Help please!

[Shem]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with IBS in my 20's, diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in my 30's after a virus (myocarditis) which almost killed me.

Have eaten low carb mostly over theast 20yrs as I was aware that high carb food caused me pain and bloating.

In my 50's and had a cardiac arrest recently and they said it was an electrolyte imbalance but not related to my heart condition.

I have stopped gluten in the past week after researching countless documents and wonder if this is the root cause of my problems. Does anyone have a similar experience, and if so what do I do now? Tia 😊 

 

[cristiana]

Hiya Shem and welcome to the forum!
 

I would definitely want to look into this further if were in your shoes.  A few years ago I found an astounding statistic that around a quarter (it may have even been a third) of IBS sufferers in my country were thought to be undiagnosed coeliacs.  (Sorry - this is a bit vague, but I can't lay my hands on the paper just now).

You can of course suffer from both conditions - I do.  But if you do have coeliac disease it can have a very detrimental affect on your general health if you continue to eat gluten so I think you would be wise to approach your GP.  However, and this is important, you will need to be eating gluten - about 2 slices of bread or the equivalent - for about six weeks before your blood test for the antibodies to show.  If there is a negative result it is possible that you may have Non Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity, or that you are one of a small proportion of coeliacs whose blood test does not show you have the disease, and you may need an endoscopy to rule things out.

I am not sure where you are posting from but if it is the UK do look at Coeliac UK's website for helpful information for diagnosis through the NHS.

Do come back to us if we can help further.

Cristiana

[Wheatwacked]

This might peak your interest.   What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease

1. Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating
2. Acne
3. Anemia
4. Ataxia (gluten ataxia)
5. Borborygmi—stomach rumbling
6. Coetaneous bleeding
7. Delayed puberty
8. Dental enamel defects
9. Diarrhea
10. Dry skin
11. Easy bruising
12. Epistaxis—nose bleeds
13. Eczema
14. Failure to thrive or short stature
15. Fatigue or general weakness
16. Flatulence
17. Fluid retention
18. Folic acid deficiency
19. Foul-smelling yellow or grayish stools that are often fatty or oily
20. Gastrointestinal symptoms
21. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
22. General malaise, feeling unwell
23. Hematuria—red urine
24. Hypocalcaemia/hypomagnesaemia
25. Infertility, or recurrent miscarriage
26. Iron deficiency anemia
27. Joint Pain
28. Lymphocytic gastritis
29. Malabsorption
30. Malnutrition
31. Muscle weakness
32. Muscle wasting
33. Nausea
34. Obesity/Overweight
35. Osteoporosis
36. Pallor—pale, unhealthy appearance
37. Panic Attacks
38. Peripheral neuropathy
39. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression
40. Skin Problems—acne, eczema, DH, dry skin 
41. Stunted growth in children
42. Underweight
43. Vertigo
44. Vitamin A deficiency
45. Vitamin B6 deficiency
46. Vitamin B12 deficiency
47. Vitamin D deficiency
48. Vitamin K deficiency
49. Vomiting
50. Voracious appetite
51. Weight loss
52. Zinc deficiency

Conditions Associated with Celiac Disease

People with one or more of these associated conditions are at higher risk for celiac disease:

1. Addison's Disease 
2. Anemia 
3. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia 
4. Arthritis 
5. Asthma 
6. Ataxia, Nerve Disease, Neuropathy, Brain Damage 
7. Attention Deficit Disorder 
8. Autism 
9. Bacterial Overgrowth 
10. Cancer, Lymphoma 
11. Candida Albicans 
12. Canker Sores—Aphthous Stomatitis) 
13. Casein / Cows Milk Intolerance 
14. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
15. Cognitive Impairment 
16. Crohn's Disease 
17. Depression 
18. Dermatitis Herpetiformis
19. Diabetes 
20. Down Syndrome 
21. Dyspepsia, Acid Reflux
22. Eczema
23. Epilepsy 
24. Eye Problems, Cataract 
25. Fertility, Pregnancy, Miscarriage 
26. Fibromyalgia 
27. Flatulence—Gas 
28. Gall Bladder Disease 
29. Gastrointestinal Bleeding 
30. Geographic Tongue—Glossitis 
31. Growth Hormone Deficiency 
32. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
33. Heart Failure 
34. Infertility, Impotency 
35. Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
36. Intestinal Permeability 
37. Irritable Bowel Syndrome 
38. Kidney Disease 
39. Liver and biliary tract disorders (transaminitis, fatty liver, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc.)
40. Low bone density
41. Lupus 
42. Malnutrition, Body Mass Index 
43. Migraine Headaches 
44. Multiple Sclerosis 
45. Myasthenia Gravis Celiac Disease
46. Obesity, Overweight 
47. Osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia 
48. Psoriasis 
49. Refractory Celiac Disease & Collagenous Sprue
50. Sarcoidosis 
51. Scleroderma 
52. Schizophrenia / Mental Problems 
53. Sepsis 
54. Sjogrens Syndrome 
55. Sleep Disorders 
56. Thrombocytopenic Purpura 
57. Thyroid & Pancreatic Disorders 
58. Tuberculosis 

