A Nurse’s Story of Celiac Disease from 1953 EP074
Gluten Free RN
What did we know about celiac disease in 1953? The truth is, we knew quite a bit about sensitivity to gluten 65 years ago when Matilda Babbitz’s son Bobby was diagnosed with celiac disease. A nurse by profession, Matilda carefully observed her baby and kept detailed records of his reactions to foods, working with doctors to determine an appropriate diet for Bobby. Today, the Gluten Free RN is sharing an written by Matilda herself. She covers how Bobby presented with celiac disease at six months of age and the dramatic change in his health and behavior after a diet change. Nadine discusses...
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Musings & Truths From the Gluten Free RN EP073
Gluten Free RN
‘Know your own truth and let that guide you.’ How do you cut through the noise and misinformation around gluten sensitivity and celiac disease in order to make the best choices for your health and happiness? By tapping into your intuition and asking WHY when the answers don’t feel right—and reaching out to the right people for support when you need it. Today, the Gluten Free RN is sharing her Top 10 Musings and Truths for health and wellbeing, empowering you to be self-protective and surround yourself with the people who genuinely care enough to speak up for—and with you. She shares...
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African Americans & Celiac Disease EP072
Gluten Free RN
Much existing propaganda claims that African Americans do not suffer from celiac disease. Even the Gluten Free RN was surprised to find out that her adopted daughter had a genetic predisposition to the disease back in 2006, as research available at the time regarded the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes to be primarily Caucasian traits. And until we take steps to conduct a mass screening, we simply don’t know how common celiac disease is among people of African descent. Today, the Gluten Free RN is exploring celiac disease in the African American population. She covers a 2006 study out of Columbia...
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Celiac Disease & Why No One Should Have Belly Pain EP071
Gluten Free RN
Approximately 50% of ER visits are associated with abdominal pain, and the vast majority of those patients are given a diagnosis of ‘abdominal pain of an unknown origin’ and directed to come back if the condition gets worse. This is little comfort to people suffering from severe discomfort who need answers around the cause of their belly pain, not just medication to mask it temporarily. Could undiagnosed celiac disease be the source of their suffering? Today, the Gluten Free RN is diving into the issue of belly pain and undiagnosed celiac disease, discussing the expensive testing often...
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Blood Disorders and Celiac Disease EP070
Gluten Free RN
If you are being treated for a blood disorder, it is time to look deeper and explore the underlying cause. Rather than simply addressing iron- or B12-deficiency anemia in isolation, ask WHY you have a deficiency in the first place. It is possible that damage to your intestines caused by gluten is preventing your body from absorbing the nutrients necessary to grow your red blood cells and keep your immune system healthy. And anemia is not the only blood disorder associated with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity! The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the hematologic...
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Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Celiac Disease EP069
Gluten Free RN
Your gastrointestinal tract is approximately 30 feet long, and it runs from your mouth all the way to the anus! We know that celiac disease can impact any part of the digestive tract. But there is another disease that wreaks havoc on the GI tract as well, a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis or EoE. The Gluten Free RN is explaining the fundamentals of eosinophilic esophagitis, from its characteristic inflammation of the esophagus and elevated eosinophils in the blood to the common symptoms of vomiting and upper abdominal pain. She walks us through the treatment for EoE, an elimination...
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Why No Dairy on a Gluten-Free Diet? EP068
Gluten Free RN
If you’re just getting used to eliminating gluten from your diet, it may feel like a burden to remove dairy as well—especially if you’re a fan of comfort foods like cheese and ice cream. Why exactly do many practitioners recommend a gluten- AND dairy-free diet to patients diagnosed with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity? The Gluten Free RN is walking us through the similarities between gliadin and casein, explaining how the proteins found in gluten, milk and cheese impact our brains. She discusses how Marsh 1 damage from celiac disease leads to an inability to break down...
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Indigenous Populations, Celiac Disease and NCGS EP067
Gluten Free RN
‘Globally, indigenous peoples suffer from poorer health, are more likely to experience disability and reduced quality of life, and ultimately die younger than their non-indigenous counterparts.’ A on the health of indigenous peoples points to a significant problem, but the question is WHY? Why are native populations more prone to autoimmune disorders and type 1 diabetes? Why do they have a higher incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction? And why the lower life expectancy? The Gluten Free RN is exploring the role of food in health outcomes for indigenous populations around the world. She...
