Day Thirty-Seven:

Drum roll, please... the verdict is in. NEGATIVE.  I do not have the DQ2 or DQ8 gene. Shocked? No. Confused? Yes. Happy? Well, I think so. Sounds weird, I know. Who wouldn't be happy, right? I just got saved from a horrible disease that would affect the rest of my life. Of course I'm happy about all of the obvious. But now what? Is it something worse? Or just something different? The big question is the WHAT... we are back to square one. Why do I have positive antibodies? Now I'm being referred to a new specialist, a G.I. who deals with bacterial overgrowth. Possibly something there? I am frustrated that another month has gone by, and we seem to be no closer to an answer. Interestingly enough, I read that 97% of Celiac patients have one of the two genes I DON'T have. Could I be in the other 3 percent? I guess we'll find out soon enough, as I now begin the process of reintroducing gluten into my diet. This will enable me to manage my symptoms (will the severe fatigue set back in?).  My joint pain hasn't changed much, and my headaches, well, although I've lowered the dose of meds., I haven't seen too much improvement there either. Where do I go from here... and why do I feel like my name is getting closer and closer to the pages of a medical journal????? Shouldn't I be celebrating? I am staring at a loaf of bread and thinking, "what's next?"