Dropping out of 4th semester nursing

Vida · Jan 13, 2009

Seriously, try changing your diet.

I developed "IBS" in my 3rd semester of LPN school and it was terrible. On top of the bowel probs I felt like it was getting harder and harder to focus and stay motivated. I felt depressed, irritable, emotionally volatile, groggy, and downright nutty.

Tried everything until someone suggested not eating wheat.

My life was completely turned around within a week of not consuming wheat-gluten. I've been tested over and over, and do not appear to have the disease, but apparently the US does not have great tests for Celiac Disease. AND, you can have an intolerance without the actual disease. I have avoided gluten since, now 5 years, and can really tell a difference if I eat something with wheat in it - a cookie isn't so bad, but a bowl of spaghetti will turn me into a crampy, crabby, monster. Amazing.

I also went to one doc, who deemed I had IBS with a wheat-gluten intolerance... even if the prob is vague enough to still call IBS, there might be things in your diet that exacerbates the s/s, especially during those stressful times.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 13, 2009

I dig your screenname.

Thanks! I was going to go with MuffinTopMomma but I decided TakeTwoAspirin was more professional:chuckle

Sweet Caroline · Jan 13, 2009

Vida,

If you changed your diet before getting tested, you will test negative. You have to have the antibodies to gluten in your blood to test positive so if your are not eating it you are technically in remission and will not be able to get accurate results. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine, I would bet you probably do have celiac disease. If you do, you need to avoid all gluten because very small amounts will cause damage to your villi. I have read that after one exposure it can take up to a month to heal. I'm not trying to be preachy but I am very passionate about this subject and the long term effects of having the immune constantly going haywire are not very nice.

The "gold standard" to be diagnosed is having an endoscopy, having several (at least 11) samples taken from different areas because damage tends to be scattered and patchy. There are also recommended blood tests but there is a high rate of false negatives. It is important to see a doctor who is familiar with the disease and not just what they learned in the one minute it was covered in med school 20 years ago.

meghanlane · Jan 13, 2009

Can I ask, is your pain from cramping when you get stressed?

The pain occurs daily without regards to eating or a stressful event. However, it does seem to be exacerbated by stress, so i think it's a little bit of both. It seems to be predominately cramps or spasms. I've taken an antispasmotic for the past week with no relief when outbursts occur. My GI doctor saw some inflammation from a biopsy taken from the colonoscopy, so I think they might want to look closer at my small intestine. To add, they found a 2.7 cm cyst on my right ovary. However, he doesn't feel like it is the primary cause.

meghanlane · Jan 13, 2009

Vida,
If you changed your diet before getting tested, you will test negative. You have to have the antibodies to gluten in your blood to test positive so if your are not eating it you are technically in remission and will not be able to get accurate results. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine, I would bet you probably do have celiac disease. If you do, you need to avoid all gluten because very small amounts will cause damage to your villi. I have read that after one exposure it can take up to a month to heal. I'm not trying to be preachy but I am very passionate about this subject and the long term effects of having the immune constantly going haywire are not very nice.
The "gold standard" to be diagnosed is having an endoscopy, having several (at least 11) samples taken from different areas because damage tends to be scattered and patchy. There are also recommended blood tests but there is a high rate of false negatives. It is important to see a doctor who is familiar with the disease and not just what they learned in the one minute it was covered in med school 20 years ago.

I have had an EGD and my GI doctor took a sample and tested it for celiac disease. However, the results were negative.

Skeletor · Jan 13, 2009

Is celiac sprue disease where you follow the "B.R.O.W." diet, no barley, rye, oats, or wheat? I see the products in the supermarket from time to time, very costly.

SoundofMusic · Jan 13, 2009

As a mom to a child w/ autism, we know all about the gluten free diet. It does seem to help a lot of people, especially celiacs, and just anyone in general w/ sensitive stomachs.

GFCF foods are everywhere now -- and yes, while a tiny bit more expensive, the relief you get is worth it. You can also just try cutting down on gluten in foods and switch to more foods that are gluten free - doesn't have to break your budget.

