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:
    Where Your Contribution Counts!
    eNewsletter
    Support Us!

Heard From York About My Tests


covsooze

Recommended Posts

covsooze Enthusiast

I had a phone message from york to say that the lab quality control had rejected by blood sample so they need to take a new one! I phoned to see why, just in case it was something to do with how the sample had been taken. they said no, it was because my blood had over reacted. I asked what that meant and basically, my blood had reactions to so many foods that they can't believe the results and have to retest :blink: This concerns me a bit about the reliability of the testing... and also about the possibility that I might end up just being able to eat bananas and nothing else :rolleyes: Anyone had a similar experience?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



jenvan Collaborator

Interesting... I did Great Plains Labs and spoke to someone from the lab. She said I was one of the most "allergic" people she's ever seen. So... a guess a second test will rule out a faulty sample...but they may find the same results. I was highly allergic to most of the foods on the test. It goes along with a leaky gut, and so many food proteins ending up in the blood stream, and out of the gut, where they belong :unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kasey'sMom Enthusiast

My dd had the test from YORK done last summer and they we're still shipping to England. They used a collection tube that seemed to hold a larger amount. I had it done this fall and they test collection kit changed. The pads you had to fill up seemed like they took less blood. Anyway, may dd reacted to an astronomical amount of foods. I thought it would be difficult to incoroporate but it was easier than I thought. On my test this fall I only reacted to two things. I had been on a gluten-free diets for quite a while and the candida diet before that. I suspect I would have reacted to more if I hadn't healed some already. Now if my IgE allergies would improve I would be set! My dd had the test this fall and he reacted to nothing. We're both shocked. :) Hope you find out something soon!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
trents Grand Master
My dd had the test from YORK done last summer and they we're still shipping to England. They used a collection tube that seemed to hold a larger amount. I had it done this fall and they test collection kit changed. The pads you had to fill up seemed like they took less blood. Anyway, may dd reacted to an astronomical amount of foods. I thought it would be difficult to incoroporate but it was easier than I thought. On my test this fall I only reacted to two things. I had been on a gluten-free diets for quite a while and the candida diet before that. I suspect I would have reacted to more if I hadn't healed some already. Now if my IgE allergies would improve I would be set! My dd had the test this fall and he reacted to nothing. We're both shocked. :) Hope you find out something soon!

Fascinating string! A couple of years before I was diagnosed with Celiac's disease I had allergy testing done. I turned up allergic (none of them real strong reactions) to quite a grocery list of foods including coffee, milk fat, peanuts, filberts, baker's yeast, corn and yes, even rice which is supposed to be the most hypoallergenic food of all. I have pretty much disregarded the allergy testing since all of those foods are extremely common and difficult to avoid and since none of them produced a strong allergic reaction. After reading this tread, however, it makes me wonder if that was largely an effect of Celiac disease/leaky gut.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
covsooze Enthusiast

Jen - are you still excluding the foods the tests showed up? I won't be surprised if there's lots of foods I've got a problem with - it's because I suspect so many that I thought I'd do the test rather than starting with an elimination diet. However, although I do react to lots of foods, I'm rarely really really sick, so on that score, I think it would be surprising if I react to a lot.

DH is rather sceptical about the whole test - the fact that they can test so many foods with such a tiny sample and the fact that it takes a couple of days for the sample to reach the lab. He thinks they're just money grabbers! I'm hoping there's a lot more to it than that...

So it was interesting to see the progress made by you, Kaseysmum, and your DD. Does that mean you're both feeling better?

