About Candida - yes, I did read the link - and find it very interesting. I had a yeast infection for 18 months - and Candida for who knows how long.
I'm still waiting to talk to my gastroenterologist about the results. I haven't had the chance to talk to him for even a second after the procedure. And, obviously, I am very anxious. Hopefully I will get a call from him soon.
I spoke with my general practitioner - after emailing her the results - and she said that, it looks like refractory sprue. I'm not sure how familiar you guys are with that so I'm going to quote the section on it from the book, "Celiac Disease" by Peter Green.
" I've been really good about the diet - I watch everything I eat. I do eat out a lot, but only where I know I'm safe... But my last biopsy was still totally flat. I don't know what I'm doing wrong or what more I can do. Maybe stop eating. (Anonymous, 50)
Primary refractory sprue is the term used for patients with celiac disease who have ongoing diarrhea and persistent villous atrophy after going on a gluten-free diet for at least six months and in whom pancreatic insufficiency, bacterial overgrowth, microscopic colitis, and small intestinal lymphoma has been ruled out. This is mainly a diagnosis of exclusion. It is not just the persistence of villous atrophy in a patient who is otherwise doing well with the diet.
Some patients initially appear to do extremely well on the diet and then relapse despite compliance. This is secondary refractory sprue. In these patients, refractory sprue develops during the course of celiac disease, but in others the cause is unclear. Studies have been done to determine whether these patients actually have celiac disease. In terms of pathology, both conditions are similar.
Refractory sprue can have serious consequences - one is malignancy. Some patients with refractory sprue have abnormal lymphocytes (white blood cells), called clonal lymphoctyes. Patients with refractory sprue are also seen with clonal proliferation. If clonal lymphocytes are present, patients may progress to lymphoma.
Patients with refractory sprue may need hospitalization and treatment with intravenous fluids and nutrients as well as antidiarrheal agents. Many receive steroids, immunosuppresive therapy, and antibiotics.
After eliminating any other possible reasons for the condition - double-checking the diagnosis, ruling out dietary indescretion and bacterial overgrowth, and using pancreatic supplements - drugs such as cyclosporines and azathioprone (Imuran) are used as treatment for patients with refractory sprue. They have fewer side effects than steroids."
Needless to say, if it is refractory, not happy news. I do not have pancreatic insufficiency, as I have taken pancreatic enzymes in the past with no benefit. I was tested for bacterial overgrowth last year and that's not it. And I'm pretty sure that I don't have microscopic colitis. (Wouldn't I know on that one?) So, I'm waiting to get the small intestinal lymphoma ruled out. (Yikes.)
Obviously there could be other food intolerances that I don't know about. But I do not have active Candida now.
What worries me the most is that I haven't had a reaction (i.e. "glutened") since last June. And I developed a pretty bad depression in August - which (now that I know what's going on with my villi) leads me to believe that this has been going on for some time. If I *do* have refractory sprue, it must be the *secondary* refractory sprue, because I was doing really well for a while. But in August, for whatever reason, I started really breaking down and could hardly function. By November, I was crying every single day (to the point of sobbing most days). I started taking anti-depressants again November 1st (Wellbutrin).
I really don't know what is going on now. I do believe that Candida can play a role - but I don't think that's the case for me now. (I even posted on the Candida link a long time ago - not sure of the forum link, but here is a web page that I linked to: http://www.denvernat...ews/celiac.html ) (Please read that if you haven't already!)
So... waiting.
Thank you so very, very much for your support. Sorry I haven't responded yet - I've been slammed with work & school & dating & trying to get my living space organized (I was living with my boyfriend for almost 3 years - left him on Christmas, possibly -in part- because of this active celiac business that I didn't know about).
You guys are wonderful. Thank you thank you thank you!
- Michelle
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