[mushroom]

 becster, on Apr 28 2009, 09:28 PM, said:

Hi - I'm new to this forum and I'm looking for some advice...
For the past 4 years (after the birth of my last baby) I've had right upper quadrant discomfort for which I've had several liver function tests and 2 liver and abdo ultrasounds - all these test results were normal. For the past year i've had awful abdo bloating which lasts for a week or two every few weeks (and results in lots and lots of gas) During these "attacks" my skin gets intensely itchy especially on the scalp, face, neck and then on arms and legs. I also get a headache on one side of my head and mild joint and bone pains. All these things happen at the same time. I was referred to a gastoenterologist when the bloating first started and she said it looked like mild IBS.
I rarely get diarrhoea, but always get constipated during the attacks and get a dry mouth. The itching is driving me insane. As I said, these attacks come on every few weeks or so, particularly if I put on a few pounds in weight or eat a lot of carbs (I'm very slim).
I'm wondering if this could be celiac, or maybe it's part of IBS or another autoimmune disease - or maybe it's hormonal.
I took an over the counter IGA celiac test myself and the result was negative.
Do you think I should insist on a test at the Drs? In the UK where I am, doctors don't like to make referrals to specialists unless your'e at deaths door as it costs them money.

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

A lot of your symptoms could be suggestive of celiac, as you have obviously concluded yourself. Is it not possible for a GP to order a celiac blood panel in the UK or is that reserved for specialists? I know, I am still getting used to the little domains that specialists carve out for themselves here in NZ, (only a specialist can order that medication, this kind of stuff) because I'm used to the US way (had a good insurance plan that let me go wherever and whenever I wanted)? But surely a blood test a GP could order. Then if that were positive they would have to refer you to a GI. I think this is the way to start, if it is possible. After all, this is what GP's do, screening, right? And it's a lot less expensive than the other tests they have run. Even if the celiac panel were to be negative (and it does sound like you are in early stages ((not to be dismissive but some of us suffer through all this a lot longer before the light bulb goes on)), if the values were slightly elevated could you insist on the GI referral since she/he is not solving your problems. You are probably going to have to get creative and assertive here, if this is what is going on. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Good luck with your navigation through the health system

[Rebecca's mom]

Have you looked at the Dermatitis Herpetiformis forum? The itching is a "classic" symptom of this skin rash, which is 100% correlated with Celiac Disease, regardless of your bloodwork results.