Normal Biopsy - Still Think It Could Be Celiac

[Kat L]

I got my biopsy results the other day, and they were normal (6 samples, normal). Other than a mild Schatzki ring and sliding hiatal hernia, the doc said everything was normal and nothing would explain any symptom other than a little heartburn. I, however, am not convinced. I've stopped eating gluten and will give it a month or two, and see how many of my symptoms resolve. I also plan on getting a 2nd opinion from another GI. But, at the same time, I'm concerned that if the GI is right and I don't have celiac, that I could be missing the real source of my problems.

So, I have 2 questions:

1) Is there anything else that can cause B12 deficiency?

As far as I know, there's not eating meat or dairy (which is definitely not the case for me), Grave's disease (I'm overweight, not under weight so I don't think hyperactive thyroid is my deal), and pernicious anemia/lack of intrinsic factor (my primary has ordered a test for intrinsic factor in February along with follow-up B12, so we'll see if that's the case pretty soon). Is there anything else that's a possible cause? My B12 was at about 300, and that's with me periodically (not routinely at all) taking a B-complex vitamin supplement.

2) When you get glutened, generally how long is the delay between eating gluten and a reaction?

I've been gluten free for 8 days so far. I haven't had my most common symptom, which is really extreme bloating, all week - that is until last night after dinner when I blew up like the staypuff marsmallow girl. I went through everything I ate all day yesterday and I'm sure I didn't any gluten. Then I realized that the day before I did totally gluten myself. I had one of those green Superfood Odwallas for breakfast and didn't check the label at all- like a total bonehead, I thought it's just juice! no gluten to worry about. BUT, that was about 36 hours before I got the bloating. So, is it possible that the Odwalla caused my bloating? Or is this all a coincidence? Either way I'm going to stay off gluten and in another week or so purposely test myself with something gluteny.

[mushroom]

Perhaps there was wheatgrass or barley grass in your Odwalla? Most people do not react, but some do.

[Kat L]

Perhaps there was wheatgrass or barley grass in your Odwalla? Most people do not react, but some do.

Yes, there was wheat grass, barley grass, and wheat sprouts in the Odwalla. Like I said, it was a bonehead thing not to check.

[DavinaRN]

My understanding is it can take up to a few days to react to gluten. Also you may not have celiac, you could just have non-celiac gluten intolerance. Same symptoms, negative blood and biopsy results.

[nvsmom]

Low B12 can (as far as I know) be caused be a gluten intolerance, not just celiac. Also, H. pylori, infections and parasite (liketapeworm and Giardia lamblia) can cause low B12. I've also heard that people who take a lot of stomach antacids can have such reduced stomach acid that it makes B12 difficult to extract from foods.

I would react to gluten with a stomach ache within the hour, but I also ended up bloated in the evenings even if I ingested gluten hours earlier.

Hope you feel better.