How did you cope with testing?

[KrishnaM]

I am scheduled for the colonoscopy and endoscopy test in 3 weeks. I have been told that I have to start eating gluten in a week again for accurate results. The idea of this terrifies me, my reactions are so extreme and sudden. They believe that I not only am celiac but have a food allergy because of the nature of my reactions. Does this make sense? How did everyone deal with having to have gluten again? Am I alone in this fear? 

[Scott Adams]

May I ask you why you feel the need to prove them wrong and go down this path? If your reactions are so severe, and if the think that wheat allergy could be part of your issue, it seems strange to me that a doctor would ask you to eat gluten. IgE allergy testing can be done on you to diagnose a wheat allergy, and you don't have to consume any gluten for such a test.

[KrishnaM]

  On 10/5/2023 at 6:53 PM, Scott Adams said:

May I ask you why you feel the need to prove them wrong and go down this path? If your reactions are so severe, and if the think that wheat allergy could be part of your issue, it seems strange to me that a doctor would ask you to eat gluten. IgE allergy testing can be done on you to diagnose a wheat allergy, and you don't have to consume any gluten for such a test.

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I am not sure what you mean by prove them wrong...? 

I've been scheduled for a food allergy test this week, hopefully that gives me answers. I do have the colonoscopy and upper endo scheduled for the end of the month. 

If my food allergy results are positive for anything wheat, barley, rye, etc I'll have the converswith gastroenterology doc to move to plan B. 

I guess that I'm worried that it may not be a food allergy but something else? Or is it possible that it's stress, a friend who is a nurse (hasn't debunked the possibility) raised the idea that the reactions could be stress related. 

Obviously, well know in a few days. But the experience and different messages and ideas from different doctors has me second guessing myself. 

Falling down a rabbit hole. 

[Scott Adams]

Perhaps I could have phrased that better, but when you said "They believe that I not only am celiac but have a food allergy because of the nature of my reactions," I got the impression that you don't believe either, especially since you seem ready to proceed with a gluten challenge which could be dangerous for you, especially if you do have a wheat allergy on top of celiac disease. 

My concern what that your doctor seems to want you to do a gluten challenge when you could also have this allergy. To proceed with your scheduled endoscopy you will need to start eating gluten soon:

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"...in order to properly diagnose celiac disease based on serology and duodenal histology, doctors need patients to be on gluten-containing diets, even if they are causing symptoms, and this is called a "gluten challenge."

• Eat gluten prior to celiac disease blood tests: The amount and length of time can vary, but is somewhere between 2 slices of wheat bread daily for 6-8 weeks and 1/2 slice of wheat bread or 1 wheat cracker for 12 weeks 12 weeks;
• Eat gluten prior to the endoscopic biopsy procedure: 2 slices of wheat bread daily for at least 2 weeks;

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and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:

 

 

[KrishnaM]

  On 10/9/2023 at 6:27 PM, Scott Adams said:

Perhaps I could have phrased that better, but when you said "They believe that I not only am celiac but have a food allergy because of the nature of my reactions," I got the impression that you don't believe either, especially since you seem ready to proceed with a gluten challenge which could be dangerous for you, especially if you do have a wheat allergy on top of celiac disease. 

My concern what that your doctor seems to want you to do a gluten challenge when you could also have this allergy. To proceed with your scheduled endoscopy you will need to start eating gluten soon:

and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:

 

 

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I don't not believe them, maybe I don't want to,but I believe that something is going on. The food allergy test tomorrow will be telling. If I do show positive for allergy to wheat or... I'll contact the gastroenterology doc to find a plan B, I am not willing to move forward with his plan. Part of why I convinced the allergist to get me in prior. 

Everything has come on so suddenly, I wish it weren't true. Very strange and boggles my mind that in late 40s everything can change so drastically. But I know something is going on, it's just figuring out the what. 

[Scott Adams]

Let us know how it turns out!