Do I Have Celiac?

[nvgeiger]

Hello,

 

My name is Nick and I am 20 years old. I have some symptoms I'd like to have over viewed by people who actually deal and live with Celiac Disease.

 

I've been eating glutton all my life and never really had any noticeable issues, but when I eat at Subway ( I am poor , haha ) I would get extremely tired, feel groggy, and then almost pass out during mid-day. This was about two years ago and I just began to eat Subway again for the last 3 months and never got that tired feeling again. However, 2 months ago when I was recovering and on antibiotics from a bad Staph Infection ( MRSA ) I lost my ability to focus my eyes, fatigued, headaches, eczema break-outs, nausea, for maybe about 4-5 days. I assumed I had a bad reaction to the antibiotics. I am on here right now because I woke up on the 14th with the same issue. My eyes will not focus and I feel very groggy, it's making my ever day life quite uncomfortable. Also, my arms and hands feel kind of tingly. I had my blood drawn and I am still awaiting the results for Celiac, just wanted to get some feedback, trying to cut down on the glutton to see if that's the problem. My doctor said that I could still be recovering from the antibiotics, but I feel like that's very unlikely. If the test results are negative I will get an eye check-up. Last time I went in, 20/20. Never had an issue with my eyes in my entire life.

 

Thanks in advanced.

 

- N

 

 

 

 

[IrishHeart]

Hi Nick,

 

You could have a gluten issue, but let's wait before we speculate too much. Your symptoms could be caused by any number

of things, including a reaction to the antibiotics. (If I had been given a high dose of antibiotics, I would feel pretty lousy myself and

I would take probiotics for a few days--or longer--- to replenish my good gut bacteria. But that's just me.) 

 

When you get your results, come on back and tell us what you learned.

Take care!

[nvgeiger]

Hi Nick,

 

You could have a gluten issue, but let's wait before we speculate too much. Your symptoms could be caused by any number

of things, including a reaction to the antibiotics. (If I had been given a high dose of antibiotics, I would feel pretty lousy myself and

I would take probtioics for a few days to replenish my good gut bacteria. But that's just me.) 

 

When you get your results, come on back and tell us what you learned.

Take care!

I had a lot of stomach pains after antibiotics and I took probiotics for maybe a week and stopped. I am just feeling that it's unlikely my condition is caused by the antibiotics because that was 2 months ago. Should be getting my test results back tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest. Thanks for the input

[IrishHeart]

You'd be surprised at the number of people who report years of lingering problems from antibiotics.(I was one of them. I have had to dose with probiotics for years to right the ship. I had no detectable "good guy" bacteria upon diagnosis.) Again, this is just my experience, but unbalanced gut flora causes a whole host of problems.

 

Yes, do keep us posted! 

[nvsmom]

Your eye problem sounds like the migraine auras that I used to get. My vision would get jittery and it was hard to read.... My migraines were caused by gluten...

Hope you feel better.

[nvgeiger]

Update: Doctor just called me back with the lab work. Negative for Celiac. 

 

IrishHeart - If that's the case, I will make sure to up with probiotics for awhile. I am praying my vision will come back soon.

 

nvsmom - I actually use to suffer from headaches on the daily and maybe 3-5 migraines a year. It would star with a blurry blob and an hour later it would feel like the most painful thing ever. I would actually throw up almost every time from so much head pain. It's been over a year since my last migraine and my head aches are quite rare. Eat better, do more, don't play video games or watch TV anymore.

 

I scheduled a doctor's appointment tomorrow with an eye specialist. Hopefully I can get this figured out.

 

Thank you so much for the quick responses. Great community here.

[IrishHeart]

Nick,

Neg on the celiac panel is just one part of the puzzle. (and some people, like me are falsely negative on blood panels)

Not trying to scare you or muddy the waters, just relating the facts.

 

You could still be gluten intolerant.

