gonna try this again

Josh

I hope you are feeling better! Stomach cancer?

May I make a diagnosis?

You are probably allergic to wheat!!!! Sounds goofy, but, there is this "new" (not new at all, really, however, just recently being tested for....) disease called Ciliac's (sp?) disease. Genetic...most Italians have it.....

My mother has it, it is passed down. Here's the quick run-down of how this works and what happens - all of the cilli in the small intestine die from allergic reactions to wheat. Then, we get stomach and intestinal cancers. My aunt and my grandmother both died of bowel cancer, and we lost another to stomach cancer. Mom is on oxygen full time at 57, as the stomach swells up huge and puts so much pressure on the organs that you can't breathe well.

Please..........check into this....it is a simple blood test to find out......my sister and I probably both have it, and need to quit with the wheat products ASAP.....I just am scared and, quite honestly, I hate the idea of having to give up beer, pasta, and bread FOREVER. I'm going to have to check my blood very soon, though. I have several symptoms of this sneaky disease myself. It is worth the try to hopefully avoid having to do again what you have already been through.....and I am sure it is a LOT! At least you would know what caused it and what can CURE it...

Mom gave up the wheat and feels a lot better after just a couple of weeks. 2 or 3 of the ladies at the hospital that give her her monthly/bi monthly shots had symptoms of it (sores-like canker sores-in the mouth, bloating after eating, constipation or diarreah-sp? after eating, asthma, etc.), took the test and HAD IT!!! You should definately have the test if you are Italian. 80% or so have it.

BUT....on another topic.....MOVE TO THE ISLANDS!!!! We only live once (this time)!!!!! I'm happy to hear that you are doing better, and I hope that all of your dreams come true!! Keep fighting, keep smiling.....keep living!!

Have a great night....

Alix

Here are some websites on this awful, mostly unheard-of disease....that way you don't think I'm ENTIRELY crazy...just a little bit.

http://www.celiac.com/index.html

http://www.celiac.org/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/celiacdisease.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00319

Have a good day!

Alix

FYI - Alix, don't under-estimate anxiety, it mimicks every type of problem, BUT IS THE MOST OVER-LOOKED. It may sound too simple, but BELIEVE IT OR NOT, more than 90% of our symptoms can be from this stupid, simple (but totally real) issue. Heart problems, stomach problems, back problems, head problems...and so on!

well, crazy is as crazy does 🙂

as for the cancer, it was confirmed and after the 2nd round of chemo the PET scan showed that the cancer was kicked out. I still had to sit through 4 more rounds..well still have one round to go.. but at least I know it works!

wanna see some pretty pictures? (ok I lie, its my former lymphoma)

Josh,
Good luck to you - if you need anything get with me. When I lost a friend suddenly last fall, I decided that life is worth living and realized that I hadn't been living it to it's fullest. What is the saying?

"Life is a journey-Enjoy the ride.. (Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming-WOW-WHAT_A_RIDE. " (stolen from a post here on the board)

Let us know how to help you make it down here.

Linda Adler
Here to stay~

Cool Pics, Josh!!! We are the same age....ouch.....any idea what it was caused by?

Sqeeterz~

I know.....isn't that horrible? I'm medicated...have been for years for anxiety. Not too bad anymore...it's a pretty rare thing for me to have any sort of attack.

However, my mom on the other hand? Not anxiety. She is very sick and we are lucky to have her to this day. She wasn't supposed to make it this long and they hadn't been able to figure out what was wrong. This wheat thing is a very serious issue, and 9 times out of 10, if mamma has it, so do you. I am just a wimp that doesn't want to know just yet.

Linda~
I saw that post on here a while back...I LOVE it! And I'm well on my way.....

Alix

Josh,
Cancer has also been a big part of our motivation to enjoy our retirement now rather than tempt fate of me making it to my 60's. Having also been thru chemo (not once, but two times - never could leave well enough alone) I can empathize. My PET scan in April is slowing our moving while I undergo treatment one more time. But, we came down to STX, bought our dream condo, and now I will hold the pictures of our view while they preform "the miracle cure". When I finsh and get the thumbs up to travel (about 6 weeks -doing radiation this time) we will be down for my recuperation.
Meanwhile this board keeps me going.

Thanks to everyone here; and good luck to you, Josh. I'll hold you in my prayers.

Travelwoman, God bless and hang in there. My wife is finished with her chemo, and just about to start her 6 weeks of radiation. Hope we all get to meet in STX sometime soon! Best wishes and prayers for you.

Its pretty scary to think about it, but has anybody noticed that once you (or a loved one) gets cancer, it seems that people all around you have been dealing with cancer for years. I cant belive all the friends that have told me their personal stories/etc that I wasnt aware of prior to my instance.