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How long to be gluten free before endoscopy?


Tico
Go to solution Solved by Scott Adams,

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Tico Rookie

Hi,

I was diagnosed by bloodwork with celiacs the middle of June.  My doctor told me to start a gluten free diet and booked me for an endoscopy.  I have still not had my endoscopy, met with the surgeon the end of August, and he said it would be about 3 months before I would have my endoscopy.  I know I need to eat gluten before my endoscopy.  How long before should I have gluten?  I seem to get all kinds of different answers when I look.  My GP told me to eat gluten for 2 weeks before.  Is this correct or should I start eating gluten now?  Thanks


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  • Solution
Scott Adams Grand Master

Welcome to the forum!

It's unfortunate that you have to wait so long for your endoscopy. Yes, technically your GP is correct, and the amount you should eat daily for 2 weeks beforehand should be equal or greater than 2 slices of wheat bread. You could also do this for a longer time just to be certain, but the minimum length of time for this would be 2 weeks.

trents Grand Master

The Mayo Clinic guidelines for the pretest endoscopy/biopsy gluten challenge is a minimum of two weeks of daily consumption of two slices of wheat bread or the gluten equivalent.

Tico Rookie

Thank you for the info!  I’ll have to check how much in advance they book the appointments and maybe do 3 - 4 weeks on gluten just to be certain.

trents Grand Master
8 minutes ago, Tico said:

Thank you for the info!  I’ll have to check how much in advance they book the appointments and maybe do 3 - 4 weeks on gluten just to be certain.

That sounds like a good approach to me. I would make you aware, however that since you have been abstaining from gluten for about four months already you may find that you react more strongly to gluten than before. Over time, once we go gluten free we tend to lose whatever tolerance we used to have when consuming it regularly.

Tico Rookie

I know, I am somewhat nervous about consuming gluten now, even though there are things I would like to eat.  It seems wrong to consume gluten after not having any for so long.  We will see how it goes!

trents Grand Master

Understood. Maybe it would help to ease into it to to allow whatever acclimation to happen that can rather than jumping right to 2 slices of bread the first day back on gluten.


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Scott Adams Grand Master
17 hours ago, Tico said:

I know, I am somewhat nervous about consuming gluten now, even though there are things I would like to eat.  It seems wrong to consume gluten after not having any for so long.  We will see how it goes!

Let us know how things turn out. It sounds to me like you've already linked your symptoms with gluten consumption, so at the very least you likely are in the non-celiac gluten sensitive category and may need to remain gluten-free even if your test results turn out negative for celiac disease (there is no test yet for NCGS).

Tico Rookie

I do believe I have celiacs.  I really didn’t have many symptoms prior, a bit of bloating and tiredness, but nothing significant.  My ferritin was low and would not go up to normal even with supplements which is why the Doctor ordered the tests.  My bloodwork came back with Tissue Transglutaminase IgA positive and high 320, normal is <7.0.  I just want to get an accurate result from the endoscopy.  I phoned this morning, but they still are unsure when it will be.  I will let you know how it goes.  

trents Grand Master

With a tTG-IGA that high I wouldn't have much doubt you have celiac disease. Most of the other causes of high tTG-IGA seem to give marginal positives.

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    • trents
      You might consider asking for a referral to a RD (Registered Dietician) to help with food choices and planning a diet. Even apart from any gluten issues, you will likely find there are some foods you need to avoid because of the shorter bowel but you may also find that your system may make adjustments over time and that symptoms may improve.
    • Ello
      I wish Dr’s would have these discussions with their patients. So frustrating but will continue to do research. Absolutely love this website. I will post any updates on my testing and results.  Thank you
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      Losing 12" of your small bowel is going to present challenges for you in nutritional uptake because you are losing a significant amount of nutritional absorption surface area. You will need to focus on consuming foods that are nutritionally dense and also probably look at some good supplements. If indeed you are having issues with gluten you will need to educate yourself as to how gluten is hidden in the food supply. There's more to it than just avoiding the major sources of gluten like bread and pasta. It is hidden in so many things you would never expect to find it in like canned tomato soup and soy sauce just to name a few. It can be in pills and medications.  Also, your "yellow diarrhea, constipation and bloating" though these are classic signs of a gluten disorder, could also be related to the post surgical shorter length of your small bowel causing incomplete processing/digestion of food.
    • Ello
      Yes this information helps. I will continue to be pro active with this issues I am having. More testing to be done. Thank you so much for your response. 
    • trents
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