[Shem]

7 minutes ago, Wheatwacked said:

This might peak your interest.   What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease

1. Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating
2. Acne
3. Anemia
4. Ataxia (gluten ataxia)
5. Borborygmi—stomach rumbling
6. Coetaneous bleeding
7. Delayed puberty
8. Dental enamel defects
9. Diarrhea
10. Dry skin
11. Easy bruising
12. Epistaxis—nose bleeds
13. Eczema
14. Failure to thrive or short stature
15. Fatigue or general weakness
16. Flatulence
17. Fluid retention
18. Folic acid deficiency
19. Foul-smelling yellow or grayish stools that are often fatty or oily
20. Gastrointestinal symptoms
21. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
22. General malaise, feeling unwell
23. Hematuria—red urine
24. Hypocalcaemia/hypomagnesaemia
25. Infertility, or recurrent miscarriage
26. Iron deficiency anemia
27. Joint Pain
28. Lymphocytic gastritis
29. Malabsorption
30. Malnutrition
31. Muscle weakness
32. Muscle wasting
33. Nausea
34. Obesity/Overweight
35. Osteoporosis
36. Pallor—pale, unhealthy appearance
37. Panic Attacks
38. Peripheral neuropathy
39. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression
40. Skin Problems—acne, eczema, DH, dry skin 
41. Stunted growth in children
42. Underweight
43. Vertigo
44. Vitamin A deficiency
45. Vitamin B6 deficiency
46. Vitamin B12 deficiency
47. Vitamin D deficiency
48. Vitamin K deficiency
49. Vomiting
50. Voracious appetite
51. Weight loss
52. Zinc deficiency

Conditions Associated with Celiac Disease

People with one or more of these associated conditions are at higher risk for celiac disease:

1. Addison's Disease 
2. Anemia 
3. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia 
4. Arthritis 
5. Asthma 
6. Ataxia, Nerve Disease, Neuropathy, Brain Damage 
7. Attention Deficit Disorder 
8. Autism 
9. Bacterial Overgrowth 
10. Cancer, Lymphoma 
11. Candida Albicans 
12. Canker Sores—Aphthous Stomatitis) 
13. Casein / Cows Milk Intolerance 
14. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
15. Cognitive Impairment 
16. Crohn's Disease 
17. Depression 
18. Dermatitis Herpetiformis
19. Diabetes 
20. Down Syndrome 
21. Dyspepsia, Acid Reflux
22. Eczema
23. Epilepsy 
24. Eye Problems, Cataract 
25. Fertility, Pregnancy, Miscarriage 
26. Fibromyalgia 
27. Flatulence—Gas 
28. Gall Bladder Disease 
29. Gastrointestinal Bleeding 
30. Geographic Tongue—Glossitis 
31. Growth Hormone Deficiency 
32. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
33. Heart Failure 
34. Infertility, Impotency 
35. Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
36. Intestinal Permeability 
37. Irritable Bowel Syndrome 
38. Kidney Disease 
39. Liver and biliary tract disorders (transaminitis, fatty liver, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc.)
40. Low bone density
41. Lupus 
42. Malnutrition, Body Mass Index 
43. Migraine Headaches 
44. Multiple Sclerosis 
45. Myasthenia Gravis Celiac Disease
46. Obesity, Overweight 
47. Osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteomalacia 
48. Psoriasis 
49. Refractory Celiac Disease & Collagenous Sprue
50. Sarcoidosis 
51. Scleroderma 
52. Schizophrenia / Mental Problems 
53. Sepsis 
54. Sjogrens Syndrome 
55. Sleep Disorders 
56. Thrombocytopenic Purpura 
57. Thyroid & Pancreatic Disorders 
58. Tuberculosis 

Oh my goodness! Both terrifying and enlightening. Thanks 😊 

[Russ H]

4 hours ago, Shem said:

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with IBS in my 20's, diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in my 30's after a virus (myocarditis) which almost killed me.

