I have a long list of symptoms that go along with celiac disease, and I have had them for awhile, I just always thought they were normal. About 2 years ago is when things started to get worse. The begining of this year I joined a nutrition challenge, so I was pretty much cutting out bread and eating natural foods. I had a few slip ups and then i tried a low carb high fat diet.. Then i had a slip up after two weeks and had a huuuuge gluten binge.. The next couple days I would get random stomach pains and my fatigue just got worse as i continued to eat gluten.. So that lead me to search my symptoms and then I found celiac disease. After going to different doctors for about 2 years, I was extremely happy when my symptoms matched celiac disease.
I went to the doctor about a week ago and he tested me for it (NOT the full panel...makes me angry!) This was only a week into my gluten chalenge and I have been fairly "low gluten" for a few months before the test. THE TEST WAS NEGATIVE, but I had unexplained deficiencies. I was in sooo much pain just a week into the gluten challange that my doctor said im atleast gluten sensitive.
I just can't figure out what I should do! Either way, I will not eat gluten, and as of now i consider myself NCGI, but I just NEED to know for sure!
What should I do?? I was thinking about just going back to my doctor and demanding a DNA test for celiac, that way I can rule it out or not? And then probably trying the gluten challange again, for a longer time period and praying that the test would be accurate this time..
Thank you so much for reading<3 I've been posting like crazy on this website, but I feel like I have to be my own doctor and it's extremely frustrating! I want to figure this all out ASAP because I'm 18 years old and will be going to college in a few months and gluten is ruining my life!
I would ask for the full celiac panel, an endo with biospies ( at least three)... Not knowing how young you are I think if you are school age or college age you need to have some documentation for that reason... But if the doctor says you are gluten sensitive there is no testing available at present for that . Either way the outcome is the same , a 100% gluten free lifestyle....
Myself, I feel that one needs to be on gluten for at least several months to get accurate testing.....oops, sorry I just reread your post & now see you are off to college....
Most doctors just don't get it yet so many of us understand your aniexty... You could look for a doc that understands the issues of celiac / gluten sensitive....
I think it's smart to get those blood test copies. They could tell you a lot. The DGP is one of the better celiac tests for early celiac disease or eating "gluten light" - it won't be as accurate as if you were eating gluten everyday for a couple of months but it might work for you.
I think gluten intolerance is a spectrum, and this view is becoming more popular. Some gluten intolerant people are celiacs in that it causes the immune system to attack the gut, others have skin attacked. There are also the other symptoms like ataxia or neuropathies that they don't have a specific label for but sound very scary to me. You fit somewhere on that spectrum. Celiac is just one point of the spectrum. Gluten can affect people in horrible ways... Unfortunately the only tests we have are based on intestinal damage (if your intestines are damaged it is usually a positive test) but hopefully they'll come up with better testing for the other gluten intolerance symptoms in the next few years.
In the mean time, can your doctor give you a NCGI diagnosis (on paper) so you can have accommodations made for you at college? You'll need to take care of yourself so you feel well enough to do well at school. Hang in there. All you can really do (if testing is indeed done) is stay gluten-free for at least 3 months - 6 is better- and then reassess if your health has improved. I suggest keeping a food and symptom journal to keep track of every little symptom and how long it lasts so you'll really be able to see any trends.
Proverbs 25:16 "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it." Job 30:27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. Thyroid cyst and nodules, Lactose / casein intolerant. Diet positive, gene test pos, symptoms confirmed by Dr-head. My current bad list is: gluten, dairy, sulfites, coffee (the devil's brew), tea, Bug's Bunnies carrots, garbanzo beans of pain, soy- no joy, terrible turnips, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and hard work. have a good day! :-) Paul
I'm new, too, and can't really add to the awesome info above, but I just wanted to send (((HUGS))) your way.
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Amy
If you're going through hell, keep going!
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Jeremiah 29: 11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
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and praying that the test would be accurate this time..