There are also certain probiotics I've heard that are helpful to IBS. I'm looking for some myself --

chicookie, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

I have recently begun 4th semester in a 2 yr school. Graduation is 4 months away. However, i was just diagnosed with IBS and have consistent extreme stomach pain daily. There is absolutely no way that i could make it through 26 clinical days without leaving early or missing less than 3 days. The pain can't be controlled other than leaving and trying to relax at home. I think that school is making everything much worse due to the stress. My only option is to drop out and wait a semester. I think that nursing is right for me but i need to avoid the stress at this time. I would like to attempt to get a CNA or LPN job during the summer once i get myself better. How do i go about getting a CNA or LPN license after 3 semesters of nursing completed? I've tried googling it, but I can't find anything. Help?

I got the same thing the second semester of nursing school. It hurt alot. I stuck it out though.. I did my best and I explained to my instructors what happened and they were all really nice about it. I also found that relaxation techiques when I get on the floor helped alot. I have a high pain and discomfort tolerance, I suppose that helped out too. I would call your board of nursing, I have heard that you can challenge the CNA or LPN test and take it.

Sweet Caroline · Jan 13, 2009

Yes, no wheat, barley or rye and no "grocery store" oats. Only 10% of celiacs react to oats but most of them are transported with other grains and get contaminated, there are brands to buy that have been grown seperately. A gluten free diet doesn't have to be expensive; many things at the grocery store are naturally gluten free (regular meats, milk, eggs, fruit, vegetables, even some junk food like Fritos and Lay's stax). The complications come when eating out and the expense comes when you want bread, cake, cookies or anything with wheat flour in it but it is possible to make your own.

People think the diet is hard to follow; there is a mourning period and a learning curve but it is so much easier than feeling terrible and completely out of it all the time. I was sure I was slowly dying.

Vida · Jan 13, 2009

Vida,
If you changed your diet before getting tested, you will test negative. You have to have the antibodies to gluten in your blood to test positive so if your are not eating it you are technically in remission and will not be able to get accurate results. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine, I would bet you probably do have celiac disease. If you do, you need to avoid all gluten because very small amounts will cause damage to your villi. I have read that after one exposure it can take up to a month to heal. I'm not trying to be preachy but I am very passionate about this subject and the long term effects of having the immune constantly going haywire are not very nice.
The "gold standard" to be diagnosed is having an endoscopy, having several (at least 11) samples taken from different areas because damage tends to be scattered and patchy. There are also recommended blood tests but there is a high rate of false negatives. It is important to see a doctor who is familiar with the disease and not just what they learned in the one minute it was covered in med school 20 years ago.

I realize that. I have read that if you consume wheat for a week or two and then get tested it will show up. I've tried.

I have 2 aunts, my mother and sister who also have the same problem, so we've done some reading. My one aunt who has had to be hospitalized more than once, was told she has celiac. She still suffered and has had poor lab results for a year, has started eating wheat again, and feels no different. She has extremely damaged villi and is looking into a genetic 'damaged villi syndrome'... I forget the name.

I've been to a few docs myself, and have gotten nowhere - the last one told me to go home and offered me Prozac!!!! Apparently I'm crazy, but she wouldn't do any testing beyond blood work. We've found that ultimately, if we avoid some things in our diet we feel better - I don't need anyone to tell me that. Blood work every once in a while - we can sort of keep tabs on our general health.

Good luck!

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

OP, make sure you've explored all your options for accommodation before you stop going to class. You have some rights and the school may be able to assist you. The documentation will be important if you want to re-enter at a later date. It can make a huge difference. Good luck to you!

Vida · Jan 13, 2009

Ps. ..Also, it's not necessarily what you don't eat, it's what you DO eat. Eat whole grains, fresh produce, and less processed meats - obviously in general, the more processed it is, the worse it is for you, and with this problem, the worse it makes you feel immediately. Try things that are less processed, have anti-inflammatory properties and that contain antioxidants.

Yes the food can get expensive but there are ways around it - rice pasta isn't too bad, but just eat brown rice and other grains instead - quinoa, kasha, etc... inexpensive bought in bulk.

I've been eating more eggs and legumes (your body adapts to the musical fruit aspect!) and I feel cleaner for it. Meat is sometimes flavored with gluten-containing stuff in it, especially ground beef, so I don't eat it often.

Take a probiotic, and/or eat more plain yogourt. Make your own baked goods! Soy flour is even available at walmart, and there are endless recipes on the internet.

Good luck.