Definitely, get your eyes examined, because blurry vision is nothing to mess with, but if you feel better off gluten, you could continue

totally gluten free and see if you feel better overall.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[Takala]

nvgeiger-

I had the same problem with not being able to focus and track my eyes together, and I lost part of my ability to see color in one eye and I was pretty nightblind.  To make a long story short, the only time I have trouble still tracking my eyes together is when I've been cross contaminated with gluten, and it took about 7- 8 years to get the color vision nearly back in the one eye and my night vision.  Nasty HMO eye doctor I had at that time (yes, opthamologist) told me there was "nothing wrong" with my eyes - in spite of the fact that I am also extremely nearsighted.... thank God my optician out of that system (dispenses eye glasses) was not such an @$$, and kept after me to get this checked out.  Negative on celiac tests, MS tests, all that sort,  but I did have brain damage.... "bright spots".... nerve damage was explained by being extremely gluten intolerant... no more migraines off of gluten....  get somebody to do a brain scan if you cannot get somebody to account for your neurological symptoms.  Do NOT take "no" for an answer.  If your eyes themselves seem to be "normal," and a regular doctor balks at acknowledging the possibility of neurological forms of gluten damage, print out some medical research articles in PubMed from Hadjivassiliou, the UK researcher and insist that they look at other parts of your head. 

 

Oh, and after antibiotics, no matter what your celiac status, you really need to get some good bacteria back in your gut -  either start eating yogurt and fermented cabbage, or taking probiotics.  Also, a gluten free B vitamin complex, calcium citrate/magnesium/vitamin D -  it's called giving the good gut flora a "happy home." 

[nvgeiger]

Nick,

Neg on the celiac panel is just one part of the puzzle. (and some people, like me are falsely negative on blood panels)

Not trying to scare you or muddy the waters, just relating the facts.

 

You could still be gluten intolerant.

Definitely, get your eyes examined, because blurry vision is nothing to mess with, but if you feel better off gluten, you could continue

totally gluten free and see if you feel better overall.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Understandable. And I am trying to rule everything out and get down to it. I have been cutting down on fast food and mainly just sticking to rice, chicken and some vegetables and fruits. Never been a big fan of sugar and sweets, but convenience is part of my life style. Sure we all remember being a teenager. But my diet is quite imbalanced. My symptoms haven't improved or gotten worse. The vision and being unable to focus my eyes is always there, when I wake up until I go to bed. The fatigue and nausea fluctuate throughout the day, I was feeling great 5 minutes when I was picking up food and now as I write this response I feel very sick. 

 

Appointment with my eye doctor tomorrow at 3:00. Keep you guys posted.

[IrishHeart]

I agree with Takala about the neurologist. I had so many neuro symptoms before I was diagnosed, including trouble focusing, poor night vision, vertigo , ataxia,  parasthesia etc. and you should cover all your bases.

[nvgeiger]

I agree with Takala about the neurologist. I had so many neuro symptoms before I was diagnosed, including trouble focusing, poor night vision, vertigo , ataxia,  parasthesia etc. and you should cover all your bases.

 

I went to the Eye Doctor yesterday and they said I have perfect eyes. 20/20 vision still. I don't know too much about how our eyes work, but he said it was very common for young people to carry lots of stress and that when eyes pull forward and release ( focus and unfocus ) the muscles can get stuck temporarily. He also noted my eyes are very dry and it's possible that the layer on top could be irregular and suggested eye drops for the cold winter. He gave me some to see if that would help, he just said my vision should come back and I have nothing to worry about. I don't know, haha..

[IrishHeart]

Yes, my vision was "perfect" too,  according to the eye exams I had done, yet I had blurry spots. dry eyes, blepharitis, double vision on occasion and wicked floaters. Visual disturbances are not uncommon with celiac.

 

If this does not resolve, I'd see a neuorologist, IMHO

 

I still have hope that this will resolve for you off gluten.

 

Keep us posted.

[nvgeiger]

Yes, my vision was "perfect" too,  according to the eye exams I had done, yet I had blurry spots. dry eyes, blepharitis, double vision on occasion and wicked floaters. Visual disturbances are not uncommon with celiac.

