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.
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....
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!
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
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.
@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)
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.
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....
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