Trents - I'm pretty sure I've got a problem with rice too, as I always have a 'sore' stomach when i've eaten it. I wanted to test to confirm that given, as you said, that it's supposed to be so hypoallergenic and everyone says when going on a 'simple' diet it's one of the few foods you can eat. i just really hope I'll still be able to eat potatoes, as not eating them would be the end of the world lol :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jenvan Collaborator

covsooze-

yeah, food intolerances are a bit of a sticky issue. in my experience, no one is totally sure what happens internally as a result of them. obvious gluten can cause damage, so can dairy apparently from some studies...but what about rice or pineapple--which were both high on my list? i think as healing continues in my intestines, the leakiness should begin to cease, therefore reducing and elmininating some of the intolerances--at least some of the more funky ones. however, i expect dairy to probably stick around as casein is a frequent heath culprit like gluten. we'll see--i am going to do follow-up testing eventually and will post those results as a bit of an experiment :) so, you asked if i've eliminated all the foods. for now i haven't...it would mean also eliminating quite a few fruits, veggies, rice, all nuts, beans, eggs and a host of other foods. am i then slowing my healing process because i continue to eat rice? that is the question that hasn't been thoroughly researched. i think they definitely play a role in health, b/c the body is spending much time producing antibiodies, but what does that mean exactly? eventually i plan on giving up rice and even trying to go "allergy free" for a few weeks and seeing if noticeable changes happen. i am also having an endoscopy next thursday, so i'm curious to see how healing is progressing...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
covsooze Enthusiast

I read today in 'Cross-grain' the magazine of Coeliac UK, that having celiac disease doesn't often lead to other food intolerances. Hmm. I thought lots of people here have other food intolerances, so what's that about? Is there research which links leaky gut, celiac disease and food intolerances?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ravenwoodglass Mentor
I read today in 'Cross-grain' the magazine of Coeliac UK, that having celiac disease doesn't often lead to other food intolerances. Hmm. I thought lots of people here have other food intolerances, so what's that about? Is there research which links leaky gut, celiac disease and food intolerances?

You have to remember that in many countrys celiac is either screened for in childhood or tested for early in illness. Here the average time for diagnosis is 11 years for some much longer. For me it took over 40 years to get a diagnosis. This discrepency in development of other problems may be because they disagonse early enough to avoid complications. Most of us suffering from things like leaky gut and other food intolerances suffered with the IBS or 'it's all in your head' diagnosis for so long that much more damage is done.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
covsooze Enthusiast

that's me then! I got the IBS diagnosis some years ago, even though the symptoms weren't in my colon but rather in my stomach :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cape Newbie
You have to remember that in many countrys celiac is either screened for in childhood or tested for early in illness. Here the average time for diagnosis is 11 years for some much longer. For me it took over 40 years to get a diagnosis. This discrepency in development of other problems may be because they disagonse early enough to avoid complications. Most of us suffering from things like leaky gut and other food intolerances suffered with the IBS or 'it's all in your head' diagnosis for so long that much more damage is done.

Ravenwoodglass and others,

Do you know of people with a leaky gut who have refered pain, like say in their shoulders, hips and knees? I have found that foods in the Night Shade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant) were giving me lots of pain in my bursa. I can't eat/drink beans, bananas, sugar, coffee, dairy, millet, soy and some other things. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, but my neck stopped hurting as much once I stopped gluten.

Does one see a GI with a leaky gut? My GI didn't seem to know what a leaky gut was. She had never heard of Living Without Magazine or the Gluten Intolerance Group web site. She also told me that being three months off of gluten would not be a problem when doing my biopsy; if there was damage, she'd find it. Well, there was no damage, and she said that I did not have celiac disease. Another GI did a genetic test to see if I have the celiac disease markers since he didn't think it would be a good thing for me to get back on gluten with the symptoms I described. He was a bit sheepish to say that I do indeed have a Celiac gene marker; the one that all Celiacs have, but so does one third of the population and he said not all of them are Celiacs. He did say that it was fair to assume that I very well have celiac disease, but stopped gluten before the damage was bad.

For two years I had gynocological tests done to check out my bloating and abdominal pain, my fatigue, my fuzzy brain. I had also been to Orthopedists, and taken physical therapy, then to a chiropractor all for my shoulder pains during the same two years.

