Leeloff

Thanks everyone. Based on the way I feel after being gluten-free, I will probably still maintain a gluten-free lifestyle even if I come back negative for celiac. I just don't think there is enough long term data out there to say that someone with gluten sensitivity/intolerence can eat gluten with no long term impact. I'd rather play it safe. And as much as I support medicine and doctors, the best proof is how my body feels. Being gluten-free has helped

I went to the celiac center at Jefferson in Philadelphia today and I have to question their analysis. I want to run it by the group here and get some opinions.

I tested positive for a gluten sensitivity via a test from Cyrex labs. I've been eating gluten-free for 4 months now and feel slightly better. Less gassy, more energy. But nothing earth shattering. The reason I was tested and decided to go gluten-free was because of sleep issues I've had for 15 years. Nothing else has worked, so after the blood test showed I was sensitive, I went gluten-free. Despite felling better in general, being gluten-free has not improved my sleep issues at all.

So, I went to the celiac center to show them my positive bloodwork showing I had a gluten allergy. I don't think I have celiac, but why not ask the experts. From my symptoms they didnt think I have celiac either, but want to test via endoscopy as well as do bloodwork for the genetic markers for celiac.

The Dr. said that if the genetic markers come back negative, I will never get celiac. Fine, I'm not predisposed to it. Here's where I have qestions. She also said that if its negative, and I do have a gluten sensitivity/intolerance that eating gluten will do no long term damage. Those who are sensitive/intolerent have short term reactions (headaches, gas, bowel issues) but that there is no long term damage.

That doesn't sound right to me. From what I've read there are few long term studies on gluten sensitivity and the long term health implications. How can seh definitively say there are no long term effects? Isnt is safer to not eat gluten and play it safe until we have further information from long term studies?

Any thoughts?