Have eaten low carb mostly over theast 20yrs as I was aware that high carb food caused me pain and bloating.

In my 50's and had a cardiac arrest recently and they said it was an electrolyte imbalance but not related to my heart condition.

I have stopped gluten in the past week after researching countless documents and wonder if this is the root cause of my problems. Does anyone have a similar experience, and if so what do I do now? Tia 😊 

 

Hi Shem

Coeliac disease can have unusual symptoms. I have read a case report of a 15 year old girl diagnosed purely from severe chilblains, a naval officer with tendon ruptures that turned out to be due to scurvy caused by coeliac disease. Coeliac disease does increase the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, and it is known to cause cardiac arrhythmias - in fact I had an arrhythmia that resolved following diagnosis and gluten free diet. Do you know what type of electrolyte imbalance caused your heart trouble - sodium or calcium for example?

Your decades of gastrointestinal symptoms is sufficient grounds for testing for coeliac disease. I would ask your doctor for a full coeliac disease blood panel. Note that you must be eating gluten every day for the 6 weeks prior to the panel to get reliable antibody results.

[Shem]

1 minute ago, Russ314 said:

Hi Shem

Coeliac disease can have unusual symptoms. I have read a case report of a 15 year old girl diagnosed purely from severe chilblains, a naval officer with tendon ruptures that turned out to be due to scurvy caused by coeliac disease. Coeliac disease does increase the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, and it is known to cause cardiac arrhythmias - in fact I had an arrhythmia that resolved following diagnosis and gluten free diet. Do you know what type of electrolyte imbalance caused your heart trouble - sodium or calcium for example?

Your decades of gastrointestinal symptoms is sufficient grounds for testing for coeliac disease. I would ask your doctor for a full coeliac disease blood panel. Note that you must be eating gluten every day for the 6 weeks prior to the panel to get reliable antibody results.

Thanks for this! I have not got detail on the imbalance as it was inconclusive and a consideration - so too was a hormone imbalance. I am definitely not keen on reintroducing gluten, however if that's my only option. I had considered contacting my cardiologist with a view to see if gluten free improved my heart function!

[Russ H]

1 minute ago, Shem said:

Thanks for this! I have not got detail on the imbalance as it was inconclusive and a consideration - so too was a hormone imbalance. I am definitely not keen on reintroducing gluten, however if that's my only option. I had considered contacting my cardiologist with a view to see if gluten free improved my heart function!

The best way to see whether you have coeliac disease is a blood test for antibodies. In the UK, this would normally be requested by your GP (are they called family doctor in the US?) or gastrointestinal specialist. It is a simple test and quite sensitive. If positive, you would likely be referred for an endoscopy for confirmation.

When you say that you had a cardiac arrest, did your heart actually stop or did you have a blockage (infarction)?

[Shem]

16 minutes ago, Russ314 said:

The best way to see whether you have coeliac disease is a blood test for antibodies. In the UK, this would normally be requested by your GP (are they called family doctor in the US?) or gastrointestinal specialist. It is a simple test and quite sensitive. If positive, you would likely be referred for an endoscopy for confirmation.

When you say that you had a cardiac arrest, did your heart actually stop or did you have a blockage (infarction)?

Hi, Yeah I am in the UK. No blockage, electrical - my heart stopped / quivered for 7 minutes my husband performed CPR and my son called an ambulance.

 

[Russ H]

4 hours ago, Shem said:

Hi, Yeah I am in the UK. No blockage, electrical - my heart stopped / quivered for 7 minutes my husband performed CPR and my son called an ambulance.

 

Serious stuff, glad you came through OK and credit to your husband and son.

If you are in the UK, getting tested is straightforward. Ask your GP to test you for coeliac disease. Your symptoms meet the NICE guidelines for testing - see below:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/chapter/Recommendations#recognition-of-coeliac-disease

Both persistent symptoms and IBS are sufficient to be offered testing. If your doctor hesitates, show them this document and if that doesn't work, ask for a second opinion.