I am not sure what kind of doctor I should see about a leaky gut. GI I suppose, but I'll need a new one in the Durham, NC area. Would a rheumologist be helpful since I have bursitis and tendonitis symptoms? OR do you think there isn't much to be done for my pain?

I'd be greatful for any help from anyone.

Thanks,

Cape

Link to comment
Share on other sites
plantime Contributor

Celiac is a disorder of the immune system, and will cause your body to attack itself, and cause pain all over your body. I can "cause" a severe flare of my RA just by eating a slice of white bread! Your GI doc should be able to help you with the leaky gut, but finding a good doc is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Leaky gut will cause you to have reactions to food without being allergic. I suggest you stop eating the foods that are causing problems for a couple of months, then add them back in one by one, just to see if the reactions come back after additional healing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
covsooze Enthusiast

Does everyone with celiac disease have leaky gut? How can you tell if you've got it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jenvan Collaborator
I read today in 'Cross-grain' the magazine of Coeliac UK, that having celiac disease doesn't often lead to other food intolerances.

That statement at face value makes no sense...of course Celiac would lead to a leaky gut in number of those who go undiagnosed for a period of time. Read the helpful description below on leaky gut... It also mentions some 'signs' of leaky gut. ie. For me, a sign could be the results of my tests, as I mentioned previously. It is unlikely I am naturally allergic to so many foods, but that the allergies are a result of so many food proteins leaking into the intestinal barrier and to the blood stream. Oh, and I would not say all Celiacs necessarily have a leaky gut. I'm sure there are degrees, and that developing it depends on a number of factors such as length of Celiac onset, length of gluten-free diet, personal genetics etc.

The purpose of the gastro-intestinal tract, or gut, is multi-fold. Basically, it:

i) Digests foods,

ii) Absorbs small food particles to be converted into energy.

iii) Carries nutrients like vitamins and minerals attached to carrier proteins across the gut lining into the bloodstream.

iv) Contains a major part of the chemical detoxification system of the body, and

v) Contains immunoglobulins or antibodies that act as the first line of defence against infection.

The leaky gut (or LGS) is a poorly recognised but extremely common problem. It is rarely tested for. Essentially, it represents a hyperpermeable intestinal lining. In other words, large spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall, and bacteria, toxins and food leak in.

The official definition is an increase in permeability of the intestinal mucosa to luminal macromolecules, antigens and toxins associated with inflammatory degenerative and/or atrophic mucosal damage.

If the gut is not healthy, neither is the rest of the body. It is the point of fuel and nutrient entry. If healing is at a standstill look at the gut to see if this is the block. Chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia and escalating food allergies are among the many problems caused by the leaky gut.

If gas, bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, alternating constipation and diarrhoea are symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome may not be all that's going on.

The Mucosal Barrier

The barrier posed by the intestinal mucosa is, even in normal subjects, an incomplete one. Small quantities of molecules of different sizes and characteristics cross the intact epithelium by both active and passive mechanisms. The route by which such transfer occurs is, at least in part, dependent on molecular size. Molecules up to about 5000 Daltons in size cross the epithelial membrane of the microvilli. Larger molecules may utilise an intercellular pathway or depend on being taken up by endocytosis entering the cell at the base of the microvilli.

How Does The Gut Become Leaky?

Once the gut lining becomes inflamed or damaged, this disrupts the functioning of the system. The spaces open up and allow large food antigens, for example, to be absorbed into the body. Normally the body sees only tiny food antigens. When it sees these new, larger ones, they are foreign to the body's defence system. So the attack results in the production of antibodies against once harmless, innocuous foods.

Isn't Leakier Better?

It might sound good that the gut can become leaky, because it would seem that the body would be better able to absorb more amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. For the body to absorb a mineral it does not just slowly diffuse across the gut membrane it must be attached to a carrier protein. This protein hooks onto the mineral and actually carries it across the gut wall into the bloodstream. However, when the intestinal lining is damaged through inflammation these carrier proteins get damaged as well, so now the victim is vulnerable to developing mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

The 7 stages of the 'inflamed’ gut.

1 . When the gut is inflamed, it does not absorb nutrients and foods properly and so fatigue and bloating can occur.

2. As mentioned previously, when large food particles are absorbed there is the creation of food allergies and new symptoms with target organs, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

3. When the gut is inflamed the carrier proteins are damaged so nutrient deficiencies occur which can also cause any symptom, like magnesium deficiency induced muscle spasm or copper deficiency induced high cholesterol.

4. Likewise when the detox pathways that line the gut are compromised, chemical sensitivity can arise. Furthermore the leakage of toxins overburdens the liver so that the body is less able to handle everyday chemicals.

5. When the gut lining is inflamed the protective coating of lgA (immunoglobulin A) is adversely affected and the body is not able to ward off protozoa, bacteria, viruses and yeast’s like candida.

6. When the intestinal lining is inflamed, bacteria and yeast’s are able to translocate. This means that they are able to pass from the gut lumen or cavity, into the bloodstream and set up infection anywhere else in the body.

7. The worst symptom is the formation of antibodies. Sometimes these leak across and look similar to antigens on our own tissues. Consequently, when an antibody is made to attack it, it also attacks our tissue. This is probably how autoimmune disease s tart. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroiditis and many others are members of this ever-growing category of ‘incurable’ diseases.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
covsooze Enthusiast

Thanks Jen! Wow, I'm learning so much reading this board :D I think I'll research this a bit more when I'm more awake ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cape Newbie
That statement at face value makes no sense...of course Celiac would lead to a leaky gut in number of those who go undiagnosed for a period of time. Read the helpful description below on leaky gut... It also mentions some 'signs' of leaky gut. ie. For me, a sign could be the results of my tests, as I mentioned previously. It is unlikely I am naturally allergic to so many foods, but that the allergies are a result of so many food proteins leaking into the intestinal barrier and to the blood stream. Oh, and I would not say all Celiacs necessarily have a leaky gut. I'm sure there are degrees, and that developing it depends on a number of factors such as length of Celiac onset, length of gluten-free diet, personal genetics etc.

The purpose of the gastro-intestinal tract, or gut, is multi-fold. Basically, it:

i) Digests foods,

ii) Absorbs small food particles to be converted into energy.

iii) Carries nutrients like vitamins and minerals attached to carrier proteins across the gut lining into the bloodstream.

iv) Contains a major part of the chemical detoxification system of the body, and

v) Contains immunoglobulins or antibodies that act as the first line of defence against infection.

The leaky gut (or LGS) is a poorly recognised but extremely common problem. It is rarely tested for. Essentially, it represents a hyperpermeable intestinal lining. In other words, large spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall, and bacteria, toxins and food leak in.

The official definition is an increase in permeability of the intestinal mucosa to luminal macromolecules, antigens and toxins associated with inflammatory degenerative and/or atrophic mucosal damage.

If the gut is not healthy, neither is the rest of the body. It is the point of fuel and nutrient entry. If healing is at a standstill look at the gut to see if this is the block. Chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia and escalating food allergies are among the many problems caused by the leaky gut.

If gas, bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, alternating constipation and diarrhoea are symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome may not be all that's going on.

The Mucosal Barrier

The barrier posed by the intestinal mucosa is, even in normal subjects, an incomplete one. Small quantities of molecules of different sizes and characteristics cross the intact epithelium by both active and passive mechanisms. The route by which such transfer occurs is, at least in part, dependent on molecular size. Molecules up to about 5000 Daltons in size cross the epithelial membrane of the microvilli. Larger molecules may utilise an intercellular pathway or depend on being taken up by endocytosis entering the cell at the base of the microvilli.

How Does The Gut Become Leaky?

Once the gut lining becomes inflamed or damaged, this disrupts the functioning of the system. The spaces open up and allow large food antigens, for example, to be absorbed into the body. Normally the body sees only tiny food antigens. When it sees these new, larger ones, they are foreign to the body's defence system. So the attack results in the production of antibodies against once harmless, innocuous foods.

Isn't Leakier Better?

It might sound good that the gut can become leaky, because it would seem that the body would be better able to absorb more amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. For the body to absorb a mineral it does not just slowly diffuse across the gut membrane it must be attached to a carrier protein. This protein hooks onto the mineral and actually carries it across the gut wall into the bloodstream. However, when the intestinal lining is damaged through inflammation these carrier proteins get damaged as well, so now the victim is vulnerable to developing mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

The 7 stages of the 'inflamed’ gut.

1 . When the gut is inflamed, it does not absorb nutrients and foods properly and so fatigue and bloating can occur.

2. As mentioned previously, when large food particles are absorbed there is the creation of food allergies and new symptoms with target organs, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

3. When the gut is inflamed the carrier proteins are damaged so nutrient deficiencies occur which can also cause any symptom, like magnesium deficiency induced muscle spasm or copper deficiency induced high cholesterol.

4. Likewise when the detox pathways that line the gut are compromised, chemical sensitivity can arise. Furthermore the leakage of toxins overburdens the liver so that the body is less able to handle everyday chemicals.

5. When the gut lining is inflamed the protective coating of lgA (immunoglobulin A) is adversely affected and the body is not able to ward off protozoa, bacteria, viruses and yeast’s like candida.

6. When the intestinal lining is inflamed, bacteria and yeast’s are able to translocate. This means that they are able to pass from the gut lumen or cavity, into the bloodstream and set up infection anywhere else in the body.

7. The worst symptom is the formation of antibodies. Sometimes these leak across and look similar to antigens on our own tissues. Consequently, when an antibody is made to attack it, it also attacks our tissue. This is probably how autoimmune disease s tart. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroiditis and many others are members of this ever-growing category of ‘incurable’ diseases.

Thanks so much Jen. I really appreciate your posting this description. I feel pretty fortunate that I have a doctor friend who is an Allergist/Immunologist who is interested in my health and everything that I have learned. I hope she will be able to send me to the right rheumotologst.

Bye, Cape

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jenvan Collaborator

Cape--hope the rhemy is a good help. Chronic pain syndromes are hard. I have FM and haven't had much help for docs-just want to recommend anti-depressants (which can help some) or pain meds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
nikki-uk Enthusiast
I read today in 'Cross-grain' the magazine of Coeliac UK, that having celiac disease doesn't often lead to other food intolerances. Hmm. I thought lots of people here have other food intolerances, so what's that about? Is there research which links leaky gut, celiac disease and food intolerances?

Yeah,I read that too and thought 'What??!!'

When my hubbie was at his illest before diagnosis of celiac disease he was admitted to hospital for the gastro to run a load of tests.

Meanwhile,I was researching all his symptoms on the internet.

I kept on coming back to leaky gut,but docs don't recognise it.

I am convinced that because my hubbie went many years undiagnosed with celiac disease,this lead to leaky gut.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Julie Riordan replied to Julie Riordan's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      3

      Any ideas for travelling

    2. - Nedast replied to Larzipan's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      15

      Has anyone had terrible TMJ/ Jaw Pain from undiagnosed Celiac?

