself to stop and to understand that our path will be different, and to focus on being happy anyway, because if I let the negative feelings win, I would sink in very very low down the rabbit hole...
      I am not saying I am happy all the time, of course I have down moments, but I just resolved not to let those moments put me down, and not to let the sadness take over my life.

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  6. It must be so frustrating not getting any answers. And there are so many theories out there and so few concrete solutions, which is all the more frustratingl. And I agree... You are astonishingly calm when you write about this. I've lost it entirely in much less trying situations. And should we be expecting a Feb joy series?

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    1. Thanks Alice, it means a lot.
      I think I will be this "searching for joy" a thing for the whole year. I quite enjoyed it and it keeps me up...

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  7. Oh, Amanda, it has to be so frustrating to try and try and just not get anywhere, nor hear of any reasonable problem that you can start to fix.

    The way you deal with your road to expanding your family - or what I see of it, at least - is so admirable. And frankly, I love that you set up a little home laboratory for testing yourself. I just wish it was all for fun and not because you're trying to find an explanation.

    I hope with all my heart that you'll get some good news soon.

    One a side note: you're not crazy. Crazy people don't start doing science in a search for answers ;)

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    1. Thanks so much Pluis, it means a lot. Good to know I am not crazy, sometimes I really do wonder.

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  8. Unexplained is the pits. I want to have something to fix and fight against. I want to know that something I can do might help. I am with you totally on the frustration of not knowing what is going wrong.

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    1. We will get there... by the way, there was a piece at Any Other Woman that really helped me made peace with it. It was written by Aisling, who went through FIV and is now heavily pregnant (there is hope :) ) These were her words:

      "I know that I will never fully comprehend why the journey to this point in our lives was so difficult and I know that slowly, I am becoming less inclined to understand."

      http://anyotherwoman.com/2012/10/on-being-pregnant-and-infertile/

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  9. Oh, Amanda, the scientist in me loves this home lab experiment, but I am also so fascinated by your ability to prick your own finger! OMG, I could never do that. (Well, I shouldn't say never. But I am grateful I've never HAD to do that.)

    Despite the miserable fact that infertility remains unexplained, I am really happy for you that you don't have allergies to gluten, what with your love of cakes and all (oh yeah, I've been following that Pinterest board... :) At least it's one less thing to worry about!

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    1. That´s why I mean Anna you´re so right!

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    2. Oh pricking my own finger was not hard at all, I barely felt it. I also loved to sew little houses or figures (with a needle and thread) on my palm, for fun. But never in a million years would I be able to inject myself (and the injections we do are only subcutaneous. Those are done by the boy, it also directly involves him, and makes the process more "fun" we try to dance or cuddle after it every time).

      And yes, I am glad that I am not allergic to gluten, that would have implied some major and drastic changes, for life. And knowing is a relief too.

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  10. I'm glad to hear that you're not celiac. It's unfortunate that it wasn't the magic answer you were waiting for, though life is better with cookies (especially when life's throwing some of the hard stuff at you anyhow).

    The fact that you went all mad scientist here and did the testing yourself is just awesome. You always seem to have a million and one ways to be having fun.

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    1. I do really love science. Which I don't know if in this case is that much of a good thing, as I sometimes drive myself crazy. And reproduction is supposed to be a simple, basic function (or so I thought). I mean, back in the day the cave men got pregnant without knowing anything about the process.
      And I am definitely happy about the cookies.

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  11. I just wanted to let you know that I understand you and empathise completely. Sometimes I think you are writing exactly what is in my head. I think about you often, even if I don't always comment on your posts xx

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    1. Thanks so much :) And I think about you two as well. I hope this year will be the year of the miracles for everyone.

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  12. Tengo que confesar que yo también me reí un poco, eres genial! Yo tampoco creo que tendría el valor de picarme el dedo y encima tomarme fotos. Debe ser frustrante no encontrar respuestas, pero saber que puedes seguir horneando y comiendo todas esas cosas tan ricas es una muy buena noticia. Les deseo que el milagro ocurra pronto, ese bebé tendrá a la mamá más divertida, éso sí.

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    1. Jaja gracias :)
      Picarme el dedo no me dolió nada, de verdad... Y esto de hacer análisis siempre me gustó. La primera carrera que pensé en esutidar fue Químico-Fármaco-Biólogo.

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  13. Haha, what a true scientist. Good for you for taking it into your own hands - literally. Also, good to know the results were negative.

    p.s. I love all of your rings :)

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  14. I wonder if we have this test here! I've been gluten free since March 2011 because my DNA test did reveal that I have the celiac gene, but that doesn't 100% mean it expresses - I figured it was enough to give up gluten! I do sometimes get it in my diet and get VERY sick. But yeah, have been off it for 2 years, and no baby yet! (Plus, I got pregnant and miscarried while eating it in 2008, soooo.)

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    1. Hmmm, weird stuff huh? I keep thinking this stuff is really stuff of magic.
      Of course there must be an explanation (at the molecular level?) but we just don't know anything.
      I really think and hope for you guys.

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