Although more tests are becoming available in the UK, what you will probably be offered is IgA anti-tTG2 and total IgA in the first place. If negative, you might be offered other blood tests. If positive, depending on your age and symptoms you might be offered a follow up endoscopy. People under the age of 55 with strong positive blood test results and no concerning symptoms are now diagnosed by blood test alone.

Of course, you may not have coeliac disease but it certainly sounds worth testing for, and if you do have it a strict gluten free diet normally puts it into complete remission.

 

 

[Shem]

27 minutes ago, Russ314 said:

Serious stuff, glad you came through OK and credit to your husband and son.

If you are in the UK, getting tested is straightforward. Ask your GP to test you for coeliac disease. Your symptoms meet the NICE guidelines for testing - see below:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/chapter/Recommendations#recognition-of-coeliac-disease

Both persistent symptoms and IBS are sufficient to be offered testing. If your doctor hesitates, show them this document and if that doesn't work, ask for a second opinion.

Although more tests are becoming available in the UK, what you will probably be offered is IgA anti-tTG2 and total IgA in the first place. If negative, you might be offered other blood tests. If positive, depending on your age and symptoms you might be offered a follow up endoscopy. People under the age of 55 with strong positive blood test results and no concerning symptoms are now diagnosed by blood test alone.

Of course, you may not have coeliac disease but it certainly sounds worth testing for, and if you do have it a strict gluten free diet normally puts it into complete remission.

 

 

Thanks for this! 

I am reluctant to approach the GP as you can imagine having had a 'serious heart condition' for close to 30yrs the GP is fearful to do anything without cardiology's permission. Well that is my experience anyway, additionally I have had a defibrillator fitted after the CA and I am reluctant to add gluten back into my diet which may cause an arrythmia that stopped my heart in the first place. My defib is set to shock me if that were to be the case. Hopefully the cardiologist takes me seriously enough to check if it improves my heart function in the first place. Ironically there has been no change to my heart function since 2011 - wouldn't it be great if the inflammation went away. ❤

[Russ H]

Just now, Shem said:

Thanks for this! 

I am reluctant to approach the GP as you can imagine having had a 'serious heart condition' for close to 30yrs the GP is fearful to do anything without cardiology's permission. Well that is my experience anyway, additionally I have had a defibrillator fitted after the CA and I am reluctant to add gluten back into my diet which may cause an arrythmia that stopped my heart in the first place. My defib is set to shock me if that were to be the case. Hopefully the cardiologist takes me seriously enough to check if it improves my heart function in the first place. Ironically there has been no change to my heart function since 2011 - wouldn't it be great if the inflammation went away. ❤

How long have you been gluten free? Have you noticed any change in your other symptoms while excluding gluten?

[Shem]

Just now, Russ314 said:

How long have you been gluten free? Have you noticed any change in your other symptoms while excluding gluten?

Believe it or not only a few days. The dizziness that I have had on standing up for the last 8 months has disappeared, I have gone down a size in clothes just from bloating/water retention and my wedding rings which I have not been able to get on my fingers for 2yrs now fit perfectly. 

[Russ H]

Just now, Shem said:

Believe it or not only a few days. The dizziness that I have had on standing up for the last 8 months has disappeared, I have gone down a size in clothes just from bloating/water retention and my wedding rings which I have not been able to get on my fingers for 2yrs now fit perfectly. 

I think it could be worth your getting tested. There are medical advantages to having a formal diagnosis. It is a blood test rather than a medical intervention, and it would be beneficial to know whether you do indeed have coeliac disease. Your GP would refer you for testing if you ask for it. The half life of coeliac antibodies is 3-4 months, so if you get tested soon even on a gluten free diet it would probably show whether you have the disease. Best would be for you to resume eating gluten, get a referral for a blood test that could be in a few days and then go back to a strict gluten free diet.

[Shem]

2 minutes ago, Russ314 said:

I think it could be worth your getting tested. There are medical advantages to having a formal diagnosis. It is a blood test rather than a medical intervention, and it would be beneficial to know whether you do indeed have coeliac disease. Your GP would refer you for testing if you ask for it. The half life of coeliac antibodies is 3-4 months, so if you get tested soon even on a gluten free diet it would probably show whether you have the disease. Best would be for you to resume eating gluten, get a referral for a blood test that could be in a few days and then go back to a strict gluten free diet.

Okay thanks for this, curiously I had bloods done recently for something else and my vit d was deficient and I had elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Was told it was nothing to worry about 🤔 A bit of a jigsaw puzzle but will definitely get to the bottom of it. Thanks for your advice! 

[Russ H]

Just now, Shem said:

Okay thanks for this, curiously I had bloods done recently for something else and my vit d was deficient and I had elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Was told it was nothing to worry about 🤔 A bit of a jigsaw puzzle but will definitely get to the bottom of it. Thanks for your advice! 

Yes, that is another couple of pieces in the jigsaw. Vitamin D deficient, autoimmune thyroid antibodies - they are associated with coeliac disease. Of course, it may not be coeliac disease. I would urge any of my family or friends with what you have described to get down to the quack and get tested. In the worse case, it would eliminate a possible cause.

[Shem]

1 minute ago, Russ314 said:

Yes, that is another couple of pieces in the jigsaw. Vitamin D deficient, autoimmune thyroid antibodies - they are associated with coeliac disease. Of course, it may not be coeliac disease. I would urge any of my family or friends with what you have described to get down to the quack and get tested. In the worse case, it would eliminate a possible cause.

So just to check, I don't need to poison myself for 6wks with 2 slices of bread everyday. Would I get away with eating less as you think the antibodies may still be in my system if I get tested soon?

[Russ H]

I don't know for sure. Coeliac disease is a complicated immune disease that varies greatly between individuals. The gold standard is to ingest at least 2 slices of wheat bread daily for at least 6 weeks prior to blood testing. For endoscopy, 2 weeks is considered sufficient in some quarters. Antibodies are generated in the intestinal wall during the immune response and escape into the blood, so the blood serum response is delayed compared with the intestinal response. The antibody levels vary greatly between people: some people have more IgA class, some have more IgG class, some have more anti-gliadin, some have more anti-tTG. Once you stop eating gluten, serum antibodies decay with a half-life of 3-4 months. Obviously, I cannot recommend what course of action for you to take. However, I would recommend a member of my family or close friend in such a case to resume eating gluten and get tested ASAP, then go strictly gluten free. A telephone consultation should be enough to get a blood test booked with the magic words of chronic IBS and gastrointestinal symptoms.

[Kate333]

So glad you recovered and are feeling better!

Since celiac disease is linked to a higher risk of heart conditions, including A-fib, I completely understand your reluctance to resume eating gluten.  You could just order a home lab blood test kit to assess your current level of gluten antibodies.  If it's abnormally high, then you have your answer without ingesting more gluten and risking further damage and could just continue gluten-free eating. 

Dizziness upon standing (orthostatic or postural hypotension) is linked to advanced age + standing up too fast.  Also linked to untreated anxiety/poor sleep, and/or high blood pressure.  Make sure to get evaluated and treated for those conditions as well.           

[Shem]

2 hours ago, Kate333 said:

So glad you recovered and are feeling better!

Since celiac disease is linked to a higher risk of heart conditions, including A-fib, I completely understand your reluctance to resume eating gluten.  You could just order a home lab blood test kit to assess your current level of gluten antibodies.  If it's abnormally high, then you have your answer without ingesting more gluten and risking further damage and could just continue gluten-free eating. 

Dizziness upon standing (orthostatic or postural hypotension) is linked to advanced age + standing up too fast.  Also linked to untreated anxiety/poor sleep, and/or high blood pressure.  Make sure to get evaluated and treated for those conditions as well.           

Hi Kate,

Thanks! Yeah cardiologist had presumed it was hormonal having ruled out POTS. My blood pressure is naturally low anyway but having read some papers on this i understand that gluten could be responsible for this too. 

[Wheatwacked]

9 hours ago, Shem said:

Believe it or not only a few days. The dizziness that I have had on standing up for the last 8 months has disappeared, I have gone down a size in clothes just from bloating/water retention and my wedding rings which I have not been able to get on my fingers for 2yrs now fit perfectly.

This right here is enough reason. You made more progress in 3 days than your doctors have in 20 years. Fix your deficiencies, especially the vitamin D. Get your homocysteine checked, high homocysteine can be caused by deficiency in B6, B12, Choline or Folate or all of them and is often found in Celiac Disease. It is an independent indicator of vascular inflammation. 