    3. - trents replied to SuzanneL's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Weak Positive Test

    4. - SuzanneL posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Weak Positive Test

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Braver101's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Constant sweating with celiac disease


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,495
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Zofosho
    Newest Member
    Zofosho
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Thank you for your post, @Nedast, and welcome to the forum. There have been many posts on this subject on the forum, it is interesting to read of your experiences. Although I've not had TMJ, except from time to time have had a bit of mild tension in my jaw, I have had issues with my trigeminal nerve.  I read that sometimes a damaged nerve in coeliacs can heal after adopting a gluten free diet.  I try to keep out of cold winds or wear a scarf over my face when it is cold and windy, those conditions tend to be my 'trigger' but I do think that staying clear of gluten has helped.   Thank you again for your input.
    • Julie Riordan
      I am going to France in two weeks and then to Portugal in May   Thanks for your reply 
    • Nedast
      I made an account just to reply to this topic. My story resembles yours in so many ways that it is truly amazing. I also suddenly became lactose intolerant, went a little under 10 years attributing all my symtoms to different body parts, never thinking it was something systemic until much later. I had the same mental problems - anxiety, depression, fatigue, etc. In fact, the only real difference in our story is that I was never formally diagnosed. When I discovered that my myriad symtoms, that had been continuous and worsening for years, all rapidly subsided upon cessation of consuming gluten, I immediately took it upon myself to cut gluten out of my diet completely. I live in America, and had lost my health insurance within the year prior to my discovery, so I could not get tested, and I will never willingly or knowingly consume gluten again, which I would have to do in order to get tested now that I have insurance again. But that is not the point of this reply. I also had extreme TMJ pain that began within months of getting my wisdom teeth out at - you guessed it - 17 years old. I was in and out of doctors for my various symptoms for about 5 years before I gave up, but during that time I had also kept getting reffered to different kinds of doctors that had their own, different solutions to my TMJ issue, an issue which I only recently discovered was related to my other symptoms. I began with physical therapy, and the physical therapist eventually broke down at me after many months, raising her voice at me and saying that there was nothing she could do for me. After that saga, I saw a plastic surgeon at the request of my GP, who he knew personally. This palstic surgeon began using botox injections to stop my spasming jaw muscles, and he managed to get it covered by my insurace in 2011, which was harder to do back then. This helped the pain tremendously, but did not solve the underlying problem, and I had to get repeat injections every three months. After a couple of years, this began to lose effectiveness, and I needed treatments more often than my insurance would cover. The surgeon did a scan on the joint and saw slight damage to the tissues. He then got approved by insurance to do a small surgery on the massseter (jaw) muscle - making an incision, and then splicing tissue into the muscle to stop the spasming. It worked amazingly, but about three months later it had stopped working. I was on the verge of seeing the top oral surgeon in our city, but instead of operating on me, he referred me to a unique group of dentists who focus on the TMJ and its biomechanical relationship to teeth occlusion (i.e. how the teeth fit together). This is what your dentist did, and what he did to you was boderline if not outright malpractice. There is a dental field that specializes in doing this kind of dental work, and it takes many years of extra schooling (and a lot of money invested into education) to be able to modify teeth occusion in this manner. Just based on the way you describe your dentist doing this, I can tell he was not qualified to do this to you. Dentists who are qualified and engage in this practice take many measurments of your head, mouth, teeth, etc., they take laboratory molds of your teeth, and they then make a complete, life-size model of your skull and teeth to help them guide their work on you. They then have a lab construct, and give you what is called a "bite splint." It looks and feels like a retainer, but its function is entirely different. This is essentially a literal splint for the TMJ that situates on the teeth. The splint is progressively modified once or twice per week, over several months, in order to slowly move the joint to its correct position. The muscles spasm less, stress is taken off the joint, as the joint slowly moves back into its proper position. The pain reduces each month, each week, sometimes even each day you go in for a visit. The joint has to be moved in this manner with the splint BEFORE the modification to the teeth begins. They then add to your tooth structure with small bits of composite, to keep the joint in its proper place after it has been sucessfully repositioned. Subtracting from your teeth, by grinding down bits of your natural tooth structure, is done very conservatively, if they have to do it at all. This process worked for me - after six months, my face, jaw, neck all felt normal, and I had no more pain - a feeling I had not had in a long time. It also made my face look better. I had not realized the true extent that the spasming muscles and the joint derangement had effected the shape of my face. The pain began to return after a few months, but nowhere near where it had been before. This immense reduction in pain lasted for a little over two years. The treatment still ultimately failed, but it is not their fault, and it is still the treatment that has given me the most relief to this day. Later on, I even went about three years with very, very good pain reduction, before the joint severely destabilized again. This field of dentistry is the last line treatment for TMJ issues before oral surgery on the TMJ. There aren't as many denists around who practice this anymore, and the practice is currently shrinking due to dentists opting for less espensive, additional educations in things like professional whitening, which have a broader marketability. Getting this treatment is also very expensive if not covered by insurance (in America at least). My first time was covered by insurance, second time was not, though the dentist took pity on me due to the nature of my case and charged like a quarter of usual pricing. Most cases seen by these dentists are complete successes, and the patient never has to come back again. But occasionally they get a case that is not a success, and I was one of those cases. A little over a year ago, I began seeing the second dentist who keeps my TMJ stable in this manner. The first dentist retired, and then died sadly. A shame too, because he was a truly amazing, knowledgable guy who really wanted to help people. The new dentist began to get suspicious when my joint failed to stay stable after I was finished with the bite splint and his modifications, so he did another scan on me. This is ten years after the first scan (remember, I said the surgeon saw "slight" damage to the tissue on the first scan). This new scan revealed that I now no longer have cartilage in the joint, on both sides - complete degeneration of the soft tissues and some damage to the bone. The dentist sat me down and had a talk with me after these results came in, and said that when he sees damage like this in cases like mine, that the damage to the joint is most likely autoimmune, and that, in his experinece, it is usually autoimmune. He has sent patients with cases like mine to Mayo Clinic. He said he will continue to see me as long as the treatment continues to offer me relief, but also said that I will probably have to see a dentist for this type of treatment for the rest of my life. He is not currently recommending surgery due to my young age and the fact that the treatment he provides manages my symptoms pretty well. I still see this dentist today, and probably will see this kind of dental specialist for the rest of my life, since they have helped with this issue the most. I did not inform him that I am 100% sure that I have celiac disease (due to my complete symptom remission upon gluten cessation). I didn't inform him because I thought it would be inappropriate due to not having a formal diagnosis. I was disappointed, because I had believed I had caught it BEFORE it had done permanent damage to my body. I had never suspected that my TMJ issues may be related to my other symptoms, and that the damage would end up complete and permanent. Luckily, I caught it about 6 months after my other joints started hurting, and they stopped hurting right after I went gluten free, and haven't hurt since. I of course did the necessary research after the results of the second scan, and found out that the TMJ is the most commonly involved joint in autoimmune disease of the intestines, and if mutliple joints are effected, it is usually the first one effected. This makes complete sense, since the TMJ is the most closely related joint to the intestines, and literally controls the opening that allows food passage into your intestines. I am here to tell you, that if anyone says there is no potential relationship between TMJ issues and celiac disease, they are absolutely wrong. Just google TMJ and Celiac disease, and read the scientific articles you find. Research on issues regarding the TMJ is relatively sparse, but you will find the association you're looking for validated.
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @SuzanneL! Which tTG was that? tTG-IGA? tTG-IGG? Were there other celiac antibody tests run from that blood draw? Was total IGA measured? By some chance were you already cutting back on gluten by the time the blood draw was taken or just not eating much? For the celiac antibody tests to be accurate a person needs to be eating about 10g of gluten daily which is about 4-6 pieces of bread.
    • SuzanneL
      I've recently received a weak positive tTG, 6. For about six years, I've been sick almost everyday. I was told it was just my IBS. I have constant nausea. Sometimes after I eat, I have sharp, upper pain in my abdomen. I sometimes feel or vomit (bile) after eating. The doctor wanted me to try a stronger anti acid before doing an endoscopy. I'm just curious if these symptoms are pointing towards Celiac Disease? 
×
×
  • Create New...