Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

More Testing On Tummy Problems


skgirl

Recommended Posts

skgirl Newbie

So here is my coles notes story....

I have had bad tummy problems since I can remember but they got really bad at the age of 16. I was a late bloomer almost 15 when puberty hit. Originally I chalked it up to food (mostly meat intollerance) My mother and Grandmother have the same problem. Two years ago I had been getting really bad/sharp stomach pains about 15 mins after eating and it didn't matter what it was. Went to the Dr.'s whom then sent me for blood tests and a colonoscopy (for crohns & colitis) which didn't go well felt every minute of it finally told the Dr. to stop because the pain was unberrable (and I have had 3 kids 1 all natural). When the results had gotten to my GP they said they were inconclusive... hmm i wonder why??? Anyways I had about enough of being poke and prodded at so I stop testing. My friends's new gluten-free (a nurse & celiac) suggested that I go and get tested for Celiac. I went to a new Dr. (i have moved) explained to her the time length and a brief on symptoms and she ordered at wack load of tests pretty much everything on the paper and then some.

Symptoms are:

stomach cramping, diarreah, loss of appitiet, lactose intolorant, I have been anemic for who knows how long, odd menstration (I also have PCOS and a messed up petuitary gland), monster headaches.

I have been paying more attention as of late to what i am eating since there seems to be no consistancy on what causes my stomach discomfort.

I hope that these test will find something or lead to something that may be bothering me so far though if it is something i would prefer celiac to crohns or colitis as it is WAY easier to treat!! Going for my blood tests tomorrow should find out soon....I hope


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



skgirl Newbie

Dr's got my test results today I only had the tests on Wednesday....WOW I have to go see her next week YAY maybe some answers

ravenwoodglass Mentor

Glad they got the results so quickly for you. Did they give the results to you? One thing you do want to keep in mind is that false negatives are not uncommon. When you are done with all testing do give the diet a good strict try no matter what the results.

skgirl Newbie

I am going to see the Dr. tomorrow morning. I am going to ask for the numbers of the test, I was planing to try the diet even if the numbers are a negative because as I have read on here so much that the test results can be negative, more often then not. I'll post the results tomorrow when I get them.

skgirl Newbie

So went to the Doctor the Celiac panel isn't back yet however she told me that in the mean time to go gluten free for at 3-6 months and see how that goes. She will call me when the panel comes back to let me know what it says but she told me the same thing that I have read here in so many posts the "False negatives are extremely common" I also was diagonased with hypoglycemia which if I don't watch it will turn into Diabetes within 5 years.... just one more thing to add to the list. My fathers side is riddled with it and the celiacs would come from my moms side (so I think mom & grandma have major tummy issues) However I talked to my dad and my cousin started with hypoglycemia then turned out he has celiacs....

Dixiebell Contributor

I'm sure you have read on here if you plan on having an endoscopy you should continue to eat gluten and then after the endoscopy go gluten free.

ravenwoodglass Mentor

So went to the Doctor the Celiac panel isn't back yet however she told me that in the mean time to go gluten free for at 3-6 months and see how that goes. She will call me when the panel comes back to let me know what it says but she told me the same thing that I have read here in so many posts the "False negatives are extremely common" I also was diagonased with hypoglycemia which if I don't watch it will turn into Diabetes within 5 years.... just one more thing to add to the list. My fathers side is riddled with it and the celiacs would come from my moms side (so I think mom & grandma have major tummy issues) However I talked to my dad and my cousin started with hypoglycemia then turned out he has celiacs....

It sounds like you have a good doctor. If you have celiac in your family then your chances of having it yourself a pretty good. I hope you have good results from the diet. Ask us any questions you feel you need to. Although it sounds like your doctor is going to be willing to diagnose you based on family history and response to the diet do call and check that she isn't going to want you to have a biopsy. If you go gluten free before the biopsy they won't be able to diagnose you without a gluten challenge.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



skgirl Newbie

I don't beleive that she is going to bother with the biopsy...the family history is there and she told me to go ahead with the diet. I am overwhelmed by the hypoglycimia and the celiac but I have a really good book and you all to help me through this and an exremely understanding husband (most important).