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How to Easily Go Gluten-Free or Paleo EP066
Gluten Free RN
‘It’s too hard.’ ‘It’s too expensive.’ ‘It’s time-consuming.’ ‘My family won’t support me.’ There are lots of excuses why you can’t go gluten-free or Paleo, but the Gluten Free RN argues that if it’s hard, you’re doing it wrong. And today, she’s prepared to explain how to easily go gluten-free or Paleo and either maintain or regain your health. Nadine begins with a discussion of the connection between food and pain or discomfort. She explains how the processed, non-food that most people consume causes damage that prevents us from absorbing the nutrients our...
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Russia and Celiac Disease EP065
Gluten Free RN
As stories about Russia continue to dominate the news cycle, you are probably familiar with the recent sanctions against the country, Vladimir Putin’s reelection, and even the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the EU and US. But what do you know about celiac disease in Russia? The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the limited information about celiac disease in Russia, giving us an overview of the country’s size and population and the likely number of celiac cases based on the global tendency. She discusses the thriving wheat production industry in Russia as well as the...
info_outlineWhen the Gluten Free RN went on a gluten-free diet 11 years ago, her thyroid settled down and the associated symptoms and disorders—Graves’ disease, weight gain and hair loss—resolved.
But when Nadine was inadvertently hit with gluten two years ago, several of those symptoms returned, along with a few new ones. She was losing hair and gaining water weight again. On top of that, her sinuses were congested. She developed asthma, a rash on her lower right leg and a scary case of pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs).
Hindsight being 20/20, Nadine realizes that her recent diagnosis of hypothyroidism is associated with that accidental gluten ingestion. Further study made it clear that there is a potential connection between her thyroid problems and pulmonary edema, as the leaky gut that comes with celiac disease can cause fluid shifts into body tissues.
Today the Gluten Free RN explores the links among celiac disease, thyroid disorders and pulmonary edema. She explains the function of the endocrine system, the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, and the diet she recommends for patients with thyroid issues. Listen in for Nadine’s insight around how gluten affects the thyroid gland and why the resulting low sodium levels might trigger edema in celiac patients.
What’s Discussed:
The function of the endocrine system
- Glands in body that make hormones
The connection between celiac disease and thyroid disorders
- Thyroid especially vulnerable to gluten protein in wheat, barley, rye and oats
Nadine’s symptoms of hypothyroidism
- Lower extremity edema
- Congested sinuses
- Hair falling out
- Pulmonary edema
- Asthma
- Rash on leg
How damp rash lotion resolved Nadine’s symptoms
- Prescribed by acupuncturist in Chiang Mai
- Rash cleared, could breathe easy
- Symptoms returned within four weeks of return to US
Nadine’s thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels
- Within normal limits despite thyroid issues
- Practitioner declined to order thyroid panel
The relationship between thyroid issues and edema
- Sodium = major electrolyte, maintains body’s pH
- Hypothyroidism means low sodium levels
- Leaky gut of celiac disease leads to fluid shifts (edema)
The research around thyroid disorders and celiac disease in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
- Association between CD and thyroid disorders well documented
- Increased prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis and Graves’ disease in celiac populations
The diet Nadine recommends for celiac patients with potential thyroid issues
- Gluten-free, dairy-free
- Whole food, Paleo
Why patients with unexplained pulmonary edema should be tested for celiac disease AND thyroid disorders
- Potential connection among all three
The symptoms associated with hypothyroidism
- Puffy face, constipation, fatigue
- Muscle weakness, aches and pains
- Irregular, delayed menstrual periods
- Hair loss, thinning hair
- Slower heartrate, hypothermia
- Depression, memory problems
Resources:
‘Pregnancy Complicated with Pulmonary Edema Due to Hyperthyroidism’ in the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
‘Sleep Apnea, Hypothyroidism and Pulmonary Edema’ in CHEST Journal Letters to the Editor
‘Thyroid and Fluid Retention’ on the Wilson’s Syndrome Site
‘Acute Pulmonary Edema as a First Manifestation of Hyperthyroidism in a Pregnant Woman’ in Revista Medica de Chile
‘Hypothyroidism and Non-Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema: Are We Missing Something Here?’ in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports
‘Celiac Disease and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease’ in Clinical Medicine & Research
‘Celiac Disease and Autoimmunity: Review and Controversies’ in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
‘An Unusual Cause of Flash Pulmonary Oedema’ in BMJ Case Reports
‘Challenges in the Management of a Patient with Myxoedema Coma in Ghana: A Case Report’ in Ghana Medical Journal
‘Hyponatremia and the Thyroid: Causality or Association?’ in the Journal of Clinical Medicine
‘Interactions Between Thyroid Disorders and Kidney Disease’ in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Connect with Nadine:
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine
Books by Nadine:
Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism