Ep 145 A Reader’s Digest Health Mystery

Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –

On this episode we meet Steven who reached his diagnosis of celiac disease in a very roundabout way.  After being diagnosed, his case was featured in a Reader’s Digest article.  Steven tells us his story, along with how his diagnosis has affected his family.  I found out about Steven’s story from his mother, who is a member of our local chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association.  She shared the article with me, and I was thrilled to put a name and a voice to the story.  Here’s a link to the article –

Doctors Thought This Naval Officer’s Swollen Toe Was Gout-Then His Achilles Tendon Tore While He Was Sleeping

The patient: Graham (named changed), a 41-year-old naval officer The symptoms: Spontaneous soft-­tissue injuries The doctor: Dr. Volodko Bakowsky, rheumatologist at QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax Graham was an active family man who played soccer regularly and preferred walking to taking the car.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts –

This episode is a story.  A diagnosis story that is unique in a couple of ways.  The symptoms were uncommon and seemingly unrelated, and Steven was able to convince his doctor to keep digging until celiac disease was uncovered. 

When I was chatting with Steven prior to recording, I could tell he was trying to put himself back to the time in his life before his diagnosis.  The article captured some of his medical history which he didn’t recall at first, and sometimes the order of doctor visits and injuries got blurred.  Since my talk with Steven, I’ve thought about my journey to diagnosis – the collection of symptoms, doctors and the timeline.  I have to admit it gets quite blurred for me as well, when I think back. 

The takeaway for me is, everyone has a story, and they are all important.  They start at different places, but they all end with a radically different lifestyle and a clear path to better health.  Sometimes, as in Steven’s case, and mine as well, one diagnosis leads to others in the family.

Steven was persistent with his doctors, something that is not possible for all of us.  He was able to see different doctors until one finally dug deeper, again, something not everyone can do.  Our involvement in our diagnosis varies widely, but the thing that matters most is we eventually get there, the destination of our individual journeys.  

We all have a story, some seem to fit the expected, and some the unexpected.  Some are quick and rather streamlined, others are long and arduous.  There are things all our stories have in common – the answer to a question, and a solution.  It’s celiac disease and it is treated by strict adherence to a gluten free diet.  Maybe better than saying we all have a story, we should say we all have an answer and the solution.