 

If this does not resolve, I'd see a neuorologist, IMHO

 

I still have hope that this will resolve for you off gluten.

 

Keep us posted.

Yeah, currently my vision is no where near " perfect " either. 

So what does a neurologist search for exactly?

 

So my girlfriend made a joke about my condition and was like " It would be funny if this problem was from all the blue Gatorade you drink. "

 

I was just looking up on the web a few moments ago and some people have had side effects from Gatorade - blurred, vision, fatigue, and nausea. Wondering if this could actually be a possibility to my being my problem? I realized that my first encounter with my vision problem happened when I was taking probiotics, in bed, and drinking lots of gatorade, and then 3 weeks ago I quit my job which I was working every day for 6 hours and now I am more lazy, sitting at home, and not running all over the place. Lack of exercise and I have been consuming more gatorade. Just so hard to decipher real facts from false on the internet these days. Guess I could avoid Gatorade for a week or two, I do drink it on the daily and it does override my water consumption. 

 

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[xxikayixx]

Hi. I am 28 years old and have been suffering from what I thought was IBS my entire pre-adolescent/adult life. 

I went through dozens of tests and I was just told that I need a nutritionist and I had to live with IBS for the rest of my life.

I moved a few years ago and someone mentioned they knew someone with digestive issues and they had a Gluten allergy. I ended up cutting out all Gluten from my diet and I have NEVER felt better. My concern is do I just have a gluten allergy or do I have Celiac? I am overweight and have been my entire life. I lost about 32lbs after going gluten free which was a big shock. I never really ate a lot of unhealthy foods but obesity runs in my family. 

I had read that you have to be thin to have Celiac. I do not want to go and do the test because I do not want to go back to eating gluten to do so. I already have a lot of issues keeping a non contaminated kitchen due to living with 3 other people who do not have the allergy. It's a struggle everyday and I do get cross contamination at least once a week. 

My worry is that if I do have Celiac that I am doing things wrong and should know if I do or not. Or does it even matter? I cannot even have the littlest bit of gluten or else I'm in bed for 2 days sick.

 

I feel also if people ask me, oh your Celiac? I would be lying if I said yes.

 

I have been gluten free a year next month. 

[mushroom]

Hi. I am 28 years old and have been suffering from what I thought was IBS my entire pre-adolescent/adult life. 

I went through dozens of tests and I was just told that I need a nutritionist and I had to live with IBS for the rest of my life.

I moved a few years ago and someone mentioned they knew someone with digestive issues and they had a Gluten allergy. I ended up cutting out all Gluten from my diet and I have NEVER felt better. My concern is do I just have a gluten allergy or do I have Celiac? I am overweight and have been my entire life. I lost about 32lbs after going gluten free which was a big shock. I never really ate a lot of unhealthy foods but obesity runs in my family. 

I had read that you have to be thin to have Celiac. I do not want to go and do the test because I do not want to go back to eating gluten to do so. I already have a lot of issues keeping a non contaminated kitchen due to living with 3 other people who do not have the allergy. It's a struggle everyday and I do get cross contamination at least once a week. 

My worry is that if I do have Celiac that I am doing things wrong and should know if I do or not. Or does it even matter? I cannot even have the littlest bit of gluten or else I'm in bed for 2 days sick.

 

I feel also if people ask me, oh your Celiac? I would be lying if I said yes.

 

I have been gluten free a year next month. 

The way things stand at the moment, you can only find out if you are celiac if you are tested while you are eating gluten (in fact, after at least 6 weeks of eating gluten).    To answer your other question, if you are gluten sensitive or intolerant but not celiac, you still need to be just as careful to avoid gluten, so from my perspective, it doesn't make any difference to your behavior.  And if it gets the point across to others, call yourself celiac and let them prove you are not

[nvgeiger]

I think Gatorade is the source of my vision problem and feeling sick. Haven't drank any in 2 days and I am feeling a bit better. I have been eating food with glutton as well. My nausea has went away and my vision has gotten slightly better.