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Could It Be Something Else . . . ?

KLTerry

By KLTerry
in Related Issues & Disorders

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KLTerry Apprentice
KLTerry
Posted

I started having noticible stomach problems back in January of 2004. I'm not sure if they just occurred out of nowhere. I had been pregnant for two years (my kids are 2 1/2 and 17 months), so there were obviously changes in my body that I just blamed on pregnancy. Anyway, back in January '04, I talked to my PCP about stomach cramping. I couldn't really pinpoint it to any specific location, but it felt like all over. He told me to drink more water because I was constiputed. I told him that I had been constipated since 2002 and that no amount of water or any of the meds he prescribed me were doing anything. I then went to see a specialist who did bloodwork and scopes and ultrasound and scans, and most every test is normal (which I'm not complaining about). The celiac disease bloodwork was negative/normal/inconclusive, so I had a genetics test done, which came back inconclusive as well, so all tests were sent to a specialist, who said that he thinks I have celiac disease (I know I've told this story before). And this brings us back to my doctor's appointment at my new GI, where ALL of my tests came back normal. Now, I have been struggling with being gluten-free, and I've got to be honest, I'm not having much success, so I don't think that "trying" to be gluten-free would have produced normal blood results. So, my question is, if I don't have celiac disease, what the heck do I have? Are there any other diseases that are mistaken for celiac disease?

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KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Which tests for celiac were inconclusive before? What exactly did they test you for with celiac? Were you on a gluten-free diet when the new tests came back normal from the other doctor? If you were attempting a gluten free diet leading up to that then it is possible it can screw up the test results. Is this new GI knowledgeable about celiac? The other one you had that thinks it was had to have a reason for thinking that and if he deals with celiac alot I wouldn't cross celiac off just like that especially since you had inconclusive results. Blood tests can be negative but you still could have celiac. That's why I asked which tests you were tested for becasue some are more accurate then others and only some labs do certain tests. The symptoms I have heard you talk about are ones that come with celiac. Have you been tested for other intolerances or allergies to other foods. Maybe you have a gluten intolerance if you don't have celiac. I would look into those things as well. Have you done an Enterolab? That might give you some insight as well. Good luck :D

-And celiac can be triggered by pregnancy,childbirth,stress, etc

Also you may want to check out about Candida.Other then being a celiac for a while I found out not to long ago I have candida and I am on Nystatin. Candida can cause some similar symptoms.

As far as it being hard to be gluten free....when I was told if I don't follow the diet I would probably end up with cancer at a young age that made me determined to follow the diet. I'm not about to compromise my life for a piece of pizza. It tears your intestines up and puts you at risk for so many serious and life threatening complications.

Just like if you had a serious allergy to peanuts you would stay away from them because you could die right. Well isn't a celiac and eating gluten the same concept? No, with celiac it won't kill you right away but the concept is the same and it still is serious.

KLTerry Apprentice
KLTerry
Posted
  • Author

Most of my tests were negative, and I was only attempting a gluten-free diet when the blood tests all came back negative. In the summer, Two of three came back negative and one was inconclusive (not sure which one). An endoscopy revealed a hyatal hernia, colonoscopy revealed nothing but fissures and hemrhoids. The scan they did (not sure the name of scan, but was a big machine that came down over my stomach and i had to stay still for an hour) came back as normal, the ultrasound came back as normal, all of my regular bloodwork (i.e. glucose, thyroid, etc.) was normal. The only thing that was off was my vitamin D and my iron, but only slightly.

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      highly unlikely  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)   I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them. When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food. Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip! The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated   anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.   so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)   I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.   so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem  there is zero doubt in my mind    
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