Off to the post diagnosis section lol

skgirl Newbie

So the panel came back and she told me "two of the tree markers are there so in my opinion you have it, not going to bother with the biopsy but stay on the gluten free diet" so there I go I have been gluten free for just over a week now and feel fabulous already!!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,382
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    SherryH
    Newest Member
    SherryH
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.1k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Well, the next step would logically be to commit in a serious way to the gluten-free diet and see if you have significant improvement in your symptoms. You should see improvement very soon with regard to GI issues and within weeks if there are other symptoms if gluten is indeed the issue. If there is significant improvement after going gluten free, that would tell you that you must avoid gluten and given the test results you already have, the logical conclusion is NCGS. As I said, an NCGS diagnosis is arrived at by first ruling out celiac disease, which seems to have been done. Then you could go back to that doctor with the other evidence component (improvement of symptoms with gluten-free eating) and ask if he/she would now be willing to declare an official dx of NCGS and give you a note. Or, you could book an appointment with another doctor who could look at your test results online, together with symptom improvement after going gluten-free, who might be more cooperative. I would seek out a younger practitioner as they are more likely to not be operating on outdated info about gluten disorders. By the way, NCGS is about 10x more common than celiac disease. 
    • Jason Hi
      Thank you for clarifying the terminology. Based on what my doctor told me, I understand that I do not have celiac disease, but that I’m “likely gluten sensitive.” From what I’ve researched, that places me in the category of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)—as you mentioned, the key difference is that with NCGS there are no damaged villi and no positive celiac-specific antibodies. Either way, my treatment is the same: follow a gluten-free diet to avoid feeling sick. My understanding is that there are three main issues related to gluten: 1. Celiac Disease (produces specific antibodies and damages the small bowel) 2. Wheat Allergy (an immune response to wheat proteins) 3. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (negative celiac tests but still symptomatic from gluten) Regarding tax breaks or workplace accommodations, I came across a statement from celiac.org (https://celiac.org/gluten-free-living/federal-benefits/tax-deductions/) indicating that having any formal diagnosis—celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity—plus a prescription from a physician is typically required to qualify. In my case, my goal is to avoid feeling sick and secure documentation for both work and potential tax benefits. If I do pursue further tests or get more detailed lab results, I’ll share those here to confirm whether the doctor is suggesting celiac disease or truly NCGS. But as of now, the doctor’s comments lead me to believe I fall under NCGS.
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @Jason Hi! First, we need to deal with some squishy terminology. There are two terms which are, unfortunately, used interchangeably and indiscriminately to refer to two different gluten-related disorders. The two terms are "gluten sensitive" and "gluten intolerant". Because these terms are used carelessly we are not certain what you mean when you say your doctor told you that your are likely "gluten sensitive". The actual medical terms for these two gluten disorders are: "celiac disease" and "Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity" or NCGS for short. The test you had run by the GI doc are intended to check for celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS. To arrive at a diagnosis of NCGS, celiac disease must first be ruled out.  Because these terms are used by many people interchangeably I'm not sure that your doctor, after running the tests, was intending for you to understand that he believes you have celiac disease or NCGS. So, to clear up the confusion, can you post the results of your blood test, not just the test scores but the reference ranges used by the lab analyzing the blood sample to determine negative/positive or normal/high? The difference between celiac disease and NCGS is that celiac disease damages the lining of the small bowel over time whereas NCGS does not. However, they may share many of the same gastro intestinal symptoms. Both need to be addressed with a gluten free diet but the tax breaks and work place accommodations you speak of would likely only accrue from an official celiac disease diagnosis. So, can you post the blood test results along with the reference ranges and also the endoscopy report. We can help you decipher whether or not the doc was suggesting you may have celiac disease or NCGS if you will do that.
    • Jason Hi
      I recently had an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and blood tests, and my gastroenterologist concluded that I’m “likely gluten sensitive.” However, they wouldn’t provide a prescription or a formal doctor’s note—just a test result saying I’m likely gluten sensitive, along with the advice to avoid gluten. I’m frustrated because I know that proper documentation could help with tax breaks for gluten-free foods and even workplace accommodations. I’m also not willing to go through another gluten challenge—it was rough! Does anyone have recommendations for a doctor (U.S. based preferably Texas) who is more understanding and willing to provide the necessary documentation for gluten sensitivity? I’d really appreciate any suggestions!
    • ALBANICKAP
      Hi, I'm very frustrated with my problems related to the above.  I find Gluten to be easier than fructose, at times even lactose b/c I love cheese.  I do buy lactose free dairy products but still have problems.  Have recently been adding more bread to bulk up my stools.  Any suggestions for products that might help? Thx. AP  
×
×
  • Create New...