Agony after pasta but I can eat bread

[Dreamfire3]

I have severe pain when I have pasta but not when I have bread. I have been tested for celiac disease numerous times as I have another auto immune disease and have had about 5 negative results over 4 years. Every doctor I get referred to does the celiac test before they consider trying anything else. I’ve had A camera and a CT scan (no problems found), and I am waiting for results for another test(malabsorption). Could it just be a simple intolerance? Is there something in pasta that could upset me more than bread or something that would just be in pasta and not bread?

[cyclinglady]

Do you ever eat the pasta plain?  I know that I am intolerant to garlic which is added to many sauces.  

What is “A camera”?  Did you have a pill camera checking you from stomach all the way through the large intestine?  

Exactly which celiac tests were done?  The  complete panel includes the TTG, EMA and DGP (both IgA and IgG versions).  In my case, I never had a positive on either the TTG or EMA.  If my doctor had not given me the complete panel, my diagnosis would have been missed.  No fluke either.  I have had the tests repeatedly and the results are the same.  My biopsies revealed severe damage.  

Edited October 22, 2018 by cyclinglady

[Dreamfire3]

I have the same reaction with or without the sauce. I don’t know about the lab panel but it was a flexi cam that was used to look at my large intestine and they took skin samples. Everything came back clear from the biopsies including coeliac but they said it was still inflamed like it was irritated. Once again I was told I must have some intolerances no help figuring out what though. Because I was in so much pain during the camera appointment I was referred for a virtual colonoscopy(ct) which surprise... came back clear. The positive side is they have ruled out all serious problems as there is no damage to my digestive system it’s just constantly inflamed. That’s why I’m trying to figure out why pasta will cause the pain when bread doesn’t as I’m trying to figure out what’s causing it.

[GFinDC]

Hi, Just to clarify terms a little.  An endoscopy is used to check for celiac type damage to the small intestine.  A colonoscopy is done to check for diseases or damage to the large intestine.  The colonoscopy is not used to test for celiac disease.  So it makes a difference which was done.   Sometimes a gastroenterologist will do both an endoscopy and colonoscopy during the same procedure though.

Skin samples are taken to diagnose DH (dermatitis herpetiformis).  DH is an itchy rash that tends to appear on both sides of the body, on both elbows, knees, etc.  Only people with celiac disease get DH.

Symptoms of celiac disease vary widely among people.  Some people have no symptoms but still have celiac.  So going just by symptoms doens't work.  They have to do testing on the blood antibodies and the endoscopy.  There's a gotcha though.  People with DH are less likely to show a positive on the blood antibodies.

[cyclinglady]

There are times some celiacs are diagnosed via colonoscopy.  The GI is able to reach into the small intestine.  But many things can damage intestinal villi.  Therefore a celiac blood panel checking for antibodies helps to firm up the diagnosis.  

I would recommend obtaining all your medical records.  

If you have celiac disease, antibodies would be triggered whether you consumed wheat bread or wheat pasta.  

Has Crohn’s been ruled out?  

[Dreamfire3]

They have ruled out chrones and other problems with the virtual colonoscopy. Because it was a ct scanner that did the colonoscopy they could see all of my small intestine too and said there was no damage there either the only thing that they found was inflammation which they have put down to food intolerances. Through the virtual colonoscopy which gave them an image of all ofmy digestive system they have ruled out all major diseases including chrones. I’m also having problems with vitamin c levels and iron level so I’ve had a test to work out if I have malabsorption problems and I’m waiting for the results. I’m just so confused as to what is causing these problems. I will ask for a copy of my records the next time I am seeing my gastroenterologist. 

[frieze]

they can not biopsy with virtual scope....

[ch88]

Bread I think is cooked at a higher temperature, and it may be (more?) digested by yeast than pasta.  Maybe this makes the immune system less sensitive to it?