Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Day 5 gluten-free At Dr's Recommendation, Questions!

Missmtl

Recommended Posts

Missmtl Newbie
Missmtl
Posted

Hi there,

I have a few questions I'm hoping people can help me with.

I had a miscarriage a year ago and within weeks of that ocurring everything went downhill health wise.

I am 38, 5'6 always been skinny between 115-120 lbs. After the miscarriage, I started quickly gaining weight, went from my usual 115 to 145lbs within 6 months!! All in stomach, waist. I started getting weird rashes on my arms and torso, severe bloating, nausea, vomiting usually after eating. My stomach was never bad in the morning but my late afternoon I looked pregnant! Also dealt with joint pain, fatigue, overall puffy, jiggly feel. Constant loose, pale, smelly stool, gas, burping etc all things I never dealt with before!

I could not figure out what was happening and in the last year I have had my thyroid tested numerous times, always normal, I also went to see an endocrinologist, had a pelvic ultrasound, an MRI on my stomach and testing for parasites, all clear.

I was getting frustrated that no one can help me, I mentioned celiac before but my dr shunned the idea and said you know, we haves tested for everything you might have to live with not knowing!

I had thoughts of celiac because although weight had never been a problem for me, slight bloating did at times. I had gone to Thailand 6 yrs ago and during that month, all I ate was fish, chicken , veggies abs rice. I was bloat free and felt amazing! This always stayed in my mind.

I was talking to a naturopath acquaintance who mention that I try a gluten-free diet to see how things go.

I am now on day 5 gluten-free free and I'm truly amazed . My bloating has gone down by about half, I'm down 4 lbs and no stomach pain!

I'm truly hoping this is the answer and I have a feeling it is!

My question is can you have a gluten allergy that did not cause too many issues then suddenly act up full force? Can a traumatic event cause this? Meaning my miscarriage?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

The itchy rash you had could have been DH, a skin condition that can be found with celiac (not all of us have it though) and that in and of itself is a diagnosis (if biopsied next to a breakout).

 

Celiac can cause you to gain weight, just as it can cause weight loss.

 

If you wish to be tested for it, then you have to stay on gluten, sadly. Then there is the endoscopy and biopsy. There is also a genetic test. Just to let you know if you decide to do so.

 

Yes, your miscarriage could have triggered it. Anything that taxes the body (such as pregnancy, stress, illness, surgery) can trigger it.

 

Let us know if you have any more questions that we can help ya with. :)

SasaMinks Rookie
SasaMinks
Posted

Hello! wow your symptoms sound like mine and my dr said the same thing about having to accept I might just have to live with not knowing - an attitude I find shocking!   I am only just getting bloods done now so I don't have a diagnosis but your story is so similar to mine, in particular I had IBS but my symptoms really kicked off during pregnancy - i've since read that pregnancy hormones can make it worse/bring it out and I too went to Thailand and experienced high energy and no fatigue when living on the thai diet.  I've also got the weight gain (rather than loss) plus a lot of other issues.  I do hope you find out soon - I know how miserable it is living without answers :(

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Celiac is not an allergy, it is an autoimmune disease. It is easier sometimes to just tell people you're allergic, (especially in restaurants) because people understand what an allergy is, but they don't understand autoimmune diseases or intolerances. But anyway...

 

Very often it is a traumatic event, either physical or emotional, that will trigger celiac. So yes, it is quite possible that your miscarriage (my condolences by the way) triggered it.

 

If you want to get tested, you need to go back on gluten. There are several blood tests (you should have them all I believe) and then the endoscopy with biopsy of the small intestine. Sometimes there are false negatives (but never false positives). And sometimes people have what they call Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance. That means you may not have the intestinal damage but you will get the same symptoms. Right now there is no test available for that.

 

I don't have insurance so I have never been tested, but I responded to the gluten-free diet so I know I either have celiac or NCGI. My mother was diagnosed by a doctor and it does run in families so I assume I have celiac. Either way, a gluten-free diet is the solution to the problem.

 

G F in DC will be along shortly to tell you which tests to ask for should you decide to get tested. :) And if you decide it isn't that important and just choose to stick to the gluten-free diet, you are not alone.

 

Welcome to our "family". I hope you're feeling better soon!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,668
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    CDR40
    Newest Member
    CDR40
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.