Diagnosed Just Now

[Josep]

Good evening everyone,

It's my first post here so I might as well introduce myself. I'm 22 years old and from Portugal. 
Ever since I had an appendicectomy a year ago, I began having loads of symptoms such as loss of focus, memory, constipation, bone pain, speedy heartbeats and the normal symptoms of celiac. 

The situation has worsened (I stopped being able to go to my track practice because I was always fatigued and to the gym as well). My family physician did some analysis and said I had iron-deficiency anemia and gave me some iron supplements to deal with it. As expected they did nothing.

Thankfully, I'm a Pharmacy Student and had a Pathophysiology class this semester and we spoke about celiac disease. I went to my physician and asked if it couldn't be that....she said that was impossible since I would need to have it since little and I had to have diarrhea and the normal old doctor mumbo jumbo about celiac. Well, since I'm stubborn, I asked to go through an endoscopy/colonoscopy (since she wouldn't prescribe the antitransglutaminase analysis) and I received the results today: turns out I have celiac disease (Marsh Stage 3B) and a bit of chronic gastritis (I guess it's connected with the celiac disease) and lymphoid hyperplasia (Guess it's also connected).

So I posted this topic for two reasons:

-First, to thank everyone around here for this brilliant source of information about my new condition which is much more advanced than anything in my country where celiac disease is still seen as that disease where people must have diarrhea and whose all symptoms are gastrointestinal.

-Second: I have an appointment with my physician tomorrow and other than punching her face with the pathology report, I would like to know which  blood analysis should I ask for (other than thyroid ones) to evaluate my body condition.

Thanks in advance

[mamaw]

Hello &  Welcome

I  would  ask  for  the  thyroid  panel  not just  the TSH,  B-12, Vitamin  D, A1c,  glucose, lipid  panel, & CBC  for  sure....

 

Make  sure  you  are  not  getting  the hidden  gluten   &  also  get  your  kitchen  for  scratched  pots &  pans,  plastic  utensils cutting  board, colander, toaster  &  so on  where  gluten  hids....

[GlutenStinks15]

I agree with mamaw --  "I would ask for the thyroid panel not just the TSH, B-12, Vitamin D, A1c, glucose, lipid panel, & CBC for sure...."

 

 

 

Also make sure they check your Folic Acid. My nutritionist told me that Celiac could cause a deficiency.

 

Good luck!!

[Josep]

Thanks for the advice, I will ask for those then

[Josep]

Also another doubt: Since I didn't do the antitransglutaminase test, can I truly say I'm celiac or diseases other than celiac disease can cause villous atrophy Marsh 3? It's just to know if I should ask the doctor to do the test even if the biopsy is already positive. Thanks!

[powerofpositivethinking]

welcome to the forum 

 

here is a research paper from the World Gastroenterology Organization on Celiac Guidelines.  Print a copy for your doctor as there is a lot of great information in it 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

A full celiac blood panel is:

DGP iga/igg

TTG iga/igg

EMA

Total iga serum

 

Thyroid Panel:

TSH

Free T3

Free T4

TPO antibodies

am I missing any??

 

Vitamins/Minerals:

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Complete Metabolic Profile (CMP)

Vitamins B-6 and B-12

Vitamins A, D, E, K

Magnesium

Zinc 

Copper

[1desperateladysaved]

I just wanted to say that I am happy that you were in the class talking about celiac!  I believe the endoscopy is considered and absolute diagnosis. The above sounds like it will give ideas what else to look for.

 

Happy for you,

 

Diana

[Josep]

Thanks everyone for all the advice!

@1desperateladysaved: Yes, it was really lucky that we spoke in class about celiac and I had the idea of getting tested for it, regardless of my doctor's stubborness, otherwise I would still be misdiagnosed (most people in my family were saying my symptoms were all due to stress and hypocondria and were planning on scheduling a psychiatrist soon :S)

[billybobhobw]

I have been told numerous times it was all in my head. There really is a lack of education about celiac and its side effects. My wife really does not get it. For me the diet has made a world of difference in a short period of time. I have been gluten free for just two weeks and my stomch is noticeably better. Your not crazy and now you have proof.

[mamaw]

billybobhobw

 

Glad  you  are  feeling better. But  you need to get your  wife  on board  if  she is the  family  cook....There   is  plenty  of  documentation  papers  on  the  net  to  help  convince  her  . That  is  if  seeing  you  better  is not  enough proof  for her...

Families  can be  the  worse   but  please  do not  let  that  deter  you  from  a  happy  healthy life...

And  if  you have  children please  get  them  tested....