Both my mom and dad were on pacemaker/defibrillators. He died of sepsis from leaky gut and she died of heart failure type 2 diabetes out of control. They had to turn his off so he could die and she died but the nurses station still had a heartbear so we had to go tell them.

 

[Shem]

Oh my that is horrific! I am not going to be able to speak to my specialist for a few weeks so I am going to remain gluten free and if this improves my cardiac function then I can take it from there. My Vit D is being treated and I am on a good multi vitamin for now. Thanks for the advice 🙏 

 

[cristiana]

Hi Shem

Forgive me but my personal circumstances at the moment mean I haven't got a lot of time to read this thread properly, so this may have been or not been covered already...

I did note @Russ314's very interesting point about the half life of coeliac antibodies.   That's good news, because I feel that it would be worth getting the full coeliac panel of blood tests done as a matter of urgency if you are giving up gluten now, and, dare I say it, including gluten in your diet for a little longer until you have the test, because in the UK there can be real advantages of having a firm diagnosis. 

Where I live coeliacs are offered through the National Health Service and therefore free of charge a DEXA bone scan as a matter of course after diagnosis, to check for osteopenia/osteoporosis, and this is repeated as a matter of course every few years.   We are assigned a nutritionist that one normally sees a couple of times but can access readily if more issues arise.  Also, regular blood tests and follow-ups with a gastroenterologist every six months and then, as things settle, annually, to check healing and also to check for other conditions developing that coeliacs are prone to.   I am a bit of a "creaking gate" and I cannot tell you how much all this extra support and access to expert advice has helped and reassured me over the years!  It has also been my experience that I have been able to access a gastroenterologist very quickly without going through a GP when I had some troubling symptoms a few years ago.  I think this sort of after care should be offered as a matter of course to all diagnosed coeliacs, it is possibly what NICE recommend, but as I say, I'm in a bit of a hurry at the moment - you  may wish to look it up.

Anyway - that has been my experience, I think aftercare can be a bit patchy in the UK, but I thought it might be worth my raising this.

Whatever you decide to do I hope all goes well.

Cristiana

 

Edited June 17, 2022 by cristiana

[LCAnacortes]

On 6/16/2022 at 1:16 PM, Shem said:

Believe it or not only a few days. The dizziness that I have had on standing up for the last 8 months has disappeared, I have gone down a size in clothes just from bloating/water retention and my wedding rings which I have not been able to get on my fingers for 2yrs now fit perfectly. 

Hi there - I stopped gluten at the beginning of May and I dropped a lot of water initially too and was overjoyed because I had been dealing with it for years. But some water retention came back a week later and I was super disappointed. My mom had water retention all of her life and water pills didn't help - now we know why. Gluten issues come from her side of the family. Anyway - I wanted to warn you in case the water comes back.  I am now trying supplements to correct it.  Haven't hit the right combination yet. I suspect my B complex does not have enough B1. 

[knitty kitty]

On 6/16/2022 at 3:26 PM, Russ314 said:

The half life of coeliac antibodies is 3-4 months, so if you get tested soon even on a gluten free diet it would probably show whether....

Please provide a source or reference for this statement.

[knitty kitty]

On 6/17/2022 at 3:50 AM, Shem said:

Oh my that is horrific! I am not going to be able to speak to my specialist for a few weeks so I am going to remain gluten free and if this improves my cardiac function then I can take it from there. My Vit D is being treated and I am on a good multi vitamin for now. Thanks for the advice 🙏 

 

Follow your cardiac doctor's advice.  Remain gluten free.  A genetic test for common genes in Celiac Disease may be a better option for you as you won't have to endure a gluten challenge for a genetic test.

Atrial fibrillation, POTS, and water retention are all symptoms of thiamine deficiency.  

Thiamine Vitamin B1 is one of the B vitamins that can quickly  become low or deficient in Celiac Disease.  Thiamine deficiency  symptoms can be seen in as little as nine days.  Thiamine deficiency/insufficiency can fluctuate depending on how much Thiamine is consumed in the diet daily.

Please read this paper and share it with your doctor.  Thiamine insufficiency/deficiency is frequently overlooked by doctors.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

And another...

Thiamine Deficiency is Associated with Longer Length of Stay and Higher Hospitalization Cost in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.9983

Hope this helps!

Edited June 19, 2022 by knitty kitty
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